Spellbound

[ayoungboy]

This week has been fucking exhausting. He'd been consuling all week and dealing with a threat over in Norway. Somebody trying to brew mind control potions, again. Why couldn't everybody just get along and stop fussing? He's finally back home, in England, heading up the wizarding council while they go over worldwide news, and he gets an invite - no, it isn't that. It's more of a demand, from King Pendragon.

He's a bit tired, really, and didn't feel like dealing with it. "Not now, thank you. Politely decline, for me?" He told the runner. "Send him some magical candy."

He just wanted to go home and finish his book, thank you. He didn't ask for these powers, but if he took a holiday the world would flip out. People held him in high regard for some reason - he wasn't that wise, or old. He was just a young man trying to do right. Yet somehow the King was demanding his presence.

Comments

[royalpratness]

At Buckingham Palace, Arthur is fuming when he's informed that this Emrys person has declined his invitation. Declined!. Arthur still has a hard time believing it. Nobody declines an official invitation from the King. After yelling at poor Leon (his assistent) for the better part of ten minutes, Arthur orders him to call Emrys again and make it clear that this wasn't a friendly enquiry but a political request.

Waiting for the reply, Arthur paces his study, glaring angrily at everybody who dares to approach him.

[ayoungboy]

It takes a good twenty minutes for a response to come back. The wizarding council is in the depths of the forests of Ealdor at the moment. Merlin sighs when the King's demand returns again. "Tell him I'm not a political entity. The request is politely declined."

[royalpratness]

When the reply comes, Arthur breaks a very expensive piece of china. His answers reads as follows: Who do you think you are? You might be all high and mighty in your little cult but you're not above British law. Leon cringes when he sends Arthur's reply, hoping that the sorcerers won't turn everybody in the palace into toads.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin just stares at the paper when the King's angry reply comes back. What a damn prat.

But instead of responding with an insult, Merlin grits his teeth and remains aloof. He has a feeling he'll be going to the palace despite his disinterest. And what law says that I must accept an invitation at a place I do not wish to go?

[royalpratness]

Arthur scribbles down his reply furiously. The very same that says that I'm your sovereign. Now get here before I send the military. He wouldn't do that... yet.

[ayoungboy]

Lord almighty. What the hell could the King possible want? He hated magic.

"I have to go." Merlin announced to the council. "Gaius will take my place for the moment."

There's a titter through the council, but no one argues with him as he practically storms out, trying to keep calm. He's at the palace within ten minutes, magic crackling inadvertently around him as he tries to contain his irritation.

[royalpratness]

The guards outside the palace quickly usher Merlin inside, looking absolutely terrified.

When Arthur is informed that Emrys has arrived, he grins smugly, sitting behind his desk as he waits for his guest.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin is led into the room, and no, he's probably not what the King was expecting. There aren't really any photos of him anywhere. He's relatively secretive, mostly because he just doesn't want to be bothered, but also because people, like the guards, seem to be afraid of him. And maybe it's the fire in his eyes and the power in the air. "The only reason I came was to save your military the pain, and the country the taxes."

[royalpratness]

When the door opens, Arthur looks up from his desk, eyeing the man curiously. "How noble of you." He gestures at a cair opposite to his desk. "Take a seat." So this is the mysterious Emrys. Arthur had always assumed he'd be older and more scary, somehow.

[ayoungboy]

"What do you want?" Merlin demanded, not moving for the chair. The door closes suspiciously fast as the attendant clearly doesn't want any part in this. "Why are you threatening and provoking me?"

[royalpratness]

"I'm provoking you?" Arthur raises an eyebrow. "You were provoking me by repeatedly declining the invitation I extended to you. We have important matters to discuss. Believe me, I don't like this any more than you do but it's important for our country." He's still looking Merlin up and down, finding him to be rather scrawny and not at all impressive.

[ayoungboy]

"Yes, you are." Merlin growls, clearly irritated. His eyes flashed gold for a second, and a pulse of magic filled the air. He was really tired and just angry. "And that's something you don't want to do, sire."

"What matters? You don't like magic, what need have you of me?"

