Surprise! I actually posted before Christmas! Like I promised! Seriously. It's a Christmas miracle.
This chapter is a tad longer than the ones before (I think) because I was forced to make my planned chapter 3 into two chapters because it was too long. Sorry for the lag in posting!
Disclaimer: I don't own either Merlin or Sherlock.
Warning: Merthur slash, maybe Johnlock later on
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Chapter 3
John barely had time to blink before Arthur was rushing forward, taking Sherlock down with a flying fist. John rushed to Sherlock's aide immediately, even if he was slightly confused as to what was going on. Sherlock calmly got back to his feet as John positioned himself between Sherlock and Arthur.
Leon and Percival had come forward and were holding tightly on to Arthur, who was struggling in their hold, his face a picture of rage.
"You bastard!" Arthur snarled, still struggling. "it's all your fault!" John could hear Sherlock's breath hitch behind him but he ignored it. "it's your fault he's after Merlin!"
"I think not," Sherlock announced stiffly, his voice akin to ice. "Someone hacked your security system. Someone by the name of Nimueh."
Arthur stopped struggling at this revelation, which was complete nonsense to John, and instead slumped in Percival and Leon's grip. The rest of the room were all wearing differing variations of scowls. John felt like the only one out of the loop.
"Who is Nimueh, Arthur?" Sherlock demanded. "Moriarty always works alone. Why is this Nimueh helping him?"
"Nimueh Priest," Arthur sighed wearily. Percival and Leon released him and instead he flopped down in a chair, staring at his hands. "Was a friend of my mother. When she died, Nimueh blamed my father and was determined to take her revenge. She hasn't bothered us since my father died. I thought she'd moved on."
"A hacker out for revenge then? But is there any reason why she would hold a grudge against Sherringford?" Sherlock started to pace, hands clasped behind his back, but no one missed him pointedly use Merlin's childhood name. John, realizing he was still awkwardly standing between Sherlock and the rest of the room, retreated, heading back to lean against the wall, ready to offer input if needed.
"Merlin," Arthur stressed his husband's name. "Was the hacker my company recruited to out hack Nimueh when she attacked, back when my father was still alive. Merlin basically prevented her from enacting her revenge."
Sherlock turned to face Arthur, his eyebrows raised incredulously. "You hired Sherringford as a hacker? Why? The boy's rubbish."
Arthur snorted at that, the ghost of a smile on his face, however pained. Sherlock simply looked at him sharply, obviously expecting an answer.
"Mate, you need to keep up with the times," The man name Gwaine accused, his arms crossed with a scowl on his face. "Merls has been a world class hacker for the past four years or so."
Sherlock scowled, obviously not liking being unknowledgeable about his own brother and John was in his own little world of shock. And really, he reasoned, he shouldn't be too surprised; All Holmes were extraordinary in some way.
Sherlock began to pace again, mumbling to himself under his breath. Snatches of his utterings could be heard, but none made sense.
"No, no, no… something missing… security system… witnesses… time… security system… security? … BODYGAURDS!" Sherlock finished with a shout, whirling to face Arthur. The room jumped in surprise.
"What?" Arthur asked, his eyebrows pinched in confusion.
"Bodygaurds," At Arthur and the room's continuous blank look, Sherlock continued. "Oh come on, you must've had bodyguards on Sherringford. Where are they?"
"There were two. One's dead. The other's at the hospital." Leon answered for Arthur. Sherlock's eyes lit up.
"And? They weren't Sherringford's normal bodyguards, were they?" Sherlock demanded with excited fervor.
"No," Arthur answered, looking surprised that Sherlock knew that piece of information. "His normal bodyguard, Lancelot, is on his honeymoon with his wife Gwen."
"So who appointed these two bodyguards?" Sherlock demanded.
"Arthur did," Leon answered.
"Leon did," Arthur answered.
They looked at each other in shock, along with the rest of the room. Sherlock smirked victoriously.
"They told me you had," Arthur returned, his jaw set. His head whipped around in realization. "Are you saying the bodyguards were inside men?"
"Exactly! Moriarty used your trust for each other against you in a risky gamble. He played that you two wouldn't ask confirmation from each other and would instead trust the other's judgement. He played you." Sherlock explained, looking far too gleeful.
"But there's no evidence!" Arthur protested. "This is just a theory!"
Sherlock's eyebrows rose defiantly before he turned to Leon. "Security tapes. Surely you have those?"
"Of course. Nimueh cut the feed moments before Merlin was taken though." Leon explained. John noticed Arthur flinch at the word "taken".
"Show them to me. Knowing Moriarty, he will have left us some clues." Sherlock demanded. Arthur stood immediately.
"Leon, Gwaine, you're with me," He announced, assuming a voice of power. "Follow me," He directed to Sherlock, before exiting the room. John hesitated, wondering if he should follow. Sherlock paused, glanced at John, and jerked his head in the direction of the door, his hands still clasped behind his back. John happily followed.
They were just passing the front door when a series of taps resounded. *Tap Tap* and then a pause, *Tap Tap*. The group froze, the Pendragon men's hands moving stealthily to their guns. Leon hadn't been informed of anyone arriving so who could be at the door?
So yeah… Um… Review!... and please don't kill me…. ~ Lianarias
