MERTHUR – CHAPTER 1

MERLIN

As Merlin laid in his bed staring out the window, he wiped a single tear from his face thinking about the past couple of days at the same time he was barely able to move his left arm at all thanks to Arthur.

He had spent the past couple of nights either quietly crying himself to sleep or lying awake thinking about what it was he might have done or said to make Arthur act the way he had been acting ,the way he was treating him the past couple of days. After what happened yesterday, and the state his arm was in, he had come to a painful decision he would quit being Arthur's servant and he would leave Camelot and return to his village and help his mother.

He finally gave up trying to sleep and with the storm raging outside he had no idea what time of the day it was, for all he knew he could already be late waking Arthur and bringing him his breakfast and he realized he really didn't care at this point. Slowly he got up and sat on the edge of his bed, his entire body sore another reminder of what he has suffered at Arthur's hands.

Merlin first noticed the change starting in Arthur last week, he knew Arthur was under a lot of pressure now that he was king so he did everything he could not to do or say anything that would add to Arthur's stress yet still he seemed to be always mad at him. When it started Arthur seemed fine at the start of the day but as the day would move along Arthur seemed to yell at him, sometimes for doing nothing other than being in the same room with him until eventually Arthur was barking at him for getting him up in the morning, which was one of his duties.

Merlin had asked around, talked to some of the other servants but none of them said anything about Arthur being cross with them. He walked in to the knights changing room when they were all there and asked them if Arthur seemed different, if he was yelling and screaming at them but they all said he wasn't any different than normal. Merlin even went to Gaius to see if Arthur could be under a spell or perhaps Merlin was under a spell that made it seem like Arthur was being cruel but even Gaius said he hadn't noticed a change in Arthur or him so he didn't believe there was any magic involved. Then earlier in the week when he had gone out the practice field to deliver a message to Arthur he saw him laughing and joking around with the knights but the second Arthur spotted him, he changed completely.

"What are you doing here Merlin?" he said in a tone that Merlin still was not used to hearing. He did have some relief when he noticed the knights looked at each other because they clearly heard the way Arthur spoke and they seemed confused.

"I just came to give a message to remind about the guests you have arriving later today Sire" said Merlin.

"I am quite aware of who is coming and when there was no need for you to interrupt us now get out of here and muck out the stalls and brush my horse" Arthur barked and the one thing the knights didn't see was pure look of hatred on Arthur's face when he said it. Merlin just bowed and said "yes sire" and left. Later that day Merlin ran into Gwaine, "I know you all heard the way he talked to me earlier today, that is what I was asking you all about. Has Arthur been that way with any of you?"

"No, but I'm sure you could tell we were all taken by surprised because right before you showed up he was happy and we were all laughing. Percival asked him if everything was ok after you left and he was fine again. I don't know what is going on Merlin and I hate to say this but it seems whatever the problem is, it has to do with you. Was there something you said or did, or didn't say or didn't do to upset him?"

"No I've done everything he has asked as always so I don't understand it. You didn't see his face either but he had look of pure hatred on his face when he yelled at me earlier."

"Well Merlin I wish I could help I really do and all I can say is just do your work and leave him be."

And that is what Merlin did after that, he did not try to engage Arthur in their normal chat sessions, he made sure his armor was polished before even being asked and his room was kept spotless. He addressed him as Sire or your majesty and made sure to bow every time he saw him but still nothing changed. Yesterday though was the worst and the final straw, Arthur practically dragged him out to the practice field and put him in armor and handed him a shield. Arthur knows he is not good at this and he doesn't have the physical strength like Arthur and his knights so it didn't take long before Merlin was knocked to the ground.

Even though he was down Arthur kept swinging his sword slamming the shield that Merlin had against his arm until finally he was able to use magic without being seen and caused Arthur to drop his sword which gave Merlin enough time to get up and get away.

Merlin lit some candles in his room and was horrified by the appearance of his arm, from just above the wrist all the way up past his elbow, the arm was purple it was so badly bruised. It was too painful to stretch his arm out and lifting it up was impossible and he knew it was a result of the beating the arm took behind that shield.

Merlin quietly snuck out of his room and gathered up what he needed to write a note to Arthur and then left without disturbing Gaius. The castle was quiet; it seemed he was the only person awake, aside from the guards on patrol. As he walked through the castle he thought of a place where he could go and not be disturbed so he went to Morgana's old room.

You're Majesty,

I know the rules are that you are the only one who can relieve me of my duties as your servant, but I think by now you know I am not one for following the rules, so it is with this note that I am informing you that I am leaving. My intention was to talk to you in person about this, but lately it has not been easy to talk to you about much of anything. I planned to stay and devote my time working with Gaius but you would still be able to find me so I am leaving Camelot. I am sure you will have no problems finding a replacement for me.

I also wanted to take the time to say how very sorry I am, sorry for whatever it was I did or did not say, or what I did or did not do that has caused you to be so angry with me. Whatever it was I hope in time you will forgive me.

Merlin.

When Merlin arrived at Arthur's room he asked one of the guards if he could open the door, which he did but not before looking at Merlin like he was a bug to be squashed however after Merlin explained that he could not use his left arm and his right hand was holding the king's breakfast, the guard opened the door for him.

Once inside he set the plate down on the table and poured out some water into Arthur's goblet then proceeded to open the curtains, which did very little to brighten the room considering the conditions outside. He stopped for moment to look at Arthur sleeping and then he placed the note with his plate of food, waved his hand over the plate so the food would stay warm and quietly left.

A clap of thunder hit so loud that it rattled the windows in the castle causing Arthur to sit upright in his bed and look around. He noticed all the curtains were opened as always but Merlin wasn't there and then he noticed the plate of food steaming on the table "well at least you remembered my breakfast" he said to himself and got out of bed. He didn't notice the note at first as there were other papers on his table and he was annoyed that Merlin had not tidy up this mess when he was here so as he ate he started to do it himself it was then that he noticed the one piece of paper folded over and he looked at it and read the note. He jumped up from the table and ran out of his room.