[royalpratness]

Arthur can feel a sudden change in the air and the hairs at the back of his neck prickle uncomfortably. "I told you, we have things to discuss." He straightens up in his chair, looking suspiciously over at Emrys. "You're right, I don't like magic. I think it's dangerous. But as you've probably noticed, the public seems to think otherwise and I have decisions to make. I've been told you're some king of authority in your community."

[ayoungboy]

"To him who is in fear, everything rustles." Merlin quotes, raising an eyebrow. "I am no king. I'm a magician who's been not-so-kindly summoned against his will."

"Since it appears you don't know anything about what's happening in your own kingdom, I'll inform you that I was in the middle of a wizard council meeting when you called upon me. Important decisions were being made there as well. Lets hope yours are as important as you seem to think they are."

[royalpratness]

"I don't need you to tell me what's happening in my kingdom. I'm quite up to date, thank you very much." Who does that guy think he's talking to? Arthur crosses his arms in front of his chest. "My council has advised me to reconsider the ban of magic in Britain. Obviously, this isn't a matter that can be decided with a few hours."

[ayoungboy]

"Don't you? Did you know I stopped the development of a mind control potion that would have taken out half of your bloody council just yesterday?" Merlin demands, raising an eyebrow. He isn't afraid of Arthur, he really isn't. Maybe he should be, maybe that's a fault but. "And you're actually taking this into consideration?"

"Why?" Merlin asks, clearly suspicious. "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. Your family's reign has caused all of the above. Why change now? What do you want from us?"

[royalpratness]

"A mind control potion?" Arthur frowns, wondering if Merlin is taking the piss. "I've never heard about anything like that." How could he? It's not like he socialises with warlocks.

"My family's reign has ensured that the people in this country are safe. I've told you, views have started to change and I need to government to adapt to accordingly."

[ayoungboy]

"Because you don't want to. You think assassinations of the normal variety are the only ones aimed at you? It's a miracle you're not already dead." Merlin sighs, frustrated. "Yes. There was a plot in Norway to brew a mind control potion and administer it to your high council. I attended to it myself."

"Has it? Fifty percent of your population still experience prosecution and prejudice because the King lets it perpetuate. We're lucky we have the support that we do. I don't call that 'safe', sire."

[royalpratness]

"You..." Arthur looks seriously surprised. "Are you saying you prevented an assassination attempt on me?" That is too absurd to even consider. Arthur has a whole army of bodyguards, he doesn't need some sorcerer to look out for his safety.

He narrows his eyes at Emrys. "Magic is dangerous. It's like giving everybody a hand gun to carry at any given time."

[ayoungboy]

"Several of them." Merlin drawls, unimpressed. "I'm starting to wonder if it was worth it. Everybody says you're the one who will bring peace."

"Magic is dangerous when it's mishandled. But magic isn't a gun. Guns do not flow the way magic does. They're tools, created by man. Magic is a gift given by nature. And guess what? Mother Nature knows how to regulate herself. Often, spells backfire or have unintended side effects on the user if they're too powerful, if they're too destructive or unbalanced. Even so, magic gives us peace. Only provocation brings retaliation."

[royalpratness]

"Oh really? As it happens, I've heard about several occasions where magic has been used to kill on purpose." Arthur is still glowering at Merlin from the other side of the table. "If we made it legal, it would undoubtedly cause chaos." He has no doubt about that.

[ayoungboy]

"Like I said, when it's mishandled. Guns kill people, are they outlawed?" Merlin sighs, shaking his head. "I'm not here to change your mind. What is it you want?"

[royalpratness]

"You can take away a gun from somebody if they're dangerous but you can't take someone's magic away," Arthur argues, getting up from his chair and pacing his office restlessly. "I need information to make an informed decision. Do you really think magic should be legalised completely?"

[ayoungboy]

"You can't." Merlin leans against the wall, watching Arthur pensively. "But I can."

"Yes, I do. The illegality of it and general attitude towards it create a level of animosity you do not want in your kingdom."

[royalpratness]

Arthur is just about to answer when something occurs to him. "Show me what you can do. With your magic, I mean." He has never really seen magic being used up close.