Chapter 1
The woods looked sinister in the dark. That is why Merlin never liked coming on secret meetings with Arthur and the knights, they were always at night.
The group of men were on their way to meet King Geren, the new ruler of Cenrid's kingdom. Arthur had arranged this meeting to organise a treaty between them, which stated that neither would attack the other without proper provocation.
"Sire." Sir Leon said, from the front of their group. "We are here."
The knights and Merlin stopped their horses. Amongst their group were Sir Eliyan, Sir Percival and Sir Gwaine along with Leon and Merlin by the king's side.
The men waited for a moment before they heard the sound of coming horses, and dismounted theirs. King Geren arrived, with his own knights and they too dismounted their horses.
"King Geren. I welcome to my kingdom, I hope your journey was without any trouble." Arthur said.
Geren stepped forward. He was a tall man, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. He had short brown hair and scars covered his face. "There were a few barbaric thugs." He responded, in his booming voice. "But they were quickly dispatched."
"As I hope this matter will be." Arthur looked behind him. "Merlin!" he cried, holding out his hand.
Merlin ran towards him and handed him the treaty, which was safely tucked away in his inside coat pocket. "Thank you, Merlin."
"You have your servant hold important documents?" Geren questioned.
"Yes." Arthur responded. "Everyone, including me, believes him to be useless. So no one would expect him to carry such important information."
Merlin thought. Why would he tell a complete stranger that? Isn't that a bit … too trusting.
"I see. Very smart." Geren held out his hand, and Arthur gave him the treaty. He looked over it quickly and nodded. He took a quill, which was already inked and signed the treaty, next to Arthur's name. "Are we done?" he asked.
"Not yet." Arthur took another treaty from Merlin and handed it to Geren.
"This is the same document." He was genuinely confused.
"I know." Arthur responded, sounding smug. "We thought it would be wiser if each King had a copy of the treaty."
"Also wise." Geren nodded in agreement. "You are smarter than people have said you were, King Arthur."
Arthur looked a little disheartened at that comment, but he continued to smile and look powerful for Geren's men.
Geren signed the other treaty, and handed one of them back to Arthur, who in turn handed it back to Merlin.
"I believe that we are done, gentlemen." Arthur said.
"Yes, I believe we are." Geren said in agreement.
With that Arthur, Merlin and the knights returned to their horses and headed back to Camelot. They knew that they would not reach the citadel before daybreak, so they made camp a few leagues away and settled down for the night.
Once the knights of Camelot were no longer in sight, Gered called to Dominic, one of his knights. The brutish man stepped forward, he was taller and seemed to be stronger than Geren (but he dared not challenge him).
"Dominic, I have a task for you." He said holding the torch to the treaty, setting it on fire and burning the words away, letter by letter.
"Yes, my lord." Dominic responded.
"I want you to take three men with you, and retrieve the other treaty. But let it be known that you are savages and are not honour bound to any king, that way they will not suspect us because I have only just signed the treaty."
Dominic chose his three men; the strongest and most cunning of Geren's knights. "How would you like me to kill them my lord? Slow and painful, or quick and silent."
"Kill them however you please." Geren responded. "But, bring me the boy, Merlin … alive. We can see how much the king's personal servant really knows about the goings on of Camelot."