ayoungboy | For Your Entertainment

The circus comes into town in the late afternoon. It's a quiet caravan, but the whispers start immediately. It's not a regular circus. This one - this is the Camelot circus. One of the most esteemed traveling acts in the country, and not for the faint of heart. This one has a flaming sword eater and a terrifying magician.

A few brave people try to peek at the preparations, but once the big tent is up, all that can really be seen are food stands being set up, and a few podiums for acts unknown. Everything else is hidden from view. You want to see? Come buy a ticket.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

royalpratness

Arthur is reluctant at first, though his interest has been sparked. It would look odd for him to go alone so he buys two tickets and invites Lady Elena, a close friend of the family, to come and join him.

The show starts at 8pm and Arthur treats Elena to dinner beforehand. They are one of the last few people to be let into the tent and they find their seats in the first row.

From:

ayoungboy

Excited murmurs rumble through the crowd as the show begins. Death-defying stunts and vicious animals are presented to the crowd, interspersed with more humorous acts to stop the momentum from building too intense. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure - the mystical, terrifying magician - Emrys!"

From:

royalpratness

Elena clutches Arthur's arm and both of them are curiously staring at the mysterious man who has just appeared on stage.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin's wearing a long, dark cloak, and a top hat hides his face. The audience falls silent as he stands there, body hidden under the cloak. Then, with an entertaining flare, Merlin opens his cloak, revealing the shimmery, muted gold vest and suit pants he's wearing underneath. The inside of the cloak is red, and Merlin spins - when he's turned back around to the audience, white gloved hands flick out a slim wand, and a flock of doves appears out of seemingly nowhere, fluttering out from the previously-empty inside of his cloak.

From:

royalpratness

Elena and everyone around them claps excitedly at the performance. Meanwhile, Arthur is more interested in the man himself than the show he is putting on.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin smiles mysteriously at the crowd, moving silently for his next trick. First, he makes a rose appear out of thin air. Then, with a wave of his wand and an unseen flash of gold under his hat, the rose begins to float.

From:

royalpratness

"How is he doing that?!" Elena whispers excitedly. "I have no idea." Arthur still hasn't taken his eyes off Emrys, now staring at the floating rose.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin lets it float up high before the petals start to drop off. As they do, Merlin's lips move in quiet incantations, and the petals catch fire in different colors.

From:

royalpratness

Arthur sucks in a sharp breath, wondering how on earth this could be done. Elena is still clutching his arm, cheering with the rest of the crowd.

From:

ayoungboy

"For my next trick," Merlin's voice is quiet and mysterious, the first time he's spoken. "I'll need a volunteer."

From:

royalpratness

The words have barely left Merlin's mouth when Arthur finds himself standing up, raising a hand.

From:

ayoungboy

Arthur is the first one to stand, and Merlin smiles offering Arthur a hand. "Well, brave sir, I would be happy to have your assistance."

From:

royalpratness

Arthur gulps, almost regretting his hasty decision. "It'll be my pleasure." He accepts Merlin's hand and follows him.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin does nothing to assuage his fears. It's better for show, even if Merlin knows nothing will happen to the man - the audience doesn't, and seeing the hesitation and fear makes it more gripping for them.

Instead, he leads the Arthur out, into the middle of the tent, and gestures to a few items on the floor. Knives, sharp and polished, and a few large, metal rings - and a length of rope. Merlin picks up the items, handing them to Arthur. "Please, sir, examine these. Determine for yourself whether they are real, or tricks."

From:

royalpratness

Arthur crouches down and examines the object. "They're all real." Sharp, too.

From:

ayoungboy

"Ladies and gentlemen - as my brave assistant has testified, these objects are, in fact, real. Now, sir - if you would kindly slice my forearm, just there?" Merlin pulls back his sleeve. More proof that these knives are real." Just a superficial cut, sir."

From:

royalpratness

Arthur frowns at the man, hesitating. "Are you sure?"

From:

ayoungboy

"Quite," Merlin smiles. "Slice me, sir."

From:

royalpratness

"If you say so..." Arthur is still reluctant but he does as the man ask, cutting his forearm just a little bit.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin lets the blood bead an shows it off to his audience. "As you can see, these knives are all...very deadly."

From:

royalpratness

Arthur starts feeling slightly uncomfortable as he looks at Emrys' bleeding arm.

From:

ayoungboy

"Now," Merlin procures a strip of cloth with a flourish, from his pocket. "Sir, with your permission, I am going to blindfold you."

From:

royalpratness

"Uh..." Arthur hesitates again, staring at the cloth and then at Emrys. "I am a wealthy man, you know." He chuckles nervously. "You better leave me in one piece."

From:

ayoungboy

"Is it alright if I take you apart and put you back together?" Merlin jokes, and the crowd titters nervously. But his eyes are calm, staring directly at Arthur. "If you would like to sit down, sir, I can take another volunteer.