diner-drama - Tumblr blog

diner-drama · 1 year

Text

Determination (6/6)

Merlin may not know much, but he knows not to believe any old prophecy a dragon tells him, especially without proof. He came to Camelot to determine his own fate, not to blindly follow his supposed destiny.

He even turns down King Uther's offer to work as a servant for the insufferable Prince Arthur, but they just can't seem to stop crossing paths.

Other chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Also on AO3.

Merlin chuckled as he leaned on the fence beside the training grounds and watched Lancelot scurry back and forth across the grass, holding a shield to protect him from the axes that the knights were throwing at him.

"It seems that something about being in my service has given Morris a nervous complaint of the heart," Arthur called as he let fly his axe into the centre of the shield. "He has decided to retire, and Lancelot will be taking on his duties from now on."

"My commiserations," said Leon, nevertheless throwing an axe with enthusiasm and grinning when it thudded into the wood.

"I am honoured to serve the prince," panted Lancelot, peeking over his shield and then ducking down again just in time to avoid an axe to the head.

Ready for one final round of "spot the Buffy quote"?

"My commiserations," said Leon, nevertheless throwing an axe with enthusiasm and grinning when it thudded into the wood.

"I am honoured to serve the prince," panted Lancelot, peeking over his shield and then ducking down again just in time to avoid an axe to the head.

"Keep going until all of you have hit the centre of the target at least three times," Arthur instructed them, spying Merlin at the fence and jogging over to speak to him. Merlin greeted him with a sunny grin.

"Don't you ever have work to do?" asked the prince.

"Are you calling this work?"

"You wouldn't understand the rigours of military training," teased Arthur, pinching Merlin's bicep.

"Yes, I can imagine that it's a terrible burden for you to have to spend your days chucking weapons at people."

"He's certainly brave, I'll give him that," Arthur commented, watching as Lancelot calmly coached Sir Pellinore on his technique while dodging the flying axes.

"And you've got him bravely scrubbing your back and fluffing your royal pillows."

Arthur leaned back against the fence, giving Merlin an amused, sidelong look. "Don't tell me you want to be my manservant after all. I'm sure we could find you something to occupy your time."

"Tempting though that offer may be, Gaius finds me absolutely indispensable," said Merlin loftily.

"He's in desperate need for someone to stand around watching my training sessions?"

Merlin grinned and pulled a sad, limp bundle of catchweed from his pocket. "I'll have you know, I'm collecting vital reagents."

"Mm-hmm."

"Besides, what if one of you gets injured? Surely having a healer on hand is a good idea. In fact, it's quite irresponsible of you not to have had one before now."

Arthur looked like he was about to disagree, but stopped short when one of the younger knights let his axe go a little too early in the swing and narrowly avoided it falling on his own head.

The prince sighed and shook his head. "Come on, Merlin. You have your duties to attend to, and I have mine. We can't spend time talking like this."

"You're the one who walked over to me!"

"You're the one who was standing here, looking all-" countered Arthur, waving his hand vaguely.

"Looking all what?"

Arthur's eyes flicked to Merlin's lips, and then he looked away, towards the ground. "Get back to work, Merlin," he said curtly, and strode away.

A terrifying vision sliced through Morgana's dreams, and she awoke with a start with Arthur's name on her lips. Gwen was by her side in a flash, stroking her hair and murmuring reassurance while Morgana grabbed the soft fabric of her maid's gown and tried to calm herself.

"One of your bad dreams?" asked Gwen softly, once Morgana's breathing had slowed.

"Arthur's in danger," said Morgana, collecting her wits and drying her eyes. "I saw him drowning, and a woman laughing over him. We must warn him immediately."

"The prince left early this morning to go hunting."

"Alone?" she asked, alarmed.

"Lancelot is with him," Gwen reassured her, carding her fingers through Morgana's hair. "They went on foot, so they won't have gone far."

"We must go after them and warn them," decided Morgana, climbing out of bed and shaking the last vestiges of sleep from her head. "Go and saddle my horse while I get dressed. She could attack at any moment."

