When Merlin woke up, it was already light out, which meant he was late with the King's breakfast, but in his heart of hearts, he couldn't find the gumption to care. He was angry with Arthur. He took his time getting ready; he walked down the stairs with leisure, taking a certain time with each step. He didn't care if Arthur would be angry with him for being late, maybe he just wouldn't show up at all.
He must have looked irritated when he walked toward the table, because Gaius looked up at him and shook his head. There was stuff in a bowl, that looked like mud, Merlin didn't even bother sitting down, he wasn't hungry anyway. He was angry.
"Do try to look a bit less like an angry dragon," Gaius told him, looking back down after a moment. Merlin didn't bother commenting, how did Gaius know what an angry dragon looked like anyway? He trekked out of the chambers then, going down the hall, with that same lazy, slow stride. Before long, half way to Arthur's chambers actually, he met Gwen. She was coming from the opposite direction and Merlin had a hunch why.
"Did you bring him breakfast?" he asked, without a hello or explanation of who the 'him' was, Gwen knew.
"Yes," she smiled, very knowingly at him. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I know about you," she said then. "Arthur told me."
"Told you what?" Merlin asked, but he already knew and if he thought he was angry before… it was not even close to how he felt now.
"About you," she said again, grinning. "Why didn't you tell me before?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I've known many people like you…they were lovely all the same."
"I hadn't really wanted people to know," he told her, seething, he tried to remain calm though, or his magic would act up and the last thing he needed was to be a sorcerer and gay at the same time.
"Oh," she made a face then, letting her arms drop. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not ashamed," he said, pointedly. "I just don't think it is anyone's concern."
"Oh," she said again, frowning. She was starting to pick up on his anger and stepped back a step. "I promise not to tell a soul." He nodded, trying to keep his mouth shut. "I should have seen it before, I feel sort of foolish," she tried to laugh then, but Merlin didn't find it at all funny.
"Why would you say that? he asked, crossing his arms now.
"You have this sort of air about you."
What the hell did that mean? he wondered, he has an air about him? It didn't matter, he told himself, she shouldn't have been told this and when he finally got to Arthur's chambers he would be sure to tell him just that. He bid Gwen a goodbye then, stalking down the hall now, with much greater pace. Once he got to the King's chambers he stormed inside, to see him sitting at the desk, more anger flooding Merlin upon seeing the King.
"Merlin," Arthur looked up, causally. "You're late."
"Why did you tell Gwen?" he asked, getting straight to the point, there was no use in stalling. Arthur's eyes suddenly widened.
"I thought you were telling people…"
"I told you, I didn't tell you so you could spread it around Camelot," Merlin barked. He recognized that this was the King of Camelot and that the last thing he should be doing is speaking to him like this, but he also recognized that Arthur was a giant ass and needed to be told off properly. "I only wanted you to know!"
"I'm sorry," Arthur admitted. "I hadn't thought it would do any harm."
"No, you hadn't thought at all!" Merlin barked. "You see Gwen and stop thinking with the head that everyone can see!"
"Now hold on just a moment," Arthur said, tossing his quill. Merlin had wondered how long it would take him to get angry. "Are you forgetting who you are speaking to?"
"No, I know who I'm speaking to, thanks," Merlin said, matter-of-factly. "I'm speaking to the world's biggest ass!"
And then he turned on his heels and marched from the room, ignoring the King calling his name. He just walked down halls, wondering the corridors, he was too angry to do his chores; he didn't want to do anything for Arthur.
Around midday, Merlin stood, gleaming out of a window, at the towns people below, when he felt an arm wrap around his shoulder. He knew it wouldn't be Arthur. If Arthur wrapped anything around him, it would be the King's hands on his neck, strangling him. He shouldn't have talked to him like that, he was probably already fired. Merlin looked over.
It was Gwaine who had his arm slung over Merlin's shoulder.
"I've heard about you," he said, entertained. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
They all seemed to ask this question, why hadn't Merlin told them? Because Merlin hadn't known until last night!
"I didn't want people to know," Merlin said, it wasn't that hard of a concept to figure out. "How did you find out?" He swore then, to himself, that if Arthur had told his knights, if Merlin wasn't already fired…he would quit.
