I have magic - Merlin Fanfiction

Chapter Three

Arthur stops visiting his father. Merlin notices - Merlin notices everything - but doesn't bring it up, for which the Regent King is grateful. He doesn't want to even think about his father, let alone talk about him. Besides, there are other matters to turn his attention to. Foremost among these is the council, who consist predominantly of men Uther's age; all hard-line traditionalists who were shocked to discover he had knighted four commoners.

"So any peasant can now petition for knighthood?" One particularly boorish Lord exclaims during a discussion on the amended Knight's Code. "Forgive me Sire, but surely that is ridiculous! How can you begin to regulate such a thing? You'll have men queuing in the castle courtyard!"

"Not all peasants wish to be knights," Leon argues, but goes unnoticed as the others council members squawk their own displeasure around the newly installed Round Table.

They have been arguing in this frustrating, circular manner for well over an hour now and Arthur is ready to tear his hair out. Fortunately, just then, a jug spills on the table and sends the council into disarray as they do their best to keep important documents from getting soaked.

A sudden suspicion forms in Arthur's mind.

"How did the jug fall?"

Someone replies that it must have been the wind, but Arthur has spotted Merlin, in the far corner of the room looking unconvincingly nonchalant. Arthur drills him with a hard look until the servant notices and, realising he's been caught, ducks his head and goes to refill the jug.

Arthur doesn't bring up the spilled jug that evening in his chambers. He is still too consumed by thoughts of the Knights, and doesn't have the energy to waste thinking about his magical manservant.

"What do you think?" he asks brusquely, making the servant jump and almost burn himself as he extinguishes a candle. This used to be the sort of thing Merlin would offer his opinion on without prompting, but ever since he revealed his magic he has been quieter around Arthur.

"About what?"

Arthur throws a pillow at him.

"Hey!"

"You know about what! The thing I've just spent three hours discussing!"

Merlin plumps the pillow he has just dodged and brings it back to the bed. "Ah right. That. Well, I think you should ignore the council to start with."

"I can't ignore the council. When my-" Arthur stops then, clears his throat at the near-mention of his father. "When I am King, I can appoint whoever I like to whatever positions I want. As Regent, I can't move anyone."

Merlin looks thoughtful. "Then maybe you need to make more use of those who do agree with you on the council. Sir Leon is a knight of noble birth, surely the other council members might bow to his expertise?"

"And how would that work?"

"I don't know..." Merlin scratches the back of his neck, thinking it through. "Work out a system by which you can take petitions for knighthoods from commoners, but have him present it as his own? That way it comes from a place of Leon's expertise rather than your... er..."

"My what?"

Merlin shrugs apologetically. "Well your radical, youthful ideas. As the council sees it."

Arthur turns this over in his mind. It is not such a bad idea.

"Oh!" Merlin's face lights up. "And have Lancelot help Leon, so that when they present feedback to the council he can come and speak too. If anyone can change the council's mind on peasants, it's Lancelot."