~Hello fellow fans of the Merlin world! Tis I, Sydney-the author that rarely updates and half asses the majority of my stories…yaaaaaaa! Anyways, we should know the standards Disclaimer-I don't own, if I did it sure as hell would not have ended like that. Also!
This is normal writing.
This is my smacy narrator writing.
And this is POV's thoughts.
That should be it…so enjoy this-I am going to say two-shot…because I was aiming for one and it kind of kept going…opps…
The air smelt thick of blood, sweat and mead like any popular tavern should smell off. Among the merrier goers, the drunks and couples sat a group of six men all nursing a tankard of mead in their hands sharing the same somber look. These men covered in dirt and grim are known as the nights of the round table and of course King Arthur himself; this particular group of men are known to the tavern scene as loud, eager, joyful and in some cases drunkards whenever they get together and let go of their titles and positions and just be equals. So why might you ask are they like this tonight? The answer is simple-for there is one member missing tonight and that would be their beloved Merlin.
Curious aren't you? Shall we take a look at what has transpired here tonight? I thought you would say as such, so let me take you back, back to the start of this story so you can see how things can change in the blink of an eye.
Merlin:
Two years today. The anniversary of your death my beloved Freya, and I am stuck cleaning chamber pots for the clot pole. I know you would laugh at this had it been our wedding anniversary instead so for today I shall laugh for us both, smile for us both and lover for us both even when all I want to do is mourn for you.
Today I bought strawberries because I know they are your favourite, but it is not you who will enjoying them. I decided I would give them to Gwen, she likes sweet things like that-much like yourself: I can't tell you I am giving them to her because even if I know they are your favourite I wouldn't be able to taste them without you.
Today there is a royal visitor coming from a neighbouring country so there is music and dancing everywhere. So many wonderful foods and wines, I keep reminding Arthur not to eat too much otherwise he'd get fatter; though those words seem empty to me seeing him get worked up over it reminds me of back then so I think I will keep it up. Also Gwen had a new dress made for this visitor I know you would have gushed at its splendor; I am also thankful it wasn't red because I don't think I could have lasted the day with seeing a ghost of you in the halls.
Freya, I have missed you so much and for so long but I promise I will live on for you so that when we meet again I can tell you of all the things you have missed.
"Merlin!"
My head shot up, whacking it against the stone of the wall and snapping me completely out of my own thought. I groan as I look at the pile of chamber pots surrounding me, what else did that clot pole want? I put the one I was cleaning down and pull my handkerchief down from my nose before brushing off my pants.
"Marry, would it be alright if I left these here for now I can hear the royal prat calling for me."
The older woman laughed, "Of course Merlin, I will have Sam finish them for you. Now go see what the prince wants."
I smile and press my lips to her hair, "I owe you one Marry!"
Today is a day of joy, lots of work to be done around the castle in preparation for the Sir Winchester an old friend of the late king. I haven't heard much of this man, but Arthur remembers spending many summers spent hunting on his lands back when he was a boy so for Arthurs sake I will do the best that I can to prepare.
I found Arthur in his chambers, his clothes strewed about the room as if a wind storm ripped through that place alone.
"Arthur…"
"Don't you say anything Merlin."
"You clot pole."
It took two hours to clean Arthurs room back into a presentable state and another hour just to dress the block head. But I did it, he was dressed, groomed and didn't wreak of horse dung and sweat anymore; even though it was only something small and insignificant as order I am really grateful I have magic. Now to finish my chores.
Stables-mucked.
Laundry-cleaned.
Rooms-aired and with new linins.
Dogs-walked.
"MERLIN!"
I tilt my head up towards the heavens, "please don't let it be polishing-anything but that."
"Merlin, what in God's name took you so long?"
I had to bite my tongue from uttering my normal response to him, instead I just bowed my head and let myself catch my breath.
"My apologies Sire, I was in the west wing when I heard your summoning's." I looked up at him from my bowed position, hoping he would be able to read my eyes and know I'm calling him a prat within my head at this moment.
I heard a scuff and my head snapped towards the imposing man standing beside Arthur; his dark hair had wisps of silver framing his face as well as a white bread growing out with speckles of grey. His eyes were dark and cold-almost a lifeless dull look and his jaw was set into a sneer. He would have given Uther a shiver I am certain.
I lowered my bow, "Forgive my tardiness Sir."
The man narrowed his eyes once more and turned his body from me.
"Arthur, is this really the type of servant you choose to keep at your side?"
