here comes the next bit...
please keep reviewing guys! pretty pretty please!
thanks to all of you who have already, means a lot!
Merlin couldn't believe Arthur. He knew that he had been late again but actually telling the King about it. That was low, even for Arthur. Bent at an angle that was killing his back, Merlin flinched as another festering cabbage came flying at him. The only good think about this was it was surprisingly fun to dodge rotting vegetables all day long. Merlin only hoped that it was for a day. Saving Arthur's life seemed to be the only time that he hadn't been in trouble with the king.
"What did you do this time?" A familiar voice sounded from somewhere to his left. Merlin grinned as he recognized the voice. Twisting his head awkwardly to where it was coming from, Merlin could just about make out the physician standing to one side, avoiding the flying vegetables.
"I was late," Merlin stated, "and Arthur just had to go and tell Uther. So, here I am. Why does it always seem to be Arthur's fault that I end up in the stocks? Last time was definitely not my fault – he started the fight. Only he's the royal one, meaning I get the blame!"
Gaius smiled at the indignant sorcerer. He didn't have to say anything; Merlin knew full well that it was his own fault that he was late for work. Sometimes, it was best just to let him vent his feelings. With Merlin's extraordinary gift, Gaius was dreading the day when he really lost his temper. There was no knowing what a combination of magic and madness might do.
Before he had time to find anything to say to the sorcerer, however, a tomato came out of nowhere and smacked Merlin square in the face, splattering with an almost satisfied squelch. Ducking away quickly, Gaius rounded the corner so that Merlin couldn't see him laughing - he would never be able to live it down…
Merlin's face burned with humiliation, making it impossible to distinguish between his actual face and the tomato dripping down it. And to make matters worse, another voice suddenly sounded from nowhere, this one less welcome given the state of things.
"That look suits you. You should think about adapting it on a more permanent basis." Arthur couldn't help the sarcasm from coming; it was his way of trying to hide the extreme guilt that he was feeling. He had arrived at the worst moment, just in time to see a boy of about five hit Merlin full in the face with the fruit.
Merlin spat out tomato pips and tried his best to glare at Arthur but considering how he looked and the fact that he couldn't quite see where Arthur was standing, the look was so comical that Arthur did burst out laughing, despite his best efforts not too.
"Here to gloat?" Merlin asked sourly, "Or are you on your way to tell your father more of my mistakes?"
Arthur was taken aback by the bitterness in his servant's voice. He didn't realised that Merlin could sound that vicious. It was only now that he realised the full extent of his mistake. Merlin truly believed that Arthur had told Uther about the lateness, meaning that he held Arthur fully responsible for the fact he was now covered in tomato.
"I came to tell you that I didn't tell him. And that I'm sorry…again. You know, that's the second time I've apologised to you. Don't get used to it; it's not something that I do often."
"I'm dreading the next time then." Merlin said, showing Arthur that he wasn't the only who knew how to be sarcastic, "First time I was sacked, second time I end up in the stocks. What happens next? Anyway, what do you mean you didn't tell him? He just happened to walk in, you thought it was me and told me off for being late, making him fully aware what was going on?"
Arthur stared at the boy in surprise, "How did you know?"
Merlin simply snorted in disbelief and shifted position, trying to get slightly more comfortable. Was there no end to Arthur's pranks? Narrowly dodging another tomato, Merlin looked around him as much as possible in order to see if the supply of vegetables was running thin yet. His distraction in attention gave Arthur the confidence he needed to confide in Merlin. He wanted to tell him about Claton, get his opinion about what he should do, but if he had his servant's full attention, the normally confident prince just didn't know where to start.
"Actually, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about." Arthur began, not sure whether Merlin was even listening, "If you found out that someone wanted to kill you and you had the chance to stop them but if through doing that, you were risking someone else, would you do it?"
Merlin stared at the prince in surprise. He certainly hadn't seen this change in conversation coming.
"Well," He started, trying to shift back towards Arthur to show that he was paying attention, but was stopped by a leek and a painful splinter from the wood around his neck, "that would depend on whether I cared for the other person or not. If so, then there really is no question about it. But if not..." Merlin felt his previous anger towards the prince die away. He couldn't quite believe that he was having this conversation, given where he was, yet it was moments like this that made Merlin realise that there was more to Arthur than the arrogant prat he appeared to be. At this moment, the prince was biting his lip in anxiety, staring at Merlin as if trying to reassure himself that he was really there.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable under the impenetrable gaze, Merlin glanced away, trying to work out what Arthur was thinking.
As soon as Merlin broke the eye contact, Arthur switched back into prince mode. He knew that his father would stay true to his word and take it out on Merlin if he didn't attend the council meeting, and so he decided to get there as soon as possible, meaning that there would be no reason to not let Merlin out of the stocks. Before Merlin had the chance to turn back, Arthur spun on his heel and strode from the market, leaving a tomato-covered servant behind, completely flummoxed.
Arthur was so intent on getting to the meeting that he crashed straight into a woman who was staring around anxiously. Coming back to reality for enough time to realise that she was looking completely lost, Arthur bent towards her, a frown on his handsome features.
"Can I help you?" He asked gallantly, whilst at the same time desperately hoping that she said 'no' in order to allow him to be on his way.
The woman looked at him in awe, obviously realising that he was someone of great importance, making Arthur feel rather smug, although he was adapt at hiding it by now.
"Well..." She stammered, "Sire, I...I, was looking for Gaius, the physician here. But I'm...well, I'm..."
Interrupting her, Arthur pointed her in the right direction and continued on his way, almost running as he realised that he was late for the meeting. He had been talking to Merlin for longer than he realised and now with this delay, time was short.
By the time that Arthur reached the hall, he could hear the meeting had already started. Taking a breath, the young prince straightened his shoulders, held his head high defiantly and motioned for the guards to open the doors, determined to make a dramatic entrance.
As he did just that, all the nobles sitting around the table turned to look at him, apart from his father who simply gave him a glance. The glance spoke volumes though, indicating that he was right not to risk Merlin and he would stay true to his word, as Arthur had predicated. Taking his seat, Arthur settled down comfortably, knowing from previous experience that they were going to be here for a while.
He was right. Hours passed with the nobles constantly bickering about the best way to stop Claton, whether to provoke him into showing himself or whether they should simply post more guards around Camelot. Arthur said nothing, his thoughts far away. He was worried, that was for sure. Worried about Claton, but more importantly, worried about Merlin. He knew that the stocks were a clear warning from Uther to the clumsy manservant, but Arthur was concerned that his father might go further than just the stocks. Besides, he had nothing to add to the conversation and no one asked, Uther was more than aware of his son's thoughts about the Claton problem.