PIC: Merlin's necklace

So are you enjoying this story? Well, I hope so. In fact I'm sorry for it being so slow on updates. My best excuse is me taking off to LA & San Diego, CALIFORNIA ^^ for four weeks and going to school there. So even though this was a long time coming, I had a wonderful summer - what about you? :D

- MysteryOfWordsDK

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"So you believe this symbol is more than just an ordinary Celtic knot?" Merlin asked, trying to understand. He was fascinated by the things Gaius knew.

"Merlin, there are two paths of Celtic belief. The one I have been studying belongs to the Christian Celts. That's the official way to see the ancient England. It is the most documented path. The other one is less eligible in the official records. It's mostly passed down as old myths and stories, such as the ones about the great sorcerer Merlin. That path belongs to the Wiccan Celts. They were the ones to believe in actual magic and in some cases, they are believed to have used sacrifices to satisfy the balance of nature. I believe your necklace has some relevance to that."

"Relevance how, Mr Gaius?" Merlin asked, getting more confused than enlightened now.

"This knot is called the Triquetra. It has three circles, whereas each has its own meaning. In Christian belief they stand for the Holy Grail, which is the Cup of Wisdom, then the Tree of Life to symbolize well, life in itself, and finally the Holy Sword that symbolizes power and respect of its bearer. I suppose it it makes sense that The cup, or trail if you will, was one of the most sought after and adored artifact in crusade times. To the Wiccans, however, the Cup wasn't just a grail, it was a magical instrument, a very powerful one, whilst the tree and the sword also have different meanings. But I am afraid no one knows exactly what. The tree I suppose, will be a symbol of unity, but the sword was lost at the time of the Celts, so of course we only know about it from the myths. But I can tell you the reason I believe this knot is Wiccan is because of these circles around it. They are moons and symbolize the Wiccan belief. Only very few people today would know what a symbol such as this means let alone own it." Mr Gaius eyed Merlin. "And you are sure you don't know how your mother came across this?"

"I only know it was something she inherited," Merlin answered. "My mother used to love the old stories and that's the reason she named me Thomas Merlin."

"Interesting," the old Gaius said.

"You know..." Merlin continued. "I don't know a lot about my mother, she always used to care so much for me and loved to tell me stories about destiny and such. I miss her a lot."

Old Gaius didn't have to try to understand the pain Merlin felt. He fumbled quietly with an old ring on his finger before looking up at his young friend. "My wife... she was the best thing that ever happened to me. When she passed, my world was good as broken. But Merlin, losing someone isn't the end. It is simply a new chapter - like in a book. We don't always see the point in the things that happen, but we must have some faith in destiny if we want to stay sane. We have to believe we can survive."

Merlin made a face and nodded, trying to pull off a smile. "Yeah, right," he said, but it didn't sound like he meant it.

...

Arthur was on guard; aware that he could be attacked any moment and from any direction that his eyes did not look. Just a fraction of a second without concentration could cost him everything... So when a blade was thrown at him, he tore back and made his own move against his opponent. She was fast, like a poisonous serpent, and a much worthy swords(wo)man to fight.

"You're getting a bit slow, Arthy," Elly said, smirking as she retrieved her sword for a drink of water.

He just smiled. "You're getting better too, Elly, I will give you that."

"Why, a compliment," she gasped, faking surprise and attacked Arthur once again.

"Yes, but I can still beat you," he reminded her. "And I still have the title."

Elly raised an eybrow and evaded Arthur's blade. "Oh, you mean royal prince-butt?"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "No, smartass, not quite. But I believe it's okay for you to be jealous. I did win last year and the year before that and the year before that and the--"

Elly chuckled. "Okay, I got it, mr. I rule the world! But unfortunately I know your secret..." She winked at him.

Arthur frowned. "What secret?" he asked, but even in his confusion Elly couldn't surprise him in combat.

