Title: Loyalty
By: MerthurObsessive
Warnings: Major spoilers up to 4.09.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, all rights reserved to the BBC.
Note: This is set after 4.09 but before 4.10
A/N: I got a review saying my teaser was too short to judge, and I realised they were right. So, anyway as I was saying I have been reading fanfiction for a long time now and I have had plots and ideas swirling around my head. Eventually, I got the courage to write my own, so please review and tell me if you'd like me to continue. So, this is my first chapter of "Loyalty" called "The Beginning". Enjoy :)
It had started with a hunting trip. Arthur never had time to go on hunting trips anymore, not since he had became King, there was always a speech to write, a man to knight, a training session to go to and a council meeting to attend. Arthur missed being a prince sometimes. He could no longer do the things he enjoyed and it seemed he was being judged by the smallest thing he did. Of course, he had that as a prince but it got even worse since becoming king. Sometimes, Arthur had to pinch himself, because he couldn't quite belive he was king and his father was dead. Even though it had been coming up to two years now, he still couldn't believe Morgana, the woman he grew up with, loved like a sister and one of the two women who he would do anything for, had betrayed him and Camelot. Women always seemed to hurt him. First Morgana then Guinevere... His love's betrayal was still so raw and hard to comprehend he didn't like to think about it. All he knew was he loved and trusted her and she let him down. The past year hadn't been kind. Following Morgana's betrayal, things got better after the first year and Arthur thought he was finally coming to terms with what had happened. But then, his world crashed again. The Dorocha, Merlin's almost death and Lancelot's real death. His father's death, the coronation, the old sorcerer, Caerleon, Merlin's injury, the traitor, his guilt about what happened to Gaius, the Lamia incident, Lancelot's return and the affair with his future wife and queen, Guinevere. The only thing that stopped him from hitting rock bottom was Merlin. Just the little things. Arthur waking up to his wide grin, their banter, Merlin's hopeful attitude and the belief everything would turn out okay. He was like a walking stick, propping Arthur up. He was more than that... He was his parachute. The thing keeping him alive and smiling.
The hunting trip changed everything...
"Hurry up, Merlin," Arthur shouted.
He had been ready for about ten minutes but Merlin was taking forever to finish his chores.
"Why do we even have to go? It's freezing!" moaned Merlin.
"I'm sorry, Merlin, is a little cold too hard for you to handle? Well, I think you'll find you are going on this hunting trip whether you like it or not," Arthur said.
"I know that," said Merlin "but maybe if you didn't point it out so often we wouldn't have a problem."
"Just hurry up."
Merlin could be so annoying! Arthur missed hunting so much and Merlin was being slow on purpose.
He wanted to go so much, Arthur considered leaving without him. But then he knew Merlin would be so smug about it for the next week or so, so he decided against it.
Anyway, to be honest Arthur liked having Merlin there.
His surly retorts and their banter kept him entertained and he always enjoyed engaging in an insulting-throwing conversation between them.
So, no, Arthur would wait, and think up some insults.
/
"You clotpole!" Arthur hissed, though he wasn't really angry.
"Still can't think of any other insults?"
"Did it ever occur to you Merlin I use that word because it describes you perfectly?"
"A few years ago you didn't even know what it meant. You stole it!" Merlin pouted.
"Merlin," Arthur replied in mock outrage, "I am the king, I can take whatever I want. I could throw you in the stocks for accusing me of such a thing."
"Because we all know you like to see me covered in fruit and rotten vegetables. Is there a dark thought occupying your mind which likes to see me covered in that muck?" he teased.
Arthur was about to reply when he heard a noise.
He made a hand signal, warning Merlin and the Knights to keep quiet then signalled for the knights to go in different directions. Merlin followed Arthur and it was then Merlin heard something too.
Suddenly an object was thrown through the air, and Arthur pushed Merlin out of the way.
He looked down and realised it was a dagger.
They were under attack.
Dun, dun, dun! Hope you enjoyed it, please review. Makes me happy :)