The clatter of horses hooves as they struck cobbles was a stark contrast to the steady, drumming, rhythm that had played through Merlin's mind as his horse had cantered over the rough and wild grasslands that carpeted the many lonely moors and meadows he had crossed. They had ridden slowly, pausing once or twice at the few small villages they had come across. At first the inhabitants had seemed suspicious of them; and no one could blame them. Merlin's clothes were ripped and tattered, smeared in mud; and if anyone made a closer inspected they would also note, burnt.
Gaius by comparison looked relatively crisp and clean; it was thanks to his considerable talents as a physician that they managed barter his services for something to eat – Neither Gaius or Merlin had thought to pack any spare clothes or food; both had been expecting the trip to the Isle of the Blessed to be a one way ticket, so it was understandable.
Once the villagers had discovered that Gaius was a travelling physician and Merlin his nephew –For this was the story they told – they had warmed up considerably. Though some still whispered that it was strange to see such a bedraggled young man on such a fine horse and made sly comments to him on the subject, the inference being that he had stolen it- Which was technically true. In his haste to catch up with Gaius, Merlin had dashed to the stables and, being only a servant thus not having a horse of his own, taken Arthur's. Obviously he hadn't told the villagers this – Instead he had cooked up some story about having won it in a wager with some drunk old Knight when they had stopped at an Inn in Camelot one night, he wasn't sure they believed this version of events either but it stopped them badgering him about it.
Now as he rode back through the shadowy gate he felt a warm sinking feeling in his stomach, it was hard to place exactly what it was. He was overwhelming glad to be in Camelot again after all this time – He had been gone nearly three weeks – It felt like coming home again. Another part of him was knotted in worry, Arthur was going to be angry…No angry was far too mild a word, he was going to livid with Merlin for stealing his horse and disappearing without warning or any indication of where he was going. As they slid under the arched gateway Merlin stole a glance at Gaius, he looked equally troubled, not doubt considering the reaction he was likely to get from Uther.
The courtyard looked just the same as when they had left, the great silken red banners still draped from the battlements and balconies, undulating in the slight breeze so that the golden, embroidered dragon; the Pendragon crest, seemed alive. The sheer stone walls were still dotted with latticed lead and glass windows, several of which were open, fine gossamer curtains billowing out from them into the courtyard. A movement caught Merlin's eye as he gazed upwards at the windows, but when his eyes came to rest on the place there was nothing to be seen; it was probably just a servant rushing down one of the many passages that wove their way around the immense castle he told himself, and made no more of it... Though why did he feel such unease? ...Like he was being watched by unfriendly eyes.
"Are you coming Merlin?" Gaius weary voice drifted back to him over the courtyard.
"Y-Yes…" Merlin supplied, glancing at the dark and empty window one last time before gently touching the sides of his horse and turning it towards the stables, it seemed to know the way, and pulled eagerly on reins knowing that soft hay and sweet oats awaited it inside.
Merlin slid from the horse's back with a slight groan, his body ached all over from days spent in the saddle, and his chest –Where Nimeuh had hit him with a ball of magical flame- was still burnt raw, and pained him when he made any sudden movement. Gaius had done all he could and carefully bandaged the burn, but as Gaius had also pointed out, it was thanks to Merlin's magical abilities that he had even survived the curse at all and all he could do was make a token effort to help; it was already healing well on its own.
"I'd better return Arthur's horse to it's stall" Merlin said quietly to Gaius.
"Yes – I suppose you had better" Gaius agreed, his lips drawing into a thin line of disapproval, he hadn't been best pleased when he had realised just what horse Merlin had taken – The Crowned Princes best charger would not have been his first choice, but at the time Merlin hadn't had a lot of choice or time to think so had just grabbed the first one he came across.
"I'll see you back in our chambers" Merlin said, quickly backing away once he saw Gaius's expression; he didn't need another telling off about it, he'd had one already.
Merlin patted the brown warhorse's neck and spoke to it softly as he walked it slowly down the length of the stables, it showed the quality of the beast that it did not even seem tired after its long journey – Though Merlin was practically feather light compared to Arthur in full armour, so it had probably enjoyed the change. The stall door swung open with a high pitched squeak that split the quiet stable block and made several of the other occupants complain in quiet whinnies and much shuffling of hooves.
