The Sorcerer's Slave
Chapter 1
"But Arthur, why can't I go with you?"
"I've told you, Merlin, Lord Agravaine and I believe that a trip by the Prince Regent to the Northern Borders with his knights, and only his knights, would demonstrate our strength and quell the unrest. If I brought a servant with me, it would make me look soft." Arthur's answer is spoken with exaggerated patience. Merlin is dogging his footsteps as he walks across the courtyard toward King Bruta's statue at the bottom of the great staircase where grooms are holding the horses for Arthur and his knights to mount.
The sun was just rising and cast long shadows across the ground. Merlin squints into it as he trails just behind Arthur. "But you might need my help."
Arthur stops mid-stride and turns to look at Merlin. "Help. What possible help could you provide?"
"Well . . . erm, to protect you, like I always do," Merlin says, coming to a halt beside the Prince. Arthur looks at him with impatient disbelief. "You need me. Please take me with you."
"Stop whining, Merlin."
"I'm not whining. I don't whine," Merlin answers indignantly as Arthur steps away to reach the stairs, reaching for the reins of a horse held by one of the grooms. "Why aren't you riding Llamri?" he asks, surprised to see Arthur ready to mount a large black stallion.
"My uncle has offered me his horse for the trip. He thought a larger horse would have greater stamina for the journey. Check my pack, will you?" Arthur easily vaults into the saddle.
"Who is carrying the food for the trip?" Merlin asks as he secures Arthur's pack and bedroll behind him.
"Sir Lamorak. And yes, there's enough. Stop fussing. You're still not going. I'm ordering you to stay here in Camelot." He looks down at Merlin's upturned face from his seat on the black horse.
"But Arthur . . "
Arthur holds up his hand to stop Merlin's protests. "For once, Merlin, would you just do as your told? You are not to leave Camelot," he says with finality, pointing a finger in warning. Merlin presses his lips together in frustration.
Agravaine has walked up to see Arthur off and is waiting to approach, listening to Arthur's final admonishments to Merlin. He edges Merlin aside as he reaches up to hand Arthur a map of the route to the Northern Borders, unrolling it and pointing out where Arthur should stop on his journey.
Arthur puts the map in his saddlebag and clasps Agravaine's arm in farewell. "Thank you, Uncle."
Arthur guides his horse at an easy trot through the small group of three knights waiting for him, and raises his arm to signal them to follow him. Once they are through the northern gate of the town, they increase their speed to a gallop heading out the main road to make their way north. Merlin stands and watches them go before he turns to head to the portico for the closest entrance to Gaius's chambers.
Merlin huffs with annoyance, "the Northern Borders again. Really?" as he climbs the stairs to the physician's chambers, thinking about Arthur's ready acceptance of and respect for his uncle, a relative newcomer to Camelot. Lord Agravaine Dubois, Arthur's mother's brother, arrived in Camelot shortly after Arthur's victory over Cenred's immortal army. Merlin thought it odd that Arthur had never mentioned his uncle before, but then he really didn't understand the politics of the relationships in royal families. He guessed that there had been some animosity between Uther and Queen Ygraine's brothers. After all, Uther had killed Lord Tristan Dubois when he challenged Uther more than twenty years ago, blaming him for Ygraine's death when Arthur was born.
Now, after Morgana's betrayal, Uther was a broken man, a shadow of his former self, rarely leaving his chambers. Arthur had assumed the role of Prince Regent of necessity, and Lord Agravaine quickly became his most trusted advisor. Family ties overcame all else, it would seem. Merlin was beginning to feel shut out. He had thought that Arthur was beginning to trust and rely on him when he helped Arthur to defeat the immortals and return to Camelot in triumph. But with Agravaine's arrival, Merlin's role was again reduced to that of a simple manservant. Merlin still dreamed of Arthur's recognition and acceptance. But it was not to be. Not yet. He sighs again as he opens the door to his mentor's rooms.
"Gaius," he calls out. "I'm all yours for a few days. Arthur's just left."
"And good morning to you too, Merlin," Gaius says.
