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Merlin - The Wizard's Tale
Title: The Wizard’s Tale
Genre: Gen, slight AU
Rating: PG
Length: 600 words
Spoilers: None
Synopsis: “Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a prince by the name of Arthur.”
Author's Notes: Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
drag_on_king, threnodyjones, and Miss Coworker for help with various style and grammar points.
Disclaimer: I do not own this particular interpretation of the myth and am making no profit from this.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a prince by the name of Arthur. He was very brave and very strong and always tried to stay on the side of good and never venture to the side of evil. Sometimes, he could be a royal prat, but this was usually after he had just saved the day, or a village, or occasionally a maiden or squire and then people tended to let him get away with it for a while since, after all, he had just done something to help them.
“One day, the good prince happened across two wizards fighting. They were both very powerful and they were both quite intent on destroying each other. Arthur had been taught that all wizards were bad and evil and never to be trusted, but knew in his heart that one of the wizards was good and true and saw that this wizard was trying to protect a beautiful princess and a fair maiden from the grasp of the other wizard, who did not appear quite so good and true to his rather trained eye. He watched as the good wizard fell to the ground and the evil wizard prepared to kill him once and for all and decided he could not stand there and let that happen.
“He stepped between the two just as both cast spells at each other and sliced the evil wizard to the bone. The good wizard tried to stop the curse and may have, possibly, stuttered over his own spell when he saw what was happening, but it was too late, and the light of magic consumed the fair prince.”
“Did the prince die?” the boy asked aghast.
Merlin looked down at the wide blue eyes filled with something neither would ever admit were the beginnings of tears. He ruffled the shaggy blonde hair and smiled, earning a hesitant grin in return. “No, of course not,” he promised. “He’s the prince and the prince always lives to save the day again in these tales, right?”
“Right!” the child said with just enough enthusiasm to tell Merlin he was trying to convince himself.
“No, see, the wizard was able to save him,” Merlin continued his tale. “The magic had a price, as it always does, but the wizard made sure that the prince was safe and sound and would one day grow up to be a great king.”
The little boy yawned and rubbed at eyes that were fighting to stay open. “I like your stories, Merlin,” he smiled, settling into his pillow a bit more.
Merlin watched as he started to drift off to sleep, adjusting the blankets just so and making sure the little stuffed dragon with the protective little amulet was tucked in at his side. “I’m glad,” he whispered. He dared to place a gentle kiss on the pale little forehead before pushing himself up off the bed with the help of the cane Gaius had gifted him with about a week before.
He limped to the doorway and was reaching for the handle when he heard a whispered, “I will get you back for this some day; you know that, right?”
He smiled despite himself and replied, “I would expect nothing less, sire.” With a wave of his hand, he blew out the candles, leaving the room awash solely in the light of the little golden bauble around the toy’s neck. It was enough to see the familiar smirk by and the gentle rise and fall of a too small chest. It would be enough, for now.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcomed.
Genre: Gen, slight AU
Rating: PG
Length: 600 words
Spoilers: None
Synopsis: “Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a prince by the name of Arthur.”
Author's Notes: Thanks to
drag_on_king, threnodyjones, and Miss Coworker for help with various style and grammar points.Disclaimer: I do not own this particular interpretation of the myth and am making no profit from this.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a prince by the name of Arthur. He was very brave and very strong and always tried to stay on the side of good and never venture to the side of evil. Sometimes, he could be a royal prat, but this was usually after he had just saved the day, or a village, or occasionally a maiden or squire and then people tended to let him get away with it for a while since, after all, he had just done something to help them.
“One day, the good prince happened across two wizards fighting. They were both very powerful and they were both quite intent on destroying each other. Arthur had been taught that all wizards were bad and evil and never to be trusted, but knew in his heart that one of the wizards was good and true and saw that this wizard was trying to protect a beautiful princess and a fair maiden from the grasp of the other wizard, who did not appear quite so good and true to his rather trained eye. He watched as the good wizard fell to the ground and the evil wizard prepared to kill him once and for all and decided he could not stand there and let that happen.
“He stepped between the two just as both cast spells at each other and sliced the evil wizard to the bone. The good wizard tried to stop the curse and may have, possibly, stuttered over his own spell when he saw what was happening, but it was too late, and the light of magic consumed the fair prince.”
“Did the prince die?” the boy asked aghast.
Merlin looked down at the wide blue eyes filled with something neither would ever admit were the beginnings of tears. He ruffled the shaggy blonde hair and smiled, earning a hesitant grin in return. “No, of course not,” he promised. “He’s the prince and the prince always lives to save the day again in these tales, right?”
“Right!” the child said with just enough enthusiasm to tell Merlin he was trying to convince himself.
“No, see, the wizard was able to save him,” Merlin continued his tale. “The magic had a price, as it always does, but the wizard made sure that the prince was safe and sound and would one day grow up to be a great king.”
The little boy yawned and rubbed at eyes that were fighting to stay open. “I like your stories, Merlin,” he smiled, settling into his pillow a bit more.
Merlin watched as he started to drift off to sleep, adjusting the blankets just so and making sure the little stuffed dragon with the protective little amulet was tucked in at his side. “I’m glad,” he whispered. He dared to place a gentle kiss on the pale little forehead before pushing himself up off the bed with the help of the cane Gaius had gifted him with about a week before.
He limped to the doorway and was reaching for the handle when he heard a whispered, “I will get you back for this some day; you know that, right?”
He smiled despite himself and replied, “I would expect nothing less, sire.” With a wave of his hand, he blew out the candles, leaving the room awash solely in the light of the little golden bauble around the toy’s neck. It was enough to see the familiar smirk by and the gentle rise and fall of a too small chest. It would be enough, for now.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcomed.