Chapter 2:

Outskirts of Camelot


-one month later-

Merlin was tired, three days of riding and they were only now nearing their destination, a small town that lay between the borders of Camelot and Caerleon, Torquey, or some such nonsense. Sounded awfully close to torque in his opinion, but did his opinion count? Oh no, Arthur gets it in his head that it's his 'duty' to go help this village with a bandit problem, and guess what Merlin? You get dragged along for the ride, if not to protect the destined king-to-be from all the dangers he runs himself into than at least to clean armor, shine boots and otherwise make sure his royal highness could happily laze around on his butt.

Merlin swore Arthur was reading his mind as he turned around in his saddle and nattered at his manservant, listing what needed to be done when they arrived at Torquey. "… and once the horses and saddles are cleaned… Merlin… MERlin!" Arthur pulled his horse up sharp to get his manservant's attention, the knights following in amused silence behind them quickly followed suit to avoid crashing into the prince and Merlin. "Sorry Arthur." Was Merlin's lame reply, as the procession resumed its meandering progress along the forested trail.

Shortly after, while Merlin was trying to figure out a spell he could use to clean the horses saddles, the trail broke out of the trees into a small green valley surrounded by rolling forested hills and a snow capped mountain at the far end. Squinting as his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight, Merlin could just make out a small village surrounded by fields and backing onto the forested skirt of the mountain. "Finally", mumbled one of the knights, Sir Bedivere, if Merlin remembered correctly. There were so many and the numbers and names varied so often that he had a hard time keeping track of them all… except for the ones that made his life miserable, thankfully, Bedivere wasn't one of them.

"Good ale and a hearty meal awaits us, shall we make haste now an end to our journey lies near?" Arthur asked a challenge in his voice as he spurred his horse forward. Merlin gripped the reins tightly and hung on for his life, a mask of white faced terror inscribed on his features as the rest of the knights raced away and Merlin's own mount, not to be left behind, took off at a full out gallop to join the other horses in the race. Merlin couldn't do anything to stop his horse until the rest of the group slowed down as they approached the town. Little more than a large village, he thought to himself as he peeked through his scrunched up watery eyes, still stinging from the wind whipping in his eyes.

The town was surrounded by a palisade wall, thick logs that were sharpened at the top, buried into the ground and tied tightly together. Merlin was surprised that such in such a remote location, guarded for the most part by the high hills on either side of the valley, that the townspeople felt a need for such protection. Judging by the little weathering the wood had suffered however, he wondered if perhaps the walls were a result of the increased brigade attacks that had started a little over a year.

They were stopped at the gate by a pair of shabby looking soldiers who sternly asked them for papers. When they were satisfied by a royal seal their faces lit up and they warmly welcomed the party into Torquey.

As they neared the first the cluster of houses, overshadowed by the mountain that stood over them like a sheltering tree, Merlin noted the gloomy appearance of the buildings. The houses weren't ramshackle huts of any sort, in fact most of the dwelling and shops looked like they had once been sturdy half-timbered buildings, with elegantly carved doorposts or shop signs painted with bright colours of red, blue and yellow, slightly faded with the sun. Yet now most of these buildings appeared forlorn and unkempt, with boarded up windows and doorways, plus the near silent and empty streets marred the colourful gaiety that must have once graced bustling streets.

A scruffy threesome of children came running from between one of the buildings after a rolling wheel made of twigs stopping short when they saw the horses and riders. The oldest, a young boy from what Merlin could tell by the ragged tunic and cropped matted blonde hair, took one trembling step forward before addressing the strangers, "Give me your name and business here." The child demanded, sounding a lot braver than he looked. Merlin supposed the boy couldn't be any older than seven or eight judging by his height.

Arthur swung down from his horse sending all three stumbling backward in surprise and causing the smallest one to flee back down the streets at a hand motion from the oldest. "Hey!" he spat at Arthur and puffing himself up to make himself seem bigger and whipping out a small dagger from beneath his rags, "I said I wanted a name!" he demanded shrilly as hands of the three knights flew to the hilts of their swords.

Arthur waved them away, "Easy there soldier." he said good-naturally, though Merlin could sense he was ready to disarm the boy if absolutely necessary. "I am Prince Arthur and these would be my knights that have come to aid your town in light of the bandit attacks." Arthur explained motioning to the mounted riders, of course forgetting Merlin... again.

Merlin watched as the wheels in the child's head turned, appraising the well dressed gentlemen before him, but not quite ready to give up yet, "Dur you have any proof of that?" the boy asked. Arthur reached into his saddle bag and pulled out the message for the Lord of Torquey, the royal crest molded into the wax that sealed the rolled up parchment.

Seeing the seal the boy realized he couldn't hold up his argument any further and quickly bowed low, tugging on the shirt of the other child motioning him to do the same.

"Sorry yur highness." he mumbled before straightening up, in fact not looking particularly sorry but at least having mind to put his dagger away.

Arthur took a quick glance around before turning his attention back to the boy, "We are in fact on our way to meet the Lord of this region, I believe he is known as Lord Grifith, the Earl's son?" Arthur asked somewhat uncertainly. Since the death of the Earl of Torquey, Lord Don, some ten years ago very little had been heard from these far reaches of Camelot.

The only correspondence after the Earl's death had been a letter addressed to the king from the widowed Lady Kalaris informing him that she would manage the estate only until her stepson, Grifith, the firstborn son and only child of the Earl and his first wife Isolde, reached the required age and she would then step down as was proper.

