A/N: About Arthur's leg. I realize it got wounded in the fight with the Minotaur but I'm really hesitant to emphasize his limp for one very obvious reason. Okay, picture Arthur. Got it? Right, now give him a limp, possibly on his right leg. Yeah, now, just for fun, give him a cane. Lastly, remember his personality and picture him limping around with a cane as he berates Merlin. Do you see where I'm coming from? I mean, slap a medical degree on him and you've got House, B.C. It's just not right people, it's just not right.
Also, I'm totally loving the 'Blergh' System.
Chapter 13; 'Back in My Day…we knew how to make an exit.'
Gwen's head throbbed, blood pounding in her ears and echoing painfully. She let out a little groan, a hand moving up shakily to clutch at her skull. She sat up and dizziness swept over her, making her clench her eyes tightly. She breathed heavily, waiting for the sensations to pass. As she regained control of her senses she became aware of a strange sound, off in the distance. It sounded like water, tiny droplets landing on stone. She opened her eyes, gasping. Everything around her was almost completely dark. She stood up slowly, gripping onto some stone to keep her balance. She walked forward hesitantly, struggling to take in her surroundings.
It looked like she was in some sort of cave or labyrinth. Through the darkness she managed to make out the shape of jagged rocks and the dome-like roof.
"Hello?" She called out fearfully. "Is anyone there? Merlin?" She looked around terrified and confused. "Please?" She called meekly, her only answer the small echo of her voice around the empty space.
Line Break:
Arthur got up from the bed, looking around the room.
"My shirt. Where the hell is my shirt?" He grumbled, tossing clothes around the room as he looked for his.
Merlin watched him in concern. Arthur wasn't behaving like Arthur. No, usually Arthur would tell him to go grab his clothes. But, he supposed, the prince wouldn't have usually stayed in his room for so long anyway. Arthur, were he behaving normally, would have demanded to go back to the royal chambers yesterday. Hell, he would have demanded so the minute he was set on the bed. It didn't matter that he was wounded and unconscious, he'd have done it in his sleep.
"Arthur." He started, looking at the prince in concern. The boy was moving slowly, stiffly, obviously debilitated from his injuries.
"Where did Gaius put my damn shirt? Can't go wandering about the castle like this." Arthur was muttering to himself.
Merlin stared as the prince moved to the other side of the room, tossing a pile on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye Merlin caught sight of something. It was brown and hard, a leather binding curved around a series of pages. The book! It was peaking innocently out from under the pile Arthur was currently demolishing. Merlin jumped up quickly, racing over to Arthur and pushing him away from his task.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur snarled, already in a really bad mood.
"Arthur, calm down. It won't be so bad in Cornwall." Merlin stated, trying to make the prince feel better. "And hey, you might get a better servant this time around." He ignored his own irritation at the situation, instead trying to calm down Arthur. If Arthur was calm then everything would be alright. He hoped.
"Merlin." This time Arthur looked at him very seriously. "You're not going to Cornwall. And that's the end of it." Arthur seemed to have calmed down a little. Merlin, however, felt taken aback. "Besides, I have a plan." Arthur said confidently. "But first, I need to find my shirt."
Sorcerer:
An orb sat on the table, focusing on a girl wandering alone in a cave. The sorcerer smirked as they watched her, stumbling on some rocks and looking around in panic.
Everything was falling into place.
Aldwin:
The prince sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. He leaned against the wall, thinking.
Merlin had given him such a…such a wounded look. And, honestly, he couldn't blame him. Aldwin had acted quite heinously. But Merlin was just so adorable.
Aldwin smirked as he thought of the servant, sweaty and lost in pleasure. He allowed his mind to wander for a while before he brought it back to focus. He wasn't a pervert, he swore he wasn't. Okay, he was. And damn proud of it too. But Merlin was…different. Whenever he was around him his mind locked in the gutter, permanently. But the boy didn't just stir his arousal. No, there was something deeper. Something twinkling just behind his blue eyes, luring Aldwin in. Aldwin felt a bond with the boy, an attraction that brought out the worst in him.