Lancelot and Arthur were halfway back to the castle from their hunting trip when a scream ripped through the trees. Sharing a look, they dropped the deer carcass they were hauling between them and sprinted towards the source of the sound. A beautiful woman in a golden dress and an old man were pinned down in a clearing, beset by a gang of bandits.

Before they could draw their swords, the sound of hoofbeats thundered into the clearing and Morgana's horse barrelled into the bandits, knocking them over like bowling pins. As she climbed off the horse's back and helped Gwen to do the same, the prince and his servant drew their swords, bearing down on the ruffians until they fled into the trees.

"Arthur, I came to warn you-" started Morgana hurriedly, rushing over to him and taking him by the shoulders. She was interrupted when the woman in the golden dress got to her feet and laid a gentle hand on her arm.

"Thank you so much for your help," she said in a soft, musical voice. Morgana's jaw went slack as she gazed into her eyes.

"It was my pleasure," replied Morgana in a dream-like voice, bowing to kiss her hand. "You look familiar - do I know you?"

Lancelot reached out a hand to help the old man up from the ground. "Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, no, I'm quite well," the man replied, taking Lancelot's hand and rising unsteadily to his feet with the help of his staff. "I am Aulfric, and this is my daughter Sophia."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," said the prince, a similarly glazed look in his eyes as he kissed Sophia's hand. "Come, we will take you back to the palace. Lancelot, go and get the deer."

Gwen was left behind with the horse, frowning at the back of Morgana's head, as Morgana and Arthur attended to Sophia like lovesick puppies all the way back to the castle, Morgana's dire warning forgotten.

Late that afternoon, Lancelot knocked on the door to Sophia's guest chamber, a tray of food balanced on one hand.

"My lady, I thought you might be hungry after your ordeal," he said softly when she opened the door. She didn't seem particularly glad to see him, but her initial scowl of irritation was gone in an instant, smoothed out from her face and replaced with a smile.

"Please, come in," she said politely. Lancelot crossed to the table and set down the tray, uncovering the platters.

"It's not much, just some fruit, bread and milk, but I hope it will tide you over until the evening meal."

"Quite the offering," she murmured, looking reluctantly pleased. "Sit, you must stay and eat with me."

"Thank you, my lady," he replied, taking the chair opposite her. After waiting for her to break off some of the bread, he took an apple and began to cut it into slices with his pocket knife, eating it slowly. "I hear you are to travel to Carleon. It is a perilous journey indeed."

"You have travelled there yourself?" she asked, spreading the butter thickly over the bread.

"Only once, as part of my training. By hand, I climbed the rocks by the great waterfall of the Northern Plains, west of Idirsholas."

"Surely that can't be the only route available?"

"No, there is an alternative path to the south, through Stonedown and Howden. That is the route that I suggest you take."

"Did Arthur travel with you?"

"No, I had not yet entered the prince's service at that time. I am sure he would have scaled the cliff face with ease."

"You speak highly of your employer."

"He is a good man," Lancelot replied simply. "I'm sure you must be tired after your journey. I will prevail upon you no longer."

With a courteous bow, he left the room. Sophia watched him leave with a curious glint in her eyes.

Gwen came barging into Gaius' workshop just as Merlin was about to take the first bite of his dinner.

"Something's wrong with Morgana," she announced, tightening her mouth in disapproval and crossing her arms. Reluctantly, Merlin put down his spoon and exchanged a look with Lancelot.

"Do you think it's the Elanthia beetle again?" asked Gaius, already opening one of his books. "Some lingering after-effects, perhaps?"

"No, it's..." she tailed off, struggling to find the right words. "Ever since that Sophia woman arrived, it's like she's got her under some kind of spell."

"That's a very serious accusation," said Gaius gravely. "If the lady Sophia is found guilty of sorcery, Uther will have her hanged."

"Lancelot, you were there when we met her in the forest. Didn't you think something strange was happening?" she entreated, turning to him.

