Chapter Text
CAMELOT
Arthur
Arthur had been having an amazing couple of days this past week. His emotional and physical lives were both on track, his training had been going well, his hunts were usually successful and according to his father's instructions they had finally caught a sorcerer.
That was what his father thought but in all honesty, they had not been able to even find let alone catch a sorcerer and thus Arthur had brought someone worthy of the guillotine.
The man that was to be executed at dawn was named Kanen.
Now Kanen was no sorcerer, no sir. But he wasn't an innocent man either. He was a rapist, a bandit and a thief. Arthur had caught him raiding a village close to the border and had taken him a prisoner, while out on border checks.
Kanen was guilty of raping young girls, murdering innocent men for no reason and stealing food from the hungry and Arthur could not think of anyone else more deserving of the punishment.
He, of course, had been the sole witness that saw Kanen perform sorcery- Or lack thereof- but no one would have guts enough to question the word of the prince, now will they?
He turns his head and sees a familiar figure coming towards him- and then corrects himself, no one would question the Prince, except,
"Morgana," he greets his personal Satan. And gets slapped for his trouble-
Arthur jerks in surprise, his hand rises to his cheek in shock and-
No matter how much he pretends to be a tough guy, Morgana's slaps always hurt.
He grits his teeth and whips his head towards her angrily.
"What was that for?!" His voice is low but indignant anger shines from each syllable.
"I heard that you wanted a gift for your birthday, well there you go." Morgana snarks and when Arthur's disbelief must have shown on his face, she continued,
"You deserve such a gift, I heard that you brought another innocent sorcerer for your dear father to execute in celebration of your birthday. An innocent man, Arthur." Morgana has tears of anger filling her eyes,
"Even if he is a sorcerer he doesn't have to be... guilty. Why is that so hard to understand?" A tear slips down her face, which she angrily wipes off her face and Arthur's anger fades a little.
"He is not." He replies in a matter-of-fact tone and Morgana whips her head towards him, raising her hand again to slap him once more. He catches her by the wrist before she can do it again and with it, drags her to a hidden alcove.
"He is not a sorcerer but he is guilty. He is a bandit, a rapist and a murderer, Morgana." Arthur confesses.
Morgana who had been furiously trying to get her wrist out of his grip suddenly stopped and listened, and Arthur continued,
"He, above all, deserves it." He knew Morgana hated injustice- she had been the one person who he had thought would support him in this little act of rebellion-
"He is not a sorcerer?" Morgana asked him with a confused frown- her hand still half raised to strike him.
He sighed,
"No," but Morgana started smirking, he hurriedly added, "We couldn't find one."
But still, she continued to smirk,
Perhaps because She knew that Arthur could find anything. Even things that did not exist if he put his mind to it, let alone a mere sorcerer. This fact alone would mean that Arthur had not looked hard enough for one to execute today. For Arthur not to kill a sorcerer- innocent or otherwise- just to please his father, was growth. She smiled- and it may seem like a small thing to anyone else but to someone who knew Arthur as well as she did- this was growth.
Morgana, perhaps, will never say it but she was glad that Arthur was finally becoming his own man.
About time, really. She had seen Uther rule unjustly and hypocritically for so long and she was tired of it.
Even as a child she had disliked the King but once her father died- because of Uther- she had been forced to spend the rest of her days in Camelot with the person who had been responsible for her being an orphan, in the first place.
Arthur just huffed and left Morgana to her smirking and went to Gaius, he has been needing some massage oil recently- His shoulder ached from the weight training yesterday and also well, Gwen...
His mind goes back to his first picnic with the maid- which had been amazing, to say the least. They had gotten along really well and had met in secluded places thrice since then- it had been good. For the first time, in a long time, Arthur felt a connection with someone and Gwen was wonderful. Really, she was.
She had even promised to give him a special gift for his birthday. Tonight and he couldn't help but anticipate- would she kiss him tonight? Would she let him hold her? Some more.
But even if they didn't, he'd like to be in top form, without any interfering aches or pains in his shoulder, hence the massage oil.
For all his experience with slave girls, maids and whores... he wanted something real with Gwen and for that, he wished to go slowly.
He entered the physician's chambers and doesn't immediately spot Gaius. He follows the clunking noises into a room he swears he's never seen before.
Attached to Gaius's chambers is another chamber that is actually just as big and spacious, even better- it has a window which provides the perfect view of Camelot and its markets. There were cupboards and a bed in perfect shape- all in all, it was a nice room. Not as nice and cushy as the prince's chambers but it could be as big as knights and had more furniture than it ought to to- that was nothing to scoff at.
