Chapter Text
MERLIN
Hiya guys! So this will be a long Merlin/reader fanfiction. It isn’t only Merlin; there will be Arthur/reader, Gwaine/Reader, Mordred/Reader, Lancelot/Reader, etc. There will be romantic situations with all of them as the story progresses. At the end of the fanfiction, I will have multiple endings. There will be some angsty, some smutty, some like an epilogue or all together in one. I’m changing up the plot a bit as well. Mordred is aged up, and while he is nineteen later in the series, we’ll just start him out as sixteen at first. If you like, I can even add in a love triangle, or square, or hexagon, or whatever, but I personally dislike those.
This takes place first in our time. The reader is 18 years old, and lives in the US (mainly for comical reasons later on in the story, if you’re not originally from America, just pretend that you recently moved here or something and ignore some of the references.) Merlin is an old man, and has recently had a dream that he could change what happened (SPOILERS) if he finds another magician like him. You, the reader, seem to have the power he is looking for. However, due to this time and dimension, your magical abilities have been sort of blocked off. He sends you back to Camelot and you are forced to overcome the differences in this drastic change of setting, and along the way, you fall in love with someone you would never imagine.
There may be some mature parts, and there definitely will be at the end. The reader is a strong character, will not take shit, kinda hot tempered and funny. (I’m a feminist, so I dislike when fanfictions portray any female character considered lesser than men, so she will be speaking out in some parts about her beliefs.)
I try to update at least once a week. I’m considering, for this fanfiction, if I should put in one to two episode settings per chapter. I’ll let you guys give me feedback, so be sure to give your opinion! I will change up some parts, though. Give me any suggestions you like, any constructive criticism, etc.
Enjoy
ALSo, all rights go to BBC. I do not own Merlin, or you.
LETTuce begin haha
Vegetable humor
Is lettuce even a vegetable it tastes like paper and trees aren’t vegetables therefore lettuce is trees and we are all tree eaters.
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BEGIN
Old!Merlins POV
Merlin stiffly walked down the streets of the American capital, Washington D.C. He rarely ever talked to anyone anymore, but still casted a cheery smile at whoever looked his way. However, these day’s people rarely smiled back. He didn’t know whether it was everyone was just too busy or just didn’t care.
His hands were in his pockets as he pondered his recent dream. He rarely had one like that anymore, the last one was maybe at least 200 years ago. Most of his dreams were memories wisping around in his head, making him smile every so often when he thought of his friends from so very long ago. The Knights, Gwen, Arthur, sometimes he even had good dreams of Morgana, before she became so full of hate.
The dream was of a young girl, soon to be a woman. There was something strikingly familiar about her, something that reminded her of him. Her features were blurry, but he could hear the resounding tone of her voice. It was commanding, strong, clear, but there was something about it that said it could be very compassionate and gentle as well.
Her eyes were very stern, focused, like the owner of them matured much too early.
But the woman’s features were not as important as the happenings of this particular dream.
In it, there was blue, lots of blue. He could distantly see her figure frantically twirl around in it, and suddenly, he was back in the place he knew so well, the place he called home- Merlin was again in Camelot.
Interrupting his train of thought, he walked into a small café, hearing the doorbell give a small CHING as he stepped onto the comforting orange tiles. The aroma of the peculiar drink, what did they call it? - Coffee, filled the air as he smiled at the young man who was currently working at the cashier. They weren’t too busy, so he ordered a large drink and sat down in the nearest booth, stretching his old, aching bones.
Where was he? Ah, yes, Camelot.
He could distinctly see the pretty woman’s face fall into hectic confusion and dizziness, and in his dream, he saw himself- the young, bright faced, black haired version of himself, in the near distance.
The dream had lurched him into a new setting. An eerie, eerie setting that sent chills down his spine.
There, his old friend, the Kilgharrah sat. He was as clear as Merlin could remember him; his dark golden scales shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes pierced into ones soul in their golden depths.
