The Strong Arm of the Law

His mother's ring was missing, some coward had nicked it off her, right off her hand. It upset the Man that such things could go unpunished but it infuriated him when it went unnoticed. Not that he'd let on, he rarely did that. A lot of things went missing at the moment in both Camelot and a few of the outlying villages, like the one he was from. The authorities did nothing but speculate or actually dismiss it completely and it left them helpless. But that didn't mean he was just going to leave it at that. The streets of Camelot were a good place to start, even during the day that thief would be skulking around somewhere. Mother wouldn't approve, he was supposed to help his father with the horses, but this was more important, at least it was to him. The ring wasn't just a piece of jewellery, it was an heirloom passed down from women in the family.

The market was crowded, the perfect place to find a pickpocket, or be pickpocketed. Not that it mattered at this point, the Man had far too little on him and merely the sight of him discouraged most of them. But this was not where he'd find the man that stole the heirloom, after all, he couldn't be the only thief in Camelot. The tavern was his next stop, that's where all the crooks would probably gather. The Man apparently made quite an entry, heads turning his way, he had that effect on people just not in this quantity. Moving over to the bar and ordering a drink, everyone went back to their daily lives. Who was he to ask about the thief? Maybe the Man shouldn't even mention the thief, those who knew and didn't tell the authorities were bound to be their friends. Thieves stole valuables to sell them, but to whom? Perhaps he should try to buy it back, or pretend to anyway.

The Man moved over to the bartender and asked if he knew where to get some affordable jewellery and said he had a girl he wanted to make his. The bartender nudged at a door next to the counter. It didn't feel right to go in the backroom but neither was buying jewellery from a fence. The backroom was dimly lit, why did 'the underworld' do that? Was it some sort of guild thing? The room was empty but its wooden walls still brown instead of green like those in the taproom. There was a large table and eight chairs of which now only one was occupied, by the fence. He was a shady man with an unusually long coat, the Man almost laughed as it seemed a bit like a dress.

The Man sat down across the fence who didn't speak a single word. It was rather unnerving but then again, there was no reason for the fence to speak at all, he didn't know if the stranger wanted to buy or sell.
"I'm looking for a ring, for my girl." The man tried to begin the trade. The fence got a small chest from underneath the table and showed its contents to the buyer. There were three rings, a silver one with a blue stone, a silver painted one with the word 'forever' engraved on it and a plain silver one. He looked at the fence as he slowly reached for one of the rings to see if he allowed it, which he did. He was taking a look at the plain silver one and recognized the scratches on the inside.
"This was my mother's." He said clenching it in his fist. The fence cocked his head, obviously not impressed, and knocked on the table with a rhythm of two, twice. A door from the taproom and a door going out the back opened letting in four armed men. He had gotten up with the fence standing before him, also armed, and still clenching the ring.
"Either pay for it or leave it." The fence spoke. He might have muscle but he couldn't fight five armed men with his bare hands.
"How much?" The Man asked.
"300." The fence replied. Reluctantly he put the ring back on the table and left out the back door. In his mind he vowed that he would get the ring back, he now knew who had it. It didn't surprise him they didn't kill him on the spot, business was business and dead people don't pay, even if he couldn't afford it they must've thought he might come back when he did have the money.

The great amount of thefts and lack of arrests occuring in the lower town had cause a bit of unrest but the King assured them it was coincidence and that the matter would die down eventually. In other words, the King remained passive in hopes of it stopping by itself.

