A.N:// HEY THERE. Long time no write.
This is actually just an unbetad nonsense story for the sake of fluff. There is no drama, as I am currently pretty fine. No need to vent anything, lol. I'm actually currently working on a ghost!Arthur AU, named "Haunted". I'm 60 pages in and needed a break, because I kinda lost the plot lol.
I shall also add a picture in this one as a little teaser for 'haunted'.
Also, this story is inspired by the song:
"For the departed" by Shayfer James
https://open.spotify.com/track/5BZp6bbnf3BQ2s9YGkQMpV?si=d593c2ade7a64471
I've wanted to make an inspired song fic to this for a while, because I can so imagine Merlin singing this in a bar.
But like... actually different to THIS story. Like... imagine he goes to sorcerer bars just to vent through songs he wrote and one day, Arthur comes in disguised and Arthur doesn't recognize him. Then he hears that song.
But I wasn't in the mood for feelings. So you get this instead :)
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The door to the tavern opened with a jarring sound. One that would have distracted the people inside, if they weren't much louder than the light creaking.
Merlin and Arthur slipped inside to escape from the rain outside and hid themselves under the hoods of the peasant clothing they were wearing.
"Stay quiet, Merlin.", Arthur warned Merlin as quietly as he could. "Let me handle it.
It wasn't a random visit that had brought them here. Nor were they the only people of Camelot who had gathered in this tavern.
In fact, at least six other knights were out here, drinking.
This was no coincidence. It was all part of the plan.
A few weeks back, Arthur had been informed of the presence of a sorcerer who was said to be hiding in these forests. Not only that, apparently he was part of some kind of organization for sorcerer's.
And those News, were obviously alarming.
What was even more alarming, was that there had been no accidents so far. No attacks, no destroyed properties, not even eggs thrown at windows as some child's prank.
There had been nothing. Which meant that they must be plotting something.
And so, Arthur had planned to ride out incognito to get himself mixed under the sorcerer's and find out what their plan was.
Of course, he wouldn't do it alone. But riding out with more than four people at once would look suspicious. Especially, if they all carried swords around. So Arthur had taken Merlin with him and disguised himself with that wonderful blue cape Merlin had once given him for a similar occasion.
Not that he had ever given it back, since.
Mistrusting eyes surveyed the Newcomers in the tavern. Perhaps it had been a bad idea after all. New people rarely traveled through these woods. Seven at once was bound to seem suspicious.
Arthur cursed inwardly. He should have thought of this sooner.
"What can I get for you?" The barkeeper was a middle aged man, balding at the edges of his round head and exhaustion written on his reddened cheeks. Red from the alcohol perhaps. Or from the unbearable warmth in the air. Smelling of men, alcohol and smoke from the lit fireplace. That one needed to be cleaned. The stone wall was full of black grime and the funnel could use some serious unclogging.
By any means, there should be a law against this. At least someone had opened one of the equally grimy windows.
"Mead, good Sir."
"Two.", Merlin added. Arthur shot him a glance and Merlin send a challenging one back. 'Of course.', Arthur sighed. Like hell he could get Merlin to shut up.
"Two.", Arthur nodded and the barkeeper nodded at them, before handing them some freshly cleaned mugs (at least Arthur liked to think they were clean) full of mead.
"Thanks.", Arthur sat and leaned back against the counter. "Sir, there is something else, actually.", Arthur whispered and the man raised an eyebrow, while he continued cleaning mugs with a thankfully clean piece of cloth.
"You see, my friend and I here need some shelter. I was told that there are some dangerous people out here."
The man stopped his movement and blinked. Merlin was quiet for once, silently sipping at his mead, as he listened to Arthur's comment.
"Yeah, there are.", the stranger narrowed his eyes.
"But they don't come here. This is a clean establishment. Now, sit down at a table. You're blocking my view of the door."