“It’s been a long time, Merlin.” His voice resounded through Merlin’s head, so familiar, so welcoming.
Merlin hadn’t said anything, considering this was but a dream, and the dragon chuckled. “Age has done you quite heavily, my old friend. I bet you’re going to think nothing of this when you wake up.”
“Are you real? Are you here?” Merlin’s old, raspy voice rang through the pretty forest setting they were in. The moon shone brightly, glistening through the trees onto the dragons golden scales. Time hasn’t done a toll on him, Merlin thought. He almost felt a tear escape as he looked over the old dragon, feeling a pang in his heart. Immortality always had to pay a price.
“I am a figment of your imagination, yet your imagination is as real as the stars in the sky.” He chuckled. “Merlin, I do not have much time with you. I must get to the point before it runs out.”
Merlin looked at him, confused. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“You can change what happened, Merlin. The time has come.”
“What do you mean?” Merlin asked again, even more confused than before.
“There is someone who can change the fate that you had to go through. There is someone who can change the prophecy. There is someone who could make it a happy ending, Merlin.”
This was nearly too much for him to possibly process. This had to be a dream. “Who? Why now? After all these years…”
“Years are but a blink in time to you and me.” Said the dragon. “But there is, in fact, a person who could change it all.”
“Who is he?”
“She,” the dragon corrected, “she is close. It’s the reason you’ve had this dream, at this moment of time. She can change everything. She has magic, like you, Merlin, but this dimension has blocked it.”
“What is her name? How do I find her?” Merlin asked, bewildered at all the information bestowed upon him. “How do I even get back in time?”
“You know the spell; it will take all your energy. But you will be whisked back in time, to a place where you are younger. You won’t know her, no matter how good of a spell it is. Your younger self will have about as much knowledge as she does, only that he has a great-“
“Destiny.” Merlin said, scratching his chin. “I know. But what is her name?”
“Her name?” The dragon looked at him, and the next words rolled out of his throat in a deep whisper, as though he were afraid someone may hear and destroy all their hope in that very moment. “(Y/n).”
“Sir, your coffee.” Merlin’s blue eyes shot up quickly. The young waiter stood in front of him, a bored expression on his face, as he held the hot drink out in front of him.
“Oh, thank you, my boy! I had just dozed off a little,” Merlin chuckled, quietly thanking him again. The young man nodded, sulking back to go sit at a stool.
As he pondered more and more about whether or not he should take his dream seriously, another CLING at the front of the small café made his eyes curiously look towards the door.
He nearly dropped his coffee.
While he couldn’t see her sharply see her features in the dream, his heart stopped at the familiarity of the woman standing in the front.
She had a wide eyed, fiery look about her. Her hair was a tad messy, but her lips had a small, natural, devilish smirk that gracefully accented her features. She was rather pretty, and her eyes were ones he had never seen before.
Her (adj.) frame moved to the cashier, walking confidently as she ungracefully swung her arms beside her.
“Hey, Brad, you know my order.” She tossed him, from what he could see, a dollar and fifty cents onto the counter and sat down with a huff in a small booth in front of Merlin.
The boy at the counter quickly got to work with making (drink that you like that is made in a café), and the young female turned her head towards Merlin.
“It’s a lovely day out.” She said, and he wasn’t sure whether or not she was talking to him or herself. “I rarely come in here and see another customer; you must be new around this area.” After many, many years of living, he concluded that his girl was a little talkative, and simply liked talking. Not in the arrogant way, she simply enjoyed the pleasures of conversation.
“Ah, yes, just touring.” That much was true. She tilted her head curiously as she listened to his accent.
“You from the United Kingdom?” She asked, looking at him again.
“Yes. Are you from this city?”
“No, I’m just visiting a friend of mine. I’m from a place you wouldn’t know of any way so I’m not going to mention it.” She grinned as she leaned back, and Brad brought her beverage. She gave a “thank you” and sipped on her drink quickly, not caring that it probably burnt. “I’m (Y/n), or (nickname), by the way.” She offered a hand to the old man, and he shook it, hoping that his hands weren’t shaking.
