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One bright and hot day Arthur decided to run away. It was not a very good decision nor was it a well thought out one. It was however one that Arthur believed he had to do. He was sick and tired of being prince. Of being nothing more than a title. He wanted to be more than that. Or maybe a better way of saying it would be less than it. The role of a prince was too much. He wanted to be normal. He wanted to be nothing more than just Arthur. So when he finally made up his mind he waited for the bright hot day to turn into a cool and dark night. He packed his least expensive clothes, a pair of old boats, a map, and a bag filled with some coins. And of course some food. With the cover of night he fled the home and life he once knew and ran full speed into the world filled with darkness and secrets.
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Merlin was nothing special. He was tall and lanky. Had a funny way of walking and of thinking. Merlin was some idiot in some small and unimportant village. He was nobody. No one knew about him except for the people in his village. Nobody cared for him because even in his small village he was an outcast. He was a nobody. But Emrys was someone. He was a god. He was the very thing that life depended on. He was magic incarnated. So when his mother sent him to Camelot he did not go. Instead he went to the druids. To the people that worshiped him. That knew him and thought he was someone great and important. He was their god and he loved it. He basked in the praise and love. He was drunk on it.
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Arthur had no real place to go because once again this was not a planned out plan. He was just winging it. So once he was far away from Camelot he rented a room from the first tavern he found. It was there that he so happened to hear about a group of people who took in and helped anyone who needed it. ‘Great! This is exactly what I need.’ Arthur thought. However, Arthur was no fool. He would not just go looking for these people blindly. He needed to gather information on them. If they truly were trustworthy Arthur would seek them out, maybe even tell them who he was and why he ran away.
“Pardon for interrupting but I just so happened to overhear that the two of you know someone that helps run aways is that true?”
“Well what’s it to ya’ ?” the man with the beard said. Maybe he thought Arthur was looking for one of the runaways or maybe the people helping them.
Arthur smiled. If this man knew who these people helping runaways were and was trying to protect them then maybe these people were actually helping people in need.
“Well I myself am in need of that kind of help. You see I just ran away today and well i didn’t quite think every detail through. and I know that the coins I brought with me will soon run out and I will have no were to go so I was hoping you could point me in the direction of these people.” he responded
The man looked him up and down and took a deep breath.” alright i let ya’ where they were the last time I heard. Ya got a map?” he asked with an eyebrow pointed upward.
“ I do!” he beamed. It was a good thing he thought of bringing one. He was about to leave it and just see where the wind took him. Maybe he thought this whole thing out more than he thought.
He headed towards the empty field circled on his map. He was told that a majority of the people were druids. Which Arthur took as a good sign. The druids were peaceful people and would not turn him away if they found out who he was. This was turning out to be perfect. Maybe he was always meant to run away if everything was going so easy like this.
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Merlin was a year into his potion as emrys when he felt something shift. Something deep within him was moving. It was moving towards the surface and spreading. A sort of longing for something unknown to him but not to his magic. It longs for something that was missing from him. So he started to take in strays. People who came across them and needed help needed salvation. Some stayed, others left. Those who stayed were devoted to him. They loved him for helping them and vowed to serve him. His little group of druids became larger and filled with all kinds of people. Some who knew how to hunt, others who knew how to farm, some who could dance, sing, and perform, others could make clothes, and some could take care of animals. Some even had some form of knowledge to heal. All these people were great and helped the camp in one way or another but still it was not who his magic was looking for. He got close one time. When he just started to take people in. he met a man named Lancelot. He was kind and strong. He wanted to be a knight. Someone who could protect those who couldn't protect themselves. His magic swelled while he talked but the feeling of longing stayed. It felt like when you talked to someone that reminded you of someone else. Someone you love that you kind of start to get attached to that person to get even a glimpse of the person you love.
Merlin kept Lancelot close to him. Gave the man the things he needed to protect them. He gave him a purpose. He gave him something to protect. However Merlin knew that Lancelot was not who his magic yearned for and made it clear to lace and to everyone else that he saw him as a close friend and nothing more. It was a day like any other when lance came to him and told him that he wished to swear an oath to him. He had many people that swore oaths to him. Most kept them and some did not. Those who didn't were not well liked and eventually left in shame and guilt. Merlin let them go. He wanted only the most loyal after all. This oath however meant something to Merlin. It meant that his closest friend felt that he had to declare to not only Merlin himself but to the rest of the group that he would serve merlin and merlin alone.
“I swear upon my honorer that I shall protect you and those who choose to follow you. You are my king, my god, my protector and I will do everything in my power to protect you in return.” Lance swore. He knelt upon the dirt in front of Merlin. This oath made Merlin's magic swell. He sat upon the throne that was made for him. It was made of wood vines and flowers. He had never felt so worshiped and powerful before. He looked down at a kneeling lance and thought how easily it would be to kill him. He could take away his ability to hold a sword, to speak, to walk. He could do anything and Lance was swearing to him. Swearing that he would live for merlin and merlin alone. And oh how amazing that felt.
“Rise lance. Do what you promise. I trust you with the lives of my people. Be proud of that.” Merlin said.
A couple months later when Lance was on one of his potroles around the camp he stumbled upon a very injured Gwaine. He took him to the healers. Once he was well, Lance took him to Merlin.
