I'm glad everyone is enjoying the continuation of the story. Due to a few of the reviews, the following chapter will have a lot of Uther's POV, since he's not been portrayed in the best of lights so far.
The guards changed regularly, so presumably none of them would relax on duty. Merlin watched them come and go, while he lay there helpless. He didn't even attempt to see if he could persuade them to let him at least relieve himself, he got the feeling he was not to be untied under any circumstances. Instead he lay still, hearing the sounds of the pyre being built in the courtyard, and he wondered where Arthur was. Merlin hoped he was okay, he hoped Gaius was okay. He suppose he could have tried to reach Arthur telepathically, it had happened once before, but he didn't want to risk Arthur reacting in front of anyone and compromising himself further.
Instead Merlin watched with dull eyes as the guards went through their changeover again. Another four had appeared and the cell door was unlocked. The two shuffled out to allow their comrades in, and the door was locked up again. None of them spoke, they just took their positions and the four being relieved of duty shuffled off.
Merlin glanced up. The light was fading. Night was drawing in, bringing him closer and closer to his execution. Merlin couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of dread. His stomach was tied up in knots, throat tightening as he tried to control his emotions. He was going to die and it didn't sound like a particularly fun event. He couldn't stop wondering how much it was going to hurt to be burnt alive, or would the smoke get him first. Arthur would probably end up having to watch, Gaius would no doubt be there as well. Merlin hoped he was all right. He felt fairly sure that Uther wouldn't hurt the physician, who was in actual fact, the king's only friend. But Merlin couldn't be sure of that.
So much for his destiny. It seemed to be completely messed up. Uther was unlikely to trust Arthur for a very long time. How the hell was Arthur supposed to become a good king if he couldn't be trusted? Merlin felt that he had messed up big time, but it had been Arthur's choice to protect him, and to keep him close by. It was the knight's choice to keep to their vow to stay silent over what they had seen. Merlin hadn't even considered them, and what might happen to them. Arthur wouldn't say anything and Merlin could trust the five of them to try and look after the prince. Unless of course it had been one of them, after all these months, choosing to inform the king, breaking the vow they had taken, and then had decided to keep. Merlin bit down on the material in his mouth, emotions wracking his body as he tried to control the thoughts in his head.
He looked up at the sound of scuffling. One of the guards had moved from position and peered down the corridor that led to the dungeon. After a short pause he turned and nodded at his comrades. All the guards on duty suddenly seemed to relax, shoulders dropping and they put their swords down and removed their helmets. Merlin gaped, making a muffled sound of surprise through the gag.
It was as if his sudden random thought about them conjured them up. In the cell with him, wearing the uniform of Camelot's guards, were Gareth and Robert. Looking past them Merlin blinked as he saw Jonas and Rupert remove their helmets.
"What the hell?" Merlin mumbled through the material in his mouth. Gareth pulled a knife from his belt and knelt down to cut through the thick ropes around Merlin's ankles. Robert leant forward and pulled the gag from Merlin's mouth.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Merlin hissed, sounding angry and relieved.
"We don't have much time. The guards are changing over every two hours," Jonas said unlocking the door. "It should give us enough time to get you out through the caverns, and to safety."
"What?" Merlin said, hardly comprehending the fact that they had come to help him.
"We need to get you out of here, now, you idiot!" Gareth said, taking Merlin's arm and hauling him up onto his feet, he went to work on the ropes holding Merlin's wrists. Merlin staggered, wincing at the feeling of pins and needles that were shooting over his feet, and he flexed his hands trying to coax a little more life into them, and he rubbed his wrists, the skin red raw where the ropes had cut into him.
Merlin blinked, looking at them in surprise. They started to discard the uniform that they had been wearing, leaving the helmets, swords, and tunics scattered on the floor.
"Are you planning to leave that to make it look like I blasted four guards into oblivion and then did a runner," Merlin asked.
"Don't be stupid, Merlin!" Jonas snarled at him. "Everyone will know it's us that have done this. We left the guards tied in a cupboard in the guard room; we're going to have to go with you. It's common knowledge you can't look after yourself anyway, you're going to need someone."
