The first time Merlin met Mordred was when they were 17 and 10 respectively. A druid boy had asked Merlin for help, and Merlin had protected him from Uther's wrath along with Morgana, Guinevere and Arthur. At the time, Merlin was thinking that he might've just caused Arthur's doom. After all...
Merlin had saved him.
Kilgarrah had foreseen Mordred to be the cause of Arthur's death, yet Merlin did not panic. He first thought about the words of the prophecy and noticed that it didn't specify when Arthur's death would come about, nor how Mordred would be involved. Just from that alone, Merlin had immediately discarded any thoughts and emotions he'd felt towards the child and helped save him.
-:-
It was during the time wherein the boy lay hidden in Morgana's chambers that Merlin learned the Druids knew of his so-called destiny and that they'd been waiting for him. He realised this when Mordred had formed a connection with him in their minds and was the first person to call him by his title: Emrys (which the Great Dragon told him about later).
The boy showed no emotion on his face other than pain and fear, which was acceptable considering he was a wanted druid boy hiding in Camelot. However his mind could not hide what he truly felt.
Feelings of admiration filtered through their link, awe of Emrys and respect for Merlin. The fact that Merlin could differentiate between the two, between what Mordred felt towards Merlin as a person and what he felt towards Emrys as a warlock, was astounding. Yet Merlin did not question it. He merely accepted it with a silent smile and patched up Mordred's wound to the best of his amateur-ish ability.
Afterwards, he'd gone.
He scrambled his way to the gate, blasted it off and helped Arthur get Mordred out of Camelot. All the while the boy's pale blue eyes stared into his own azure orbs like he was looking into Merlin's very soul. The sigh of relief Merlin heaved once he heard Mordred thank him was enough to reassure him that he'd done the right thing. He would not allow the death of a child, fellow magician or not, to weigh on his conscience.
And there Merlin waited. Waited for Arthur to return safe and sound. Waited for him, just as he would every time he couldn't be right by Arthur's side.
-:-
Arthur rode through the forest. He urged his horse to move faster, hoping to get the druid boy back to his people as soon as possible to reduce the risk of both him and the child being found by his father. Suddenly the horse jerked to a stop, and from behind the trees emerged several people in robes. A man stepped forward. He thanked Arthur and took back Mordred, who gave his name to Arthur.
Brief moments passed between the two, and although Arthur knew nothing about the boy, he could feel that something had changed. As if a fate that'd been set in stone had finally started moving, Arthur felt like he and Mordred were destined to meet once again.
As Mordred walked away, he had a sense of crisis. He knew that the moment he met Merlin, then Morgana and Arthur Pendragon, that it was a fateful encounter. He could feel the magic binding him to them, their meeting destined. He was intuitively aware of his new destiny as Arthur's doom, but that made him conflicted.
Mordred didn't want to become Emrys' enemy, who protected Arthur Pendragon in order to bring magic back. He didn't want to hurt Arthur either, because he protected him - protected magic. It was at this moment that Mordred solidified his resolve to help Merlin and Arthur, who risked their lives for him. He believed that the future was not set in stone, just like Merlin had believed.
-:-
Time flashed past in the blink of an eye after that.
Merlin and Arthur encountered bandits during their hunting trips, Merlin continued to save Arthur from death's grasp each and every week, and they both ended up making some friends that would only cause more disarray and chaos within the world. During this time, Merlin did not hesitate even once in his pursuit of protecting Arthur so that he may become the Once and Future King. He knew of the threat Mordred would become, knew he had to prepare for when they inevitably met again. And so, Merlin made it his mission to find out anything and everything he could about the boy.
He'd first gone to Kilgarrah and listened to the Great Dragon repeat the words that "Mordred is destined to be Arthur's doom," many times. But no matter how many times Merlin asked, no matter how vague or specific the answers the Dragon returned, Merlin was never told when Arthur would die and how. After that, Merlin decided to do some more research - not just on Mordred but on himself, his own destiny, and Arthur's destiny.
He now knew that he had more than just the name given to him upon his birth. Merlin Hunithson was the personal servant to the Crown Prince. However, Emrys was the most powerful warlock to walk the earth. And according to what he learned from Kilgarrah he'd apparently even more unknown names.
So he sought out the druids.
Every druid that he met had called him Emrys. Whether he met them through urgent letters or warnings, or when on the run with Arthur and the knights, it still didn't change the fact that they had known of Merlin's destiny since before he was even born. And it was a good choice seeking them out; he'd found that he would one day become a Dragonlord, one of the holiest titles given to those with magic who were from certain bloodlines. They were duty-bound in protecting any and all magical creatures as their lord, but the dragons were their most powerful and noble kin and so the title. Not only that, but Merlin had found that he wasn't just magically powerful - Merlin was magic itself. That was quite a shock, but he'd come to quickly and silently accept the continuous revelations thrust upon him about himself.
Merlin had easily found out about who he was, his destiny, who Arthur and his destiny were too. He also learned some new things about the people around him, such as him being Morgana's doom or Guinevere becoming Queen. But he kept this knowledge locked away in his mind, deciding to trust in his decision that the future can change. As something just as powerful as fate itself, Merlin believed that he could change the future.
The druids knew next to nothing about Mordred being Arthur's doom so it appeared they weren't all-knowing after all, but it told Merlin that Mordred and his destiny were dependent on certain factors. It seemed that the closer the time came, the more people knew about the destiny and who it involved. Such was the case with Morgana's destiny, Merlin learned.
-:-
It hadn't taken a month, much less a year, to learn about Emrys and the Once and Future King from both Kilgarrah and the druids. Both were quite willing and enthusiastic in helping Merlin, although in Kilgarrah's case it was moreso a trade since he'd wanted to be set free.