Lancelot made a face, considering this. "The prince and the lady Morgana did both seem rather..."

"Enchanted?" asked Gwen pointedly.

"Taken with her, at least," he conceded. "I confess, the prince has talked of her a great deal since then."

"And Morgana had one of her prophetic dreams this morning, she told me so herself," continued Gwen passionately. "She saw Arthur drowning, and a woman was standing over him, and when we first met Sophia, I think she recognised her."

"If she's going to put Arthur in danger, then she needs to be stopped," said Merlin, standing up. "It doesn't matter how pretty she is. Is she very pretty?"

Lancelot and Gwen exchanged a look and then both nodded.

"She needs to be stopped," said Merlin darkly.

"I had hoped that we would be alone," said Sophia tightly as she, Arthur, and Lancelot picked their way through the Darkling Woods.

"Oh, don't mind Lancelot," replied Arthur breezily. "If he hadn't managed to persuade my father to let me off of guard duty, I wouldn't be out here with you. Besides, someone needs to carry the picnic basket."

"I'm happy to serve, my lord," said Lancelot, slightly out of breath from the weight of the food and blankets that were strapped to his back. "Watch out!" he cautioned, stopping the prince before he took another step.

"What?" scoffed Arthur, looking down at the forest floor. "It's just a ring of toadstools. Don't tell me you go in for those old traditions about not offending the fairies. It's a silly superstition."

"Nonetheless, sire," insisted Lancelot gently, steering him away. Arthur rolled his eyes but continued on towards the river bank. Sophia paused, watching with interest as Lancelot broke off a small piece of bread from his pack and crouched down to lay it next to the ring as an offering.

"You may find it silly, my lady," he murmured as he stood, with an embarrassed smile, "but life has taught me to pay my respects to whoever crosses my path."

"Not a lot of people in these lands still know the old ways," she said, seeming almost shy as they looked down at the fairy ring together. "It's rare to find one so respectful."

Lancelot didn't have a chance to respond to this before an axe came whizzing through the trees and Sophia, with more strength and agility than he would have expected from her slight frame, tackled him to the ground. The axe thudded harmlessly into the trunk of the tree behind them, and Sophia's eyes flicked downward to his lips before she remembered herself and stood up hurriedly. Arthur came running back and took in the scene with a scowl of displeasure.

"Thank you, my lady," said Lancelot quietly, getting to his feet and waving to the apologetic guard who had thrown the axe.

"Sorry, Lancelot!" called Pellinore. "Thought you were a bandit."

"His aim is improving, at least," grunted Arthur. "Come on, this picnic won't eat itself."

Aulfric's head whipped around as Sophia slipped into their chambers.

"You've not been gone as long as I expected."

"I, um," she stammered, turning pink. "There were some complications. The prince's servant-"

"You couldn't dispose of a serving boy? Would you like me to do it for you?"

"No!" she snapped. "Lancelot was respectful. He brought me an offering, and he knows the old ways."

"Do not grow fond of a mortal man," he warned her. "Their lives are so brief. Once you have your place in Avalon, his time will pass in the blink of an eye."

"I know, father."

"You must bewitch the prince. Only his death can pay for eternal life."

Sophia looked down, refusing to meet his eye, but she was saved the task of formulating a response by a knock on the door. She unlatched it to see the prince standing there, a charming smile on his face.

"My lady," he said decorously with a small bow. "I'm here to invite you to accompany me on a walk in the forest on the morrow."

"Will your manservant be attending?" asked Aulfric, gripping Sophia's shoulder in warning when she moved to speak. "I wouldn't like my Sophia to spend too much time in the company of low-born men."

"I thought perhaps it could be just the two of us," replied Arthur. "I promise that your daughter will have all of my protection."

"Then it's agreed," said Aulfric jovially, beaming at Arthur until he left.

Morgana gripped the arms of her throne with all of her strength until the wood creaked under her fingertips, trying hard to keep her magic powers in control as her heart broke in her chest. From behind Arthur and Sophia, Gwen and Lancelot were watching her with wary eyes.

