The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes

 

“Could you get out of my way?”

 

“Depends. Can I get your number?”

 

“No,” Merlin rolled her eyes.

 

Arthur pouted. But he looked around and his cocky demeanor sort of lightened and he gave a kind of embarrassed and rather shy grin that took her aback. She started turning red at it, but she remained scowling and kept her narrowed eyes.

 

“Can…can I take you out tomorrow for a date?” Arthur tried something else and she gaped at him.

 

How did he make the jump from asking for her number to asking for a date? If she said no to the first, the second would be guaranteed a negative!

 

“Well…” Wait, why was she considering it? She should be saying no to him straight away.

 

But then he looked hopefully at her and she kind of crumbled and shrugged.

 

“Fine. Tomorrow at seven. Wherever you want.”

 

Arthur was beaming at her, and she couldn’t help the small smile she replied with.

 

“Great! You won’t regret it! I’ll have Morgana text you where later, ‘kay? Bye, Merlin!” Arthur was practically skipping away, she noted in amusement.

 

She spent the rest of the time in school in a daze, though occasionally her mind would wander back to the dreams she was still having. Instead of fighting them and worrying about them, she accepted and just watched them. She filed them away, even writing it down in some kind of dream journal, and she slept all the better for it.

 

Was it strange that it was actually Mr. Muirden who’d given her that advice?

 

He’d idly commented, one day after school as he passed her desk, that “strange dreams were best left to be accepted and moved on from, instead of fighting them and practically clinging to them so much it becomes unhealthy. It doesn’t do well to dwell in dreams and forget to live in reality and the present.”

 

It had been very cryptic and worrying, especially how he’d even known about her dreams at all or that she was having any. Still, she’d done well from his advice and was sleeping and feeling better now. She no longer had circles under her eyes, or felt tired all the time, or like she was going insane.

 

She dreamt of Arthur, King Arthur, and felt herself fall in love with a fictitious man from her dreams. Sometimes, she wished the Arthur here would be more like him –respectful, less of a bully, less arrogant, a gentleman…

 

But he wasn’t real and her Arthur liked to mess around with women and pick on those younger than him.

 

Sometimes, she wished Arthur was more like his father. It’s been three months since she met him officially, and she had more in common and got along more with him. They both liked The Beatles, ate the same type of pies, and it was much easier to talk and relate to Uther than she could with Arthur.

 

That didn’t mean she disliked Arthur, of course. As much as she hated to admit it, she was still fond (and maybe just the slightest in love with) of the blond as she had been when she first met him in 4th grade…

 

The bell rang for the last class of the day and she quickly hurried to the library. She was surprised to see Mr. Muirden lazily sprawled on the chair at the desk.

 

“Mr. Muirden –”

 

“Call me Edwin when not in class and we’re alone,” he cut her off, not even looking up at the book he was reading.

 

“E-Edwin,” she didn’t want to admit that she already called him that in her head, for some strange reason… “Um, I was going to check this in and then look for similar books.”

 

She handed him the Arthurian legends encyclopedia she’d been reading and had finally finished. He only raised an eyebrow at it, before taking the book and dumping it into the pile of books that needed to be checked back into inventory.

 

“If you want to read ‘certifiable’ and ‘absolute’ sources looking into the Arthurian legends, you should read Le Morte D’Arthur and Historia Regum Brittaniae. The latter being the ‘first’ and most looked at source, and the first being considered the most ‘complete’ version of King Arthur’s life. But I think both are a bunch shit. No one really knows anything and that’s why it’s all ‘legends’. For all we know, Merlin could’ve been a woman.”

 

Merlin’s head jerked back to his direction and she stared at him wide-eyed, but he seemed focused on his book and like he wasn’t going to say anything more. She swallowed heavily.

 

“Thank you, Mr. –Edwin,” she corrected herself quietly.

 

She set out for the books and found them, though it took her awhile. She started paging through the “The History of the Kings of Britain”, the English translation of the chronicles, though there were several volumes for it. She figured she should start with that first and work her way through it, and then start Le Morte D’Arthur.

