The Sorcerer's Secret (a Merlin story)

1

     "What's your name boy?" King Uther barked with a vicious glare in his eyes down at the boy. He had pushed Prince Arthur out of the way of a stray arrow but sent him into a pile of horse dung. Arthur looked furious. The boy had to try with great difficulty not to laugh. Arthur was a spoiled prick and pushing him into horse dung, although not the plan was definitely worth the wound he got from the arrow. His fingers grazed the blood on his arm, it stung.

"Merlin," the boy replied nervously with a slight bow. He hoped that the king saw the arrow and not just the push of the Prince. Arthur called to a servant to clean him off and one came running, what a pathetic life. To do everything for the prince, Merlin thought with great amusement.

"Merlin." The king repeated slowly. There was a pause and Merlin's chest tightened, his fate rested in the King's hands. "You saved my son." Uther smiled widely. "You saved my son!" He clasped a hand over Merlin's shoulder giddy. "You must be rewarded!"

"Oh, no your majesty, that won't be necessary." Merlin said modestly. "Anyone would have done it." Merlin reconsidered that, maybe not everyone would save this particular pain in the arse Prince. Merlin watched as Arthur barked at the servant, then shoed him away.

"But you did." Uther's eyes lit up and he looked to Merlin again. "Please, please, oh I know." The king said with delight. "You shall be rewarded with a place in the palace!" Uther exclaimed and Merlin's heart stopped. A place in the palace? What kind of joke is this? Merlin questioned.
"Sir," Merlin asked confused.
"You shall be Arthurs man servant!" The crowd that had gathered around them started to clap and cheer. The knights that were training with Arthur in the courtyard sniggered. They knew firsthand what Arthur was like, and that Merlin's new position was nothing to cheer about.

"Um, thank you your majesty, but I'm really just passing through-" Merlin began.
"Nonsense!" The King declared and walked away. That was that. Merlin was now a servant to the most pompous, irresponsible Prince in all the land. Prince Arthur Pendragon of Camelot.
"Congratulations," a soft sweet voice said from behind Merlin, her voice made his stomach do butterflies, her face, made his heart stop. "Arthur is a handful," it was the lady Celeste, King Uther's ward. Merlin opened his mouth to speak but no words came out so he just nodded as she walked past him, her iliac purple dress dragging along the ground as she went.

"Alright Michael," Arthur began as he tossed the dirty rag at Merlin's head.
"It's Merlin actually." Merlin clung to the only clean corner of the dung filled rag as he picked up his belongings and begrudgingly followed Arthur into the palace.
"First off, I need a bath run to get all of this off of my before the execution."
"Execution?" Merlin questioned shocked.
"Yes Mike, try to keep up." Arthur went on as he stripped out of his royal blue shirt, he threw that at Merlin's head as well. "It is also the lady Celeste's birthday coming up and I still haven't gotten her anything."
"What would you like me to do about that? I don't know the Lady Celeste."
"Think of something a girl might like. You seem very delicate and girl like. Besides, I'm very busy." Arthur sat shirtless at his desk and tossed a dagger into the air.
"Oh, yes I can see that." Merlin said as looked for bucket to fill up for the prince's bath.