He turns back, his eyes catching movement from the corner of his eyes- the old Physician seemed to be cleaning the space. Why did Gaius insist on doing everything by himself? He could have had maids cleaning this space for him, he ought not to trouble himself so much.
"Sire?" Gaius inquired when he saw Arthur, "Can I help you with something?"
The old man was still acting wary and perhaps Arthur deserved that- Nowadays, the Prince only contacted Gaius if he needed some questions answered and usually (Most probably always) those questions were about Magic. Illegal Question that would see Gaius dead, for answering, and Arthur in prison, for asking.
"Yes, Gaius." Arthur went and sat down on the double bed in the new chambers- patting it to check its springiness- before continuing, "Why have I never seen these chambers before today?"
Gaius heaves a sigh and lets the mop fall, he sat down on one of the two chairs opposite the bed, looking around at the room, he breathed out a nostalgic sigh,
"This room used to be where I used to heal magical ailments, only. Patients with magical maladies knew to meet me in these chambers and not the outer ones. Magical maladies are often very dangerous and if spread to a person without magic- they would not be able to withstand them."
The Physician cleared his throat before adding,
"Once the King outlawed magic, this room was of no more use, hence locked and used as a storeroom."
Gaius stops there still looking around the room as if remembering, but that does not explain why Arthur is seeing this room now.
"And now?" he asks, why was Gaius cleaning the room now, after 20 years? Why not just let it remain locked?
A smile spread across the physician's face, a smile unlike any he had ever seen before. Gaius gets up and picks up the mop again- his walk that of a man half his age- turning away from Arthur to continue cleaning.
"And now... I have my nephew coming to stay in Camelot. Tomorrow actually!" Gaius was mopping again, not stopping to speak, "He has apparently travelled a lot and is now looking for a stable job."
"A nephew?!" Arthur exclaims he didn't know Gaius had a family. He had never before mentioned one. A nephew?!
"Yes, Sire. My nephew." Looking at Arthur's still shocked face Gaius pauses but continues, "He went missing for a few years and I haven't seen him since he was a wee babe but I often wondered what had become of him..."
After a second, Gaius seems to shake himself from the reverie and adds with a proud smile, "Although, his mother now tells me that he has become a master of many things." He looks around both of the chambers, nods to himself and then adds,
"And since I needed someone here to help out with some chores- I called him here. In my old age, I know he will be perfect." Looking at Arthur again, Gaius explains further, "I had taught his mother the art of medicine and science, and she tells me that he too knows it- better than her even. He will be of great help to me here, sire." Gaius finishes as an explanation and Arthur nods.
Gaius was not the oldest man he knew but he was still old and an able-bodied person would be of much use to the physician. But a nephew? He was still having a hard time accepting that Gaius had a family that he didn't know about.
And listening to Gaius, he knew that the physician already thought of his nephew as a god's gift and Arthur automatically disliked the boy.
He looked at the physician once again and was shocked to feel a jolt of envy go through him.
Arthur had never had a relative that loved him enough to take him in, each of his relatives was a snake looking to take over the throne of Camelot. Gaius was the only one he had trusted to be vulnerable with and now his 'nephew' will surely come and take Arthur's place. Gaius probably won't need Arthur anymore.
And anyway-- what kind of a man left his mother alone? If Arthur had a mother, he would have never left her for anything... especially not for a job, even if it was in Camelot.
He looks back at the physician who had resumed cleaning once more, whistling whilst doing it. Another jolt goes through him, this time of longing. Whoever this 'nephew' was... he was very lucky. To have both Gaius and a mother.
In these days of famine and war, most parents and children died- leaving many children orphans and many parents lacking a child. He quickly got up and left, not wanting to delve any deeper into these dark thoughts on the eve of his birthday.
"Arthur." Gaius's voice stopped him from leaving, Arthur turned to look at the man who had basically brought him up while his father had been too busy for his son,
"Yes, Gaius?"
"Happy Nameday, my boy," Gaius said with a smile on his face and Arthur chuckled,
"It's not until tomorrow, old man." He reminded and Gaius smiled,
"Oh, I know."
-
Hours later when he heard the knock on his chamber doors and saw Guinevere with a wrapped present in her hands- only then did he realize that not only had he forgotten all about their meeting tonight but also the sole reason for his visit to Gaius. The oil.
-
Today was Arthur's birthday... many people celebrated, forgetting that it was also the day that his mother had died. The cursed day when Camelot had lost its Queen. His Mother.
To be fair, the only one in appropriate spirits (apart from Arthur) was his father, who was keener on the execution than on his birthday- Arthur wondered, had he loved someone as much as his father had loved his mother, would he have held executions too? Would he have gone as far as to execute an entire race for the crimes of a few?
