The Beginning of the End.
A/N: This was a hard one to write in my mixed up universe but here it is. I couldn't work Glen or Gaius as much as I would like but hopefully we will see more of them and Lady Guinevere soon.
Spring had finally beaten back the last sting of winter. Merlyn tilted her head up towards the sun, enjoying the gentle caress of warm fingertips on her pale face. She was sat in a small clearing deep in the forest, her specimen bag full of Gaius's requested roots and herbs that she had spent the damp dawn gathering. Between her uncles teaching and Morgana's increasing demands she rarely had a minute to herself these days and made the most of her rare moment of freedom.
Morgana seemed to be in a foul mood these past few weeks and was taking it out on her handmaiden. She had filled Merlyn's day with tedious errands and chores. She must have altered every dress the Lady owned. What mystified Merlyn was that no one else seemed to be the target for her Ladies displeasure, but she had no idea why her mistress was upset with her. Lady Morgana's tongue had been sharpened and Merlyn felt that her every breath was being scrutinized. It was tense and exhausting and she had born it all in silence…Until she reached the safe-haven of her chambers that was. Poor Uncle Gaius had listened to a lot of rants from his stressed, overworked niece.
Even the Lady Guinevere had noticed Morgana's recent strange change in attitude toward Merlyn and although she swore to the bewildered handmaiden that she had no idea why the Lady Morgana was annoyed with her, privately she had her theories.
Letting out a long sigh, she gathered her bags and stood, beginning the long jog back to the citadel. Merlyn enjoyed running through the forest. She always had done, whether it was just racing with the village boys or a long trek to gather specimens for her mother and she loved spring and the sense of newness it bestowed on many.
She reached the peak of the hill overlooking Camelot and smiled remembering her first view of the great city, which still impressed her as much as it had the day she arrived. It was market day and the citadel was heaving with traders and their customers. Stalls full of food, materials and beautiful crafted tools and trinkets appeared from nowhere tempting those exploring the chaos. She wished she had time and funds to browse all the stalls but had to settle for the quick glances over the stalls. Dodging her way through the streets she made her way towards the main keep, noticing the high guard presence. The unusual vigilance of the guards worried her, alerting her to possible danger she began to move quicker though the crowds, watching the people around her.
There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary as she reached the courtyard, nothing that was until she heard a loud, painful cry. Wiping around she earned the curious glance of a passing trader, but no one else had started at the cry. Uneasy, she carried on to Gaius's chambers, unloading her supplies and quickly changing out of her slacks into more suitable attire for a ladies maid. She had almost put the incident out of her mind when she heard a child's terrified voice.
"Please help me."
She didn't react this time, but watched the people around her. No one else seemed to hear the voice. It was not unlike the times the great dragon had demanded attention. Stepping out on to the castle stairs she listened, scanning the crowd that was thinning.
"Help me."
The voice pulled at her, the child's fear and desperation evident in the strained tone. Her eyes landed on a bundle hidden under a laden wagon. A set of the bluest eyes she'd ever seen, locked on hers.
"Please, you have to help me." The child's lips did not move, but Merlyn knew the voice came from the poorly concealed figure. Magic, she thought understanding the child's terror.
Before she could make a move, guards entered the courtyard, obviously searching for something.
"Oi, you. Did you see a boy run in here?" She heard one of the guards questioning the townsmen, who fortunately seemed to be oblivious to the child, a small voice that was not her own confirming that they were looking for him and that it would not be good for the child to be caught. The guards left the courtyard though the next entrance, missing the boy by inches.
Slowly moving out of sight of the guards, she opened the small door, the entrance to the lower floors of the castle.
"This way," She thought back the child, "Run!"
The child barely hesitated; he dashed as fast as he could toward the woman who was trying to save him. He moved fast and silently, but one diligent guard turned when his distinctive blue cloak caught his eyes.