However nothing more was sent until only a two weeks ago when a harried messenger from Torquey came with a dire plea for help, signed by the Lord Grifith himself. This was, in fact the only reason Uther had allowed Arthur to come on the bandit hunt in the first place, in case the widow was misusing her power over her stepson or was still managing the estate and needed to be advised to relinquish her position in favor of the rightful heir.

So it was understandable when Arthur visibly relaxed when the boy nodded in understanding at the title he had bestowed on the Lord rather than the Lady, and gave directions to the keep.

"Well, now we know the Lord is at the very least a figurehead." Arthur commented under his breath to Merlin as they made their way slowly through the town, "My father commented that the Lady Kalaris was a headstrong women who was rumored not to know her place, apparently when the Earl would bring her to any social occasions she would often argue vehemently with prestigious Lords about the place of women in society. Along with discussions of all sorts and all of which were not appropriate for a lady, let alone for an Earl's wife." Arthur gave Merlin a sidelong glance, smiling wryly. Merlin knew he was thinking of another women back in Camelot who sometimes acted out of her place, and argued with those above her rank, the prince in particular. Though Merlin didn't think Gwen was quite so fiery as the Lady of Torquey was said to be.

As the road began to turn uphill closer to the base of the mountain, the stores and houses began to look more lively and people could be seen shuffling along and casting suspicious glances at the royally dressed strangers, staying well out of their way.

At last the houses ended opening up into a small grassy plateau, the gate open and unguarded at this end of the town, no doubt due to it's proximity to the keep, which could be seen overlooking the valley from atop a steep cliff just uphill from them.

On the far side Merlin spotted what must be a bridge that crossed a rather dark and oddly shaped river. I began high on the left side of the mountain, cascading down from a narrow pass, before coming around and creating a divide between the keep and the village and disappearing into the shadows of the forest far to the right.

As they approached the bridge what at first had seemed to be a river revealed itself to be a deep gorge. Seeing this Merlin began to remember his extreme fear of heights...

"Umm, Arthur?" came Merlin's whisper as Arthur's horse took the first step onto the bridge and sent an echoing sound of shod hooves on wood clattering into the darkness that was beneath them.

"What now Merlin."

"I think I'm scared of heights."

"You think? You either are or your no-...t. Merlin why are your eyes closed."

"I don't really want to find out if I am afraid, just tell me when we reach the other side."

"Phew that was a long bridge, glad we're over it." Says one of the knights, Edric, Merlin recalls.

"*sigh* I'm glad that's ov- ARGH! NO WE'RE NOT!"

Edric snickered, Merlin now also recalled Edric is often the most annoying.

"So...so far away. The gr-ground is so far away." Merlin stuttered clenching the mane of his horse and unable to rip his gaze away from the dizzying sight of the bottom of the gorge. Almost fifty feet below him.

"An impressive defense," Arthur comments appraising the depth of the gorge and the sharp shale walls that would make climbing nigh on impossible as most of the rocks would break and crumble if you were to try and descend.

When, much to Merlin's immense relief, they reached the other side of the bridge, they climbed over a steep hill and found themselves facing an impressive wall of rock that seemed to touch the sky. The keep appeared to be half built into the the cliff face, with a fortified wall at the front and a sprawl of outbuildings, most likely for livestock dotting the mesa.

"Finally." Merlin breathed, still recovering from his fright attack. A bell rung out as they approached passing under the gatehouse into the bailey to be greeted by two soldiers and a young man with short brown hair seated in chair. "Welcome, welcome!" he greeted them cordially, "My good prince, what a most excellent pleasure. Please, my men can take your horses and you are most welcome to come refresh yourselves." he said gesturing with to the large doors behind him.

Merlin dismounted and, holding both the reins of his mount and Arthur's, watched in astonishment as the young man, who could only be Lord Grifith with the air of authority and eloquence in which he spoke, grabbed a hold of the two wagon wheels that were attached to either side of his chair and sent himself into motion, still seated! Merlin watched with acute fascination as the contraption was lifted up the steps by two manservant's and then rolled itself through the open doors into the recesses of the keep

Though he'd much rather talk to the peculiar man in the mobile chair, Merlin resignedly turned the horses and followed the two soldiers heading to the stables on the far left of the courtyard. He makes it only a few steps however, before a movement in one of the tower's windows catches his eye.

A tall women with flowing wild black hair and clad in a deep green dress met Merlin's gaze. Her face was lined with years of sorrow, and yet her beauty was breathtaking. She held herself aloof with a the regal elegance of an ancient queen, seeming to look down on Merlin and the world in general as if it was insignificant to her. The most captivating feature and by far the most alarming was the women's vibrant hazel eyes, more green than brown they glowed with a fierce intelligence. Before she looked away something stirred in Merlin's memory, he felt sure he recognized those eyes.

Her gaze released him from some sort of spell and when he next looked for the window she was gone but for the fluttering of an empty curtain.

Once he had finished his list of chores, sadly without the aid of magic, Merlin attended to the keep. He arrived at the Great Hall, a large oval room in the center tower of the keep, just in time to witness a bedraggled-looking young women in muddied tunic and breeches, burst into the room only to stop dead at the sight of unfamiliar faces. "Ah," said Lord Grifith with a smile, still comfortably seated in his chair on wheels, "and may I introduce my sister, Lady Adelaide."


AN:

*edit* Thank you so much dontstopbeleiveing123! ^.^

hope you like it so far, to be honest though I don't update too often usually, this as well as the next chapter are already written thus the daily updates. XD Also any plot ideas... or ideas... or REVEIWS are greatly appreciated and loved! ^.^

Thanks,

~Wydra

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