Arthur just laughed and clasped the man's shoulder, "You would be surprised at all that Merlin can do-as dimwitted as he may seem he's not as bad as you are believing." With his hand on Sir Winchester's shoulder he turned him so they were now both looking at me, "How about, while you stay here, take Merlin to be your servant."
Damn you Arthur you bloody prat, I am going to spit in your mead for a month I swear it!
After silence from Sir Winchester, Arthur just smiled and dropped his hand, "Splendid, it has been decided then, Merlin you are to be Sir Winchesters servant for the duration of his stay!"
"Yes Sire."
"Fantastic, let's go eat!"
I have a bad feeling about this.
Three days turned into three months for Lord Winchester's stay at the castle. It seemed the more time passed the more he wished to stay and the more I wished I had the great dragon under the castle again so I could release him on this pompous, self-serving, vile prick.
It wasn't horrible at first, it was very much like every other nobility family that came to visit the castle; rude and had a stuffy atmosphere about them but manageable. This beast could hardly qualify as that anymore. Around the second week of his extended stay he stopped thinking of the castle as that but rather a vacation home for himself.
Sure, around Arthur and the Lords and Knights that mattered he poised himself a respectable man but only those under his boot knew the real him. And the real him makes me want to have Uther back. He is sick.
Thankfully I was assigned to him man, had it been Brass jokes I don't believe he would have survived the first month. What Arthur doesn't see about this man is that he is a true monster through and through. I am thankful that my magic flows in me for I have been relying on it to keep me from tumbling over.
Sir Winchester is cruel. This morning I stopped a maid from entering his room because I myself had to remove the body of the last woman that went in there; she was cold as the stone walls of the castle, her skin was purple and yellow, her lower regions were mutilated and sticky with blood and wreaked of urine. Her name was Bella; she was a young woman from the country trying to make a living for herself-she had worked her long but she was a chipper woman. Since that day, two months ago, I allow only myself to enter him room; for I couldn't bear the thought of having to clean the body and mend the flesh of a dear friend once again.
I thank my status as man servant to the king that I have avoided death or serious injury thus far; that being said, I do not know how long I can endure this. His room is always filled with filth; from his clothes to lining drenched in wine and other fluids I would rather not focus on. Women laying in piles on his bed while he ate at the table.
"Merlin, you are late."
No I am not, "Apologies' Sir, I was assisting in the birth early this morning, time seemed to have passed me by."
I felt the hot steel of the fire stoke press against my back, searing the flesh that he had cut open the night before with his belt. The smell of burning flesh assaulted by nose and made my stomach want to heave out.
"Try not to repeat this tardiness again Merlin or next time I won't be as gentle on you."
"Yes Sir."
There was a loud knock at the door and to stocker was lifted from my back.
"Who's there?"
"It is me, Arthur, I was wondering if you would like to join me and my men on a hunt this morning-last night on patrol we saw some trails and it seems like there is a lot of game around."
"Of course, allow me to dress myself and I shall meet you down by the stables."
"Sounds wonderful, oh and if you happen to see Merlin tell him he must join the hunt as well."
"I shall pass the word on your majesty."
Soon the sound of Arthurs heavy boots where nothing more than an echo.
"Well boy you heard the King, go down and ready my horse or else there shall be consequences for you later, I can promise you that much."
I bow my head once more and turn out the door trying my hardest not to faint. The pain was still shooting flares up my body as if the hot iron was still pressed against me. Damnit-how am I going to hide this one? I can't avoid the stables in fear of sir Winchester, but I can't hide this pain.
Freya, help me I can't do this on my own. The pain I feel right now only adds to my suffering-how can I keep hiding everything that I am, everything that I feel…how can I hide you? The one person who never made me feel like I had to hide, the one person who embraced me for all that I am and loved that person. Freya, help me, my control is slipping, I can feel it now. The more abuse this body takes the sooner I will give out.
Lend me your strength before I am crushed by this weight. I cannot continue down this path that destiny bestowed upon myself and Arthur alone. Knowing what I have to do has given me a reason but now I am drowning in this all with no one to save me. My father is dead. My mother, I could never endanger her life. William, my only friend for so long, he too is dead. The great dragon, I have no trust in him besides that I have banned him from ever returning here. Lancelot, he is a knight of the round table, one of Arthurs most trusted men. Gaius, although he may be my ally, he has a more important job to do as the court physician.
Then there is you, my beloved Freya, the one I could say anything to and you would take it all with a smile and wrap me in your arms and tell me that you support me, what I am doing is just, and that my goals will be achieved; that I can bring magic back into Camelot. But you and I are separated by a veil I cannot cross, at least not yet, my Lady of the Lake.