It was early in the morning and the Prince was ranting, yet another ordinary day in the castle.
"Merlin, did you take the belt with the silver clasp?" Arthur asked.
"I've been meaning to put another hole in it but no, I haven't." The manservant replied.
"Very funny, dollophead. But seriously, where is it?" Arthur never was amused by such pranks, unless he was the one pulling it of course.
"I'm telling you, I haven't got it." Merlin assured him. Arthur was about to retort when Gwen entered the room without knocking.
"Merlin, one of Morgana's bracelets went missing, did you by any chance come across it?" She asked. Both men were taken aback by the maid barging into the room but the question remained. Merlin shook his head and so did Arthur.
"And I... ehm... I think I've lost my earrings... here." Gwen spoke rather embarressed leaving little to be imagined. But Merlin's mind was somewhere else entirely.
"Arthur, what if those thieves-" Merlin said.
"My thoughts exactly." Arthur concurred.
"What?" Asked Gwen who felt rather left in the dark.
"You know about the thefts plaguing the lower town?"
"You think they've moved up?" Gwen caught on.
"One of my belts went missing." Arthur argued.
"Merlin, you said Arthur had put-" Gwen began but with the manservant shaking 'no' rather heavily knowing what she was going to say "put on a bit of weight" but thankfully changed her mind. "a... a lot of effort into training the knights. I'm sure he'll be caught soon enough." She said and quickly left. Arthur wasn't fooled and slowly turned around to face Merlin, the Prince wasn't amused with him.
"Really? You just had to tell her, didn't you?" Arthur had caught on to them and knew exactly what Gwen had planned on saying.
"What are you talking about?" Merlin smiled that sanctimonious smile as he backed away towards the door.
"Next time you mention something like that to Gwen, that belt might find its way around your neck."
Merlin ran out the room, pretending to head for the armoury in hopes of avoiding the Prince's wrath. Arthur didn't linger and quickly grabbed a belt before leaving the room as well to hunt down his manservant. At the first intersection, however, he was halted by Sir Leon.
"Sire, the King wishes a word with you in his chambers." The Knight reported. Arthur found it odd that his father would like a word with him in his chambers, such a thing rarely occurred, it was much more like him to come to his room instead.
"Thank you, Sir Leon. I'll go see him at once." The Prince turned away from the armoury and made his way to the King's chambers. At the first knock on the door he heard his father's voice telling him to enter.
"You wished to see my, father?" Arthur asked. Something was wrong, his father looked different for some reason but he couldn't actually tell what it was.
"Yes." Uther replied, his tone of voice already betraying that something worried him. "You are aware of a ring of thieves preying on the lower town?"
"I am and, since we're on the subject, I suspect they're in the castle as well." Arthur unconsciously put his hand on his belt, glad he still had one, and he noticed what was wrong with his father, he wasn't wearing his crown.
"It is rather embarrassing to admit, but they have stolen the crown, my crown." Uther confirmed Arthur's suspicions. "I want whoever stole it hung from the highest tree." The King commanded.
"Yes, Sire." Arthur replied and went to the armoury where, without a doubt, he would find Merlin.

The armoury by itself had always been a mess but the messiest person the Prince knew had actually been capable of bringing some order in the chaos.
"Merlin!" Arthur called and the manservant's head popped up from behind a rack of shields.
"I remember you being quicker on your feet, Sire." Merlin replied, it was obviously meant to annoy and perhaps even anger the Prince but there were more important things going on.
"The King wants us to hunt down the thieves." Arthur didn't share his knowledge of the crown going missing, he knew Merlin could be a blabbermouth at times.
"Right," Merlin said as he got up from his chair and put the shield he was polishing back into its rack. "How are we going to do that?"
"Well, we don't know any thieves. At least, I don't. Have you ever met one when you were in jail or in the stocks?"
"No, I rather kept to myself actually."
"In the tavern then?" Arthur tried.
"Nope." Merlin replied.
"What do you do all day?" Arthur taunted him.
"Annoy." Merlin countered, earning a chuckle from Arthur.
"How about a trap?" Merlin suggested.
"You'd put a priceless artefact on a pedestal and you think they wouldn't smell a rat?" Arthur mocked him not too heavily, it might've been a bad idea but an idea nonetheless.
"You're right, it's silly." Merlin admitted but Arthur wasn't even paying attention, the wheels inside his head were twisting and turning until something came to mind.
"On second thought..."

Arthur sent a letter to Lord Godwyn of Gawant requesting the delivery of a chest escorted by a few soldiers. In reality the chest was empty and Merlin started a rumour among the servants - only they could know where Uther kept the crown - that it contained an ancient decorated vase.