"Yeah. Right. Sorry. Good morning." Merlin is sheepish at the gentle rebuke to his manners. "What's on for today?" He takes a seat at the table near the cook-fire.
"I need you to learn to prepare a simple sleeping draught. I've run out, and have to bring some to Stable Master Seward for his pain."
"What's wrong with Master Seward?" Merlin asks. A few years earlier, Merlin had been consigned to work in the stables under Master Seward while Arthur was away. He still helps out from time to time, when sent by Arthur, usually intended as some sort of a punishment. But he's grown fond of the Seward family, particularly young Tyr - and of Mistress Seward's baking.
"He has an ulcerated leg that doesn't seem to be healing. It's causing him a great deal of pain. I'm afraid that we may need to remove it." Gaius is solemn; Seward's condition is grave.
"Oh no, that would be terrible." Merlin is alarmed at the news. "Where's the recipe? I'll get on it right away." He pauses a moment. "Do you think there is anything else I could do to, . . . erm ,. . . you know, help?"
"No, Merlin. It's too dangerous."
"Okay. But I'm just saying."
"Merlin." Gaius says, losing patience. He pulls a large book down from the shelf, and hefts it to the table where Merlin is sitting, opening it to the first page of recipes for sleeping draughts. "Start with the first one, Merlin, but study the others. You'll need to know them."
Merlin reads through the recipe and searches around the vials and bottles and supplies for the ingredients. He copies the recipe into the little book he's taken to carrying around with him. "We need mushrooms, but I think you have everything else."
"Go quickly. You should be able to find the mushrooms you need in the darkling woods."
"Yeah. On my way."
xXx
Merlin ties up Cora in the woods by the side of the road. Carrying a small basket, he walks into the woods, looking down near the base of each tree for the mushrooms he needs. He spies some just near the trail, and squats down to pick them. He brushes the dirt off the mushrooms he's picked on his tunic, ready to set them into the basket he holds in his left hand.
"Merlin, what are you doing here?" he hears. Surprised, he drops the basket.
"Lord Agravaine, you startled me," he says as he leaps to his feet. Merlin shows Agravaine the mushrooms in his hand, "just gathering some medicinal supplies for Gaius."
"Is that what you're doing, with Arthur away?"
"Yes. That and working in the stables to help Master Seward. He's not well." Merlin nervously puts the mushrooms into his pocket.
"I see. Well, best get what you need and get back to Camelot."
"Yes, my lord." Merlin bobs his head a few times and picks up his basket. He continues on his way into the woods.
Agravaine walks back to the path and mounts his horse. He gallops down the road deeper into the woods.
"What's he doing riding alone in the woods?" Merlin wonders as he watches the older man ride away.
Agravaine gallops down the road for a few miles before turning left into the deeper woods at a large moss covered boulder on the side of the road that had a marking etched into the moss near the bottom. He rides quickly along a track barely visible through the woods until he comes to a ravine. He rides through, stopping at a side trail, and ties up his horse. He continues on foot and reaches a set of steps comprised of stones fitted into a hillside. As he descends, he calls out, "Morgana!"
She appears in the doorway of a small house tucked into the hill at the bottom of the stone staircase. Morgana is as beautiful as ever, even with her hair wild, and dressed all in black. She has an eager look to her face as she asks, "has he gone?"
"Yes, he left at dawn with Sir Lamorak and two other knights," Agravaine answers.
"And his serving boy?"
"I managed to convince Arthur to leave the boy behind." Agravaine smiles. "The fool is off picking mushrooms. Maybe he'll poison himself."
"Good. Arthur always seems to have good luck when Merlin's around for some reason. Protective of the idiot, maybe."
Agravaine laughs. "Who knows? But he's on his own now."
"You showed him the location on the map?"
"Of course." Agravaine nods. "He'll head right there."
"I'd best be on my way, then, if I'm to catch up with Arthur and his men before they reach the Northern Borders."
"Go safely," Agravaine says, looking at her with undisguised longing. She ignores his look, and turns on her heel to go back into the house. He waits a moment, then reluctantly climbs the staircase up to the trail head where he left his horse.