 

“Those are in-library copies only, meant for research. You can’t take them out,” Edwin suddenly said and she grimaced, inwardly disappointed. “I have copies you can borrow,” he said indifferently.

 

And though he looked to be immersed in his book, she had the feeling he was completely hyper-aware of her.

 

“Seeing auras,” she started hesitantly, “can that be taught?”

 

“It is a skill that one must be born with,” he began with a wince. “But I do believe one you have. We just need to unlock it, much like I had.”

 

“When can we start?” Merlin asked eagerly.

 

He chuckled, “You may come here after my dinner with the King. It is a skill quickly unlocked. I can even teach you a few other things after.”

 

She gave him the first smile with warmth in it.

 

Merlin flinched and brought a hand to her head, feeling her head start to throb painfully. She blinked away tears and looked up at her teacher.

 

“Yes, that’s it. Move your hand…and there!”

 

Merlin watched in fascination as a trail of lightning moved behind her hand as she moved into a small wave.

 

“It’s beautiful…” she whispered.

 

Edwin observed her quietly, a small smile on his lips.

 

“…Very beautiful,” he murmured in agreement, still watching her.

 

“Look at me, Edwin.”

 

Merlin was confused; that had burst out of her and she didn’t even know why. However, it had caught the attention of her teacher, who’d stiffened up at her command. He slowly moved to straighten up, and then reluctantly look at her. She knew she looked obviously confused and even a little scared, but she’d said it (even if she didn’t know why) and now there wasn’t any going back.

 

He must’ve seen something in her, because after a moment of dispassionately observing her, he began to speak. But the more he spoke, the less dispassionate he actually seemed.

 

“You know,” his voice cracked. “I feel kind of stupid for going about the way I did. You were…one of the best things that happened to me. It just happened a little too late. I’m sorry…I cared more about revenge…than the one good thing that happened in my life.”

 

Merlin stared at him in disbelief, growing more confused and not understanding a thing he was saying.

 

He coughed out blood and smiled at her, eyes dark. “You’ve been taught well.”

 

She didn’t say anything, knowing she could’ve said Gaius had taught her well or even Uther. But she acknowledged his part in teaching her, so said nothing.

 

“He will die within hours. It’s too late for the King.”

 

“I will save him,” she stated firmly.

 

“We could’ve been great together. We could’ve ruled this kingdom as one…bring magic back, as it should be,” he coughed out again, and blood dribbled down his mouth.

 

“My destiny is at Arthur’s side,” she said softly. “Serving him willingly and watching over him for as long as I can. And to that end, my loyalty extends to Uther.”

 

“Shame,” and he closed his eyes and died without another word.

 

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t feel the same way for you,” she whispered, and she grew even more confused at what she was saying in reply and why she’d said it.

 

They awkwardly looked away from each other, before he went back to his book and she went back to hers, trying to avoid more conversation.

 

She was beyond confused at what had happened. He was irritated for losing control.

 

In the end, not much work was getting done when she was lost in the face of saying things she couldn’t possibly understand or comprehend where they came from or truly meant, and he was lost in the literal past.

 

To make up for the strange encounter and unable to put meaning behind it, she quietly put aside the books she’d been working on and sat next to him at the desk, beginning to do his temp work for him, silently taking books and scanning them, and putting them back into the system. A second later, he took the scanner from her and he scanned the next book, while she started to just hand the books to him.

 

When the pile was gone, she thought she could get back to work. She stared blankly at the pages before she cowardly ran away, incapable of facing the aftermath of saying things she didn’t understand.

 

He sat stiffly in the silent and empty library, closing the book he’d been recreating of his work for her.

 

~*~*~

 

Merlin had ended up going to a nearby ice-cream parlor, ordering a sundae for herself in agitation. Once she’d gotten it, she found a seat outside and began to eat to comfort herself. She put the incident out of her head, disturbed and upset about it enough without continuing to brood about it. Her phone rang and she went to look at the caller id morosely. She brightened up immediately.

 

“Uther!” she answered eagerly. “You called! Why are you calling?”

