Merlin was in bed and had been asleep for a couple of hours before the alarm bells rang to signal that the prisoner had escaped. He could hear footsteps as the guards checked the building for the escaped druid. The Prince himself came to check Gaius and Merlin's rooms as he entered Merlin's room he nodded and then in a low voice so the searchers in the next room couldn't hear said "I expect to see you later we need to talk." in a louder voice "It's clear in here, Gaius make sure you lock your door, although I expect the prisoner is long gone"
As the Prince left Gaius turned to Merlin "My boy you have taken a great risk, if the King ever discovers what happened you will not be safe."
Merlin looked at Gaius "He won't, but I had to do it, no matter what the cost to me, I couldn't life with myself otherwise."
"The foolishness of youth!" Gaius snorted exasperated and worried for the teenager "You have a destiny that will save far more than two people. What happens if you die, what to Albion's future?"
Merlin rolled his eyes "If it is my destiny than it will happen! I am fed up with destiny, sometimes you have to do what is right"
The Prince was shattered by the time he finally got to rest. What was worse was he knew he was wasting his time. It seemed he had hardly shut his eyes when George woke him saying that the King wanted a report and was expecting him to breakfast with him. Arthur reluctantly got up, knowing full well his father would be disappointed with him. When he arrived he found Morgana already there. "I am disappointed Arthur, the prisoner should have never escaped, what's more you didn't recapture him or find the boy."
"I believe they are long gone Sire" Arthur admitted "I will send out patrols and keep the double guard on the town gates in case they are holed up somewhere."
Morgana realised the King was not going to let the subject drop so butted in "I don't suppose it was Arthur's fault Sire. After all I suppose if they had magic they could have easily got away without anyone being able to stop them."
Uther looked at his ward "I should have executed him immediately! In future that's what will happen" turning to Arthur he demanded "Why wasn't the prisoner in cold iron?"
"He was Sire. Sir Cador knows the drill and assures me it was followed" Arthur was pleased it was one of Uther's knights who had arrested the druid and not one known to be loyal to him. He was also thankful for Morgana's intervention although she did have a good reason to help him after all.
Morgana smirked before adding "Well then not Arthur's fault! Now I hope things can get back to normal and all these searches stopped. I hate being disturbed, as if anyone would hide in my chambers!" Then she turned to the King changing the subject "Do you think I could go visit to father's grave soon?"
Uther looked at his ward and smiled gently "Leave it a week to make sure everything has settled and I will send some men with you"
After this the conversation went onto general matters until Arthur excused himself "I have patrols to send out"
Uther nodded "Make sure they kill on sight, I don't want further escapes"
Arthur sent out the patrols each under the leadership of one of his men, he was tempted to leave out the kill instruction but didn't, for one the King might get to hear and two if they were recaptured they might well talk and implicate Merlin. He went to get a remedy from Gaius, the lack of sleep and stress had left him with a thumping headache, also he hoped to speak to Merlin. When he arrived at the healers chambers he was lucky Merlin was on his own.
"Merlin, just how did you get a prisoner out of the cells?" Arthur scowled "It's one thing to get a child out but the adult! Do you have a death wish?!"
"So how was a young child supposed to look after himself alone? Did you want him to starve?" Merlin said in a surly tone.
Arthur grimaced, he supposed Merlin had a point. But he looked at Merlin once more "How did you get him out?" he repeated.
"I drugged the guards with drink and took the keys off them, your guards really need to be more careful" Merlin said glibly, hoping Arthur bought the story.
"I spoke to the guards they saw no one" Arthur said then waited.
"Well they didn't see me, not my fault if they drink on duty, they aren't likely to admit that are they? It's well known that they get a skin of mead before going on duty, after all it gets cold in the cells at night." Merlin said crossing his fingers behind his back.
"And where would you get anything from to drug them and not kill them or was that just lucky"
Merlin rolled his eyes and waved his hands "Healers apprentice" he said sarcastically.
Arthur gave up but before he left said "What you did was a good thing, but you risked your life for two strangers….why?"
"Because it was the right thing to do!" Merlin said simply.
Later Merlin went to find Gwaine "Did they get away alright?"
The other man grinned "Yeah, on one of the horses from the stables. I told them were you said to aim for and saw them on their way. That was a good thing you did, dangerous but good, you have made two friends for life."
"Thank you Gwaine, I couldn't have done it without you, how did you get in and out of the town?" asked a curious Merlin
"Getting out was easy, I snuck out, and the guards are easily distracted" he grinned "Got a girl from the Rising Sun to take the guards on one of the side gates a drink. Getting back I waited until this morning and they were only watching those going out not in! I took them as far as I could before leaving them, I wanted to get back in case you got yourself in bother"
"You are a true friend" Merlin said appreciatively.
Gwaine looked at Merlin before saying "And you are my only friend, I have never met a person like you before and I have travelled a lot. You are a good man, and I intend to stay around and make sure you keep safe while you look after everyone else. Someone has to watch your back!"
Later that day Merlin dropped in Morgana's sleeping potion, although she wasn't taking it anymore she kept up the pretence. Morgana called him into the room when he gave the bottle to Gwen "Well?" she demanded
"All went ok, by now they should be well away and safe" Merlin told her. "Thank you"
Morgana looked at Merlin "I was right you know…..I always thought Arthur was as against the pyres as I was"
Merlin looked seriously at the Kings Ward "He helped this time, but that was because it was a child, the Prince has been told all his life that magic is evil, but I am sure he would protect you if he knew. But I managed not to tell him about me, I don't think he would go as far as to save me, not yet anyway" Merlin admitted.
Morgana looked at Merlin "I will tell him one day, I don't want to live my life like this, I mean it is great you know, and Gwen but …." She looked very sad "I hate not telling Arthur he is like a brother to me, we have never had secrets"
"You will know when the time is right" Merlin told her. "He has a kind heart and one day I hope we will all be free. But until then you have us"
"Thank you Merlin, and I hope you are right." The brunette told him with a smile "I cannot believe that I am lucky enough to have you as a friend. It has changed my life. I was so scared before"