"How could you agree to bringing a vampire here?" Uther demanded, slamming his fist down on the table.
"We had no choice, they made a good argument, how could we say no?" Arthur replied, "And he's not just any old vampire, he's the prince."
"Does it matter?" Uther hissed, "We can't let that creature just wander about the castle!"
Arthur couldn't help but narrow his eyes when his father refereed to Merlin as a 'creature', he was quite happy to see his knights had a similar reaction.
"If I may sire," Leon spoke boldly, "The vampires on the isle are very civilized, they do not want much except peace and a new castle to aid their growing population. It's much less than others have asked."
"I will not have vampires roaming Camelot freely!"
"Father I understand how you feel but just give them a chance, I did." Arthur argued, "They are hardly that different from us save a few physiological differences and the fact that they drink blood."
"How can my own son say they 'drink blood' so casually?" Uther shook his head as if he'd failed somehow in Arthur's upbringing, "Do you not see how monstrous it is?"
"We eat meat." Arthur pointed out, "The vampires don't even harm the people they drink from, they even drink animal blood and provide for the humans they live with. Just look at Merlin's thrall Lancelot, he loves working for the prince."
"Only because he has known no other life!" Uther replied stubbornly, "Give him a week of freedom and you'll see."
Arthur sighed, how could he explain that Lancelot already had freedom? He'd not liked the idea of Merlin being alone in such a large castle full of suspicious humans but the prince had insisted that Lancelot not suffer down in the crypts with him.
"There is no changing it now we can hardly send him back." Uther sighed, "We will have to use this to our advantage."
Arthur paled.
"What do you mean?" He asked nervously.
"We will use this time to try and understand him, find a weak point besides the sun." Uther decided, "For now go get me that servant of his, and tell the bloodsucker he can join us for dinner tonight."
-oOo-
Merlin had been thankful for a proper sleep during the day, their travels had really begun to mess with his sleeping pattern. However, the ambiance could of been better, nothing quite like waking up in a room full of corpses. He was very glad to see Lancelot shaking him awake come nightfall saying he was to go to dinner with Arthur and his father.
"He seems...okay." Lancelot mused, "Tough but I think we can get through to him, he seems to want peace as far as I can tell."
"You spoke to him?" Merlin blinked, his thrall nodded.
"He felt bad you are being forced to sleep in the crypt so he just wanted to know if there was anything that would help you while you stay here." Lancelot replied, "I told him the basics, no sunlight, no rosemary, no fires."
"Thanks." Merlin smiled before frowning, "Ummm, they said dinner but..."
"Yes, I'm worried about that too, if they have nothing for you then you will just have to feed afterwards."
Merlin nodded and swallowed before he could help himself. He was thirsty, quite thirty in fact he'd not had any blood since the morning of his injury. But he could last a few more hours, no doubt his eyes would be a much duller blue than normal. He hoped Arthur didn't notice.
He was preparing himself to ignore the tickle in his throat when they entered the dining room and to his surprise there was a very large goblet of blood at his place opposite Arthur. He could tell from the smell it was some sort of cow or bull's blood, not exactly the tastiest stuff around but it would tide him over until he could feed properly.
"Arthur informed me that your council made sure he and his knights received food at your meetings, I endeavor to do the same." Uther smiled politely, "I hope you wont mind terrible living off animal blood while you are here, the other option is, unnerving to us."
"No problem." Merlin replied trying not to look upset and trying to be thankful they were allowing him to drink in their presence at all. He sat down and waited fro both the prince and his father to start eating before taking a sip. He did his best not to make a face, cos blood didn't taste this bad the last time he'd had it, but blood was blood so he drank a little more trying to ignore the odd spiced taste.
Over dinner he explained his peoples position again with Arthur even going so far as to suggest a few places where their new home could be built. The vampire couldn't help but notice the cold look he was being given by the king whenever his son tried to help his side of the argument.
Finally Uther decided it was time to be excused and frankly Merlin was grateful. His stomach was aching, old blood always upset the stomach a bit, the animal had probably been drained an hour or so before dinner. He didn't say anything though, they weren't to know.
