Chapter Three 

The Great Sorcerer 

The final day of the tournament would be filled with hate and joy for Merlin for years and years to come. It was the day that everything changed once again. And he wouldn’t understand for years whether or not it had changed for the better. 

He woke up in his own bed and raced to and from different places getting everything ready. Arthur was on a high that Merlin couldn’t predict. Sending him here and there for different things, jumping and lunging at Merlin to practice. He couldn’t be stilled. 

Finally the moments before the tournament sobered him enough for Merlin to properly fit him with his armor. Arthur stared at Merlin as he did so. “Do you think I can beat him?” Arthur finally asked. 

Merlin scoffed and glanced at Arthur. Merlin was taller, and skinnier than Arthur. Arthur was growing up perfectly, like his mind and body knew he would be nobility all along. His features were strong and his body had toned perfectly as he grew. Merlin was tall and lanky and rather weak when it came down to it. But he could still look down at Arthur, which he would pride himself on for as long as he could. 

“Do you really need me to tell you this?” Merlin asked. 

“I do.” Arthur admitted, keeping Merlin’s eyes. 

Merlin smiled and nodded. “I know you can beat him Arthur. You’re destined to beat him.” 

Arthur took a deep breath and nodded reaching for Excalibur. Merlin watched before snapping his eyes shut at the searing pain just behind his eyelids. 

Hands were on his shoulders. “Merlin… are you alright?” 

Merlin blinked a few times. And cursed himself for the concern that was now gracing his best friends features. “Yes. I’m fine. Don’t worry yourself. Just a headache. Probably from being up so late last night and waking up too early this morning.”

“You’re sure?” Arthur asked again. 

Merlin reached for Excalibur and pressed it into Arthur’s hands. “I’m sure. But I will be a headache if you don’t win on account of worrying for me. Now,” Merlin turned Arthur towards the entrance of the grounds. “Go be brilliant.” 

Arthur laughed and stepped out. He glanced back once more and gave Merlin on of his brilliant smiles that spread across his entire face. He pointed his sword towards Merlin before shutting his helmet. Merlin couldn’t help but smile in return. His heart pounded with admiration for his best friend. For who he had become. For all of it. 

The young Knight, Fentry was strong and powerful, his body honed with years and years of training. But they would all lack something that Arthur had in abundance. Sheer overwhelming will. Even when Arthur was knocked down, he wouldn’t lose. Because he had already decided not to. In the end, Fentry’s force finally had to give way to exhaustion, something Arthur had learned to push through years before. And finally Fentry yielded and Arthur was victorious. 

Merlin fought the urge to immediately run towards him as soon as the match officially ended. Instead he stood back where the servants waited and watched his best friend fall to his knees with a victorious shout. The crowds were crying cheers for their prince, throwing roses at his knees as the King stood to congratulate his heir to the thrown.

Fentry was slowly climbing to his feet across the mud. He was angry, that much was obvious. And he was stumbling closer to Arthur, his sword dragging behind him. No one seemed to be watching Fentry, they were all too enamored with their prince, but Merlin could see the disdain behind his eyes, he could sense the demand for revenge boiling just underneath the surface of his skin. Merlin took a step forward then another as Fentry picked up speed. Before he knew it he was running, trying to reach Arthur first, willing his body to move faster than it was capable. 

Fentry swung his sword up over his head, screaming angry obscenities. Now the crowd saw him, now Arthur turned, his eyes widened as Fentry swung what would be a regretful blow to end the prince and his destiny. 

“No!” Merlin screamed leaping forward. A huge blast knocked Fentry and Arthur in opposite directions as the sky darkened around them. Merlin raced to Arthur dropping to his knees. “Arthur! Are you alright?” 

Arthur didn’t speak, he just eyed Merlin up and down, shock widening his gaze so he looked like a child again. 

“Merlin,” Arthur whispered. 

“Prince Arthur!” Someone was running towards them. 

Merlin held his hand out towards them to keep them back, an invisible wall shoving them away. He turned to see servants clambering up from the ground. Further away Fentry wasn’t moving. 

“What happened?” Merlin whispered as Arthur’s gloved hands caught either side of Merlin’s face. 

“You need to calm down.” Arthur said forcefully, meeting Merlin’s gaze. “I’m not hurt. You protected me. I’m safe now.” 

Merlin’s eyes widened. What could Arthur mean he had protected him. He had done nothing. He had barely made it in time. If it weren’t for that blast shoving them both backwards. 

Merlin met Arthur’s gaze again. “I couldn’t have done this.” He whispered, the forcefield holding the servants back falling as they rushed around Arthur. 

“Step away from the crown prince!” Guards were now surrounding them. 

Merlin could feel panic set into him. Arthur was climbing to his feet, reaching a hand down to pull Merlin up as well. 

“Do not speak to my servant in such a way. He will not leave my sight.” Arthur commanded. 

“My lord he tried to kill you.” 

“I didn’t!” Merlin said quickly. “I was trying to stop him from being killed.” 

The crowds were screaming and panicking, some were leaving as quickly as they could. 

“Merlin would never hurt me.” Arthur said quickly. “He didn’t know what he was doing.” 

“We can’t be sure, my lord.” 

“I am sure.” Arthur snapped. “Are you going to question me?” 

