A/N I know I sort of did this whole idea slightly in my Keys to the past fic but I had actually done this chapter a few months before hand and it's not entirely the same. Since this will have him eavesdropping on a lot of conversations and going along with cannon season 5 so lots of spoilers for the whole thing since I am using the dialogue. It will only be from Arthur's point of view though and only have those conversations between Merlin and Arthur or Merlin and others that would support the story. Basically though it may veer off in places it will essentially be Arthur's thoughts and gradually go AU. I do hope you like and no I really don't own Merlin 'The show' or Merlin the real magician. And I'm not making any money from this it's just how I wanted it to go.
…..
Tie the threads of destiny.
Chapter 1 Follow my leader.
Arthur was worried about Merlin.
Ever since the destroyed village this morning Merlin had been practically silent. This state of being for his servant was just not normal and he wanted to know the cause. Merlin hardly ever seemed upset so when he was it was a reason to worry. Which was why, when he saw his Manservant sneaking away from camp he held no compunction about following. They were friends of sorts and he needed to know what was wrong and possibly help him with it in a not overly, and certainly not admitting to being friend's, kind of way.
Besides there was a very good chance of Merlin tripping over his own feet and knocking himself out, and/ or finding any mercenaries or bandits and getting himself killed, whilst out here alone and he really didn't want to go to the hassle of training another servant.
That last thought was perhaps tempting fate, he realised minutes later as he heard a deep roaring noise and the sound of tramping feet up ahead. Arthur paused only a second before his sword shinged from its sheath and he proceeded forward with more haste and certainly more caution.
But whatever trouble he had imagined his servant getting himself into it was nothing compared with the sight that greeted him as he stepped around the last boulder in his path.
There in front and slightly below the promontory a few yards away was the hulking form of a dragon. Just about to rush forward and defend his friend from attack he noticed the details he had missed in his shock. Merlin was not cowering, running away screaming or even looking like he was uncomfortable in the dragon's presence. No if anything he looked determined, focused and serious, though not in an 'I came out here to do battle with a large, scaly, fire-breathing lizard' kind of way as evidenced by his greeting to said dragon. No-nonsense and entirely too familiar to be coincidence.
"I need to know about a druid symbol. A black spiral and within it a thin yellow coil."
"Such is the sign of the Vates. Powerful seers amongst the druid clans. Where did you encounter it?" The bloody dragon could talk?! It was a rational creature and hadn't been surprised at Merlin just asking it a question? And for that matter how the hell had Merlin known it was here? Just what the hell was going on?
"In a ruined camp. Just before one of the men died he warned me of Arthur's bane."
"His bane?" His what?! Were they plotting to kill him? But wait warning them of his bane? It sounded almost protective.
"And then he showed me a battle. A terrible battle. Arthur was fighting for his life. I saw him wounded. I saw him fall." His manservant's voice was choked. More so than he had ever heard it before. As if he were hanging onto sanity by his very fingertips.
Arthur was pretty sure his jaw had come unhinged it had dropped that much, Merlin had been granted a vision? By a Druid seer? Of his death? And he talked to dragons as if such conversations were commonplace? His servant would most certainly be explaining this! Just what the hell else had he been hiding from him?
And then looking on his friends visage he remembered his face as he had come upon him in those caves. The lifeless druid staring sightlessly from dead eyes. And Merlin. Merlin standing there looking as if his whole world had just lit up in flames and come crashing down around his ears. Oh. Oh!
Would it cause him that much distress to see him killed? Merlin was conspiring with a magical creature that had already pressed one attack on his kingdom. But there was a small voice stating that it had been years since the dragon had even been seen let alone had reports of its attacking anything. Arthur distinctly recalled him telling him it had been dealt a mortal blow. But there had been no body and it now struck him as exceedingly odd that he had never looked further into its purported demise. If indeed it had not been killed, since the evidence stood just a few feet away. Then how the hell had it been contained? The only one who supposedly had any control over Dragons were the Dragonlord's and Balinor was dead. The bolt of lightning like insight left him staggering in its wake. Ah!