Arthur startled at the rough tone in the man's voice, but nodded, before he searched for a table for himself and Merlin.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see that the barkeeper was whispering something to a man in a black cape, who sat directly at the counter.
Whatever they were doing, they stopped, once they noticed Arthur's glance.
Great. They were in on it, too. Arthur should have known.
"That was stupid.", Merlin commented and Arthur frowned.
"And why was that stupid? There may be sorcerer's here, Merlin. We have to be careful. Also, I bet the guy over there is in on it. Both of them."
"I think you're wrong.", Merlin said calmly.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. The entire bar is in on it."
Arthur paled and let down his drink. "What? What makes you say that?"
"Look around. They're all staring at you and the knights. They're suspicious of New people and we are certainly too many new people.", Merlin said back.
"Great, and what do you suggest we do?"
"Not ask suspicious questions would be a start.", Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Then you do it, if you're such an expert."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, don't. You're a bad liar, Merlin. I don't want to provoke a fight."
Merlin laughed and took another sip. "First of all, don't be so stiff. If you're a sorcerer, you're powerful and you know it. "
"But I'm not-"
"I know. But they don't. You want to know what this organization is about? Ask them directly. Don't make them feel like they're a threat to you. You're welcome here, if you're one of them. So relax and drink.", Merlin looked oddly cozy, the way he sat there. As if this was the most normal thing in the world.
Arthur blinked, and then noticed that he was, indeed, pretty stiff in the back.
He forced himself to relax.
By then, Merlin had finished his first mug of mead and waved at the barkeeper for another.
"You're starting off strong, I see.", the barkeeper said, as he brought over the mug. Merlin send him a smile.
"Yeah, you know how it is. They burned another one this morning. I just felt like I could take a night off." Merlin's smile seemed bitter, almost. There was a kindness in it, laced with something sorrowful.
Well... there had been a pyre today. In Camelot. Under Uther's order.
The barkeeper's eyes softened. "Did you know 'em?"
"Do I need to?", Merlin shrugged and took another sip from his mug. Arthur blinked with fascination as he realized that Merlin was perfectly in tune with the situation. He was in a room full of people who could kill them all. Especially Merlin, since he didn't own a sword. But he acted like this was normal.
"I suppose not.", the man nodded and suddenly he seemed a lot less suspicious.
"I saw him work in town a bit. Never even talked to him.", Merlin's eyes went glassy, as he stared ahead.
Then he found Arthur's surprised gaze and turned to the barkeeper again.
"Oh, sorry. This is my friend. He's not used to these...", Merlin waved around.
The man raised an eyebrow. "I haven't seen you around, either, though."
"It wouldn't be good, if people recognize him. And I rarely go to the meetings."
The man nodded seriously and send him a relieved smile. "Are you a known man?"
"Not here.", Merlin shook his head. " I came here, because I heard there was a meeting and I have something to share. I also came to give you the warning. If word travels so fast, it even reaches me within Camelot's borders, then the knights can't be far."
The barkeeper's gaze snapped to Arthur and something akin to realization seemed to hit him. "That's the dangerous people you meant? The way you phrased it sounded like it could be anyone, boy. You ARE new. Almost thought you were a knight yourself.", the man laughed heartily now.
And Arthur couldn't help but stare. He gulped.
How on earth had Merlin assessed the situation so easily?
Also... since when were knights considered the dangerous ones?
"Well then, boys. Thanks for the warning. Enjoy your night. I'll have a room up for the both of you in no time."
"Thank you, Sir."
"No problem, stranger." The man turned and left to work behind the counter again and send a boy, maybe three years younger than them to prepare a room for them.
"What on earth did you just do?", Arthur asked. "They are sorcerers, Merlin!", he whispered the last part.
"I told you. They won't trust us, unless we're one of them. Which means, we have to show empathy to their situation."
"Empathy?"
"Yeah. Why do you think do secret society's like these meet in secret?"
"To plan overthrowing the kingdom?"
"And what reasons do they have to overthrow the kingdom?"