“Merlin.” Her mouth quirked into a grin when he gave her his name.
It’s true. He thought as he gave her his name. Merlin was currently panicking. Would he have to do the spell now? He couldn’t follow her, that would just be creepy and he was probably too slow for her in his old legs, but he didn’t know if he should do it now. She would have no idea, maybe he should at least explain some to her and then she would think he was crazy and then he could quickly cast the spell, and perhaps she would take the advice-
“Oh shit.” (y/n) said, looking at the small clock at the cash register. “I’m going to be late!”
Talk about extreme panic mode.
Without second thought, the language he hadn’t used in so long escaped his lips as he extended his hand out towards her retreating form. He spoke them in a deep, throaty voice, knowing it would give them more power. He could feel, and smell, the magic wisping around him and circling the few inhabitants of the room.
Since he was so old, and this spell would undoubtedly take all his energy, he focused it all on her- only she would be taken back to Camelot in her own form and consciousness. He could already feel the power draining from his form, and paid no attention to her frightened and confused look.
Like the dream, the room was filled with various blues and swirls, like a paintbrush gliding over a water color canvas. Merlin felt himself fading into the fabric of time; the only thing staying solid was the woman.
He had no idea what she was thinking right now, probably something along the lines of “I’m going nuts”, but he surged the last ounce of his energy, and finally, his body exploded into little pieces of dust in the wind, and this Merlin was no more. This mind faded into nothing, and he felt himself wake into something that was familiar yet so far away.
READERS POV
You gasped as you felt your body plummet to the ground. You barely recognized a large hunk of gray stone to your left- a building probably, and suddenly you were in a field of tall dry grass.
The impact wasn’t as bad as you expected, though still pretty bad. You almost wished that you were knocked out so you wouldn’t feel the searing pain that traveled from your hips all the way throughout the rest of your body.
You took in multiple deep breaths, but it did nothing to douse your confusion and slight fear. Your lids mostly covered your eyes, and you hesitantly opened them more, wiping away some hair that had gotten in your mouth on the way down- or up- or sideways- who knew?
The sky was such a bright blue that you had to close your eyes again, and also it was due to the fact that you saw some purple and black in there- and was that a zebra?
Forcing your body to turn, you let out a groan as you managed to roll onto your stomach. The blood that rushed to your head was a pleasant feeling, but the dirt you got in your mouth wasn’t. You spit it out and used one of your hands to rub the top of your forehead, trying to focus.
“What the hell.” You muttered. “What the HELL.” Gripping onto the grass, you ripped some out, but you stood to full height and looked at your surroundings.
The blood rushed so quickly to your head that you had to bend over and rub your temples again. “What the frick frack is going on here. I’m going crazy.” You shook your head. “I don’t even do drugs and I’m still seeing this.” You even could see a castle- with those medieval flags and everything, the horses and all in the distance. “I knew I shouldn’t have eaten those brownies (Friends name) gave me.”
Soon, you were muttering incoherent things you no longer understood, stumbling over grass and dirt and spinning dizzily in circles. Your moment of clarity was gone, and your world- or whatever world this was- was turning black.
You almost swore you heard some words in the distance- something like “My Lady!”, and when you turned around sharply, you thought you saw a tall figure with black hair atop his head in the distance. However, you were out too soon to comprehend it. Your body fell sideways with a ‘thud.’
MERLINS POV
“Arthur!” Merlin yelled, looking for the Prince. “Arthur!”
“What are you yelling about, Merlin? Do you not realize that the quieter you are, the more likely I am to catch something? Should I cut out your tongue or-“
“There’s a woman, she just fainted in the field over here. She- she-“Merlin said loudly, looking flustered. The blonde man climbed up the small slope that looked over the field.
“Well why didn’t you say so earlier, Merlin?” Arthur asked, annoyed as he quickly jogged over to where his servant was pointing. Merlin huffed and shook his head before attempting to match his speed.
