A/N: So first of all, for those of you who are following my other story right now (To Be Your Servant), I would just like to apologize for not being able to update that one today. I had really hoped to post a new chapter for that story in addition to starting this new one, but unfortunately, it just didn't happen. But I hope to have the next chapter up by no later than Monday night, so don't worry. It is coming!
Next, I would like to say that the idea for this new story came from rmatri540, who sent me a PM with the prompt. My mind immediately snapped up the idea and ran with it, and so here we are. Thanks again for the great idea! Although now I have to put up with a brain that is working on more than one story, so it's all your fault! (Lol, just kidding. My brain has always been working on multiple stories, ever since I was a little kid, and I've never been able to do anything about it).
Anyway, enjoy the first chapter!
Merlin took a break from moving about Arthur's chambers, tidying up, to stare absently out the window. The sun had risen warm and bright over Camelot today. And down below, the courtyard was bustling with servants and guards and knights, all hurrying about to do their various separate tasks and duties. It was just a normal morning for all of them. Nothing out of the ordinary. But as he stared down at the scene before him, Merlin couldn't help but shudder to think how close they had all been to not waking up to another normal day.
Of course, no one else was aware of that fact. No one else knew of the events that had transpired last night. No one else knew that there had been yet another threat to Camelot as once again, a bitter sorcerer sought revenge for the unjust murders of so many people whose only crime was that they had possessed magic. No, Merlin was the only one who knew. Perhaps if anyone else had been made aware of the close call, the people wouldn't be moving about so calmly down below him now. It would likely incite panic within the city.
But no one else did know. It was just Merlin. And for the young warlock who was starting to feel older and older with every new threat that he faced, it was just business as usual. He did everything in his power to protect Camelot and her King, and no one else, save for Gaius of course, had any idea.
Merlin sighed at the burden that only seemed to get heavier and heavier on his shoulders. He was tired. And not just physically. He was mentally exhausted as well. No matter how many of Camelot's enemies he managed to defeat, there was always another to replace the previous one. It was a never-ending cycle. And Merlin was the only one for the job. Because of his destiny. Because of the great power that he possessed. There was no one else for him to rely on. Sure, Gaius may be there to help him along and offer support and advice, but in the end, it all came down to him. Merlin. He was the only one. The fate of the kingdom rested on his shoulders. Nobody else's. He was completely and utterly alone.
Suddenly, Merlin was jolted out of his thoughts when something connected with the side of his head. He jumped away from the window in surprise, his heart pounding in his chest. Looking down at the floor, then, he breathed a huge sigh of relief as he soon realized that it had only been a pillow. Of course, that meant –
"Merlin!" Arthur said exasperatedly.
"What?" Merlin replied in irritation, bending down to pick the pillow up off the floor. Apparently the King had decided to vacate the seat at his desk in favor of finding objects to throw at his manservant's head.
"Wake up, Merlin! I've been trying to get your attention for the past minute now!" Arthur continued, crossing his arms and glaring at Merlin from his position next to the bed.
Merlin frowned. Had he really been that deep in thought? That he hadn't even heard the prat calling out to him from across the room? It wasn't a voice that could easily be ignored. And he would know. He had tried many times before to just tune out Arthur's voice. He was rarely ever successful.
"What did you want, Sire?" he asked at last, turning away to look out on the courtyard once more.
"I want to know what's wrong with you!" Arthur answered, his patience beginning to wear thin.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, still staring out the window.
"You seem distracted by something."
"Why do you say that?" Merlin responded, only half listening.
"Because you haven't said anything all morning, and you just keep staring out that window!"
"I thought you were reading through reports," Merlin said, turning to look at Arthur who, at some point in the last few seconds, had moved closer to where Merlin stood by the window. "I was under the impression that you didn't like to be disturbed when you were busy with paperwork."
"That's never stopped you before, Merlin. So tell me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Merlin said quickly. "Everything's perfectly fine. Everything's...normal." He took another quick glance out the window to assure himself that, yes, those words were true. The last thing he needed to do right now was to jinx himself. But everything continued to run smoothly down below. Everyone was moving along with their morning routine, blissfully unaware of the danger they had narrowly avoided overnight.
Merlin wished that he could join them in their ignorance. Because knowing was so difficult. It weighed so heavily down upon him. And there was no one there to share the burden. Except for Gaius. But it wasn't as though the old physician could be of very much help. His words of solace and comfort were never enough to stop the nightmares. They were never enough to keep Merlin from feeling paranoid for days after another threat had been dealt with. He would constantly be looking over his shoulder, waiting for the next attack. And another one always did come eventually. It was only ever a question of when.