"Merlin!"
I felt the familiar hand of my dear friend Lancelot slap against my back, and before I could even say anything my vision went black and my knees gave out.
Damnit.
Lancelot:
"Oi! Merlin!"
My body moved to its own accord to catch Merlin before he really did himself in on the floor.
"Merlin." My hand clasped around his jaw as I shacked his head while his body was resting on my legs, and there was no response, not even a flutter of an eye lid. "MERLIN! Stop joking around, this isn't funny, come on…" Thanks to living as I night my mind switched into battle mode.
Moving so he was lying flat on the ground I checked for a pulse and was relieved when I heard that steady beat, but a little distressed at the sound of his breaths.
"Lancelot, what are you doing?"
My eyes darted to the intruder to the scene and I let out a breath, it was only Gwaine, "Merlin collapsed, I am just checking to see if he is alright."
"What do you mean he collapsed?"
"I went to great him and the moment I touched his," I stopped hid sentence and look back at Merlin, "why would you do that Merlin?"
Ignoring Gwaine I move so that I can turn Merlin onto his side so I can look at his back. I almost didn't need to lift up the thin sheet of material to know that something was definitely wrong; there were wet patches of cloth that clung to his skin when I went to lift the shirt. I sucked in my breath when I saw what it was.
"Jesus,"
"Gwaine, now is not the time-quick go tell Gaius that we are coming, and if you can make sure Arthur knows that we won't be going hunting with him this morning-something important has come up."
I didn't wait around to hear his response, I just scooped him up and carries him as gentle as I could towards his champers.
Once word was spread to Arthur what the situation was about, it came to no surprise when he called of the hunt with some poor excuse and promises of a better hunt the week after.
Right now, we-as in the knights of the round table, the King and Queen, the physician and of course Merlin were all packed into one room. Although sadly, with all the commotion, Merlin has yet to regain consciousness.
"I am going to have to remove his clothes now," not one person budged from their spot and Gaius only let out a sigh as he took out his scissors and cut off his clothes.
Gwen let out a soft cry and turned towards Arthur whose own face hardened when he wrapped his arm around her.
Even was the first to leave, cursing out in the fall and banging his fist against the wall.
Sir Leon left shortly after and all you could hear were the sounds of a man puking.
Gwaine sank to the steps to Merlin's room, his eyes wide and had covering his moth; for once not a word left it.
Percival stepped back, his fist clenched at his sides.
I was to numb to even blink at what I saw before me.
Gaius was the only one that stayed collected out of all of us, but his eyes held onto tears that he could not shed; not only for his sake but for all of us. Had he let even one fall, not one of would be able to contain ourselves.
Merlin was laid out on the table naked before all his friends and if we didn't know any better we'd have said it was a corpse before us. I could make out every one of his ribs; some that moved in ways that they shouldn't with each breath. His normal pale skin was no varying shades of yellow, blue, purple and black.
Wounds littered his body with various depths and length; some with dried blood, others still dripping.
"Merlin my boy, what have you been getting yourself into…"
What indeed.
Hours passed of just cleaning and dressing wounds on the front of his body we haven't even touched the back yet which to me was the most concerning. By then only myself, Gwaine and Arthur were left in the room helping Gaius and waiting for Merlin to wake up; the other I can imagine are off taking their frustrations out at the training grounds or just clearing their heads of this whole ordeal.
Right as we were about to turn Merlin onto his side, his body gave out a jolt as if he had been struck again. Rushing to our feet we all move to his side, wondering what we could do to help in this situation.
That's when I heard it, the soft mumbling of an incantation, and I knew if I could hear it so could the others; my head snapped to Gaius to find his brow set and his eyes gleaming with a look that could only be fear.
"No…"
Merlin's body jerked once more, and Gaius moved like he was twenty years younger, "someone grab his shoulders and his legs, we must keep him still, no matter what happens-do not let him move." And with that Gaius positioned himself so that his hands could be at either side of his head. I grabbed down onto his legs and Arthur and Gwaine both took one shoulder.
"Merlin, control yourself."
Gaius' warning was left unheard for Merlin's eyes shot open and he took in a loud gasping breath of air; normally that would have been a good thing, but not now. His normal crystal gaze was now molten gold, the tell-tale sign of a sorcerer.
Oh Merlin, why did this have to happen to you of all people.
And there you have it, the reason behind the silence of the normal rowdy group; there loveable, impish Merlin has been heavily harmed, and is looking like a walking corpse. Oh and two of the three of his closest friends have just discovered a secret Merlin thought he'd die with. I wonder what shall happen from here on out.