"Percival told me," Gwaine shrugged, smirking at Merlin.
"How did Percival know?"
"Leon told him."
"How did Leon know?"
"Elyan told him."
"How did...oh right, he's Gwen's brother" Merlin grumbled. Before the day was through, everyone in Camelot would know, he was sure of it. "And she told me she wouldn't tell a soul!"
"How did Gwen know?" Gwaine asked then, scratching his chin.
"Arthur told her."
"The Princess knows you're into blokes?"
"I told him…" Merlin trailed off, feeling terrible all of a sudden. If only there were any nice rocks to live under in Camelot.
"Well, that was your second mistake, your first mistake was not telling me," Gwaine winked, pulling his arm from Merlin's shoulder. "Good luck, mate,"
He tapped him on the back, before heading down the corridor. Merlin watched him, shaking his head. Merlin decided to leave too, he had to face Arthur at some point, better to do it in the day light, so by chance, if he had to flee Camelot, he could do it in a timely manner.
He walked into the King's chambers to see him the exact same way he had left him, at his desk. He cleared his throat, to announce himself. Arthur looked up, his expression, once hard, softened upon seeing Merlin.
"Merlin," he said, not sounding angry, or he was acting, Merlin wasn't sure at this point. He got up and walked over to Merlin then, who couldn't help but flinch back. "I'm sorry."
"You are?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. He could recall Arthur apologizing the first time around, but he had been too angry to care then.
"Yes, I took something you told me in confidence and turned it into castle gossip," Arthur said, shaking his head. "I am truly sorry, I should not have told Guinevere."
"Leon, Percival, Elyan and Gwaine know," Merlin told him then, sighing. "Who knows who else knows now."
"The servant that was just here did," Arthur told him. "She decided she needed to ask me about it as well."
"What did she say?" Merlin asked, but he wasn't sure why, it wasn't like he truly wanted to know.
"She asked, 'Excuse me, Sire, did you know your servant fancies di-"
"Don't finish that sentence!" Merlin hollered suddenly, jumping back, Arthur smiled, kindly at him in return. "I suppose being known as gay isn't that terrible," Merlin stated then, more to himself than anyone else. "There are worse things, I'm sure."
"Indeed, like being a sorcerer."
Merlin looked up at Arthur then, wide eyed. But Arthur just continued to smile at him, which was odd in its self, but Merlin figured it was just because he still felt bad. He patted Merlin on the back then.
"I promise, anything of importance you wish to tell me in the future, stays between us only."
Merlin was grateful for this.
Later in the evening, Arthur greeted his uncle, graciously, as Merlin opened the door for him to enter the King's chambers. Merlin would be the only one serving them tonight, which was a very good thing, if Gaius' plan was to work. As they sat down at the table, Merlin offered to pour them both goblets of wine. They agreed, and instead of getting the flask and filling up the cups at the table, Merlin took both from the tabletop and set them on the counter the food had been carried in on. He made sure to hide what he was doing as he poured the wine, grabbing the vile of potion from his pocket, pouring it into a goblet.
"Uncle," Arthur was saying, good thing too, as Merlin muttered the spell as quietly as he could. He watched as the wine and potion bubbled together. "I was told you traveled to the northern border?"
"Yes," Agravaine said, just as Merlin turned around with two goblets of wine. He made sure to set the correct ones in front of the men.
"And?" Arthur asked, as he flashed Merlin a thank you-ish look and sipped his wine. "Is all well?"
"indeed it was, Sire," Agravaine nodded, taking a big gulp of his wine. He paused for a moment, looking down at the cup and then to Merlin, before turning back to Arthur. "However, I think there are other matters we need to discuss."
Merlin took a breath, turning back around to grab the smoked boar; he placed the tray in the middle of the table and was suddenly halted by Agravaine's heavy eyes on him.
"Uncle…" Arthur said again, raising his eyebrows. "I believe we talked about this already?"
"How can you allow a sor-"
"MORE WINE!" Merlin yelled, grabbing the flask, swiftly and messily pouring more into Arthur's half drunk goblet. Arthur just smirked up at him.
