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Merlin fic: An Unexpected Turn of Events {1/3}
Title: An Unexpected Turn of Events (1/3)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Lancelot/Gwen, mention of Arthur/Gwen
Spoilers: Takes place after 2x10 “Sweet Dreams”
Disclaimer: The show Merlin is property of the BBC.
Summary: Lancelot comes back. And with that, the return of someone Merlin can confide in honestly.
~ * ~
Merlin sighed in the middle of picking medicinal herbs for Gaius. Idly, he whispered a few words and some of the fallen leaves swept off the ground and started to dance in the air. Smiling softly, Merlin, again, couldn’t help but yearn for the day when he didn’t have to resort to these stolen moments of practicing his magic – as if it were evil. That hurt more than anything because magic was deeply a part of him. The insinuation that this made him evil by extension was difficult to bear… So, he tried not to let the thought consume him.
He found that he was performing magic in a more careless manner than ever before – part wishing someone – Arthur – would find out already and the tension of waiting, of wondering what he might think would be over with – and the other part was getting a delight from seeing how much magic he could get away with without drawing suspicion. This was a dangerous game; Merlin knew (the encounter with the Witchfinder proved that fact to him). It was likely to get him killed, but he was impatient… and it was getting harder by the day to deny that part of himself – his magic – to keep who he truly was under lock and key and to hide his true nature from Arthur.
And even King Uther had begun to trust him even more than before after the incident with Morgause. Merlin remembered when the king looked to him, clearly frustrated at Arthur’s uncharacteristic behavior whilst under his enchantment, and asked Merlin what had happened to Arthur.
Uther had addressed him… showing that he respected Merlin, now, at least on some level. Merlin hadn’t anticipated that to happen – that the king who banned magic would come to respect him. Merlin. Still, that would mean little when the fact of Merlin's magic was revealed -- no matter the respect gained, the unraveling of his secret would surely mean his execution.
The king's respect for him made it all the worse, Merlin feared. When the truth did come to light, King Uther would certainly not go easy on him at such a heavy betrayal.
Merlin shook his head, trying to dispel the unpleasant thoughts. He continued to enchant the leaves to dance in a slow, leisurely pace.
He had just begun to make the leaves form the shape of a bird when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.
“I see you're still up to your old tricks, Merlin.”
Merlin turned around quickly -- recognizing that voice and those familiar words anywhere. The leaves fell back to the ground, the spell ended abruptly due to Merlin’s shock.
“Lancelot?” He exclaimed in surprise. “Why are you here now?”
Lancelot smiled somberly at him. “I wanted to see Gwen… I thought it was wrong of me to leave her without saying goodbye. It was--”
“A bit cowardly, I’d say,” Merlin contributed. He gave him a small smile.
Lancelot reluctantly smiled back at him, nodding briefly to acknowledge his error. “Yes, right. You’re right. You understand that I didn’t want to get in the way. Camelot is not my home, but it is Gwen’s and I did not wish to stir conflict between her and Arthur. I could leave easily, but for her, it would be much harder.”
Merlin nodded, trying to appear understanding. “I’m not too sure if it’s a good time to see Gwen. There was, very recently, a situation and well, Gwen has been a bit down as of late.”
“What happened?” Lancelot questioned.
Merlin sat down before a tree, leaning back against the rough bark. Lancelot followed suit as he sat beside him. He looked to Merlin expectantly.
And so Merlin explained about the four kings coming to visit Camelot for peace negotiations and how one king secretly wanted war – using magic in the form of enchantment to incite war. He told him about Arthur being enchanted to fall in love with Lady Vivian at the expense of his relationship – albeit secret yet still undeniable – with Gwen. Gwen had been heartbroken – not knowing that Arthur’s feelings for Vivian weren’t genuine. That it was all an enchantment.
He explained to Lancelot how it all ended – that to break the enchantment, Arthur needed to be kissed by his true love. When Merlin had found this out, at the same time, Arthur was losing the tourney against Vivian’s father who was rightly furious at seeing the prince and his daughter in a compromising position.
It was fortunate that he knew who could break the enchantment – the person who Arthur saw as his true love…
Merlin could see the resigned look in Lancelot’s eyes. He knew how much this was hurting the former knight of Camelot.
“And Gwen was that person?” Lancelot asked, his eyes showing he knew the answer.
