A/N: Hey Guys !
I know it's been a while since I updated this story! I'm really sorry that I got so caught up with my other fics.
Enjoy and please review.
Chapter 9 – Saving Arthur
Arthur and Merlin waited on the training grounds for the traders to show up. Merlin had made it a point to be early this time.
He wanted to be prepared against any unforeseen circumstances. He had made a quick trip back to Gaius's chambers to recount
the events of the morning and explain his plan to Gwain. The other man while still apprehensive had let Merlin go warning him of
dire consequences if he let anything happen to himself.
Now he stood outwardly calm but still a little tense over the whole situation. He just wanted these men caught and locked up in a
dungeon so Arthur could go back to being the royal prat he normally was and he could go back and sleep in Gwain's arms.
"Arthur, are you going to ask some of the knights to test the armor against you?"
"No, I wasn't going to, but it's not a bad idea, I suppose I could have one or two of them to practice against me.
They can give me a better idea of how durable it really is"
Merlin relaxed. If his plan was to work then it was essential to have a couple of knights around to physically restrain the men in
case the leader tried any spells on Arthur. He could have used his magic but they would be practicing in the training area and with
so many people he couldn't risk his magic being exposed. It was better this way.
"Sire, can you call Sir Leon?" Merlin asked.
Arthur turned to him a little puzzled, Merlin had addressed him as Sire, there was no bite to the word which he usually made sound like
an insult, now he wanted Leon to be one of the knights with Arthur. Leon was one of the more experienced and one the most trusted
knights. Arthur and he enjoyed something akin to a friendship, nothing like him and Merlin but still. Something didn't quite add up.
"Alright Merlin, what's going on?" Arthur looked at his manservant.
As if on cue two figures approached from the far side of the grounds.
"Ah, the traders are here…"
Arthur called for Sir Leon and Sir Pellinor to assist him in the testing of the armor.
The traders approached "Sire, requestin yer permission to test the armor" said the leader bowing low to Arthur.
Merlin could make out the smirk that the man was hiding as he bent his face. He hid a smirk of his own. Soon the joke would be on the trader.
"I want to make sure that what you've told me is actual fact, hence two of my knights are going to practice with me" Arthur said to the leader.
"Of course Sire, anything to set yer mind at ease, one can never be too sure eh" the man gave a crafty smile. A smug look passed between the two traders. This was going to be easier than they had anticipated. Merlin watched every gesture hawk eyed.
"Merlin" Arthur commanded.
Merlin moved to help Arthur with the armor. As he was doing so he whispered to Arthur "Sire, please allow the traders to fight you after the knights"
Arthur turned to Merlin puzzled. Merlin continued in the same serious tone "I have information that these men intended to harm you, I can prove it,
but I need you to fight one of them after the knights. Please Arthur, Sire, trust me." Arthur knew that something was definitely going on and it
seemed the only way he would get answers was to go along with whatever Merlin had planned. He simply nodded and watched the relief break
over Merlin's tense face.
The idiot. As if Arthur would ever doubt him.
The fight was much like any other practice that Arthur ran his knights through on any given day. The two men circled each other and the
familiar rhythm of swing, thrust, and parry had Arthur forget everything else. Merlin watched as the leader of the pair started moving his
lips quietly. He kept mumbling for a few minutes and then frowned as there was no reaction. The spell wasn't working.
His face grew more and more agitated as he kept up the actions with no results. In sheer frustration he poked his companion and Merlin
could see the dissent between them as both were trying to control their surprise and anger at the situation. The leader spoke a little louder
in the hopes of getting the spell to work but to no avail.
Arthur had been fighting Sir Pellinor for the last five minutes but could immediately feel there was no difference in this armor to the one that
he and his knights were already using in Camelot.
"Stop Pellinor. I don't know about you…but I don't feel any difference in this armor to the one in use already. Do you?"
"No Sire" replied Sir Pellinor.
"Hmm… Leon" Arthur put down his sword and gestured silently for Sir Leon to cut off the traders that were now starting to inch their way
away from the fight obviously trying to make a run for it. The pair turned to run but found themselves with the tip of Sir Leon's sword
stopping them. Sir Pellinor joined him as well.
"Trader" Arthur spoke in a calm yet dangerous tone.
He was furious. These two cons had the audacity to lie to him about weapons! They had thought to lie to the greatest warrior in Camelot
and possibly the realm. They had the gall to think to fool Arthur Pendragon – crown prince of Camelot! They had wasted his time, time that
could have been put to good use doing other things, such as training his knights, going through official documents and treaties, or even better,
sneaking off with Gwen! Oh yes, Arthur was beyond angry.
