Work Text:
“Perhaps it's your destiny to change that.”
Merlin scowled at the rock where the overgrown lizard was just a moment ago and crossed his arms. “Yeah? Fucking enigmatic hints and I am supposed to follow some conceited bully at the drop of a hat? My mum raised no fool! How can I be sure the king didn’t make you say this shit – he keeps you imprisoned!”
The dragon opted to stick to his theatrical disappearance, so Merlin just turned on his heels and headed back to the physician's tower to pack his things. He came to learn medicine not to be in constant mortal danger, thank you very much.
Gaius was still sleeping, so Merlin just scribbled a quick note that shouldn’t be incriminating even in the wrong hands and snuck out. He felt a bit sorry for stealing the spell-book but as there was no curse on it and Gaius did gave it to him...
Merlin heard that people in south were usually more openminded and Nemeth was beautiful this time of year.
“South it is then,” he muttered to himself and jumped from the battlements, his magic making the fall safe and almost pleasurable.
Nemeth was rather nice, but Merlin didn’t stay there for too long – the civil war that followed the prince assassination spilled from that kingdom's borders like dirty bathwater and his new teacher (a really nice druid he met on his journey to Nemeth) decided placing some distance between them and Camelot would be preferable, so they moved to Cornwall and then, after some issues there somewhere else again. They had to cross Camelot (what was left of it) once more. They travelled a lot after that, the healers and surgeons always needed, especially in those times.
They helped where they could and moved on. Sometimes they had company, sometimes it was just the three of them.
Then came other wars and new rulers rose from the ashes of the previous war, it was time to move again, this time more radically and Helva seemed far and safe enough.
We don’t know the language, what if we will starve because we cannot work, the young boy said as he tottered by Merlin's side.
“I heard it's always warm there,” Merlin countered and helped the boy into the cart. “I really look forward to that.”
But...
“Languages can be learnt, Mordred, don’t you worry. My acquaintance lives there, he will help us settle.”
“Yeah, and you can use magic freely, so there will be no reason for this charade,” Merlin added, placing a wooden ox in front of the cart and muttered a spell. The figurine grew suddenly, turned into a large noisy animal and Merlin hoped onto the bench, urging the cart on with another spell. Mordred crawled next to him, eyes shining brightly in admiration. How can you learn that so quickly!
“He practices,” Cerdan pointed out calmly, making the boy blush.
“And I am a bit older – had more time to do so.”
It will take them about four days to get to a port that leads to Helva, but Merlin was not worried much – with Cerdan and his own skills, there will be no issues blending in. It was just a few years, but he learnt a lot and experienced even more. Not every kingdom was as cruel as Camelot in the matters of magic but still, the prohibitions and snitches were there too. As well as people using magic to hurt others.
He was truly not that sorry to leave it all behind. Hopefully, this time they will be able to stay. And maybe I will be finally able to convince mother to come too.