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

[ayoungboy]

"It was fine last night, it's fine now." Merlin teases, carefully moving in to sit. "No, but really, thank you for letting me sleep here."

[royalpratness]

"Stop thanking me. I've told you, it's fine." Arthur hands him a freshly brewed cup of tea, along with his new mobile phone. "Do you know how these work?"

[ayoungboy]

Merlin raises an eyebrow. "I'm aware of how a phone works, yes."

[royalpratness]

"It's a smartphone." Arthur shrugs, sipping his tea. "I don't know if you use or need any technology."

[ayoungboy]

"Well then, give me the rundown." Merlin props his chin in his hand, dumping an exorbitant amount of sugar in his. "Not really. I mean, I just don't have any, and the council isn't that tech savvy."

[royalpratness]

"That's what I thought. You don't really need computers if you got magic." Arthur moves his chair next to Merlin's, explaining the most important functions of the phone to him.

[ayoungboy]

"They just don't like them. I mean, our records would be a lot better if they were digitalized, but..."

[royalpratness]

"They are a bit old fashioned, huh?" Arthur grins, pushing some toast towards Merlin.

[ayoungboy]

"Yes. And they all look up to me like I know everything." This was said, not to brag, but with a rather bewildered tone.

[royalpratness]

"Why don't you encourage them to use more technology? Could be useful."

[ayoungboy]

"It's like they look at me like I'm their legend," Merlin explains, taking a sip of tea. "But they're all thrice my age - some way more than that - and I've been raised to respect their judgement."

[royalpratness]

"I see." Arthur frowns. "Have some toast. I'm not letting you leave without proper breakfast."

[ayoungboy]

"I don't know, do you have that problem with your cabinet?" Merlin asks, sipping his tea. He sighs and smiles, slowly taking a piece of toast.`

[royalpratness]

"Sometimes. Most of them are like, twice my age but they don't see me as some kind of legend."

[ayoungboy]

"Well, you're in our lore," Merlin snorts, shaking his head. "Don't even ask. No one's allowed to say, really."

[royalpratness]

"What?" Arthur raises his head in surprise. "Oh come on. You gotta tell me now. What does it say?"

[ayoungboy]

"Shh, it's like a secret or something." Merlin grins childishly, stirring his tea. "Prophesized a long time ago. I can't tell you right now, you know. Might disrupt your path."

[royalpratness]

"That sounds like a whole lot of bollocks." Arthur crosses his arms in front of his chest.

[ayoungboy]

"That's what I thought too, but," Merlin takes a bite of toast. "It's already happening. You're King now, aye?"

[royalpratness]

"That was pretty inevitable, since I'm an only child." Arthur deadpans, not really convinced that there is a meaningful prophecy about himself.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin rolls his eyes. "Fine, don't believe me. I'm curious to see if it will pan out." He's supposed to be in it, but he had been quite sure Arthur would never want to meet him - would never even think about freeing magic. Yet here they were.

[royalpratness]

"Why should I believe you if you refuse to tell me any details?" Arthur asks, still affronted.

[ayoungboy]

"Look, Arthur, I didn't think it'd happen either. But pieces are falling into place and...well, if I told you it might screw it up, aye?"

[royalpratness]

"Okay, fine. Keep your secrets." Arthur huffs, putting a slice of buttered toast into his mouth.

[ayoungboy]

"I shouldn't have even mentioned it." Merlin smiles kindly at Arthur's pouting. "If it comes true, Arthur...this land will be a much better place."

"How about I tell you some other secret? Anything you want to know." He shouldn't. But...he wants to make Arthur happy.