p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"strongUPDATE- I am currently in the process of re-writing this story, and eventually will be deleting this story when I have the new one written. So any newcomers who are just finding this fic, just be aware that this particular story won't be finished. You can see the update in chapter 11 for more details! Thank you all!/strong/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"strongA/N: This is my first Merlin fanfic. Set after Another's Sorrow but before the end of the series (obviously). Please review. =)/strong/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"strongChapter 1/strong/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""King Rodor, Princess Mithian, thank you both for your kind invitation," King Arthur gave a slight bow to the two nobles whose home he was visiting./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Gwen followed close behind him, offering her hands to Mithian, who took them, smiling her greeting./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""You are most welcome, all of you," King Rodor replied, smiling broadly./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"It was only a few weeks after Arthur and his knights had rescued Rodor and his kingdom from Morgana and made a truce with Odin. In gratitude for Camelot's assistance, the king of Nemeth had invited Arthur, his queen and his knights to Nemeth for a celebration./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""My servants will show you all to your rooms and help you with your things. As soon as you are settled you are all welcome to dine with us," Rodor invited. "Men, see to their horses," he ordered, turning to lead the visiting nobles inside./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"A handful of castle servants came forward to assist the visitors. Gwen's maid, Rose, and Merlin followed close behind, helping the castle servants carry the King and Queen's belongings into the castle. After changing from their traveling clothes, Arthur, Gwen and their knights left for dinner, leaving the two servants to unpack and get settled in to their rooms./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin was unused to having an evening free. Rodor's servants were more than capable of waiting on those at the banquet, and after finishing his own dinner in the kitchens he returned to his own small room to wait for Arthur's return. He closed his eyes for only a moment, but almost immediately fell asleep./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"An insistent pounding on his door pulled him from sleep and he woke with a jerk, nearly falling from the bed. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but judging by the volume of the knocking at his door he could guess that whatever rest he'd gotten had been too much. He heard Arthur's voice calling his name on the other side, and almost fell again on his haste to answer the door. He took the briefest of moments to collect himself and pat down his ruffled hair before pulling the door open./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes, sire?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Arthur gave him one quick look and scowled. "You're not here to relax, Merlin, you're still my servant even if we are on holiday."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Ah, yes, of course sire. You're back from dinner then, I see."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes, Merlin, I am," Arthur replied in the tone of voice he reserved for when he felt that Merlin was being particularly dense. "Now, it's been a very long day, and I'd like you to see about getting me a bath before I retire. Do you think you can handle that, emMer/emlin?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes sire," Merlin replied gravely. "I will do my utmost. I know how you are when you get tired."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin ducked the half-hearted blow Arthur aimed in his direction and hurried off down the hall way to find his way back to the kitchen./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin had never been to the castle of Nemeth before, and although he assumed that the kitchens were on the ground floor he had no idea where. It must have been late because there was no one else about the hallways as he walked. He thought he must be in the inner corridors because there weren't any guards there either./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"After several minutes of wandering and two flights of stairs he finally glimpsed a glow of light coming from an open doorway. He hoped he would find someone who could point him in the right direction. Entering the room he saw that it was indeed a kitchen area, but it was empty. There was a good fire lit though, a pump and buckets for water as well. He filled two and set them to warm on the stove, but not before briefly considering just using magic to warm the water. It would certainly be quicker, but he knew it was better not to risk it, especially in an unfamiliar place. As he waited, he wandered about the kitchen, mentally comparing it to that of the kitchen in Camelot. He was idly poking through one of the cupboards when he heard a yell from the door way./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""What do you think you are doing in here, boy?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin turned quickly, knocking over a few bottles in the cupboard as he did, and nearly jumping off the ground in shock at the sudden outburst. A guard stood only feet away from him, several others in the door way, all with swords drawn. The one who'd spoke had his sword pointed at Merlin's chest. Merlin raised his hands innocently, showing that they were empty, and stepped as far back as he could./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I was just heating some water," he answered truthfully, gesturing towards the fire and warming buckets./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""In the cupboard?" the guard growled./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin smiled slightly at the question and shook his head, but the guard cut off his reply./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""And who would you be heating water for, eh? What business do you have being here?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""For King Arthur," Merlin responded./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"The guard was not at all friendly and seemed to be growing angrier each time Merlin spoke./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Right, of course, King Arthur," he scoffed. "Do you know what I think, boy?