He shook his head and pressed the bridge of his nose, such questions had always plagued him ever since that night, ever since...that thief stole into Arthur's chambers and stole his peace of mind.
Ever since the most powerful sorcerer came into the Prince of Camelot's chambers and did absolutely nothing to hurt him. He could have maimed Arthur, burned him as his father had burned countless Sorcerers, kidnapped him for ransom... taken all manners of revenge there were but instead...
He was brought out of his musings when Morris, his servant, knocked and entered his chambers. He bowed- as always, he was on time and creepily quiet- he kept Arthur's breakfast on the table and left just as quietly and Arthur sighed out quietly to himself,
'Happy Birthday, Arthur.'
He splashed water on his face, meeting his own eyes in the mirror, he refused to acknowledge the utter unhappiness he saw in them.
He snorted when saw the apple Morris had brought for him to eat and sighed before picking it and biting into it and forcing himself to swallow...it was turning out to be a brilliant day already.
He somehow managed to get himself dressed- somewhat presentable after 3-to-4 tries and smiled bitterly into the mirror- what a day to start the day- with a fresh execution.
He quickly donned his Circlet (to the head) and carried his sword with him to the Balcony where his father was going to be giving the speech.
*
For a second Merlin just looks.
Camelot... he huffs out a laugh as his eyes begin to itch. He loved Ambrosia- he didn't think anyone could NOT love Ambrosia but Camelot was... he shook his head, Camelot was Camelot. It was Home.
The last time when he was here it had been completely dark, he had come in like a thief in the night and left before sunrise. But now... the sun was rising, giving Camelot a veritable halo of its own. No one could dispute that Camelot was beautiful. Magnificent with its turrets and the market with its lively and lovely people, with the purity that had seen Uther's hatred and survived and given birth to a Princess like Morgana (before she turned into the wicked witch), given birth to a kind soul like Gwen and a bright luminous soul of his Prince, his King Arthur.
He had landed Thunder in the middle of the forest to put a glamour on him- making him seem like a normal everyday horse before galloping into Camelot.
On the way here, many random thoughts had plagued his mind. But few stood out, like how for 20 years Uther had started this stupid war against magic and achieved jack shit. Magic was present more dominantly in Camelot than anywhere else he had been (except maybe Ambrosia). There was magic in every brick and stone that made this Kingdom and as Merlin entered it, it felt like he was being embraced by it... that Camelot's spirit was rejoicing with his presence just as much as Merlin was rejoicing in being here. It proved to him that Camelot was a temple for Magic and no matter how many times Uther invaded, plundered and attempted to destroy it- it would stand strong no matter what because the magic was what made Camelot, Camelot.
Without the magic, it would be just a building, dead like many others and that would be a travesty- assured is to say that It did not have enough magic to form a personality of her own- neither did Ambrosia, for to create a personality, a castle such as Ambrosia and Camelot needed many centuries, they needed time- but it did have enough to identify Merlin as Magic and greet him heartily
As he was Magic himself, he could feel Camelot's presence brighten up in his presence. Animals came out of their shelter to greet him, fawns, ducks, rabbits and funnily enough- multitudes of merlin birds. It was like they knew what was about to come.
In the past, his entry to Camelot had felt momentous.... this time, it felt like coming back Home.
When he got closer to the castle, he could hear Uther's voice and recognised it as the speech he had heard when he had entered Camelot in the past. He had hoped that since Ambrosia had been formed that these executions would come to a standstill... but apparently not.
'20 years since the ban on evil Magic' he hears Uther drone...
Merlin dismounted Thunder and patted him on the side, mentally thanking him for the ride.
He then paid the stable boy and gave him specific instructions about his diet.
Merlin knew that he would have to come regularly to make sure that Thunder was comfortable (and glamoured to hide his wings) and also that he was being given enough apples in his diet- for Thunder, much like Merlin, loved apples and also the warlock will make sure that he is not saddled at all times and take him for flights every other day....
Amidst his worrying, he feels Thunder nuzzle him and mentally chiding him to 'not to worry' making Merlin laugh.
He is just stoking Thunder's mane and distractedly listening to Uther's speech when he feels Destiny's eyes on him, they are almost a physical presence with their intensity. He is curious as to who it is who could be so intensely focused on Merlin from the very minute he entered Camelot and turns his head towards the direction of the stare.
Surprisingly...actually, not so surprisingly, his eyes clashed with his Golden Prince's blue orbs and Merlin tried not to smirk... oh, Arthur, do you recognize me My King... or is your soul which recognizes your other half so blatantly?