Arthur stood in front of the girl he had seen faint. Merlin had to admit, while she was rather pretty, beautiful even, she was wearing some odd clothing…
A very revealing black shirt, that had no sleeves and actually just looked like the top of a nightgown, but made of thicker material, very tight pants that were also made of rough material and were dark blue in color, and brown boots were on her (adj.) figure.
“She’s odd.” Said Merlin, and Arthur almost looked like he was blushing at the woman’s attire.
“We have to get her to Gaius. Stop ogling at her breasts, Merlin.”
“You were the one who was-“
“Shut up, Merlin.” And so, the two men carried her to the castle, Arthur doing the actual carrying of the strange woman and Merlin being bestowed with the curse of logging around all the bags and some dead rabbits that Arthur had managed to catch. The black haired boy tried holding his breath and breathing through his mouth so he wouldn’t have to endure the stench of dead rabbits.
(TIME SKIP)
Arthur laid her on one of the hospital beds Gaius had available. The old man rushed quickly towards the three of them, pausing whatever potion or concoction he was working on.
“What happened?” Asked Gaius. Merlin shook his head. “Who is this girl?”
“I don’t know. Arthur and I were just out hunting-“
“I was hunting; he was scaring away all the rabbits.”
“Arthur was out hunting and I saw her out in the field west of the castle. She looked lost, and when I tried calling out for her and asking if she was alright, she fainted.”
“Very strange clothing.” Added Arthur. Merlin bit his lip as he looked at his companions. He probably shouldn’t say that he saw her fall out of the sky in front of Arthur. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for Arthur to go do whatever he does- traumatize local citizens, attempt to murder his friends, etc.
“Very strange indeed.” Gaius remarked as he pressed the back of his hand on her forehead. He muttered something under his breath, Merlin assumed he was saying she didn’t have a fever, and then turned towards them. “Well make yourself useful Merlin and fetch me a cool towel. She doesn’t seem to have a fever; I think it was some sort of shock.” The physician told the young prince. Arthur nodded, leaning forward a bit and pressed his hands against his lips, looking a little bored.
Merlin listened as he ran towards the nearest wash bin and soaked a dark cloth in it, wringing it out and bringing it to them. Arthur took it from his hand and folded it neatly before laying it atop her (skin color) forehead, and then he brushed a piece of hair away from her face.
“Gaius, what do we do when she wakes up?” Merlin asked, looking at them, but a small stir caught his attention.
“Your--- your mom.” She muttered. They all quirked an eyebrow and leaned in closer to hear her more clearly. “Four hundred and twenty, let us blaze it friends… I’m never eating brownies again… fondue…”
“Do you think she’s insane?” Merlin said, looking at Gaius. The old man simply shook his head and instructed Arthur to place the towel farther up on her head.
“She has a strange accent. Her ‘r’ is very pronounced.” Arthur tilted his head sideways as he looked at the strange person again.
Suddenly, her eyes opened widely, and for a second the two young men were astounded by the unique hues.
But that didn’t last for long when she asked, in a bold, clear, commanding voice,
“Where the fuck am I and who the hell are you?”
(READERS POV)
The three males looked at you in shock. From what you faintly registered as you sat up, you were in an old-timey home, and they thought you were insane.
The one sitting nearest to you was a man, no older than his early twenties, with messy blonde hair and dark blue eyes in a red shirt. His nose was pronounced and bold. The other one had black hair and high cheekbones with teal eyes, from what you could see. The other was an old man; you assumed the doctor or whatever.
“I asked you a question.” You snarled, getting up and throwing off the blankets. Stumbling a little from the sudden rush of blood to your head, you pressed your hand against your fore head and ripped off the towel when you felt it. Black dots succumbed your vision for a little while. You looked sideways for the nearest weapon just in case, and spotted a very, very heavy leather bound book to your right.
