War of the Servants
Chapter 2 – Merlin's Revenge
Here's chapter 2! I really enjoyed writing this one, you'll understand why when you've finished reading xD This chapter's got LOTS of dialogue. I hope you enjoy reading it :D
The sun was beating down hard on Camelot as everyone carried out their regular daily routines. Arthur was having a sword training session with his Knights of the Round Table and Merlin was asked to stand on the side, holding a massive wooden dartboard to be used for Arthur to demonstrate target practice. Of course, Merlin was the target.
"Aww, poor Merlin. Don't look so bored, we'll get you up and running around soon enough! Just make sure you have at least some energy left for running – You look worn out already!" King Arthur mocked Merlin who was struggling to carry the heavy weight of the dartboard, making the rest of the Knights roar with laughter. Merlin just sighed, too tired to say anything as the heat made his throat dry. He didn't complain about the massive dartboard because it over-sized the skinny warlock, shadowing him from the sun.
He looked in the other direction and saw Guinevere approaching him.
"Don't come to me, don't come here, go away!"he prayed quietly to himself, but it was too late for that as Gwen smiled at him. Merlin forced a reluctant smile back at her.
"I see Arthur's training his men really hard as usual" Gwen looked at Arthur admiringly.
"Yes, that is part of his job. After all, he is the King of Camelot!" stated Merlin, also looking at Arthur.
Arthur caught Guinevere staring at him and gave her a wide beaming grin and waved. Gwen smiled and waved back and Merlin did the same, only to realise that Arthur waved at Gwen and not him. Merlin felt his face burn in embarrassment and hoped neither Gwen or Arthur saw that.
"Arthur looks quite hot doesn't he?" said Gwen, still staring at the King.
"Yea- WHAT?" Merlin exploded in shock, with widened eyes and a disgusted expression on his face, giving Gwen disapproving looks. Gwen seemed to snap out of her daydream about Arthur and faced Merlin again.
"Oh, no I um, I meant scorching weather today isn't it?"Gwen stuttered. "It's so good of him to still come outside on a day like this and give up his time to practice his fighting skills with his fellow knights. What I meant was, he's working so hard that he's sweating!" she blurted out, obviously just saying the first thing that came to her mind in order to cover up her description about Arthur being 'Hot'.
"Indeed, Arthur does have the makings of a great King and I'm sure he that if he had to, he would give up all his time, just for the sake of Camelot-despite being such a clotpole at times!" replied Merlin, still feeling unimpressed about what Gwen called him.
Of course Merlin agreed that Arthur is 'hot' but he couldn't bear to hear it from anyone else, especially not from Guinevere. Merlin believed that only he had the right to call Arthur such things because he loved Arthur more than anyone else. He thought back to when first met Arthur and the great Dragon, Kilgarrah telling him that Arthur is one side of the coin and Merlin was the other half. Surely he implied that it was destined for them to fall in love?
Suddenly, Merlin groaned as he had a dart thrown at his face by Arthur. Target practice had finally started and Merlin was not enjoying it.
"I'll see you around later Merlin! Good luck with being the target." Gwen sympathised but laughed a little.
"Bye!" replied Merlin, relieved that Gwen had finally gone.
After a good half an hour of Target Practice, Arthur dismissed Merlin who was aching all over from running around and carrying the stupid dartboard. He put it away and walked back into the castle to Gaius' room.
"Ah Merlin, where have you been? You seem to have developed a hunchback!" laughed Gaius.
"It's not funny! I was Arthur's Target – again, and now I can hardly walk upright. I ache all over!" groaned Merlin, taking a seat on the chair.
"Well now you know how I feel." Gaius pointed out. "Now go and collect some herbs for me please, I need them before sunset."
"I've just come back from being tormented and now you want me to go and pick some herbs?" Merlin looked perplexed.
"I'm sorry Merlin but I really need those herbs before sunset." insisted Gaius while he flicked the pages of a thick book.
"All right then, I'll go, but it's the last thing I'm doing for you today." Merlin gave in. "You and Arthur never cease to find ways to give me a hard time do you?" he asked sarcastically.
"I'll make your life a living hell if you don't get me those herbs on time!" Gaius joked.
"My life's already a living hell! I do so much for Arthur and never get any credit for it. There's really no pleasing him sometimes."
Merlin made his way out to pick the herbs Gaius had asked for. He wasn't really referring to his life as a living hell because he was never credited for continuously saving Arthur's backside. It was simply because of Gwen. It was all her fault. If she hadn't existed, Merlin and Arthur could've been the happiest couple in the world, making Merlin's destiny easier to fulfil. If he gained Arthur's full trust, magic could be restored to Camelot with ease. However, Merlin doesn't just want Arthur's trust, he wants Arthur's love too, and Guinevere is the only thing that's stopping him.
Merlin snapped back into reality from his deep thoughts about Arthur and saw Gwen ahead of him in the distance. She was walking towards a well, presumably to fetch some water as she was carrying a bucket in her hand.
"Hmm, Guinevere and a well.." Merlin thought to himself and stopped walking. The young warlock had the most ingenious idea in mind. He walked a little closer towards the well but stayed hidden so Gwen couldn't see him. As if it was destiny, there was a brick right next to the well. Merlin waited until everyone was out of sight and whispered a spell, making his eyes glow and made the brick move right in front of Gwen. As she attempted to step forward, she tripped over and fell right into the well with an echoed scream and a splash.
"Hah! That'll serve her right! After all, she did say the weather was scorching hot so falling into a well should cool her down a bit."Merlin happily muttered to himself, looking rather pleased.
He went into the woods, collected Gaius' herbs and returned back to his room.
"Thank you, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Gaius examined the herbs that Merlin had given him.
"No, I actually enjoyed picking herbs for once! I never knew it could be so much fun." replied Merlin, thinking about Gwen in the well.
"Then I ought to send you to pick herbs more often!" smiled Gaius.
Just then, Arthur knocked on the door and entered.
"Merlin, you haven't seen Guinevere anywhere by any chance have you?" questioned Arthur.
"No my lord, I haven't. Why?" Merlin quickly replied.
"Oh nothing, it's just that I haven't seen her all day except for when she was with you right before Target Practice." said Arthur, looking at Merlin.
"No sire, I haven't got a clue as to where she could be." Arthur made his way out and Merlin cheekily smirked. Gaius looked at him suspiciously.
Loving the reviews! Keep them coming :D Special thanks to reviews by OgrOnkey and EmrysPendragon, I found them very supportive! ;)