The prince sighed, thinking on what went wrong in the servant's chambers. He'd heard that Merlin had arrived, carrying the prince of Camelot, and had merely gone to check up on him. But, then Arthur had been in there, the both of them sitting innocently on the bed.
Then, Aldwin remembered the bet. It was something made on a whim and he'd regretted it almost immediately. Still, if he got Merlin then it was worth it. But then, the prince had gone missing. When Aldwin had entered the chambers and remembered their wager, he fully intended to tell the prince that the bet was off; he'd find some other way to get Merlin. He was, after all, a knight. But, when he'd opened his mouth, something different had come out. He'd been blinded by his own emotions and had acted, once again, selfishly.
Aldwin heaved a heavy breath. He needed to find his sister; she always knew how to make things better. Aldwin nodded his head in determination. He went to find Rowan.
He knocked on the door lightly, waiting for her to allow him entrance. Not hearing anything he knocked again. Rowan always stayed in her room during the Annual Meeting. She claimed it was because she was shy and didn't serve much purpose. Aldwin always figured it was because she was asexual and would much rather spend her time learning. She always had some sort of thick book with her, constantly reading about history, magic, legends or whatever else she could get her hands on. It was all very boring really.
Speaking of which, Aldwin remembered that servant girl reading about Serkets in the library.
Flashback:
Aldwin walked around a book shelf, spotting a figure by the desk. As he came closer he spotted the same girl who had interrupted him and Merlin…twice. He looked over her shoulder, reading a bit of the text. Serkets?
"Doing some late night reading?" He asked, seeing the girl jump.
She turned around, snapping the book shut quickly.
"No, I was just-" she started to say.
"Serkets. Fascinating topic." He said slowly, looking at her curiously. "I must admit, I too have an interest in mythical creatures. I find their power to be rather intriguing." He smirked. "But I wonder, why would a servant want to learn about them? Not just that, but why want to learn about them, in the library, all alone, at night." He asked, even more confused. After all, Camelot wasn't known for it's acceptance of magic. Wouldn't she be in danger if someone found her?
"I really have duties to attend to, so if you don't mind…" She said, gripping the book tightly and trying to walk past him.
"Not so fast." He said, blocking her path. "I have some questions for you."
"What?" She asked, stuttering.
"Gwen, right?" He asked, continuing after she nodded slowly. "You're friends with Merlin, correct?"
"I don't know if we're quite friends." She answered, glancing away nervously.
"Oh, come of it. I've seen you with him around the castle." Aldwin said, confused at why the girl was so nervous.
"Yes but-"
"Oh, don't make excuses." Aldwin said tiredly. "It's late and I'm not in the mood." He muttered. "Anyway, I was just curious, does he like flowers?" He asked.
She looked at him sharply. "What?" She asked, voice dripping in shock.
"I was thinking Daffodils or Orchids. Maybe a combination?" He said suddenly, quite liking the idea.
The girl laughed suddenly, a bright, relieved sort of laugh.
"Are you alright?" Aldwin asked. Everyone in this castle was sort of…odd.
"Yes, I'm quite alright." She answered, seeming to relax.
"Right." Aldwin muttered. "So, anyway, you're a girl. Thoughts on flowers?"
"I think he'll appreciate whatever you give him." She said. "But, I really must be off. It is very late." She said, brushing past him.
"Oh, and one more thing." Aldwin shouted. She turned, looking at him apprehensively. "I think I'm lost." He admitted, not in the least bit embarrassed.
She flashed him a kind smile. "I'll show you to your room then, shall I?" She offered and he followed her, chattering as they went.
End Flashback
Despite her nervous disposition she had been rather kind. He hadn't seen her in a few days though. He had the distinct feeling that if Rowan weren't such a sourpuss her and Gwen would get along quite well.
"Rowan?" He asked, opening the door to his sister's room. "Hello?" He looked around, no one was in there. Maybe she decided to quit being such a hermit after all.
Aldwin looked around, ready to go search for her, when a voice shouted down the hallway.
"Aldwin!" He turned around, spotting an angry Arthur limping towards him. Merlin was following desperately behind him.
