A/N: Yes, I am a terrible person, I am starting another fic before finishing the other one. Bad Author, bad, bad! This one will be WAAAAAY shorter than the other, and much more condensed, maybe 3 parts? Not sure yet, I'm just writing on the fly. Also I don't have a set updating schedule for this one, so sign up for Alerts so you know when it will be cause I don't. Don't worry, Stolen Inheritance has updating preference.
Chapter 1: Fallen
This seems to be a recurring theme, something I really don't appreciate. It started when Arthur, in his 'infinite wisdom', decided that the Valley of the Fallen Kings hadn't been patrolled in a while and brought it on himself to do so with just a handful of knights and me. It was all going fine, as it normally does in the beginning. In fact, the birds were singing, the sun was shining, the knights were laughing and I was worrying. That's when I noticed the once bright and cheery sun had taken refuge behind some strong cloud cover and the birdsong no longer greeted us. The forest had fallen silent. Deadly silent. Bandit silent.
"Arthur..." I hissed his name, which he took no notice of whatsoever, and therefore I blame him for being caught completely unaware as the forest exploded with activity. From our left, right and front, men surged forward blades in hand with ferocious yells bursting from their throats like some sort of terrible parody of the birdsong we had once been enjoying. Our horses danced uneasily at the hasty ambush. They pawed at the ground, eyes rolling around, searching for an escape.
The knights reacted as with their training, swords out to meet the charge. They cut several down with ease but more and more men came at them. Elyan was the first to lose his mount, his horse bolted without him and he rolled to his feet. Merlin pulled his own horse to the side, dismounting. He hid behind a tree, his eyes searching for Arthur who was deep in battle. Gwaine was the next one to be off of his horse, but this time voluntarily. He parried, thrust, blocked and dispatched half a dozen of his opponents. Merlin shifted to see Percival leap from his horse to tackle a bandit that had been creeping up on Sir Leon.
Arthur was surrounded by three men, his sword flashing as he was able to keep up with attacks, knocking one down, blocking another and getting rid of the last. When the fallen bandit got to his feet, sword ready to skewer Arthur, he had the unlucky misfortune of meeting a rather large branch, which apparently didn't like where it was situated and instead found his head to be better. Arthur kicked the one on his right in the stomach causing him to fold over, another round house kick had him down and out for the count.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Merlin spun as a bandit announced his presence a few moments too soon, his hands swiped to the side instinctively; the man was thrown against a tree, his body crunching at the impact. When he turned back, he saw his horse had fled in the meantime taking with it his own normal means of defense.
Two dozen fallen bandits littered the ground like fallen leaves. Merlin wondered just how many more were coming. They just keep coming, like ants in a mound. Pain racked across his back and a surprise yelp escaped him. The warlock fell to the ground, his hand raised in defense.
Arthur, long attuned to the voice of his manservant, immediately honed in on his position and saw the bandit standing over him, his sword poised to strike a final blow. His hand flashed to his belt and then out in a straight line, his small dagger following the trajectory and embedded itself between the bandit's shoulder blades. The man went down silently, and without knowing who had defeated him. Merlin grunted as the man landed on his back, he tried to move but the man was much large than he was. Great, I am stuck under a dead, smelly man. Just perfect.
"RETREAT! Retreat!"
Merlin tried to look over his shoulder towards the direction of Arthur's shout, but he found himself unable. Trapped between the ground and the smelly dead bandit, he could nothing but squirm.
"No time for a nap, Merlin. Up you get."
Relief came as Arthur rolled the obstacle from off of the servant and grabbed him by his upper arm, dragging him up regardless of the pain flaring up his back. Together they scrambled through the forest, dodging behind trees and thick bushes as they went. Merlin searched the area they were coming to and groaned in dismay as he recognized it.
"The Valley of the Fallen Kings, really?!"
"Come on Merlin, they won't follow us there, they're just as superstitious as you are."
"They're bandits, they don't care. See?"