Those days when Merlin had been acting even more oddly than usual. The tears and depression he had somehow convinced himself was a result of their last hope disappearing, despite being in far more dangerous and emotionally charged situations without him ever folding before. And his insistence on coming to face the dragon with them unarmed, unprotected. He was not by any means certain but it made more sense than anything else he could think of.
Merlin's father was a Dragonlord.
Did that make Merlin one? Why had he not told him? Arthur would have been in less of a panic if he had known of Merlin's potential ability. Hell he could have been hailed as a hero. But he had asked for nothing. It was with great surprise that he realised he never ever had.
Then that self same voice piped up once again with thoughts on his father's and yes, even his own attitude towards anything even hinting at magic. His father would have sent him away. Banished him as soon as the deed was done. And Arthur, he had still been a spoiled prince leaning on his father's support like a crutch. Would he have protected him even then? He didn't know. All he did know was that at this moment in time he knew absolutely nothing!
Arthur was remarkably confused. It went against everything he had ever thought for magic to be considered in a non destructive light. Though hadn't Gaius also said that the power of a Dragonlord was not exactly magic? Arthur was actually rather intrigued despite himself. But the dragon was talking again now and Arthur dragged his shaken thoughts back to the scene playing out before him.
"The Vates power of prophecy is unrivalled, even by a high priestess." More powerful than Morgana? Just what was going on here?
"So this battle will come to pass?" And he sounded terrified of the prospect.
"I do not know young Warlock, but one thing is certain this was no chance meeting." Just when Arthur was getting used thinking of his servant with one new title another one was thrown in the mix. Just what the hell was a warlock? Was it some kind of term of respect amongst men who regularly talked to dragons? A Dragon to Dragonlord thing? This was proving exceedingly enlightening and not particularly in a good way.
"You think I should heed his warning?"
"Merlin there was a time when the words of a Vates were considered a gift."
"Then why do they feel like such a burden?" He sounded so forlorn, so lost as if his world had suddenly come to an end. Would seeing his death really be so terrible to his servant? He was a warrior and had come to peace with the fact he would most probably die young. But as yet he hadn't died. He was still here, and acting like he had already succumbed was ridiculous.
"A wise man is not cowed by knowledge Merlin. Instead he uses it to guide him."
"How?"
"That is something only you can decide. But remember, the Vates singled you out for a reason. Now more than ever, it is you and you alone that can keep Arthur safe. All of Albion relies upon you Merlin." Merlin merely nodded. Weariness and resignation apparent in every line. Clearly this was nothing new to his manservant. And just as clearly this had been going on for some time. A man did not gain that air of defeat overnight. Arthur wondered just how long this had been going on. All the way back to that clearing and that confrontation? And how the hell his manservant of all people was supposed to be responsible for his safety and that of the kingdoms as a whole. Another thing about Dragonlords?
This was too much. Arthur had always envied his servant's near carefree existence the fact that he would never have so much responsibility thrust upon him as Arthur himself did as king. But it seemed he might possibly have been mistaken in that belief.
He had sounded so serious, so desperate. And yet with an intelligence and a competency that seemed staggering to the King who had always seen him as the mildly annoying, sometimes wise, and usually brave idiot. Had he never known him at all?
He had to concede that he had known very few personal details of his servant despite the affection they felt towards each other because Arthur had never asked. Although he did have to wonder if he would have answered if he had. He also knew that affection and loyalty hadn't been feigned. That type of emotion could not be faked for so long as their association.
Merlin was supposed to be just a servant, a bad one, but one that until this evening he had been content with because he counted him as a friend. One who wasn't afraid to stand up to him and tell him exactly what he thought. One he had trusted implicitly. How the hell he could still do so after today he didn't know, since friends did not keep things of this magnitude from those they professed to care for. And yet all those odd occurrences that Arthur had always dismissed, laughed off, ordered his arrested or nearly exiled him for. They had all been proven correct in the end. And Merlin had never once turned around and mocked him for it, just tried again, and again and again to get him to see the dangers and stood with him supporting him when it had all played out exactly as he said it would.