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin shook his head, trying to explain the situation, but he was once again cut-off./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I think you're a thief, come to steal food from the palace kitchens. And we don't take kindly to thieves." The guard grabbed Merlin roughly by the arm and pushed him towards the others waiting in the doorway./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin struggled against the strong hands that were now holding him by both arms, but he was out-numbered and out-muscled. There were two guards holding his arms, leaving the guard who'd done all the speaking and another silent guard left with swords drawn./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I'm not a thief, I swear to you. I am King Arthur's personal servant. He wanted a bath before retiring for the night so I came to heat some water," Merlin said quickly, nodding his head towards the stove where the two buckets were now starting to steam./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Without warning, the gruff guard thrust the hilt of his sword into Merlin's ribs, knocking the wind out of him. Merlin's knees buckled and he would have doubled over if the guards holding him had not kept him upright. He struggled to draw in a breath, but it only brought a stab of pain to his side. Unable to speak Merlin just shook his head desperately./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Don't speak unless you are asked a question, boy. I don't want any more of your lies. We've had trouble with you thieves before, and the king is too lenient. It is my job to guard this castle and now I've caught you in the act."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Please, I am telling you the truth," Merlin wheezed. "Ask Arthur, or Princess Mithian, she knows who I am. My name is Merlin!"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"The guard struck out again, this time back handing Merlin across the face with his heavily gloved fist. Merlin saw stars and sagged once again in the grip of the guards./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""No more out of you, take him to the dungeons," the guard ordered./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin struggled to get his feet under him and to walk, but found himself being dragged as the guards roughly pushed and pulled him out of the kitchen and down the corridor. Unsure of how he'd found himself in such a mess he only hoped that Arthur would miss him soon and help him out of the ridiculous situation he'd found himself in. Spending his first night in Nemeth in a cell was not at all appealing. In hopes that the guards holding him were more reasonable then the gruff one, he began pleading with them quietly as they moved down the corridor./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Please, you can search me, I've stolen nothing. I was just looking as I waited, just ask one of the knights."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"He didn't get any further in his pleas. The gruff guard dealt him a stinging blow across his back with the flat of his sword and Merlin cried out in surprise and pain. This time the guards let him drop to the floor. As Merlin pushed himself to his hands and knees, someone kicked him hard in the ribs, striking the same side that had been hit earlier. Merlin fell to the floor again, groaning in pain at the blow and desperate for someone to believe him. It was clear however that no one would, and his best choice now was silence, since speech only brought him a beating. They grabbed his arms again, jerking him roughly to his feet when an angry female voice rang out from the corridor behind them./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""What do you think you are doing?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"strongA/N: This is my first Merlin fanfic. Set after Another's Sorrow but before the end of the series (obviously). Please review. =)/strong/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"strongChapter 1/strong/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""King Rodor, Princess Mithian, thank you both for your kind invitation," King Arthur gave a slight bow to the two nobles whose home he was visiting./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Gwen followed close behind him, offering her hands to Mithian, who took them, smiling her greeting./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""You are most welcome, all of you," King Rodor replied, smiling broadly./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"It was only a few weeks after Arthur and his knights had rescued Rodor and his kingdom from Morgana and made a truce with Odin. In gratitude for Camelot's assistance, the king of Nemeth had invited Arthur, his queen and his knights to Nemeth for a celebration./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""My servants will show you all to your rooms and help you with your things. As soon as you are settled you are all welcome to dine with us," Rodor invited. "Men, see to their horses," he ordered, turning to lead the visiting nobles inside./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"A handful of castle servants came forward to assist the visitors. Gwen's maid, Rose, and Merlin followed close behind, helping the castle servants carry the King and Queen's belongings into the castle. After changing from their traveling clothes, Arthur, Gwen and their knights left for dinner, leaving the two servants to unpack and get settled in to their rooms./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin was unused to having an evening free. Rodor's servants were more than capable of waiting on those at the banquet, and after finishing his own dinner in the kitchens he returned to his own small room to wait for Arthur's return. He closed his eyes for only a moment, but almost immediately fell asleep./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"An insistent pounding on his door pulled him from sleep and he woke with a jerk, nearly falling from the bed. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but judging by the volume of the knocking at his door he could guess that whatever rest he'd gotten had been too much. He heard Arthur's voice calling his name on the other side, and almost fell again on his haste to answer the door. He took the briefest of moments to collect himself and pat down his ruffled hair before pulling the door open./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes, sire?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Arthur gave him one quick look and scowled. "You're not here to relax, Merlin, you're still my servant even if we are on holiday."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Ah, yes, of course sire. You're back from dinner then, I see."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes, Merlin, I am," Arthur replied in the tone of voice he reserved for when he felt that Merlin was being particularly dense. "Now, it's been a very long day, and I'd like you to see about getting me a bath before I retire. Do you think you can handle that, emMer/emlin?