Camelot was silent. Again.
This time the silence grew from the people and not from the night. Merlin had departed a fortnight ago. The peasants missed his pure heart and willingness to help and traders felt the loss of his conversation from when he ran errands for Gaius.
Geoffrey noticed his library grew unused, as it was before the manservant arrived. The Knights went on fewer hunting trips, knowing they would not have his company. Arthur aimlessly wandered corridors in the castle, barking orders at anyone that crossed his path.
The Taverns missed Gwaine.
Well the Tavern owners missed him. (Read: his money). The bar maids did not miss his steamy gaze and drunkenly wandering hands, though they did miss his seemingly perfect hair. People who frequently lost against him in drunken competitions rejoiced in his absence, only to be beaten by another. Everyone missed the tall man with dark hair, the friend that would collect Gwaine and escort him home. Always with a kind word to say calming those who had drunk too much to not start a fight.
So by proxy it could be said that the tavern owners honestly missed Gwaine.
Gaius felt the gaping hole in his heart reappear, as the ward that had filled him with fatherly love and affection was no longer there. He knew it was not permanent. He knew there was a greater plan, but the hole hurt nonetheless. The plot was not yet complete. The silence would stay where Merlin could not.
He walked down a long forgotten corridor to a hidden room, having made sure nobody had followed. As the door creaked open, he noticed the other man was already there, a look of despair cast upon his face. Gaius drew a shaky breath.
"What is the matter? Is there some flaw or hindrance to the plan?"
The other man held his head in his hands while he mustered the strength to speak. What he said was riddled with doubt and fear. He cursed his own recklessness and dishonesty to those he cared about most. Exclamations of how everyone hated magic were frequently uttered amidst desolate cries of how the plan could not succeed.
Gaius consoled him with words of encouragement until he seemed fit to continue the meeting. Taking the initiative to move things forward Gaius continued with a small, unnoticeable smile on his face. "S…" He caught himself before he made a mistake, "Surely it is too late to turn back now, perhaps we should move onto the next stage?" with a defeated nod from the other man Gaius spoke again. "A change of public opinion will by no means be easy, but I believe myself capable of completing it. All it will take is the help of a servant who likes to talk."
After further discussion Gaius left the man and returned to his daily routine. A routine which seemed so quiet without Merlin.
…..
George was happy to have returned to the esteemed role of manservant to the king. He saw how adored Merlin was around the city, and how much respect he had from the knights. Of course he knew he would never measure up to his predecessor in some ways, but he definitely intended to be efficient. He was looking forward to the council meeting later. A good servant is neither seen nor heard. And he definitely understood the importance of invisibility. Not least, because that was the best way to hear about the lives of the nobles. Yes, George was silent and observing; when the time called for it.