Had this been what he had been doing every time he got a hint of suspicion? He would come out and talk to this creature, since this seemed to be a very practiced scenario. If he had it was apparent that Arthur might owe him a very great deal.
But that was just it. If. Arthur was not entirely sure there wasn't more to it. Why stay in such a kingdom as Camelot with such a heritage?
Listening to that one conversation had given him a whole list of questions and far too few answers. His mind had been twisted in knots by the whole thing and his entire belief system seemed to be turning on its head.
All Arthur had to go on was supposition and speculation none of it exactly concrete. So he would watch and he would wait and he would see if he tripped up. It would be a study in patience but he believed it could very well be the start of something very different. He would confront him when he knew definitively what he wanted to do about this. Until then he would continue to trust him, until he gave him reason not to.
…..
Part 2 The jester.
It took all of Arthur's willpower not to look behind him to see what Merlin made of the stories Annis told of Saxon raids and Morgana's seemingly single minded search for gods know what.
He had kept his eye on him throughout the ride to Caerleon, but apart from seeming more subdued and lost in thought than was his usual bent. He was still the same smart mouthed and insolent man as he had ever been. Was that all a front? Or were these seemingly opposite features just several parts of a much more complex character than he had ever realised.
The more he looked the more he saw. It had amazed him at first that he could be so blind. But he realised as they pushed the horses to greater speeds that Merlin never really outright lied about much, but he was a master at deflection and changing the subject in a way guaranteed to keep his mind firmly away from deep intrusive questions. It was actually the mark of a very skilled politician, and a more honest one than most of his councillors. Despite hiding a heritage that would more than likely have earned him a death sentence before his kingship.
It made him more than slightly annoyed, alright it made him downright angry that he had felt the need to hide. Did he seriously have such small faith in his judgement. That he would overlook all the years of faithful service for an accident of birth?
And so when Annis had suggested Merlin perform in front of her court it made a perfect opportunity to get his own back. Even if Merlin never realised he was being punished.
"I would love to see your fool perform. Given all his failings he must have some skill."
"You'd think so wouldn't you?" It was a dig. A nudge at Merlin's secrecy, his insistence on not giving him a chance
"I'm not a fool." Actually he was more of a fool than he had first thought believing the king incapable of intelligence and mercy. "And I don't have any skills." Now that was a blatant lie. So his next words were an internal joke. Since those skills were rather not entirely acceptable for entertainment purposes.
"I know that. But we can't refuse the queen when she's granted us safe passage now can we?" The look on Merlin's face had been priceless. It was a childish revenge, but since only he would ever know of it, it was worth it. He prepared himself for his servants humiliation. It would serve him right and give great teasing material for later on.
And then Merlin had surprised him yet again. Juggling eggs of all things. Exactly how many things had he failed to notice? He knew his face had been a picture, but he couldn't help feeling slightly disgusted with himself. A ruler and warrior should never underestimate those he relied on and he had done so. Badly in Merlin's case.
Merlin was quiet after that. Despite his smiles whilst he was entertaining them, up close there was a strain round his eyes and an invisible weight seemed to pin him down.
It became worse as the evening wore on. As the wine flowed and others around them became less aware with the wine and the relaxing warmth of Annis' hospitality he noticed the good humour slipping from Merlin's face. And realised it had been a mask. He was still affected by something. Those events at the village? He would never have pegged Merlin as someone who would listen to prophetic nonsense, but then he had to concede, he hadn't pegged him as the son of a Dragonlord either.
It was as they were in Arthur's guest chamber getting ready for the night that Arthur couldn't stand it any more. Merlin had sat brooding for long minutes, supposedly building up a fire that was already blazing merrily. He had to say something, anything to perhaps gain some kind of truth from his friend.
"Where did you learn to juggle like that? Honestly I didn't even know you could catch!" He winced slightly inside as the tone came out a little more irritated than he wanted. Way to go Arthur that is obviously the best way to get Merlin to open up. But surprisingly it did work to some extent.