Yells of men followed them as they wound their way through the small rocky path; Merlin glanced up at the steep cliff faces on either side. His eyes glowed gold briefly as he readied himself. Arthur threw out his hands as the ground beneath his feet trembled, and rocks started falling behind them crashing to the ground. They effectively blocked their pursuers and their own exit. Slowing down, Arthur looked behind them.
"Well, that was a spot of luck, wasn't it?"
Merlin merely rolled his eyes in exasperation. Cold finger trailed down his neck, causing goosebumps to explode on his skin. He froze, his senses on high alert. Valley of the Fallen Kings, not a good idea. There's something here, something that wasn't the last time. The manservant swallowed with some difficulty.
"Arthur, I don't think we should lag here. There's something not right..."
"Don't be such a girl's petticoat."
"And how would you know what a girl's petticoat was like? Playing dress up with Gwen's dresses again, were you?"
"I think you have confused me, with yourself, Merlin. You seem to have some sort of fascination with dresses, in fact I distinctly remember you pawing through Morg-"
Merlin winced, as Arthur tripped over Morgana's name. His eyes hardened, his fists clenching reactively.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"We'll follow this path, I seem to remember a cavern that we could hide out in until the bandits have left or the knights get help."
"What, here?!"
"Yes, here; or would you rather go scout ahead with the bandits?"
Merlin didn't reply, his mind on high alert. He was constantly looking around, noticing any movement, natural or unnatural as he deemed it. Arthur slapped him on the back to get him moving, provoking a muffled cry of pain to escape the warlock. Arthur's hand caught him by the elbow, his face lined with concern.
"What is it? Are you injured?"
"Just a scratch, I'm fine. Let's keep moving."
Arthur rolled his eyes at Merlin's attempt at being tough.
"You're no good to me incapacitated. Here, let me see."
"Wait, I see the cave up ahead. We can take refuge there."
Quickly, they made their way inside and looked around. What started out as a cave with towering stalagmites gradually transformed into a room of sorts. Thick cobwebs stretched from side to side, encasing statues and the like. A stone table in the center was caked in aged dirt, splattered with a dark substance Merlin hoped was wine. Each step he made raised more alarm bells within his mind. His magic roiled uncomfortably just below the surface. Merlin whirled around, the clattering of something had spooked him and he was quick to not leave his back unprotected.
"Sorry, just me." Arthur was standing by a fallen spear that the servant hadn't noticed.
Eyeing the spear as if it had some dark intentions, Merlin struggled to keep his magic at bay. An unlit torch caught the boy's eye and he moved over to it, plucking it from its resting spot. A quick glance confirmed that Arthur was otherwise occupied. With a whisper, flames lapped eagerly at the torch casting a warm glow amidst the cold, darkened room.
"Did you say something, Merlin?"
"Look, light."
"How did you-?"
"I told you, I am a man of many talents."
"Most of which are completely useless."
Merlin made a face at Arthur's back before he continued his search, he broke several spider webs as he went. A shudder raced through his body, An ill omen. There's something familiar here. Like when-? What was it?
"Did you just feel that?"
Merlin looked over at Arthur who had a strange look on his face.
"Feel what? Arthur? Are you ok?"
The blonde haired man blinked, as if coming out of some sort of dream. Merlin walked back, using the torch to illuminate the area better.
"Ah, nothing. Here let's look at that back of yours."
With Merlin holding onto the torch, Arthur took a look at the boy's back.
"Here, give me your neckerchief."
"My necker-why?"
"For bandages."
"Use your shirt."
"My shirt? The King of Camelot doesn't rip his shirt up-"
"Only if Gwen was around, right?"
"Well yeah, but-I mean, NO."
Merlin snorted, using his one hand to remove the red neckerchief and toss it over his shoulder into Arthur's face.
"Your shirt too."
"What?" Merlin squawked.
"Remove your shirt, so I can see the wound better."
Merlin hesitated, knowing what that would reveal.
"Oh, second thought, I should be fine. It's just a scratch."