“I am Prince Arthur Penndragon of Camelot.” You looked at him with a strange expression, tilting your head and slightly backing away and raising an eyebrow. “That’s my useless servant Merlin and this is the court physician, Gaius.”
“Is this some sort of theatrical performance? A prank? A joke? Am I dreaming? Am I high or something?” Now you were nearly 100% convinced that (friend’s name) put some sort of drug in those brownies.
They were really, really good brownies though.
“My lady, please, let us help you. What is your name?” The blonde, or ‘Arthur’, asked.
“(first name)(last name). But please, if I have to be in your presence for ten or more minutes, call me (nickname).” You calmed your temper down a little bit- you were in your favorite café in Washington D.C. You got coffee. Some old man with a British accent spoke some hiddly diddly words and boom you’re falling from the sky and suddenly in a theatrical performance of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table with really good actors and a Merlin without a beard.
“Will you please tell me where I am? I- I...” The weight of everything that had happened was slowly playing in your brain over and over again, and your forehead had an unpleasant crease in it. Your lips pressed into a thin scowl.
“You’re in Camelot.” Said Merlin.
Before the conversation could proceed, a person came knocking on the door behind you. Without bothering to wait, they barged in and stood in the front of the room.
Even this person seemed realistic. It was a ‘knight,’ and he had real looking armor and a very sharp looking sword. The fabric he wore was red and had an embroidered symbol on the front, stitched in gold. How did they manage to find one that real- looking? It even made the little sword sort of sound that’s in movies.
“The King requests your presence, he wishes you to dine with him.” After delivering the message, he left swiftly and shut the door behind him.
“I must go.” Arthur said. You all watched the blonde’s figure disappear, and before you had even turned around again, Merlin was right in front of you.
“Why did you fall out of the sky?”
“Why are you acting like we’re in some medieval castle?” You asked. “Look- okay, all I know is I was strolling the streets. I went into a café, said hi to Brad, had small talk with this old British man who was also drinking coffee- I think his name was Merlin? Like yours, and then he said some strange words and I fell out of the sky. Here I am.”
The boy in front of you had let his mouth drop in shock. “You say his name was Merlin?”
“I’m pretty sure, maybe it was like Margaret but that would be a little strange, of course he may have been transgender because he had very nice cheek bones and just never got around to changing his name-“You were rambling on.
“Did he say anything else?” Gaius asked, shuffling towards you two. You leaned sideways to look past the Merlin and shook your head ‘No.’
“Who are you?” Merlin said out loud.
“I already told you. Now can you please tell me the tr-“
“Merlin.” Gaius gestured over to the other side of the room. The tall boy walked over with the old man and you were going to follow but Merlin gestured ‘stay.’
They said some incoherent things under their breath. Tapping your foot impatiently, your eyes wandered around the room. Whoever the set designer was, they were really, really talented. Even the fruit bowl sitting on the table looked real.
You picked up a ‘glass’, surprised it was actually made of glass, and opened it. You shook the contents around, probably water, and sniffed it-
“STOP THAT.” Gaius quickly shuffled over to you and grabbed it out of your hands. You shrugged, giving an innocent look.
“What? Is water poisonous now?”
“This is not water.” He said as he shut the lid again. “This is one of the most poisonous substances in the nine kingdoms. You should not be smelling it.”
You shrugged again, letting him go on with his little play, and turned only to bump into Merlin. He put his hands on your shoulders to steady you, however, he kept you at a distance as though you were some strange, newly discovered wild animal.
He cleared his throat, tilting his head to look down at you. “As Gaius and I understand it, you are not from this time, possibly. Gaius, show her the book that you were talking about.”
You quirked an eyebrow. “Ah, yes, proceed and try to convince me that I am have somehow time traveled.”
(TIME SKIP)
“I am in fucking Camelot and there is a fucking dragon downstairs and democracy hasn’t been established yet.” You muttered under your breath. Violently fluffing up a pillow that Merlin had let you borrow, you smashed your head down on it with a huff.
“Are you alright?” Asked the boy from the bed across from you. You smiled, slowly sat up, and looked him in the eye.
