Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Nine:
Merlin buried through the castle, looking for a safe place he could take the potion Gaius had given him. He could afford to be caught as it was, but it'd be much worse if someone caught him changing from Dragoon back into his normal appearance. He entered the kitchens and looked round no one was in sight, Merlin holds out the bottle and was about to drink it when Audrey caught him.
"You!" Audrey yelled. "What are you doing in my kitchen?"
"Nothing," Dragoon answered, turning to face her and keeping the potion out of view.
"Nothing means mischief in my book," Audrey glared at him.
"Well," Dragoon replied. "You've been reading the wrong book."
"And mischief means theft," Audrey continued as if she hadn't heard what Dragoon had said.
"No," Dragoon shook his head. "It doesn't."
"And theft means my pies!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Your pies?" Dragon gaped at her. "Why on earth would anyone want to steal your godforsaken pies?"
"My pies are the talk of Camelot," Audrey said proudly.
"Oh yes, indeed they are," Dragoon agreed sarcastically. "The crust like rusted iron, a filling like last year's horse dung, and the smell, oh yes, just like the guardhouses latrine!"
"Nobody insults my pies and gets away with it!" Audrey threatened.
"Oh I'm sorry, should I speak instead of your poisonous flans?" Dragoon continued. "Like vomit, curding in the noon day sun. Or your dumplings! The king himself likened them to freshly lain frogspawn, wrapped in a pig snot."
"What would you know about the king and my dumplings?" Audrey demands.
"Oh good grief," Dragoon sighs, his eyes flash gold as he knocked Audrey out with a pan. "Should have done that years ago."
)o(
Have taken the potion, Merlin steps over the unconscious form of Audrey and walks out into the corridor. He quietly walked down the corridor, only to stop as he found two guards standing at the end of the corridor. He looks round and catches sight of a candle holder on the wall down an adjacent corridor and used his magic to make it loose, distracting the guards in the process. But luck was not on Merlin's side, because as the guards moved to investigate the candle holder, Gwaine and a small party of Knight's appeared and caught sight of Merlin's shadow.
"You there!" Gwaine yelled, drawing his sword and Merlin took off running.
Gwaine and other Knights didn't hesitate, they chase after him and Merlin cursed under his breath as he ran. He turns down another corridor and headed towards the courtyard, as running towards Arthur's chambers wasn't an option until he shaken Gwaine and the others of his trail.
"You!" One of the other Knight's yelled. "Halt!"
Merlin turned down another corridor, this one darkened and poorly lit. Merlin's eyes flash gold and the path before him is suddenly perfectly clear to see. Gwaine and the other Knight's follow him and Mordred grabbed a torch form its holder at the top of corridor, just as Merlin turned and went down a staircase.
"There!" A Knight caught sight of him. "This way!"
Merlin reaches the main door leading to the courtyard and quickly runs out of the castle, slamming the door shut behind him. He ran down the steps and jumped over the wall near the bottom of the steps and hid. And not a moment too soon, as the door he'd came through was thrown open and Gwaine, Mordred and the other Knight's enter the courtyard.
"He's gone," Gwaine said looking around. "We've lost him!"
"Inform the men we have an intruder," Mordred said turning to the other Knight's. "Put the Citadel on high alert."
Not long after that the warning bell began to sound and Merlin cursed his luck once again. More guards enter the courtyard and begin searching, as they shot orders to each other. All Merlin can do is watch from his hiding place. Suddenly Leon ran across the courtyard and stopped in the middle. Mordred and Percival join him, while Gwaine headed back into the castle. Merlin glanced up at the window to Arthur's chambers.
He had no choice, he was going to have to climb.
"Faerblaed waw!" Merlin hissed and every fire in the courtyard went out.
The Knight's and guards looked at each other.
"There was no wind," Percival pointed out. "That was sorcery."
"Light the brazier," Leon ordered. "Search the courtyard."
Merlin paused in his climb and looked down at the courtyard below him, before continuing to climb.
)o(
Merlin opened the window to Arthur's chambers and climbed through. He closed the window behind him, just as Gwaine entered the room and Merlin froze where he was standing hidden behind a floor length curtain.
"Are you all right?" Gwaine asked approaching Gwen, who was sat beside Arthur's bed.
"Yes," Gwen answered, her gaze not leaving Arthur's still form.
"You haven't seen anything?" Gwaine asked. "Heard anything?"
"Nothing," Gwen replied, finally turning to look at Gwaine. "Why?"
"There's an intruder within our walls," Gwaine told her.
"Here?" Gwen sounded shocked. "In the Citadel?"
"Yes, my lady," Gwaine answered. "We last saw them in the Main Square, then we lost sight of them."
Gaius who was sitting beside Gwen, looked behind him at the curtains. He quickly worked out what Merlin had done.
"My lady, you may be in danger," Gaius said turning to look at Gwen. "Gwaine will take you to the guest chambers. He'll ensure no harm comes to you there."
"Why would anyone wish me harm?" Gwen asked.
"You're to be our leader, Gwen," Gaius explained. "You are Camelot's future. Do you imagine our enemies don't want you dead?"
"I can't leave Arthur," Gwen turned back to look at Arthur. "Not now."
"Gwen, I promise, if there is any change," Gaius promised her. "I'll fetch you at once."
"Gaius is right," Gwaine stepped forward. "Come, my lady. You're not safe here."
Gwaine and Gwen left the room and as soon as Gaius was sure it was safe he turned to the curtains.
"How on earth did you get in here?" Gaius asked.
Merlin pushed the curtains aside and sent Gaius a small smile.
"Don't even ask," Merlin approached the bed. "How is he?"
"His heart has nearly stopped," Gaius replied. "I fear he's close to death."
Merlin placed a hand over Arthur's chest and concentrated.
"The sickness is so deep in him," Merlin explained. "I don't know if I have the power to bring him back."
"You can do this, Merlin," Gaius reassured him.
Merlin straightened up and wiped his face and took a couple of deep breaths, before shutting his eyes and holding a hand above Arthur's chest.
"Ic the thurhaele thinu licsar mid thamsundorcraeft thaere ealdan ae!" Merlin commanded his magic, before opening his eyes, which were glowing gold.
Merlin took a step back and almost stumbled. That spell had been powerful. Never before had he used a healing spell as powerful as that and it taken a lot out of him. Gaius reached forward and checked on Arthur. Under his fingers, Gaius felt Arthur's pulse gain in strength. Arthur suddenly moved, pulled a face and mumbled something.
"Gaius…" Merlin breathed out a sigh of relief as Arthur rolled over.
"Merlin… Well done, Merlin!" Gaius got to his feet and pulled Merlin into an embrace. "Well done. You'd better get back to the cells before you're missed."
"There are guards on every floor and every stairwell," Merlin pointed out. "How can I get back down there?"
"Well the same way you came up, obviously," Gaius answered him.
"Obviously," Merlin muttered, before turning towards the window and Gaius waved at him encouragingly.
Merlin sighed and opened the window.
)o(
Hey, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.