Once in range, Merlyn grabbed the boys hand and dragged him through the corridors, making it as difficult for the guards as possible. There were too many of them and she came to a sinking realization that she was trapped. Unless…
Morgana was having great fun that morning. She and Guinevere were gleefully planning Prince Arthur's coming of age celebrations which would after the new moon. It was to be an especially important celebration as it would be the day Arthur came the crowned Prince of Camelot and she was determined it would be a week to remember. This was where she thrived, planning celebrations and great feasts. It filled up the days, making her feel useful and in her new friend Lady Guinevere who had a marvelous imagination, she found a partner in crime. She was laughing with Lady Guinevere as she jested about her attire, when the door to her chambers was rudely flung open, two figures quickly shuffled in and the door closed quickly but quietly.
"Merlyn!" Morgana demanded affronted. "Have you forgotten how to knock?"
"The guards are after him. I didn't know what else to do!" Merlyn gasped out, her words coming out so fast they nearly tumbled over each other. It was then Morgana noticed the child, clutching onto Merlyn's arm. Chalk white and terrified the child, a boy, looked back at her, his face pleading.
They jumped as the sound of a heavy fist hit the door several times. And the decision was made in an instant.
"In there." She gestured to her dressing alcove. She waited till the two were concealed before opening the door, Guinevere also composing herself.
"Sorry to disturb you my Lady, we are searching for a druid boy. We believe he came this way…" The guard was dismissed easily and once the door was locked securely, both ladies rushed to the alcove and gasped. Merlyn looked up at them, her face shocked and angry as she looked at her hand, covered in blood and the child collapsed in her arms.
Arthur nodded, hearing the guardsman's report. The druid was apprehended but the boy who accompanied him had managed to elude the guards. Part of the young prince cheered him on. He had no wish to execute a child who had not had the chance to misbehave. The townspeople were unsettled by the now active guards, many of them deciding to skip the market. Warily they watched the determined guards hunt down their prey. He stood on the top stairs watching their progress, not registering the quick, hurried footsteps down the corridor behind him, or when a misstep disrupted the owner's forward momentum. He did however notice when a small shove nearly toppled him down the stone steps in front of him. Quickly he grabbed handrail and the arm of his inadvertent attacker who was about to fall down the same stairs. He recognized the raven haired figure immediately and chuckled, lifting her back onto her feet.
"Careful, clumsy." He admonished her. "Whilst I'm flattered I seem to knock you off balance, you nearly took me down with you."
Merlyn snorted and rolled her eyes, deeming that the only appropriate response.
"Why are you running around the castle? You always seem to be in a hurry these days." He noted with concern. Indeed, every time he saw Merlyn she seemed to be in the midst of chores, whether for Morgana or Gaius and she always seemed to be covering for Guinevere's rather work-shy maid. She had lost weight she could not afford to lose and appeared paler than usual.
"I had to gather some fresh supplies for my Uncle this morning and was late attending to the Lady Morgana." She told him, her eyes fixed anxiously on the many guards ransacking the courtyard. "Is something the matter?"
"A couple of druids were found attending the market. One was captured but another escaped. A child." Something in his tone of voice must have caught her attention because she looked back at him, questioningly.
"All this effort over a child? What could a child have possibly done?"
"He is a druid."
"And…" Merlyn asked, not comprehending. "The druids are peaceful aren't they?"
"Yes." Arthur admitted grimly. "They are. But they practice magic and my father believes that they harbour his enemies and plot his downfall."
"Do you?" She asked him, looking up at him. He almost snapped at her for asking that, for questioning his father's decree. Instead he met her eyes and allowed his innermost thoughts to show.
"I don't believe in executing children." He said simply, breaking eye contact. Merlyn could feel the weight of his duty radiating from him. Arthur was in a difficult position and he knew it. Relations between father and son were still strained and the King grew weary at the constant opposition from his son and heir.
"I hope you don't have to." She told him sincerely, giving him a small smile before descending the steps. Arthur nearly let her go when he saw a flash of red on her shirt sleeve.
"Merlyn, you're bleeding." He told her with some alarm, chasing her down the steps. She looked at him surprised before following his gaze.
"Oh no, sire," She assured him fingering the blood on the fabric. "Tis not mine, I helped one of the traders with a nasty splinter in the lower town before returned. It's why I was so late. I must hurry." She spoke quickly, a nervous smile jumping on her face as she backed away and with a quick bow she hurried across the courtyard to her Uncles chambers. Arthur watched thoughtfully as she disappeared from view. Hadn't the druid boy been injured?
