Merthur - Love in the Time of War

Chapter 1 - Merlin Ambrosius

A/N - Hey guys! Here's the first chapter! 😊

As you must have seen the summary is very long. I tried my best to fit everything you needed to know before reading the story in the description but I may have missed some things. So, if there is any confusion on the backstory then please feel free to ask in the comments and I'll try my best to answer!

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Merlin's POV

I sit up in my bed early in the morning. I yawn and rub the sleep out of my eyes before standing, stretching my arms in the air and pulling back the blue curtains. I gaze out at the scene before me. The sun is just peeking over the horizon, casting a faint yellow glow over the whole town below. The sky is a bright and vibrant blue with a few soft clouds drifting through its presence. I look down and see people darting around outside the large gates of the castle happily. Bright smiles are spread across their faces as they go about their daily routines. I smile down at them and turn back to my room in order o get ready for the day ahead.

I walk to my wardrobe and swing it open. Now what did I need to do today... I need to eat breakfast, as per usual, then I have training...that's all. I smile to myself. Today looks like it'll be good.

I grab my favourite blue tunic and pull it on over my head. I take off my night trousers in favour of the black ones in my wardrobe. Lastly, I buckle on my belt, pull on my boots, and grab a red neckerchief my father had given me awhile back. I admire myself in the mirror for a few moments before heading down to the dining hall for breakfast.

(A/N - If you have read Percy Jackson, the dining hall is basically like that. Everyone sits together to eat and food is served there for everyone.)

When I enter I see many of the townspeople have already arrived. Loud hollering and shouts can be heard from all around. People talk loudly with their friends or sit quietly with their families. Everyone bustles about with plates of food, bread, cheese, and ham stacked high on many of them.

I smile. This is one of the many things I love about this little makeshift kingdom, everyone is always together. There are no class distinctions that create rifts between people. Though the leader and fighters are seen with great respect, it doesn't mean they are higher then the others. No one is better then anyone else here. My father made sure of it when he created The Resistance.

After grabbing some food of my own I turn my head around to find a place to sit. I gaze at the numerous tables set up in the large pavilion. Almost all of them are occupied. I figured I would have to sit in my chambers when a loud voice calls out to me.

"Merlin! Over here Merlin!" The shout echoes across the room.

I whip my head around and smile as I see Gwaine standing on his seat waving at me. I wave back and walk over to him. I sit down next to him and notice a couple of my other friends are present as well. Lancelot and Mordred sit across from us. They both smile at me. I smile back and start to dig into my meal. Gwaine has already finished and is drinking a tankard of mead.

"Are you sure that's healthy for you? I mean, drinking mead so early in the morning?" I hear Lancelot ask.

"No, but it's mead. There's always time for mead," Gwaine answers, taking a long swig from his tankard before setting it down.

Lancelot rolls his eyes and continues to eat. I chuckle and start to mutter a spell. My eyes flash gold and the tankard scoots away from Gwaine's grip.

"My mead! Merlin!" He cried, trying to reach for his drink.

I stifle a snicker as it scoots farther away from him. Gwaine desperately tries, once again, to grab for his drink only to tumble from his chair and fall face first on the floor. We all burst out in laughter. Gwaine glares at me before his face breaks into a playful smile. He pulls me onto the floor with him, starting to put me in a headlock until Mordred speaks up.