Merlin had also remembered something of great significance - Nimueh. Although he hadn't been there when Arthur had encountered Nimueh, Merlin had fragments of memories from the magic that was used to create the orb that saved Arthur's life in the cave. The most prominent memory was of Nimueh telling Arthur: "it is not your destiny to die by my hand."
From those words, Merlin immediately figured out that Nimueh must've known about Mordred or something relating to Arthur's doom. So he'd set off in secret to find her at the Isle of the Blessed, and true to his assumptions, she knew about Mordred. And although she was willing to divulge her knowledge, she wanted something in return: for Merlin to join her.
Merlin had thought long and hard about that decision - usually he'd have immediately ignored or rejected her outright, however Merlin's recent knowledge about the world and magic from the Druids made him second guess his decision because he knew he was still naive in a lot of aspects. At that time, the only thing he had going for him was the title "Emrys" and his naturally powerful magic.
In the end he'd given Nimueh a temporary promise, a trial period of sorts, to join forces with her for half a year in which she couldn't harm anyone he cared about, and she would teach him about magic and the Old Religion. Nimueh jumped at the chance, believing that if Merlin was willing to embrace the Old Religion somewhat then it'd be likely he'll join her, if not for the allure of power then due to understanding the reason for her actions.
-:-
They spent time together, with Nimueh teaching Merlin how to control his magic and will it to do what he wanted. She taught him the origins of the Old Religion, the roles of those involved such as High Priestesses, and happily told him all about Emrys and the Once and Future King. Merlin also learned that Mordred was indeed Arthur's harbinger of death, however Nimueh herself had distressingly limited information and could only speak about how the prophecy related to Arthur's doom followed the law of cause and effect, therefore it relied on certain events and their consequences to come about.
Unfortunately, it seemed Merlin wouldn't be able to have things work as smoothly as he'd expected; the moment Nimueh heard that Arthur's doom was nearing, she tried using it against Merlin so that he would officially join her. She knew that Arthur was one of the main obstacles in her path to obtaining Emrys, thus she began to concoct her plan until it quite painfully backfired on her.
Merlin had asked her to save Arthur, and as it was a request from a significant magical being that was willing to give up their lives in return, Nimueh was bound by the laws of the universe and magic - she couldn't reject him. She had no control over whether Arthur would be saved or not, however she was able to direct the consequences to those connected to Merlin. Her retribution came in the form of Hunith, Merlin's mother, and Gaius the physician.
She thought it would make Merlin desperate and more willing to join her in the end yet, unexpectedly, Merlin appeared mostly unfazed. She thought he was hiding his grief until he spoke.
"You broke our deal, Nimueh. The promise no longer holds. Thank you for your past guidance, however I won't join forces with you. You've betrayed me, and for that you will pay!"
He ended it with a struck of lightning.
-:-
As Merlin was unable to find out more about Mordred and his destiny, he decided to go back to the start. He asked the druids if they knew Mordred, and those who did, he'd asked about Mordred's birth and upbringing. The boy was born a druid, his parents found and executed shortly after, and was raised by the others in the druid camp. He was a kind and polite boy, but mostly kept to himself and only spoke when necessary.
In Merlin's eyes, it looked like Mordred was lonely. That was until he found the druid camp where Mordred hailed from.
The druids were a peaceful people and looked after each other collectively, so the people in the camps would switch camps now and then due to risks or personal reasons. Therefore, when Merlin spoke to the elders in Mordred's camp he wasn't surprised to hear that the boy was travelling with a different druid camp after his near death experience in Camelot. Only a few elders in the camp remembered Mordred and they could only tell Merlin that Mordred was just like other boys his age - he helped make food and drink for the people, listened to stories told about the powerful Emrys, and had one friend he was close to.
That was the moment Merlin knew; Mordred's destiny must've been quite elusive because he was just a common druid boy until he'd found himself in Camelot and met Merlin, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana. That must've been the moment things had started to click into place, since he'd met so many important people and become intimate with them. So Merlin re-evaluated everything he knew about Mordred.
-:-
Of course, Merlin's secret networking didn't stop Arthur from giving him tons of chores or Gaius from sending him into the forest to pick herbs all the time. Whenever Merlin had time to spare, usually those rare few moments where he didn't need to save Arthur from bandits or magical creatures, Merlin would let his magic automatically do the chores safely in his bedroom while he went out to gain more information.
Eventually though, there came a time where Merlin had to put his nightly endeavours on hold. It was when Morgana's dreams were no longer dreams but became visions, and she was becoming suspicious of herself and those around her.
Gaius had told Merlin the truth after a while, that Morgana might be a seer, in which case Merlin had quickly pieced together that she was most likely to be the next High Priestess of the Old Religion. Merlin had a strong hunch that Morgana's destiny was also prophecied then.
When Merlin found out that Morgana was going to end up as the last High Priestess of the Old Religion, he almost spat out blood in horror. He'd gotten more familiar and in touch with himself, his magic, the magic of others, and the earth's magic over time (and thanks to Nimueh). So Merlin knew exactly how important the roles of those linked to the Old Religion were, and the Old Religion itself.
It wasn't the Old Religion that was his enemy, but the twisted and changed belief of it that its present day followers believed in. Merlin knew what Morgana's role as the High Priestess was, the last one moreso, and he knew that should she be confused or led astray by even a mere inch, the true ways of the Old Religion would forever be lost.
So before anything could happen, before assassins could find any information, before Morgana could begin doubting herself, before Gaius could even give Morgana her new 'prescription'... Merlin went to her.
