To have Guinevere back was a joy beyond description. Arthur planned to take her on a romantic picnic just as soon as she had recovered from her ordeal. In the meantime there was one other matter to attend to: Merlin.
Arthur couldn't deny his magic had been more than helpful at saving Gwen and as magic was no longer outlawed he felt no pressure to have his friend executed. Still it didn't sit right with him. Merlin had lied to him for the better part of ten years and now that the queen was safe it was time to deal with that.
Arthur went to speak to Gaius thinking it a good place to start or maybe he was just putting off talking to Merlin.
"What can I do for you, sire?" Gaius asked as the King walked into his chambers. "Is Gwen alright?"
"Yes she's fine," Arthur replied. "I've come to speak to you on another matter." Gaius didn't reply as if he were waiting for Arthur to explain so he continued. "I have come to talk to you about Merlin. On our trip to rescue the Queen, Merlin informed me that he has magic and that you know about it."
"Impatient boy," Gaius sighed. "I told him to wait."
"Yeah well since when does Merlin do what he's told?" Arthur replied.
"Since never," Gaius laughed.
"Merlin has always been at my side," Arthur said. "Always even when he really didn't need to be. Without him I'm not sure if we'd have been able to save Guinevere, but he'd been lying to me for so long. I was hoping you could offer me some guidance."
"It was quite a few years ago now," Gaius began. "But do you remember what I told you after I was rescued from Morgana's torturer?"
Arthur did remember, but still he remained silent, wanting to learn what it was Gaius had to say.
"I told you that within this great kingdom there are more than you know who believe in the world you are trying to build and that one day you'd learn just how much they'd done for you," Gauis reminded him.
"And you were talking about Merlin?!" Arthur balked. The same Merlin who spent his time in the tavern, stumbled into traps and was once outwitted by a rat.
"Yes, I was talking about Merlin," Gaius explained. "But I am also talking about all those who allied themselves with Merlin. And by association, you."
Despite witnessing Merlin's magic quite a few times now Arthur couldn't help thinking about every time Merlin had done something idiotic or clumsy or foolish. Like the time he'd got them caught in that trap over rabbits. Had all that been a lie as well? He couldn't quite reconcile the two versions of his friend he knew into one.
"Merlin isn't just a sorcerer," Gaius explained. "He is said to be the greatest sorcerer to ever walk the earth. The Druids call him Emrys. The legendary Catha have pledged their loyalty to him. Even the Great Dragon is within his power to command. The only person I've ever met who doubts Merlin's power is Merlin himself."
"It's just a lot to wrap my head around," Arthur said, putting a hand to his forehead.
"The only thing that matters," Gaius continued. "Is that you understand that Merlin is and always has been your loyal friend. He would rather die than leave your side."
"Why?" Arthur exclaimed. "What have I ever done to —" But he stopped. He'd almost said what had he ever done to deserve such devotion, but that wasn't something a king should say.
"Maybe it's best you talk to Merlin," Gaius said wisely.
"Just feels so strange now," Arthur mumbled.
"I can understand that. But I assure you, he is the same Merlin he's always been," Gaius smiled at him.
With a slight nod of thanks, Arthur left the room. He knew Gaius was right. It was Merlin he should be talking to, no matter how strange it felt.
The King's next question was where his manservant had run off to. His first thought was the tavern but just as the thought occurred to him Arthur realized 'the tavern' could very well have been a cover for Merlin when he was off doing whatever sorcerers did. The idea made him feel like he knew his friend even less.
In the end Arthur decided to find out if any of his knights had seen Merlin and headed down to the training area. To his great surprise he found Merlin there. Gwaine was inside the training ring, combatting a floating sword and shield while Merlin stood on the sidelines, watching and presumably controlling the floating items.
Arthur stared at it for a solid minute before getting up the nerve to walk over and announce his presence.
"Arthur," Merlin said, clearly startled. The sword and shield Gwaine had been sparring against fell to the ground in a heap.
"I didn't see you there," Merlin said, nervously. Again Arthur noticed how rarely he'd actually seen Merlin be nervous. The last time his servant had been this jumpy had been when they'd been up against the dorocha. Even then when Merlin had been obviously scared he'd still saved Arthur's life by allowing a dorocha to pass through him. And it suddenly dawned on him how Merlin had managed to survive.
"What's going on?" Arthur asked, not sure if he was mad or interested.
"Merlin said he'd rather float the shield than be whacked standing behind it," Gwaine shrugged.
"Right," Arthur said. He had to admit it made sense. With Merlin controlling the shield and sword, this new set up was probably a better training tool than Merlin standing awkwardly with the shield like he usually did.
"Is something wrong, sire?" Merlin asked.
"No," Arthur said. "It's just strange." He could remember only too well the sword Morgana had enchanted to imprison Gwen and yet right in front of his eyes was an enchanted sword for an entirely peaceful purpose. It was the same magic, but so differently used as to almost be unrecognizable from each other.