“Am I alright? Am I alright? Oh, I am fine, Merlin. I’ve just been shoved back into a time with knights and kings and princes and hiddly doo voodoo and suddenly I’m staying with you and I have to get weird jobs to earn my stay and I have no idea how people live here and no idea how to get home and no idea what I’m doing here and-“ Your eyes were darting back in forth now as you waved your hands dramatically to emphasize your distress, but Merlin was no longer focusing on you, he was focusing on the small fire that had started on one of the curtains.
“(Y/n).” You kept rambling, ignoring him. “(Y/N)!” You stopped, widening your eyes when you saw a small fire on the window curtain.
You jumped out of bed. “What the fuck?!” You yelled. The fire seemed to crawl up the curtain at an even faster pace. “Shit! Merlin, where’s the water?!”
But there was no water nearby- it was in the other room, right? You didn’t know, but Merlin wasn’t helping. Instead, Merlin was sitting on the bed with his hand out as though he were reaching for the fire.
“Merlin, don’t just stand there-“But suddenly, you stopped when you heard him mutter strange words under his breath. They came out in deep, throaty rasps, and you watched, your eyes wide and your jaw slack as the fire slowly dwindled into nothing.
“How-“
“I have magic.” Said Merlin. “And you do, too.”
“I thought you said it was illegal though-“
“Which is why you are to tell no one but me and Gaius. Do you understand? You cannot tell anyone.” The boyish personality that you had appointed him with out of first impressions was gone. Seriousness laced his tone now as he looked you directly in the eye, looking at you with such sincerity that was almost completely unlike his character.
You nodded. Now, you dreaded meeting Uther, the so called ‘King of Camelot.’ “Have you told Arthur?” You asked.
“No. I doubt I will until he is King and magic is allowed-“
“You sound very sure of that.” You mused. Your hands were still clenched from the shock of the nearly unbelievable event that had just happened, and you went on. “Merlin, nothing like this has happened before. Are you sure it wasn’t just an accident?” You were shuffling through your memories, trying to find even one strange thing that could have been similar to something like this. Merlin shook his head.
“Maybe in your time, magic is dormant. Magic has a mind of its own. If it doesn’t see your time fit for its power, it will cease to be used by anyone, even if that person is born with it.”
“You read that?” You asked, getting back into the extra bed Gaius had lent you.
“Yes.” Merlin nodded, climbing back his own covers as well. “In a book Gaius gave me. I’ll lend it to you, but you have to swear that you won’t let it out of your hands. No one can find it.” You nodded, sinking into the pillow and closing your eyes for the first time that day. A few minutes of silence followed, but it felt like hours to you.
“We’ll tell Gaius in the morning?”
But Merlin was already fast asleep.
(TIME SKIP)
The next morning was havoc
.
You knew exactly where you were when you opened your eyes. You just didn’t want to admit it. You didn’t want to know. If you could even have a second of blissful ignorance… Alas, fate wasn’t in your favor this morning. Your mood was completely sour, despite the bright morning sun that shined through the window onto the floorboards.
Merlin seemed to have already told Gaius. The old man looked at you with curiosity, pity, and even a tad bit of fear when you walked into the work room/kitchen room.
“This evening,” Merlin said as he munched on an apple, “I’m taking you to meet Kilgharrah.”
“Who?” You asked confusedly, rubbing your eyes and getting a piece of bread from the table. You’d already washed up and put on some mascara that morning (for some reason, you had put one tube of mascara in your pocket, but you were a little happy that you brought it.)
“The dragon.”
“Thought you said no one could visit it.” You told him, speaking with your mouth full.
“Manners.” Scolded Gaius. You shrugged, ignoring him.
“I can. It’s easy to slip past the guards. He would want to meet you.” Merlin said. “I have to get to Arthur,” he went on as he looked at the sun in the sky. It was nearing eleven o’clock in the morning.