He went and told her how he worried for his friend, how she could trust him, and offered comfort to Morgana in this darkness that she was afraid would swallow her whole. Morgana told him everything, and he patiently listened.
(During this time, Merlin suddenly recalled a conversation they had once. They were in her rooms, watching Mordred as he slept, and her words from that day still made Merlin smile. She'd wondered if magic was not something you choose... "what if it chooses you?").
They were holding hands by the time they started talking about magic, and Merlin made sure to stress his views about the topic greatly. Just a single misstep - he knew he couldn't afford it. So he told her all he knew about magic, all he thought about it, the good and the bad and what he believed her to be. Morgana was completely crushed, cried herself to sleep against Merlin, then he left her in bed to sleep the rest of the day and the following night away.
When she awoke in the morning, she declined the breakfast with Uther and Arthur by claiming she wasn't feeling well, gave the excuse that she was tired and wanted to sleep more instead when Uther tried to visit and take care of her, then made her way quickly around the castle to find Merlin. As it was past dawn she knew Merlin couldn't be in his chambers or Gaius's so she went sneaking off to find Arthur and consequently the raven-haired servant.
The moment Merlin felt Morgana nearing him - he'd learned to spread his magic like an invisible dome 100 metres around himself - he made a suitable excuse to get away from Arthur and hurried to intercept her. When they met, Merlin didn't let Morgana say a word before she was whisked away back to her room, Merlin sitting across from her and watching her intently with a serious expression yet nervous eyes.
Morgana smiled hesitantly before mumbling out that she was glad Merlin spoke to her and that she wished to know more about magic and what she was. When Merlin asked her what she'd do with herself, Morgana replied saying that she'd fulfil her duties as a High Priestess and bring back the true ways of the Old Religion to Camelot; there was a catch, however, as she hoped Merlin would stay by her side even if she was a witch, and help her in her goal.
Merlin knew then and there that Morgana was trustworthy, the fact that she'd accepted having magic and being a witch without even knowing she would one day be the last High Priestess. It strengthened his resolve for what he was about to do.
He showed her his magic.
She didn't get upset that he hid it from her because she knew the exact same feeling and weight of such a secret, instead wrapping him in a hug and promising that she'd stay by his side forever as well, which Merlin appreciated more than anything.
And so, the matter with Morgana becoming a dark witch was easily fixed as it hadn't turned into a problem in the first place. Of course, Merlin couldn't change the fact that Morgana was a Dark witch at her core, it was in her nature and part of her magic. There were hundreds of different types of magics, but as a High Priestess of the Old Religion, Morgana geared towards the Dark and Merlin made sure she knew what was acceptable and what was most definitely considered taboo, so that she wouldn't ever find herself questioning her magic or teetering over that fine line.
Almost five years had passed since Merlin's first encounter with Mordred. He was now 21 years old, a time he would usually have been expected to find someone and settle down with had it not been for his prestigious job as King Arthur's personal manservant. Half a decade had passed since Merlin first met Arthur and began his life in Camelot, however the attempts on the Once and Future King's life never ended. Merlin's day to day life was as busy as usual.
-:-
Mordred, a 14 year old Druid boy, found himself heading towards Camelot one day. He didn't know why, but felt like it was time he could finally go back.
Mordred had become a mountain bandit at the age of 11 to 13, having been forced to join them after witnessing his fellow druids murdered in their camp. He'd managed to escape thanks to some knights, making up his mind to become one himself. Since then Mordred trained himself to become a knight, however he didn't know who he wanted to serve until he heard about the recent goings on in Camelot while passing by a town.
The townspeople whispered to themselves about how the new King Arthur of Camelot was a kind man who often visited the lower towns and spent time with the common people. They mentioned how he personally fought whenever there was a threat to Camelot, and risked his life dozens of times for people beneath his status.
They all respected and admired Arthur immensely, and Mordred got the feeling that the prince was able to become a king because the mighty Emrys was by his side. When he had this thought, he also noticed some druids nearby smiling and whispering to each other, the great title Emrys passing along their own lips. Making his way close to them, Mordred listened in to their conversation. He wanted to know what Emrys had been doing all this time.
"I saw our lord standing tall as he played with the local children when last I visited! When I saw his back, I couldn't help but gasp in joy - seeing such a trustworthy back gave me hope for our future and magic!" a witch said, her smile wide and eyes beaming. "He's always had such a welcoming presence, but now the reliable air around him makes you feel safe and gives you faith that Emrys will definitely bring Albion to us! I must say, when I saw him beside the King I wanted to cry! Their warm smiles and gentle greeting left me blissfully smiling away. It was beautiful to see how much the prince has grown since meeting our lord." The druid boy with her listened on in silent admiration, his eyes wide in wonder as excitement flashed across his face.
"From what you said, I wouldn't want to leave! Why are you here now?" he asked, causing the witch to frown momentarily.
"I wouldn't have left Camelot if I had the choice, but I heard that more evil beasts had emerged around the border. My desire to be of use to Emrys was encouraged by magic, reassuring me that our lord knows all that we do for him in his name, so I've decided to stay in this nearby town for a while and get rid of the weak ones before heading back!"
The boy nodded and answered her unspoken question by saying he'd help her and tag along when she returns to Camelot so that he can finally witness Emrys for himself like every Druids wished to do. He wanted to be there to see Emrys fulfilling his prophecy.
"I heard that our lord has recently inherited his role as a Dragonlord. There are rumours that he also has a dragon egg in his possession, however they're still unconfirmed. It would be amazing if it was true. I haven't seen any dragons since the Great One left Camelot! I just pray they haven't gone extinct yet, they are such noble beings that it would be a crime against magic!" a man spoke up, gaining the attention of the others. Mordred's ears perked up in interest, not knowing that Merlin was a Dragonlord. The father of Emrys must've passed away...
