Uther always held the harvest celebration on the Equinox. Whether or not the harvest had been completely collected, there was no doubt there would be enough food to store and feed the people of the kingdom. They all had their own celebrations on that night. Even the sorcerers were released from their pens to dine in the courtyard, or lower hall. The citizens of the town celebrated, not concerning themselves with the people that had been enslaved to make the harvest be successful year after year. They didn't look, they were too scared to. Those that tried to help paid a terrible price. The ultimate price was to come.
Arthur chose this night, during the feast, as the time he would end Uther's reign, he would free his sister, and then the kingdom. It sounded so easy, but it didn't feel all that easy to Merlin, who would have to do what Arthur required of him. Make Uther helpless, keep Morgana safe and save Camelot.
He wasn't worried, not at all. Merlin helped Arthur dress for the feast. Merlin had been far more thorough than usual in his chores. It made him focus a little, but not on what was to come. Every time he thought of that he felt a tremor of fear ripple through his heart. Merlin was going to take on the most powerful man in the known kingdom. Armies would not go against him, and one tiny sorcerer was about to attempt the impossible.
Arthur turned and sniffed his red tunic.
"Is that lavender?" he asked.
"I put some in a bag in the drawer," Merlin said. "Yesterday."
"I thought you were flitting about in a funny fashion when you cleaned. Why?"
"I'm nervous, close to terrified."
"Not why are you flitting about, why the lavender?" Arthur asked.
"It's made it smell better," Merlin said. Arthur sniffed at his sleeve again and shrugged. Then he looked at Merlin who was carefully unfolding Arthur's cloak and brushing imaginary dust off it. He had spent over an hour yesterday making sure it was immaculate for the feast. Arthur stayed still as Merlin carefully draped it over his shoulders and then moved to Arthur's right to start fastening it. Arthur looked at him with an intense gaze, feeling Merlin's shaking hands fumble with the fastenings.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
"You need to be focussed."
"I am, oh, I am. I'm very focussed on my terror."
"Good," Arthur said. Merlin looked up.
"Good? How is that good?"
"It will help you concentrate, and keep you alert. Those are the things you need, use it to hone your reactions down, you can do this, Merlin. You are the only one that can."
"If not, we'll all be dead and it won't matter," Merlin said in an overly bright voice, and then he felt the cool breeze of Arthur's mind against his. Arthur's hand reached up to gently touch his cheek, brushing his fingertips against Merlin's smooth skin. Merlin closed his eyes for a second.
"You can do it, Merlin."
"Don't say anything about destiny for goodness sake."
Arthur laughed and he pulled his hand away and straightened up as there was a knock at the door and two knights, also in their formal dress, walked into the room. They both glanced at Merlin, but dismissed him, and the quick glimpse they had of Arthur's intimate touch. Instead they bowed to the prince while Merlin finished fastening off Arthur's cloak and neatened the folds up.
"Sire, you father is waiting."
Arthur nodded and Merlin stepped aside to let him pass. Then as Arthur passed the bed he picked up the fur pelt that was carefully folded, and placed at the end of the bed. He handed it over to Merlin.
"Take that to the Lady Morgana, with my compliments."
Merlin ran his hand into the thick fur, from the pelt of a wolf that Arthur had killed a few weeks ago, after it was seen harassing some of the sheep herds in the nearby countryside. He bowed to Arthur.
"Yes, Your Highness."
He didn't move immediately, instead he waited as Arthur swept from the room, the two knights in tow. Merlin eyed the gift; the pelt had been made into a shoulder wrap, giving Merlin the perfect excuse to see Morgana before the feast, for any last minute instruction and reassurance. As he tightened his grip on the fur he frowned as he felt something hard within the folds of the wrap. Very carefully, looking up at the door he opened the material and blinked as he looked inside. Nestled down within the garment were two daggers which glittered in the candlelight. They were made from silver, the hilts plain, made for an entirely practical purpose. Merlin didn't doubt that Morgana could use them, and would use them if she had to. Shifting his grip a little, one of the knives clinked against something hidden deeper in the fabric. Merlin pushed the knives aside to look at the small vial that lay there. He could only presume it was more of the tincture that helped Morgana deceive Uther.
Footsteps sounded outside in the corridor and Merlin flipped the wrap back, smoothing the thick pelt down and steadying it in his hands. Taking a deep breath he hurried from the room and went down the corridor, walking swiftly. He knew exactly where he was going, and he didn't dare stop. The castle was alive with people, and soldiers, more than he had ever seen before. Servants were running, hurrying to have everything prepared, and the many guests that Uther invited to the feast settled in the castle. There were also more soldiers than usual wandering around. Merlin tried to avoid all of them, none of them paid him much attention, he was well known now, and for anyone who hadn't encountered him before, the clothing that Arthur insisted he wear certainly gave no doubt to his place in the household.