"Ow!" Merlin hissed when Arthur cuffed him around the head. "What was that for?"
"For not paying attention," Arthur answered. "Did you even hear a single word I just said?"
Merlin groaned as he rubbed the back of his head. "You were talking?"
Arthur resisted the urge to hit his manservant again. But instead, he settled for just glaring at the young man before him, who he now noticed appeared to be extremely nervous, as well as severely sleep-deprived.
"What is going on, Merlin?" Arthur said slowly and seriously then. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Then why have you been unable to get any of your work done this morning?"
"I could ask you the same question," Merlin replied, glancing over at the King's desk, where a neat stack of papers still sat in the corner, untouched.
"Merlin!"
"What?"
"Just answer the question!"
Merlin sighed. "I'm sorry, Sire. I'll get back to work right away."
Arthur just shook his head as he watched Merlin walk over to his bed then to put the pillow back in its place and smooth out the wrinkles of the sheets. Before he could continue his line of questioning, however, the door to his chambers burst open, and in walked Gwaine, who, unlike the other two occupants of the room, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his morning.
"Gwaine, how many times do I have to tell you to knock?" Arthur asked, becoming frustrated. "You're getting to be almost as bad as Merlin."
Gwaine just smiled at the King. "Sorry, Princess. I actually just came by to see if Merlin was available. Seeing as you cancelled practice this morning and all-"
"You may have the morning off, Sir Gwaine, but Merlin does not."
"Aw, come on now," Gwaine pleaded.
"I know what you're planning to do and the answer is no," Arthur responded. "It is far too early to be going off to the tavern. I believe you have other duties to attend to today, anyway."
Gwaine rolled his eyes. "Just one drink, Arthur. I'm not going out on patrol for hours yet."
Arthur rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He was really starting to get a headache.
"What do you say? Will you give Merlin the morning off?" Gwaine pressed.
Arthur looked over at Merlin, who appeared to only be half-listening to the conversation as he continued to straighten out the bed sheets. Finally, he shook his head. That was the last thing Merlin needed right now. To go drinking with Gwaine.
"I need Merlin here," he answered at last.
"Arthur-"
"Gwaine," Arthur said, his voice taking on a warning tone. "I am not in the mood to argue. I am extremely busy this morning."
Before Gwaine could reply then, someone else came running through the cracked open door of the chambers.
It was a young servant that Merlin immediately recognized from the kitchens. He couldn't remember his name, however. The boy was always moving so fast. He never seemed to run out of energy. And it made it nearly impossible to have a conversation with him for longer than a few seconds at a time.
Arthur was really starting to get annoyed. First Merlin. Then Gwaine. And now the other servants didn't even bother to knock? What did he have to do? Put up a sign?
"Yes, what is it?" Arthur inquired, too exhausted to even reprimand the boy.
"Geoffrey of Monmouth is requesting some help down in the vaults, Sire. He needs someone who can reach some higher shelves in the back room."
Arthur nodded. "Thank you. You may go. I'll send someone along shortly."
The boy bounded out of the room and Arthur turned his attention back to Gwaine. "You can go down to the vaults to help Geoffrey."
"What? But that-"
"It shouldn't take too long. Geoffrey's just been looking through some of the old books that are down there."
"What are they doing in the vaults and not the library?" the knight inquired.
"Many of them are books of sorcery. My father wouldn't allow them to be in the library," Arthur explained. Behind him, Merlin suddenly looked far more interested in the conversation.
"But others are just old and valuable," the King continued, shrugging. Merlin turned away again.
Gwaine sighed. "Alright. Fine. I'll go help out ol' Geoffrey." The knight turned to go.
On the way back to his desk, Arthur's gaze fell on Merlin, who seemed to be gazing back out the window again.
"Take Merlin with you," he said suddenly.
"What?" Gwaine and Merlin said in unison, both turning to look at Arthur.
"I thought you needed me here?" Merlin asked.
Arthur shook his head. "Just do it," he said exasperatedly. "I'm tired of watching you stare out that window. It's distracting me."
Normally, Merlin would have come up with some kind of witty response to something like that, but he was feeling pretty distracted himself today. And so without saying a word, he crossed the room and quickly followed Gwaine out of the chambers and into the corridor outside. He closed the door gently behind them then, and the two of them headed off in the direction of the vaults.
A/N: As always, I love getting reviews! Until next time! :)