"I know what you mean," Merlin said. "It still feel a bit like breaking rules whenever I use magic in plain view, but when we started sparring Gwaine asked so I —"
"It's alright," Arthur interrupted, trying to force a smile though he was sure it looked uncomfortable. "I was actually here looking for you Merlin."
"What do you need?" Merlin asked.
Arthur was going to say he wanted to talk, but after what he'd just witnessed and the odd way he couldn't help but act, he worried it would give the wrong impression.
"My armour needs polishing," Arthur said automatically though with much less of his usual authority.
"Duty calls," Merlin said to Gwaine as he got up.
"Until next time," Gwaine called after him.
Together they walked back into the castle and up a flight of stairs. Merlin talked a bit about Gwaine and their training session, expressing his gratitude that his friend was still treating him the same even after learning the truth. Arthur could almost feel the underlying meaning of his words pointed at him, but still didn't speak. When they reached the floor with the armoury Merlin made to turn, but Arthur held him back.
"I know I've been avoiding you since we got Gwen home safe," he began.
"You wanted time alone with your wife," Merlin replied easily. "It's perfectly understandable."
"That's not just it," Arthur continued. "Why didn't you tell me before now?" Arthur could hear the hurt in his voice and he didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do about it.
"I wanted to. But you would have cut my head off."
"I'm not sure what I would have done," Arthur replied honestly. The idea of watching Merlin die was unthinkable, despite everything Arthur couldn't bring himself to dislike the man. They'd been through too much together. Even if he never said it out loud, Arthur had long ago come to think of Merlin as his best friend.
"And as I said at the start, I didn't want to put you in that position," Merlin smiled at him. "So I kept my head down and helped as best I could."
Arthur didn't say anything. He couldn't remember Merlin saying this before. Maybe he hadn't been listening, but he found himself quite stunned to learn that this was Merlin's motivation. To worry about such a thing as Arthur's dilemma when every minute of his life he lived under the constant risk of being discovered. It was too selfless an action to be ignored. Arthur had knighted men for less.
"I am happy to tell you anything you want to know," Merlin continued. "But it all boils down to the same thing: I've been secretly using magic to help you. From something as simple as diverting an arrow, or creating a rock fall, to going up against Morgana. The details hardly matter now."
"Am I just an idiot then?" Arthur asked, in a small voice finally voicing the words that had been haunting him for days. "For believing that every rock fall and fire was just good luck? For missing something so obvious right in front of me? Because clearly you are not the idiot you've always seemed to be."
"I like to think of it as part of my charm," Merlin smiled. "And you aren't an idiot, Arthur. All your life Uther taught you that magic was evil. I sometimes liked to think that the reason you couldn't see magic in me was because you couldn't see evil in me."
"Well that's a very kind way of putting my obliviousness," Arthur sighed.
Merlin didn't reply and Arthur supposed he was waiting for a question, but the King didn't need to ask any. Having this one piece of information had solved the many mysteries in his memory. Every time they'd evaded those tailing them because Merlin went back to distract the pursuers. Every time a natural disaster or stroke of luck saved his life. Every time Morgana had been halted in her tracks for no apartment reason. Every time he'd believed he'd killed the creature he'd been fighting just before passing out. He felt sure now that it had been Merlin who'd saved him.
"All these years Merlin," Arthur spoke after a moment's silence. "And you never once sought any credit."
"That isn't why I do it," Merlin replied easily.
"I can hardly understand why you did this," Arthur said, at a loss as to how to understand this new version of his friend.
"I do this because of who you are," Merlin said confidently. "There will never be another like you Arthur."
"I don't know about that," Arthur replied, skeptically.
"Alright then, how about I do this because you are my friend and I value your health and happiness," Merlin smiled at him.
"We weren't friends the first time you saved me," Arthur observed. "You must have done magic in front of Uther to pull that off, unless you are going to tell me that chandelier just fell by accident."
"You caught me," Merlin grinned. "I also used magic to slow time so I could move you out of the way before the dagger struck you."
"You can slow time?" Arthur said slowly.
"For a little while in an isolated area," Merlin replied with a shrug.
"And all within arms reach of my father," Arthur said with a shake of his head. "You are either the biggest daredevil I've ever known or you have a death wish."
"Or I'm just very good at not getting caught," Merlin smiled cheekily.
"Why'd you save me that time though?" Arthur asked.
Merlin just shrugged. "I saw someone about to get hurt and I reacted. I would have saved anyone about to die in front of me if it was within my power to do so. Even a prat like you."
Arthur couldn't help but laugh, but it was short lived. He let out a deep breath. Arthur didn't deserve this man's loyalty. Even before learning of Merlin's magic, Arthur had always been impressed with Merlin's dedication to him and Camelot, his loyalty. Even understanding the power Merlin had at his command, Arthur couldn't deny the man's bravery. Arthur felt sure now that without Merlin he'd never have made it to where he was today. Arthur wouldn't be surprised if he owed far more than simply his life to this warlock, but also his kingdom and his happiness.
