Eleven

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It wasn't easy to see what they were looking at in the dim torchlight. Heavy cloud cover obscured the moon, thick branches of overhanging trees blocking out what little light filtered through.

Gaius made his way down the slope behind Galahad, holding up the hem of his robes to avoid tripping on the damp, soggy ground at the riverbank. Merlin followed closely, craning his neck to try and see what lay at the foot, in the shallows. Though, he already knew what it would be. He had known as soon as Sir Cador came to fetch Gaius.

"It was spotted by a washerwoman," Galahad informed them as they picked their way down the slippery hill. "She was hysterical when she reached the tavern. Evoric has been unable to do anything aside from keep her from screaming."

Gaius nodded knowingly. "I shall call by and examine her on the way back to the citadel. She is likely suffering from shock."

At the foot of the slope, Leon stood knee deep in the shallows, holding a torch of his own while the other knights searched the area, combing the undergrowth for clues and signs of struggle. He kept watch over the body laid out on the flattest part of the riverbank.

With a little assistance from Galahad, Gaius reached the flat area of the bank and looked the body over from standing height. "Is this where he was found?" He questioned Leon, ascertaining from the corpse's muddied face and shape that it was indeed that of a male. Or more accurately, a boy.

Leon nodded an affirmative, gesturing to the shadows just behind him.

"He was caught in the rushes. I'd say he entered the water further up and the current carried him here. If he hadn't been caught, we would never have found him." He looked down at the body, face softening in sadness. "He is only young. No more than a boy."

Merlin arrived behind Galahad, peering down the slope to see over Gaius' shoulder where the physician bent to examine the boy. He swallowed, feeling a pang of sorrow at the muddied face. "Thomas."

Galahad and Leon turned to him, the latter furrowing his brow. "You know him, Merlin?"

The warlock nodded. "He was a kitchen boy."

Galahad turned back to Gaius, frowning at poor Thomas in uncertainty. "What would he be doing out of the citadel at this time of night?"

"He didn't live in the Citadel." Merlin answered quietly. "Didn't... His mother has a house in the Lower town."

"So how did he get in the river?" Leon mused aloud. "It is unlikely he would have fallen in on his way home."

"I am afraid that it is very unlikely." Gaius intoned, drawing the attention of those around him. "His neck looks to have been broken."

"He was murdered?" Leon glanced along the river, in the direction of the drawbridge. "And pushed into the river to conceal the crime."

"Most probably." Gaius straightened and glanced up the hill to where Merlin stood a little way above on the slope. "As you said, whoever killed him was likely counting on the river to carry him far from town."

Merlin hesitated to ask. "Any other injuries?"

"I shan't know until we get him back to my chambers where I can give him a proper examination. Until then, not that I can see."

So whoever had done this had snapped poor Thomas' neck? At least that would have been quick. Still, that gave Merlin a little comfort.

Thomas was a good boy. Desperately poor, he worked hard as the sole provider for himself and his mother. Merlin twitched, and fisted his hands at his sides. When he had still been Arthur's manservant he had occasionally split his lunch with Thomas, just to ensure that the boy had enough. With his better wages, and larger food allowance due to his position, it had been the least he could do to help. Thomas had always looked thin and drawn. He had made Merlin look positively plump.

Recently he had started calling on Thomas to run errands in exchange for money. Thomas had been only too happy to find another line of income. The thing that had always mattered to him above all else had been providing for his mother.

What was she going to do now?

"Percival and Breunor will take him back to the citadel." Leon intoned suddenly, drawing Merlin from his worries. "We will keep on searching the area, and extend to the Lower town. Someone must know who is responsible for this."

A look passed between Gaius and Merlin. One which Leon had seen many times over the years, but only recently come to understand.

"Do you have any ideas?" He prodded them, glancing from one to the other.

Neither of them said anything. Leon was not sure how to interpret that. He did not speak Merlin anywhere near as well as Arthur or Gwaine had, and even they had apparently not been as fluent as they had thought, judging by what Merlin had kept hidden about himself for so long. He very much doubted that aside from Camelot's court sorcerer there was anyone left alive who spoke fluent Gaius. So he went with his gut feeling. "Merlin, if you know something, you must tell me."

"If I knew something, then I would tell you" came the suitably vague reply.

Unwise as it may be, Leon decided to take that at face value. Whatever else was going on, he trusted Merlin, and he knew above all else Merlin put the safety of those he cared about. Even if being kept in the dark over anything, even a suspicion, was exceedingly annoying.

