While Looking for Her
Epilogue
Merlin eventually shaved off his beard, mainly because of Arthur's jabs and complaints, though Merlin did think he looked rather distinguished. And older, definitely older.
They did find Morgana staggering up to them, lost and alone in the woods in the hazy slanting sunlight of late afternoon, just as he had foreseen it in the Crystal of Neahtid. He's lived in fear every day since then that she would tell Uther that Merlin tried to poison her. He can well imagine what would happen to him if she should. She hasn't spoken up yet, but every so often she reminds him of the power she still holds over him.
Months have passed since Cenred's siege on Camelot ended in victory for Arthur, when Merlin destroyed the staff carved from the rowan tree that raised the skeleton army. Uther's belief that Morgana was the one to destroy the magical vessel, as he called it, only seems to have increased Uther's affection for her. Uther continues to dote on her every word. Merlin feels that he is the only one who can really see what a danger she is to Camelot. But he is effectively silenced by her threat of exposure of his action when the Knights of Medhir attacked. He can say nothing, and give no warnings.
The one bright spot in the past few months was finding a friend in Gwaine, when he helped Arthur and Merlin in a bar brawl, and took a knife meant for Arthur. But Uther banished Gwaine from Camelot in his rigid adherence to the Knights' Code upon a false nobleman's false accusations. Merlin still misses his friend. He really did liven the place up.
One day shortly after noon, a few weeks after Gwaine's departure, Merlin is running through the lower town from the tavern to get back to the citadel to serve Arthur his lunch. He dashes to the kitchens and piles some plates on a tray, grabbing a jug of water on the way out.
When he reaches Arthur's chambers, he's relieved to see that the room is deserted. It appears that Arthur hasn't made it back from training yet. Sighing with relief that he's not late, he sets the tray on the table and sinks down into one of the chairs near it to catch his breath, leaning his head back.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" he hears behind him. He jumps up turning around with a start to see Arthur emerging from behind the changing screen wiping his wet face on a cloth.
"Erm, sorry Sire." He stammers, "just catching my breath."
"I'm the one whose been working out at training all morning; what have you been doing to tire you out?" Arthur balls up the cloth and tosses it behind the screen as he crosses the room to the table.
"Working at The Rising Sun. Do you have any idea how filthy those floors get? They're disgusting."
Arthur laughs as he sits at the table. "Still paying off Gwaine's bar bill, are you?" He picks up a goblet and holds it our to Merlin to pour some water for him, looking up at Merlin with amusement in his eyes.
"Well, yeah. No thanks to you," Merlin retorts, filling Arthur's goblet. "You did say that Gwaine should have anything he wanted."
"Yeah, but I said nothing about buying drinks for everyone at the tavern. Not to mention all those pickled eggs." He takes a drink of water, and sets the goblet on the table. "How much longer?"
"A couple of months." Merlin places the lunch plates from the tray onto the table in front of Arthur.
"It'll be good for you. Keep you out of trouble," Arthur says, picking up a fork. "I hope you're not working there this evening."
Merlin shakes his head. "No, not tonight. Not till tomorrow."
"Good. After you finish your chores this afternoon, I need you to attend me at the feast, and then you'll be busy getting my armor and equipment ready for the jousting practice tomorrow."
xXx
Late that night, an exhausted Merlin makes his way back to his little room off Gaius's chambers. He enters as quietly as he can, trying to be careful not to disturb Gaius who is snoring gently on his cot in the corner behind the screen. But he trips on the small stool near the cook-fire, and Gaius turns on his bed, raising his head. "Merlin?" he mumbles.
"I'm sorry, Gaius. I didn't mean to disturb you. It's very late; go back to sleep," Merlin says, climbing the few steps up to his room.
"G'night, Merlin."
He takes off his boots and his jacket, falling heavily onto his bed, with a momentary regret at not stopping by the kitchen for something to eat. He'd been too busy since getting Arthur's lunch to eat anything himself. His last thought as he falls asleep is "tomorrow."
But he doesn't sleep until tomorrow. Just a few hours later, he hears his name. "Merlin."
Turning onto his side, he folds his pillow over his head. He knows that voice. "No. Let me sleep."
"Merlin!"
"Go away."
"MERLIN! NOW!"
He bolts up in his bed, wide-awake in the dark. Bending down, he groans as he buckles on his boots, then grabs his jacket, and slips out of his room to go to the clearing beyond Camelot's walls.
A/N: This adventure continues in "Emrys Lost," by Nantasyland.