The Master of Time Series

A group of stories about Merlin's life after 5x13 and how he comes to fully understand his Destiny and 'The Once and Future King' prophecies.

BOOK TWO:

Master of Time: Advisor of Kings

Many years have passed and Merlin is continuing to seek out his reincarnated friends and form friendships with their families whilst he eagerly awaits the most important re-birth of all. Much has changed but much remains the same. What role will Arthur play this time around and how can Merlin help?

A/N: This has been a taken a while to get sorted but at long last I'm ready to begin sharing. This story should stand on its own but new readers might find it easier to follow if 'Slave of Destiny' has been read first; it's only ten chapters long. :D

This story is non-linear and based on real, historical characters from the Ninth and Tenth Century so, enjoy the ride! :P More notes at the bottom of this chapter and on my PP.

Chapter One

At the Royal Court of Wessex

Thirty-Five years before Arthur's rebirth

Merlin walked slowly down the length of the smoky, wooden beamed Hall, packed full of courtiers and knights, conscious of every eye upon him. On reaching the top table the sorcerer stopped and bowed deeply to the king.

"State your name, old man?"

"Lord Emrys of Hwicce, your majesty," Merlin replied, dropping slowly to one knee and wincing as he tried to get used to this older body again. "I have come to pay my respects to the great King Ethelburt of Wessex and humbly ask to impose on his hospitality for a short while."

"Emrys? I have heard of that name." The young king looked toward an old courtier who merely gave a slight shrug in response. "There is much written about a Lord Emrys assisting kings in the area of Magonsæte over the years."

"My family has traditionally been a very learned one it's true, Sire, and we have always had strong ties with the local, noble families, including those here in Wessex," Merlin replied. "So, if I could be of any assistance whilst I'm here, either as an advisor or as a physician, I would be happy to serve such a great king."

"A physician?" Ethelburt said, suddenly more interested. "Now, that would certainly be of use to us. I have only recently become king after the death of my second brother and there are always so many illnesses and battles nowadays – It would be good if you could stay for a while and offer us your expertise."

"It'll be my pleasure, your Majesty," Merlin replied with another deep bow.

"But, all of that can wait until the morning. Eat, drink. Let it not be said that Wessex does not know how to welcome its northern guests."

~o~0~o~

Offering his medical services was a useful avenue for Merlin to have followed, as he was easily able to use this new job as an excuse to enquire about babies born during the last year and go in search of the first of the Round Table he had sensed. His magical instincts helped there, of course, but he was surprised at how easily he was able to recognise him, even as a baby.

Just as before, all those years ago, it seemed almost as if two people occupied the same body – the sense of the character and personality clearly etched on the small child that had barely begun to crawl.

"Hello, Gaius," he said kneeling down slowly with a smile on his face. "A slight matter of role reversal now, don't you think? Me the old man and you the child – although I'm not sure we ever met when I was as young as you appear to me now.

"Is he well, sir?" the child's mother asked as she came over with a drink for him. "I did worry when he developed an especially nasty cough last month but I think perhaps it was just a cold, after all."

"He seems to be in fine health," Merlin replied, hauling himself onto a nearby stool and taking a sip from the mug she'd offered him. "What's his name?"

"Eadric," she replied with a smile.

Merlin sighed heavily. "What is it with this fashion of everyone's name starting with E and Æ these days? It really is very confusing."

"Ah, I thought your name was Emrys, sir?" the girl asked with a sly smile.

"Ha! Fair enough, although I can assure you that, when I was young, our parents were generally more imaginative with their choice of initials. You have other children?"

"Eadric is my fourth, sir," she replied proudly. "My eldest son is set to inherit his father's lands, God willing, whilst this one is to go into the church and learn to read and scribe."

Merlin nodded. "A fitting choice."

"Sir?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, I just have this strange feeling that such work will suit him."

