A/N: So this one is a sequel to the story When the time is right. But you don't have to read it to understand this story. I hope you like it. But now read and review.
Merlin sat at his desk in his tower chambers. He remembered how he had reacted when Arthur showed him that chambers; he had rolled his eyes and muttered something about assumptions. King had read from somewhere that the old Court Sorcerer had lived in the tower. So he had made arrangements to make closest tower to his rooms suitable for living.
After a month living there Merlin had started to like it. His chamber was above every other room in the castle, no noise reached there, he had peace and quiet. But being Merlin and living in a high tower was no help. He lived in Camelot, was the Court Sorcerer and the best friend to King Arthur - there was no peace and quiet for him.
Two days after living in the tower he discovered why Arthur had chosen the tower nearest to his chambers; king had decided that it was the best hiding place for himself. He had made Merlin to but a spell on the door that no one except he and Merlin could enter. Others only when they were asked in. Merlin should have known that Arthur would do something like that. Actually he didn't have anything against it, he liked his king's company, but it got annoying when every five minutes there was someone knocking at the door and Arthur didn't let him open it.
He was pulled out from his musings by a knock on the door. He groaned, looking at the candle and wanted to curse, it was three hours before midnight, why can't people leave him alone for a moment. He was ready to berate the person who was behind the door when he opened it, but instead raised an eyebrow. Then he gulped and felt sudden urge to close the door with a loud bang and run away. Before him stood Gwaine and Lancelot, both wore mischievous grins.
"Merlin," Gwaine said, stepping into the room. Oh great, now he couldn't close the door and couldn't escape it, because Lancelot was standing right in front of it.
"Gwaine, Lancelot." Merlin sat on his armchair before the fireplace.
"Merlin, you are our friend, right?" Gwaine stepped closer.
"I think we established that few years ago." Merlin didn't know why that strange question.
"Good because we need your help." Lancelot smirked.
Merlin groaned, "Do you remember the last time I helped you? Arthur promised to kill me and I saw stocks looming in front of my face."
"You aren't dead and if I remember correctly you didn't go into the stocks." Gwaine reasoned.
"Alright, talk but I won't promise anything." Merlin could feel headache forming behind his right eye; he pinched bridge of his nose.
Lancelot stepped into the room and closed the door but stood still in front of it.
"You know Arthur has been king for a year."
"You surprise me with it how?" Merlin couldn't keep himself from being sarcastic.
Gwaine shot him a dirty look, "He is changed, no not changed, but he is more moody and it seems like he is missing the times when he was just a prince, so we were thinking."
"Never a good thing." Merlin grinned.
This time it was Lancelot who sent him a look.
"As I was saying, we have decided that we should give Arthur a break. So we want to take him out tonight for some drinks. He doesn't have anything to do tomorrow so it is a perfect night. We need your help to get him out from the city."
"If I help you, I'm sure I will regret it, because you," he turned to Gwaine, "you will be so drunk that won't remember your name and you," he turned to Lancelot, "You are…" Merlin had to think a little, "well, you are just you."
Trademark positive smile was on Gwaine face and Lancelot smile was huge. Merlin was confused; he just had insulted them both, what was going on.
"I knew you would do it." Gwaine clapped a hand on his shoulder. Merlin groaned, of course they would interpret it that way.
"Alright, but I do it only when you get Arthur agree to it."
"Excellent, and of course he would agree with it, what could happen. He is with us three."
Of course Gwaine just had to say it; he should have learned that saying that while talking about them, was never a good idea. Merlin pondered to himself when he followed Gwaine and Lancelot to Arthur's chambers, and when had he assented to go with them? But after that Gwaine sentence he had to go, just to protect their backs.
Arthur sat behind his desk and was trying to do paperwork; he didn't feel like it, he wanted just to be left alone. He didn't want to be king so soon; he had hoped that his father would live longer. He wanted to be prince again, to have the freedom he had had back then, but he couldn't turn the time, even Merlin wasn't that powerful. Arthur rubbed his eyes; there was no reason to ponder on those things. He turned back to the paper work, two more and maybe he could go to sleep.
He had just signed the last paper when somebody stepped into his chamber. There were only two people who were brave enough to do that. But Morgana had been ill for few days and Gaius had put her on a bed rest so she was sleeping already. Arthur had a suspicion that tomorrow Morgana was up and about even if Gaius was against it. So it could be only one person.
"Merlin I think we need again discuss the importance of knocking." When he didn't get any answer he raised eyes from his work. Before his desk stood Merlin, Lancelot and Gwaine.
"What?"
"Well, we thought..." Gwaine started and then hesitated.
"That's something new." Arthur couldn't keep himself from saying.
"I said something like that." Merlin muttered and got two elbows into the ribs.
"As Gwain was saying we were thinking…" Lancelot took over but hesitated also.
"Out with it you three." Arthur was losing his patience.
Two brave knights, really, Merlin rolled his eyes. "What those two dollop-heads want to say," Arthur had to smirk, at least Merlin called someone else beside him that, "is that they have a plan to take you out for a few drinks tonight."