"Yes, I also heard about him becoming a Dragonlord. But I didn't know about the egg, that's amazing!" the witch replied. She continued, "I heard rumours about the gates of Avalon opening, but that's such a rare and fearful occurrence, so I wouldn't want to know whether that one is true or not." The other two nodded in agreement. Not all druids knew about the Sidhe, but most knew about Avalon being guarded by something strong.
Mordred decided he'd heard enough and trudged away from the group, thinking about the things he'd heard. Merlin was a Dragonlord... if the rumours about the gates opening were true, then he must've been involved in Avalon as well.
Mordred had always admired Merlin. When he was a young boy, he heard tales of Emrys and was in awe. Then he'd met Merlin himself and was saved by him in Camelot, bringing him to respect Merlin as well, separate from Emrys.
They were one and the same, however Mordred could tell that Merlin was nothing like the Emrys he'd heard about - still, Merlin was just as remarkable as Emrys in his eyes, so them being the same person made Mordred's mind turn in chaos and a blush to erupt along his cheeks. He admired the man greatly, Merlin was Mordred's hero and Emrys was his idol.
As Mordred made his way out of the town and towards Camelot, Merlin was pacing up and down his chambers as a sudden situation had occurred.
Merlin knew all about Arthur, Morgana and Morgause. He knew about their parents too. What he wasn't expecting was Morgana's love for her sister to confuse her thoughts and actions about magic and Camelot. The moment Merlin realised he couldn't allow Morgause to get her claws into Morgana, he began to stress. Morgana was like a sister to him and he her brother, the both of them cared immensely for one another however Morgana was distraught about discovering the truth behind her birth. She was in a vulnerable state but Merlin didn't know how he could protect her from Morgause's manipulations secretly, she wasn't used to her magic enough yet to be able to hold her own. Then it hit him.
He had to tell her.
But if he just told her, she might jump to conclusions involving betrayal and trust. He had to be careful if he was going to do this. If he can't protect her from the shadows, he could only go out into the light.
Morgana knew something was bothering Merlin, however she couldn't bring herself to worry about him because she had her own problems.
She'd just found out that Arthur was her brother.
She knew Morgause was her sister the moment they met, and Merlin had later explained what he'd found out about their parents' relationships. Morgana realised that Arthur being her brother meant she had a legitimate claim to the throne, and as she was older, she had even more of a right - the only obstacle was that she was female whereas the newly appointed king was already the perfect heir.
She wasn't thinking about this because she wanted to steal the throne, no. Morgana thought that if she took the mantle, perhaps she could help bring magic back quicker than Arthur who still hadn't changed anything other than declare that executions and punishments will depend on the severity of crime committed. He'd said nothing about magic yet.
Morgana recalled the time when she ended up going through a terrifying incident. She had performed something called accidental magic, which Merlin had explained to her later, and found herself in a castle atop a snowy mountain. Not long after, she was reunited with Mordred. However, drunk on her magical high, she abused her powers as a witch and took control of the mountain bandits.
She wasn't the one to issue the order of capturing targets, the bandits took it upon themselves to do that as they thought it'd please her, so of course Mordred didn't say a thing about what was happening. He cared about Morgana since she had helped him when he was younger, but Mordred knew she wasn't in a state to help him at the moment.
A few days later, Merlin and Mordred met once again. Arthur and Merlin had gotten themselves stuck in a trap and caught by the bandits, suddenly making their way to the castle on the tip of the mountain. Of course, this was actually going according to Merlin's plan. He knew Morgana was somewhere around there and planned to save her and bring her back home, however Arthur was clueless about his silently scheming manservant and complained about his clumsiness. Merlin, having had enough of Arthur's whining, helped them escape and cross a ledge where Mordred couldn't reach them. (Although he knew Mordred wasn't a big threat at the moment, Merlin was still cautious around the boy and wasn't taking any chances).
(When Mordred reunited with Merlin in those mountains after nearly half a decade, he felt it wasn't a coincidence they'd met and that it was fate - he had come to admire Merlin for being able to hide his magic while in Camelot yet protecting Arthur no matter what at the same time. When he noticed Merlin distract the bandits just because of Arthur, he knew that Merlin was still the same trustworthy, reliable and kind person he was all those years ago. He's gentle to those who aren't his enemies yet powerful, unyielding and domineering in nature when faced with those exact foes. At that moment Mordred could feel the pressure Merlin was emitting from just his will alone, daring Mordred to chase after him and his king. Mordred was smiling on the inside without noticing the red tint splashed across his cheeks as he watched Merlin drag Arthur away).
Merlin, after dumping an unconscious Arthur in a hidden hole, made his way around and back to the castle where he knew Morgana was. He could feel her magic swirling madly around her. The state of her magic made Merlin feel horrible, it was slow and sticky as though something was holding it back, like it was drowning in tar. At least, that's how Merlin had explained it to Morgana later.
Once he found her, Merlin had slapped Morgana as hard as he could then shared his magic with her's. The shock and pain brought Morgana back to her senses and the feel of Merlin's pure magic inside her made her retch as a black, ghoulish substance escaped from her throat. The substance hovered before dissipating and Morgana felt like she could finally breathe for the first time in months.
(Mordred later figured out that Merlin must've saved Morgana when he saw her missing. He couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips as hope began to bud within him. He began to believe in Emrys bringing about Albion and the changing of times).
Morgana looked up at Merlin with watery eyes, sobbing away the traumatic experience - of being possessed by an evil spirit after going crazy with her magic - when Merlin hugged her tightly. Of course... of course he knew what was going on even if she didn't. Merlin was always there when she needed him.