"Yes well. I have many talents you've failed to notice them that's all." Yes he supposed he had. Not any more. It seemed it had been as annoying to Merlin that Arthur hadn't noticed as it had been to Arthur. He paused slightly in the act of removing his boots. Was that why he hadn't said anything? He had thought if their friendship had meant something, that Arthur would notice? Perhaps he should have. Maybe he should say something now? Show him he had finally seen? But emotions and how to deal with them were not Arthur's strong suit. Give him a battle, men with swords and he knew to the finest detail what he needed to do. A friend in pain however was not such an easy thing. So he tried to skirt round the issue. Trying to get him to open up without going at it directly.
"Come on out with it what's wrong?"
"I'm not sure we should go to Ismere." That…hadn't been what he had expected him to say. Was this what he had seen? The battle was at the place they were headed? But there was nothing else forthcoming and it was irritating. He wasn't backing his statement up with anything. And he realised he didn't know. He was going on the words of a dying man and some kind of vision. He would not leave his men for a premonition.
"Did you not hear Annis? My men are alive."
"You don't know that." Arthur was suddenly more short-tempered than he had ever been. If the man couldn't give him something more than an opinion, if he couldn't trust him to make his own judgements then damn the man.
"Stick to juggling Merlin. Leave the important things to me."
"But…" Arthur was tired of being given half truths, pronouncements of doom and his manservant's pessimistic dwelling on something that might not happen. So he threw his boots to distract him from his fatalistic wandering thoughts. The dragon had been right in one respect. A man should not become cowed by knowledge.
"See explain that."
"Wish I could." Merlin had smiled. A small pathetic thing but a smile all the same. He would bring his friend out of the gloom. There was just no point in being afraid of maybes.
…..
Part3 Battle and captive.
He was on his own again. Away from everyone and Arthur couldn't help but think how many times that had happened. His bedroll was always placed on the outside of the ring beside the fire. He was the one doing chores whilst everyone else laughed and joked. Did he not feel part of their circle? He had earned his place amongst their select band but he never took advantage of that.
"Merlin…" He had been about to ask him why he always kept himself apart. But it seemed trite somehow. And everything else he may have followed it up with would make him appear sappy. But Merlin had his own thoughts. And the questions when they came were not so very surprising. They were the questions a young knight might ask, before the eve of his very first battle. The kind they would stop asking if they survived and once experience settled them.
"How can they laugh and joke hmm? Don't they know what we will face in Ismere?" It gave him the same sense of companionship he shared with all his knights. The kind forged from their being brothers in arms. It was an unusual topic for a servant, but Merlin had never been usual. He had seen his more than fair share of bloodshed and fighting. And so he afforded him the same courtesy and answers as any of his warrior brothers.
"Yes of course. But a warrior learns to enjoy each day as it comes."
"Because he knows it might be his last." Merlin had always surprised him with the wisdom he could sometimes display. But since he had started noticing it did not seem so extraordinary to find he understood with so little prompting.
He was still brooding. He had been better today. Not so withdrawn. Bantering with the rest of them when he had managed to catch a few moments in his company. But it seemed with the setting of the sun his doubts had risen once again.
"Why are you so upset?"
"Morgana is powerful. She's dangerous."
"I know." And he did. It had not even needed Annis's warning of that morning for him to know. He perhaps more than anyone since he had grown up with his sister and knew just how long she could hold a grudge for. She was wily as a fox and with a bite ten times as sharp.
"And you don't care." No he did but not for himself
"Only about my men. They're more than friends, more than brothers. No matter what lies ahead of me. I won't abandon them. As I know they would not abandon me." He was not only speaking of his knights. Merlin had never abandoned him and Arthur had always counted him as his man. He hoped his emphasis would break through and allow Merlin to trust him enough, to give him the courage to tell him his secrets and his fears.