"I told you before, I feel no differently about him," Arthur told his uncle then. "It makes him uncomfortable to speak of it so freely, let's respect his wishes."
Agravaine grumbled under his breath and snatched his wine up, sipping from it. Merlin watched him closely. If he just finished the cup…just finished the cup, Merlin's problems would be over. Well, most of his problems. There was still the gay bit.
Within no time Merlin's wish was granted, Agravaine had downed the glass and quite rudely asked for a refill.
"I have heard Caerleon has been sneaking onto Camelot grounds, is this true?" Arthur asked then, but Agravaine just sat there, staring at Arthur, not saying a word. "Is that true?"
"Yes, it is true," he answered, sounding rather drunk all of a sudden. "Sire, can you please pass the buuuh..."
"What?" Arthur asked, looking very confused. Agravaine didn't seem to notice this.
"Can you pass the buuh...buuh?"Agravaine said, looking around questioningly, as though he himself, didn't understand what he was asking for. "The buuh?"
"What is the buuh?" Arthur asked, leaning forward. Agravaine's head was drooping now, lolling back, and then going forward. "Uncle?"
"Excuse me, Sire, I must tend to an urgent matter..." and then his upper half fell forward, head smashing into his plate, uneaten boar leaving grease all over his face. Merlin had half a mind to check to make sure he had gotten the right vile, is it supposed to do that?
"Uncle?" Arthur asked, jumping up, He looked at Merlin for help. "What's happened to him?"
Merlin rushed forward, feeling the man's neck for a pulse, it was there and full force, fast and pumping. Well, he wasn't dead, that was a good sign. He lifted his head up then to see Agravaine's eyes half-lidded, eyeballs rolling underneath them. His mouth hung open and drool dripped down his chin as he let out a healthy snore.
"He's drunk!" Arthur announced, walking around the table, as Merlin let Agrvaine's head go and it went tumbling back to the table with a thud. "Merlin!"
"Sorry," he said, holding up his hands in defense. Arthur rolled his eyes at him as he tried shaking his uncle, but that would not wake him.
"We have to get him back to his chambers."
"I'll call his servants!"
"No," the King stopped him. "He wouldn't want anyone to see him like this, we'll take him ourselves."
"But his Chambers are three stories down!" Merlin complained. "How are we meant to do that by ourselves?"
"We'll think of something," Arthur said, biting his lip as he thought. "We'll clearly have to carry him."
"I'm not carrying him!" Merlin retorted, only to have Arthur raise his eyebrow at him.
"Would like to wager on that?" Arthur asked, Merlin growled under his breath. "You can carry him on your back!"
"What?" Merlin all but yelled. "Have you seen him?"
"Yes, I have, here…help me lift him."
"Why can't you carry him on your back?" Merlin asked, as he helped Arthur lift his uncle. He was already heavy and Merlin was only bearing half his weight.
"Because I'm the king, it's poor edict."
"You are full of…" Merlin trailed off, unable to finish as Arthur swung his half of uncle over Merlin's shoulder and suddenly, Merlin was burdened with a full size man on his back.
"There," Arthur said, arrogantly. "Let's get him back to his chambers."
Merlin grabbed hold of both Agravaine's arm's, taking one small step forward, he could hear Agravaine's boots skidding along the floor. He took another step and another, feeling as if the man was getting heavier at each step. It aso seemed Merlin was getting shorter, but actually, as he looked down, he just noticed, he was half bent over.
"Arthur…" he called; even his voice struggled under the weight. "Arthur, I can't…"
"Nonsense, you are doing fine."
But just as the King said this, Merlin took another step, off balanced and fell face forward onto the floor. Agravaine's limb body falling on top of him.
"ARTHUR!"
He could hear Arthur laughing. Some king he was!
"Come now, Merlin, get up."
"Get over here and get him off me, you utter clotpole!" Merlin told him, trying to wiggle out from under the dead weight. It was suddenly lifted from his body and he gratefully got up, turning to see Arthur, who was holding his uncle up by the middle.
"We should probably try another way," Arthur said.
"No… do you think?" Merlin retorted, sarcastically. Arthur glared at this. "We could drag him..?" he did make an honest suggestion then. "Or hide him in a broom cupboard…?"