Merlin gawped at him, his chest tightening with even more emotion as he realised exactly what the four knights were actually doing. They were risking everything, giving up everything to get him out of Camelot and to safety. None of them had betrayed him, and even now they were standing by him, even though they had no particular reason to. As Robert grabbed his arm, pushing him forward, realising Merlin was not about to move of his own volition, Merlin looked around and realised one of their number was missing.
"What about Olwen?"
"He's gone to see Arthur, he'll let him know what we're doing, and it means we keep someone inside, wherever we end up going, we can still get information. It's going to be a long time before we come back to Camelot."
Merlin chewed on his lower lip, wondering where the hell they could go. He wouldn't be able to go home. Ealdor was beyond Uther's borders but that didn't mean anything to him when he was chasing someone. He had hounded Balinor that far. Merlin felt his eyes watering and he stumbled a little as they hustled him down the corridor, all of them moving with a deep sense of urgency.
He didn't even register which direction they took until the cool air swirled around him. They were in the cavern where the great dragon had dwelt for so long. Merlin looked around, the knights had planned ahead, their armour, some bedrolls and travelling packs were all tucked up against one wall. Merlin stood there insensible as they started to get themselves organised, and realising that the young servant was too shell-shocked to be of any use they carried on getting ready without his help. Instead all of them just kept half an eye on him, making sure he didn't do anything stupid. It was only as Robert grabbed him again that Merlin snapped out of his stupor.
"Wait!"
"For what?" Jonas asked when Merlin was unforthcoming with any more information. "Merlin, we need to go, we are risking our lives to do this."
"We have to take Arthur."
"As much as I like you Merlin, I am not kidnapping the Crown Prince from under the king's nose at your request. Arthur won't leave anyway," Jonas replied.
"I can't leave him, if I go, if we go, it will anger Uther even more. I don't trust him with Arthur, not after this and I told you I'd protect Arthur above everything else. If we lose him, then everything, the entire future, will fall apart."
They all stared at Merlin in shock. For a moment what stood there wasn't the skinny, clumsy serving boy that they all knew. Something else pushed up from below his surface. Merlin's voice altered, resounding around the cave with deep authority, no hesitation was contained within it. It was powerful, and resigned to exactly what Merlin knew he needed to do.
"You don't have to come with me," Merlin said. Jonas growled, rolling his eyes and drawing his sword.
"Oh, come on!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Arthur sat slumped against the far wall of the cell. He had tried sleeping, but he couldn't stop thinking. The sounds in the courtyard had ceased long ago, they pyre was ready. Dread bunched up inside him, making him feel cold deep down. He knew his father would insist on him watching Merlin's execution. He would have to stand there with his father, watching Merlin die.
So many executions had happened before. Arthur didn't like them. Most times he tried to make sure he was required for patrols, or training, any other duty that didn't involve watching people die. He understood the reason that executions had to happen, but some of them recurred in his mind, he thought about them now from an entirely different aspect. Some of the victims had hardly done anything. They had done a small healing spell; they were the relatives of a known magic user; they had associated by default. So many of them now seemed innocent.
Arthur did not condone the use of magic, he had grown up thinking it was evil. His father had taught him that. But now he knew, the dawning realisation of the truth had been lingering for a while. Uther had used magic so his mother could conceive him. Gaius had never really said, when Arthur had tried questioning him, but Gaius could say more by not speaking than he ever could by trying to explain things. On the flip side, he didn't honestly think that Uther had wanted his mother to die in exchange for him. Instead, Arthur considered the fact that it was that moment that Uther realised just how dangerous magic could be, and his grief had twisted itself. Arthur had seen the worst side of what magic could do, and the best.
Merlin didn't use magic unwisely, nor did he use it randomly. He just couldn't avoid it. Merlin could hardly be blamed for being born with his talent, like Arthur could no longer blame himself for the death of his mother.