"Oh really?" Arthur looked them like they all had lost their minds.
"Yes, you have been moody and cranky for weeks now, no for months." Gwaine stepped in.
"And we thought you could use a break." Lancelot continued.
"Alright, if I agree to that, where would we go?"
"Well do you remember that little tavern by the woods?" Gwaine smiled, confident that with those words he could get Arthur to agree.
"The one we met?"
"Yes."
"They will recognize us." Arthur groaned, from every stupid idea that one of his knights came up with, that was the most stupid.
"No they won't. Only one who knows us is the Matron and you have helped her enough so that she would be silent."
"Let's say hypothetical I agree how would you get me out of castle and city under the watch of Leon and if I'm correct then Percival and Elyan are also on the watch tonight?"
"We have that under control. We paid to a stable boy to take two horses to the forest. I and Gwaine just go to the stables take our horses and ride out from the city like almost every night we are not on duty." Lancelot said quickly so that Gwaine couldn't say something that ruin everything.
"Merlin will be the one to figure out how to get you out from the castle and city." Gwaine said like it was the most brilliant idea they ever had had.
"Oh great, leave the hardest part to me." Merlin muttered. Lancelot and Gwaine shot him looks. So he just shut up.
Arthur sighed; he looked at the three men who stood before him: Gwaine smile reaching to his ears, Lancelot excitement shining in his eyes and Merlin who didn't seem overly happy about the idea.
"Come on Arthur, you are with us three, what could happen?" Arthur rolled his eyes and saw how Merlin held back a groan.
"Alright, but let me write a letter first."
"I hope it's not your will." Merlin commented and stepped towards Arthur's wardrobe.
"Merlin."
"Yes?" warlock turned to Arthur.
"Shut up." Merlin smiled and turned back to the cloths.
"What are you doing?" Gwaine raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Looking something not so kingly for Arthur to wear."
"Why are you doing it?" Gwaine asked and stepped next to Merlin.
"Because I have done this before." Merlin pushed Gwaine who had started to help him, away from the wardrobe.
"Why have you looked peasant's cloths for him to wear?" Lancelot was confused.
"Do you really think that when he was a prince, we didn't sneak out under Uther's nose for few drinks?" Gwaine and Lancelot shrugged.
Merlin grinned, "Its Arthur we are talking about."
They heard king's growl, next moment he was beside Merlin. "You want me to wear this?"
It was an old blue shirt, Merlin grinned it had been in Arthur wardrobe even before he was Arthur servant.
"Yes I want you to wear it." He looked the shirt, "I see only two reasons why you have this shirt still here. First, that your current manservant is worse then I was. Or you got a specific reason to keep it." Merlin knew exactly why Arthur had kept it; it was the first shirt Gwen had sown for him.
"Merlin," Arthur took the shirt, black breaches and vest from the warlock hand, "Shut up."
"You know you are starting to repeat yourself." Merlin said to Arthur's back what disappeared behind the screen. Merlin went and leaned against the table next to Gwaine and Lancelot. Few seconds there were only mutters and curses heard behind the screen.
"So, Merlin, have you figured out how to get me out of the castle and city?"
Of course Merlin had a plan, but he didn't know if Arthur would agree, "Well, I will turn you invisible."
"Invisible?" Arthur sounded little bit shocked.
"Yes," Lancelot and Gwaine shot questioning glances at Merlin.
"Have you done it before?" Yes there was doubt in Arthur's voice.
"Yes, on small objects."
"Merlin," Arthur stepped out behind the screen, "your plan stinks."
"If you have better plan, then out with it." Merlin knew that Arthur would be against it.
"No, but there will be one change in the plan."
"And that would be?" Merlin couldn't understand what could be changed in a 'Turn Arthur invisible' plan.
"You will turn yourself invisible too."
"No, no, no there is no reason…" Merlin stopped and hit his forehead, "of course there is a reason to turn me invisible to. Those two 'great knights' will send my horse into the forest too. It would be very strange to let two knight ride on their horses and Court Sorcerer walking behind them on foot." He stared at Gwaine and Lancelot.
"Don't look at me; he was the one who arranged it." Lancelot tried to excuse himself. Merlin looked Gwaine whit a glare that promised revenge.
He shook his head and concentrated, "Gewrixlu ansíenee ungesewene!" his eyes turned gold.
"I was hoping to see one of you loosing one of your leg or head, but this is disappointing." Gwaine commented when Merlin managed to make them both disappear. Merlin rolled his eyes; he concentrated again and smiled when he could see Arthur faintly.
"So what's next?"
"Next we will walk out of the door to the stables and are off to drinking." Gwaine smile was so big that Merlin was afraid his face would split.
"No, first, Gwaine will go and look around the hall. After that we will see what we'll do." Arthur took command even if Lancelot and Gwaine didn't see him.
Gwaine did has he was told. Few minutes later he was back, his smile wasn't so big anymore.
"We have one problem."