That night, Merlyn then Morgana kept vigil over the young boy. He had not said a word and slept fitfully. The two women were united in their task, to protect him. Any other animosities were momentarily forgotten.
They had watched from the window as the Druid was lead to the platform, and the King passed his judgement.
"Anyone caught harboring the boy will be executed as a traitor."
Morgana had flinched at the sentence, unable to watch as the man was executed. Likewise Merlyn had turned her back on the ghastly scene, unable to look at the self-righteous look on the Kings face, or the emotionless facade on Arthur's.
The child screamed in her mind as the axe fell and the mirror next to her shattered as the druid's life ended. Morgana had hugged the boy tight as if she could protect him from the horrors of the world.
By morning she exhausted, although the Lady Morgana had allowed her to catch a few hours' sleep whilst she looked over the boy. They had settled him into the small curtained alcove and the privacy screen, in case they needed to conceal him quickly.
She recalled the conversation they had, had late that night. Confessing her fear of being discovered, or of Morgana turning them in had been enlightening. She had thanked her for her help in eluding the guards, for risking Uther's wrath. But Morgana was alike Merlyn in that thought.
"What harm has he ever done anyone."
She had known Lady Morgana disagreed with Uther on many points, but she hadn't believed magic had been one of them. How she had asked the same question Merlyn was dying to have answered.
"What if it chooses you?"
When asked, Merlyn had said simply that it had been the spur of the minute decision and that she wouldn't hand over a child to the executioners block. The Lady Morgana nodded with approval. Together they had plotted, joined by the Lady Guinevere in the noon, who had insisted on being part of the plot to help the child escape Camelot.
Morgana attempted to ignore the knots tightening in her stomach and forced herself to eat the meal prepared in front of her. Uther watched her from the other end of the long table, eating on the chicken leg. She mentally thanked Arthur as he entered; saving her from further awkward conversation. The ensuing conversation between father and son pleased her. The Prince didn't want to find the boy.
"He's just a boy, what harm can he do."
"He's a druid!" Uther had snapped, wiping his mouth with his dinner cloth. "That makes him dangerous."
Seeing an opportunity to ingratiate herself on her guardian, Morgana lept in, ignoring the disgust in her heart,
"The Druids would have your father's Kingdom destroyed."
Arthur turned on her, his eyes furious. It sent a shiver, a secret thrill down her spine to see that much emotion in his face and all directed at her, even when he practically spat out,
"I had no idea you were such an authority on Druids."
"Morgana is right." Uther pronounced and Morgana mourned the loss of Arthur's attention as he turned back to his father. "Double your efforts."
"Yes, father." Arthur said bitterly. Leaving the room, his appetite lost.
He did not rest that night. Instead he paced. He did not want to search for the child. He did not want to find him. He hoped beyond anything that the child was already out of Camelot. Rubbing his hands over his face sat down heavily. He remembered the blood on Merlyn's sleeve and knew. He had known the moment he saw it. He had also known he wouldn't betray her.
His father had ordered him to search all the rooms in the main castle. He would have to make sure he searched Merlyn's room; although he was sure she would not be stupid enough to hide him in her uncle's chamber.
He was not the only one having a rough night. The druid boy became to brew a fever. His skin lost even more color, fading to a haunting grey tinge. Merlyn snuck into her Uncles chambers and fashioned a quick paste she had used on infected wounds in the past. By daybreak it had started to have an effect.
A knock on the chamber door had startled the woman. Merlyn quickly ducked behind the screen with the boy in case he awoke and made a noise. Morgana opened the door with a flourish, revealing Arthur. The Prince entered and sounding exceedingly bored, informed her that he was about to search her chambers.
"Don't take it personally," he had placated her. "I have to search the whole castle. It will only take a few minutes."
Merlyn watched fascinated as the two noble's bickered like children. Arthur looked tired she thought with concern, and irritated. Morgana bated him and Merlyn felt her heart stop when Morgana gestured at the screen she was hiding behind.
"The druid boy is hiding behind the screen. She quickly ducked her head back as Arthur swung toward her, fear freezing her breath and her heart suddenly sprung to life with vigor, the rush of blood drowning the sound to her ears. It took her a moment to realize they had not been discovered. Slowly she peeked through the curtain's to see the pair still bantering, Morgana mocking him.