"You can always trust me, Morgana. If you ever need help, just call me. I'll be here to protect you. I know you - that also means I know when you aren't really you."
Those words brought comfort to Morgana, who felt so alone and lost when she couldn't see Merlin's vibrant smile day after day.
-:-
Two days after Morgana began thinking about the throne, Merlin deemed himself mentally prepared for what was about to come. Unfortunately that didn't extend to physical preparations; Merlin had stumbled into Morgana's chambers in the early hours of the morning only to see Morgause about to slip a bracelet, emanating with vicious dark magic, onto the ravenette's slim wrist.
Merlin didn't even think before his eyes flashed molten gold and Morgause was thrown back into the wall. The loud thud jolted Morgana from her sleep and she sat up abruptly, eyes wide in shock when she saw her sister on the floor unconscious and Merlin standing beside her bed seemingly unfazed.
"...Merlin?" Morgana questioned. Merlin turned to look to the older girl.
"I know it might be hard to believe, but just now she was trying to control you through a dark magical object. I'm sorry, I probably should've handled it better but I wasn't thinking straighr when I saw that you were in danger," Merlin explained.
Morgana was silent for a few minutes before she smiled, more genuine and lighter than the fake ones she'd forced these past few days.
"Although she may be my sister... I haven't known her that long, Merlin. Not as long as I've known you. And I know you wouldn't lie to me, especially about magic. So thank you for protecting me. But... what do we do now?"
Merlin was in a daze. He wasn't expecting to hear that from Morgana. It was definitely good news, of course, as it meant he didn't need to break his secret so quickly yet. But it also showed how Merlin should be more observant of the behaviours, and relationships with others, of those around him. He was inconsiderate of Morgana to think she'd so easily be led astray, so he sent her a gentle smile and said he'll take care of Morgause.
Morgana blinked slowly then nodded. She trusted Merlin so whatever he chose to do, she would accept and follow. The fact that her blood sister tried to harm her still hasn't registered, however she knew that she couldn't look at Morgause the same way at least after seeing how hostile Merlin appeared towards her.
Muffling a yawn, Morgana slipped out of bed and shuffled towards the dressing screen. Merlin on the other hand took to spreading his magic thinly over Morgause's limp body, turning her invisible, before he floated her behind him and made his way towards the Isle of the Blessed. Merlin trusted the residual magic that he felt there, he knew it would do whatever is the right thing with Morgause if he left her there.
-:-
A month later, Mordred appeared in Camelot. Well, it would be more accurate to say that Mordred had suddenly appeared in the forest when Arthur and the knights were hunting, taking a poisoned knife to his right shoulder and another to his left thigh when protecting the king from a fatal attack.
The knights had then quickly taken care of the bandits and Merlin performed first aid on the unconscious Mordred. The boy had just turned 15 years old. Merlin recognised him the moment they met, just as he did when they briefly reunited a year ago.
When Mordred woke up again, he found himself in the infirmary in Camelot with a king and his manservant perched on either side of the bed he lay in. He'd been out for two days yet Arthur had knighted him the moment they'd come back; Mordred was now a part of the Knights of the Round Table. (Merlin found it hilarious that Arthur hadn't recognised Mordred as the bandit that kidnapped them, then he started worrying about the king's remaining few braincells).
Merlin looked away from the sleeping king across from him and met eyes with Mordred. Golden flecked azure clashed with the pale, innocent blue of the teenager. Mordred stared back in shock and awe. Unbeknownst to him, a fierce blush stole across his face as he watched the all-powerful warlock study him. He couldn't help but feel slightly nervous beneath Merlin's gaze, it was as sharp as a knife's edge and the last time they met Mordred was holding him captive...
When Merlin finally relaxed his shoulders, Mordred silently let out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding.
Merlin frowned and quickly placed his hand on Mordred's forehead. "You're not too hot... it's not a fever. But your face looks like it's gonna explode, just how much blood do you have in your body?" he frowned, tutting and removing his hand from Mordred's frozen form. Mordred was internally panicking. He didn't know that he was blushing, he didn't know why he was blushing either, and he definitely didn't know why he was panicking over such a small thing–! Mordred felt mortified.
A groan from the other side of the bed had both males turn to face the half asleep blonde. Arthur was mumbling something under his breath that Mordred couldn't hear at all, whereas Merlin was looking like he wanted to stab the man. With a soft kick to his leg, Arthur shot up and glared at Merlin who turned to face Mordred again and monotonously state "Arthur knighted you. Well done."
While Mordred was still trying to process everything that was happening, Merlin and Arthur were arguing over each other's actions.
"Why would you be so straightforward like that? It's boring!"
"Arthur, there's no need to make it flashy and get the boy's mind all confused with fancy words! It's better to say it in a way that makes sense!"
"How could anything I say not make sense?!"
"Nothing you say ever makes sense, you dollophead! Besides, what if he was already a knight from another kingdom?!"
"What did you just call me?!"
"Are you getting on in your years already, old man? You can't even hear me! Also, why are you focusing on THAT part of what I said? This is why I told Gwen she should triple check her decision before marrying you!"
"How dare you say that to her, Merlin?! I'm a perfectly fine man to marry! She would be honoured to marry someone like me!"
"Oh come off it, Arthur!"
"Don't order me around, Merlin!"
The two continued bickering back and forth while Mordred just decided to ignore them. He coughed, effectively bringing their attention back to him. Arthur let a grin slip onto his face and held out his hand for Mordred to shake, who did so timidly (because he could feel Merlin watching him so very much closely).