He was just reaching down to undo the saddle buckle when a voice in his ear made him jump; he hadn't realised anyone else was there, let alone so close to him.
"I'll take the Prince's horse shall I?" a sallow skinned man with long tangles of mousey blond hair was leaning lazily against one of the open stall doors with his arms folded across his chest.
"Oh – Er" Merlin began, not sure how to react to this strangers arrival - He wasn't anyone Merlin had ever seen before, and he thought he had know most of the other servants in the castle by sight, even if he had never spoken to them in person. "Nah, it's ok – He's used to me. A stranger might spook him, I wouldn't want you to get kicked... Thanks though... You know for the offer" He said with a smile and turned back to finish unfastening the saddle. He had expected the stranger to turn and leave at that point, but he didn't, Merlin could feel him watching him still and it made him uneasy. "Er- Can I help you with anything?" he enquired swivelling back to the mousey haired man "Oh- Thanks" Merlin added as the stranger proffered a brush.
"Not really" the stranger said swinging his arms and taking as small step forwards "I was just curious is all – You must be Merlin."
"…Yeah that's me" Merlin said taking a small step backwards so he wasn't quite so close to the stranger, though it didn't make much difference as they only took another step forwards, bringing them back as close together as they had been.
"I've heard a lot about you from Arthur" they continued.
"Oh – Um… All good… I hope?" Merlin laughed nervously, edging backwards a little more. What did this guy want with him…How did they know Arthur? The stranger didn't answer that but smiled strangely at him instead, it wasn't a particularly friendly expression, more of a smirk crossed with a snarl. "How do you know Arthur?" Merlin asked suspiciously not liking the expression "I've not seen you around here before…" There was a loud bang at that precise moment which caused Merlin, and the horse, to jump. The sudden movement caused a wave of pain to explode from his chest so he staggered sideways grabbing the stall to steady himself and clutched the front of his shirt as if that would stop it hurting so badly. "Arthur!" Merlin said in as bright and innocent a voice as he could muster through the stinging pain that threatened to bring tears to his eyes.
"MERLIN – Where the hell have you been?" Arthur demanded as he slammed the stall door open.
"…Been?" Merlin wheezed, stalling for time – He hadn't been expecting to come across the Prince this soon so hadn't really come up with a cover story yet.
"Been" Arthur repeated slowly as if Merlin was stupid and needed it repeating so he understood. Arthur then ran a critical eye up and down Merlin's ragged form "What on earth have you been doing? – You're a complete mess! Is that burnt?" He then asked wrinkling his nose and pointing at Merlin's shirt.
"Er- I got lost" Merlin said lamely.
"You got lost?" Arthur demanded incredulously "Lost? Lost where?"
"Well I don't know – I was lost, if I did know I wouldn't have been lost would I"
Arthur opened his mouth to reply then seemed to catch sight of the stranger who was skulking quietly in one corner of the stall, his expression showing rapt attention as if he was enjoying this argument immensely.
"Cedric" Arthur addressed him "See to my horse" he ordered tersely.
"I'm doing it!" Merlin said quickly as the stranger who he now knew was called Cedric stepped forwards to wrestle the brush from Merlin grip.
"No – Cedric will do it" Arthur said matter-of-factly as Cedric tried to prise Merlin's fingers from the brush "Look at you – You can't even look after yourself why would I trust you with my horse? – Which by the way, it was nice of you to steal, I could have you hung for that you are aware?"
Merlin didn't reply but looked down at the straw and mutely handed Cedric the brush, which he snatched from Merlin's hand with a gleeful smile – Just like a child a with candy bar.
"I'll see to it, Sire" Cedric said with a small bow "Right away, Sire. You can count on me, Sire" bobbing his head again, so he looked like a pigeon. Arthur must have seen Merlin's lip curl in distaste because he soon carried on with his tirade.