“What do I do?” You ask. Though the weight of the situation still weighed heavily on your mind, sitting around wouldn’t help you at all. It would just make you sulk more and pity yourself for your current situation.
“You go with Merlin, help him out.” Muttered Gaius, putting various potions and things in the small woven basket in front of him. “He’s always terribly late. I’m surprised Arthur hasn’t killed him yet. After you’re done there, you can help me with my rounds and deliver some medicine. I need to talk to Uther about delivering extra rations for a third person in the household, a female, specifically. Maybe tomorrow you can go see Morgana and ask if she needs another servant.” Gaius had finished putting all his medicine in whatever order he seemed to like, and closed the lid. “Do you have any specific requests for dresses?”
“Dresses?” You finally perked up. “No. I refuse dresses unless absolutely necessary. Get me a pair of trousers and I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll get awfully strange looks.”
“I don’t care.” You ran a hand through your hair, neatening in a bit more. “When can I start learning magic like Merlin?” You asked, following the old man around the room. Merlin looked at you amused as you walked around like a confused puppy.
But then you stubbed your toe and cursed so much it would put Uther to shame. Gaius looked at you for a second before shaking his head and carrying on with whatever he was doing.
Never mind. Confused young lion cub.
“Maybe this evening if Arthur hasn’t killed me.” Commented Merlin. You looked at him a little worried, he said it with a utterly serious tone of voice.
“Speaking of Arthur,” Gaius said, “You two should probably go.”
(ANOZER TIME SKIP)
Merlin and you occasionally had light small talk as you shuffled past the other servants and climbed numerous steps.
“Gaius will probably say you’re a deceased friend’s daughter, saying he needed to take you in and whatnot.” The black haired boy said, stopping suddenly to let someone past. You ran into his back and let out a displeased grunt.
He didn’t even notice.
“How come I can’t speak to Uther myself?” You asked, climbing another flight of steps. Merlin looked at you with a horrified expression.
“Only certain people are allowed to speak to Uther freely. You’re a young- no offense- nobody.”
“You people have never heard a democracy? Freedom of speech? Power comes from the people?” you asked, following him around a corner. God, this castle was huge.
“If Uther had heard you just then you would be executed.”
“So he’s a tyrant then?”
“Keep it down.” Whispered Merlin, but he had a grin tugging on his lips. Oh, he liked you.
You shrugged, whispering a ‘sorry,’ which you did not actually mean in any way shape or form. Finally, after what seemed like hours, you reached a pair of large wooden doors with metal handles. There were perhaps two other rooms in this section of the castle; they must be for special guests or something, you predicted.
“Halt!” Said a guard on the right. “Merlin, who is this?”
“This is (y/n). She’s a daughter of a deceased friend of Gaius’s, and she’s going to be living with us now. I was showing her around the castle and decided to just bring her with me.”
The tall man with the curly blonde hair looked at him curiously. “I thought Arthur said he and you had found a woman yesterday that didn’t know where she was.”
Merlin gulped, but before he could speak, you spoke up. “I was in shock yesterday. I had been traveling a long time and the heat had gotten to me, and I only then realized who Gaius was until I was fully aware of my surroundings. I apologize if I caused any trouble.” You said in a clear voice, standing tall and looking him in the eye.
He said nothing for a second. “You have a strange accent.”
“You have a strange accent.”
The man, or Sir Leon, quirked his lips. “It’s nice to meet you, (First name).” He gave a slight bow. You didn’t. You just watched him and gave him a small smile.
“(Nickname). And you as well.” You stuck out your hand, intending him to shake it, and he looked at you curiously before taking it.
Shit, is this considered an odd way of greeting someone new? You were pretty sure your hands were sweaty from the mess up, but you still smiled as sweetly as you could. Knowing you, though, it probably looked more like a devilish grin.
After the necessary greetings that you had to do to go on with your day, you were finally allowed in.
“Sorry I’m late, Arthur.” Merlin said, popping his head in through the door. The prince hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet, and groaned.
