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an-entity-i-think · 1 year

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Sequel to "I Have A Secret"

When the magical creature finally dropped, everything paused for the tiniest of moments.

Well, paused for Merlin who had a small moment to breath in relief that he stopped the creature right before it was about to swipe Arthur with a fatal blow.

Sir Kay, on the other hand, who saw the incriminating golden eyes like everyone else in the small group, didn't pause at all, turned his body towards Merlin already preparing to swipe his sword.

"No!" Gwaine yells from too far away.

Ducking quickly, barely missing the sharp edge, Merlin doesn't even stutter before running to Arthur and then hiding behind him while breathing heavily as he stands back to back with the prince while curling his hands into the cloth of the blonde's breeches.

Arthur finally blinks and seems to unfreeze from where he'd stood since he'd almost been killed by the beast and then saved by his apparently magical manservant.

"Huh."

He surveys the situation.

Merlin has magic and is currently hiding behind him. Sir Leon is looking at them unsure, Sir Gwaine looks like he's ready to kill Sir Kay and also maybe him or Merlin by the way he keeps looking at them.

Feeling the trembling warmth pressed against his back, he very calmly lifts his sword.

"Gentleman. What seems to be the problem?"

He pointedly keeps his sword up in a way that can be used in any direction, but Sir Kay gives him an appalled look anyways, but Leon stares at him for a moment before nodding to himself and putting his sword down.

Sir Gwaine on the other hand, looks at Merlin in frantic worry, looking like he wants to start inching forward.

Arthur feels like Gwaine is probably safe but he doesn't know for sure, so he gives Gwaine a Look anyway which... obviously gives him a scathing glare back.

"Your Highness," Sir Kay looks at him with worry and Merlin (still behind him) with anger, "He's a sorcerer."

Everyone seems to hold their breath in front of him, but Arthur just looks at them for a few more seconds in blankness.

Did they think he just... didn't notice? He squints his eyes.

Looking side to side, Arthur just deadpans, "I mean... yeah. I thought that was pretty obvious with the golden eyes and yelling a spell two seconds ago."

Merlin snorts behind him. The hands still entwined with his breeches seem to loosen as Arthur feels the back against his own start breathing easier.

Arthur's lips try to trick upward, but he tries to keep them down.

Gwaine, still quite clearly running on adrenaline, looks back and forth between them before landing on Merlin, "Merls, are you sure you want to be standing there, right now?"

They both look at him with tilted heads.

Merlin hesitantly replies, "Um... yes?"

His hands squeeze for just a moment, making Arthur frown at Gwaine.

Gwaine, just squints his eyes, before pressing forward, "And you're not scared? You're okay?"

Blinking owlishly, "Uh. I mean. I was scared that Arthur was going to die? And I guess I was scared of Sir Kay for a second. But... I'm doing pretty good..." There's a small pause, "...How are you?"

Sir Leon lets out an uncharacteristic snort before covering his mouth as he tries to hold back a laugh to himself.

Gwaine sputters, "I meant scared of the Princess!"

They, again, both look at him in confusion, "Arthur? Why would I be scared of Arthur?"

Sir Kay and Gwaine both seem to bluster in the same way (for opposite reasons?)

"Cause he's the prince!"

"He's just Arthur."

Arthur makes an offended face, "I'm not JUST anything, Merlin!"

Merlin finally lets go so he can watch him as he smirks, "Oh yeah? What do you want to be instead of Arthur then? I guess if we count a few minutes ago, you can be a damsel in distress instead~"

Arthur looks back at him with a sputter, "You can't talk to me like that! I'll put you in the stocks!"

Merlin just smiles at him mischievously, "Oh of course, Sire. My apologies, Sire. Just maybe you should double check your next stew for vermin instead of bird."

"If you put rats in my stew one more time, I'll make you eat it."

"-oh, going on a diet, Sire? I've been telling you you need it..."

Arthur huffs to himself, putting one hand on his hip while pointing his sword to Merlin with his other, dramatically.

The others skip a breath.

Merlin just rolls his eyes with a bored look like it's happened a million times. (It has)

"I'm going to have the kitchens poison your next meal!"

"Not if I do yours first!"

"At least then I'll have a break from all your prattling!"