Instead of puzzling over it, he called for Percival and Breunor, intent on getting Thomas to the physician's chambers that Gaius may begin his work.

Why had the warning bell sounded?

Gwen paced the length of her chambers and back, Amr resting sleepily in her arms. The clanging had woken him, as it had likely everyone in the citadel. It was taking him a long time to settle.

She bit her lip, turning at the window and heading back towards the door. Luned had yet to return. She had been in the process of helping her mistress prepare for bed when the bell began to ring. Despite Gwen's protests, Luned had insisted on going to find a guard and discover what was happening.

That nobody had come to inform her of events, or spirit her away to a safe place, Gwen felt it safe to assume that there was no immediate danger, but there had to have been something for it to have been sounded in the first place.

She felt frustrated, and agitated. For a disturbance to take place and nobody to come and inform her meant that Leon was not in the citadel. Neither was Merlin. The trouble must be outside, then, otherwise they would have both come to her immediately.

She had to recognise that, even had they come, she would still feel frustrated. She was Camelot's Queen, and did understand that she must be kept safe, but her first knight and court sorcerer did insist on wrapping her up and keeping her so far out of harm's way that she could not help but feel sometimes as though she were sorely uninformed. She understood that their protection of her stemmed from the personal, as well as courtly duty.

Leon swore to perform his duty, as he had always done as a knight of Camelot, but he was also her friend. They had known one another too long to be fooled that it was only duty that saw him protect her so fiercely. As for Merlin...

Gwen rested her cheek against her baby's head and sighed softly through her nose. Her dearest friend had always protected her, but this was far more than that. All who knew him recognised that there had been a change in him. Merlin had grown more grave, and quiet as he grew physically since the day he he had stepped through Camelot's gates for the first time. The smiling, happy go lucky boy had given way to the serious, introspective young man he had grown into over the years. She, like everyone else had noticed the change in him. One which she now knew could be put down to the burden of destiny and secrecy constantly weighing on his shoulders. But even with the burden he had borne, there had remained the laughing, joking boy always needling Arthur and facing each day with a smile.

There was almost no vestige of that boy left now. Fear of loss had suffocated him, and though that left her with a dedicated and steadfast protector, she would not shy away from admitting to herself that she missed Merlin dreadfully.

A heavy knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

She swallowed to wet her dry mouth, though her words still came out too close to a croak for her liking.

"Come in, Percival."

As she anticipated, the large knight opened the door a little and peeked his head around it. "My Lady." He hesitated, appearing unsure for a moment, "sorry to wake you?"

Gwen hefted Amr up against her shoulder and shook her head lightly. "You did not." She indicated towards the desk in front of the window, and the messy stacks of paper there, "I was reviewing the treaty and sub sections again."

Percival nodded knowingly – eliminating any doubt that it contained accords that would be unpalatable to the less enthusiastic signatories. A worry that had preyed on her mind since the document was first drafted.

Watching her knight a moment, reading his body language, Gwen waved him inside, and moved to her chair at the table to sit. "What has happened?"

Quietly, with a care that only he took in everything, Percival entered the chamber and closed the door behind him that it made no sound. "There's a body been discovered in the river."

Gwen froze. "... Do we know who?"

Percival nodded slowly. "Merlin identified him. Thomas, the kitchen boy."

"Oh no." She furrowed her brow, trying to fend off her expression of sadness some. She did not know any of the kitchen boys personally any longer. They were generally out of sight, and when allowed out of the kitchen, only to be tasked with bringing the smaller platters up to the Hall through the servant's passages. Small, and quick, they could weave in and out between the people and table arrangements without much notice given them. For this purpose they were never any more than boys. When they outgrew the demands of their tasks, they were normally moved on to become personal servants, or into apprenticeships around the town depending on the connections and favour their family had earned. Her own father had served briefly as a kitchen boy before becoming apprenticed to the royal smith in his youth.

Her heart clenched. Thomas would only have been young. She couldn't bring herself to think of it.

"Has he any family?"

"A mother. She lives in the lower town."

Gwen felt a stab of grief at the idea of a mother without her son. Almost unconsciously she looked down at the baby snoozing peacefully in her arms. "She will need to be told, and... we must offer her aid."

