A/N: Surprise! I told you might post another chapter on Friday. I think I'm comfortable enough with where I am in writing this that I'll start posting twice a week instead of just once.
For those who wanted me to read their stories/ etc., give me a little time. I'll get around to them eventually, but I am busy with writing and perfecting this story at the moment. So have faith. ;)
Chapter 6- One More Boat
Despite the Camelot party's demands to be taken to the shore and inspect the place where the boat belonging to the missing man had been found, Matthew and the other men in the tavern had refused, claiming it was too dangerous in the fog to go out.
"Why were you out?" Arthur asked the red headed man who apparently had been the one to find the boat initially.
"I was walkin' to my sister's house," he nodded to the red-haired girl who was seated in one of the chairs at the table. Urie was seated beside her on one side, and Maria sat on the other.
"I live near th' docks," the man continued. "An' I was walkin' by when I heard what sounded like a scream. I went over t' see what it twas, but all I found was Erik's boat, all bashed it in twas. Didn't stick around t' see what had caused it."
At the sound of the name of the missing man, the young red-haired woman immediately began to sob harder.
"Erik was her husband?" Merlin asked, softly. The large red-headed man nodded.
"Th' best you ever saw," he agreed. "Great man. Tis a great loss."
"You said you heard a scream, and that's what drew you to the boat," Arthur said. "But you didn't see anyone around it? No one at all."
The man shook his head.
"I saw nothin'," he answered. "Strange, though."
"How so?" Arthur asked. The man blinked large, brown eyes.
"I thought…I thought I heard….laughin', and not the right kind, either."
Merlin's eyes narrowed.
"Not the 'right' kind?" he repeated. The man shook his head.
"It sounded…evil."
Arthur and Merlin shared a glance before Matthew stepped in.
"I think you'd better go home, Aaron," he said. "Before it gets too late."
The man nodded, but looked to where Urie was still sitting with his sister. The motherly woman looked up and smiled gently, sadly.
"I'll keep her here," she said. "She needs to be around those who understand."
Her eyes met Maria's sad ones, and the dark-haired girl immediately wrapped her arms tighter around the red head. The man, Aaron, nodded.
"Much obliged," he said. Matthew led him to the door, and the two men stepped out into the fog.
Arthur turned and looked at Merlin, who sighed.
"Number six," the black-haired servant whispered softly.
The morning dawned after a restless night for both Merlin and Arthur. Merlin had struggled to find sleep, and often in the night he had heard Arthur muttering to himself and shifting around in his own bed, obviously struggling with the same problem. The morning light, however gritty and filtered it was, hindered by the fog, couldn't have come soon enough for either.
Leon was already gone by the time servant and king were eating breakfast with Gwaine and the two guards in the tavern. Merlin was feeling less and less pleased about the fact that their stay in this town would be lengthened, even by a few days. It just didn't feel right.
Fortunately, after last night's incident, Arthur seemed to be picking up on the fact that something was wrong, as well. Hopefully, they'd be able to get to the bottom of it before things got desperately out of hand.
As soon as their morning meal was finished, Arthur approached Matthew, who seemed to have made himself the group's honorary guide and had spent much of his time the previous day in and around in inn in case Arthur or the party needed to be led anywhere.
"Take us to the boat that was found last night," Arthur said to the man. He looked hesitant initially, but when Gwaine and the two guards both backed up their king's request, Matthew realized he didn't entirely have a choice.
"Follow me," he finally, reluctantly, told them.
The fog was clammy and wet against their skin as they made their way down the streets and towards the docks. But instead of leading the group of men to the place where the boats were moored, he instead led them to the shore line, where Merlin had seen the other wrecks the day before. Those were now covered back up, apparently in attempt to hide them from prying eyes. Today, a new shattered boat had taken its place amongst what was quickly becoming a graveyard of fishing vessels.
"There it is," Matthew said, standing back from where the fishing vessel lay, splintered, like the others. However, even as the knights, plus Merlin and Arthur, carefully picked their way over the splintered wood to get a better view of the wreckage, Matthew would not go any farther, as if he was stopped by some invisible force field.
Or some invisible fear, Merlin thought.
Arthur and Merlin knelt beside the wreck even as the others still climbed around it, as if looking for a survivor under the mess of broken boards.
Arthur rested a hand on the damp wood. The palm came away sticky with red liquid. The blond king frowned.
"Blood," he said. Merlin nodded in agreement. His own hand went to the wood, and he found just what he was searching for.
"Arthur," he said, gesturing for him to look. Arthur leaned forward, and Merlin raised his hand and traced the place where claw marks – like the ones from before – had been cut into the wood.
"What did this?" the blond wondered aloud. Merlin nodded towards the black tarpaulins scattered down the beach.
"I was down here with Maria yesterday," he said.
"So that's where you were," Arthur said. Merlin shot him a glare.
"…And there are three more wrecks just like this," Merlin continued. "Two more are moored at the docks. But they're all the same: they all have these claw marks."
"They disappear at night, and then their boats turn up the next morning, no body," Arthur said slowly. Merlin nodded.
"I think it might be magic," the said softly. Arthur fixed with him with a look.
"Why do you think that?" he asked, though there wasn't any mocking in his voice. Merlin looked at the claw marks again.
"I was talking to Maria yesterday," he replied. "And she mentioned a story. The story about mermaids."
Arthur let out a long sigh.
"Merlin…" he started, but the black haired servant cut him off.
"Have you ever seen anything do this, Arthur?" he demanded, gesturing again to the claw marks on the wood. "Look at these marks: they're made by hands. Not by animals. Besides, what animal could make this? Even I know nothing in the ocean could do something like this."
Arthur stared at the wreck for a long time before standing once more. He turned to Matthew, his blue eyes suddenly darkening.