Unfortunately this land was now more war torn and confused that it had ever been during Camelot's time. Despite all the good they had done back then, it seemed that everyone and everything was going backwards. Kings and lords now lived in wooden Halls, medical knowledge had been lost and very few of the population were literate.

Sometimes Merlin despaired, thinking it had all been for nothing, but then he remembered what Kilgharrah and Taliesin had told him all those years ago. That if Arthur had not survived for long enough to have become king, the whole future of Albion would be put in jeopardy. This land had always been destined to fall into a Dark Age, but at least the work they had done back then had kept their legacy intact, and the magic of the Valley in particular was able to give these people enough of its strength in order for them to survive. They would all come out the other end of this, and perhaps Arthur's next re-incarnation would be a person who would help bring them out of these testing times. A different type of leader for a very different age.

"For he will always appear when Albion has need of him and you will always be there to guide him."

~o~0~o~

At The House of Æthelred of Mercia

Twenty Years After Arthur's Re-birth

Merlin entered the familiar northern Hall and attempted to get his bearings. It had been sixteen years since he'd last been here but this time was different, he could feel it.

They were all here. All nine of the original Round Table brought together in the same room for the very first time since Camelot. Merlin closed his eyes for a moment, preparing himself for a very emotional and challenging evening and trying his best to focus on the task at hand. He was here as a young man this time around and so didn't have his advancing age as an excuse for any of his usual eccentricities.

"What in the world are you wearing?"

Merlin's good intentions were undone before he'd taken more than three steps forward. That voice! He would know it anywhere. He turned around slowly, steeling himself, but not even the numerous meetings of reincarnated souls before this day could fully prepare him for this shock.

"Arthur! It's … you?"

All the others had looked different; his old friends wearing someone else's skin, but this young man looked exactly like Arthur; there was absolutely no difference that he could see. Of course, Merlin had broken his own promise immediately, standing there like the old fool he really was, gaping stupidly at the man he'd just called by the wrong name. Arthur simply gave Merlin a very familiar look of total disbelief, whilst his companions laughed loudly at the skinny young man in front of them.

"He's even more of an idiot than he looks," one of the young men said with a grin before turning more serious. "You are in the company of Æthelstan, eldest son of King Edward of Wessex, and you should in fact bow in his presence, not stand there like a frog."

"A frog?" Merlin complained.

"Do I know you?" Arthur asked in exactly the same tone of voice he'd used the first time they'd met but, unlike before, the prince looked genuinely confused as he asked the question. Merlin was used to that reaction now – the first meeting with reincarnated souls was usually the only time his friends briefly, subconsciously recognised him. Then again, this wasn't actually the first time they had met in this life, although he would hardly expect Arthur to remember him.

"My apologies, Prince Æthelstan," Merlin said with a respectful bow. "I am Merlin, son of Lord Emrys of Hwicce and..."

"Hwicce?" Arthur's friend scoffed. "Well, that explains it. Have you been there, Æthie? There's absolutely nothing there."

"I have, Eadgar," Arthur said, still looking at Merlin curiously. "And you're right, of course, but it is a very beautiful area and somewhere my father views most fondly."

"Oh yes," Merlin replied with a cheeky grin. "I'm sure the king has some very pleasant memories of the time he spent on my father's estate. I do believe he visited there oh, about … twenty one years ago." It was certainly no co-incidence that Arthur had been conceived in such a magical place.

The prince gave one of his familiar feral smiles and stepped closer to Merlin, whilst simultaneously signalling for his friends to stay back.

"You have far too much cheek for someone with such a modest background. Tell me, Merlin, what exactly are you doing here at my uncle's house?"

As usual, Merlin stood his ground, holding eye contact with the prince whilst displaying his usual cheeky grin. "My father has sent me here to work in Alderman Æthelred's house due to their long friendship," he explained.

"Oh? Did my dear uncle loose a bet or something?" Arthur asked looking at his friends with a grin – prompting them to laugh at his joke. "What exactly are you here for? Something tells me it's not to join his army."