Percival inclined his head. "Yes, My Lady." Trust her, only her to think of such matters before any other. "Leon and Galahad are leading the investigation. It is believed that the boy was attacked on his way home."

"Right." She jiggled Amr gently, clearly nervous. "What has been done with Thomas now?"

"Breunor and myself carried him to Gaius' chambers that he may be properly examined."

"Good... good. Could you let Leon know that I want frequent reports? And double the guard around the Lower town. Make their presence known. Word travels quickly down there. I want everyone to feel safe tonight."

"And the other dignitaries?"

Guinevere steeled herself. Questions would of course be asked. "We will tell them the truth. Peace cannot be built on lies of any kind. They must know that Camelot is open in all things."

Percival smiled, and gave a shallow bow. "Is that everything?"

Gwen nodded, a fond smile on her face. "Yes. Thank you, Percival."

The big knight took his leave. Gwen found herself alone with Amr once again.

She did not pace this time, but rose from her chair and moved to the window.

Her mind reeled. Why would anyone want to kill a kitchen boy? Surely he had not done anything to incite it, nor could it have been a robbery. He would unlikely have anything worth stealing, and certainly not worth taking his life over. So, why? There had to have been a purpose behind it.

Whatever the reason for it, she would know soon, she trusted. Her knights were looking into it, and Gaius, and Merlin. The two of them always gained an insight into whatever was going on before anyone else. From one side or another, she would know something soon. If none of them thought to tell her, then she would go and find out herself.

With a quiet huff she laid her cheek against the side of Amr's head, carding her fingers through his dusting of fine, honey coloured hair. That poor boy, Thomas. His poor mother. There would be something to tell the woman soon, though it would be no consolation to her.

None at all.

"There do not appear to be any further injuries." Gaius straightened, and stood back from his work table. He considered Thomas' body carefully, a frown on his face, "perhaps a few broken fingers, and other very minor fractures, but they could have been sustained by the fall. The river is quite shallow in places. Though I think it is safe to say that he was likely dead before he hit the water."

Breunor nodded, and swept a hand up through his sandy hair. "Are we on the same line of thinking, that the drawbridge is the likely entry point?"

"It makes sense. He would have had to cross it on his way to the Lower town."

"Alright." Breunor rolled his shoulders back in what must be an effort to appear more composed, and awake. "I will report to Leon."

He turned and left the chambers at a brisk walk, leaving Gaius and his three younger companions alone with the body.

There was silence. Nobody knew what to say, or even if anything should be said. Gaius had no desire to simply stand still and do nothing, so he crossed to the bench to prepare a bowl of water to wash up.

Behind him, Gilli shook his head and made for the stairs up to Merlin's room, leaving the physician, Merlin, and George to it.

Inactivity was, surprisingly, quite difficult for George under normal circumstances. Despite the long periods of time he spent standing completely still during meals. Today however, he could muster no movement. His eyes refused to stray from the body laid out upon the physician's work table, and remained locked there against his will. To even an untrained eye, it ought to be obvious why.

George had never seen a dead body before.

The sight was both terrifying and fascinating in equal measure, however ghoulish that may seem.

Even when his late master, Sir Gareth had met his unfortunate and quite unexpected end, it had been on his compulsory day off, bi-monthly as it may be. He simply did not know what to do when faced with the sight. He had received no training for this, nor had he taken it upon himself to research it. In hindsight, he probably should have.

Behind him, seated on the steps to the upper level of the chambers, Merlin leant propped against the wall, his arms folded tightly across his chest. He stared intently across the room, eyes fixed on the unmoving kitchen boy. A maelstrom of thoughts raged through his mind: why would anybody want to target Thomas? What could he have possibly done to invite this? Why would anybody want to kill him?

Without warning he stood and made for the door out of the chambers.

Gaius looked up from his washing, roused by the quick movement of his ward, and frowned. "Where are you going?"

Merlin halted at the door, already halfway through opening it, and glanced back at Gaius. "To find out why this happened. There has to have been a reason, and someone, somewhere knows what it is."

"So what do you intend to do? Interrogate everyone in the city?"

"No, but I know where to start. Gaius..." Merlin shook his head, inching a little out of the door. "We couldn't do anything without reason. Surely this is a reason to at least start asking questions?"

Gaius' frown deepened. "You said it was a sword you found beneath her bed. There are no blade injuries on this boy."

"There are other people here besides her."