"Call your council together," he said in a voice that Merlin had seen make the strongest of men bend to Arthur's will. "I need to speak to them."
"Yes, Sire," Matthew said and quickly hurried away. Merlin stood as well and brushed the sand from the knees of his trousers. Arthur looked at him.
"I think it's time we started getting some answers," the blond said steadily.
Once again Merlin found himself in the council hall, before the councilors, but this time he wasn't looking for a way to escape. This time it was an entirely different situation.
"Your Highness," Isaiah said calmly. There were only a fraction of the typical council members here this morning, as apparently Matthew was only able to gather a small group of them. The rest had either simply refused to make an appearance or for some other reason couldn't be in attendance.
"I hadn't expected to hear from you so soon after yesterday," the elderly councilor continued.
"This isn't about the trade disagreement," Arthur answered, his voice and eyes hard.
"Then what is it about?" the head councilor asked amicably.
"It's about the fact that in the last week you've have six men disappear and six mutilated boats wash up ashore," Arthur returned. The councilor simply looked at him.
"And what is so urgent about that, Your Majesty?" the man's words were like a punch in the stomach for Merlin. Honestly, six men had disappeared, and this man thought nothing of it?
By the look on Arthur's face, he was thinking the same.
"Six of your men have disappeared into the night, and you don't find that in the least bit disturbing?" Arthur demanded, appalled.
"And why should I?" Isaiah replied calmly. If Arthur's eyes widened any more, they'd pop out of their sockets.
"'Why should you…?'"
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, you do not understand how the occupation of fishing works," Isaiah responded steadily. "Matthew showed you the rocks near the cliffs, yes? Many a boat has been bashed against their wicked surfaces, and the sea takes who she wants. There is nothing more."
"Six men, in less than a week, all have been crushed against rocks and you don't find that strange?"
"They understood the danger of the job when they took it," Isaiah responded. Merlin gritted his teeth. How could this man be so calm about all this?
Arthur pressed his hand against his face, most likely trying to keep himself from chewing the old man out. Still, Merlin could see a vein pulsing in his temple.
Finally, the young king lowered his hand.
"They went out at night, though," he argued. "And that was something Matthew told us when we were viewing the docks. The men return before nightfall, because it is too dangerous to fish afterwards. Surely it's not normal for a knowledgeable fisherman to go out at night?"
"They were drunk."
Isaiah's answer practically made Merlin fall over. Arthur's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"They were drunk," he repeated slowly. Isaiah nodded wisely.
"It is, unfortunately, a common ailment among those of our occupation," the old man answered steadily. "But it is true nonetheless. The answer is obvious."
"So you're telling me that six men, all in a row, all got drunk, all went out onto their boats at night, and were all killed by the rocks?" Arthur demanded.
"It is sad, but it is true," Isaiah responded. Arthur's mouth fell open in astonishment.
"But, there were claw marks on the boats," Merlin put in, stepping forward. "Like a creature had clawed at the wood."
"A mere mark of the rocks," the ancient councilor responded. "They are quite jagged."
"You can't honestly believe what you're saying," Arthur argued. But Isaiah simply sat there and smiled peacefully.
"But I do," he replied.
"Please, Isaiah, maybe you should – " began Matthew, but the old head councilman fixed the younger one with a hard, unrelenting gaze.
"We have already discussed this, Matthew," he said, for once his voice sounding slightly riled. "Do not bring up old arguments. The answers to all your questions are explained by natural occurrences and nothing more. With all due respect, Your Highness, this is my village, and the sea is something we all know well. It is a tragic occurrence, but one that happens. Now, if you excuse me, I have issues around town that need attending to. Gentlemen. Your Majesty."
With one last bow, Isaiah stood and crossed to the door of the council hall, which he pulled open and walked out of. The rest of the council, who had sat silently supporting their leader, rose and parted through the door as well, leaving only Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, the two guards, and Matthew in the hall.
"I can't believe what just happened," Merlin said. Arthur shook his head.
"Neither can I," he agreed. Matthew stood and crossed over to where Arthur stood, looking like someone had just slapped him across the face.
"I am truly sorry, Arthur," he said. "I attempted to open their eyes to the same situation. But no matter what I said, they simply will not see.
"My own son-in-law was one of the victims, disappeared into the fog and never returned. And yet when I brought it before the council, they said the same to me as they did to you."
"They're blind," Gwaine put in, stepped forward to stand beside Arthur. "Just a bunch of blind, ancient men. And they smell like fish."
Matthew nodded.
"They are too old to see much beyond their own ideas," he answered, sadly. "Anything new or different to them, they simply ignore or try and force into their own little boxes. They cannot understand."
"They need to understand," Arthur said. "This town may be in serious danger."
"I know," Matthew said solemnly. "I can see it. But I'm afraid that by the time they do, it will be too late. For all of us."
The dark words hung in the air for a long time, before Matthew gestured towards the door.
"Allow me to escort you back to the inn," he said. "Maybe it would relieve your mind to ask Maria some questions. She is anxious to understand what happened to her husband, and will do whatever it takes to find out."
Arthur nodded in agreement, and followed Matthew out the door.
"Besides," Gwaine said. "After a meeting like that, I could use a drink."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it a little early for it, Gwaine?" he asked. Gwaine fixed him with a shocked look.
"It's never too early for mead!" the long-haired knight proclaimed and both Merlin and Arthur laughed.
None of the party saw a brief form slink back into the shadows between two buildings, blending back into the hiding place where it had been crouched, overhearing the entire meeting of the council. In moments, wreathed by the fog, it was gone.
A/N: So Mondays and Friday will now be the new update days. I hope you're enjoying this and I hope you'll check back soon!