"Merlin."
With a heavy sigh, he turned to Arthur and set the torch in it's holder. Avoiding his impatient glance, Merlin shrugged out of his brown jacket, eyeing the large slice through the cloth with staining along the edges. Wincing, he pulled his shirt over his head, he tried to hold back a gasp as cold air hit his unprotected back. Spinning on his heel, his held his shirt up to his chest as he allowed Arthur to look at his back. Several moments went by, when he didn't feel any movement on his back he looked over his shoulder to see Arthur staring at his back, his face twisted in horror.
"What? Is it that bad?! What? Arthur?"
"Merlin, what happened?"
"Um, sword to the back, remember? Are you ok?"
"Not that. Your back is littered with scars! Did someone attack you?"
"Uh, you know how clumsy I am."
Arthur didn't respond.
"Uh, kinda cold in here."
"Right, sorry."
Merlin could hear the ripping and shuddered as he felt the rough hands on his back. Had to let down my guard. He's going to start asking question I can't answer. Perfect, just perfect.
He made short work of his wound. Merlin made to put his shirt back on, but pressure from Arthur's hand stopped him.
"The person or persons who did this, are they in Camelot?"
"Persons? I told you-"
"Merlin."
"No, they're not. They're dead."
With the pressure released from his back, the servant was quick to replace his shirt and jacket despite the pull to his back. Feeling more secure with his clothing back in place he turned to Arthur. Pain laced through his head, as he suddenly found himself laying on the ground, his hands curled protectively over him. A medium sized rock rested on the ground next to him as more dirt rained down over the two. A deep rumbling echoed throughout the chamber, and Merlin struggled to see around the chaos. Arthur was no where in sight.
"AR-ARTHUR!"
Coughing against the dust, Merlin crawled along the ground, wincing as he hit several rocks and other debris. Another cascade of dirt and rocks showered the servant as he tried to find Arthur. His hand stumbled over the stiff leather boot that he had buffed and polished weekly. Digging his fingers into it, he pulled the body towards him slowly as he also pushed himself up to meet in the middle. His hand found Arthur's chest, focusing he held his own breath so that he wasn't distracted. He breathed a sigh of relief which transformed into a laugh as he felt his hand move up and down with each ragged breath he took.
He's breathing! Sagging, he finally became aware of the pounding in his head, he groaned as he grasped the side with his one hand. Black spots pulsated in time with his headache, causing his to droop as he let go of the only thing keeping him conscious. Dust swirled as if kicked up by some unseen presence, Merlin squinted trying to see who could have disturbed the area. He saw no one, but he could feel something, someone there. Help us, please! His head sank to the ground, his body limp and unresponsive. He didn't react when small rocks fell from the ceiling onto his back, his hair turned grey with excessive dusting from the rock fall. He didn't run a hand through his hair to clear it; he didn't groan, he didn't do anything and just let himself drift off.
-0(^,^)0-
The next thing Merlin became aware of were voices echoing around him, bouncing against one another in a conglomeration of sounds. Wincing, he tried to distinguish between them but all he could make out was pieces that didn't seem to fit together.
"Unconscious...rocks...hit him...with magic...wrong."
That's also when he started to gain feeling in limbs, he could feel the blood rushing to his head, the jolting of his body as the horse navigated the forest path. The slip of hooves on a log had the servant groaning as his ribs protested.
"He's awake!"
The rocking motion stopped abruptly, and he felt himself being lifted off of the back, the wide strong arms told him he was in Percival's care. He wobbled slightly as the blood drained back to his feet, a heavy hand held him in place until he was able stand on his own. Looking around, he took in the knights, the extra horse tethered to Elyan's without a rider.
"Where's Arthur?"
"Here, he is still unconscious, we need to get him to Camelot and to Gaius."
"Let me take a look at him."
Sir Leon motioned for Percival to also relieve the horse of Arthur and lay him on the ground. Bending down, the warlock tried to hide a wince of his own as he let his fingers run across the prone body. He found no broken bones, no major injuries beside a bump on his head. Sighing, he looked up at the knights who were standing around nervously.