Arthur opened his mouth, but he found his internal answer: 'because they're evil.', surprisingly lacking in it's conviction.
He closed it again. 'They burned another one this morning.'
"You mean... this is revenge?", Arthur asked quietly.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "They haven't even done anything. Let's find that out later."
And that's how Arthur went from 'Let me handle the talking' to, 'Merlin, please handle the talking.' For that evening, at least.
Merlin, however, had spend the entire night gambling and drinking and talking with Arthur.
They ended up sharing the cramped space on the tiny bed in their shared room, as they usually did during patrol on hunts. And the next morning, Merlin shoved him off the bed to get breakfast.
Even while gathering his things, Arthur had quite a few questions.
"You didn't ask for his name?"
"Sorcerer's prefer to stay anonymous.", Merlin responded.
"Do they?"
"I would imagine that, if a knight came in to investigate, it would be quite beneficial for everyone, if the barkeeper doesn't remember anyone. Believable lies, you know?"
"How do you know these things?"
"Unlike you, I'm quite perceptive.", Merlin grinned at him and Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Then why didn't you tell me these things? And why didn't we talk to anyone yesterday?"
"Because drunk people talk.", Merlin answered with an eye roll. Arthur was about to say something to that, when Merlin continued his explanation: "That's why people who want to investigate go to bars and taverns and ask them questions. If we asked too many questions, we'd be suspicious again.
There were no knights 'that we know of'-", Merlin made air quotes at Arthur, "yesterday, so this morning we're save to ask questions as we please."
"You've given this an awful lot of thought."
"Unlike you, I came here with plan. You should be grateful. You almost got us killed last night with your suspiciousness."
"I did NOT."
"You talk like a knight.", Merlin rolled his eyes and finally, Arthur was done packing his things. Which was a lot less then what Merlin carried, but Merlin had insisted that he couldn't play manservant to him for this investigation.
Defeated, Arthur followed Merlin downstairs to get breakfast.
Not that Arthur was particularly eager to eat peasant food. But it was better than starving. With a sigh, he sat down with Merlin and let the Barkeeper serve them at the only clean table in the room.
"I hope you slept well, young travelers."
"Yes, thank you. It was much needed.", Merlin send him an appreciating glance and the man almost beamed in response.
"Good to know. You mentioned the meeting, last night. I assume you want to know where it's held?"
Arthur blinked. That.... that was fast.
"It would be greatly appreciated."
"You know only sorcerer's are allowed to join these meetings, right?", the barkeeper asked and raised an eyebrow at Merlin and then a suspicious frown at Arthur, who quietly peeled himself an egg.
"Of course."
"You can't bring your friend."
Arthur frowned and turned. Did this man just assume that Merlin was a sorcerer? They never said anything like it! And why did he assume Arthur to be less magical?
Merlin placed a gentle hand to Arthur's shoulder and smiled at him. 'Stay calm', his gaze seemed to state.
"I'm aware.", Merlin nodded and turned back.
And then Arthur kind of understood. Merlin held himself with the carefulness of a man who had been hunted before. He talked like he was used to it all. The persecution, the deaths. The knowing he could be next.
'Did you know 'em?'
'Do I need to?'
Arthur frowned. But Merlin was clearly overselling the fear argument, wasn't he? Or wasn't he selling it enough? They never even said the word magic, yet.
Yet, Arthur himself was treated like a child who had been newly introduced to the mere idea that people got killed for using it.
"Well, I haven't really been given any information about the meeting, to be honest. I was only told that it's urgent.", Merlin shrugged. Clearly this was a lie. A risky one, too. They didn't have any information about any meetings. Only that people gathered around here. How did Merlin know about the meetings in the first place?
"It's always urgent. The laws get more and more strict under Uther. It's like we're suffocating out here. We can barely lift a glass with our gift and then we're already up at the pyre, you know what I mean?"