"Well the idiot's gone and said it, but welcome to Camelot! You are now one of the King's personal knights! It's nice to have you, er..." Arthur trailed off, realising he didn't get the kid's name. He heard Merlin helpfully supply "Mordred" in the background and quickly repeated it, eyes shining with warmth.
Mordred nodded his head and gave a small smile back. "Um... thank you, Sire." (In his mind, Mordred felt like cackling at the fact that Arthur hadn't recognised him at all).
A few moments later, Arthur ordered Merlin to take care of Mordred for the rest of the day (and then do double the chores tomorrow) as he left to settle some matters with the council. Merlin grumbled under his breath about "prats" and "dollopheads" as he busied himself cleaning up the infirmary. Mordred casually watched him from his space on the bed.
He couldn't help but note how graceful Merlin was when moving between the desks and how his pale hands looked so pretty yet firm. He was tall and those wise eyes of his looked as if they could see into the very depths of your soul. Mordred wouldn't be surprised if it were true, after all, this is Emrys they're talking about.
Mordred recalled a few things those druids had said about Merlin over a month ago. Glancing at his back, Mordred could completely understand what the witch had meant back then. Seeing Merlin's back, although it wasn't anything extraordinary, it seemed to give off the feeling of reliability and safety. Especially with the magic that wrapped around Emrys exuding warmth and power. It made Mordred want to go up to the young warlock and wrap his arms around him.
-:-
Merlin ignored the stare he felt lingering on him and thought back to two days ago, when they'd brought Mordred back to Camelot with them.
This whole thing started the moment he met Mordred within Camelot borders. While Gaius took care of the newly knighted Mordred in the physician's chambers, Merlin took Kara into account. He had learned from the Druids that as children Kara was quite close to him, and figured that she may be Mordred's sweetheart.
Merlin wanted to make sure all possibilities were covered so there wouldn't be anything that would cause Mordred to rebel against or feel extreme hate towards Arthur. Love was a very powerful force, Merlin had learnt time and time again. He won't make the same mistakes. He'll minimise the risk of Mordred deciding to backstab Arthur; it was his duty as a protector.
20 year old Merlin had actually already begun the search for Kara the moment he met and escaped from 13 year old Mordred in the snowy mountains. Now two years had passed and Kara was happily living in another kingdom away from Camelot.
Merlin had kept track of Kara for a long time in order to know the exact moment she came even remotely close to Camelot. When she did, Merlin was the first to confront her.
He visited her, questioning her motives and explaining his relationship with Mordred, then helped her come to peace with the current and future Arthur. But she held deep wounds close to her heart and Merlin knew she would be back unless he was more forceful.
He wanted to give and protect at all costs, but in the end he knew he couldn't play nice all the time or the ones getting hurt would be those he cared about. So he used his magic on her, not to hurt her but make it so she couldn't come close to Camelot, before sending her on her way to another kingdom without any recollection of meeting Merlin or of going to Camelot.
Over these past two days, Merlin had kept a close eye on Kara and strengthened the highly nurtured magic of his that coated her even further. She wouldn't see Camelot or Mordred as long as Merlin's magic kept her in place.
-:-
Nearly 2 months passed as Mordred began to spend his life with Merlin and Arthur. He trained daily with the king who personally taught his knights and made friends with those knights on patrols.
Merlin was no longer used as dummy practice, however he was always in the stables nearby or sitting on the side of the field in case the knights gained an injury or needed help with their armour.
Mordred had felt Merlin's gaze linger on him multiple times within each session of training, drilling into his body whenever he fought with Arthur. Everytime he felt it, he would end up uncontrollably blushing or smiling like a fool.
The first time Merlin had helped him with his armour, Mordred thought his heart would burst. Merlin didn't make eye contact with him or say a single thing, he just silently helped the teen out of his heavy armour before checking him for injuries. Mordred had to swallow when Merlin's cold fingers trailed across his chest or poked his sides, stiffer than a statue.
That was the moment Mordred realised he loved Merlin. It was a sincere, sweet love that he was thinking about, love for his idol and hero, love for a man that was deserving of his respect and admiration.
Mordred spent more time with the knights who told him of their adventures with Prince Arthur and his adorable manservant Merlin. Mordred couldn't understand how the knights saw Merlin as cute (he believed Merlin was just mind numbingly beautiful). In all honesty, he hadn't realised they even noticed or cared about the man in the first place. But he was pleasantly surprised once he found out why they did.
They saw Merlin for his kind and gentle nature, and they'd each been saved or helped in some sort of way by Merlin that left him a special place in their hearts just like him.
But then they called him clumsy!
Mordred almost yelled at them in defiance until he witnessed the man he respected trip and fall during a hunting trip - his first one with Arthur and the knights - before showing the goofiest grin a man could make. Mordred could feel his heart hammering in his chest, making his head dizzy as he felt like Merlin was brighter than the sun in that moment. It was mind blowing, that incident, and since then Mordred bore witness to the clumsy and adorable side of Merlin that he'd never seen before. Day by day, he could feel his chest filling with some sort of unexplainable emotion everytime he saw Merlin smile, laugh, prank the knights or tease their king.
-:-
It was when Mordred accidentally bumped into an old acquaintance that things started to go a awry. The druid told Mordred that Kara had set out to find him and she should've been in Camelot by now. Mordred, who hadn't seen Kara in quite some years, felt happy that his friend was looking for him. Then he frowned. He hadn't met her, so he got to thinking where she might be. Eventually Mordred found out where she was - in another kingdom far from Camelot.
Mordred asked Arthur permission to leave for a while and Arthur didn't ask any questions when he saw the expression on the teen's face, just nodded and told him to be back by the end of the month. Mordred had immediately set out to find Kara, and two weeks later they reunited.