Merlin gasps in mock offense as he takes a staggering step back, "How dare you! What about the children?"

Arthur snorts so loud, he drops his sword as he covers his mouth wheezing as Merlin raises his arm in victory and grins like he won something.

"Who are the children?"

Sir Kay interrupts with a disbelieving huff, "Sire. Sorcerer. Against the law."

Arthur looks at him like he's stupid, even though he's the one who looks a little stupid still bent over trying to catch his breath, "It's just Merlin."

Gwaine and Leon share a laugh between themselves, now completely calm, used to the bickering.

"And besides, it's really on me. I didn't ask," Arthur shrugs like this makes complete sense to everyone. He goes to pick his sword back up, as Merlin nods and steps behind him to look over his shoulder with his hands entwined behind him.

Arthur pretends he doesn't miss the warmth, but the breath on his neck is a close second.

"Didn't ask what, Sire?" Leon asks curiously, as he and Gwaine seem to lean forward, even as Sir Kay stays stock still like he's rebooting.

Arthur looked up at him a little startled, "Oh. Merlin told me he had a secret ages ago. I just didn't ask, cause he didn't want me to."

"Wait wait wait- he told you he had a secret?" Gwaine guffaws.

Merlin steps forward to lean his chin on Arthur's shoulder as he wraps his arms around Arthur's waist, "Of course! I try to tell Arthur everything. He's my best friend!"

Arthur pretends he isn't blushing, as he hums noncommittally.

The other three trade glances.

Arthur just nods to himself, even as his free hand absentmindedly holds onto one of Merlin's wrists around his wait.

The other three raise their eyebrows.

"Anyways. Obviously, there will be no speaking of this to my Father." He looks up stern and serious for the first time in this entire conversation.

Leon and Gwaine nod happily, while Sir Kay takes a moment, before nodding reluctantly and murmuring to himself, "I'm repressing this as we speak."

Leon looks at Kay with interest, while Gwaine just watches in amusement as Arthur's blush comes crashing back when he visibly realizes he's been gently caressing Merlin's wrist unconsciously.

Merlin just looks at Gwaine's smirk over Arthur's shoulder, before squeezing Arthur's waist once and letting go to start walking beside him, vehemently trying to hide his own blush now, too.

Both of them start continuing their walk back to the citadel, looking away from each other, even as their arms brush against each other with how close they walk.

The other three follows them casually.

Sir Kay blinks, before turning to Leon with a whisper, "Did I miss something? What happened with the beast?"

Leon just looks at him unable to hide how impressed he is with the skill of Repression, making Sir Kay even more confused, belatedly answering the question, "...Prince Arthur killed the beast, of course."

Sir Kay just blinks, "Of course."

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rainbowsmagicandshit · 1 month

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Fanfic prompt/idea:

Mordred is Emrys (not really tho)

(Super long. TL;DR at bottom)

Someway, somehow, Arthur and his knights (Leon, Elyan, Percy, Gwaine, mordred) + Merlin meet someone while they’re away from the citadel who tells them about Emrys. Might be someone trying to kill them and boasting about the all mighty Emrys or might be a friendly, peaceful magical person who stopped for a chat or something else, choice is yours. Anyway, that night as they eat dinner around the campfire, they start talking about this Emrys. At first they’re like “that’s kooky” and laughing but then Percival speaks up quietly and a bit nervously. He says that while he’s sought sanctuary for the night or a few days in Druid camps before he became a knight, he’s heard about Emrys. Now, everyone is actually interested instead of just laughing it off.

Arthur: tell me more.

Percy: well.. the druids highly respect this man almost as if he’s a deity. I don’t know too much, and it’s been a while. I do remember that everyone knew about him no matter which Druid camp it was, even the children. It seems they tell a lot of stories about him to their young’uns.

Arthur: anything else?

Percy: sorry, sire, that’s all I remember. But if you really want to know more you could try to ask the druids.

They all became quiet and continued to eat, Merlin and Mordred relieved this conversation is over. …Until,

Arthur, remembering Mordred is a Druid: Mordred, you’re a Druid. Do anything about this?

Mordred and Merlin: *sweating bullets just wanting this dangerous topic over with* *glances at each other nervously*

Gwaine: WHA? Mordred, you’re a Druid?! You’ve been hold holdin’ out on us, mate!

