Title: The Rules of War, Magic and Love
Summary:
Merlin joins a group of young, peaceful sorcerers, but uncovers a conspiracy to kill the King. Meanwhile, Arthur agrees to an arranged marriage to gain a crucial alliance for Camelot. Find out the dramatic consequences of their choices inside... A/G

Genre: Drama/Romance
Protagonists: Merlin & Arthur
Pairings: Arthur/Gwen

Updates: Twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, in the morning (western Europe time)

Author's Note:
This is a sequel to the story "Beliefs and Ideals", but it can be read independently, so please don't run away if you haven't read it!
There will be a few references to past events, and some minor OC from the other story may make a quick cameo appearance, but I'll always make sure everything can be understood by a new reader.
But if something remains unclear, feel free to ask, I'll be glad to clarify!

CONTEXT & WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE READING THIS STORY (if you're a new reader or if you need a quick recap):
- This is set some time during series 2
- Morgana is aware Merlin knows she's a witch. She has practised quite powerful magic. Due to plot-driven events, she forgot all about this experience (including finding out about Merlin's powers), all but the exhilaration that using magic brings.
- Arthur worked out that Merlin is a warlock, and covertly let him know he had. How that knowledge will affect their relationship remains to be told
- While nothing has been said clearly and openly, Gwen and Arthur are aware that their feelings are mutual. Gwen even told Arthur she was willing to wait for him.

I discovered recently that what sounds like complete gibberish to my foreign ear in the series every time someone does magic, is in fact Old English. I'll take that into account this time when inventing spells! (it will make it way easier!)

Chapter 1: The Gathering

Merlin got back into his room and slammed the door behind him, completely exhausted by the tasks he'd been assigned for the day. Tidying Gaius' laboratory, going out to collect plants for him, running a few errands for Arthur, polishing his armour again, and, last but not least, cleaning the stables. Seriously, what did they feed those horses?

Well at least Arthur's behaviour towards him hadn't changed since the day he had subtly indicated he knew Merlin was a warlock. He still gave him the same daily chores, no more, no less. He still teased and mocked him every time he got the chance. It was as if nothing had happened. The only thing that may have changed a little was that Arthur let him accompany him on his travels more readily. He didn't question his motivation any more.

As for the topic of magic itself, several months after finding out about his gift, they still hadn't discussed about it, not even covertly. Well, not really. Every once in a while, Arthur would notice a strange isolate event and mention it to Merlin, on an informative tone but obviously waiting for a confession that it had been caused by his magic, which it usually had. And invariably, Merlin would just nod and shrug, avoiding to answer the silent question.

He didn't know why he did that. Why it was still so hard to admit it openly while it was not a secret any more.

He headed for his bed, fully planning to collapse in it, when something caught his attention. The small vial on his night table. He stepped closer in order to check: yes, the colour had definitely changed!

He had prepared the mixture it contained that very morning, like he had so many times over the last few weeks. The composition had been revealed to him several months back by a witch he had helped escape from the dungeons. When associated with the appropriate spell, it was supposed to let him know when secret sorcerers gatherings were going to be held.

Some time since morning, the vial's contents had turned from dark green to as translucent as water. This was the signal. There was a gathering planned that night.

This news filled Merlin with renewed energy. This was so exciting! His first gathering! He had been waiting for this for months! He was so eager to see how it would be, to meet other warlocks and witches his own age, to learn new spells...

When dinner came, he gulped his meal in no time at all, under Gaius' perplexed gaze.

"Take your time, you're going to make yourself sick... Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Well, tonight I'm going to -" Merlin couldn't bring himself to tell him. Even if Gaius was the one who had encouraged him to see other young sorcerers, it was just too weird to admit he planned on sneaking out of the castle at night. " - sleep. Early. I'm exhausted," he concluded lamely.

Gaius kept staring at him when he hurried back into his room. "Merlin," he called.

Merlin turned round on the doorstep. "Yes?"

His tutor sighed. "I'll be pretending to be sound asleep within an hour. Try not to make too much noise when you return..."

Surprised at first, Merlin finally smiled. "I will, thanks Gaius."

Half an hour later, he had prepared everything he needed for his little excursion. On the other side of the wall, Gaius' irregular snores were almost convincing – but maybe he really was asleep. There was just one last point to settle: he still had no idea where the gathering was supposed to take place.