"…you don't need any help in looking the fool. What are you waiting for?"
"Why don't you just go back to brushing your hair or whatever you do all day?" Arthur snapped before turning and walking out of the room, Morgana's farewell echoing in his ears.
As soon as the door closed, Merlyn broke out in giggles, the giddy relief as she emerged from behind the screen.
"Oh bravo, my Lady!" She applauded, still giggling. "Excellently done, I've never seen anyone handle him the way you do."
Looking quite pleased with her servant's reaction, "Practice," was Morgana's only response.
That night, Merlyn took a familiar route down into the depths of the castle, her mind still on the boy upstairs. She had been treating his wound when the boy had awoken momentarily from his fever and thanked her.
"Thank you, Emrys,"
She was sure she had never heard the name before, but it resonated within her, the magic in her veins pulsing once at the title. For that was what it felt like.
"Among my people that is your name."
Lost in thought, the Great Dragon took the opportunity to make her jump out of her skin. As if she hadn't already stretched her nerves to breaking point in the last few days. As usual the Dragon already seemed to know the purpose of her visit.
"Like you I hear him speak."
"Why does he call my Emrys?"
"Because that is your name, or will be. You will have many."
"My name is Merlyn. Always has been." She argued, because although the name Emrys resounded in her veins, it felt itchy and foreign to her, as did the reverence in the Dragons voice.
"There is much written about you, that you have yet to read. You should not protect this boy."
"Why? He has done nothing but have magic like me."
"You and the boy are as different as night and day!" The Great Dragon did not shout, but his voice seemed to echo around his cavernous cage impressing each word on her with a weight.
"Heed my words!" He warned her before taking off. Merlyn did not bother to call him back.
"Are you well, Merlyn?" Her Uncle asked her, looking at her pale, tired face the next morning. "You look as if you haven't slept for a week." Indeed Merlyn had slept poorly for yet another night, giving up on sleep before dawn she had got breakfast and a pile of mending completed before sunrise.
"Just a touch of insomnia, Uncle." She assured him, spooning another mouthful of porridge into her mouth. Her Uncle looked at her with his all-seeing eyes and waved his spoon at her.
"For someone with such a big secret, you are a terrible liar…" His lecture was cut off by a heavy knock at the door. Muttering under his breath he got up and answered the door.
"Good Morning, Gaius." She recognized Arthur's voice at once. "I am sorry to disturb you but the King has ordered the whole castle re-searched for the Druid boy."
Gaius wordlessly pulled the door wider and let the Prince and his men enter the chambers. Merlyn stood and bowed as he walked towards her, scanning the room.
"Sorry for interrupting your…breakfast." He said looking perplexed at her rather unappetizing bowl of porridge.
"Not at all, Sire. You are still certain the druid boy is in the castle?" She asked him conversationally, watching her Uncle keep an eagle eye on the guards searching the other side of the room.
"My father is…Careful!" He scolded on of the guards who knocked over one of Gaius's jars. He had warned the guards to take care when searching Gaius's chambers, remembering the inadvertent mess they had left behind last time. He apologized to the physician before turning back to Merlyn.
"I need to check your room." He told her, motioning her to follow him. He looked around and smiled sadly. The small room looked almost the same as it had a few months back. The only change was the small drawing tacked to the wall. Intrigued he moved closer to the wall, unaware of the Merlyn's embarrassment.
It was a beautifully detailed sketch, a powerful image of Camelot reaching out of the forest and into the sky. Forgetting Merlyn was watching him, he picked up the book by her bedside, recognizing it as her sketch book. He smiled as he flicked though the pages, his hands stilling briefly on the sketch she had drawn of him many months before. His eye then caught a sight of the parchments on top of the small cabinet.
This time he did hear Merlyn make an uncomfortable noise, but he had already pulled the parchment down and looked at charcoal painting in awe. It was of the lake Merlyn had pulled him out of not a few weeks past, a night scape with shadows and light dancing across subtle waves. He took a long moment to take in the drawing.
"You have a gift, Merlyn." He told her quietly, turning to face her. He had seen Merlyn happy, sad, tired, amused and ill. He had seen her mad. But he had never seen her embarrassed.
