paradisa | second; dictated/action

[ Merlin hadn't really expected to ever be running inane errands for Arthur again (for more reason than one), but he took to it with thrilled enthusiasm at the start. It was familiar, and it was simple, and-

Well, it got old after a few days, actually. And it's particularly old right now. He's attempting to carry a tenuously high stack of books back from the castle's library to Arthur's house (which, Arthur living in a house when there's a castle nearby, how's that for backwards) when he trips in the snow and sends the books and himself sprawling.

He only looks mildly chagrined as he goes to collect the books, some of which have more or less vanished into a snowbank. His journal happens to be one of them, and no, he's not aware it's open. ]

- perfect, now he'll call me an idiot for ruining the pages. Probably doesn't even read them. Don't know if anybody's told you, Arthur, but you aren't exactly busy being a king here. If you really wanted to read, you could go to the library like a normal person instead of just keeping books round the house to make you look intelligent.

[ Then, a bit more distracted and muttered under his breath as he focuses on one of the books: ]

King of Cabbage Heads, maybe.

[ Okay, so he might be more than mildly chagrined. He's also crouched down and testing out drying one of the books with magic, but if anyone sees him, he just looks like he's focusing very hard on a ruined book. ]

( ooc: open to action or over the journal! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...Oh dear. That didn't look good at all. Will hastily makes his way over to the sight of the spill. He ignores the rant directed at Arthur, mostly because he has not idea what to make of it, and kneels to peer at the fallen books.]

Do you need some help?

[ That's a familiar voice. Merlin glances towards Will, and there's a slight pause as he notes what he actually looks like before he offers a broad grin. ]

Only if you haven't got anything better to do. Though I'm not sure there's any point in delivering them now, half the pages are stuck together.

I have the time. It is several hours still before I am expected anywhere.

[Will frowns and takes a closer look at the books.]

They could be dried out, at the least.

[ There's a moment of thought before he checks nobody's paying attention, then he calmly places one hand over the book as he'd been doing before the interruption. There's a brief flash of gold in his eyes, and - then he drops the book, because crap, that was hotter than he'd intended it to be.

So much for that brilliant idea; it was probably dry again until he dropped it back in the snow, anyway. Either way, it's nice to be able to test out magic in front of someone else, so it doesn't feel like a loss. ]

... we'll just dry them in front of a fire, then, shall we?

[And that surprises a soft chuckle out of Will. It was a little reassuring to see he wasn't the only one who had trouble with that kind of spell.]

Back to the castle perhaps, then. I do not think I would like to try calling a fire here.

[ Merlin's already working on gathering the books, so yes, he's of the same mind. Probably less likely to set them on fire that way, too. He offers a few of them to Will, though he makes a point of handing him the less muddy ones. ]

Do you mind? I think I might have overestimated my book-carrying abilities the first time around.

Not at all. [Will gathers the books into a neat stack in his arms.]

Goodness, how did you ever carry all of these by yourself?

Not very well, apparently.

[ Said with a grin at his expense as he stands with his collection and starts towards the castle, careful to keep a slower pace for Will. You get used to hurrying when you're a servant.

Actually, no, that's mostly not true in Merlin's case. He's never been a very good servant. ]

Do you think they'll be mad at me for ruining them? [ Just making conversation, as he doesn't sound very concerned. ]

I might be careful who you tell. There are some here who would get quite upset at damaged books. Did these come from the library?

They did. They're mostly the boring ones, if that helps.

[ Half joking - they're all primarily historical or political, so dry, but definitely useful. ]

Do you enjoy reading?

Quite a bit. [Will's response is cheerful.] History and anthropology, mostly. I'm quite made for them.

[ ... oh. Oops. ]

Well in that case, maybe you'll miss these ones. But you should talk to Arthur if you haven't already, he's quite into history books as well.

I've spoken to him a few times. [Not often. Will still found it somewhat disorienting to speak to an Arthur so unlike the one he knew from home. Not to mention his uncertainty of what to say about Bran.]

[ There's a thoughtful pause as they arrive at the castle and head towards the nearest fireplace, and he's reluctant to pry, but - well, curiosity wins out. ]

How does he compare to your Arthur, then? Am I allowed to ask that? I imagine yours is less of a cabbage head, for starters.

The Arthur I knew was [Will pauses as he gropes for the right word.] older. And much sadder.

[ Merlin's not sure what to say about that. Older and sadder, hardly a good combination; but older, period? He wouldn't have minded Arthur getting that chance. So he regrets asking, but he doesn't sound remotely unkind as he changes the subject. ]

Sorry, that was probably a stupid question.

And this might be as well, but - can I ask what kind of magic you've learned? [ Only said after a wary glance to make sure his journal's firmly closed, of course. ]

[Will knew at least part of the reason the Arthur he had known had been sad was the loss of his son. He had waited a very long time to meet Bran once more.

But he still wasn't certain what to say about Bran, or if he even should say anything. And so he gladly accepts the change of subject.]

When I began my learning, Merriman told me that once it was simply called knowing. But that now we use a different half-forgotten word for it, as we are ourselves half-forgotten. Gramarye, it is.

Gramarye? [ He echoes it mostly to test it, see if it's familiar. It is, vaguely, but that's only because of all of the strange words in Gaius's books.

He wants to ask more about being half-forgotten - what it feels like, what he's in store for, but he doesn't want to pry into such an obviously dismal topic when they've technically just met. ]

What about dragons? Have you got those where you're from?

[ It should probably follow that magic being secret doesn't allow much space for dragons flying around, but Merlin's view of normal is a bit skewed. ]

Yes, it means knowing.

I do not think they do. Not true dragons, although there are some powers that might be mistaken for one.

second; dictated/action

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