Merlin: The Lost Prince (On Hiatus...)

An Unexpected Visit

It was exactly 9 years since Merlin had had to leave Skolvirds and he was not coping well. He would stop and stand as still as a statue for five minutes while memories flooded his mind. Even Arthur had gotten the hint that Merlin wasn't not to be bothered by problems or demands until tomorrow unless they were urgent.
'Unfortunately,' Arthur thought, 'this is urgent.'
"Merlin," Arthur said, snapping him out of another blank gaze. "We have visitors that have requested to meet with me. I need you to be there to show them to their rooms, I know you're distracted by something today but I need you to be on your best form this morning."
"Right, I'm coming." Merlin said dreamily. "Where did you say they came from."
"I didn't. From what I gathered they've come from a kingdom about 5 hours on horse back away called Skolrivds."
"Skolvirds"
"Yeah," Arthur seemed pleased that Merlin was paying attention, and began to head towards the throne room. If he had turned back to look at Merlin he would have seen that the colour had drained away from his face leaving him pale and his eyes full of terror.
"This is it," Merlin muttered as he followed behind Arthur. "My Uncle's found me."
Merlin was full of dread as he entered the room shortly after Arthur had entered. But what he saw filled him with shock. What stood in the middle of the room was not people he need to fear but people he cared about. At the front stood his brother and sister, standing tall and proud, all grown and then in a clump stood his old friends, Bernlake, Rion, Vortimer and then Launfal and Lunet. It took all of his strength not to rush up to them and give them all hugs, especially Ölwyn and Balen. Instead he just stared at them.
"My name is Prince Balen, Sire, this is my younger sister Princess Ölwyn and the others who accompany me are Launfal, his twin sister Lunet, Vortimer, Bernlake and Rion. We all came from the once prosperous kingdom of Skolvirds. When I was just 9 years old my father was betrayed by my uncle Tristram." When Balen said this Arthur flinched and then looked at them all with a sad, knowing smile. "Me, my sister, my mother and my older brother fled, my parents had a plan for if something like it ever happened and so we were separated, my sister with one family in one village, me with one family in another and my brother and mother together in another. Our mother visited me and my sister regularly but my brother was never allowed, he was the heir and needed to be kept safe. None of us have seen him in 9 years. We have come to ask you for two things, one to help find our brother and two to ask you to help us win the war we have been fighting all the 9 yea-"
"With my brother I know we will win. He is brave and strong and kind. And we need him." Ölwyn finnaly butted in, letting Merlin see that she really hadn't changed much at all.
"Of course we shall help. With both your requests. But before we start searching within Camelot my servant, Merlin, will take you up to your chambers." At my name they all turned and stared in his direction but Merlin was already going through the large, wooden doors.
He lead them down passage way after passage way until they finnaly reached one that was empty and bare. Merlin knew that this was the right way that he was going and that it wasn't on purpose, but at the same time he felt glad that they had the opportunity to speak to them. But before he could get a single word out of his mouth Ölwyn grabbed him into a large hug.
"Is it really you Merls." She breathed, finnaly letting him go.
"Yeah Ölwyn, it's me. I've missed you so much. I've missed all of you. But why come now, what's happened that you need me now?" Merlin questioned.
"Merlin," Rion spoke for the first time. "Merlin, we're losing. Tristram is winning and the people cannot hold out for much longer. We need you, we need your magic."
"Sussssshhhh. Noone knows about that." Merlin sounded frantic. "I'll come and help. But I don't want to tell Arthur."
"Yes sire." They all agreed.
"Now let me take you to your rooms."
"Speaking of that, how did you become servant?" Vortimer asked, a smile tracing his lips.
"Well, a long stories short I saved Arthur's life and this was how I was rewarded. Cleaning the Prince, now King's underwear."
There was a hearty laugh as he showed the their doors and left them to it.

The next morning was spent 'searching' for the 'lost' prince. Merlin was heading back to his room when he bumped into Gaius who told him that the visitors had asked for a meeting with the king and it was taking place in 5 minutes. Merlin rushed up the stairs in complete and utter confusion. What on earth could his siblings want to talk to Arthur about?
He walked into the throne room to see everyone was there and his sister was getting ready to speak. He walked to a corner and leaned against the wall. Preparing himself for what was about to happen. Then his sister began to speak.
"King Arthur, we have good news. We have found our Prince." She said with both joy and caution.
"That's wonderful. When can I meet him?"
"That is the thing sire. Our good prince resides here, in the castle." There was a stunned silence as everyone turned to the person next to them and gave them confused stares. Merlin however, was glaring. He couldn't believe that they were telling everyone. He asked them not to tell.
Vortimer began to speak, "Sire, we know you are in here. We know this is not what you wanted but it's for the best. They need to know. The need to understand sire. Please my friend, my Prince." The last part was pleading. And Merlin almost said something, but he didn't. Then his brother spoke.
"Brother, please we need you. I need you. You promised us. The last time we saw each other. When I was 9, we were crying and your promised one day we would go home. Don't break that."
Merlin stepped out of the shadows, glided down the room with a grace no one ever thought he had, stood next to his brother and whispered into his ear, "Only for you." Took a deep breath and said "My name is Prince Merlin, first son of the dead King Ballinor the third, Lord and tamer over all dragons. Welder of the King's sword.

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Hey smurfs,
I was kinda preoccupied with writing this chapter.
Yaaaaaayyyyyyy
1146 word count.
Whoop. Whoop.
They may get longer.
This may be as long as they get.
You'll just have to wait and see.
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P.s don't you just love that photo?