"Looks like just a bump to the head, but Gaius will know better. How far are we from Camelot?"
"Not more than an hour out."
Nodding, Merlin motioned that they should continue in order to get the King situated with Gaius as soon as possible. The servant mounted his own horse this time and watched as Percival got Arthur back on the the horse. He shouldn't still be unconscious, there's something else at work here. That earth-shake wasn't natural nor of my magic. The ride back, Merlin made sure to stay alert despite the aching of his own body thanks to the many rocks that had pummeled his body earlier. As the white spires of the castle finally came into view, Merlin let out a sigh of relief, shifting in his saddle as his body whined in protest of the long ride back.
"Gwaine, ride ahead and have Gaius ready. We should also alert the Queen so that she is not caught unaware."
"I'll let her know," Elyan volunteered.
Merlin watched as the two knights kicked their mounts into a canter while the rest continued at a more sedate pace, trying not to aggravate any injuries unseen on the King. I should have been quicker, I should have protested more. I should have-
"-Merlin."
Glancing up, he saw that Sir Leon had brought his horse back to where he was, flushing he realized he had stopped. Shaking himself, he squeezed his horse forward, until he was in line with the others. The streets of Camelot were milling around with peasants who had seen the knights hurrying on their horses, and came to see what the commotion was about. Upon seeing their King draped over a horse and unconscious, they murmured to each other, concern drawn on their faces. Sir Leon pushed through, careful to create a path without stumbling over anyone.
Merlin swung himself off of his horse as they stopped in the courtyard as stable hands came forward to relieve them. He hovered nearby as Percival gently removed Arthur from the saddle, he saw Gaius waiting for them. Hurrying over, he quietly explained what happened and what he saw in his short examination. Gaius listened intently, his eyes on the King's body.
"Gaius?"
Merlin stepped back as Gwen hurried over, her face carefully masked in soft concern but the warlock could see the turmoil swirling in her eyes.
"Let's get him back to my chambers so I can examine him properly, but from what Merlin tells me, he just got knocked unconscious."
The trip there was the longest Merlin could ever remember. He quickened his steps to keep ahead of Percival, who carried the King, so that he was able to open the door without impeding him. They set him down on the spare cot and stepped back to allow Gaius full access to him. With sure movements, the old physician checked for the usual injuries congruent with their situation as Merlin had described.
Roughly half an hour passed before he turned to the hovering men and Queen.
"Merlin was correct in his assessment. The King has suffered a blow to the head and is concussed. He just needs lots of rest and he should be fine. I will prepare a simple poultice for the bruising and to help alleviate the headache he is sure to have upon waking."
"Oh, thank you Gaius."
He patted the Queen on the hand, before he turned to the other and had them leave now that they knew the status of their King to allow the Queen a few moments alone. The knights thanked the physician as they left. Merlin waited until he was sure that they were out of ear shot.
"Gaius, there was something else. I felt a presence in the Valley of the Fallen Kings-"
"That is not surprising Merlin, you know that that is hollowed ground, there are bound to be spirits who roam there."
"Not like this, this was different. It was something that didn't belong there, and yet it was also something familiar about it. I don't think that this was an accident, some sort of case of loose rocks. I think something wanted this to happen."
"It would seem as though you foiled their plot to kill Arthur-"
"No, I don't think that was it. I don't know why but something is telling me that that was not their aim. If it was they had the perfect opportunity when I was unconscious, but they didn't. I just-I don't know. Something doesn't feel right, Arthur should still be unconscious. The rock was not large, nor was it bad blow."
"I can do some research on the Valley of the Fallen Kings but if it's something foreign, then I do not think it will be of much use."
"Thanks Gaius."
