Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Enarmored

A.N.:  This one is based on a tumblr prompt: https://changelink.tumblr.com/post/644277995051384832/i-just-want-more-fics-where-everyone-has-a-crush

Please ignore the end notes, I'm just venting XD

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Arthur was always taught and hence had always believed, the biggest change Camelot would ever go through, would be his coronation.
Don't get him wrong, he loved his father more than anything. And he had always fought to follow in his footsteps (much to Camelot's dismay).
But Uther himself had taught him that every king ruled in his own way. Arthur would have to make his own decisions.
And that meant, making his own mistakes.

Arthur had many opinions that differed from his father's. He was aware of that. Even if he wasn't yet confident enough to rely on them.

The change, he was waiting for, however, was found to be a graduating one.
The change would happen slowly, while his father withered away after Morgana's betrayal.
Arthur's people – at this point – had already gotten used to Arthur's constant interference with Uther's reign.

Arthur was the one leading the armies. He made the choices in wars. He may be relying on his father's decisions then, but he still went out of his way to make sure the decision was fair.
Arthur didn't realize it at a time, but he had subtly grown into a great king long before he wore the crown.

No. That day was not the biggest change Camelot ever went through. It was one of the best, but it was not the biggest change and it was hardly a sudden one. This one was expected too.
There was another, that changed the life in Camelot far more drastically:

It was the day a bumbling, insolent farm boy, by the name of Merlin, marched into Camelot and marveled at the architecture and the people who lived there.

Only one bag of belongings on his shoulders, a red rag of a neckerchief around his neck and a pair of old boots, that would stay old and never be replaced warming his feet, he walked in, insulted the prince and changed destiny in a way no one would have ever predicted. (Except the druids and a dragon, of course.)

And yet, that was not the real change either. It wasn't the sudden magic interference that brought the change.... It was something else. It was something uniquely Merlin, that did.
The change happened the moment Merlin was announced Arthur's manservant and well...
Everything went downhill from there.
Or rather... everything went up. Rose beyond the sky and became something that this world had never known it was longing for.

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The world was filled with dark promises. Camelot was used to long cold nights and a hot pyre burning in the morning.
The quiet nights were almost bearable to the morning cries Uther seemed so fond of.

The people of Camelot were not afraid. They were exhausted from the terror. They lived their life away, as peasants should, so they believed.
Happiness was a luxury, only the rich could afford. And it was a luxury, that just like coins and money, was taken from the poor.

The people were tired. And done and sad and depressed. They tried to be friendly towards each other. Because, let's be real – they didn't have the energy to fight each other too. There would be no one left, if they send everyone who misbehaved towards Uther's open claws.
Left for what, some people asked sometimes.
Wasting away, of course. That was the only answer they had.

"Hey, have you heard? Gaius's new apprentice has arrived.", the market lady whispered this to her farmer friend. They didn't talk much, you could hardly really call them friends. They were neighbors, that's all. But people needed to socialize somehow.
They usually talked about plants and fruits. Nothing more. Strangers were often a welcome change in their daily routine. Be it nobles or peasant visitors was of no matter. As long as there was something new, it was a welcome change in the blunt nothingness of it all.
Nobody really liked talking about witches and burning either. Everyone knew it was horrible. There was nothing to discuss about it.