The Rooms of the Court Physician, Camelot - Wednesday, Evening

[bigdamndestiny]

Merlin was not sneaking into his room. That would imply he had something to hide.

Which he didn't

Really.

"Are you avoiding me?" Gaius asked, coming out of nowhere on him. Those eyebrows were accusing him of something already.

"What?" Merlin asked, laughing nervously. "Why would I do that?"

The eyebrows rose imperiously.

"Merlin."

"I--" Well, he needed to tell him sometime... "You were busy!"

That didn't help.

"Merlin, I am frequently busy, and yet I always manage to find time for you in my schedule," said Gaius, in that not-quite-accusing way that he has. "My boy, what on God's Earth has you so skittish?"

"I told Arthur," Merlin blurted out in one quick spurt. There. All said. "About me."

Gaius' eyes widened almost comically large. "You what?"

"He took it well!"

"Well obviously, since you're still alive," Gaius replied, pacing away from him.

Merlin bit his lip, shrugging helplessly. "I had to."

[[For those eyebrows and SP]

Comments

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

Gaius frowned, half in thought. "Merlin," he said at last, "I am very pleased to hear the Crown Prince reacted well, but you must tell me everything that happened."

The old physician's face finally acquired a smile. "Sit down, I haven't seen anything but the back of you for over a week."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well, we didn't actually end up where we were supposed to," Merlin said slowly as he grabbed a seat.

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"I overheard Prince Arthur inform the king of his exploits in Northumbria several days ago," Gaius said, frowning still, and pulled a chair back to take his own seat. "Where did you go?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's going to sound a bit odd."

You know, for a secret wizard and his daring prince.

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"Merlin," Gaius said, pointedly, "I'm certain I can handle it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well, it was the future. Very, very far in the future."

Don't mention the porn, Merlin.

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

Look at those eyebrows move!

"How far?" he asked. "How is that possible? Did you perform an enchantment?"

Gaius dearly hoped Merlin hadn't accidentally abducted the prince.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What? No! It was very... inexplicable," Merlin replied carefully. "I think it was about... eight hundred years or so?"

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"Inexplicable," Gaius echoed. Doubtfully. With a hint of eyebrow. "And you have been there these past six months?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...About a year and a half, actually."

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"Most inexplicable," Gaius corrected.

With an urge in said voice to go on and make some of it a little more explicable.

"My God, Merlin, what have you been doing?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I went to a school, actually!" Merlin said far too brightly. "I learned a bit of Latin and more herbals!"

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

... Thank you, Merlin, you have momentarily struck Gaius speechless.

If not eyebrow-less.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...I would have bought a book back, but we returned rather suddenly."

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"Merlin, you are making precious little sense," Gaius said, after digesting that. "Return from where? What kind of school? How did you return?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"There was a portal, but it didn't work and then it did." Merlin, not helping. "It makes sense. Sometimes."

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

"Good, because it certainly doesn't do so now." Gaius's skeptical eyebrow was skeptical. "You went through a portal and found yourself at a school?" he attempted. "With Latin?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...Lady Ghanima happened to know some and offered to teach me?"

[camelotfolk.livejournal.com]

Gaius nodded. Slowly.

"...How about you tell me more of this 'school'," he said, at last, "For currently, you are rambling, Merlin. It sounds complicated."

A beat.

"Let me put on tea."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Tea would be best," Merlin agreed, settling in for a very, very long conversation.