"I understand. I wish I didn't but I do." It was not the confession he had hoped for but it might be the beginnings of a way through his fears. The building blocks of courage. He could only continue on this vein, show him he would never abandon him. No matter who his parents were. No matter who he chanced to converse with in the dead of night. So it was that he decided not to force the issue now. He would get there. And perhaps they were both not ready for the revelation of such a life changing tale of dragons and secret protection. So his next words were not the inspirational speech of a king to a subject with a magical secret. Were in fact just an invitation from one friend to another. To share in the mundane that they might build up towards the extraordinary without much fuss.
"Come and have some food." And he came and they broke bread together and he hoped that they could continue the companionship
…...
They were surrounded and it was perhaps a little cowardly to yell "Run." At the top of his lungs, but it was also prudent since despite having a man who could talk to Dragon's on their side they had no defence against Morgana's brand of sorcery.
Merlin had told them they were surrounded but he had never expected such numbers. Hadn't expected the ambush at all. There was one thought paramount in his mind. That they had a traitor yet again, since no-one knew of their plans save their own small band. And Arthur was rather surprised to note that he never once considered Merlin, despite his magical connection.
Was this the battle Merlin had seen? He had named it a 'terrible battle' and he could perhaps be mistaken in what he had thought since he was not a particularly experienced warrior, but this skirmish hardly fitted, even with Morgana and regardless of their outnumbered troops. That is until he went to the rescue of Sir Leon, with a sword slash to his leg and an opponent who would have cut him down completely. Arthur couldn't leave him to his fate, and had been struck with a heavy blunt object across his back that sent his wits a begging and his balance reeling.
He could do nothing against Merlin's determined removal of his person from the fighting. It was all he could do to hold onto his consciousness long enough to hobble along with him.
There were men on horses behind them and they were tiring. It would only be a matter of time. So it was with resignation he prepared himself to die as Merlin tried to hide themselves behind a tree. Silently begging his friend to remove himself from the place and run for it. But the man surprised him yet again. With words of the old religion and a golden flash of eyes he had come to hate on his sisters face, and had never expected to find on Merlin's.
Perhaps it was the injury and his last fading consciousness but he couldn't help feeling like here was the last missing piece of the puzzle. And he would bring himself to care only if and when he came round. He let the darkness take him.
…..
He awoke with a groan and the feeling of nausea and headache that accompanies the hardest blows to the head. Merlin hovering as was his usual want and a feeling that something monumental had happened. Though he couldn't immediately recall exactly what.
"What happened?"
"You don't remember?" No Merlin I don't funnily enough or I would not be asking.
"Where are the others? Leon, Elyan?" He looked mildly guilty for some reason and hesitated as if he wouldn't like what he was about to say.
"There was nothing I could do I had to get you to safety." He was undoubtedly right but it still stung nevertheless. A man with concussion was no use on the battlefield but surely he hadn't just left them. Details were foggy and it came to him that surely, he couldn't have escaped so completely on his own. So he gave a laugh sharing in the joke.
"What actually happened?"
"The usual. I saved your neck." Well that sounded bitter.
"You saved me?"
"Yes. And I can juggle. I keep telling you I have many talents." Not quite as bitter as that. He really had been blind had he not. It was an uncomfortable revelation. And so he gave him the only piece of praise he felt happy with in his confused state and hoped it would be enough.
"So it would seem."
"Come on."
…..
Honestly did Merlin have no stamina?
"Can we have a break?" The walking was keeping their body temperature up, their blood flowing in the frigid air. Surely a physicians apprentice would know this. And he was not just being unnecessarily cruel.
"As long as it's quick. I want to reach Ismere before dark."
"Ismere? We are heading back to Camelot." You know sometimes he thought Merlin forgets the fact he is a king. It was one of the things he admired about him most of the time but there were instances he still had to remind him that Merlin was his subject and not the other way around. Time to give him another lesson. A gentle reminder that he could not order him around.
"Navigation is not your strong point is it? Camelot is south. Sun rises where?"
"In the East."
"And what have we been walking towards all day?"
"To our deaths! The two of us against Morgana are you mad?" He was clearly rather passionate about this but he couldn't help but wonder if it was his own neck rather than Arthur's that he was worried about.