Arthur realizes that Mordred’s heritage had not, in fact been a known thing, but they’ve made peace with the druids, it’ll be fine.

Mordred, nervously: oh, um, yes, I am…

The knight all take a few moments to be like “wow… never would’ve guessed” and “aren’t druids normally peaceful people? How you become a knight?”

Arthur, wanting to get things back on track: so, Mordred, do you know anything?

Mordred, nervousness increasing, knowing Merlin doesn’t want Arthur to know who he is, but not wanting to lie to his king, eyes darting between the two and all over the camp: uh…um… I… uh, I..I… I guess, yes. *Merlin’s glare intensifies*

Arthur, not noticing Merlin’s death glare at Mordred: tell me more.

Mordred, trying to figure out what to say to satisfy his king’s curiosity but not incur Emrys’ wrath (Emrys already hates him enough for some reason, he doesn’t want to make it worse): well… um, there’s… well there’s Emrys… and there’s this prophecy involving him. Most druids know of it; it’s centuries old.

Percival: oh, that’s right… Something about a magical king, right?

Mordred: the Once And Future King.

Gwaine: hold on a minute.. that sounds familiar… Ah! That’s right! I heard about it from a storyteller at a tavern once. I thought it was an odd name so it stuck. It’s a love story, right?

Mordred, nervously glancing between Merlin and Arthur (Merlin now looking at Gwaine with exasperation): um… I don’t know if that’s what it is.. but there definitely is a deep bond between Emrys and the Once And Future King.

Arthur: continue.

Mordred, trying to stay focused on Arthur instead of the once again glaring warlock beside him: so the prophecy says that the Once And Future King will unite the land of Albion, return magic to the land, and bring about a golden age of peace and prosperity for all. And Emrys is foretold to help him. * internally: please let be enough to satisfy him🥺😣😖*

Elyan: so the stories are about this king and Emrys is just there to help?

Mordred, sweating: um…

Gwaine: if that’s the case shouldn’t you druids be worshiping the king instead?

Sounds of agreement around the fire.

Leon to Mordred: is there more to us than that?

Mordred, under curious and intense gazes again: uh, yes… Emrys is a very powerful, immoral warlock said to—

“IMMORTAL??!!!” Merlin squawked, surprised.

Mordred, very nervous, whispers: ….um…yes………. *telepathically: did you not know?*

Merlin, telepathically: I am not immoral.

Mordred, telepathically: it’s what the prophecies say

Merlin, telepathically: they’re wrong

Mordred, telepathically: …um,, there’s a lot who say you are.

Merlin, telepathically: No. I’m NOT. I can’t be immortal. That’s ridiculous.

Mordred, telepathically: they say you are. That’s why the call you Emrys.

Merlin and Mordred continue to glare and the knights and Arthur look on wondering when those two got close enough to communicate only looks and without talking. Arthur is not jealous. Not. At. All. That would be ridiculous.(Yes he is, he’s the only one who’s supposed to communicate with Merlin silently. How dare Mordred)

Suddenly Merlin stands up: I’m going to wash the dishes *aggressively goes around the camp and grabs everyone’s dishes, then stomps into the woods to a nearby stream*

Arthur: you were saying Mordred?

Mordred: oh, right! Yes, so Emrys is said to be the most powerful warlock to ever live. He and the Once And Future King are said to be equals and without him the Golden Age can’t happen. While the Once And Future King is the king, Emrys is said to be his advisor and teacher of sorts. He also protects the Once And Future King and supports him any way he can.

The knights and king look thoughtful taking in this information. They ask Mordred more questions, just little stuff and clarifications, and Mordred, relaxing that he’s getting through this without blowing Emrys’ identity let it slip that “the time of the prophecy is upon us” and that Arthur is said to be the Once And Future King. Whoops.

Everyone around the campfire is now totally interested in this and wanting to know if it’s true and Mordred’s like “um… yeah, that’s what everyone is saying…” and REALLY wanting this conversation to be over with before he slips up about Merlin. He’s also really glad Merlin is still washing their dishes far enough away that he can’t hear the conversation.

Of course, just as Gwaine asks “if Arthur’s this Once And Future King, the where’s this Emrys guy?” Merlin returns in time to hear it.