 

On the other side, he was grinning at his phone, hiding behind a tall potted plant and glancing at his watch. He took a sip of his coffee.

 

“Bored. Stuck in a stupid meeting and we just got on break. I decided I’d call to see how you’re doing.”

 

Merlin’s smile stretched across her face. “I’m eating ice-cream. I was having…a weird day,” she replied vaguely, not really wanting to worry her older friend. “Sundae, hot fudge splatter, cherry on top –the works.”

 

“Ugh, I wish I was there,” Uther sighed. “I’d rather be eating ice-cream with you than suffer through this meeting. I’d swear they’re trying to give me a heart attack.”

 

“Don’t say that,” she snapped at him, even harsher than she’d meant to say it.

 

“…Sorry,” he genuinely spoke. “I was just joking. I’m sorry for upsetting you. I didn’t mean it.”

 

“No, I’m sorry,” she said embarrassedly. “I didn’t mean to overreact. I just…don’t like you talking like that.”

 

He cleared his throat through the awkwardness. “Anyways…I hear you have a date.”

 

Merlin’s smile turned sardonic. “Yes, I suppose Arthur already told you.”

 

Uther laughed. “It’s brilliant! I’ve been saying it all along. I told you to start dating my son already.”

 

“Uther Pendragon, have you been trying to set me up with your son?” she asked him mock-seriously.

 

He snorted. “Wasn’t it obvious? Now, I’ve convinced Arthur to take you out to that one restaurant –the five-star one on Montpelier Street –”

 

“No, no, that’s too expensive,” she interrupted, becoming embarrassed.

 

“Nonsense,” he said dismissively. “Morgana and Arthur’s treated you out before, and I know for a fact that Gaius loves spoiling you and taking you to places like that. Just because it’s a date shouldn’t make it any different. It’ll be all romantic –you know, like the movies.”

 

“This isn’t a movie,” she muttered, before sighing in resignation. “Okay, whatever.”

 

“Good, good,” he said in satisfaction. “I’ll pay for everything. My tab will be on there, so just order whatever you want. And enjoy your time with Arthur. I’ll have George pick you up and drop you off at the restaurant, and Arthur can drive you home, since he has practice late and will probably be panicking getting ready in time for you and worry about picking you up in time at the same time. It’ll be for both our sakes that he gets enough time to primp.”

 

They both shared a laugh at that.

 

“Reservations are in his name. Have fun,” he told her fondly.

 

“Thanks, Uther. I think I might.”

 

“Okay. I have to go now –meeting’s starting up in a minute unfortunately. Talk to you later.”

 

“‘Kay, bye,” her voice was subdued, but she hung up before he could have a chance to question her about it.

 

She sighed and looked at her phone tiredly, feeling herself slip back into her earlier depressed state.

 

The next day, she felt completely jittery and actually a little excited. She was going to have a date with Arthur. Despite his jerkiness to most people and sometimes to her, she really did like him and was looking forward to this date she was going to have with him.

 

Only…without having to be sidelined by her brother and dragged down to the bleachers. Hiding underneath them, the siblings sat side by side, knees curled up as they leaned against each other.

 

“What’s up, Lancelot?” she teased her brother with his nickname.

 

He pinched her quickly, which she temporarily squirmed away at.

 

“Nothing,” he frowned. “I just want to spend some time with my baby sister. We never hang out anymore and I know I haven’t been around. I miss you, you know? I just wanted to be with you for a sec.”

 

Merlin’s face softened for Lance and she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.

 

“Sorry, Lance. I haven’t been around either. I miss you too. We should find some way to just…spend time together. Just us. Sibling time, yeah? We should set aside a time.”

 

Lance smiled a little. “Yeah, sounds good to me. I miss my sis…So, I hear you have a date with Arthur tonight, huh?” it was his turn to tease.

 

Her face flushed red. “Yeah. He’s going to take me out to a restaurant.”

 

Lance grinned. “Aw, my baby sister is getting all grown up on me. Do you want me to have a talk with Arthur and give him the big brother obligatory threats?”

 

“Lance!” she hit his shoulder.