"May I have this?" The words escaped him with his permission. Surprised and oddly flattered Merlyn nodded in agreement. "Thank you."
He turned and started to leave the room, brushing past her on his exit. Puzzled she turned.
"Sire?" she asked, getting his attention. "Aren't you going to search my room."
Arthur turned to face her.
"Are you hiding the druid boy in this room." There was something in his voice. Merlyn was sure, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Nonetheless she answered truthfully.
"No."
"Then I bid you good day." He finished, giving her a small smile and left the room.
The three women, reassured the boy was now recovering from his injuries, now made plans for his escape. They stood on the tallest balcony, able to see most of Camelot.
Lady Guinevere had joined Merlyn on her errands in town that day and scouted the exits and Merlyn was impressed with the Lady's knowledge of surveillance.
"When my brother and i were little we used to pretend to be spies breaking into Evesdale Castle," She had confided, thinking wistfully of her childhood home. How ever she had learned it the skill came in useful.
"They are searching everyone who leaving town, every cart. My mother says the King is getting more irate and poor Prince Arthur is paying for it."
"Arthur doesn't want to execute the boy. I'm sure he thinks it's worth it." Morgana told them.
"There is another way." Merlyn confided. "There's a secret door in the armory that leads to the lower town. Glen showed me once when I almost got caught after curfew. I'll take him out that way."
"No!" Lady Morgana interrupted firmly. "It's too dangerous. I'll do it."
"More reason for me to do it, my lady."
"No. The boy is my responsibility. I will do it. If you are caught, Uther will kill you."
"And if you get caught?" Lady Guinevere demanded.
"I am his ward. I don't think he will have me executed. But he will not hesitate to kill Merlyn and I can't see him sparing you." Morgana put an end to the argument and the three continued plotting.
Merlyn lurked at the top of the stairs, waiting for the Prince to leave his chambers, the passing of time increasing her anxiety. She could not be seen, and she needed to get the key to Morgana soon. She had been so busy putting together the plan; she had put the Dragons warning to the back of her mind. Now she had time to think, the thought would not be banished. She had so many questions with little chance of an answer. It infuriated her.
At last she heard the door to his chambers open and close and the sound of heavy footsteps descend the stairs. Waiting a moment, she checked the way was clear before darting down the stairs and down the corridor, into the Prince's rooms. A whispered word opened the key cabinet and she quickly retrieved the key and left the room as quickly as she entered.
Arthur went cold as he and the guard cornered the fleeing pair. The young boy looked at him terrified, his face colorless. He had prayed the boy was safely out of Camelot. Instead he had caught him…And his accomplice.
Dark hair had escaped from the hood of the woman's cloak. It couldn't be Merlyn. It just couldn't. Because if it was, then there was no way he could save her. His father was too far gone to spare anyone.
"Halt! Or I'll run you though." He said in a quiet dead voice, his throat thick and his mind working a million miles an hour.
A hand reached up and he begged it not to. Not to reveal her face. More guards had arrived and were encircling the fugitives. The hood fell back…
"Let him go. Please I beg you, he's just a child." Morgana's pleading face, full of frightened tears was revealed. His heart stuttered and the rush of relief he felt mingled painfully at the new fear. Fear for Morgana.
He hadn't seen his father so furious in quite some time. He stood there roaring at a defiant Morgana who despite being tearful and shaken held her ground. He admired her for it as much as he feared for her, remembering how his father's heel had crushed the precious flower that could save Merlyn's life in to the ground, just to teach him a lesson.
But the King could still surprise him. Grabbing Morgana around the throat he pushed her back into the chair. Arthur took a few hurried steps toward his father, ready to pull him off. But Uther let her go on his own, after shouting in her face.
He followed his father and tried to reason with him, knowing that despite his words and his anger, the King loved Morgana as if she were his own. And he knew that if the boy dies tomorrow, Morgana would never forgive him. She wouldn't forgive either of them.
Leaving his father he headed toward his chambers, slowing when he encountered Merlyn on the stairs, waiting for him. He slowed for a minute. Anger, relief and a thousand different emotions stormed though him at the sight of her. Before she could utter a word he grabbed her elbow with a bruising grip, pulling her along the corridor and out onto a deserted balcony.
