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It isn't long before Merlin and Mordred are sat on the Knights bed facing each other, one looking curious and the other not knowing where to start. After a few seconds of silence, it's Mordred that speaks first "Merlin you can tell me anything, no one can hear through the door unless we want them to" his voice is kind, but there's worry for the other man hiding just beneath it.
Merlin hears it and can't help but chuckle "I'm figuring out where to start. There's alot of things I've learned in the past 9 and a half years Mordred. Not all of it good or light hearted" he says, causing the druid to frown slightly as a haunted look appears in his friends eyes. Mordred can't help but reach out and rest his hand on the one Merlin's left resting on the bed in support "I find starting from the begining is best" he says playfully, hoping it helps bring the man out of whatever memories he's having.
It seems to work, as Merlin gives him a look that he gives Arthur whenever he's being a smart ass, before he laughs quietly "look at you joking around, Gwaine's rubbed off on you it seems" he says with a fond look on his face, causing Mordred to light up a little as it's the first good thing Merlin's seen about him since he was knighted.
Merlin seems to think through something before he nods to himself "okay so you know about Emrys and the once and future king, that much I know. Is there anything else you've heard or discovered during your time with the druids?" He asks, suprising Mordred with his openness and the rather large question to start the whole conversation off.
Mordred shrugs slightly "I know Emrys is supposed to help the once and future king bring around a golden age and being magic back to Camelot, therefore uniting Albion at some point in time" he says, though he can already guess Merlin knows that as his expression doesn't change much as he nods "I also know that Emrys means immortal, though I don't know if you've ever heard that or been told" he says softly, watching as Merlin's expression changes to shock, then realisation then he just groans quietly.
Mordred stays quiet for awhile as Merlin goes between groaning, cursing, grumbling about someone called Kilgharrah and then sighing softly "I did not know about that, but thank you for sharing that" he says quietly, as Mordred pat's his hand to let him know he's there for him as he wraps his mind around it. When the younger man doesn't add anything else, Merlin sighs quietly as he knows it's his turn to share information and he's not looking forward to the druids reactions in the slightest.
He sits up a little straighter "when I first got to Camelot, I was called down beneath the castle, where I met the great dragon" he says, watching as Mordred's eyes slowly grow wider and all the more curious "there I found out I was Emrys and that I had a destiny to protect Arthur" he says, noticing that Mordred's head tilts in confusion at the fact that Merlin had never known such an important detail about himself "I didn't believe it, I fought with Arthur constantly in those first couple of days and yet I was supposed to protect him" Merlin says in amusement, thankful for the fact that Mordred looked just as amused by this as he felt.
He shakes his head slightly as he goes through those first few days again and chuckles even more "we fought, I got arrested and he still decided to have a mace fight with me in the middle of the market. I would have won if it wasn't for Gaius distracting me." He says with a smirk on his face, much to Mordred's shock "after all that I saved his life when a witch disguised herself as a singer Uther had invited and threw a knife at him" he says, watching as Mordred smiles slightly.
Merlin's smile drops slightly before he speaks again "it was a few months later when I heard someone yelling for help" he says, watching as recognition appears in the druids eyes "no one in the castle seemed to hear it or react as that call for help turned panicked, it was then I felt their magic and followed it" he says, watching as the look in Mordred's eyes changed to awe and Merlin realised that the younger man didn't actually know how Merlin knew he needed the help at the time "there I found a scared little boy, who to my suprise was talking to me without moving his mouth. So still following that magic trail I spoke back the same way" he says, replicating it between them now which causes Mordred to giggle quietly.
Merlin can't help but smile softly at the sound, "I helped him and got him to safety, but he was gravely injured and I had only just started paying attention to what Gaius was teaching me" he continues gravely, watching as Mordred calms himself down enough to pay full attention to him once more.
It's here he closes his eyes "not knowing what to do and having had the dragons help in the past, I went to get some advice from him" he says quietly, not noticing the way Mordred's expression turns from curiousity to concern at his change in tone "he gave me a startling warning instead, that little druid boy would be the then princes downfall and must be taken care of" he whispers painfully.
He hears Mordred gasp quietly "you, Mordred would one day grow up to kill king Arthur and not only that you would side with an evil Morgana to do so much damage and chaos" he says, opening his eyes and looking directly at the younger man as he says this, trying his damnedest to ignore the heartbreak in mordred's eyes the longer he talks "I didn't want to believe it, I refused to do as the dragon asked. At least at first. But the night you escaped, when I took too long? It was because I let the dragon sway me" he admits aloud for the first time in years, bowing his head as Mordred lets out a strangled noise of horror.
Shaking his head in anger at his past decisions, Merlin sighs sadly "I heard your voice, you were so scared and all I could imagine was me in your shoes at that age" he whispers, looking up at Mordred through his eyelashes and was taken aback at the conflict he could see on the druids face "I fought against this prophesy for years, just as I did Morgana's and what I saw in the crystal cave but every single god damn thing has come true. Morgana became who she was because she was alone and scared, only pushed further away by my actions" he says, meeting mordred's eyes once more.
He can't help but reach out and grab one of mordred's hands, much to the druids suprise "I've heard the damn prophesy of what you might do, hell I've seen the fucking thing in the crystal cave! But it doesn't have to come true if I stop pushing you away right? All I've ever wanted was to be friends with you, hell I am your friend I just don't want to admit I like you because of this damn prophesy!" A shy smile appears on mordred's face hearing that Merlin wants to be his friend, that's all he's wanted since he came back!
Mordred can't help but squeeze Merlin's hand "I'd love to be your friend, we can figure out destiny out together if you want?" He says and how could Merlin say no when Mordred looks so kind and thoughtful about this? Merlin nods a few times, getting his bearings around how well the conversation had gone. He'd been expecting yelling and tears, and maybe that may happen the more they talk and get to know each other, but for now he's more than happy to squeeze mordred's hand "I'd like that" he whispers, watching as mordred's entire face lights up as he grins.