"And that would be?" Merlin was glad that Gwaine didn't see Arthurs annoyed eye roll.
"Well, Leon is just around the corner talking with one of the maids."
"Great he will pick up that there are two more footsteps then there should be." Merlin groaned.
"We just use another exit." Arthur said like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"What exit? The other side doors and the main door are too far away." Merlin looked Arthur like he had gone crazy.
"Who talked about side doors? There are always secret passageways." Arthur sounded smug.
"What secret passageways?" Merlin had lived in the castle for many years and he didn't know any secret passageways.
"There are few, I'll show you. But first Lancelot and Gwaine must distract Leon, so we could sneak down from the other stairs to second floor."
"We're on it." Lancelot declared and dragged Gwaine with him out from the door. Merlin and Arthur followed them. They waited till they saw two knights disappear behind the corner and heard Leon, "I thought you lads were already enjoying your night off."
"Let's go," Arthur muttered, Merlin followed him to the stairs and onto the second floor.
"So where is that passageway?"
"In the guards room on this floor."
"Guards room, oh great, that's your brilliant plan?" of course Merlin, follow your king, there is no way you're going to die.
"Do you trust me?" Arthur had asked that question many times, it always got Merlin into trouble.
"Yes, but some times I doubt why."
"Merlin shut up and come." The room door was open; they sneaked closer, in the room there were two guards playing dices.
"It can't be." Merlin whispered when they had stepped few steps back.
"What? You know them?"
"Yes they guarded the entrance to the great dragon gave. There's a way to distract them, but they can't be that stupid or can they?"
"Merlin." Arthur hissed to stop his warlock from mumbling.
"Alright, alright, let me try if this works." He moved back to the door, "but if it doesn't I blame you." Merlin peeked into the room and waited, his eyes flashed gold when one of the guards threw the dices. One dice bumped against the table, then at the floor, out of the door and rolled down the hall to the farthest and darkest corner.
"You threw it, you'll get it." Other guard said. The thrower huffed and stepped into the hall. He searched around for a minute then yelled, "Come out and help me to search, if Sir Leon finds out what we are doing, we will be in stocks or rough training exercise before you can say; "You win."" The second guard came out growling. Merlin and Arthur sneaked in.
"So where is that secret passageway?" Merlin whispered.
"Go and push that candelabrum upward." Merlin did as Arthur told him and imagine Merlin's surprise when the wall before him opened. Two friends slipped inside before the guards returned.
"So when did you discover the secret ways around your castle?" Merlin followed Arthur down the passageway.
"Well, when father died, I got his original plans to the castle. I discovered on it few more halls and passageways than was on my plans. I came to check but didn't find anything. I was disappointed, thinking that maybe these passageways where planed but never built. But week later I discovered numbers to the entrances and I remembered that I found a parchment from fathers cupboard, on it were numbers and strange words, I thought father had gone crazy. For this entrance there was number 9 and words push the candelabrum upwards. So I discovered the passageways."
"So where this one leads?"
"Out side the castle walls, to the little side street what is parallel to the main street." Few minutes later Merlin found himself just where Arthur had told him.
"We will move to the main street, it should be empty at this time of the night." Arthur muttered. Of course it would be, except few of the knights, Merlin couldn't stop himself from thinking. They had reached half way down the street when they passed Gwaine and Lancelot who had been stopped by Elyan. "You're going just now; I thought you left few hours ago?"
"Well we had few things to do. But where are you off to?" Lancelot tried to avoid more questions.
"On a patrol to the meadows before the city, the guards are awaiting me at the gate, but what thing did you both have?" Merlin and Arthur didn't listen longer, they took off as fast and quiet as they could, because the way to the forest was right a cross the meadows. They had to get there before Elyan and the guard or they would find the horses and they little plane would have failed. They passed the guard at the gate who waited for Elyan, they had to stop for a moment because one of them felt Arthur pass him, to their relief he thought it was only the wind. They finally made it to the forest.
"Look there are our horses." Merlin declared.
"But that's not my horse." Arthur grumbled when he followed Merlin.
"Oh really, what to you think would happen to a poor stable boy if he is find leading the King's and Court Sorcerer's horses out from the city gate."
"You are right," Arthur had to agree when he sat in the saddle. Few minutes later Lancelot and Gwaine finally found their way to the meeting place.
"Their not here yet?" at Lancelot's question Arthur looked at Merlin.
"Merlin?"
"Oh, sorry, right away." Merlin concentrated, "Gewrixlu ungesewene ansíenee!"
Lancelot and Gwain saw how Arthur and Merlin appeared into the saddles of the horses.
"Good now we can go," Gwaine's smiled had grown big again, "there is a tankard of mead wearing my name."
"Knowing you, there are many tankards of mead wearing your name." Arthur laughed and took off, his three friends after him.
Gewrixlu ansíenee ungesewene = turn visible invisible
Gewrixlu ungesewene ansíenee = turn invisible visible
A/N: Merlin is looking at his candale because in medival times they used the candals to tell time.