“This is Emrys. He is the one that runs everything. Emrys this Gwaine. I found him in the forest yesterday. He was hurt so I brought him here. I was thinking he could stay for a while.”
“Sure you know we always need more people who know how to use a sword.”
“How do you know I could use a sword? I haven’t even said anything.”
“Well it is not that hard to notice. You’ve got muscle. It's different from how most other men have muscle around here." Merlin said.
“Really? I always thought muscle was just muscle. Guess I was wrong.”
“Well you are welcome to stay for however long you want to. As long as you help lance out with his duties. Oh and lance do tell him what we do at midday. We don't want to surprise him and scare him off now do we?”
“Oh right, I forgot about that. Don't worry I’ll tell him.”
What they did midday was hunt food and then they would prepare it all while Merlin sat and watched them. They sang to him, danced for him, they even told jokes to him. To keep him entertained till the feast was ready. Till they served merlin the best part of the meat. They laughed and enjoyed themselves like Merlin did. Hell when merlin was feeling a bit more spoiled he would even make them feed him. Merlin loved this time of day, everyone was together happy and worshiping him. It was amazing. However it did tend to scare some of the new people when they would see it because well… most of the people would use this time to let go of their troubles and it seems their shame. They would be indecent in public to put it lightly. Merlin didn't really mind as long as they didn’t forget the whole point of these feasts were to sing his praises.
This information didn't seem to scare Gwaine off. In fact when Lance told him about it he seemed excited. What dampened his mood however was that he and Gwaine along with some of the other men would need to catch the prey. He did not complain though. And once they returned to the camp Gwaine was ready to start the feast. He would have to wait a while though so instead he laughed and danced with some of the women till the feast commenced.
“Don't forget about the reason I told you we have these feasts. You have to give thanks to Emrys before you can and enjoy the feast alright?”
“Yeah alright. It’ll be the first thing I do.” he said with a grin. And he did. In fact he was probably the first to bow to Emrys and give his thanks. Lance thinks it's because the faster he gets that out of the way the faster he can drink and do other stuff. Well Gwaine fitted right into the group. He was happy to be here and did his job well. Merlin was surprised however when during one of the feasts Gwaie knelt down instead of bowing and giving a quick thanks like he usually does.
“I know that I haven't been here for long and you probably thought I would leave when I got bored but I truly like it here. I like that I can be myself and not be judged. That I can be trusted with protecting this place even though I haven’t been here for long. When Lance told me about his oath I just knew that I had to make one as well. I swear upon my life that I will protect this place. I will help those who need it just like everyone here helped me when I needed it.” Merlin could tell he meant every word. He felt his magic circle around Gwaine like it did lance when he swore his oath. He smiled just the same as then. He felt the same rush of power and praise.
“Rise, Gwaine. Protect my people as they have you. I know that you will but just in case stick close to lance we don't want you to get hurt while drunk and be down a guard now would we.” he teased.
Gwaine laughed. “Of course.”
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Arthur wasn’t sure he was going the right way. He thought he did but if he was he would have been at the open field by now. Instead he just kept finding trees and more trees. What if the man had given him the wrong location? What if it was the right one but they moved before he got there? What if he needed magic to get there? Most of the people are druids right? But he didn't have any magic. How was he going to get there? In his spiral of thoughts he had let his guard down. Someone came from behind and grabbed him.
“Hey, what are you looking for?” asked the voice
Arthur turned as fast as he could and took a couple steps back. He reached for a sword he did not have. Damn why hadn’t he brought a sword. The man brought his hands up.
“Hey, I just wanted to ask if you needed any help. You look like you're lost. How about you tell me what you're looking for and see if I can help you.”
Arthur looked the man up and down. He seemed nice. His posture was relaxed, his hands were up where Arthur could see them. The only weapon that he could see was a sword on his hip.
“I'm looking for a druid camp.” he responded reluctantly “someone told me they would be around here. That they could give me a place to stay.”
“Oh. Well, I'm pretty sure I can help you with that. I just so happen to be a part of that camp.” the man said with a smile.
“Really?” Arthur asked with a smile. “I’ve been looking for a while. Do I need magic or something to get in?”
“Oh no not really. Just got to be known by someone from the camp or with them to get in. As I'm sure you know, most of these people are runaways. Most of the time from very…. Well not great families. So we need to make sure no one that can harm them can get in.
“That's amazing and awfully kind. Do you usually walk around here looking for the runaways?”
“Yep! It's my job to walk around the perimeter and make sure no one dangerous or lost is near. If they’re lost I help them back to the main road. If they're looking for us we take them with us.” just then another person comes near.
“Hey Lance! Found another stray?” the man said. This man had long hair and a beard. He, unlike the man next to Arthur, seemed like a very laid back man. Not to say the man next to him was uptight, just more serious.
The man chuckled. “I guess so. This is… well I don't know what his name is but he was looking for the camp.”
“Im arthur. Sorry for not saying anything earlier must have slipped my mind.”
“Wel im Gwaine. I am a knight of sorts for the camp and the man next to you just so happens to be the head of our team of knights, lance.”
“Please. I'm not a knight. Just a…… look out of sorts.” Lance said.
“Dont listen to him. We’re definitely knights." said Gwaine, “how about we get going. Show Emrys our new stray.” he said with a chuckle.
“Alright lets get going. And stop calling him a stray. He's not a dog.”