"You could learn a lot from Cedric – I need servants I can trust and rely on, not ones that steal my best horse and disappear to God only knows where and then roll back in weeks late looking like they have been to hell and back"
"I brought it back!" Merlin said defensively "I only needed to borrow it!"
"What for? What on earth did you-"At this point Arthur poked Merlin full in the
chest, causing another wave of pain and nausea to sweep over him. "Need a..." Arthur paused at that point having seen that Merlin had turned distinctly pale. "…Are you hurt?"
"No" Merlin said a little too quickly and pulled his shirt tattered tighter around his neck so that Arthur couldn't spy the bandages concealed beneath, but it was too late Arthur had already spotted the flash of blood stained white gauze.
"Oh no?" Arthur said grabbing Merlin's arm and slammed him against the wall then dragged up Merlin's shirt to reveal the stained bandages that were blooming with new patches of bright red blood. "Then what's that?" Arthur asked sarcastically, roughly letting go of Merlin's wrist. "Don't lie to me Merlin! – Just tell me where you have been and what the hell happened to you!" he demanded "You don't get injuries from just getting 'lost'- We all thought you were dead you idiot – Morganna has hardly said a word since you have been gone, all she does is sit in her room and stare at the wall and Guinevere has been crying her eyes out fretting over you and her mistress!" Arthur faltered, seeming to have finally run out things to yell at Merlin for, and because Merlin was growing increasingly paler by the second.
"I didn't mean to make you worry…" Merlin said quietly staring at the straw covered floor.
Arthur sighed exasperatedly, but made no comment, he could have claimed he didn't care either way but it would be a waste of breath. "Merlin you just don't think" he breathed shaking his head. "Go get yourself cleaned up, then you can go apologise to Gwen and Morganna – We'll talk more about this tomorrow, by which time you will be ready to tell me just what you have been doing" he added folding his arms across his chest and stepping back from the doorway to let Merlin past. Merlin didn't move towards the door but instead looked back at Cedric who was still quietly grooming away. "Cedric can take care of the horse" Arthur repeated reading his thoughts.
"Alright…" Merlin finally agreed though he wasn't happy about it, neither was the horse for that matter; it kept shying away from the brush and huffing. There was just something about Cedric that made Merlin's hair stand on end; his cold blue eyes were always flicking around and he never seemed to look at you quite straight – It was just creepy, there was no other word for it. "I'll be at work tomorrow" Merlin added pulling his jacket tighter around his chest.
"No need – Cedric can handle it" Arthur said dismissively.
"I'll be at work tomorrow" Merlin repeated firmly.
"No Merlin – You won't" Arthur said in a tone that suggested his decision was final. He gave Merlin a sideways glance; he looked dead on his feet and like he wasn't far from fainting at the moment.
"You're sacking me?" Merlin demanded, grabbing the door frame to steady himself.
"No – You're having a holiday" Arthur said pointedly.
"But I don't want a holiday!"
"Well you're having one – Don't Argue" Arthur told him. Merlin opened his mouth and was about to argue, but instead he shut it again.
"Sire" he said stiffly before turning away. Arthur watched him go with a dubious expression; Merlin wasn't exactly steady on his feet at this point. Arthur saw him stagger once and found himself stepping forwards involuntarily to help, but Merlin soon righted himself and disappeared around a corner out of sight. With a sigh Arthur shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"Merlin, Merlin" He muttered to himself.
"Sire?" Arthur jumped, he had forgotten Cedric was even there, quickly recovering his composure he cleared his throated gruffly.
"Merlin – What an idiot" Arthur clarified quickly. "When you're done here you can muck out my other horses" he instructed Cedric, who bowed low and nodded enthusiastically as if mucking out the Princes horses was some sort of treat.
"Of course, Sire" he said in a simpering voice.
"Right –" Arthur said slowly, he wasn't all that keen on Cedric, his eyes were a little – Well creepy there was not other word for it, but his willingness to do any task put to him; more over with out complaint, made quite a change from Merlin's usual bellyaching. "I'll leave you to it then" Arthur said with a slight shrug and turned on his heel to stride away.
"As you wish, Sire" Cedric said scrapping low again "You know you can count on me Sire" he added in a low hiss at Arthur's retreating back.