For Your Entertainment

[ayoungboy]

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.

Comments

[ayoungboy]

"You don't?" Merlin tilts his head a little.

[royalpratness]

"No, not anymore." Arthur sighs. "I never knew my mother and my father passed away last year. I have a half-sister but she lives down in London. I don't get to see her often."

[ayoungboy]

"I'm sorry, Arthur." Merlin smiles sadly, but understandingly.

[royalpratness]

"It's fine. I got a lot of company." Unfortunately, only by people he's paying to stay around and look after him and the house.

[ayoungboy]

"And I've got the carnival. Could be worse, right?"

[royalpratness]

"It could." Arthur agrees just when the door opens and their food is being carried in by an elderly woman. "Thank you, Alice."

[ayoungboy]

"What are we having?" Merlin asks, inhaling deeply as the food is brought in.

[royalpratness]

"Roasted chicken with potatoes and vegetables." Alice informs him, smiling at Merlin. "It looks like you need an extra large portion, young man! Look at you, you're only skin and bones."

At the other side of the table, Arthur chuckles.

[ayoungboy]

"No thank you, madame." Merlin blushes a little. Yeah, he's a little thin.

[royalpratness]

Alice huffs and waves a finger at Merlin. "You need to eat more!" With that, she disappears back into the kitchen, leaving Arthur and Merlin alone.

"She's lovely, Alice is."

[ayoungboy]

"...I can tell."

[royalpratness]

"Go ahead, eat." Arthur picks up his knife and fork. "I reckon you don't get meals like that at the circus?"

[ayoungboy]

"Ah, no, not as much as this," Merlin admits, picking up his silverware.

[royalpratness]

"Enjoy." Arthur grins, starting with his own dinner. It's delicious as always and the wine is just the right one to go with it.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin tries to be polite and eat slowly, but it's too good and he finishes his plate quicker than expected.

[royalpratness]

Arthur watches Merlin eat, glad to find that he seems to be enjoying the meal. "It's nice to have some company for dinner."

[ayoungboy]

"Same here," Merlin chuckles, licking his fork clean and setting it down. 'I usually eat in my tent."

[royalpratness]

"You do? Don't you eat together as a group?"

[ayoungboy]

"Sometimes but...they're all a bit frightened of me, I think."

[royalpratness]

"Even though you've been there for so many years?"

[ayoungboy]

"Yes. I'm powerful, Mr. Pendragon. People fear power, carnie or no."

[royalpratness]

"I never doubted that you're powerful." Arthur tilts his head. "What exactly is it that you can do - apart from floating people around?"

[ayoungboy]

"Pretty much anything." Merlin says quietly. "I'm not so good at healing, though."

[royalpratness]

"Anything?" Arthur raises an eyebrow, curiously. "Show me something."

[ayoungboy]

"Like what?" Merlin laughs a little.