Okay, chapter 2 may convince you all that this story isn't what you expected, and you may not like it as much because of it. The language isn't as revised as usual, but I wanted to try something different to the heavy description I usually go for. So, please don't hesitate to tell me if you don't think there is enough. I'd be happy to alter this chapter and carry it over to the next.

Thank you so much for all you reviews on Chapter One, I really didn't expect 9!!


Chapter Two

"Yes, can I help?" The boy smiled, tilting his head and grinning, his lips twitching in a delicately nervous way.

"Um, yes, as a matter of fact, you can. My name's-" he thought about it, the pseudonyms not seeming appropriate - seeing the person he was inevitably going to kill made it feel farcical to lie, he owed him that much respect - if only a first name, "- Arthur. I'm from the..." Sugar! Merlin frowned at his hesitation, "the... Stately Home Inspection...?" Oh no! Think! One more word and we could have a problem - the acronym could be a bit too amusing and then it wouldn't be avoidable to be called a farce. "... Unit?" He sighed, hoping that Merlin hadn't noticed,

But Merlin sniggered, as if he knew what was going through Arthur's mind as he had spoken, and curling his fingers deliberately to open the door completely.

Arthur looked him up and down, able to see him in his entirety for the first time... And what he saw... Well, he hadn't been expecting it; in fact, he would go as far as to admit the heat the filled his chest and head... This boy was wearing rags... Slack brown trousers tied with a string around his narrow waist and a baggy white tunic? It didn't fit with the house; he'd expected nigh-on royalty.

"In that case," he beamed, although his smile vanished within seconds of continuing, "I'll go and get my Master."

"Your master?" Arthur repeated, disbelieving,

"That's right, his name's Gaius. He's a former physician of the royal household - was granted the position of a freeman five years ago..." he stopped, his eyes popping and his mouth hanging open slightly - adorably useless, Arthur found himself thinking - "Oh no, wait, I... I'll let him explain anything else you want to know, it's not really up to me to say anymore. Anyway, how come you don't know? Gaius is a well-known name."

Arthur felt the flush rise up his neck and cross the expanse of his cheekbones, "Ah, yes, well, I was just, you know, treating it as an address. I wasn't given names."

"Then how come you knew my name? No one knows servants' names,"

He opened his mouth to talk, but nothing came out for a minute, "You ask too many questions, Merlin. Fetch me this 'Gaius' and carry on with whatever it was you were doing." Arthur ignored how much Merlin was smirking. But sure enough, the dark-haired boy disappeared from the doorstep and tottered back into the hallway. Arthur caught a glimpse of the golden ornate frames and varnished dark-wood tables, the stately reminders he'd been too distracted to notice before. He thought speaking to his master would give him a better idea of this boys background - maybe he had other sorcerers in his family - can you imagine how impressed his father would be if he brought back more than one? That would be the making of him. He just had to get past the small inconvenience that Gaius might either not know, or not be willing to sacrifice his servant. And how would he bring up the topic?

"So, who was it?" Will asked, peeking his head around the kitchen door. He spotted the lanky dark-haired boy fiddling with tea cups by the sink within seconds and weaved his way between the wooden tables and splintering chairs and into a seat opposite him. A quizzing look on his face. He ignored the dark-skinned girl sat peeling potatoes in the corner. He'd never cared for Guinevere.

"Apparently some man from the Stately Home Inspection Unit, although, to be perfectly frank, I don't believe a word of it." Merlin replied, smirking as he remembered 'Arthur's' deliberation when it came to, quite plainly, inventing the name on the spot. "I only went and got Sir because I had no proof he wasn't who he said he was,"

"Yeah? Well, I think you're being over-suspicious. We're over-due an inspection anyway..."

"Will, we've never had an inspection before," he looked up at his friend, frowning,

"Exactly," he snickered, standing and then striding over to get a tea-tray for the now-prepared tea. "For all we know, the company could have just realised they'd missed us out for the past few years so they're catching up."

Merlin made a noise that signified his doubt - he didn't really want to believe Will's theory. Things were in desperate need of some livening-up around here. The closest they ever got toexcitement was cleaning out Gaius' leech tank. And even that was more... More... Anxiety and disgust. "I don't know, although if you ask me-"

"Shut up, Merlin. I don't want to hear any of your stupid theories. Please, just serve the tea and be done with it." Will grinned, slapping Merlin on the back, laughing at how a few droplets of tea spilled onto the table.