Merlin forces himself to turn away, patted Thunder for one last time and made his way quickly to the guards stationed around.
He knew his way around Camelot like the back of his hand but he was pretending to be new in Camelot, so, it won't do well for his cover if he didn't ask for directions.
He quickly followed the directions to the physician's chambers, making his demeanour as harmless as he could. The guard points toward the opposite side of the Castle and Merlin makes his way across the courtyard.
But before he exits, his curiosity makes him pause to see the person who is being executed- as he was sure that at this moment in time Thomas and his mother were selling their magical candles in Ambrosia.
So, he wanted to find out who actually was being executed, instead.
He looks up towards the executioner's block and his eyes widen in surprise.
He knew the man who was being executed, in fact, he remembers killing this man himself-- In the past.
Kanen. This was the same man that had led raiding parties on Ealdor, murdered innocent people and raped young girls. He was a blight on this planet and Merlin for the first time did not feel a lick of regret as he stared straight at the frightened face of the raider, into his frightened eyes, knowing that his end was near- in fact, Merlin revelled in such a look, Kanen was getting what he deserved.
He hated executions in general but for this one, he stayed and watched it till the end.
He watched as the headman landed his axe on Kanen's head, watched how on the first hit the head didn't sever completely so the headman had to axe a still alive Kanen once again- many people winced and looked away but Merlin continued watching. Death should be painful for people like Kanen, he hoped all the souls Kanen had tortured will get some peace after this. All the children he had sold into slavery will hear the news of his painful death and rejoice.
Once the courtyard had all but emptied, he slowly looked away from the severed head of Kanen and sent a mental thanks to whoever who had caught Kanen and then made his way towards the direction the guard pointed the physician's chambers to be.
He didn't look back, not even once but he smiled softly as he continued to feel his Prince's eyes boring into his back.
'Soon, My King,' Merlin thought, 'Soon.'
*
Arthur had made his way to the balcony in record time but his father had already started the speech. He had just nodded to Gaius in greeting and moved on to Morgana to do the same. Only to see that she wasn't doing what she usually did- that was scowling at Uther- but looking at someone in the courtyard.
Arthur followed her line of sight and saw the object of her attention- of her distraction...
It was a man (no surprise there) but this time even Arthur had to agree... there was something most striking about this man.
The said man was currently dismounting his magnificent horse in one smooth glide and then seemed to pay the stable boy for the horse's care.
For a while the man just seemed to shower attention on his horse, then as if feeling eyes on him he suddenly turned his head, over his wide shoulders and met Arthur's eyes. Unflinching, undaunted... unintimidated by his obvious Royal status.
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Arthur would have turned away but he found that he couldn't... Instead of focusing on his father as he ought to, he focused on the man-He was new in Camelot, Arthur was sure of it...very new for there was something foreign about this man- or was it something very familiar? He shook his head when the stranger's eyes moved away from his own and Arthur felt as if he was finally able to breathe again.
The man was too far away for Arthur to make out his features but the man looked fit enough to be a knight and given the quality of his horse and the type of clothes he wore... maybe the man was a son of a lord- in Camelot, surely to try out for Knighthood.
That gave Arthur something to look forward to, he needed able-bodied men in his contingent. Maybe he will take the man under his wing- for the man looked capable, Arthur could tell so just by his gait and heavens knew that Camelot needed more men like this one.
The stranger's gait was confident even in a strange city, he walked more like a King than a lord though. More like a panther, graceful and deadly- the man paused to observe the execution and Arthur does not miss the sudden stiffness, the frozen shock on the stranger and knows immediately that the stranger recognizes Kanen.
The stranger Knows Kanen and could very easily let Uther know that Kanen was no sorcerer...
But the man does nothing to stop the execution, instead, he watches on calmly and hell if that doesn't make Arthur even more curious.
There was just something about him...He thinks but couldn't for the life of him put his finger on what it is that needles Arthur. A throat clears beside him and his head snaps to see Morgana, looking at him, just as curiously as he had looked at the stranger.
"What?" He asked and huffed out in exasperation when Morgana just smirked, he rolled his eyes before surpassing her to move back into the Castle.
He had too much work to do to even waste a second of his time on Morgana- he needs to send contingents on patrol to look for the Dragon and the Kingdom, needed to train his knights, prepare himself for the feast tonight and- he clicks his fingers as he feels his shoulder twinge in pain- he needed to ask Gaius for that godforsaken oil-
He stutters to a stop- but first, he needed to get to training--perhaps, perhaps he will see that man there again. And perhaps he will get a gift on this day in the form of a good duel.