“Arthur,” the King was standing now. Watching the two boys. “This is a matter of more importance than your friendship with the servant. Take the prince to his room, do not let the boy near him.” 

“No!” Merlin said quickly. 

Two guards grabbed Arthur’s arms on either side. “Merlin listen to me. It’s all going to be alright.” 

“The boy will be sent to my hall. Send the other to the dungeons.” King Elric left quickly as two guards grabbed Merlin.

“No! No! Please don’t!” He screamed as he was dragged away. He saw two men lean over Fentry to carry him away. Had Merlin really hurt him? Had he really done all of that? All he could remember was an overwhelming determination to protect Arthur. He couldn’t have done this though. He couldn’t have. He was just Merlin, a street rat. A nothing. 

***

Merlin thought he was headed for the dungeons. He had expected to be tried for attempting to murder the crown prince, but instead he was walked to the King’s Great Hall. It was an incredible sight, to see with his own eyes. He had never been invited, but Arthur had told him about the hall in precise detail. But as he looked at the beautiful stained windows and heavy stone and ornate architecture he was astounded. He wondered if this would be the last thing he’d ever see. 

The guards dropped him in front of the King’s throne and Merlin stayed on his knees, his eyes on the stone below him. 

“Can you tell me the prophecy of Arthur?” the King spoke. 

Merlin swallowed the dryness in his throat and blinked. “A young boy, destined for greatness approached the stone that imprisoned Excalibur. Knowing the sword was his, he will pull the sword from it’s stone. This boy will bring peace to Camelot. This boy will be destined to rule an heir-less kingdom. This boy will be the King of Camelot.”

Merlin had known the story his entire life, he had memorized it. He had known it would be Arthur. If anyone was destined for greatness it was Arthur. 

“There is more.” King Elric said. 

Merlin kept his eyes on the stone below him and said nothing. He did not know there was more to the prophecy. 

“Have you heard of the prophecy of the Great Sorcerer?” 

Merlin shook his head. 

“It speaks of a boy come from nothing, destined for nothing without the boy who wields Excalibur. It speaks of a boy with magic beyond understanding, with an innate sense of good and evil. This boy, though at first glance is destined for nothing, will have magic and will have the fate of the Kingdom in his hands.” 

“I didn’t know there was more to the prophecy.” Merlin said quietly. 

“One cannot survive without the other.” A new voice answered. “Without the King of Camelot, the Great Sorcerer has no purpose. Without the Great Sorcerer, the King of Camelot will never achieve the greatness he’s meant for.” 

Merlin looked up to see an old man holding a heavy tome. 

Merlin nodded, trying to put together all they were saying to him. 

“Merlin,” King Elric said slowly. “You are the Great Sorcerer.”

Merlin’s head shot up, he met the King’s eyes with fear. “That’s impossible. I am nothing. I am a servant.” 

“You are nothing without the Greatness of Arthur, but with that you are everything.” 

“No,” Merlin said quickly. “Arthur is everything. I’m just a product of a childhood promise.” 

“Exactly Merlin.” The old man said. He opened the tome. “We’ve been watching you for some time. There is a reason you were allowed to be a servant in this castle.”

“I thought I was allowed because Arthur wished it.” Merlin said quietly. 

“You were,” King Elric agreed. “But we agreed because writings of the Great Prophecy have declared that The Great Sorcerer is someone The King trusts. Arthur demanded you be allowed to come to the castle with him. Do you know what he said when making this demand, a demand of his King?”

Merlin shook his head. 

“He said ‘I trust Merlin with my life. I won’t be parted from him.’” 

“Up until now, you’ve shown no signs of magic. But today, you have fulfilled the prophecy of The Great Sorcerer’s rise. Your powers manifested just as they were prophesied to: in desperation to protect your King.” 

“I’m no sorcerer. Today… makes no sense to me. Today was nothing.” Merlin said. 

“Today was everything.” King Elric said. “You are the missing piece of the puzzle Merlin. You are the tool needed for Arthur to fulfill his own destiny.” 

Merlin couldn’t speak, part of him didn’t want this to be true. He was always meant to be in Arthur’s shadow. He had gotten used to it years ago. But more than that, it felt true. It fit inside of him so well he was sure it had always been there. 

“You understand it now, don’t you?” The old man said. 

Merlin met his eyes and nodded. 

“Your life is about to change once again.” The King said. “The prophecy must be protected if we are to see Camelot survive. You’ll leave tonight.” 

“Leave?” Merlin said quickly. “I thought I was supposed to be at Arthur’s side.” 

“You must grow separately of each other. You must train to reach who you are meant to be, Merlin. Arthur must do the same. There is a danger coming that will require both of you.” 

“Why can’t we train together?” Merlin asked. 

King Elric sighed and met Merlin’s eyes. “Rise, Merlin.” He commanded. Merlin did. “Your lives are intertwined, your destinies are intertwined. But you must learn to be apart. You must learn to thrive on your own. You cannot hide in Arthur’s shadow any longer. And he cannot have you to fall back on.” 

“In order for you both to be the men you are destined to be, you must leave each other. Your bond will always be strong. It’s written to be.” The old man said. “We leave tonight for the monastery. And when we return, you will not be the same young boy you are now, nor will Arthur.”