"I told you. I'm going to rescue my men."
"No!" He was breathing heavily and seemed petrified but there was a look in his eye he couldn't quite distinguish.
"If your afraid…then go."
"I'm worried about you." Ah. That fleck, it was devotion. The type he had seen in his men. On the eve of battle when they were about to defend everyone they ever cared for. It was a look he had seen many times in Merlin's eyes but had never known the meaning of. Truly Merlin seemed to be overly protective of him and pondered on how he had never taken heed of that before. Always brushing it off, dismissing it as nothing. It sent another spike of 'feelings' to his gut and as usual he tried to deflect it, this time in humour and sarcasm.
"Well I've tried sending you home, but if you're not going to do as I ask, the least you can do is shut up." It was well worth it to see Merlin actually become speechless for once. Although not for very long, this was Merlin after all.
"Come on." He would follow he always did.
"You know if Morgana doesn't kill you I will." Ha there was his insubordinate friend. He had missed him whilst he had been lost in his dismal reflections.
"Threatening a king is treason Merlin."
"How about threatening an ass!"
"I heard that!"
…..
"Arthur?" What now? He was cold, hungry, tired and battling the after effects of a nasty head wound. Couldn't he let a man sleep? Especially considering he had remembered the man's use of sorcery just before they had found this hole to sleep in.
"Hmm?"
"I need to tell you something." Now! He wanted to do this now. When their lives would be on the line tomorrow and he didn't know how to deal with a magic wielding friend. He couldn't think straight enough to sort his feelings of betrayal and shock and protectiveness and heartbreak out. He could not talk to him about whatever thing he had seen, because he was still in denial that he had even seen anything at all since he had, had rather scattered wits from the mace to his back.
"The man. The old man, in the village…"
"Lets just think about something else Merlin." He was not going to do this now damn his eyes. This was not a discussion he would entertain right now.
"No I need you to listen to me! Before he died he tried to warn me, he told me that you were in danger, and that the danger was close." He was very hesitant with his information. And it wasn't the whole of it, again. Would he ever be afforded the truth? He knew what he was saying had been heartfelt, had seen it when he had been talking to the dragon. But he was not quite ready to forgive him for starting on a practice that he had been taught would eventually corrupt those who took it up. He could not pass up an opportunity to be slightly vindictive. He couldn't seem to help himself.
"He was dying Merlin he didn't know what he was saying."
"I think that he was a druid seer." Oh and how would you know that Merlin? How would you explain it if I asked you? The thoughts made him fume. He gave only pieces of himself and asked everyone to take him at face value. It made him hate him just the tiniest bit and he could not stop the words that erupted from his mouth.
"You expect me to listen to a sorcerer?" He regretted them as soon as he had said them. This was not the time nor the place to deal with his servant's magical proclivities. And those words had been designed to hurt. But he could not recall them. Not without revealing a deeper knowledge and understanding than he was prepared for right now.
"Why would he tell me that? He had no knowledge that I even knew you." Yes that was a little hard to explain away and it made it very uncomfortable. But there really was nothing he could say.
"We have to turn back!" He would not let this rest would he? Would not give up. But Arthur would not leave his men. Not to the un-tender mercies of the madwoman his sister had turned into. Why could he not see that?
"I can't. Even if what he said were true it makes no difference." He would die for his men if that is what it took.
"Arthur, without you Camelot is nothing. All that we've worked so hard to create, everything will be gone." And Merlin had been keeping secrets that could have helped or hindered the fight if only he were given time and space enough to think.
"Look no matter what adversity we face we stand for what is right. To betray our beliefs Merlin, that is what will destroy everything we strive for." It was yet another dig at his untruthfulness. Not that he knew it, but it might jostle some feeling of guilt within him and make him come clean. Might make it easier to bring it forward once he had the leisure to demand the explanations he so badly needed.
"I swear I'm going to rescue my men or die trying." He wasn't entirely sure if the emphasis he had placed on his death was a stab at his magic. Since all other magic users he had come across had tried to kill him. But then the answering statement when it came flooded him with the greatest relief.