Merlin, glaring at Mordred: what?

Mordred, telepathically: I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! 🥺

The group fills Merlin in on what he missed while Mordred continues to apologize endlessly. The knights then go back to asking Mordred about Emrys and he tries to navigate the questions without giving anything away while also dealing with a furious Merlin in his head telling him to “FIX THIS NOW!! And don’t you tell Arthur who I am!!” The poor boy!

Mordred continues to navigate the conversation mostly emphasizing how loyal Emrys is and how he and the Once And Future King are said to have a strong bond and there’s nothing to worry about when they start to question if Emrys is a threat. Eventually someone (probably Gwaine) brings up that Emrys doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job of protecting Arthur considering how other he’s encountered by magical thing. And Mordred, who knows how busy Merlin is and how hard he’s been working to protect Arthur (and that’s just since he’s become a knight! He knows there’s so much more he doesn’t know and is in even more awe of Emrys for handling it all) sees Merlin look over at Gwaine like he’s actually concerning strangling the man, says, “he’s very busy! And, he’s just one man! He’s really trying his best!!”

Mordred doesn’t realize what he said wrong and why everyone is quietly looking at him like that until Arthur asks, “You know him?”

Mordred, who just realized that he did kinda just admit to knowing a very powerful, immoral warlock to a king and his knights that are of a kingdom where magic is punishable by death: ……………uh

Arthur, realizing why Mordred looks so terrified: Mordred I understand you are a Druid and have grown up on stories of this man. I will not punish you for knowing him. I’m sure you’ve met many sorcerers.

Mordred, letting out a big breath of relief: thank you, sire. And yes, I have met him.

Arthur, nodding: I see. And he is in Camelot?

Mordred: yes, sire. He’s been working very hard to keep you and Camelot safe.

Arthur, looking at his other knights: I’ve never heard of anyone in the kingdom by that name, any of you?

Leon: he’s likely using a fake name.

Arthur: hmm. Yes that makes sense.

Mordred, wondering if he messed up again: uh, sire? Is something wrong?

Arthur, looking back at Mordred, and trying to reassure him: I wouldn’t really say something is wrong, per say, but the fact that there is an unknown and powerful sorcerer hiding in Camelot is something I need to be aware of. Since you’ve met him, do you know who he’s hiding out as?

Mordred, glancing subtly at Merlin who’s glaring at him threatening again, realizing he really f’ed up: ……

Arthur, realizing Mordred does know who Emrys is: who is he, Mordred?

Mordred: ……

Arthur, starting to lose his patience: Mordred. Who is he? Or does your loyalty lie with him first and me, your king, second?

Mordred, startled: No! That’s not it at all, sire! I’m very loyal to you! I swear it!

Arthur: then…

Mordred, sheepishly: well… in the prophecy you two are equals, so I’ve always weighed your words and orders as equal as well. And Emrys asked me not to reveal him, so…

Arthur: ……

The knights: ……

Merlin, telepathically: you’re not done yet, keep going. The prat’s not going to leave it at that.

Arthur, trying to figure out how to word it: Mordred… you do realize that that is…. worse, right?

Mordred: ????

Arthur: there is someone who one of my knights has valued their words as equal to my own who I have never met and know next to nothing about and who is a sorcerer. I have not appointed this man and if he were to contradict one of my orders… Do see how I really need to know who this man is?

Mordred: …but he’s loyal to you…🥺

Arthur, wondering if he’s actually going to have to turn this into an official interrogation: Mordred.

Tension rises again as Arthur keeps pushing and Merlin starts yelling in his head again and Mordred just Doesn’t Know What To Do. Please make this stop! Until he can’t take it anymore and just blurts out, “I’M EMRYS!!”

Silence.

Mordred can’t believe he just said that. Did he actually just claim to be THE Emrys? It feels sacrilegious. He peeks over at Merlin, but the man seems just as shocked as the rest of them at this development and raises an eyebrow in question.

Mordred, telepathically: …sorry? I didn’t know what to say…

Merlin, telepathically: ..no, im not mad at that. I am a bit curious about where you’ll go with this though…

Arthur: you’re Emrys?

Mordred, with Merlin’s permission to continue: yes. I’m Emrys.