"The king has gone insane, clearly.", Merlin said, this time a little more carefully, as he looked at Arthur. Arthur nodded, encouragingly. He had long realized that Merlin was much better at this than him. Who knows why. Merlin pretended to know things. And he did it so confidently, that this man believed him.
"That's an understatement. He wasn't always like this, you know? When he was young, he was said to be a great supporter of the old religion. His best friend's were sorcerer's and witches. And a dragonlord, I think."
Merlin blinked and was – with that – indefinitely more composed than Arthur was now. His head shot up in surprise.
"That dragonlord doesn't happen to be Balinor, does it?"
"Balinor? You know 'em? Last time I heard of 'em, he was chased from Ealdor. Came through these woods. Good fella. Good fella."
At this, Merlin, for the first time, paused.
Arthur blinked and watched, as a sadness slipped into Merlin's eyes that was definitely not fakes. At this, Arthur decided to step in.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it. He died to protect a good man.", Arthur said and Merlin send him a kind smile.
The barkeeper looked at him in surprise and then at Merlin, who send Arthur a thankful, almost fond smile."
"He was still my father."
The words echoed in the room liked shattered glass. Arthur gasped in a breath and tried not to choke on it. 'That surprised me.', he thought to himself, but fought his surprise anyway.
That was a good cover. A very good cover.
"You're a dragonlord?", the man asked, eyes wide. Arthur was about to protest, when Merlin – once again- cut in.
"The very last of my kind. Yes."
"Then you will be mist welcome at our gathering tonight. Meet us at the dark woods cliff. We'd be honored to have you there." The man sighed in relief and send Arthur another – this time curious – glance.
Merlin's arm was still on Arthur's shoulder.
Slowly, Merlin lifted his arm and grabbed his fork to eat. Normally. As if all that was normal. As if none of that was out of the ordinary at all.
When Merlin and Arthur left the inn, Arthur couldn't stop himself.
"A DRAGONLORD?! You're telling them you're a DRAGONLORD?", he almost screamed, as soon as they were outside in the woods.
Where had his knights gone, anyway? Were they still drunk or recovering their hangover?
Sometimes Arthur wondered if patrols were just excuses for some of them to get wasted on tax money.
But that wasn't important. "Merlin, do you have an idea how MUCH you will have to sell tonight? They won't buy it for long! What if they ask you to get a dragon to attack Camelot?"
"They can ask and I can refuse.", Merlin shook his head. "Seriously, Arthur. Relax. I got this."
"Yeah you got this. You got this so good, they might ask you to lead them into war against Camelot!"
"And if they do, I can convince them not to. Isn't that a good thing? We could just... convince them not to attack, if that's what they're planning."
"What else could they be planning?"
"Oh, I dunno? A house party, with dancing and a BBQ? what do I know, Arthur?"
"Clearly enough to convince him enough to spill the beans! What else are you hiding?"
"I'm a sorcerer, Arthur. I'm supposed to hide.", Merlin countered. Arthur scoffed. "You're not really a sorcerer!"
Merlin sighed and leaned against the next tree. "We're in. You can thank me later."
Arthur growled. He hated it when Merlin was right. Except, he wasn't.
"No. You're in."
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"Merlin, they will kill me.", Arthur said, as Merlin and him walked through the dark woods to the destined place of the secret meeting.
"They won't."
"I'm not a sorcerer."
"It's fine, if you just stick close to me."
"I doubt that pretending to by your spouse is enough, Merlin."
Arthur knew that Merlin's grin was twitching at that. Merlin had introduced this idea to Arthur earlier. And Arthur would lie, if he hadn't agreed to it way too fast to be considered anything but embarrassing.
Especially for a prince.
"It will be enough.", Merlin said with certainty and was far too aware of the leather gloves wrapped around his wrist.
"Will it?"
In that moment, their conversation was interrupted, when a soft chanting sound echoed through the trees. Arthur had imagined something darker than this.