He watched her from a distance at first, admiring how pretty she'd become over the years before speaking to her. He saw that she hadn't moved on like he had, she was still stuck in the past and wanted revenge. However he didn't want that himself any longer.
Mordred left her, thinking hard about the magic layered thinly over his friend. He knew that magic. It was the same magic that had saved him, the same magic he felt on a near constant basis, the same magic that drew him closer and closer as if he couldn't get enough of it. It was Emrys.
A week later, as Mordred travelled through the night and took very little rest breaks, he made it back to Camelot. The King and his knights welcomed Mordred back warmly, catching up on what he'd missed out on and drinking the night away as he listened to their silly stories.
-:-
The next day, Mordred sought out the ever elusive warlock that seemed to be avoiding him. He knew Merlin was powerful enough that he would know Mordred had met Kara, the magic on the girl probably alerting him.
When Mordred finally cornered Merlin it was in a darkened alcove a few corridors away from Lady Morgana's chambers, where he saw Merlin leaving from some time after noon. Merlin leaned back against the wall as Mordred peered up at his face, both males standing chest to chest. The blue of Merlin's eyes swirled darkly as he stared down at the teenager who had yet to say anything. When he did, it definitely wasn't what Merlin was expecting.
"Why?"
Merlin stood there shocked as he tried to process what Mordred was asking him.
"I've thought about it, but I just don't understand it. Why was your magic all over Kara? Did you do something to her? I know what protective magic feels like, and it wasn't that, but it also didn't have any ill intent so I've decided to ask you directly. What did you do to Kara, and why?" Mordred whispered.
"I..." A lump caught in Merlin's throat. He breathed out then slumped against the wall, deciding to tell the truth to his potential enemy. "I just made sure she couldn't make it to Camelot. I couldn't allow her to meet you."
Merlin looked at the curious gaze Mordred offered him. There was no anger, hate or distrust. Just childish curiosity and innocent confusion. So he continued.
"If she came to Camelot, Arthur would've found her. She might be sentenced to execution. If that happened, you'd turn against Arthur for killing the person you love." Merlin paused as the confusion in Mordred's eyes cleared up. "And that's understandable. But I can't let you do that. Arthur is destined to unite Albion, he may not be the Once and Future King yet but that doesn't mean it's unreachable. One day, everything will fall into place. But I can't let you kill Arthur, especially not before that day comes."
Merlin closed his eyes and turned his head, a frown marring his face as his brows drew together. He let it slip that Mordred was Arthur's executor... Idiot. He has tons of secrets, yet he couldn't keep the most important one from the boy standing before him.
Quiet shuffling caught his attention. Opening his eyes and turning to actually look at Mordred for the first time since he returned, Merlin abruptly jerked back.
Mordred had drawn closer within those few seconds, close enough for his breath to fan Merlin's face. There was no hate in those pure eyes of his, no evil lurking in its depths. He could make out slight anger and hurt from the teenager's expression, but that roughly calloused hand that moved to hold his own was full of warmth and gentleness.
"I understand, Merlin. Thank you."
Merlin shuddered as Mordred whispered to him.
"I won't hurt Arthur, I promise. I know what you're talking about, I can see how he might one day become the man who unites Albion. If I really did meet Kara only to find her being executed, I admit, I might've lashed out. However I could never turn my back on him, Merlin, never turn my back on you. Kara is a dear friend to me, but that's all she is. Here, in Camelot, I have all I need."
Mordred was now hugging Merlin, his forehead resting against the man's shoulder. Merlin was frozen, arms hanging against his sides and eyes closed as he listened to Mordred speak.
"I have my king, Arthur. I have my friends, the knights. I know what they're like, how much they strive to protect and create a fair and just land. I also believe in you, Emrys. I trust in Arthur and Albion because I know you're here too. I promise you, I'll protect Arthur. I'll protect you too. So please, let me stay here. Let me stay with you. Please... trust me too."
Merlin carefully wrapped his arms around Mordred, a sigh of relief escaping him. Tears blurred his vision and his tense shoulders eased, as if a weight had been lifted. He'd been worrying this whole time, but Mordred really didn't care about his own destiny and instead wanted to protect Camelot and Arthur.
Mordred reluctantly pulled away from Merlin and grinned. "Thanks for saving Kara's life."
Merlin blinked slowly. He hadn't thought of it that way, but he guessed it was true...
Clearing his throat, Merlin nodded his head then scrambled away after hearing the heavy footsteps of guards headed their way. A few moments later, Mordred also left in the opposite direction.
-:-
The days after they had that conversation showed a significant change in the two's relationship. Merlin actually spoke to and hung out with Mordred, just as he did with the other knights and Arthur. He still watched Mordred closer than the others now and then but Mordred could tell that there was no longer any heat behind it and must've been due to habit. Inwardly, he felt slightly upset that Merlin was no longer paying him special attention, no matter the reason behind it.
Mordred came to love Merlin more and more as he watched the man. The usual clumsiness the servant portrayed was just a distraction, Mordred came to realise, such as to save an animal when they were on a hunting trip or to hide his use of magic when saving Arthur.
Mordred noticed how it was in Merlin's very nature to save whoever he could - even the bandits that attacked them would very often just be left unconscious without any injuries unless necessary. Mordred came to adore that selfless part of Merlin, however it also made him ache to protect the warlock.
Mordred came to find out Merlin had no sense of self preservation when it came to Arthur or his destiny, the usual claim being "I'm just fulfilling my duty."
Although it was refreshing to see a genuinely kind and loving person such as Merlin in a pitifully prejudiced world such as theirs, Mordred often wanted to hit the man for not caring about himself at all. From then on, Mordred swore he would protect him at all costs.