The idea of a vase put on a pedestal was ridiculous of course and therefor Merlin said they kept it under lock and key, the exact opposite. Arthur reasoned that the only reason the thieves would steal from the castle was the risk and the challenge, the crown being their greatest achievement so far. But Arthur knew the crown wasn't that much of a challenge and only a bigger challenge would tempt the thieves to come out of hiding. Even if they did manage to steal the vase, the thing was worthless. Since the chest arrived and the vase put into the vault, Merlin and Arthur spent every night waiting for something to happen. The night watch upset Merlin as this consumed the time he usually spent with Morgana, worst of all was that Arthur sometimes snuck out so he could meet with Gwen. Because of the Prince's lack of dedication Merlin played with the idea of stealing the vase himself simply to put Arthur in his place.

This was the third night and it had been half an hour since Arthur left to see Gwen, who felt sorry for her Prince, and now he had finally come back to watch the vault. The cold of being so deep underground and the lack of sleep made Merlin grumpy.
"Do you have to do that?" The manservant asked, the irritation clear in his voice.
"Do what?" Arthur asked.
"Meet with Gwen when we're supposed to be watching the vault."
"Perhaps when you have a girlfriend I'd let you do the same." Arthur stated. Merlin didn't buy it, Arthur could still be a prat at times and simple tell him to shut up if he'd bring it up.
"No, you wouldn't, you're too much of a prat to allow it." Merlin countered.
"What's wrong with you?" Arthur asked since they were obviously getting into a fight.
"While you're up there cuddling with Gwen, I'm down here freezing my butt off. A 'thank you' wouldn't be misplaced, you know."
Arthur had done worse things to him in the past and back then he didn't complain. It made him wonder why this had sent him over the edge and whether it was his fault or something else. The Prince was about to ask him when they heard the vault being opened, they had been so focused on bickering that by now the thief was trying to get away with the, in reality worthless, vase. Arthur and Merlin came out of hiding and began chasing the trespasser but coming to the higher levels they lost sight of him and split up.
"He's over here!" Merlin called as he saw someone carrying a vase run down the corridor and quickened his pace to follow him. All of a sudden the warlock hear Arthur's voice telling him he was there. Wherever 'there' was, it wasn't nearby. The most confusing part however was that other people, people nowhere to be seen, also began shouting 'he' was 'there'. In the end Merlin met Arthur in the middle of a corridor and cursed out loud.
"A ring of thieves." Arthur sighed defeated.
"Just our luck." Merlin grumbled.
A heavy thud could be heard coming from one of the rooms. The two didn't waste time and stormed the room to see a heavily muscled man holding a lanky body, probably a thief, against the wall.
"Don't kill him!" Arthur commanded though the man didn't look like a guard nor a servant, his clothing was that of an average peasant despite its size.
"I'm not." The stranger spoke clearly, without anger or emotion, as he put the perpetrator back on his feet but held him still.
"So you're one of the thieves. That makes what, four, five of you?" Arthur asked.
"We work alone, I'm here by myself." The thief replied.
"But there is a 'we'." Merlin stated smugly much to the culprit's dismay.
"What are you going to do, torture me?" The thief asked trying to be smug and confident, torture was reserved for traitors, not thieves.
"No, we won't. Maybe we didn't even hear anything." Arthur spoke slightly nodding towards the door and the man holding the culprit looked smug. The thief flinched and his face betrayed the panic and conflict he held inside.
"Where do you gather?" Now it was Arthur's turn to look smug.
"I work alone." He said stubbornly.
"We already know you don't. So where do you divide the loot?" Arthur asked cutting through the chase.
The thief was unwilling to answer but when Arthur gave a nod to the stranger, who lifted him so he had to stand on his toes.
"All right, fine. We gather in the darkling woods." The thief yielded.
"Where exactly?" Arthur asked.
"From the dead oak it's a two minute walk west." The thief reluctantly answered. Arthur took a look at Merlin, who shrugged, and sighed.
"Seems you'll be showing us the way." Arthur spoke matter-of-factly taking hold him of him by the back of his shirt. The muscle let go of his captive now that he was in the custody of the Prince and took a quick look at Merlin, he know of Arthur but little of the manservant.
"What's your name?" The Prince asked the stranger.
"Percival... Your Highness?" Percival asked unsure.
"Thank you, Percival, this man has a lot to answer for. As for your reward, ask Merlin." Arthur finished on a happy note much to the warlock's dismay, Merlin didn't fear or even dislike the stranger but was merely annoyed with Arthur's assumption he would know what to do.
"Your Highness." Percival asked his attention and ignoring Merlin in the process. "They stole an heirloom of my family, I would see to it that it be returned."
"With all due respect, Percival, you're neither guard nor knight and I barely know you." Arthur understood what Percival meant, he wanted to help hunt down the thieves, but the Prince didn't want or need any observers when he had to fulfil his duties. Percival sighed but was content with the Prince's explanation, he thought it understandable to react the way he did and he could not force him to do anything more. For a moment Percival's sigh had Arthur worried, he had seen the man's big hands around the thief's neck, but the nodding in acknowledgement put the Prince at ease. Percival left the room first, not even considering collecting his reward, and Arthur commanded Merlin to gather the knights.