Merlin huffed, but, sure enough, stood up and began transferring the tea cups and teapot onto the tray Will had handed him and then made for the door,

"I don't want to discuss this later!" Will called after him, knowing that it was falling on deaf ears - but a boy could try. Truthfully, Will was scared of change. If this Inspector found anything out of the ordinary, he didn't know what would happen - and by 'anything out of the ordinary', Will meant Merlin's magic.

Arthur's first impressions of the old man had been 'He'll be easy enough to wheedle the information out of' and 'he looks like a soft touch', but there was something quite ominous about that eyebrow, and the way its triangular point reached halfway up his forehead. He'd smiled and shaken Gaius's wrinkled hand without any doubt that this case would be a success, but now he was hearing about the last time this man had met a boy called Arthur, and his heart was in his mouth. A wave of uncertainty stole his tongue and his fingers on one hand began fidgeting in their set place in his pocket, the fingers on the other played with their grip on his briefcase.

"...Yes. That name rings a bell, as a matter of fact." He'd said, after Arthur introduced himself and his make-believe company again, "A young boy I treated, when I was back serving the Queen and her guests, Arthur Pendragon, no less. I knew of his father's work, so it was quite an honour. Perfectly simple case, though, even with my retrospective inexperience. A barely fractured ankle... Something about a tree, I don't really remember..." Gaius paused in the corridor, Arthur stopping beside him. And the old man wore the most inquisitive expression, as if he were studying every line on the younger man's face, sussing out whether or not his mind was telling him lies as he recognised the blond hair and the blue eyes - but then, any number of people could have blond hair and blue eyes. Shaking his head in revision, he continued walking.

They ambled, or rather; Gaius led them, into a wide and well-lit room. Crimson red carpet covered the floor, and matching curtains hung loose and framed the large windows, enhancing the yellow rays that cast orange shadows, highlighting the furniture in an almost ghostly way. Golden trinkets, medical sculptures and equipment twinkled brightly where they were laid on elegant mosaic tables, resting on carefully smoothed embroidered cloths. Arthur pondered over one statue in particular. Although, it was barely worth accounting for, but maybe that was part of the chrome Knight's charm. The detail around his helmet, and the way the feather seemed as though it would almost be soft to the touch. His clothes looked thin and delicate under the vaster plains of his armour. Arthur smiled. But couldn't pinpoint why - he thought it just because he could relate to the soldiers struggle, their position in society, perhaps.

"You like that one?" Gaius asked, stepping towards where Arthur was hunched over and studying the figurine intently,

Arthur looked up, immediately startled. Intuition, that he was here for the wrong reasons and nothing good could come from it, was keeping him on a precarious edge. He nodded slowly, the nod he imagined an art fanatic would give, to show deep and profound interest in a subject.

"Yes, it's a personal favourite of mine, a hand-crafted piece by one of my own servants," he beamed with pride - Arthur couldn't help but think it cute, how a wrinkled, frail old man to find such pleasure in such small things.

Arthur raised an eyebrow - of course, his was in no competition to Gaius' - one of his own servants, he could see an interesting piece of evidence emerging, and he intended to bleed it dry. At least, he could convince himself that he intended to bleed it dry, if he didn't remind himself of the undeniably guiltless, nervous, unusual face of the boy in question. From what he'd seen, evil was not on his agenda - but then, that was only based on a first impression, and Arthur had been told how deceiving they could be. In some respects he hoped this one was particularly. He hated being face with the thought of killing an innocent.

"I don't know how the boy does it, I sometimes fear his talents will lead him on to better things. And where would I be without him?" Drinking that foul tea William makes and being served Gwen's lumping mashed potato," he shook his head with a fond smile, "He is, after all, the most competent of my servants, never puts a foot wrong-"

"Sorry to interrupt, but is this the boy who answered the door?" Arthur's burning desire to know now got the better of him, and he took charge.

"Why, yes. Merlin, his name is, charming young boy. One day, I can only hope he will become my apprentice - I would love to pass on my knowledge to such an intriguing youthful mind."

