Magic Revealed

The Prince and The Warlock

When they got back to Camelot Merlin disappeared into the Physician's chambers. He seemed distant and quiet. The prince had dismissed it as shock. After all, the young man had just told them his biggest secret that he'd been hiding his whole life.

It was not until later the next day when Lancelot pulled him aside later and thanked him for being understanding of the whole situation that he realized just how much it may have shaken Merlin. The whole thing probably seemed like a dream that he didn't want to wake up from.

That was when he decided to go find the boy. He asked Gaius if he knew where the warlock was and was told that he left early that morning, saying that he was going to fix the knights armor. He had thanked the physician and left, ignoring the old man as he called after him, and headed in the direction of the armory where Merlin was probably working.

When he opened the door he heard a loud clang that sounded like several pieces of armor hitting the stone floor. "It's just me Merlin." He called.

"Hello sire." The servant's voice came from behind a few racks of weapons and Arthur went into the backroom hidden there where he found Merlin sitting in a chair surrounded by several pieces of armor.

The servant looked a little disheveled, his hair sticking up in the back while his brown jacket was a little crooked. "Are you alright Merlin?" The prince asked warily.

Merlin nodded, "Just tired." He said. Arthur looked around and noticed that many of the pieces of the armor were only half finished. "Merlin, either your being lazy or you were using magic to clean these at the same time."

Merlin looked at his feet, "Maybe?" He sounded a little guilty.

Arthur sat down next to the servant, "Lancelot is worried about you." He told the younger man. "I can see why."

"Lance worries about me too much." Merlin complained smiling slightly but he still looked tired and worried.

"Merlin, what's wrong?" The prince said reaching over to grasp one of Merlin's bony shoulders.

The warlock seemed to tense for a moment before responding, "My mother sent me a message while we were away. Ealdor is starving. The crops were already barely enough and then they got raided. I'm planning on leaving tomorrow to help her. Which is why I'm trying to get everything done right now. But unfortunately it's slow going."

"Is Hunith okay?" Arthur asked concerned, he geniunly like Merlin's mother she had always treated him like her own son when he was around.

"She's been trying to eat sparingly but she wrote that she only had about a week's worth of food left. The boy that delivered the message was sent here because he has a medical condition and needed food the most. Gaius is taking care of him but he was not in good shape when he arrived."

Arthur nodded, "I'll go with you. And don't worry about the armor, we'll get George to do it."

Merlin blinked, "You really like my mother don't you?" He laughed. Arthur rolled his eyes but shrugged, "She's nice." He said quietly, "And she doesn't deserve to starve." He stood quickly. We'll leave at dawn. Gather some food that we can carry easily that will feed Ealdor until we can come up with a more permanent solution."

Merlin watched the young prince stride out of the room and smiled. Arthur may deny it but he liked going to Ealdor and staying with Hunith because there he wasn't the prince, he was just Arthur.

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Merlin and Dill were ready with horses ladened with bags of grain when Arthur appeared. He took the rains of his horse from Merlin before looking him in the eye, "Leon is expecting us back within the week so we have plenty of time."