The moonlight shone brightly through the leaves and lots and lots of candles had been lit in a circle on the ground.
A small group of people was present.
Among them the barkeeper and a young couple with a child. The child was drawing into the mud.
Arthur's eyes needed a double take to see that the child's drawing glowed in the darkness. This child has magic?
"This.... doesn't look like ...", Arthur stopped himself. Most of the people here was old women, hunching together on a fallen tree. All of them singing and chanting with broken voices, old forgotten songs.
There were a few older men as well. A few children and some adults of varying ages. They all seemed nervous to be here. Or content.
Mostly just content.
Merlin squeezed Arthur's hand to keep him quiet and silently they sat down with the old women. Merlin greeted them like they were old friends.
"Ah, there you are.", the Barkeeper said and handed Merlin and Arthur a mug of something, each.
"Didn't you say only sorcerer's are allowed to come?", Arthur asked quietly and the man smiled.
"Yes. We do need a performance to check if you are real."
"Wait... so all of these people are sorcerer's?", Arthur asked. Until the realization hit him that ... he couldn't do a performance!
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Well. Not everyone. See the couple over there? They came here, when their son showed signs of magic. They are terrified for his life. That's why they're here.
I assume... you're here to accompany your ....", the man gestured at Arthur's hand, which was still tightly wrapped around Merlin's.
In a moment of hesitation, Arthur wanted to take it back, but Merlin didn't let him.
"My spouse, yes."
"And you bring him here? To this place?" The man asked, eyes wide.
"I trust him with my life. And my truth.", Merlin explained. The man nodded. "I see.", he responded.
And Arthur felt his heart hammer against his rib cage.
'What on earth-', he thought. Because this clearly didn't look like a vengeful group of sorcerer's...
This looked like some sort of support group.
Also the hand thing. The Merlin thing. The being Merlin's spouse thing....
Arthur felt a bit overwhelmed.
Merlin stepped closer to Arthur to whisper into his ear. "See? It works out."
Arthur whispered back, now extremely close to Merlin's ear. "This isn't working out! These people are no threat! They are harmless!"
"Very perceptive of you, Sire.", Merlin whispered and his breath tickled against Arthur's neck.
"WELL, people...", the bar man spoke up all of a sudden and the singing stopped.
"First of all, let's all welcome our newest guest. You may not know him, but his father should be well known to you. You must have heard the stories about the Dragonlord Balinor. Let's welcome his son!"
When Merlin stepped up, people gasped, then clapped with delight.
"Sir, we would like you to come to our circle and prove that you're one of us.", the man said and Arthur blinked nervously. Merlin smiled gently at him, if also nervous, and walked towards the fire that someone must have lit some time ago.
"I will. But before that, I have something to say.", Merlin said and the people looked up.
"My name -"
Arthur froze. 'No, Merlin, you idiot!', he thought and then frowned at himself. Why was he even saying that? These people didn't seem like they were going to hunt Merlin down and the people they were hiding their names from were the knights, so...
"is Emrys.", Merlin concluded. Leaving Arthur completely stunned.
'No, seriously, who is that?'
The clearing, however, turned deadly quiet. Gasps could be heard as people's heads fixed on to Merlin.
These people recognized that name? What was that? Did Merlin make that up?
"Emrys?", the bar man said and paled. And then... much like everyone around them, he dropped to his knees.
No matter if child or old or strong or weak. They all knelt before Merlin, as if he was the Messiah or something.
"Oh, please, I hate it when you guys do this, please get up.", Merlin said any the muttering returned, along with people who got up from their knees. Merlin's eyes found Arthur's with an apologetic smile.
"There have been many deaths over the past weeks. Ever since I came to Camelot, I was tasked with serving Arthur Pendragon -"
Arthur gasped.
"And I have seen many people die at the pyre. I cannot take it anymore."
Arthur sat down. Now completely mesmerized by Merlin's calm but demanding voice.