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Yes sire," Merlin replied gravely. "I will do my utmost. I know how you are when you get tired."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin ducked the half-hearted blow Arthur aimed in his direction and hurried off down the hall way to find his way back to the kitchen./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin had never been to the castle of Nemeth before, and although he assumed that the kitchens were on the ground floor he had no idea where. It must have been late because there was no one else about the hallways as he walked. He thought he must be in the inner corridors because there weren't any guards there either./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"After several minutes of wandering and two flights of stairs he finally glimpsed a glow of light coming from an open doorway. He hoped he would find someone who could point him in the right direction. Entering the room he saw that it was indeed a kitchen area, but it was empty. There was a good fire lit though, a pump and buckets for water as well. He filled two and set them to warm on the stove, but not before briefly considering just using magic to warm the water. It would certainly be quicker, but he knew it was better not to risk it, especially in an unfamiliar place. As he waited, he wandered about the kitchen, mentally comparing it to that of the kitchen in Camelot. He was idly poking through one of the cupboards when he heard a yell from the door way./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""What do you think you are doing in here, boy?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin turned quickly, knocking over a few bottles in the cupboard as he did, and nearly jumping off the ground in shock at the sudden outburst. A guard stood only feet away from him, several others in the door way, all with swords drawn. The one who'd spoke had his sword pointed at Merlin's chest. Merlin raised his hands innocently, showing that they were empty, and stepped as far back as he could./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I was just heating some water," he answered truthfully, gesturing towards the fire and warming buckets./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""In the cupboard?" the guard growled./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin smiled slightly at the question and shook his head, but the guard cut off his reply./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""And who would you be heating water for, eh? What business do you have being here?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""For King Arthur," Merlin responded./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"The guard was not at all friendly and seemed to be growing angrier each time Merlin spoke./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Right, of course, King Arthur," he scoffed. "Do you know what I think, boy?"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin shook his head, trying to explain the situation, but he was once again cut-off./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I think you're a thief, come to steal food from the palace kitchens. And we don't take kindly to thieves." The guard grabbed Merlin roughly by the arm and pushed him towards the others waiting in the doorway./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin struggled against the strong hands that were now holding him by both arms, but he was out-numbered and out-muscled. There were two guards holding his arms, leaving the guard who'd done all the speaking and another silent guard left with swords drawn./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""I'm not a thief, I swear to you. I am King Arthur's personal servant. He wanted a bath before retiring for the night so I came to heat some water," Merlin said quickly, nodding his head towards the stove where the two buckets were now starting to steam./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Without warning, the gruff guard thrust the hilt of his sword into Merlin's ribs, knocking the wind out of him. Merlin's knees buckled and he would have doubled over if the guards holding him had not kept him upright. He struggled to draw in a breath, but it only brought a stab of pain to his side. Unable to speak Merlin just shook his head desperately./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Don't speak unless you are asked a question, boy. I don't want any more of your lies. We've had trouble with you thieves before, and the king is too lenient. It is my job to guard this castle and now I've caught you in the act."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Please, I am telling you the truth," Merlin wheezed. "Ask Arthur, or Princess Mithian, she knows who I am. My name is Merlin!"/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"The guard struck out again, this time back handing Merlin across the face with his heavily gloved fist. Merlin saw stars and sagged once again in the grip of the guards./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""No more out of you, take him to the dungeons," the guard ordered./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"Merlin struggled to get his feet under him and to walk, but found himself being dragged as the guards roughly pushed and pulled him out of the kitchen and down the corridor. Unsure of how he'd found himself in such a mess he only hoped that Arthur would miss him soon and help him out of the ridiculous situation he'd found himself in. Spending his first night in Nemeth in a cell was not at all appealing. In hopes that the guards holding him were more reasonable then the gruff one, he began pleading with them quietly as they moved down the corridor./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""Please, you can search me, I've stolen nothing. I was just looking as I waited, just ask one of the knights."/p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;"He didn't get any further in his pleas. The gruff guard dealt him a stinging blow across his back with the flat of his sword and Merlin cried out in surprise and pain. This time the guards let him drop to the floor. As Merlin pushed himself to his hands and knees, someone kicked him hard in the ribs, striking the same side that had been hit earlier. Merlin fell to the floor again, groaning in pain at the blow and desperate for someone to believe him. It was clear however that no one would, and his best choice now was silence, since speech only brought him a beating. They grabbed his arms again, jerking him roughly to his feet when an angry female voice rang out from the corridor behind them./p
p style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium;""What do you think you are doing?"/p