"You helped her."
It wasn't a question; Merlyn noticed and didn't bother to deny the accusation. "Do you have any idea what would happen if my father finds out! What were you thinking?!"
"If my role is discovered I will pay with my life". She said in a quiet voice. "It's my fault. I found him, injured in town. Lady Morgana helped me hide him. He's just a little boy, Arthur, a scared little boy."
Warily Arthur rubbed his eyes. "I thought it was you." He confessed. "When we trapped Morgana, I thought it was you and I felt ill. And I hate myself for feeling relief because it was Morgana who was caught and not you."
"Lady Morgana insisted it had to be her. She wanted to protect us."
"Us… wait. No don't tell me anymore. Just stay out of it Merlyn. I order you. No more." Without another word he opened the door and left her on the balcony.
She wrestled with it for the rest of the morning, seeing Morgana's grief making her own twice as heavy. A quick evening visit to the caves underneath made it no easier. Instead it made the situation a million times worse.
"If the boy lives, you can not fulfill your destiny."
"You're telling me, that innocent little boy will kill Arthur?"
She had barely been able to choke out the words, the thought so horrible, so incomprehensible. The Great Dragons next statement stole her breath. She carried them around with her, unable to believe just what he was asking of her.
"You have it in your power to prevent a great evil."
As if the day couldn't possibly get any worse, helping Glen carry the Princes laundry up to his Chamber when the pair of them had happened upon said Prince and a troubled Morgana. Despite Arthur's attempt to leave her out of the sorry business, Merlyn had found herself once more embroiled in the dangerous plot.
Helping Morgana into her gown and preparing her for her supper with meal with the King, Merlyn felt like a traitor. The dark thoughts troubled her immensely.
"Do I look appropriately remorseful?" Morgana asked, turning from the mirror to face her maidservant, some of the fire back in her eyes. They had a plan. They had hope.
"Not at all." Merlyn joked weakly. She went to move away but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Merlyn, I haven't had a chance to thank you, for all you've done. All you've risked."
"I am sorry you got involved in this." Merlyn told her, unable to accept her gratitude.
"I'm not." Morgana told her firmly. "No matter how this turns out, you did the right thing. I've learned that it takes true courage to do what you think is right, despite what others think. You've risked your life for me, for the boy. I won't forget this."
In her room that night, Merlyn waited dressed. She had made the heart-breaking decision to do nothing but immediately everything in her began to revolt. Curled up on her sheets she wept piteously into her drawn up knees, her agony so great the clouds above Camelot began to weep. Flashes of lighting lit the sky and rolling thunder deafened those outside.
But it did not drown out the boy's voice in her head, or the argument in her heart.
The future was not set in stone. She believed that. She refused to believe that her whole life was predetermined and that free-will was a myth. And she refused to believe that anything good could come from such an immoral act. Although she would have no hand in the boy's death, if he and Arthur were caught, she would always know she could have prevented his death. And she would certainly never forgive herself and wondered if she would be able to live with her inaction.
There was really no other choice.
Arthur looked furiously at her as she reached them and quickly freed the pair. Helping the boy up on to the horse with Arthur she squeezed his hand and watched them go with a sad smile.
'Goodbye, Emrys and thank you. I know that someday we will meet again,'
She inwardly grimaced at the thought, hoping against hope she never would. Acting instinctively she sent back a response…
"No need to thank me. Just promise me to never forget all those who have helped you…"
The small boy turned back and from a distance she saw him nod. She could only hope that was enough.
Arthur and Glen made their way back to Camelot the next morning having met up after returning the druid boy…Mordred. He had sent his manservant off the previous day to further his story of a hunting trip. The night away from the Castle had been a blessing. He spared a thought for Morgana, hoping his father believed her uninvolved in the latest jailbreak, knowing that in his absence she would bear the brunt of his mood.