“What took you so long? I want breakfast.” He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and when he made eye contact with you, he covered his chest with blankets as though he was slightly insulted.
“What are you-“
“I went momentarily crazy. I’m staying with Gaius and Merlin.” You have your explanation brief, and hoped that Merlin wouldn’t mention that you were supposed to be helping him.
Turns out he didn’t need to. “Fetch my boots from over there.” He waved towards the door, and you raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms over your chest. You didn’t care if this ass was royalty, you weren’t going to follow orders for something petty as that.
“You have two legs.”
Both of the males in the room stopped and slowly looked at you. You shrugged, you were not going to be treated like dirt.
“I said-“
“Perhaps if you asked first I would have considered it, but you didn’t. Get them yourself or something.” Without another word, you plopped down in the nearest chair by a long wooden table. Merlin was trying his best not to laugh and pursed his lips together.
Arthur was sputtering. “Merlin, if you laugh, I will kill you.” Merlin just turned his head away and shrugged as though Arthur didn’t know what he was talking about. “What’s wrong with her?” He said, looking at you shocked. You stared each other down, as though one of you were going to attack the other.
“What’s wrong with you?” You asked, and this time Merlin let out a snort. Arthur threw something- was that a spoon? - At his head and Merlin didn’t have enough time to dodge it.
“Wow, son. I’m here to speak to you about the Avengers initiative.”
“What?” Arthur asked, confused and with a scowl on his handsome features as he stalked over to his boots and picked them up. He paused by you for a second, tempted at throwing one of them at you, but decided he didn’t know you well enough yet and that you would probably tackle him if he did so.
“It’s a reference.”
“Again with those R’s.” He shook his fair head, and behind you you heard Merlin drop something. “Your accent annoys me.”
“Would you like me to talk like this?” You squeaked your voice, and he cringed. “Or this?” You deepened it this time to make it nearly sound like a Dark Vader voice. “No matter.” You took an apple from his fruit bowl, and he scowled at you again. “Your entire existence annoys me.”
“You little-“
“Arthur, she’s new here.” Merlin intercepted.
“Does she not know how to address a Prince? The prince of Camelot, specifically?!”
As Merlin tried to convince Arthur not to throw you out, literally, he threatened to toss you out like a rag doll, you were leaning back in the chair and munching on the apple with little interest, putting your feet atop the table.
You suddenly had a great, great idea.
Smirking, you imagined the other chair moving slightly. It scooted to the right with a small ‘SCREECH.’ Arthur turned his head towards it, and stared it down a few seconds before turning back to Merlin. Merlin was no longer paying attention, though, and he was looking at you with wide eyes as you looked upon the chair with curious ones.
“Do you not respect me?!” Said an exasperated Arthur. For this early in the morning, he sure could get irritable. This would make your temporary stay much more fun.
However, Merlin was still focused on you and was frantically shaking his head, which earned a loud “MERLIN.” From Arthur and suddenly they were rolling around trying to injure each other. Well, Arthur was. Merlin was acting like a frightened cat.
After a few minutes of that, they had stopped finally, and Arthur was pulling on a white shirt over his head, muttering occasional incoherent things about how useless his servant is, and you thought you heard something about how glorious his own face was? How fascinating. If there was nothing else that was fun to do here, other than chopping peoples' heads off, then perhaps you could annoy the Prince of Camelot.
You had finished the apple, and looked at them curiously. “Is this a common occurrence?”
Arthur looked over to you, analyzing you for a couple seconds. Suddenly, his mouth tilted into a small smile.
A person even braver than Merlin. She definitely won’t sugar coat anything for me, just because of my status.
I can’t tell her that, though.
“You.” He said, looking at your form again while pulling on his shoes. “I like you.”
“I like me too.”
And so began the great story after the great story.
A/N: So, I was thinking if I could write two “episodes” per chapter. I’ll skip some, and I’ll try to update at least once to twice a week. However, I need your feedback. Should I continue? Any suggestions? TELL ME.