He thought he was safe enough, as he started to take the final short walk towards Morgana's chambers but he gasped and pulled up short as a burly soldier stepped in front of him. Merlin recoiled a step, away from the man's bulk and the smell of sweat and alcohol that hung around him.
"And where do you think you're going?"
He didn't think for one minute that he was one of the men who were going to be part of Morgana's escort to the feast, but he was probably there to make sure no strangers got close to the room. Her doorway was no more than thirty or so steps away from him. The knives and vial hidden under the fur suddenly felt a little heavier than they had a minute ago, as they reminded him of their presence.
Merlin glanced up at the man with the expression of a startled rabbit, which seemed to amuse the soldier no end.
"I'm delivering a gift to the Lady Morgana, with Prince Arthur's complements," Merlin said, managing that without stammering. He straightened up a little and tried to look like that was a perfectly normal thing for him to be doing. A good number of people in the castle had witnessed Morgana bullying him about, and he had certainly played his role well enough for most people to dismiss him as no danger to her.
The soldier in front of him reached out to grab at the wrap. Merlin backed up a step moving the garment out of his reach. He would have thought Arthur's name would have made the man stand down. Merlin was wearing the Pendragon crest on his cuffs as well as his clothing. That was enough for people to back off. This one wasn't about to, and the last thing Merlin needed was to be found out heading towards Morgana's chambers carrying knives. The entire plan could fall to pieces.
Merlin breathed a sigh of relief as the second soldier on duty seemed to rouse and realise what was happening.
"Leave him Nicholas, let him pass."
"Now until I've made sure he's no danger."
"He's only the prince's catamite," the second soldier announced dismissively. "And I don't think his Highness would be too pleased to know you had your grubby hands over his present. I doubt the Lady Morgana would either."
Nicholas seemed to ponder that, and Merlin never thought he would be glad to be referred to in such a manner, but it would be enough to get him through. Nicholas paced around Merlin in a way that perhaps might have intimidated him a few weeks ago, but he had been dealing with Arthur, and this man was nothing in comparison. He just waited, sensing where the man was going. Quite by surprise he felt the magic in him unfurl just a little, imagining the dragon lifting his head and snorting in derision. Merlin hardly flickered at the smack to the back of his head.
"Off you go then, pretty boy."
Merlin walked the last few paces to Morgana's door, moving quickly but without hurrying. He could sense them watching him, and the second soldier hissing at his companion a little irritably but Merlin concentrated on getting to the door and balancing the wrap in one hand knocked on the door.
A moment later it was opened by Gwen, who regarded him curiously, her eyes subtly moving to the soldiers watching the scene.
"I have a present from Prince Arthur, for the Lady Morgana."
Gwen gave him a look up and down and then turned her head as Morgana yelled in her arrogant manner.
"Well, bring it in then!"
Gwen stepped back to allow Merlin through the door and she closed it behind them. Morgana huffed out a breath, and Merlin caught his as he looked at her. She was in a deep burgundy gown that left her shoulders bare and highlighted the delicate chains around her slender neck and wrists. Her hair was bound up elaborately on her head and a silver band ran across her brow, a delicate ruby glittering in the centre. The gown cinched in tightly at the waist with a belt of silver. Morgana giggled as she looked at Merlin, who blinked and blushed furiously.
"Sorry," Merlin said, relinquishing the pelt and its contents to Gwen. "Careful that has –"
Merlin started and then stopped as Guinevere laid the pelt down and opened it up carefully, lifting out the two knives and the vial. She held the small green bottle out to Morgana who took it and removed the little stopper from the top, sniffing at the liquid inside.
"I don't know why they have to smell and taste so foul," she mused and took a sip, then passed it back to Gwen who replaced the stopper and secreted the vial in her belt.
"Are you all right Merlin?" Morgana asked.
"Nervous, why did we have to do it tonight?"
"Because there is a chance of distractions, and Uther will be celebrating, trust me, we can't wait any longer. You'll be fine," Morgana said reaching out to take his hand. Her skin was soft and warm compared to his own.
"I hope so," Merlin said. Morgana leant forward and kissed him gently on the cheek. He flushed even more.
"You are funny," she told him, then turned to Gwen who handed her one of the knives. Morgana looked at it, holding it in her hand and testing the weight of it. Then Merlin jumped as she spun and threw the knife past him and into the door beyond. It lodged in the wood, vibrating a little from the impact.