Uther's laughter boomed through the great hall, and Arthur's scowl deepened.

"I'm serious, father. The lady Sophia and I are to be married."

"Arthur, you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone," said Uther wearily, still chuckling to himself. "You are far too young to be married, and when you are, it will be a match of strategic importance."

"You can't stop us," declared Arthur. "We're in love."

Morgana leaned forwards in her throne. "Is this true, Sophia?" she entreated softly.

"I-" started Sophia, and then she hesitated, looking between Arthur, Lancelot, Morgana, and her father. "Perhaps... perhaps we could delay until we're older," she said reluctantly.

"Sophia, I-" said Arthur, looking heartbroken.

"There, it's settled," declared Uther, relaxing. "Son, I will forgive this insolence. I, too, was young once."

For a moment, Arthur was too shocked to speak, but then he released Sophia's hand and strode out of the room.

"Arthur?" said Merlin softly, knocking on his chamber door. "Are you crying?"

The prince's head whipped up to glare at him through puffy eyes. "I beg your pardon?" he snapped. "Get out of here, Merlin."

"Lancelot told me what happened," Merlin continued in the same tone, holding his hands up as though approaching a wild animal. "It must have been difficult for you. I know that you feel as though you love her very much."

"What do you know about anything?"

"I know what it feels like to love someone who doesn't want to be with you."

A confused look crossed Arthur's face, as though he were desperately trying to remember something, but before he could respond, Aulfric came sweeping into the room, pulling his daughter along with him.

"You must elope with Sophia," he announced. "It is the only way."

"Yes," agreed Arthur immediately, his expression clearing once more, and the blue of his eyes turning into a deep, fiery red. "The only way."

"I don't want to do it," hissed Sophia, struggling to get out of her father's grip. "Let go of me!"

Quick as a flash, Lancelot appeared in the doorway behind the old man, his sword at Aulfric's throat.

"Let her go," he said calmly.

With an irritated twitch of his staff, Aulfric threw Lancelot against the wall as though he were swatting a fly, and Lancelot's head hit the wall with a crack, knocking him unconscious. Sophia let out a growl of pure rage and directed a bolt of lightning at her father, which he only just dodged in time.

Aulfric turned to Arthur. "Go to the lake," he instructed him, before turning back to his daughter and letting fly a curse which blasted her across the room.

Glassy-eyed, Arthur began to walk towards the door as though compelled by an invisible force.

"Where do you think you're going?" said Merlin. Leaping at him, he knocked Arthur to the floor and straddled him, pinning him down by the wrists as he struggled to leave.

Sophia picked herself off the floor and turned to face her father with a snarl. "I'm not leaving Lancelot behind," she declared. "I love him."

"He's but a mortal man," spat Aulfric. "His life is too short to be of any consequence." He raised his staff to shoot a spell towards Lancelot's prone body, but Sophia was faster, and her spell hit the centre of her father's chest.

Aulfric only had time to gasp before he disintegrated into a cloud of ash. Immediately, Sophia dropped her staff as though she had been burned, and tears sprang to her eyes.

"Father," she whispered, dropping to her knees. With shaking hands, she picked up a handful of ash and let it sift through her fingers onto the floor.

"My lady," said Lancelot, stirring. He reached out a hand to touch her shoulder and she shrugged it off, snarling.

"Don't touch me," she spat. "We never should have come to this accursed place. See to your prince - I will not be returning."

With that, she picked up both staffs and ran from the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Merlin, what on earth do you think you're doing?" exclaimed Arthur, looking up at him in bewilderment. Merlin laughed in relief and released his grip on Arthur's wrists as he watched his prince's eyes return to their usual blue. Joyfully, he cupped Arthur's cheek and kissed him, smiling against his lips when the prince returned the kiss, his mouth opening to deepen their embrace.

The sound of Lancelot getting unsteadily to his feet broke Merlin's concentration, and he suddenly remembered himself and released Arthur, standing up and not meeting his eye.

