Five Magical Love Stories

Part 5: Revelations and a Happy Ending

Gaius has not seen neither scarf nor hair of Merlin since the night before, which is a little troubling, especially the part where the old physician seemed to have thought Merlin had been with Arthur the past few nights. Why would Gaius have thought so, and more importantly, since Merlin had not in fact been with Arthur, where had he actually been? And with whom?

Irked beyond the expressing of it, Arthur makes his excuses to Gaius and goes on to check elsewhere.

He picks up Sir Geraint somewhere between the library - where Geoffrey has not seen Merlin since just after dawn and looks so surprised to see Arthur that it is frankly insulting - and the stables, which are deserted. Sir Geraint wants to ask Merlin about something he is unwilling to tell Arthur about, but since Merlin is not with him, he is beneath Arthur's notice for the moment.

They find Merlin in a secluded corner of the herb garden with a garden gnome, flipping through a large, old book that Arthur has only seen once, but remembers very well indeed. Arthur jogs up and smacks Merlin on the back of the head, hoping he is far enough ahead of Sir Geraint that the knight will not notice the odd writing on the book. "Close that book, you idiot, where have you been all night?" he snaps sharply, and Merlin jumps and slams the book shut with a guilty, furtive look.

The garden gnome, which till then had been nothing more than a strange, ugly little clay figurine standing on the grass rears back and glares at him indignantly. It draws its misshapen little clay sword and charges, shrieking in a barely comprehensible shrill voice about his daring to strike and/or offer insult to the fair mammaries or something of the sort while Merlin gapes like the idiot he is.

"Is the creature talking about the Lady Morgana?" asks Sir Geraint, drawing his sword to defend himself as more angry gnomes begin to invade the herb garden. "Because I'm quite sure Merlin doesn't have fair mammaries to defend-"

"Shut up and pay attention, these creatures are tricky," snarls Arthur, swatting away two gnomes with one slash of his sword. Merlin just yelps and stands back, useless and appalled, while Arthur and Sir Geraint align themselves on either side of him to fend off the gnomes.

The numbers are too great, however, and several get through their defence to seize Merlin by the knees and ankles. Merlin flails wildly, losing his balance, and Arthur knows that he will be taken if he falls.

Sir Geraint trips and falls on his face, and the little monsters immediately take advantage, swarming over the fallen knight to rush at Arthur from all directions, swords brandished high. One of them manages to stab him in the leg, and then Merlin shouts, "Oh no you don't!" and a small whirlwind springs up, sweeping up all the gnomes and carrying them away.

Sir Geraint struggles to his feet, bug-eyed and speechless.

"What a lucky freak whirlwind that was, don't you think, Sir Geraint?" asks Arthur in very meaningful tones.

"Absolutely, Sire," Sir Geraint agrees, nodding frantically. "Almost unbelievably lucky," he babbles, then thinks to add, "but I believe it, truly. I suppose I don't need to ask if Merlin knows what happened to the gnomes under my window now."

Arthur dismisses Geraint, who departs with undue relief and haste, as though he had expected Arthur to do Something to him. Then Arthur looks at Merlin, waiting for an explanation.

"What was all that about?"

At that, Merlin blushes. "They were talking nonsense about someone being unworthy of me even if he was born of magic, and I was trying to figure out who they were talking about. It doesn't matter anymore." Merlin looks at his leg. "Are you all right? We should get you to Gaius to have it looked at."

It hurts a little, but Arthur knows his injuries, and this one is quite inconsequential. "It's fine, you can just clean and wrap it up in my room. Stop clucking like an old hen."

Merlin glares, but helps him to his room and tends to the wound, fussing all the while.

As far as Arthur is concerned, he is the only dangerous magical creature besotted with Merlin that matters. Just ask Merlin.

And this, dear readers, is a proper happy ending.

THE END