"I'm sorry about my father." Arthur sighed as they left the dining hall.
"It's fine, at least you're trying for me and my people." Merlin smiled, his guts twisted again.
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked raising an eyebrow, "You seem, off."
"Oh I'm fine." Merlin assured him, "I'm just tired."
"You've been sleeping all day surely." Arthur retorted.
"Guess the trip took it out of me." Merlin excused, "I'm going to go nap, I will see you tomorrow night."
-oOo-
Somehow he managed to fall asleep as soon as he returned to the crypt but he was awoken in the early hours on the morning feeling his stomach twist and turn along with his head. A few years ago Lancelot had caught a human illness which had caused his skin to heat and sweat along with terrible headaches and stomach pains that made him throw up. He'd called the feeling nausea.
As a vampire, Merlin had never known or understood illness before. Vampires were only ill when they were injured, like he had with the sunlight. Very few other things could cause him harm, silver burned as did fire, old or bad blood could render him ill and so could rosemary.
His eyes snapped open.
Rosemary.
The spicy taste in the blood at dinner, blood was never spicy, it'd had rosemary dipped in it, maybe even soaked! He'd been poisoned!
Lancelot had told them he couldn't be near the herb, stupid! They should of known not to give away everything! Luckily the plant could do little more than weaken him, make his insides burn and make his skin itch if he touched it. It wouldn't kill him however that thoughts wasn't reassuring him right now.
He stood and made his way slowly up the stairs, cursing when he saw the soft light hitting the stones at the top. The sun was rising already, dammit!
He began to feel a small amount of panic. Was it just Uther who'd poisoned him or was Arthur in on it too? Surely he couldn't be, Merlin had thought, or at least hoped that they were friends.
Did they think the herb would of killed him? Were they waiting to come down here and expecting a body? He could feel his fangs trying to descend as they always did when he felt threatened, stupid instincts. He needed some proper food, Gods he was thirsty...
"Merlin?"
It was Arthur.
"Are you awake?"
The prince jumped down the last step and made a quizzical face, obviously taking in his fangs and claws.
"What's got you so rilled, it's only me." Arthur grinned taking a step forwards, Merlin immediately stepped back making Arthur freeze.
"Why did you put poison in my blood last night?" Merlin asked cooly.
"Poison? I thought you vampires were immune to that stuff." Arthur blinked, "Why would I poison you?"
Merlin searched his face, he looked bewildered, concerned and hurt all at the same time.
"You didn't know." Merlin sighed in relief, "It must of been your father."
"My father?" Arthur gaped, "How dare you accuse him of that! He may not be the friendliest to vampires but he's trying you know, even spiced your blood last night."
"With rosemary?" Merlin asked darkly, Arthur nodded.
"Rosemary is poisonous to vampires Arthur!" Merlin snapped, "Lancelot told him that before dinner last night! No wonder my insides have been burning!"
Arthur looked genuinely concerned.
"It's not going to kill you or anything right?" He asked quickly, "I swear I had no idea."
"No, I'm just weak and, what's the word...nausea?"
"Nauseous." Arthur corrected with a sigh of relief before turning serious, "But why would my father poison you? Hurting you will only start a war."
"How should I know, he's your father." Merlin replied, "I can't leave now, Lancelot has my cloak and the sun is up, but I can't stay here, I'm sorry but I don't want to stick around to see if your father wants to test silver or fire on me as well."
"I understand, I'll go find Lancelot, there is a tunnel leading from the cells to the outer wall of the city, we can sneak you out, I'll deal with my father."
Merlin smiled, he was glad Arthur was on his side.
"I'll wait here."
Arthur nodded and ran back up the stairs, leaving the vampire to impatiently pace. Unfortunately he quickly tired due to the rosemary still being in his system and settled down on his mat to snooze for a little while. After a few minutes footsteps began to echo down the stairs, Lancelot and Arthur!
Quickly he got to his feet but his smile fell when he was met with the face of several of the royal guard and the king. All of them wielding silver plated weapons and the largest had a pair of cuffs.
Uh oh, a weak vampire isn't a fast vampire...