"There is no difference in this armor or the one I use every other day. You have told me lies. I do not tolerate being made a fool out of or
impostors and cheats" He advanced towards the pair who were looking visibly scared now.
Merlin stepped in Arthur's way his back to the traders and spoke quickly
"Sire, give them one more chance…perhaps they should try to fight you themselves…I took the liberty of getting a spare suit of armor.
Please Sire… "
He gave Arthur a meaningful look. He hoped Arthur would listen before those men used a spell to try to get out of this situation. He would
have to expose his magic to save Arthur incase anything went wrong. He couldn't really have it coming out this way.
Arthur was completely thrown off by Merlin stepping in to the aid of these frauds, but remembered Merlin words from earlier. Merlin was
looking at him beseeching with his eyes. His mouth moved silently to form the words "trust me".
The men didn't know why this servant was trying to help them, but the leader took this opportunity as another chance. He bowed low
before Arthur, tone pleading, "Please Sire, please, I don't know what's wrong, but the armor is better, Please let me show you... one more
chance….please Sire…"
Arthur carelessly flipped his hand in a gesture of agreement. The leader sent the smaller man to fight. Merlin moved quickly to help the
trader with the original enchanted armor. He had placed a further spell on it to make it look like Camelot's armor.
Merlin could see his magic bindings on the armor so there would be no confusion. He had also painted a small symbol on the Hauberk
for everyone else who didn't have magic to be able to distinguish the armor from the rest for later. It was always better to be safe than sorry.
Arthur and the trader circled each other. Sir Pellinor and Sir Leon watched, keeping the other trader between them should he try to escape.
The man had no real hope that the spell would work this time, he was waiting for some kind of diversion to slip away. However, he still
went ahead and whispered the words of the spell in a last futile attempt to get it to work.
As soon as the words left his mouth there was a reaction but completely the opposite of what the trader had anticipated. The man fighting
Arthur felt the Hauberk of his armor grow hot and start to squeeze around his neck.
Arthur stopped immediately, recognizing this was sorcery. He watched with horrified fascination as the Hauberk on the man's armor started
glowing red hot and then shrinking in size as if it were a live thing.
"Arggh" The man yelled in pain, and tried to pry the Hauberk off himself but with no success. His breath started coming in spurts and he
wheezed "It was supposed to kill him not me; what did you do? You read the spell wrong! Get this off me, Get it off me! I'll do anything.
Just Stop it. Stop it I beg you!"
The other trader tried to make run for it using the commotion as a diversion. Merlin who had been waiting for this moment whispered a
small spell and the man stumbled falling to the ground in his haste to get away.
Arthur yelled "Leon, Pellinor, grab that man!"
Both knights rushed to seize the man and trader started to speak in a strange language. His words had the effect of throwing the knights
in the air several feet away from him. Arthur rushed to the aid of his men and started attacking the man with his sword. The trader hadn't
expected to be cornered by the prince and smiled wickedly at him.
"Now, now yer majesty… don't do anything stupid, that ain't the only spell I know…" the man spoke with confidence but his eyes kept shifting
from side to side trying to look for a way out. Arthur circled the man like hunter with his prey.
"If you could have done anything else you would've done it by now. Who sent you?" he hissed through gritted teeth as he kept the man in circling,
ready to lash out at any sudden movement.
While Arthur and the knights were busy fighting, Merlin had read the spell backwards saving the other traders life. The man was unconscious by
the time Merlin read the incantation and wouldn't be able to explain who or what had saved him.
"Be careful of a cornered animal yer majesty…I ain't gonna give meself just up to the likes of ye" the man started to speak the strange words
again but couldn't finish as a harsh blow on the head made him black out and crumple to the ground in a heap.
Merlin had crept behind the man and whacked him on the head with a sword for effect to disguise his use of a spell to make the man faint.
Arthur relaxed and grinned "Nice work Merlin, you're not completely hopeless!"
Merlin just rolled his eyes and said exasperatedly "You can never just say thanks can you?"
Sir Leon who had also recovered from being thrown several feet in the air and crashing to the ground walked up to them.
"Sire?" awaiting Arthur's instructions. "Tie him up and have him taken to the dungeons. We'll question him later"
Arthur and Merlin walked towards the other trader, finding him unconscious, Merlin bent down feeling for a pulse.
"Is he dead?"
"He's alive Sire…just fainted I think… Should I take him Gaius? "
Arthur stood watching Merlin for a long moment and then turned to Sir Pellinor "Pellinor, take him to the dungeons, he's still alive. We'll question
them after, but do not place them in the same cells" Sir Pellinor nodded, heaved the man up and dragged him away.
Arthur turned to level a stern look at Merlin and spoke "Merlin we need to talk"
Merlin sighed.
It's going to be a long day…