He glanced up as the sound of key turning in the lock echoed around the dungeon. Then there were the two thuds as the heavy metal bolts were drawn back. No one had been down to see him, not since Uther had left him here. He sat up a little straighter, lifting his chin. For a moment he considered standing up but decided not to. He wasn't quite sure what he was trying to display. If it was his father, then there would be a hint of disrespect to it. Arthur couldn't imagine anyone else being allowed into the room.
A guard, one who was presumably stood outside the door, came into the room.
"Food," he said, shortly and to the point. Probably because he had been ordered not to talk to him, at least any more than he had to.
"Not hungry," Arthur said, just as flatly, turning himself away a little, rolling his shoulder against the wall. It was a feeble act of defiance but he did it anyway. No doubt the information would get back to his father.
"The bread is freshly baked," a voice announced.
Arthur's eyes widened, he tensed a little but years of training meant he gave nothing away, he had only moved by the merest amount, although the chains holding him clinked, the sound was low and covered by the guard saying.
"There are orders not to address the prisoner." The poor guard faltered badly on that word. "Any more than is necessary."
Arthur turned his head, his eyes sliding sideways to watch the scene and mainly Olwen holding the plate of food, looking at the guard with wide-eyed innocence.
"Oh, well, I thought it better to try and encourage him to eat." Again he spoke with an utter innocence that the young knight could easily get away with. He was so well known for being very unworldly, despite his immense strength and skill with the sword. The guard shrugged, and Olwen smiled back, turning to take the plate over to Arthur. There was a cough as he went what was presumably a little too close to Arthur.
At that hint he put the plate down on the floor, looked up from under lowered brows and gave a light wink. Arthur glanced down at the food and frowned as he saw something tucked up within the soft white centre of the bread. The folds of dough were pushed out beyond the crust, something was hidden within. Olwen straightened up and backed off. The guard seemed satisfied that Olwen was going to obey the rules set down. As the guard turned away Arthur watched him and then looked up at Olwen and mouthed 'Merlin'. Olwen winked again and then both of them jumped as the guard, who was now in the doorway, suddenly fell backwards with a clatter.
"Merlin!" Arthur yelped, jumping up as his servant clambered over the sleeping guard, tripping up over his arm as he ran into the room. The four knights behind him were a little more agile getting over the prone man, who started to snore loudly.
"Arthur." Merlin stepped forward, Olwen stepped back. Merlin frowned as he reached Arthur and in the dim light peered at Arthur's badly bruised face. Merlin lifted his hand, almost as if he was going to touch it, until Arthur flinched away in a hint not to. Merlin's hand hovered for a moment before he slowly lowered it, instead just looking at the damage. Arthur's eye was swollen and his cheek was bruised from eye socket to jaw. It wasn't often that Merlin saw Arthur looking ashamed and sorry for himself, but for a brief moment that was what flickered in the prince's face.
"Uther?" Merlin asked, snarling the kings name out under his breath. Arthur shook that off and recovered himself.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Arthur snarled back.
"Coming for you," Merlin said. "You can't stay here."
"I can't leave, I'm the Crown Prince! How can I just run away? I won't run away, my father can put me on trial if he wants, and see what it gets him."
"Arthur, are you completely insane?" Merlin yelled. "If he puts you on trial, the council could sentence you to death, and even if Uther keeps you from that, you will stay locked up for a very long time. There is no way that can happen; you are too important for that to happen."
"I'm important to Camelot!"
"Yes, you are, but Uther is not the be all and end all of this kingdom. You are the one that will be the great king. Arthur, you have to come with us, please. You cannot stay here, and you cannot let your father dictate to you. Listen to me, please."
"But what do I do?" Arthur said. "I can't just run away."
"You have to, this isn't right Arthur, and you can't just give into it. You can't let him keep doing things like this."
Merlin waved a hand at Arthur's face. Waving a hand Arthur dismissed it.
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. I don't trust his judgment, not anymore, and not when it comes to you. I told them," Merlin waved at the knights, "that if it came down to it, you came above everything else. I told you that. Arthur, I have to, even if I have to drag you out of here on my own."