"Ah, no. I do not have much skill in that area," Merlin admitted. "However, I can read and write, and also have a thorough knowledge of the healing arts."

"You? You're the new physician?" Arthur couldn't hide his shock. "But, you're so … young."

Merlin couldn't help but laugh at that. He was the oldest man in this room, probably in the whole world but, of course, he could hardly say that when he still looked as if he were in his twenties.

"Have you met my uncle before?" Arthur asked then, indicating that Merlin should follow him and thankfully leaving his annoying friends behind.

"No, my lord, although I did meet your aunt recently at King Edward's Court."

Of course, Merlin had met them all many times before, but almost always as the elderly Emrys who could more quickly gain respect from the higher nobility. They would not recognise him in this form and so tonight would feel like a first meeting with all of them in many ways.

Arthur nodded. "Actually, your odd outfit is beginning to grow on me," he said as they walked and Merlin kept his eyes determinedly forwards. He could sense them all – all his other friends in this Hall – tempting him constantly to turn around and seek them out, but he tried his best to focus; having Arthur by his side was distracting enough as it was. "Is it the fashion in Hwicce?"

"The fashion? I wouldn't say so. I just wear it because it's comfortable." It had never occurred to Merlin to change the style of clothes he wore and he never quite felt himself when required to wear something else.

"Well, I admit I wouldn't mind boots like that."

Merlin stopped and gave the prince a suspicious look. "You're being nice to me now?"

"My aunt is always telling me off for my manners," Arthur admitted quietly. "She says it's not fitting for a prince."

Merlin grinned broadly. "Same old Gwen," he said under his breath. "Seems as if that's her job in every life."

"Sorry?"

Merlin grinned. "Well these boots are one-of-a-kind really but … I might be able to get you a pair." He'd used magic to repair or replace his favourite old clothes so many times already so he should be able to use it to make a copy.

The prince stopped then and turned to look at Merlin, his gaze was deep and penetrating and made Merlin feel briefly light-headed for some reason.

"You do seem very familiar," he said. "Are you sure we haven't met before?"

Merlin just smiled in lieu of a reply. "Come on, weren't you going to introduce me to your uncle?"

He loved these moments, being back in the company of his friends after such a long time, whilst feeling that no time had passed at all and here, for a little while, he could believe that this really was Arthur, through and through, even though he had already noted small, subtle differences in the way the prince was reacting to him.

Arthur was still staring at him intently.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"There's something about you, Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on it." The warlock smiled slightly, initially amused by the repeated conversation before looking at him more closely; seeing something slightly unfamiliar in the young man's gaze which he was not quite able to pinpoint it. Arthur's smile turned suddenly wicked. "Although, I think I might enjoy trying to."

"Sorry?"

The blond moved very much closer until his lips were close to Merlin's ear. "And not just my finger either," he continued.

"What?"

Merlin took note of the frankly suggestive look on the prince's face and felt his cheeks suddenly flame. He assumed that he was being teased. If so then this Æthelstan certainly had more of a sense of humour than Arthur ever had. Trying his best to ignore his grinning friend, Merlin looked forwards and attempted to focus on the next introduction.

~o~0~o~

A/N: Oh my, what have I let myself in for?

As my 'Slave of Destiny' and profile readers will know, that has been the question I've been asking myself ever since I watched a TV programme about the Dark Ages and suddenly got 'Merlin' feels. I knew that it could work, but actually making it work has been something of a challenge.

So, it's been mostly about deciding which historical character each of our guys will play and then putting in a plot around the (luckily) sketchy history at this time. However the names have been an issue, as you can see, and Merlin is expressing my frustration perfectly in the earlier scene.

I will be adding a list of names and characters on my PP for your reference.

Otherwise, I hope it's all fairly self-explanatory but, as usual, feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer or make the necessary edits.

15/11/13