Arthur thought, considering how Gaius had seemed genuinely astonished at this boy's talents, which, in themselves, seemed highly unlikely - it was just screaming 'magic' - perhaps the white-haired physician wasn't aware. And then he considered the fondness he had heard in his dulcet tones- Gaius actually liked this boy - had he not done anything to even indicate he could be evil? "Has he done more pieces like this one?" It was an easy question, and it kept the conversation on Merlin - he was searching for clues.

"Yes, I have various models around the house, horses, dragons, the occasional flower, but those phases are short-lived, he tends to focus mainly on the image of Knights. I've never properly understood why," he gazed for a brief moment into the air in front of him, pondering his own uncertainty, giving Arthur a moment to do the same on his.

"And how long does he take to do them?"

Gaius frowned, eyeing Arthur up and down once more. The thought 'Is that really relevant?' Plain for everyone. "Well... I don't really know, I've never queried it."

"Oh." He was aware that he might be coming across a little strange, why should he show so much interest in a servant? But the adrenaline that was pulsing through his veins was too rich to deny, "How long has Merlin worked for you?"

"Five years, he was the first person I employed, he started at the tender age of fifteen..." the old man took a seat in the centre of the room, and Arthur followed suit, sitting in the opposite crushed velvet red armchair. Conspicuousness was entirely expected, these questions were not what a Home Inspector would ask. "...I'm curious to ask why you demand so much information about the boy. Have you met him before?"

"No." but as soon as Arthur had said it, he realised his mistake - saying 'yes' would have had a far better chance at dampening Gaius' suspicion, but instead he'd fired it up. Added fuel into the flame. "Well," he reasoned, raising an upward-facing palm, as naturally as he could - inside he was choking, he'd really messed this one up, "I just recognised his face. That's all," he quickly added,

"He doesn't really have a face you could forget, Sir,"

"As I said, I recognised his face. I don't know it."

The frail old man nodded, not believing a word, but he didn't feel the need to delve any further. His guest should be leaving soon. "How long do you intend to stay for, it's obvious to see you have arrived too late in the day to make travelling back to London an option worth considering. Dare I say it; the roads are dangerous at night. Travelling with only one other could be a severe mistake," he pointed out, a nearly unparalleled ability to care for everyone becoming apparent. This man was a logical thinker, one who considered all possibilities, however grave.

"True. It all depends on whether or not I feel I have made an assessment with enough detail, after only, one, two days." He was careful to use the word 'only,' he thought he may need to stay for more,

"Very well, I will get Merlin to show you to the spare bedroom, you can stay as long as you wish." he smiled kindly - the evidence that this man was one who loved to cater, and was only too pleased to have interesting new company. Arthur nodded his thanks, and took to planning his questions. But Gaius' smile vanished as he remembered something. "Oh, just to warn you, my niece is coming to stay with me this coming Wednesday. So long as you are comfortable with her around, you may stay. But please, do not feel obliged out of mere politeness,"

"Certainly not,"

"Your Tea, Sir," a small voice came from behind them, and Arthur's eyes were immediately seized. Merlin stood awkwardly in the doorway holding a metal tray, laden with drinks, in his hands. A small tuft of hair was sticking up at the back of his head, and Arthur didn't know whether to giggle or get up and stroke it back down. Soft - he could imagine the hair feeling soft.

"Wonderful," Gaius exclaimed and beckoned for the tray to be placed on his neighbouring table.

Arthur watched the young boy pad over, trying to resist the urge to smile at how his eyes never left the teapot. And then trying to resist the urge to laugh as Merlin's left foot caught behind his right and nearly sent him tumbling into his master.

"Do be careful, I don't want to have to pay for this armchair to be cleaned again." He smiled, but his arms remained outstretched - in case he should have to catch him.

Merlin nodded and blushed all the way up to those large and endearing ears, glancing over at Arthur for less than a second. And Arthur thought it ridiculous how someone magical could be clumsy. He thought they would have power enough to make themselves perfect, rid themselves of anything that made them that bit more human. Why be human when you could be superhuman? But the swirl of the blue eyes, he remembered making contact with, seemed to beg that this sorcerer was happy enough how he was - his talent for sculpture had certainly not lead him to leave this place. And the kindness he had seen in Gaius' eyes was enough to make him think that Merlin was loved here. As strange as it should be - he knew the master was caring towards his servants, this one in particular.