Merlin spent the rest of the day watching over the still unconscious Arthur even after Gwen left. Flickering through some of the history books, he sighed as he rubbed his temples, Nothing, there is absolutely nothing useful in here. What was it that made it so different than last time? Why did it feel familiar. Was it a magic that I have sensed before? It can't be, the only ones left alive are Mordred, Morgana, Alator...Mordred was back in Camelot, Morgana would have tried to kill us on the spot and Alator is an ally; so who else could it have been?
A brisk breeze blew around the room, causing loose papers to swirl around in a chaotic dance. There! I felt it again! Looking around, he saw nothing that would give him answers, nothing to explain why he sudden felt on edge; why his magic churned restlessly. As night approached, the warlock lit candles as he continued his fruitless search for answers. Gaius had gone to finish his rounds hours earlier, so it left just the King with the servant. The candles flickered, casting long shadows in the room, Merlin glanced at the windows, they were still shut from when he had closed them as a result of the wind gust.
He spun around, his eyes darting to the shadows seeking the reason for the chill that seemed to race through his body all of a sudden. He found nothing. I am not imaging it, there's something here. It's almost like that time when-
"Ughhhhh"
"Arthur!"
Lunging forward, Merlin held his breath as his friend cracked opened one eye then the other. Upon seeing the warlocks face, he groaned again and let his eyelids fall back down.
"Now, now, none of that Sire. You have had us all worried. You've been unconscious since this afternoon, and from such a small bump too."
"Hold your tongue, boy."
Merlin's brow furrowed at Arthur's rebuke. He must have hit his head harder than we thought.
"Arthur? It's me, Merlin."
The King raised a hand to his head, kneading his temples, he winced at the sound of his manservant's voice. Blinking heavily, he tried to sit up, his arms shook with the effort and he was forced to remain on his back in the meantime.
The squeaking hinges warned Merlin of the timely return on the Court Physician, spinning around to greet him, he waved his hand in Arthur's direction, his face animated.
"Gaius, Arthur is awake."
Hastening his pace, the old man asked the injured King questions, which Arthur answered correctly, albeit a bit slowly as if he had to put real thought behind each answer. Listening intently as he went, Gaius used a candle to check his pupil reaction to the light. Satisfied with what he found, he smiled. Merlin smiled in return, letting out a shaky breath as relief washed over him. Turning to look at his friend, he opened his mouth to say something but stopped abruptly.
The King's face was pulled down into an angry scowl; his brows were angled downwards, his mouth pinched shut, eyes afire with disgust aimed at the gangly servant who took a step back at the change in his friend. Gaius seeing Merlin's reaction turned towards the King, but Arthur's face smoothed into a look of weariness when the older man saw him.
"He should be fine after some rest, here, let's get him up to his chambers. He'll be more comfortable there."
"Of course, Gaius."
"Come on, Sire, let's get you up to your nice soft bed."
Merlin leaned down to help Arthur stand, but the King swatted his hand away; instead, choosing push himself to his feet. He only swayed briefly, before he stomped out ahead of the bewildered servant, who cast a glance over at Gaius before following his King. The older physician watched the interaction with a worried expression, his eyebrow twitching in agitation.
"Sire! My lord, please, you should walk more slowly in your condition."
Merlin struggled to keep up with the fast paced gait of the semi-injured King, who paid him no attention and if anything increased his pace.
"Don't presume to tell me what to do. You forget your place," his King snarled over his shoulder.
A shiver raced down the manservant's spine at the cold tone. I was right, there is something at play here. Even at his worst, Arthur wasn't like this...Well, at least, not when there was just cause.
Up ahead, the King stumbled over some unseen obstacle and had to reach a hand out to the wall to steady himself, allowing Merlin the opportunity to reach him. Peering over at him, he took in the slightly glassy eyes, and pale complexion. Without asking permission, the servant slung Arthur's arm over his shoulder and helped to brace him up as they continued at a much slower pace to the King's chambers. Several times Merlin paused in the hallway when the torches would flicker without cause for there was no wind to make them do so. Hitching Arthur's weight up, he quickened his steps in an effort to reach the supposed safety of the King's chambers.