Merlin nodded. “The enchantment was broken as a result. Gwen told me that she talked to Arthur after the tourney. She told him that they couldn’t go on like this. She said that she couldn’t be his queen – it wasn’t right to entertain the idea now,” Merlin told him.
Then, he took a small twig from the ground and made circular motions in the air with the twig. A thin line of bright light appeared as he continued the motion until a circle outlined by shining light was hanging in the air in front of him – held up by his magic.
Lancelot observed the magic being conjured before his eyes for a moment before he turned to Merlin and said, “Is it wise to do that, Merlin? You have my word, of course, that I will not tell a soul, but we’re still out in the open. Anyone could come into the forest and see you.”
Merlin shrugged. “You shouldn’t be so worried. Do you want to know something, Lancelot?”
“What?”
“I fell in love with a girl. This was right before the Lady Vivian incident. Her name was Freya. Would you like to know what I promised her?”
Lancelot did not like the rather wild look in Merlin’s eyes. He somewhat doubted that Merlin was thinking with his head at the moment.
“I promised to look after her. To escape with her. For us to find a place where we would be safe, free from the fear of persecution.”
“She was like you--?”
Merlin nodded, confirming Lancelot’s words. “She was one of the Druids. She was magic – like me.”
Merlin looked away from him then.
“Merlin? What happened to her?”
“She’s gone now,” he told him quietly, still not looking at Lancelot.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Lancelot said, not sure what else to say, what he was supposed to do.
Merlin seemed to shake himself out of the moment. Then he finally looked at Lancelot, smiling at the man.
“It’s nice to see you here, Lancelot. I feel like I can be honest with you without settling for half-truths.”
“Arthur doesn’t know about your magic, does he?”
Merlin shook his head. “No, he doesn’t,” He said and let out a sigh. He looked out ahead of him, somewhat comforted by the forest’s tranquility surrounding him. “It’s only you and Gaius. Sometimes it could be so…frustrating.”
Lancelot reached out his hand to squeeze the other man’s shoulder to express his sympathy.
Merlin turned back to him. “I didn’t mean to put all this on you. You wish to see Gwen, don’t you?”
The other man stared at him in surprise. “But you said that it wasn’t a good time! And then, your story about true love’s kiss-”
Merlin waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve thought about it and you’re right. It would be good to clear the air with her. You did leave her rather suddenly. That wasn’t fair to Gwen.”
Lancelot opened his mouth, ready to answer him, but Merlin held up his hand to stop his words. Merlin continued on, “I also said that Gwen broke it off with Arthur for now. Gwen telling him that ‘She couldn’t be his queen – it wasn’t right to entertain the idea now’ – remember that bit?”
“Yes – for now – there’s still a chance. I don’t want to cause trouble, Merlin.”
Merlin stood up. He looked down at Lancelot as he spoke. “Gwen may be Arthur’s true love. But, maybe…the feeling might not be mutual.”
“Merlin…”
“I could test it, you know. I could try at least. Maybe you’re her--”
Lancelot stood up then abruptly. He covered Merlin’s mouth with his hand. “All right! You’ve made your point. I came here to talk to Gwen and it would be wrong to be deterred now.”
Merlin grinned at him.
And so the two of them set off toward Gwen’s house.
~ * ~
Chapter 2
no subject
Merlin magic-ing the leaves into the shape of a bird <3
Thank god for Lancelot, seriously. He needs to drop by now and again, if only to provide a vent so Merlin doesn't expire of angst (well, that and cuz he rocks the stubbly, unwashed look like no one since Aragorn.)But seriously, because Merlin's talk of Freya, and the wild look in his eyes, and his dreams of a place where he can just be who his is, is heartwrenching.
And I have to say I hadn't really thought of what the True Love's Kiss story would do to poor Lancelot. :( Enchantment-breaking kisses don't exactly lie.
And, impurely, He covered Merlin’s mouth with his hand.
Ugh you cannot tease with the Merlin/Lancelot and then not deliever. All this trust and heartfelt conversations in secluded forests! It is cruel, I say! (I do like that Lancelot, at least, calls Merlin on his absurdly reckless use of magic, btw. Is it wrong to want this to lead to a heated argument, to lead to tree-pinning? ....PROBABLY.)
no subject
Love Merlin's conflicting emotions about his magic and Uther and Arthur.
And LANCELOT! He really does need to be around more if only to stop Merlin from going mad!
no subject
Yeah, poor Merlin - he's not sure what to do anymore. :(
I hope to update soon. Arthur will make an appearance in the next chapter. :)