"Merlin-" said Arthur quietly, but whatever he was about to say was interrupted when Morgana burst into the room, pure, incandescent rage in her eyes.

"Your fiancée just stole my horse!" she shouted, before stopping short at the scene in front of her. "What happened here?"

"I think we need to ask Gaius about it," said Merlin quickly, happy to have an excuse to leave the room. "I'll explain on the way."

"I need to speak to my father," sighed Arthur, peeling himself off the floor. "I don't think I'm going to enjoy this conversation."

"It serves you right," replied Morgana.

"Perhaps," mumbled Arthur, setting his jaw. "Lancelot, clean this up."

"Of course, sire," said Lancelot, looking about him at the ash that covered the floor.

With a commiserating look at Lancelot, Merlin slipped out of the room and started along the corridor, Morgana and Gwen hurrying to catch up.

"What was that woman?" asked Morgana.

"One of the Sidhe, according to Gaius," said Merlin. "I spied on Aulfric when he sneaked out to go to the lake. They were planning to sacrifice Arthur to achieve immortality."

"I've never felt magic that powerful," said Morgana, shaking her head. "How did you stop them?"

"I didn't!" exclaimed Merlin. "Sophia must have changed her mind, she killed her father and then ran away."

"My vision didn't come to pass," she murmured, almost to herself. "How can that be?"

"Destiny isn't fixed!" shouted Merlin, losing his temper. "I don't know how many people I have to explain this to before it sinks in." He slammed open the door to Gaius' workshop.

"I could hear you yelling all the way along the corridor," the old man reprimanded him. "I take it that your little talk with Arthur went badly."

"Of course it did! Even when he's not being ensorcelled by evil fairies, the man's still an idiot," said Merlin.

"The enchantment has been broken, then?"

"It certainly has," said Morgana. "Merlin, you mustn't be too angry with Arthur. The spell that Sophia cast - it was like being in love."

"She must have been powerful indeed," murmured Gwen. "The way you were looking at her, I've never seen you look at anyone that way... I mean, apart from-" She broke off, and turned pink.

"Apart from you, Gwen!" burst out Merlin, exasperated. "If the two of you insist on being as clueless as Arthur I'm going to set something on fire. Please, go away and have a real conversation before I burn this castle to the ground."

With that, he stomped away and threw himself onto his bed, clamping a pillow over his head and howling in frustration.

Gaius sighed, and quietly shooed Morgana and Gwen from the room. After looking at each other, shell-shocked, they shyly linked hands and walked through the door together.

"I'll give him some chores to do," he assured them in a whisper. "That usually cheers him up."

Merlin was grumbling to himself as he cleaned a particularly stubborn bit of grime at the bottom of a cauldron, when he was interrupted by a soft knock at the door of Gaius' workshop. He looked up to see Arthur leaning against the wall, watching him fondly.

"I've just had a very interesting conversation with my father about the rules of Camelot," said the prince in a casual tone.

"Oh yeah?" said Merlin, putting down his brush and drying his hands on a towel.

"Apparently they're incredibly important."

"Really."

"The whole kingdom could fall, if the prince were to break the rules," he continued, a little smile playing around his lips.

Merlin gave him a look. "If you say so."

"I take it that you disagree."

"I don't know what kind of king you're going to be, Arthur," said Merlin wearily, standing up to look him in the eyes, "but I know that only you have control over your destiny."

"You really believe that, don't you?" replied Arthur, reaching out to trace his thumb over Merlin's cheekbone, his fingers resting lightly on the side of his face.

"I know it," said Merlin, a fierce light in his blue eyes.

"I hope you're smarter than you look," murmured Arthur, his thumb drifting down to stroke across Merlin's lower lip. "Because I'm starting to believe you."

Merlin grinned against his lips as they kissed, and took great pleasure in pinning the prince against the wall to chase all thoughts of destiny out of his head for good.

#my fics #merthur #morgwen #merlin #determination

11 notes · View notes