"I shall call when we have finished, and you can show our visitor to the spare bedroom,"

Merlin's eyes shot up, and for a second, he looked petrified. The prospect of him staying was... Well, he didn't know what it was. But he didn't feel comfortable with it. Merlin knew Arthur was a liar... But he just didn't know why he was lying. Well... He supposed... it would give him a chance to find out. He nodded and backed out of the room. Mind swirling with possibility.

Arthur's eyes followed him with an unnecessary amount of fascination. To the eye, the boy was really quite something, interesting and captivating. Large ears, piercing blue eyes, plump rose coloured lips and the smooth shadowing under his pronounced cheekbones - it was impossible not to want to look at him. He blinked and turned back to Gaius, who handed him the tea. "Thank you,"

"Is there anything you wish to know from me, in particular?"

Arthur sipped the drink, biding his time as he desperately tried to conjure some ideas, "Yes, but only a few." he said, swallowing heavily, "mainly regarding the upkeep of the gardens as well as the interior. With such large houses you can never be too sure that the money is being spent appropriately on maintenance," he continued, finding his stride, "I've visited a number of houses in my time, ones that have not passed their assessment, at least, not to the standard that is preferred. And then two or three years later, the occupant dies, or leaves, and the previously indicated damage changes into something really quite serious. I've seen plots of land be rendered useless after its former occupants have left because they didn't look after it properly." he smiled, seeing the reassurance flit across his 'client's' face, "I'd hate to see anymore of the governments funds wasted on rectifying the public's mistakes, don't you agree?"

"Of course. But you must understand, this house is my livelihood. It's what I spent years working towards; I would not simply abandon it,"

"No, no, of course. I do not know you well enough to make such a conclusion, but wouldn't you prefer for any potential problems to be brought to your attention?"

He nodded. Perplexed, yet satisfied by this supposed knowledge. Not just anyone was allowed to spend the night in his home - he's wanted to make as certain as he could that this was not just anyone...

Arthur knew his story was thin, but he would have tonight to thicken it up, perhaps to invent some of those afore mentioned previous examples, and decide why, exactly, it was that the government had established a company that specialised in this precise thing. "So, I will start my investigations tomorrow, and I will need to interview your staff..." something flared in Arthur's chest - he'd just founded his own chance to speak one-to-one with Merlin. And he feared it wasn't just his mission, so to speak, that made that prospect so inviting. Maybe it was those ears... "Anyway, those questions I need to ask you..."

Arthur followed like a puppy as Merlin led him to the spare bedroom. He wasn't looking at the intricate tapestries that lined the walls, depicting battles or religious scenes, and he wasn't watching the several other tables of hand-crafted figurines as they rounded a corridor and began the second ascent of stairs. He was far too interested in the back of Merlin's head. And the grin that he'd seen spread over his face as he'd entered the lounge at Gaius' request. "It's just down here," the boy said, turning his head only slightly to the side, just enough that he ensured Arthur would hear him. Professional and precise, Arthur thought.

Although, how was he supposed to reply to that? Maybe he wasn't.

Merlin opened a thick mahogany door, when they reached the end of a dimly lit corridor, and Arthur watched the bony fingers on the handle. The servant stepped back against the door to allow Arthur to pass him and stood, waiting for approval. Revealed, was a bright and pale-painted room, the four-poster bed in the centre, along one wall, had a pale blue and white floral duvet. The curtains were the blue to match. The carpet was light beige, but again, the pale blue took the shape of a oval rug. A white-painted armoire was up against the far wall. And Merlin, finally, summoned the courage to move over and place down the briefcase next to it. Ready to be unpacked. "Will you be comfortable?" he asked, twiddling his fingers - there was something about the blond that made him feel so... so... Inadequate..?

"I should think so, thank you,"

Merlin bowed his head gently and hurried back to the door,

"Merlin?"

"Yes," he spun back around, child-like innocence and wide blue eyes caught Arthur's heart by surprise.

"Could you bring me up a glass of water, please?"

"Certainly, Sir," he said, and presently left.

Arthur slouched on the bed and deemed his options. How best to reveal the boy's evil streak. If he had one... Of course he had one... He was a sorcerer.

But the smile he received when that glass of water came and the glint in those blue eyes, and the messy, ingenuous figure that spoke kindly to him, made him doubt if his father had been rightly informed... Arthur was never meant to doubt his father.


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