"I just have one more thing to say," Arthur began. He took a deep breath and said in as confident a voice as he could muster. "As long as I am King, you will always have a place here in Camelot."
The smile that spread across Merlin's face was like nothing Arthur had ever witnessed in his friend before.
"You shall have a seat at the Round Table as the official Court Warlock," Arthur stated. "Your job will be to advise me on all matters related to magic, as well as help me defend this kingdom in the event of a magic attack."
"So basically what I do already," Merlin chuckled.
"Yes, but out in the open where you can do the most good," Arthur replied. "Because you were right. Knowing I had your powers to call upon made the difference between finding Gwen and losing her. You very likely saved Eylan's life as well. It's in Camelot's best interest for you to be free to help where you can without fear."
"Thank you, Arthur," Merlin said with so much genuine emotion his eyes pooled with tears. "You don't know how much this means to me. After so many years of hiding, to be able to be totally free with the people most important in my life is worth more to me than I have words to express."
"I want you to always be you," Arthur told him, moving forward to put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Arthur took a deep breath and added, "I'm sorry about how I treated you."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Merlin grinned. "I got you back. You just never knew it was me." He chuckled lightly and began ducking as if he was expecting Arthur to charge at him.
"I assumed as much," Arthur said, his eyes narrowed. "Thinking back there were quite a few times I fell face first in the mud after picking on you."
"Oh, and I made you burp in front of a princess once too," Merlin added, really moving back now, his stance playfully cautious.
"Alright, that's it!" Arthur grumbled and he charged forward. He knew there was every likelihood he'd end up on the ground with his face covered in soup, but he couldn't let such a remark stand. To his surprise Merlin let Arthur get him in a head lock and rub his knuckles over the warlock's skull until they were both laughing.
"Oh and don't forget there is laundry in my room that needs doing and that armour isn't going to polish itself," Arthur added, grinning at his friend.
"I thought I was the Court Warlock," Merlin whined.
"I seem to recall someone saying something about being happy to be my servant till the day he died?" Arthur shot back.
"Yeah well at the time I thought I was actually going to die in a couple hours," Merlin groaned.
"Why?" Arthur asked incredulously.
"The questing beast's venom," Merlin began his explanation and their usual horseplay stopped as Arthur listened. "Gaius didn't have the power to save you. You were cured by water from the Cup of Life which Nimeuh would only give in exchange for another life. I tried to bargain with mine, but she meant to take my mother's instead. Gaius wanted to stop me exchanging my life for my mother's, so he went to try and exchange his first, but I followed him and defeated Nimueh. Her death restored the balance, so Gaius woke up."
Arthur just stared at him. He remembered the questing beast. He remembered almost dying and he remembered waking up believing it was Gaius who had cured him, but there hadn't been any other indication - at least to him - that anything else had been going on. The thought gave Arthur pause.
"I really have no idea what you've been through all these years, do I?" Arthur asked, though it was more a rhetorical question than anything. He knew the answer.
"That was a long time ago," Merlin said, trying to shrug the whole thing off. "I better go get started on that armour."
"You don't have to be my servant anymore," Arthur said seriously. "I-" But Merlin interrupted him.
"I'm happy to, sire," Merlin said with a smile. "Besides, if I can use magic openly, your chores are gonna be a cinch."
"Have you been magically washing my laundry all this time?" Arthur accrued.
"Your laundry," Merlin began as if making a list. "Your armour, pretty much anything I could get away with. It saved a lot of time, let me tell you."
And just like that Arthur was laughing. A deep bellowing laugh. His Queen was safe. His best friend was still his best friend despite the recent revelation and his kingdom was safe. Was there really anything else Arthur could ask for? Arthur could not remember the last time he'd been so happy.
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What do you think of Arthur's reaction? Did I keep them in character? Hopefully it still has the same Merlin/Arthur friends vibes from the show. ^_^ Also the next chapter is a complete first draft but hasn't been edited at all yet so might be a bit longer than it's been so far before an update. We shall see.
And no one has any ideas on a story title huh yet?
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Sneak Peek Chapter 05
Merlin took a quick trip to the armoury when they returned to set up some spells to clean Arthur's armour during the course of the day. Then it was back to his chambers to see if Gaius needed anything.
"You've never been so helpful, Merlin," Gaius said.
"I've never had so much free time before," Merlin grinned. "It's rather strange. What does one do with free time, Gaius?"
"Get a hobby?" he suggested. "Why all the free time anyway?"
"I can use magic to accomplish most of my chores now," Merlin said. "Since Arthur got back from his anniversary date with Gwen he's been locked in his chambers." Merlin thought about it a little more than added, "I honestly don't think there is anything left for me to do."
"Did you muck out the stables?" Gaius asked.
"This morning," Merlin replied. "With magic. Only took a few minutes." He couldn't help it. He was almost giddy.
"Well if you plan on using magic for everything from now on maybe it would be best if you used this extra time to study up on the subject."
"Good idea," Merlin replied as he turned and headed to his room where the magic book was. He'd read bits and pieces of it over the years but never before had time to read it cover to cover.