He picked up the vial from his night table, brought it to his nose before deciding wisely to keep it at arm-length. Well, he hoped it didn't taste as bas as it smelled, he thought, unable to get rid of that acrid stink... Taking a deep breath, he drank it all in one gulp and got his answer.

It didn't taste as bad as it smelled. It tasted worse. Somehow it reminded him of waste-water. With an after-taste of rancid milk.

After a few seconds, once the initial revulsion was gone, Merlin was stunned by the sudden feeling that he... knew. He knew where the gathering was. He would be incapable of showing it on a map, or to describe where it was located. But he knew in which direction he should head in order to get there.

He took his belongings and left the laboratory and the castle as quietly and discreetly as possible. His instincts immediately oriented him towards the forest.

It was an extremely strange and rather unsettling sensation. It was like having a map in his head he could use but not see. He could literally get there with his eyes shut...

After nearly an hour walking deeper and deeper into the forest, he knew he was getting close. A hundred feet ahead, he could make out a torch-lit clearing.

There he was at last. Merlin put his hood up and walked forward. Without the trees to protect him from the wind, the coolness of the night made him shiver.

The area was filled with dozens of other hooded people and buzzing with activity. From what he could tell, they all seemed as young as he was, and discussed rather lively, split up into small groups of mostly five or six persons.

Merlin blended into the crowd and, slowly, joined one of the groups, trying not to disturb the ongoing conversation. He was astonished to hear them talk about something that had happened at the castle a while ago. He smiled when he realised the recounting was slightly exaggerated, but also a little off.

"The whole city's water supplies were contaminated. You couldn't drink a single drop without falling sick."

"I heard about that too. They even accused a villager of witchcraft. For once they must have been right because as soon as they executed her, the curse was lifted."

"It was a curse, but the villager they accused was not responsible for it, she wasn't executed. An Afanc had hatched in the river below the city."

Merlin managed to surprise himself by spontaneously correcting the speaker. He had come as a simple observer and hadn't planned to participate at all.

Five heads immediately turned to him.

"You're new, I don't recognise your face..." one of them noticed, a taller young man.

"Yes, it's my first time here, I was invited by -"

"Wow, let me stop you right there..." a petite woman cut in. "Basic rule: no names and nothing too specific. It would be way too dangerous."

"That way, if someone gets caught, he can't betray anyone."

"All we need to know is that you managed to come here. You're one of us, it's all that matters."

"All right. I'll try to be careful," Merlin promised.

"So, are you sure about the Afanc?"

"I saw it, it was definitely an Afanc."

"Really? You were there?"

"Yes, I was."

In the silence that followed, Merlin was amazed to see them looking rather impressed. Or maybe they just didn't believe him? But at least he had their undivided attention. And he had to admit he found it quite gratifying. Usually, the only one he could talk about that was Gaius, and he rarely looked remotely impressed.

"My uncle said he saw an Afanc egg once, you're so lucky to have seen a hatched one!"

"I'm not sure I should consider myself lucky for seeing one..."

"How big was it?" someone asked.

Merlin shrugged. "Pretty big."

"Bigger than a Silurian?" another questioned.

"I... don't know what a Silurian is..." Merlin apologised.

"It's, you know, one of those large, crawling, slimy lizard sort of creatures, that they have up north in the marsh?"

"Not too dangerous but pretty annoying, if you ask me. The other day, one of them bit my leg and just wouldn't let go! I nearly had to drag it all the way back home with me before it finally gave up!" the taller man testified.

"Next time you have to go through the marsh, try to bring a branch of silver sage," the petite woman suggested. "It's an excellent repellent, they hate it."

"Silver sage, really? I'd never have thought about it... I'll try to remember that!"

Merlin smiled while the conversation went on. Silurians, northern marsh, silver sage, he memorised as well.

This was so great! Even better than he had imagined! There he was, amongst others like him, not being judged, telling stories without having to bend the truth... He felt like he belonged. A feeling he hadn't had in a very long time.

He gave a quick look around to the other groups. There were so many, there was so much to learn... Where to go next?

"Hyran Ealle," he muttered under his breath.

A second later, he was capable of hearing all the surrounding conversations at the same time as if all the speakers were standing right next to him.

" - been experimenting with other ingredients - "

" - more sympathizers near the borders, where the search for magic users is getting lax - "

" - called when their youngest son got sick - "

" - commotion, it should be easy to kill the King."

Merlin turned around abruptly towards dozens of hooded figures.

Who had said that?

Come back on Wednesday for Chapter 2: "In the War Room"