Chapter one. Found.
"Arthur what are you doing? What's going on?" Merlin and Giaus returned to their chambers to find several knights throwing things around, emptying jars and rummaging through cases.
"I'm sorry Merlin." Arthur came to stand by the door with them. "My father has ordered a routine search of every accommodation in the citadel." He shrugged to say there's nothing he could do. "Orders I'm afraid."
"Oi! Be careful with that. It took me all week to mix that!" Giaus stormed past to his work bench. Arthur frowned at the frantic pace his men were going at.
"Guys can we please try to show some respect. Elroy clean that up!" He pointed to a smashed jar. "For goodness sake."
Merlin glanced about the room. Normally Arthur let them know in advance when this kind of thing was going to happen giving them tie to make sure everything was ship shape. He mentally went through his room trying to remember where everything was. The books. The staff. They were hidden. He always hid them. He knew he did. Then why did he feel a horrible clenching in his gut?
"Sire!" A voice came from Merlin's room. "You need to look at this!"
Arthur grinned fiendishly. "What silly things have you got for us Merlin. Ha!"
Merlin felt his throat close up as he forced himself to follow, begging that this was just a joke. Please please just let them have found something to tease him about.
Arthur was silent, that alone was a sign that something was wrong. Merlin couldn't read his face but the Prince's gaze directed him to what was causing the trouble. There, on his bed, was his magic book.
"A Ar…" He stuttered, no words came to mind.
"We found it in this draw Sire." Of cause, he'd put it away hastily this morning because he was running late again. The one time he'd been negligent had to be when they were doing their searched. It wasn't fair.
"Merlin?" Arthur finally spoke. "Can you tell me what that is doing here?"
"Tell me what's going on!" They heard Giaus making a scene out side trying to get through as knights blocked his way.
"I, it's…I found it." Merlin said.
Arthur closed his eyes. "That sounds stupid but then again it is you. Where did you find it? Why didn't you bring it to me?"
"I was." He tried thinking quickly on his feet but all he could think was complete and utter disaster. "I I mean. It was late so I thought I'd that I should bring it back here…out of everyone's way and harm" He added hopefully "and I was going to give it to you this morning but I forgot."
One of the Knights raised his eyebrows. "Arthur? You believe him?" He laughed.
"This is Merlin we're talking about. He's stupid enough to do something like this and he is no sorcerer he wouldn't know how." Aside form the initial stunned reaction, Merlin was actually rather honoured that his friend was trying to stand up for him, especially against such damning evidence. He of course ignored the "stupid" part given the situation.
"We have to arrest him Sire."
Arthur glanced from his knights to Merlin. His Father wouldn't give his servant a fair trial. He would toss him on the fire like everyone else.
"Sire." Surrounded by his Knights he couldn't be seen breaking the law. This was all Merlin's fault, why couldn't his servant just think for one minute!
Merlin found himself being slapped around the back of the head. "They're right." Arthur sighed, changing tone. "I'm sorry Merlin. I will do everything I can to sort this out. But I need you to shut up and come with me."