Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Merlin in disguise

MERRY CRISIS EVERYONE


-------------------------------

Merlin had magic.

As simple as this observation may sound, Gwaine had not expected it.
Gwaine was born and raised in Caerlon by his mother and father. The latter had been killed in a war he had been forced into. And his mother had been refused aid and help after her husband's passing.
All this had lead to Gwaine refusing his own royal title and made him seek for trouble, rather than fighting for any noble cause his king and queen insisted on.

But this? This was on a completely different level.

Gwaine knew that not every sorcerer was evil. He had met a few in random bars. Some he had fought for cheating in card games. Some had fought HIM.... also for cheating in card games. Some he had made out with, some ended up leaving him penniless and shirtless in a ditch.
While those encounters entailed varying levels of fun, he had always known he couldn't define a person's goodness on their ability to wield a wooden stick. (This may not be entirely magic related.)

But he also knew their relationship to the crown of Camelot.

Sorcerers hated Camelot.

That was a fact completely separate, but also in every way connected to their abilities. Magic was outlawed. Having magic made them outcasts. Victims. But it also made them villains and evil in the eyes of royalty. But also to the people who tended to end up as collateral damage.
They were hunted – so Gwaine believed - for good reason, though. Magic was power. And power corrupted. And Camelot had dealt with too many sorcerers who attacked not only the king himself, but also the people.
Villagers and farmers as well as knights and – this hurt his soul to say it – bar maids.

And while Gwaine believed that not all sorcerers were evil, he did believe their intentions on Camelot to be very unifying to their kind. Meaning, they were her enemies. And after all this history of blood shed on both sides, he couldn't imagine this war to ever end.

Couldn't see how, in fact.

When he joined Arthur's circle of the knights, he had done so because Merlin had been his first friend.
His only real friend. He would die for him. Fight for him.
Not just Merlin himself, but also his goals. His beliefs. His everything.
Which is why Gwaine had decided to turn his back on the past. Turn his back on his hatred for royalty and do everything to protect the king Merlin believed would be the one of legends.

Which, in turn, meant that Gwaine had decided to turn his back on every enemy that may seek Camelot harm.
Magic users.
Gwaine had turned his back on magic users.

And then...
Merlin had magic.

It was unmistakable in the way his eyes flashed golden in the middle of an ambush. In the way their enemies flew backwards for seemingly no reason. The way swords burned in their enemies hands. And no one managed to touch the servant, despite the fact that the man had lost his sword earlier in the fight.
Gwaine saw this from the corner of his eye, while he was backing up Percival on the other side of the battle field.
He was the only one who saw it.
And all his previous beliefs were instantly shattered.

Merlin had magic. And no one knew but him.

(Well and maybe Lancelot. Because Lancelot was perfect in every way. Was too noble for a mere villager. More noble than any king Gwaine had ever met, to a point where it was annoying. Too kind for a royal. And too loyal for his own good. And last but not least, he was observant and smart and had always been very close with Merlin. TOO close. Perhaps they both shared this secret.
And Gwaine felt a bit betrayed that he had to figure it out himself.)