-:-
A year later, Arthur announced that Queen Guinevere was pregnant with his son and heir.
Gaius had retired from his position and lived with Hunith to keep each other company.
Arthur had finally legalised magic in Camelot just days ago and was making alliances left and right with surprisingly willing kings and queens.
Merlin still kept his magic a secret, although grudgingly it was due to habit and not survival at this point.
Mordred had told Arthur and the knights about him being a druid, specifically the one Arthur had saved as a child, and the man was overcome with joy - that being the final push Arthur needed to legalise magic.
Mordred had tried convincing Merlin to tell Arthur, however the manservant was stubborn and hid whenever he felt the knight within 100 metres.
"Arthur, I think it's time I told you something very important," Mordred said one day, ignoring the horror-stricken Merlin beside him as he himself grinned at the curious king.
"What about?"
"I believe you've heard many people say certain words or know things about you that you hadn't told them in your adventures over the years," Mordred said, continuing when he saw Arthur look at him in suspicion. "They've called you the Once and Future King, the man who will unite Albion, and the greatest king to have ever lived."
Arthur was now very interested, nodding along with an interested glimmer in his eyes. "Yes, I have no idea why they said that to me at the time but I've heard that there's some sort of prophecy the druids know." He glanced at Mordred meaningfully when he said this.
Mordred smiled and nodded. "There is indeed a prophecy, my lord, several in fact. Involving you, and Emrys, and more." At the sound of Emrys, Arthur stood up.
"Tell me. What do you know? Who is Emrys? Is he friend or foe? Why didn't you tell me earlier? Can I trust you?" he fired off almost desperately.
"I know about the prophecies since I'm a druid. We've all heard the stories, sire. Emrys is the most powerful warlock to have walked the earth, as I'm sure you've heard or been told before. He is your friend, that I can guarantee. The image of the old man you've met before is just an illusion, he has always been serving you in secret even when you offered him no trust. I never said anything before because you weren't ready to hear it, Sire. I didn't intentionally hide it, I've gained more information myself over the years and I believe it's time you finally find out everything Me– Emrys, has done for you."
Stumbling over his words, Mordred felt cold sweat on his back at the piercing glare Merlin was sending him. "You can trust me, my lord, I would never betray you. I'd give my life for you."
Arthur, satisfied with his response, sat back down and told Mordred to continue. But Mordred could feel Merlin's magic swirling angrily around him and, with a sudden excuse to "mentally prepare myself," Mordred grabbed Merlin and dragged him to the corner of the room furthest from Arthur. Said blonde was now looking suspiciously hurt as he watched Merlin whispering angrily to Mordred.
'Did you know?' Arthur wanted to ask. He trusted Merlin, more than anyone else, but at the thought of him hiding the truth he suddenly felt like he didn't know what to do.
Meanwhile Merlin was almost spitting at Mordred as he scolded him. He grabbed the teen's shoulders and shook him back and forth as if to knock some sense into him.
"What are you thinking?! Don't tell him about me! Are you crazy? Listen to me!" Merlin whisper-shouted. On the other hand, Mordred was smiling as if he'd just been complimented as he took Merlin's hand in his own.
"It's time to tell him, Merlin. Waiting any longer will only cause the both of you more pain," Mordred said seriously. At his tone of voice, Merlin stopped for a moment and thought. Eventually, he sighed and nodded, resting his head against Mordred's shoulder.
"I... alright. But I can't face him right now."
Ignoring him, Mordred made his way calmly back to Arthur and waited to see what Merlin would do. Moments later, he heard the door open and shut and the quiet patter of receding footsteps.
Turning back to Arthur, Mordred began to tell him every single thing Merlin had done for him over the years, however he replaced "Merlin" with "Emrys" each time. At first, Arthur would 'correct' him by saying "no, Merlin saved me at that time," until he was hushed by Mordred and told not to interrupt or question anything until Mordred was finished. As each year of events went past, Arthur grew increasingly alarmed yet also frustrated and hurt. By the end of the last event, Mordred could tell Arthur had finally accepted it.
"And so, I know the true name behind the title of Emrys," Mordred ended, watching as Arthur's eyes widened and his fingers clenched. "Merlin Hunithson, also known as the last Dragonlord, is the most powerful warlock to walk the earth. He is Emrys."
Arthur took in a deep breath, then exhaled. He looked at Mordred, who sat still with a calm expression on his face. "He's probably in his quarters mumbling to himself about how he can escape execution while protecting you at the same time, milord," Mordred helpfully supplied. Arthur barked out an estranged laugh before he shook his head and left to go find Merlin.
Mordred just watched the King's back with a smile on his face.
"Merlin."
"Sire."
"You... why did you never tell me?"
"I couldn't. Your father would've killed me on the spot. And when you became king, it was still too dangerous to tell you because so many people close to you were betraying you left and right. I didn't want you to think I was like them."
"Mordred told me. He told me everything. You've been protecting me all these years..."
Merlin nodded. Arthur took a seat on Merlin's bed and wrapped his arms around the curled up warlock. "Thank you Merlin. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for you. I want you to stay... I want you to keep protecting me," Arthur muttered into the raven hair as Merlin trembled, hearing the words he's been waiting years for. "I'm going to make you Court Sorcerer, you prat." Well, not exactly the same words. Haha.
"That's my word..."
"And it suits you perfectly."
From behind the door, nobody noticed the Knights of the Round table watching this sweet moment between the king and his servant. They were all internally cooing over the two finally accepting each other thanks to Mordred - who was most certainly not sitting right at the front of the group to watch Merlin's reaction from the best angle.