"Then I swear, I will protect you or die at your side." He was first and foremost. Still Merlin. Whatever power was floating round in the idiot's bloodstream. He felt easier within himself and settled to sleep with a renewed sense of peace. And when he heard a few whispered words, in a language he would recognise now anywhere, and felt the warmth radiating outward, just enough to ward off the worst of the chill, he didn't demure. Just relaxed further and slipped into sleep. Though he would be having words about that as well.
…..
Truly the idiocy of his Manservant knew no bounds.
Surely even Merlin could tell that rabbits did not appear on the forest floor like willing sacrifices to two hungry men, without some help?
But no he had been too late to stop the jaws of the trap from springing closed and now they were stuck here. They had lost his sword, he could not reach the dagger in his boot unless he managed to somehow take his leg off and pull it round to reach it that way. It was in fact proving rather difficult to get out of these ropes, and Arthur had briefly toyed with the idea of Merlin using his power to do it.
His mind had shied from the thought like a startled horse. Rearing and bucking. His father's teachings coming to the fore. If he asked for one favour, how long would it be before they would become a regular occurrence? And how much quicker would his servant succumb to the allure of power that magic gave a man? He couldn't do it. Could not lose his friend to such as that. They would deal with his use of magic when they were back in Camelot. He would get them out of the trap some other way.
But the long walk and the endless seeming struggle against the ropes cut off the thoughts as he once again succumbed to sleep. They would work something out in the morning when they could see and he could think more clearly.
…..
"let my servant go. He doesn't deserve to die like this." No and if he could get away he might be able to bring his scaly friend out to play. Subtly of course since he couldn't see him being in favour of an all out assault. And if he decided to use magic well he wouldn't have to see if he were at a distance.
But the greasy smarmy looking individual standing in front of him just seemed amused by his request.
"If your going to kill him, you're going to have to kill me first." Why does he always have to open his mouth and make things ten times worse? The brave idiot.
"Merlin, step aside." Stop it. Don't do anything stupid.
"You know I never do as I'm told." Yes and look where that had got them. If he could knock his friend out right now just to shut him up he rather thought he would. His tone was a little more dangerous than usual and with the knowledge Arthur now held he would be afraid to have it directed at him. But these bandits? Slavers? They didn't know and all it did was amuse them and rile them up.
It looked like the luck that had always dogged their footsteps whenever Merlin followed them around had finally run out as the leader made his way over to his hapless manservant.
"Stop!" The shout had come just in the knick of time and Arthur couldn't be more grateful at the rescue until his next words. "Shouldn't we leave it for the lady Morgana to decide?" It was no rescue at all. Arthur looked at Merlin expecting the same level of fearless bravado he had displayed for the leader only to find him looking almost haunted. As if he had seen a ghost.
And the young man with the mop of curly black hair just stared at his servant with too knowing eyes. Here was a mystery. It seemed as if they knew each other. For that matter he could swear the man was familiar too. Had they crossed paths before? He came over and held out his arm. A courtesy I had not expected after his declared allegiance to Morgana. But there was something about him. Something he couldn't put his finger on. And so he took the arm he offered and wondered why Merlin was looking almost green.
"You don't remember me do you?" No he could not recall the exact details but since he had had a vague recognition and the man seemed to know him they obviously had met before. "You saved my life once, many years ago." That did not help at all. He had saved a fair few people in his lifetime.
"Mordred!" Merlin's memory was a little less frazzled then. Yes he did remember the druid boy he saved. And surely he could be forgiven for not knowing him on sight since as he said, it had been many years and he was no longer a boy. But it was a puzzle as to why Merlin was acting so oddly. He had saved the boy's life too and yet he was looking like the world had once again cracked apart.
"Hello Arthur." He would work it out later he was sure. Right now they were at these men's mercy and the only thing between them and a swift sure death was this young man. They would have to keep on his good side as much as was possible. So the dagger looks from Merlin would help not at all.