Gwaine, whistles: damn mate, you’ve really been holding out on us!

Everyone looks at Mordred in a new light, trying to reconcile what they already knew about him with this new information.

Arthur: so you have magic then?

Mordred, nervously: yes.

More silence.

Gwaine, very interested and not at all wary: lots of it too being the most powerful and thought of as a deity.

Mordred, who is quite powerful, but not on Emrys’ level, obviously: yeah, I suppose.

After a bit more of an awkward and tense conversation of stilted sentences, and some debate about magic, Mordred and Merlin finally relax at the fact they’re both keeping their heads and the true identity of Emrys is secret. It was pretty much decided that Mordred had already sworn fealty to Arthur when he became a knight and even saved the king’s life in the Northern Plains, so he was most likely still trustworthy even though he was a sorcerer. Arthur and the knights are surprisingly okay with this turn of events; they’re still tense, but no one’s drawn their sword. Gwaine even asks Mordred to do some magic, and with Arthur’s very tense go ahead, Mordred levitates a water skin for a bit much to Gwaine’s delight. Gwaine keeps asking Mordred to do more magic as they head back to the castle like make things float and light some campfires.

I was thinking that it will mostly be about the antics from this point and how it would change things for the better. Like, now Merlin needs to enlist Mordred in his secret magical adventures and work together to keep Arthur and Camelot safe. The two would make such a funny dynamic. Merlin being all huffy and suspicious but begrudgingly including him while Mordred is so happy at being able to help his idol out, a dream come true for him.

The group ABSOLUTELY keeps Mordred’s magic and him being Emrys thing a secret at first, not sure when that’ll change but it definitely will. Gwaine probably spills about the prophecy and Arthur being the once and future king while he’s drunk in the tavern one night, but not about Mordred. The group eventually start warming up about magic and not being so wary of sorcerers since they’re now seeing Mordred using it to protect them so much. When the knights ask about what he’s done so far he tells them about Merlin’s achievements (with his permission, of course) and gets some more stories from him.

When the actual reveal comes it will be after word has already spread that Mordred is Emrys, so then Arthur and everyone will have to be like “no, that was a lie/misunderstanding, it’s actually Merlin” but people will still mistake Mordred for Emrys even years in the future. They’re never living this down.

Also there is DEFINITELY at least one scene where they go to a Druid camp and Arthur’s all like “yep, this is Mordred. Emrys” and the druids, telepathically, are like “boy, what are you doing? Mordred, you know you’re not Emrys.” And Mordred’s like “I have permission…” so the Druids subtly look at Merlin and he’s like “yeah, he’s got permission, just go with it” So, they do.

There’s also going to be scenes where Arthur is trying to get to know Mordred better because they apparently are supposed to have a super strong bond or whatever and yes, he and Mordred do have a bond, but he wouldn’t say it was any different than his bonds with his other knights and is all confused by it. And when he’s confiding in Merlin about it, he advises to not try and force it.

I know this is season 5 and Arthur and Gwen are married, BUT if you decide to go the merthur route, there can even be some prophecies about Emrys and the once and future king being soulmates and destined to be together or something. That would make Arthur even more confused/troubled because while Mordred is only a little over a decade younger than him (I headcanon that Arthur was 20-21 in 1st season and Mordred ~7-10) and age gaps that big weren’t unheard of, he just can’t look at Mordred that way. He’s too much like an innocent little puppy or something. Merlin is probably mortified because he can’t believe they have prophecies about his love life and why was he only finding out about this NOW?

Also, LANCELOT!!! Maybe there’s some way to actually bring him back from the dead. Or, there could be some scenes of him in Avalon watching this comedy unfold and talking and laughing about it with Will and Fraya and whoever else has died. And they’re all shaking their heads at the crazy situations Merlin gets himself into.

TL;DR: It’s basically crack about Merlin and Mordred working together to pass Mordred off as Emrys with a side of fix-it.

In the future I might decide to write this myself, but I’m in the middle of reading TGCF and want to finish that and a couple other things before I rewatch Merlin. It’s been a couple years since my last rewatch so things are a little fuzzy and I don’t want to completely mischaracterize someone. So, here, take it. Do with this what you want, but let me know if you write this or something, cause it would be supper fun to read.

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