 

He laughed and then tossed himself at her, stretching his fingers out and beginning to tickle her into submission.

 

“You’re a horrible brother!”

 

“No! Say I’m the best! Or else I won’t stop.”

 

“Ahhhh, okay, okay! Lance, you’re the best brother ever! So stop tickling me!”

 

He relented and they both lay back on the ground, staring up at the underside of the bleachers in happy exhaustion.

 

“But seriously,” Lance spoke up. “Should I go to Arthur and warn him not to hurt you and stuff? ‘Cause you know I will and I won’t regret a thing.”

 

“No, Lance,” she turned her head and smiled at him fondly. “It’s okay. I have a feeling it’s going to be great.”

 

And she was so excited for it, the day passed by in a blur. School seemed like one huge haziness, and soon enough it was over and she was at home, getting ready. She worried about what outfit she was going to wear, considering the high-class place she was going to dine at, and realized she couldn’t really skimp on the fanciness. She worriedly tore through her wardrobe and realized that she probably had nothing to wear that would be right.

 

Picking the nicest dress she had, she focused instead on her makeup and her hair, glad her mom was out and wouldn’t see her daughter uncharacteristically worrying about her appearance and of the fact that Merlin had a date. Just when she finished, the doorbell rang just in time. Hurrying as fast as she could, she opened the door to see George the driver (and butler and secretary and nanny and sometimes cook and – she cut herself off…) smiling at her and holding up a long black bag.

 

“Mr. Pendragon sends his regards and a dress, with his exact words being ‘she’s probably ‘freaking’ out over what to wear so send this right over’,” George quoted dryly. “He wishes you fun with his son, and hopefully an evening well spent.”

 

“Aw, thanks, George,” she grinned, pecking the elderly man’s cheek. She took the dress and asked him to wait a second so she could switch dresses, and then she was being driven off.

 

She stared in awe at the restaurant, slowly getting out of the limo with George helping her out. She thanked him and bid him goodbye, before hesitantly going into the restaurant. Asking for Arthur’s reservations, she was quickly sat down and given a menu.

 

She thought she should maybe wait a little for Arthur’s arrival. But half an hour into her wait, and there was still no sign of Arthur. She reluctantly ordered and thought that she would just have to gloat about her food when Arthur came late and had to wait for his to come…

 

Only, a full hour since her arrival and still no Arthur Pendragon.

 

Embarrassedly, she knew that people were starting to look in her direction. Even more embarrassingly, she had tears prickling in her eyes. Though she finished her food, she didn’t think she tasted it at all.

 

And when she got dessert she hadn’t even ordered, she mockingly laughed at herself in her head. She was getting a sympathy dessert…

 

The whole restaurant, staffers and diners, they were all looking sympathetically at the pathetic girl stood up by her date and eating all by her lonesome. Merlin felt like she could crawl under a rock and just die.

 

“Hi…I didn’t think a pretty girl like yourself should be dining alone. Though I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come sooner,” a smooth voice spoke to her and she looked up miserably, seeing a handsome man with dark hair and crystal blue eyes, who seated himself on the other side of the table from her.

 

She didn’t answer him, waiting for him to actually say what he wanted.

 

“So…you want to finish that dessert by yourself?” he gave her a dry grin.

 

She gave a half-hearted shrug, and thought ‘whatever’, nudging a fork towards him.

 

“You know…I was in a dinner meeting, and the entire time I couldn’t help but look over here and think ‘Who was the idiot who stood up that lovely lady?’ Because it had to be an idiot to have stood you up,” this time, he managed a small smile from her. “Now there you go –a pretty smile from a pretty lady. Much more suiting.”

 

“He’s more of a prat than an idiot, I think,” she hesitantly said.

 

He smirked. “Prat’s good too. So what’s a guy got to do to get a name from a pretty girl like yourself?”

 

“My name’s Merlin…Marilyn actually, but I prefer Merlin,” her smile grew stronger, though it was still small.

 

He took her hand and kissed it, never taking his pretty crystal blue gaze from her.

 

“Merlin, my name is Tristan de Bois and I’d like to spend the rest of the night in your lovely presence.”