"Oh!" Merlin said, startled. Morgana swept past him to pull the knife out and as she turned she tucked it carefully into her gown, down the front of her bodice, Guinevere said.
"I hope the soldiers didn't hear that." She went to the door to listen.
"Especially that oaf Nicholas, I do wish he wouldn't keep staring at my breasts, I have a good mind to report him to Uther, see how he likes that," Morgana snapped and then as she looked up Merlin looked away, realising that was exactly what he was looking at.
"Sorry." He closed his eyes tightly.
Morgana laughed again and turned to Guinevere while Merlin recovered. "You carry the other one just in case, Gwen."
"Yes, My Lady," Again Guinevere secreted the knife without it being visible to anyone. Merlin guessed they did this sort of thing a lot, hiding things from Uther. Then Guinevere unfurled the wrap and shook it out. Morgana turned to let her maid settle the fur around her shoulders. Morgana angled her body to look at herself in the mirror.
"What do you think?" she asked Merlin.
"Beautiful," Merlin said without hesitating.
"What, me or the wrap?" Morgana asked.
"The wrap," he announced, and then blushed. "You! Both! What was the question?"
Morgana laughed again. "You are wonderful, Merlin. Now you'd better go, you should be in the hall to see to Arthur, and you know what to do."
Merlin nodded. He didn't know much beyond that. Arthur didn't want to tell anyone too much of the plan, and he didn't want Merlin thinking about it too much. The more Merlin thought, the less effective he was. When Arthur had said that Merlin couldn't really work out if he was being complemented or not. Later on Arthur gave him a better explanation.
"Your magic works on intuition. You need to just follow your instincts, I don't want you to plan too much, just do what you need to as it happens."
Merlin just hoped he could. Morgana kissed him again and he hurried to the door, went out closing it behind him and six paces later met Uther, who glared at him. Merlin lowered his head and went very still. He could feel Uther looking him up and down, seeing the clothes that Arthur had ordered made for Merlin, for the celebration.
He was in a blue silk shirt, the colour of which perfectly matched Merlin's eyes. Over the top, in the same silk material he was wearing a tabard of red, with the Pendragon symbol on the right breast. The shirt cuffs laced up perfectly for the bonding cuffs to lie neatly over the material. The trousers were plain black, as were the new boots of soft leather he was wearing. The tabard was secured with a silk sash in the blue of the shirt. Merlin didn't dare look up to see Uther's expression as the king looked him up and down. The knights behind Uther waited patiently. Merlin glanced up high enough to see Nicholas at the end of the corridor smirking.
"And what are you doing in there?" Uther growled at him.
"Delivering a present from Prince Arthur," Merlin said, keeping his voice low. Before Uther could press him further Morgana's door opened and she swept out.
"Do you like it?" she said, her tone changing again, sounding almost seductive as she addressed Uther. Uther dismissed Merlin from his mind. Merlin stepped aside to let the king walk forward, towards Morgana, who spun round to let Uther get the full effect of the wrap, as she turned Morgana glanced at Merlin. He took the hint, stepping around the king's entourage to walk away.
"I wondered why Arthur was being so secretive about what he was doing with the wolf fur," Uther said. Morgana laughed, which to Merlin sounded forced. It was an easy, relaxed sound when he usually heard it. Now there was a tinny edge to the laugh, as if it wasn't quite coming from her.
Merlin didn't wait around; he passed down the corridor, took the stairs and made his way to the packed hall. People were gathered around, talking in groups, while servants walked around with jugs of wine to fill people's goblets, and trays of small delicacies for them to nibble before the main feast started. No one would take their seats until the king arrived.
On entering the room Merlin went over to the table and picked up one of the jugs of wine, making his way over to Arthur and the group of knights he was talking to. Arthur turned as Merlin came close and filled up his goblet.
"About time, Merlin," Arthur snapped at him.
"Sorry, Sire," Merlin muttered and concentrated on filling goblets, and as the jug emptied he turned to go and get another. Before he could step away Arthur added.
"And how did the Lady Morgana like her gift?"
"She seemed very pleased with it, Sire," Merlin said in a low tone. Arthur nodded and gave a sharp wave to indicate that Merlin should carry on with what he was doing. Merlin moved around the hall carefully, a few people looked at him with interest, Merlin kept his own observations discreet. There were people from the town itself as well as landowners and nobles from the kingdom, who attended every year. None of them had magic, it wasn't that common. Although Camelot was riddled with sorcerers and magic, in comparison to the rest of the population they were a minority. He noted that many of the guests looked uncomfortable, their eyes moving around the hall carefully, and many of them turning their eyes away from him as he passed. Sometimes when they turned to him for a refill they would suddenly turn away again. They saw the cuffs and the symbols and knew not to get involved.
