Chapter Text
Merlin was annoyed.
He hadn’t been able to spend more than a couple of hours with Arthur for two weeks. The king had been sending him off on diplomatic missions to foreign kingdoms to enlighten them on the recent changes in Camelot’s laws regarding magic. Merlin understood the importance of these missions, and he also understood that he would have additional responsibilities as Court Sorcerer of Camelot. He was happy to talk to foreign dignitaries about the new school of magic he was building, and the grounds he was managing for the protection and training of magical creatures, and how he was planning to harness magic to improve the next year’s harvest in Camelot and to protect the kingdom. But after a week and a half of this, he was exhausted and sorely missing his king. And his king’s bed, for that matter, which was infinitely more comfortable than his own.
He couldn’t wait to return to Camelot, and as soon as he did, he’d walked straight into Arthur’s chambers and pulled him up from where he was reading scrolls behind his desk to kiss him smack on the mouth.
Arthur yelped, which wasn’t quite the reaction Merlin had been expecting, or indeed hoping for, and promptly dragged Merlin off to the council chambers where he explained that he needed Merlin to immediately go on a diplomatic mission to the druids that lived in the Forest of Balor, which was the furthest forest from the citadel. Apparently, Arthur had recently received an envoy from their people who reported a concerning magical anomaly.
Merlin gaped at him. “Surely, it can wait until the morning,” he whined, looking at Arthur, who looked tired, but determined. “I've barely seen you these last two weeks,” Merlin continued, sounding distinctly unhappy this time.
Arthur’s expression softened, and he stepped forward and took both of Merlin’s hands in his.
“I know, love” he said softly, “I’ve missed you too, but this is important. The druids are our people now and we’ve made an oath to protect them.”
Merlin took a deep breath, and nodded resignedly. “What’s the magic anomaly?” he asked.
Arthur looked at him blankly. “Umm…I didn’t really understand it,” he said finally, “Something about snakes.”
“Snakes?” Merlin repeated, confused.
“Yes,” Arthur continued slowly, “And toads. They appeared out of nowhere and they uhh…carried a negative magical energy?”
Merlin nodded, trying to look appropriately concerned, “I’ll consult my books,” he replied.
“Take them with you!” Arthur insisted. “Then you can leave within the hour. I’ll have a horse prepared for you.”
“Oh…ok,” Merlin replied, feeling somewhat hollow inside. Arthur smiled at him and kissed him once, chastely, on the lips before striding back to his chambers.
“And take Gwaine with you,” Arthur added, turning around briefly, “For protection.”
“Right,” Merlin replied unthinkingly, as Arthur closed the doors behind him. Wait what, he thought as his brain caught up to his mouth, why would I need protection?
***
Gwaine however, seemed just as convinced as Arthur that Merlin, the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth, actually would need his knightly protection. He insisted that he join Merlin on this adventure.
“It’ll be like old times!” he declared, wrapping an arm around Merlin’s shoulders and hauling him towards the stables, barely allowing Merlin to return to get his books. And then they were off to the Forest.
They were two days into the journey when Merlin started to get annoyed.
“What do you mean we’re five days away from Balor?” Merlin asked the inn-keeper, horrified, “When we left, we were three days away.” The inn-keeper shrugged non-committedly.
Merlin swiveled around to glare at Gwaine who raised his hands placatingly, “Must have misread the map,” he said, “That’s okay. All we have to do is turn back around.”
Merlin prayed for strength. It was too late to travel now, so the journey would now take two days longer than it should have. While Merlin was usually ecstatic to have Gwaine for company, at that moment he was annoyed, because this was all his fault.
“Fine,” he said testily, “Fine.” He stomped off to his room in the inn and slammed the door behind him.
***
“I’m not a servant anymore, Gwaine” Merlin said seriously, watching him splutter as Merlin upended a bucket of cold water over him in the morning, “That means it’s not my job anymore to make sure you’re awake and ready to travel in the morning.”
“I’m up, I’m up!” Gwaine relented, “But I need to get dressed. Give a man some modesty.”
“You don’t have any modesty,” Merlin sighed, rolling his eyes, but turning to leave “I’m waiting downstairs. If you make me wait longer than ten minutes, I’m turning you into a frog.”
The rest of the journey was fairly uneventful. Merlin’s irritation with Gwaine melted away as they continued to ride, Merlin leading the way this time with his magic. Truthfully, he’d missed his friend’s company. He missed hearing about his escapades, and about what he got up to now with the knights. Especially about his latest plans to wind-up Arthur- though Gwaine looked at him suspiciously before he told him of those plans and swore him to secrecy before he revealed any of them. Merlin had seen Gwaine even less than he’d seen Arthur of late, and it made him almost miss the days of being Arthur’s manservant. He might have constantly been at their beck and call before, but at least he was able to spend time with them, as a friend. Most of the knights started acting differently toward him when he became Court Sorcerer and he wondered if they now feared him. He said as much to Gwaine.
“They treat you with respect now,” Gwaine corrected him, sounding serious for once, “As they should always have done.”
Eventually, 5 days later, they reached the Forest of Balor. The druids seemed bemused by their arrival, but welcomed them with open arms, assuring them that everything was well in their camp.
“So you didn’t send an envoy?” Merlin repeated blankly, confused,
“No, Emrys.” The druid leader replied solemnly, “The magic of our land is pure and flourishing. No snakes or toads to speak of,” he assured Merlin, his face amused. “You and your friend are welcome to stay the night, if you wish. It would be an honor to house you.”
Merlin opened his mouth to tell them they really must be getting back and then sighed as Gwaine interrupted him to accept the invitation enthusiastically, sitting down to play with some of the children.
***
“Gwaine, I’m a sorcerer,” Merlin said seriously.
“I know that, Merlin,” Gwaine replied cheerfully, continuing to ride in the wrong direction. “The princess gave you a hat and everything when he made it official.”
Merlin shuddered, thinking of that awful red and gold dragon-shaped monstrosity that Arthur called a hat. It was even worse than the one with the feathers. He’d had it incinerated as soon as Arthur presented it to him, but Arthur had apparently made back-ups, each worse than the last. Eventually, Merlin had warily accepted one that was dark blue and had moons and stars on it and locked it in one of their cupboards, but not before Geoffrey had made note of the uniform for his records.
Merlin huffed, realizing that Gwaine had managed to distract him again, “One of my many abilities, as a sorcerer, is to be able to see the path ahead, and as I’ve been telling you for hours now- we are going in the wrong direction.”
“I beg to differ, my friend,” Gwaine said, his tone conciliatory, “We’re on the border of Escetir.”
“Yes,” Merlin agreed. “That’s my point.” Merlin wondered how upset Arthur would be if he returned without one of his best knights. Probably not too upset, if it was Gwaine. Maybe he’d understand.
“Close to Ealdor.” Gwaine continued, smiling. “What would your mother say if she knew you were this close but didn’t come to visit?”
Merlin gasped, realizing that Gwaine was right. Slowly, he started to smile. He supposed this was a delay he could get behind.