"You are not safe. Not when you use magic. And certainly not when you have a traitor in your midst who gives away your positions to Camelot soldiers. You all have to hide.
I know it's difficult. It's difficult times. But all of you need to survive this purge. I need you to survive this purge.
This destiny that was bestowed upon me, is for your sake.
For your safety."
Merlin made a pause and looked at Arthur. Arthur looked back, his eyes wide open. This.... this wasn't a performance anymore. This was a speech from the depth of Merlin's soul.
"Not mine.", Merlin concluded and walked around the fire to look at everyone in that round.
"Uther thinks you are planning to attack Camelot."
"That's BULLSHIT!", one of the younger women exclaimed. "We gather here to MOURN our loved ones! The ones, he takes from us!"
There was much agreement to that.
Arthur paled.
This wasn't a gathering to plan his father's death?
He looked around. Singing women and children. Bitterness and sorrow. Candles everywhere. Everyone wore black. Black robes, black hoods that hid their eyes.
There people were, indeed, mourning. This was a memorial.
The weird patterns and words on the ground.... those were names. So many names...
"I know. And I swear on my life, that the time will come, when the ban on magic will be no more. That you will be free.
And that Arthur Pendragon will be king of Camelot."
At those last words, Merlin's eyes bore into Arthur's soul chaining him here in the present.
"Arthur Pendragon?", doubtful muttering was to be heard.
"Yes, Arthur Pendragon. The once and future king."
Once again, a name that was unfamiliar to Arthur. But it rendered the people silent.
"The once and future king? Arthur Pendragon is the once and future king?"
"Yes. And he will be the one to save you."
Arthur blinked. Suddenly feeling like he was put on the spot here. But no one was looking at him. And Merlin sounded determined. Convinced. Faithful.
Arthur's heart wasn't really helping him figure out what to feel.
"All he needs, is to see the truth.", Merlin said and now, it was him who knelt. He knelt before the fire, before Arthur himself and Arthur slowly stepped closer. Feeling invited all of a sudden.
Then, to no ones surprise, Merlin's eyes lit a blazed gold and the fire burst into a flaming dragon.
A red dragon. The banner of Camelot.
"I see it now.", Arthur whispered. Because he did. These people were no threat to Camelot. And Merlin had wanted him to see this. He told him the truth on his own accord.
Showing him, who his people were. And whom he was trying to protect.
Merlin smiled. His eyes still gold and full of glee. More murmuring around them, as Arthur held out a hand and pulled Merlin back up into his arms.
"Thank you.", Arthur said, finding it sounded sincere enough for this. If also a little emotional.
'Merlin held himself like a man who was used to being hunted.'
And perhaps he was.
What was Arthur saying. Of course he was.
'They burned another one this morning.' There was a soft implication in this. 'It could be anyone. It could be my neighbor. My friend. My foe. It could be me. There. Burning on the pyre. '
Merlin had always been a bad liar.
But Arthur was a fool, for he had been fooled by the truth.
And when the dragon disappeared, Arthur pulled Merlin into a hug. "I'm sorry.", he added. And Merlin laughed softly into his shoulder.
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"There is one thing I don't understand.", Arthur said.
"Which is?", Merlin asked, as they made their way back to Camelot to lie to Uther.
"Why did I have to play your spouse?"
"Otherwise they would have found me suspicious.", Merlin shrugged, moving ahead.
"Yeah, but you could have pretended I was your brother or something. Apparently being a family member would be good enough of a lie. And they would have realized that we're not related after your little speech.
Now they still think we're a couple and are like... getting married once I'm king."
Merlin stopped and looked at Arthur.
He was quiet and there was a question there.
Arthur stopped in his tracks and blushed.
"You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, right?"
"I'm not suggesting anything.", Merlin said and continued to walk on. Arthur contemplating for a second, but then he hurried to catch up with Merlin. Their hands interlocking silently.
Merlin raised his head to meet Arthur's glance.
And then they both smiled.