As the Knights came upon the treeline marking the entrance of the darkling woods, Merlin turned to the Prince.
"Arthur..."
"Yes, Merlin, I know." Arthur assured him with a crooked smile and held up a fist to order everyone to stop moving.
"What is it, Sire?" Sir Leon asked, whatever Arthur and Merlin had noticed, it passed him by completely.
"Just wait for it." Arthur answered.
Slowly but surely a person came into view and, judging by his posture, Merlin knew they had met before. Whoever was following them didn't mind being discovered as he kept approaching them. Seeing Percival fully some of the knights shared looks of worry, the man's muscle really was something to be both feared and admired.
"I thought I told you not to follow me." Arthur spoke as he brought his horse closer to Percival's and noticed he was now carrying a sword as well.
"With all due respect, Your Highness merely stated we were not acquainted." Percival replied.
Arthur chuckled, mostly because it was true. The man had committed no offense and even if he did, he was bending the rules, not breaking them.
"Would it have mattered if I had?" Arthur asked. Percival merely shook his head. Arthur took another look at the man, somewhere he reminded him of Lancelot. It was strange only he and Merlin noticed him and none of the knights did, this was reflected by what happened in the castle. With so many servants roaming the castle, Percival still managed to sneak inside unnoticed and even catch one of the thieves. Last but not least, he showed respect when talking to the Prince and although he defied him now, that didn't make him less honourable. In a way Lancelot had done the same.
"How good are you with that sword of yours?" The Prince asked.
"I can handle myself." Percival wasn't one for words and being cryptic sometimes helped, he found it could only be measured by showing it. Sir Leon brought his horse forward and boldly suggested for Percival to ride with him at the front of their company. Surprising the senior knight, he accepted.

They reached the dead oak where Percival suddenly dismounted.
"What are you doing?" Sir Leon demanded to know.
"Your Highness, when he spoke of where they gathered, he said 'two minute walk'. I doubt any of them have horses." Percival replied. The Prince nodded in approval and dismounted as well, his example soon followed by the knights and a very reluctant thief. Their walk west lasted longer than two minutes, it made Arthur a bit unsure whether the thief had told the truth after all and just when he began thinking about hanging the thief, a group of men could be seen sitting in the distance.