He spared another for Merlyn, remembering her troubled pale face as she liberated them. It was her own fault, he reminded himself bitterly. It was she who decided to hide the boy and got Morgana and himself involved. She had even got the Lady Guinevere involved. At least he knew Glen hadn't been in on the secret and laughing behind his back as the three woman no doubt were. Merlyn and the boy had been hiding behind that screen when he was searching Morgana's room. Oh how they must have enjoyed themselves. But even with all those furious thoughts, he could not truly blame her or the two Ladies for their actions and wondered what he would have done, if Merlyn had brought the boy into his chambers…
Glens whistling announced his return from a nearby spring, with a fresh supply of water and Arthur let out a long sigh. No wonder he hadn't caught anything so far this morning. His manservant was the noisiest in the five kingdoms. After berating his servant which cheered him up a little, the little hunting party continued on its way.
A few miles away from Camelot, he heard movement in the bushes and raised his prepared bow and arrow. A few moments later he swore and quickly moved, aiming the arrow away from the oblivious maid servant digging up roots. The loud curse caught her attention and she flinched away from him, attempting to stand from her awkward crouch tripping over her own feet and landing on her rear in the muddy puddle she had been taking great pains to avoid.
An involuntary puff of laughter left Arthur's lips which instead of being quelled by the glare she leveled at him, the sight only increased his mirth. Beside him Glen was doing a terrible job of stifling his own amusement before moving to help his friend off the ground.
At least that was his intention. In classic Glyndwr style, his foot caught the only visible root of the brush and sent him sprawling face down into the same puddle, missing Merlyn by inches. Arthur roared. Heaving herself up Merlyn considered throwing some of the mud from her clothes at him but the tired bags under his eyes made her think twice. By the time the Prince had got his breath back, Glen had cleaned most of the mud off his face and apologized to Merlyn, who's only response was:
"Serves you right for laughing."
Arthur examined the dark circles around her eyes and guessed she had been awake all night. He insisted on her accompanying him back. The forests where rife with travelers and bandits, it was not a safe place for a young pretty woman, especially if they were sleep deprived.
The trio walked at a steady pace back to the city, Glen chattering on mostly, not seeming to notice that the conversation was mostly one sided. It wasn't until Camelot was almost insight that Arthur suggested he ride ahead and prepare for his return that they were left alone.
She did not pester him for answers, Arthur realized. They must have been burning on her tongue, but there was a faraway look about her today.
"I returned Mordred to the Druids." He told her, surprised by the surprise on Merlyn's face as her head snapped back at him.
"Mordred…He told you his name. He spoke to you."
"He didn't speak to you." He asked taken aback.
"Not a word." She confided "Nor, to the Lady Morgana. He was too scared."
That gave Arthur pause. He remembered the fear in Mordred's eyes as he had opened the cell door. The tremble in his hand as he took Arthur's outstretched one.
"I understand you couldn't have handled the situation any differently." He said heavily after a pause. "But you put yourself in danger for a stranger. My father would have had you executed and I would not have been able to stop him." He knew just how far his father would bend for him.
"You would not have rescued me from the dungeons then." Merlyn joked weakly and Arthur wished she wouldn't. Because the truth of it was he would have tried.
Because he owed her his life.
Because he agreed with her.
Because she made him smile.
"Please promise me you'll be more careful. Think before you act next time." He said a tad exasperated, a small answering smile on his face. She stopped, forcing him to turn back and meet her eyes.
"We were strangers when I first saved you." She pointed out seriously.
"Are you saying you wouldn't have if you'd have time to think…" Arthur teased, unsettled by her seriousness. She pretended to ponder for a second but giggled and shook her head.
"No. I'm saying, I can't just sit by and see people suffering, or something bad happening when I can do something to help. I couldn't live that way…with the guilt. It's not in my nature. I can't be any different. I have to be me, no matter what."
Arthur considered her for a moment. He felt like she was telling him something else or asking him for permission or forgiveness. On one level it was completely confusing, yet on another he understood.
"Alright." He wasn't sure he knew what he was agreeing to, but Merlyn seemed to relax in front of him so he took it on faith. He turned back and they start to walk, leaving the forest behind and reaching the outskirts of the market.
He stopped her before they parted ways.
"Just know that you can come to me. If you're in trouble and need help, come to me."
Her smile was bright, wide and directly at him making him feel two inches taller.
"Yes, Sire."
"Arthur."
"Yes, thank you, Arthur."
Thank you for reading. Hopefully i will post again soon. Please review. Constructive criticism welcome!