A/N: Wow its been awhile! Sorry for not updating in such a long time! I've been super busy with school and band and had major writer's block but Imma back now! Enjoy :)
It was a few weeks after Merlin and Arthur's picnic. Autumn had finally reached Camelot in the form of cool air and colorful leaves. King Uther, Prince Arthur and the councilmen were in a court meeting when the knights ran in.
"Sire!" Leon said breathlessly, kneeling.
Uther frowned worriedly. "What is it? What requires interruption of such an important meeting?"
Leon raised, as did the other knights who had followed him in. "There are sightings of a great army along our borders. Not only that but we have caught a spy, possibly for King Lithren and his sorceress daughter, Princess Arlene."
Uther's eyes widened in anger. "Where is this spy?" he demanded. "Bring him to me. We will interrogate him immediately."
Leon bowed his head in obedience and went to retrieve the intruder. A short moment later, he was back with a thin, pale man around his 40s.
"Who are you and why are you in Camelot?" Uther asked as Arthur, Merlin and the councilmen all watched the discussion.
The man smirked, his dirty face tight around dark eyes. "As if I would answer to the likes of you. You are an evil disgrace to this world, Uther Pendragon. You and your Camelot shall burn for your mistakes towards those with magic. But I must thank you for leading me in here so graciously. Now I can do this." And before the guards or anyone else could stop him, he closed his eyes and yelled, "Haertheris occuzen vildour maeke!" A cloud of silver escaped from the spy's mouth and shot through the walls. The man's body went limp and he fell to the floor dead, an evil smile still at his lips.
Uther was furious. "Knights, follow that magic! Make sure it does no harm to Camelot!" The knights obeyed immediately, heading out the doors to try to find the wicked spell. Uther turned to Arthur. "I want you to head a search party and border patrol. We need to keep a constant eye on our territory for any more intruders and this advancing army. Go now." Arthur gave a short nod and headed out, Merlin following close behind.
Once they were out of earshot, the prince turned to Merlin. "Do you know what he said? What was the spell?"
Merlin frowned. "It was, well quite frankly it doesn't make much sense but it was sort of like a locating spell. A message, of sorts."
"A message? To whom?"
Merlin looked at Arthur. "I think he told Arlene how to get past Camelot's defenses."
Arthur looked away, shaking his head. "If that's the case then we better get a move on. Camelot will be in serious danger if she and her army gets through." Merlin nodded and the two started off to complete their tasks.
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Every day in Camelot was worse than before. The signs of mischief started small, things like a few dead animals or crops here and there. But it continually decreased into larger matters such as whole fields of dead plants, animals and people alike getting terribly sick, the water supply dirtying mysteriously and so on. All of these signs pointed towards Arlene. Somehow she was able to send her magic or spies into the city, weakening Camelot from the inside.
Her most outward act towards the kingdom itself though was the day the assassin arrived. Merlin was in the marketplace picking up some items for Arthur when he ran into a person he didn't know. Which was rather strange because Merlin knew everyone; he was just that kind of person.
"Sorry, sir. I di-"
"Watch where yer walkin', " the man replied rudely. Merlin frowned and watched the tall, burly man with knotted brown hair walk away.
"Well then," he muttered, turning back to his shopping. It wasn't until later that he realized the key to Arthur's room was gone.
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"I would like to give a warm welcome to Rougar, a very special friend of the kingdom who helped us take down a coven of witches a few years back." King Uther beckoned a hand towards the grubby man standing in the middle of the throne room. Merlin and Arthur applauded politely along with the other dignitaries and servants. "Rougar is on a trip to another part of the kingdom and will be staying with us for a week or so for a bit of rest. Helena, come show Rougar to his room and help him with anything he may need. There will be a banquet tonight celebrating our friend. That said, off you go."
After the speech, Merlin and Arthur headed back to the prince's quarters. "That was the man I ran into at the marketplace this morning," Merlin commented, beginning to pick up Arthur's room-again. "He was rather rude."
Arthur smirked. "Yes, I don't remember him being a kind fellow." And with that both returned to their work that needed finished before that night's feast.
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The celebration was well under way. Arthur was sitting at his father's side, bored as could be. Even the entertainment for that night - cirque people who danced and ate fire and used mysterious colors - couldn't pick the prince's interest- or shake him out of his worries.
Merlin served drinks and food, as he normally did at feasts, all the while keeping a close eye on Arthur and Rougar. It wasn't until his prince politely excused himself halfway through dinner that the warlock began to worry. After handing his wine pot to another servant, he followed after Arthur.
The prince was standing on an outside terrace, looking over the courtyard. He sighed heavily and pushed golden strand of hair back with a broad hand. "Arthur," Merlin murmured, going to his prince's side. The prince leaned his head on a hand and glanced at his servant. "Is everything alright?"
Arthur sighed again. "I don't know, actually. I just… I have this feeling. It's hard to explain, but it feels like something is going to go wrong." He smirked. "Maybe it's just because we haven't any sign from Arlene in a while."
Merlin nodded understandingly and put a gentle hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Everything will turn out alright, you'll see."
Arthur nodded and smiled thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Come. Let's re-"
Before Arthur could finish his sentence, Merlin felt a strong, threatening magical presence. His eyes widened in fear as he searched for the danger. A split second later, he saw the arrow which was flying right towards Arthur's heart.
"Duck!" He yelled, tackling Arthur to the ground just as the arrow whistled by their head and slammed into the stone wall behind them. Merlin was panting heavily and only let the prince up after the presence had disappeared.
Both boys sat up, a look of surprise on Arthur's face. He looked towards the clattered arrow lying bent on the ground. "You saved my life."
Merlin grinned. "I think I do that a lot, actually."
Arthur laughed and Merlin chuckled. "So who do you think would have done that?"
Merlin looked around. "No idea. But I'm sure there are tons of people just looking to off you. Half the time I'm one of them." The warlock laughed and Arthur grinned.
They stood up to head back into the celebration and alert Uther of the attempted assassination. "How did you even know that the arrow was coming? I'm a trained warrior and I couldn't have known."
Merlin shrugged. "Magic, of course. How else would weak ole Merlin be able to save your sorry arse?"
The two laughed again but quickly stopped once they reached the banquet hall.
"Father, we need to send out patrols at once," Arthur announced. He lifted the arrow to show the room. "Someone almost achieved an attempt to murder me and if weren't for Merlin, they would have succeeded."
The King stood, his eyes widening in anger. "This is an outrage!" He looked to Sir Leon. "I want patrols searching immediately for the intruder and do not forget that if Arlene has any part in this I wish to know!"
While Uther went on with his loud exclamations of the evils of sorcery and such, Merlin noticed the mysterious figure of Rougar reappearing at the King's side. The sorcerer frowned. Where had Rougar been just now? Almost as if the witch-hunter understood Merlin's thoughts, he turned his dark gaze their way, causing the servant's brow to furrow more. After the King concluded his announcement, the dinner dispersed and Rougar's look was broke. Servant and master headed out, each with their own thoughts and suspicions. If Merlin's special sense was right though - and in these cases it usually was - then he knew exactly who the assassin was. Now he just had to prove it.