"Well," she began. "It starts with a G, then a W, an E and ends with an N. G-W-E-N, Gwen! Don't think I haven't seen those looks you've been giving her. And since I'm a friend of you both I can calmly say; just ask her out already! It's obvious you want to. And she blushes madly every time you enter the room so I'm certain she wouldn't decline. Even if you weren't crown prince of England."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Ellly, it's not like that," he responded persistently.

"Save that speech to someone who doesn't know you so well and who'll believe your lies," she said, unconvinced. "Arthur, would it really be so horrible to ask her out just once?" That made the prince hesitate and Elly almost gained the upper hand in their combat.

"You know very well what my father would say if I did," he answered and forced Elly's sword to her chest. She responded by swinging her sword to his back giving it a few pats. It clanged with his armor. 

"Look," Elly continued. "I know you think it's scary. But then again what's ever been able to hold you back? Surely not your kingly father."

Arthur took some water. "Some things are tradition, rules I can't break. I couldn't date her even if I do want to," he blurted and Elly's eyebrows shot up. "It would be another scandal for our family and according to my dad we already have quite a few." He tried to hide the color flushing his cheeks red.

"You mean scandals of which our fathers are mostly responsible for. You don't hold the blame, you know that," Elly reasoned. "And besides, since when did you believe so strongly in tradition?"

Arthur shrugged. "I just do. Elly, he expects me to be just like him. It feels like he believes I will be responsible for all of England someday - like it's all happening tomorrow."

Elly frowned as the session was ending. "Do what you think is right, not what your father says," she told him. "I do that." Blinking, she turned on her heel and left Arthur with something to think about.

...

In the evening, when Merlin was helping Gaius close up the museum quietly, thinking about the symbols and their meanings that Mr Gaius had shown him - until a certain prince made an unexpected appearance. 

"Please get out of my way, Arthur," Merlin groaned and tried to finish his work, but the prince kept getting in the way of it. Merlin ended up sighing and decided to give up for the moment being. He was well aware that if he neglected work, he would be reprimanded by miss Hilda in the morning. So he tried to just make sure everything was in order, ignoring Arthur to the best of his ability.

"Are you really going to pretend like you can't see me? What are you, five? And I'm Casper the Friendly Ghost?" Arthur followed him around, but Merlin still didn't react. "You know, eventually you will have to recognize me since I'm your future king..."

Merlin stopped so suddenly the prince almost bumped into him. "I don't care if you're my king or not. The only thing I expect from you is that you treat me properly. Or at least let me do my job. It's not all of us who can afford to do nothing."

Arthur scoffed and sat himself down in one of the museum chairs. "You think I do nothing but sit around? Does it not occur to you that most of the time I have to be presentable and I don't have time to myself? I can't change anything about my life even if I wanted to." He crossed his arms.

For a second that answer seemed to have surprised Merlin. He hid it well by shrugging and sweeping the last part of the floor. "I don't wanna imagine what your life is like, I don't want it," he said in all honesty. "What I mean is I don't understand why you waste your time taunting me. Don't you have some important dinner to attend or something? What'd you want?"

For the first time, Merlin saw a real smile on Arthur's face. It was a small one and Arthur recognized that Merlin had a point. "I did, but my dad has refused to let me out of the palace lately if you haven't noticed. I am basically a prisoner in my own home - much like a criminal on probation."

Merlin raised an eyebrow, laughing a little himself. "You're not on probation if you serve your sentence at home, Arthur," he pointed out.

"Oh." The prince looked confused. Then he shook it off and straightened his back. "I better leave you to it. I think my bodyguards are beginning to wonder where I've gone to." Saying no more, he rushed off and left Merlin to finish his work in the semi-darkness. Not long after Arthur had gone, two men in suit and tie came running into the museum taking only one look at Merlin before running down the hall, which Arthur also took. Merlin shook his head, thinking the prince would only get himself caught and end up being in more trouble than before. At the same time Merlin was beginning to feel just a tiny bit sorry for the prince. It couldn't be easy to have such a heavy responsibility on your shoulders like Arthur's. Maybe it wasn't so odd that he needed to act out in order to stay sane. All Merlin knew if nothing less was that Arthur's world was very far, very far from his own.