A look of understanding dawned. Branwen was not the only one under suspicion. "If you plan on going anywhere near him, remember to be careful. While not so easy to get away with as a murdered kitchen boy, a murdered court sorcerer is still less important than other crimes on a political spectrum."

Merlin gave a nod, glad that he and his mentor were so much on the same page. "I'll be careful."

"See that you are."

With a very small, very forced smile, Merlin disappeared from view around the door and was gone.

Gaius took a breath. That boy had been threatening to be the death of him for a very long time.

Shaking his head wearily, he wondered if tonight would finally be the night that Merlin gave him a heart attack, and gathered up a sheet from the floor to cover Thomas' body.

Merlin was correct, though. Their suspicions could be misplaced, it would do them both well to be cautious. It may be Guinevere on the throne, but that did not mean they could go throwing accusations around without solid evidence. Not at members of Camelot's own court, and certainly not at members of Odin's. The peace between the two Kingdoms remained tentative at best. Openly testing it was far from a good idea.

His work done, Gaius turned from the table and set eyes on George.

Though the look on Merlin's servant's face was no different from normal, he appeared somewhat paler, and seemingly unable to move his stare from the table a few feet away. If the fact that he hadn't immediately followed Merlin was not indication enough that all was not right with George, then...

"Are you alright?"

Gaius' question didn't seem to hit home. It wasn't until the same question had been asked a further three times that George met the old man's eyes, looking a little stunned if Gaius' had to give the expression a name.

"Apologies. Is there anything Master Merlin instructed me to do?" George blinked, and glanced around briefly, puzzled. "Pray, where is Master Merlin?"

That Gaius didn't answer right away had no effect on George whatsoever. He merely continued staring at the physician until Gaius turned away from him and reached for his pestle and mortar. "I think you could do with an infusion."

George neither agreed nor shook his head. "Did he leave any instructions for me? I believe that my attention may have lapsed momentarily."

That admission was delivered rather shame-facedly. Gaius dropped some valerian into the mortar and shot a glance at the statuesque servant planted in the centre of his chambers.

"If he did, then they would be to shut up and take your infusion. Sit down."

George dropped his arms to his sides, and cautiously sat down on the edge of Gaius' bed as directed. Arguing, whilst most unbecoming of a good servant, seemed very much like a bad idea on the receiving end of one of Gaius' 'looks'. He did feel uncertain, seated comfortably and partaking in a mixture of unknown contents while his master was out and about in the citadel was of questionable propriety. "Is it permitted that I remain here while Master Merlin is out?"

Gaius put the finishing touches to his concoction and poured it into a phial to hand to George. "Merlin is probably sneaking about, sticking his nose in places he ought not. Something he is very good at, and prefers to do alone. I am sure that he would much rather you stay here out of whatever trouble he is bound to get himself into."

There was a definite expression on George's face then, as he took the phial of purple liquid. It could be anything from disgust at what he was holding to confusion. The latter seemed a more likely choice. "Should a guard not be informed, if he is to find himself in a difficult situation?"

Gaius wanted to smile, but forewent for fear that George may get the wrong idea. He patted the servant lightly on the shoulder, and returned to his bench to clear away his ingredients.

"Believe you me. Merlin is a master at getting into trouble, but is also very adept at getting out again. He will be fine."

It took a moment of staring at the phial for George to reach a conclusion on what Gaius was saying, even if there really was none to be reached. He liked to be thorough. "I understand. This is one of those areas in which Master Merlin is unused to assistance. In the interests of what he discussed with me earlier this evening, I shall leave him to get on with it."

Exactly what Merlin and George had been discussing in private before the warning bell rang, Gaius still did not know. Apparently Merlin had not got as far as actually sacking George if he was still hanging around. So Gaius said nothing and continued clearing his bench of chopped leaves and spillages.

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NOTE: I am so sorry! I didn't realise how much time had passed since I last updated this until I looked at the date on the story while fact checking! I really didn't mean to leave it that long. Real life meant that things had to be put on the back burner. Unexpected things happened, and the Color run which was great fun as always, but the good news is that my exam is over and done with, so no uni for a good few months (october I start again). Hopefully enough time to get a good ways into the rest of this, and maybe even finished! Thank you all for hanging on! Tonight is getting an ultra update (Red dragon, Royal retreat and Bear-faced cheek!) by way of a sorry. The next chapter of this will be up by the time next wednesday rolls around. Love you all xxx