"Was that sarcasm I sense?" Arthur questioned standing upright.
"No, not at all." Merlin found a bucket and started to move out of the room.
"You know if this is going to work you are going to have to be good, listen to me, do as I say, and not complain." Arthur ticked off his rules on his dirty fingers.
"I'm sure that will be oh so easy with you as a boss." Merlin rolled his eyes.
"MELVIN!" Arthur yelled throwing a boot at Merlin but missing.
"Sire," Merlin popped his head back into the room. "If this is going to work for you, you are going to have to call me by my actual name." Merlin waited a beat. Arthur crossed his arms over his chest.
"You do realize I'm the Prince, correct?"
"Merlin, my name is Merlin." Merlin rushed down the hall with Arthur's dirty clothes and empty water bucket only to see Celeste dancing down the halls. Merlin stopped walking and just watched her sing and swirl. When she noticed him watching he began to walk again, she had a way of making him instantly forget what he was supposed to be doing when he saw her.
"I see Arthur already put you to work." Celeste said poking at the clothes in Merlin's hands. "Did he show you where the dirty clothes go? Or where to get water from the castle so you don't have to go all the way down to the village?"
"No my Lady, he told me none of that."
"Of course not." Celeste shook her head annoyed. "Follow me, I will tell you everything you need to know."
"Thank you my Lady," Celeste swatted a hand at Merlin.
"Please don't call me that, call me Celeste."
"Of course my- Celeste." Merlin was blushing and he knew it.
"And what is your name?" She asked as she led him down the hallway.
"M-M-Merlin," he stuttered, then embarrassed he cleared his throat and turned away from her, but she must have people nervous around her all the time because she didn't smirk or laugh she just kept walking, a small smile on her face.
"Where are you staying?" Celeste questioned, "Arthur didn't even give you time to put your things down?" Merlin still wore his sack on his back, filled with his belongings.
"I was supposed to be staying in Camelot with my cousin, Gawaine for a few days, he is the palace physician."
"Oh yes, I know Gawaine. He has treated me for many illnesses in the past few years. He is highly respected by all." Celeste pointed out the kitchen and the washing station. She gave him a tour of the castle, the bed chambers, banquet hall, throne room, then lastly in the front room was the physicians chambers. "Here is Gawaine's chambers." Celeste said knocking on the door.
"OH I should probably get Arthurs things done first, I don't want to get in trouble."
"I will tell him you did an errand for me, he won't be able to get mad at you for that. He adores me." Celeste informed Merlin as Gawaine opened the door.
"Lady Celeste," Gawaine pressed a kiss to her cheek, "I thought I heard you out here and who is this?"
"I know it's been a while but surely you remember an old friend such as I?" Merlin asked with a grin.
"My stars, Merlin!" Gawaine pulled Merlin into a hug. "I can't believe how tall you have gotten. Still thin as a stick but Merlin you are taller than I. Oh it is good to see you."
"You as well."
"I will let you catch up." Celeste said leaving them.
"Thank you for everything," Merlin said turning back to her, bumping Gawaine with his bag. She smiled sweetly as she left.
"Boy," Gawaine thumped Merlin over the head.
"Ouch," Merlin complained as Gawaine took his bag. "What was that for?"
"You need to stop that right now." Gawaine demanded.
"Stop what? I didn't do anything!" Merlin remarked.
"The lady Celeste." Gawaine warned. Merlin grew quiet. "She is off limits, she is like a prize, a trophy, something for all to admire but none to touch." Gawaine reiterated. "If Uther saw the way you looked at her, he would have your head."
"She was being nice, she is just a friend, I just met her today." Merlin blabbered. Gawaine opened up a door to a door the size of a broom cupboard and tossed Merlin's bag inside. "Are you stealing the prince's clothes?" Gawaine questioned looking at the dirty laundry and empty bucket in Merlin's hands. He had almost forgot he was holding it.
"No, didn't you hear?" Merlin rolled his eyes. "I have been rewarded the most honorable position of being Prince Arthur's man servant." Gawaine snorted. "It's not funny," Merlin said seriously. "I didn't want this role it was placed upon me."
"Oh I beg to differ." Gawaine lead Merlin in. "It is rather funny from where I'm standing."
"Well I will be staying with you for the entirety of my employment with the prince so laugh all you want. If I'm stuck with him, you are most defiantly stuck with me."
"You can have this room, Cousin."
"But where will you sleep?" Merlin questioned looking around the small cluttered room.
"There is a cot I sleep on in the main room. I get claustrophobic when I sleep in here."
"Thank you Gawaine." Merlin hugged his cousin again, it had been seven years since they last saw each other. Since Gawaine came to help his own father, learn the trade of healing here in Camelot. "Celeste said you are very respected-"
"OH, Celeste is it?" Gawaine warned.
"For your information, she asked me to call her Celeste." Merlin said proudly.
"Yes, she did the same for I, but if the king heard you call her that and not her given title he would see it as being rude and disrespectful to the crown. Celeste wants nothing more than to be normal and dance the streets but she doesn't get the life, better not amuse her with a friendship that could get you flogged." Gawaine informed Merlin. Merlin's spirits fell. "She has lived in the palace since she was 8, for the past 12 years. She was old enough to remember what it was like before she was treated like royalty. So when someone new comes in and doesn't say ma' lady or your highness, she will jump at the opportunity to feel the way she once did. Don't let Uther or Arthur for that matter hear you treat her that way."
"Even if it's what she wants?"
"Even if it's what she wants." Gawaine verified.
Gawaine," King Uther said barging into his chambers. "Ah Melvin, are you liking working for Arthur?" He asked as if working for his son was the most pleasant thing in the world.
"It is such an honor." Gawaine nudged Merlin discreetly. "Your majesty." Merlin feel into a low bow.
"Wonderful, wonderful. Gawaine," Uther returned his attention to his physician. "The lady Celeste's birthday party will be at weeks end and the joust will take place the day before. I need you to prepare extra treatments incase things go wrong and have them ready for the knights."
"Of course your majesty." Gawaine took a bow, Merlin followed his lead taking a deep bow as Uther left.
"I need? You know he could ask could you please-"
"Merlin is he the king." Gawaine thumped him on the head again. "He doesn't need to ask for things, if he wants it he gets it."
"Spoiled."
"Yes they all are, which is why you will fall in love with the lady Celeste's manors and patience because even though she is royalty in every way but blood she has the manors and elegance of a simple girl." Merlin's mind drifted off just thinking about her, Gawaine hit him again.
"I'm starting to think you enjoy hitting me." Merlin remarked.
"Don't. Get. Flogged." Gawaine instructed. "Now get back to work before you are fired on your first day."
"Would that be so bad?" Merlin joked.