Arthur just glared again. "We have to carry him," he instead. "Take hold of his feet," he said then. "I can't hold him much longer, he's heavy."
"You don't say?" Merlin was sarcastic again. "Try having him on your back!"
"Just shut up and be useful for once!" Arthur barked. Merlin nodded, though, he was useful quite often, if he did say so himself. Merlin took hold of Agravaine's ankles and lifted him up. "Let's take him this way."
Merlin didn't mention how stupid this idea was, because it was much better than him carrying the man all by himself, so he just nodded. Walking backward to the door. After a struggle to open the door, they walked down the corridor, rather slowly due to how heavy Agravaine was. Merlin felt bad for his horse. Once they got to the stairs however, their progress went to a standstill.
"How are we supposed to carrying him downstairs like this?" Merlin asked, Arthur looked puzzled for a moment, biting his lip.
"One of us will have to go backward, that is the only option we have."
"Yeah…one of us will have to…" Merlin mumbled, giving Arthur a sideways glance. "One of us who's strong…and tough…handy with a sword…maybe blonde, could be a king."
"Oh shut up, I will go backward!" Arthur barked, turning around. The first few steps were easy. Arthur only barked a few orders and they were once again heading in a steady pace. Only two and a half more levels to go. That was until Merlin misjudged a step and went tumbling forward.
"Merlin!" Arthur yelled at him, but he was already going down. Landing on Agrvaine as they both plummeted to the steps. They landed in a heap; the only one still standing was Arthur, who had the sense to grab onto the railing. "You are such a buffoon!" Arthur yelled at him, as Merlin looked up, his head had been lying on Agravaine's chest beforehand. "How can one person be so stupid?"
"I am very talented," Merlin said, staggering back as he stood up. Arthur just glared at him as they both lifted Agravaine, who still slept soundly. They started down the stairs again, slower than before. Merlin was a bit offened though, as they rounded the staircase and started on the other. "You didn't even ask if I was alright."
"I'm sorry," Arthur remarked. "Are you alright, you idiot?"
"Well, you don't have to be rude…" Merlin trailed off, as they reached another landing. They were making good time now. Almost half way there.
In no time, they cleared the stairs and rounded the corner, taking a breather for a moment, before finishing the walk to Agravaine's room. They sat him against the wall, his head lolled forward, drool still dripping down his chin. He looked a real state.
"I'm going to have a serious talk with my uncle about his drinking habits in the morning," Arthur said then, rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand. Merlin nodded, biting his lip. If he woke up in the morning, Merlin knew better than to think this was just a drunken stupor. This was magic induced and who knows what was truly wrong with him. Perhaps Gaius would, Merlin would have to bring him back down here later, to check on him. "Well, be had better press on."
Arthur grabbed his uncle around the middle again and Merlin, once more, grabbed his ankles and they processed down the hall. It was only a few minutes later that they reached his chambers. Merlin had a hard time opening this door too, with the awkward load he was carrying. It creaked open nonetheless, and they carried him in.
"Let's get him to the bed," Arthur said, sounding out of breath, Merlin could relate, he felt the same. They reached the bed and with one huff dropped the man on it. He bounced a few times on the mattress and then went still.
"Are you sure he's breathing?" Merlin asked, feeling rather worried again. Arthur put his hand under the man's nose, but just as he did, Agravaine let out a loud snore.
"It seems so," Arthur nodded, looking over the man. "I've never seen anyone this drunk before; he didn't even stir when you cracked his head off the stairs."
"Maybe he's not drunk…maybe he's gone into a coma or…" Merlin trailed off, his nerves getting the best of him.
"What's a buuh?" Arthur asked, looking confused and very concerned. "Maybe he's had a stroke."
"Gaius has talked about a stroke before, it's when your brain shuts down," Merlin explained.
"Look at him!" Arthur commented. "His brain doesn't look like it's working very well!"
"Maybe we should get Gaius…" Merlin trailed off.
"I think that's probably best."
(A/N: I really like this story, these two are complete idiots... If I've spelled Agravaine wrong I'm sorry, his name sucks to spell, just fyi. )