He passed guards station near said chambers, who were on alert. Their postures seemed to suggest that they too felt something foreboding that night. With a nod, he thanked the one that opened the door for them, and ushered the King inside. Carefully sitting him down on his bed, Merlin proceeded to help him undress as quickly as he was able. Just as he was finishing straightening his nightshirt, as it was a particularly cool evening, Arthur seemed to come back to himself. Slapping Merlin's hands away, the King cooly entered his bed and settled in.
"Tend to the fire then you are to go."
"Yes...my lord. Shall I also alert Gwen that you have retired to your bed?"
"NO. The ser-Gwen, must be...tired from the day's events. I think it best if she is allowed to sleep in her quarters."
Merlin grew concerned, hardly a night went by when Arthur didn't share his chambers with the Queen; something that was unusual in Court, but not for him. He relished it, at least as Merlin saw it.
"Yes, my lord." Merlin waited for Arthur to rebuke him for his submissiveness but none came.
Quietly, he finished his last chore at Arthur's command, making sure that the fire had plenty of fuel to last as long as possible before he left for the night. As he clicked the door shut, he regarded it uneasily. There is something rotten in Camelot. Something we brought back with us from the Valley of the Fallen Kings. Perhaps, Gaius was able to find something in his books.
Upon his return to their shared quarters, the warlock immediately questioned Gaius on the fruits of his research.
"I have found nothing that resembles what you have described. We're dealing with something new, or we are missing something vitally important."
"There's something wrong with Arthur, Gaius. I don't know what, yet, but there is definitely something wrong and I'm getting the feeling it has only just begun."
The feeling of a large stone sinking to the bottom of Gaius' stomach, brought about feelings he had not felt since Arthur's birth.
"Perhaps, things will become more clear in the morning," Gaius suggested optimistically, even though his face was written with lines of worry.
Nodding absentmindedly, Merlin settled down for the night, his mind still churning with the events of that day; going over everything thing he could think of. I missed something. Something important, but what? It's like it's right there in front of me and all I have to do is grab it but every time I try it just slips through my fingers like water.
-0(^,^)0-
Sunlight danced merrily across Merlin's face, waking him up the next morning. Cracking open one eye, he groaned as he rubbed his face wearily with his hand. Stretching, he got ready for the day and hurried down to the kitchen to retrieve Arthur's breakfast. Piling it up with all of his favorites, he made his way towards his chambers. He passed by several knights, servants and guards to which he smiled or called out a hello without breaking stride.
Using his foot to open the door, he turned around tray in hand to greet Arthur. Clanging rang through the room, as the tray crashed against the ground as Merlin was accosted. The King grabbed the front of his shirt, twisting it in his fist, and used it to propel his manservant against the wall. Yelping in surprise, Merlin could only watch in stunned disbelief at the sword brought to his neck, held by the furious blue eyes of his Master of eight years.
"Arthu-" The blade lay dangerously close to his neck, any movement, even the motion of talking could cause the sword to rake across his vulnerable throat.
"GUARDS!"
Merlin was able to not react to the shouting of the King in his ear, as he was careful to not move anything but his eyes, he regulated his breathing to short shallow breaths.
Thunderous footsteps echoed in the hall as guards rushed to the King's aide. They burst through the door, spears and swords at the ready. As their eyes fell on the King and by close proximity Merlin, they glanced confusedly between the two.
"My lord?"
"Arrest the servant."
"Him, Sire? Merlin, your manservant?"
"Yes."
Without further question, they seized the boy by the arms as the King lowered his blade so that they could remove him from before him.
"Uh, what shall we do with him?"
"Throw him in the dungeons."
"To what shall he be charged with, Sire?"
"Treason by way of Sorcery. He is a sorcerer who has been in league with Morgana to overthrow Camelot. He is to be executed this afternoon."
Merlin's knees gave out, and it was only the guards strong grip that kept him from falling before his King, his Master, his friend.
Executed?!