The thief wanted to shout but it turned into a squeel when Percival's hand came around his throat, forcing him into silence. Arthur gave the man a surprised frown, somewhere he admired the hunting instinct he was showing. Unfortunately the act was in vain as the group of strangers were on their feet looking for something, swords drawn, and through the bright red colours of Camelot they found it. The knights stood eye to eye with the unknown men. There were twelve of them, outnumbering the knights by one, but they did not engage the knights and instead merely kept their eyes open and their weapons at the ready. Being in a deadlock already, Arthur stepped forward.
"In the name of the King, I demand to know who you are." The Prince spoke with great confidence though one of the foes, a rather lanky man, still managed to let out a giggle.
"Lycoth got himself caught." He laughed.
"Oh, shut it Karl." Lycoth, the captured thief, replied.
"I asked you a question!" Arthur demanded now annoyed for being ignored.
"We're alone." Karl mocked him.
"Regardless, you must pay for your crimes." Sir Leon now stepped in.
Karl whistled and out from a few trees behind them came another five men armed with axes.
"Justice comes in numbers." Karl replied as it was now 16 bandits against 11 knights, not counting Merlin or the still captive Lycoth. Arthur was conflicted, he didn't want to fight but now it seemed he had no other choice. It came as a surprise when a body was flung into the bandits and knocked down three of them, starting the battle.

Arthur glanced at the bandits trying to get up, amongst them was Lycoth and taking another look at Percival, it was clear enough he had thrown him and it seemed he was a good swordsmen as well. Merlin found himself taken aback by the sudden violence but caught on soon enough so he wouldn't get killed. The warlock's heart was pounding but he found himself almost bored as the knights knew their weapons far better than the bandits knew theirs and the battle was over rather soon. Half the bandits were killed, half of the remainder wounded and the rest unconscious.

Percival walked over to the tree 'round which they sat when they first saw them. The loot wasn't laid out very carefully but the Man could make out his mother's ring, the family heirloom. Another piece he made out was a crown, the King's crown, which he also took up and held out to the Prince.
"You've got what you came for?" Arthur asked as he accepted the crown.
"Yes, Your Highness, as do you." He replied
"I saw you fight, you fight well. It's a shame my father only allows nobility to become knights, you would've made a fine knight." Arthur complimented him.
"Thank you, Sire."
The Prince accepted that Percival was a man of little words and left it at that. Merlin also took a look at the stolen goods and recognized both Morgana's bracelet and Gwen's earrings, the latter he handed to Arthur. Sir Leon, as Arthur's most trusted knight, was tasked with seeing to it that the rest of the stolen goods would be returned to their rightful owners.

Percival returned to Camelot with the knights and the eight remaining bandits. After that Percival departed without goodbyes but Merlin was quite sure they would meet again, with the change of times.
Merlin was glad to be back in Camelot, or rather the castle. There was someone who would be very glad to see him. He knocked on her door and answered at her call.
"Merlin." Morgana greeted him with a smile.
"I believe this is yours." Merlin smiled holding up her bracelet.
"Thank you." She spoke rather out of character compared to her usual cheerful self.
"No 'Thank you'? No kiss, not even a hug?" Merlin thought.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked.
"You left." She said accusingly.
"What do you mean I left? I'm back, aren't I?"
"You left without a word, I had to hear from Gwen you were 'thief hunting' with Arthur."
"So every time I leave Camelot, be it getting herbs for Gaius, I have to tell you?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that. It's just... whenever you leave Camelot with Arthur you always get into trouble, like the thieves joining up with bandits."
She had a point there. Merlin didn't usually mind being proven wrong but now he had to apologize for it. Were it Arthur he would've just kept shut but this was Morgana. He knew she wasn't made of glass and that was exactly the problem, she might want in on the action and put her life on the line as well. Still, it was important to the woman he loved and which meant he would have to compromise.
"You're right, I shouldn't worry you like that." Merlin admitted.
"Just tell me in future, alright?"
"I will." The warlock assured her.
"So, how did you find those bandits and who was the muscle?" Morgana asked.
As usual they talked for the rest of the evening until Gwen came back from her evening with Arthur. Later that night, when Merlin laid in his bed so far beneath that of his Lady, he couldn't help but wonder what adventures the future would bring.

AN:

I'm experimenting with a story/episode intro's so I'd like your opinion of that.
Did you like the Man secretly being Percival? I once read a book of which the protagonist is only known as 'the Man'.
I admit this introduction might be a bit long but I absolutely wanted to nail this one properly.
Percival deserves a good introduction and I think it absolutely ridiculous the show hasn't spent an episode on it when the rest of the knights have.

I always pictured Percival as a big, friendly and even honourable giant who you simply shouldn't cross.