Merlin concentrated on looking after the knights until the trumpets sounded to herald the arrival of the king. The knights moved to their place, and Arthur went to stand by the raised table at the end, by his own chair. Merlin took position behind him. Guinevere hurried around the far side of the hall to take her place behind the Lady Morgana's chair. She glanced at Merlin and he returned the look. They would serve at the top table. Uther had no one to wait on him, both Guinevere and Merlin would share that responsibility. Neither of them looked to happy about it. Merlin watched as Uther walked in, Morgana on his arm, her chin raised as she nodded at the people they passed. Arthur walked across to pull her chair out and as Uther released her to allow her to take her place Arthur settled her in place.
"How's the gift?" Arthur murmured at her.
"Perfect," Morgana said, adjusting her wrap. The subtle meaning in her words was lost to everyone except the quartet around the head of the table.
Uther didn't notice. He had turned to the crowds, who were in position at their tables.
"Let us enjoy the feast."
Uther took his place, and so did everyone else, while Merlin steeled himself to serve, and wait for what Arthur wanted.
The next block of time rolled through his mind as a pleasant blur. He kept goblets topped up, plates filled and ran back and forth as ordered. Merlin noticed that although Arthur looked to sip from his goblet frequently when he went to fill it, very little was missing. He feigned filling it and then moved onto Uther, who was drinking. Instinct told Merlin that the more Uther drank, the less control he would probably have. As he went to get more wine, he considered that, his instinct. It was what Arthur wanted him using. If he could get Uther drunk enough, then his control would be diminished. He turned and almost ran into Guinevere who appeared next to him.
"Oh sorry!" Merlin said. Guinevere glared at him.
"Be careful, boy!" she snapped at him, righting her jug and deftly slipping a few drops from the vial she was concealing into it. Merlin tried not to smirk at the almost perfect imitation of Morgana's voice. He stepped back shielding Guinevere as she secreted the vial and filled the jug with water. She gave him another glare and Merlin wilted a little over his faux pas and scurried back to Arthur. Arthur's face was completely composed but his eyes were glittering with amusement. Merlin could see, and feel, the pent up adrenaline running through Arthur. He was waiting for his moment.
And it came soon enough.
As the feasting was dying down, Uther waved his goblet in Merlin's direction and Merlin obligingly topped it up. He risked a more intense glance at the king and took in his flushed cheeks, bleary eyes and as he stood up his balance. Uther was drunk, not completely insensible, but drunk. As Merlin turned away from the king he caught Arthur's gaze. It was steady but there was a hardness to it. Merlin looked away and stepped back behind Arthur's chair, and waited. Uther stood up, the legs of his chair scraping against the floor. The sound echoed around the room, and people paused, their conversations dying off as they saw the king waiting for everyone's attention. It didn't take long and the hubbub of conversation slowly died away.
"My Friends," Uther said, which seemed to cause an uncomfortable ripple through the crowd, although they seemed to conceal it. Uther however smiled congenially, as if very amused, Merlin noted. Merlin watched everything carefully now, his senses heightening and his heart beating a little faster.
"We have come together again for another fruitful harvest."
The crowd clapped him politely.
"And so may it continue, our kingdom is strong and our power great. Our harvest has been greater increased," Uther said and waved to the soldiers at the end of the all. They opened the huge doors and started to push and pull in a cart. It was covered in a large black cloth but Merlin's heightened senses picked up a throbbing from inside. Heartbeats, very fast and very scared.
Merlin tensed and watched as it was wheeled to the centre of the room.
"And of course," Uther said. "Nothing can be achieved without the help of magic."
He waved a hand and the cloth slipped away from the cage, revealing the contents within. The crowd gasped, so did Merlin, and he realised why Arthur had chosen this moment.
The children in the cage clung together. Merlin thought there were two of them for a moment, but as they shifted, looking around, he saw a very small boy lift his head, huddled between the two older children. Uther was walking around the table, to move in front of it to address the crowd. The children inside tried to shift away. Merlin stepped back as Arthur moved as well, sliding from his chair to walk around the table.
"And as we know, for our kingdom to be successful, sacrifices must be made," Uther said calmly and then paused. The silent crowd meant that the sound of a sword being drawn carried across the room. Uther turned to look at Arthur. Uther smirked, his eyebrows rising slightly. Arthur looked back, face closed but sword held out in front of him. Merlin waited trying to keep calm.
It wasn't just his, Morgana's and Arthur's life in the balance, the risk had just doubled. Merlin knew why Arthur had picked this moment, this exact moment.
And the battle was about to commence.