"You won't need to do that Merlin, no one wants to see him here," Gareth said. "But we have to get moving."
Arthur bit down on his lip, eyes rolling, one hand coming up to touch his damaged face and that was the moment Merlin breathed out one word. Arthur's chains fell away, clattering to the floor. Arthur put his hands up and covered his eyes.
"If I do this, I will never be able to come back again."
"You will, oh you will, the destiny chosen for you will not allow anything else. All you can do is choose how you get there. Either you allow your father to destroy everything you can become, or you let something else happen. I know it's not the simplest thing."
"All I can do is choose what I seem to have already chosen." Arthur nodded, looking pained, his eyes dark, but he nodded.
"What about Olwen, we were going to leave him here." Jonas said. "If we leave, we need eyes inside Camelot."
"I can…" Olwen started and then his eyes rolled and he fell to the floor, his head rapping hard against the stone. Merlin winced, retracting his hand.
"Perhaps I should have given some warning."
"What did you do?" Rupert asked.
"Same sleep spell as the guards, but they were wearing helmets. Sorry, Olwen, really sorry!"
"At least it looks real," Gareth said.
"What's in the bread?" Arthur asked picking it up and pulling a roll of parchment out of the core, Merlin took the rest and started to eat it. He got glared at balefully from five different directions.
"What? I'm hungry, and that gag tasted awful!"
Arthur glowered at him and unrolled the scroll.
Sire, (it read),
The vow stands. We have no idea how the king knew of Merlin, and that you knew what he was. Four of us will take him to safety, and we know that means we can never return to Camelot, at least for now. All we can hope is that we can return, when things change. None of us chose this, least of all putting the youngest of us in greatest danger. He chose to stay and he will hopefully allow us to talk from a distance. But if that should turn sour, we hope you can do what is best to help him.
We will always be your servants.
His head jerked up in shock, and rolling up the note Arthur stuffed it safely away in his shirt.
"We are going to have to leave him, I can't go unless I know someone is here to watch. Someone betrayed us, betrayed me, I need to know who that is," Arthur said flatly.
Merlin cringed but said nothing, stuffing bread into his mouth. His eyes were welling up. He only had suspicions, not facts.
"If we go, we need to go now," Jonas said.
Arthur nodded and grabbed Merlin's arm, pushing him forward. Two knights went in front and two behind. They made their way back, pausing at the entrance to the cloisters.
"Which way were you planning to go?" Arthur whispered.
"Through the caverns, but from here we can't go through the guard room, and Nicholas has taken ill in the lower room. He's sleeping down there. I don't think we can backtrack the way we came."
"Damn, back up," Arthur ordered, pushing them back and turning to head down another corridor. Camelot was enough of a maze; they just had to find the right way. The six of them tucked up in a corner.
"Will Olwen be all right?" Robert asked.
"He'll look like a victim of… well, me," Merlin said. "And he'll have a headache but it's nothing Gaius can't… Gaius! Oh, Gaius… is he all right! We have to get him!"
"We cannot, he's under arrest. Uther is keeping Gaius under house arrest, he cannot leave his rooms. There is no intention to hurt him in any way," Robert said.
"Until of course we all run!" Merlin said. Arthur grabbed him, taking hold of Merlin's arms and pinning him against a wall.
"We can't reach him Merlin, and if you won't leave me, I won't leave you. There is nothing we can do, my father will not hurt him, he will not risk it. You frighten him, even more so now he knows what you are."
"But if he does, Arthur, what if he does hurt him?" Merlin stammered. Arthur tightened his grip.
"I am sorry Merlin, but you can't. You made your choice, we have to live by them. I am sorry, we have to go."
Arthur pulled him and Merlin clung on. If he had let himself die, none of this now would be happening. Gaius would be fine. Merlin felt his stomach tighten as he thought of Gaius, but he also knew Gaius would not appreciate him getting himself into further trouble going to look for him. Very slowly he relaxed against Arthur, who slacked his grip, but he didn't let Merlin go.
Which was the moment the warning bell started to ring.