"Hello, Merl'." He said, shooting the boy a smirk. "I see your finally dressed. A shame really, I enjoyed the view." He felt a thrill in his stomach when the other boy blushed.
"Aldwin!" Arthur barked, getting his attention.
"Yes?" He said, putting on the cheery tone he knew would only serve to agitate the other boy. He felt a wave of triumph when he saw the boy's lips purse.
"I have a new wager." He said, sounding very sure of himself.
"Really? What a pity I won't accept." Aldwin said, before addressing the servant. "So Merl', how do you feel about the colour blue?" He said, referencing the colour of Cornwall. "I think it quite suits you." He stated, watching the other boy squirm.
"I think you'll find this wager favourable." Arthur's tone carried a note of warning. Aldwin smirked and turned to the other boy.
"You sound very confident in this plan of yours." He stated. He enjoyed the way the other boy bristled.
"I resent the implication that I would use any form of underhand-"
"Drop the prince speech. What's your wager?" Aldwin asked.
"A tournament, winner gets Merlin BUT-" He said loudly when the other boy rolled his eyes. "The winner can also make three requests of their opponent."
Aldwin tilted his head, thinking. "I don't see how that's any better." He stated.
"Simple. If you win, not only do you get Merlin but," The prince paused, looking a little uneasy. "You can also request that I never see him again." Merlin looked up at him in surprise.
"Interesting." Aldwin said, smiling. In all honesty he had no intention of banning Arthur and Merlin from seeing each other. So that request far from convinced him. Though, he had always wondered what Arthur would look like in a maid's uniform so the offer was still tempting.
Aldwin paused, thinking. "Will this be a Knight's Agreement?" He asked.
Arthur looked conflicted. Silence seemed to echo around the hallway as they stared at each other tensely. "No." Arthur finally growled, anger emanating from him. "No it won't."
"Well then, Artie, you have yourself a wager." Aldwin sneered before trotting off.
Line Break:
Merlin stared at Arthur incredulously for a few moments after Aldwin had left. "You can't fight in your condition." He stated.
"Merlin, shut up and let's go." Arthur snapped, obviously not in the mood for this discussion. He began to walk down the hallway. Merlin followed reluctantly.
"Arthur, I just think-"
"Well then don't. It doesn't suit you anyway. Now be quiet." Arthur gave him a quick, warning flick on the forehead before continuing his journey.
Merlin stared at him angrily. Well, at least he was back to normal.
Later that night:
Merlin sat at the table, staring into his soup morosely.
"Merlin, what's the matter?" Gaius asked, giving him a searching look.
"I don't know what's gotten into Arthur." Merlin muttered distractedly, brows furrowed.
Gaius stared at him for a few seconds before sighing. He had been filled in on the situation as soon as Merlin had gotten home.
"Arthur possesses many good qualities," Gaius said, voice filled with wisdom. Merlin looked at him, trusting in what he had to say. "He is brave and loyal and he has the makings of a great King. Unfortunately, he still bears the irrationality of youth. The only thing you can do now is protect him the best way you know how."
Merlin nodded, staring back down at his soup while he thought of a solution. He looked up in interest, though, as Gaius started in on one of his stories. They were usually very entertaining.
"I remember one time Uther was visiting the Duke of Avery and somehow managed to get his head stuck in a pickle jar. They had to use a lance to-" Suddenly Merlin's eyes widened as an idea struck him.
"That's it!" He exclaimed, searching for some parchment.
"What?" Gaius asked in surprise.
Merlin began to write furiously, quill flying across the paper.
"Merlin, what do you have planned?" Gaius asked cautiously.
"If Arthur fights then he'll certainly lose, right? Well, there was nothing in the agreement saying Arthur had to fight." Merlin said, excitedly.
"Merlin…" Gaius said warningly.
"We need a knight that's undefeatable." Merlin continued. "We need a knight that not even Arthur can beat." He said, rolling up the scroll and heading to the door. "We need…Lancelot." Merlin said, leaving the room.
Gaius rolled his eyes. "Forget servitude. He should have joined the theatre." He muttered before going back to his meal.
A/N: Please review. Remember: 'Blergh'