Author's Note:

Hi everyone! :)
Here I am again... and the update is definitely faster than last time. *proud* Though I was stuck for a while around the second part. Can you already guess who the 'Beast' is? :D
There isn't lots of Max and Moritz in here, but Arthur is slowly coming to a decision... and there'll be trouble (but that's reserved for the next chapter^^).
Anyways, thanks for all reviews, alerts and favourites! They're lovely, as always. :)
Enjoy and please R&R!

Disclaimer: (see the first line of the chapter) Don't own.

Chapter 20: Playing the Beast

"Wow, this is boring."

Merlin shushed the twin quickly, though he couldn't hide his smile. After all, it was boring. And useless. But with the twins here there was more at risk than just himself being hurt. He couldn't let anything- or anyone for that matter- hurt them. Beatrice would kill me, if I was still alive by then.

The thought made him wince slightly, but none of the other three occpupants of the room seemed to notice. Four, if you counted Zorro, who was tied up on the other side of the room. Apparently the Prince had learned from what had happened with his own bonds.

Merlin allowed his head to fall back against the bed post- the same Arthur had been chained to previously, wasn't it all sarcastic- and sighed. Then he turned towards the Prince, who was sat near Zorro (though sadly not in reach of his teeth and claws) on a chair and looked very pensive and important. Exactly the way he had looked in the past ten minutes or so. The thief had started to wonder if he was actually asleep with open eyes. It was certainly early enough. The sun was about to rise and they still hadn't had a single minute of sleep.

His head met the bed post again, harder this time, and Arthur glanced at him.

Alright, not asleep then. Is this the face he makes during all those stupid council meetings?

"You could just go and ask them, you know."
His voice cut through the silence and everyone turned towards him at once. Merlin briefly bit his lip, before he continued. "We are bound with no way of escaping. And even if we could, where would we go? The twins can probably escape, but you've seen all our faces. I'm sure the walls would be plastered with them soon enough." He raised an eye brow. "And I deem myself important enough to send a message to the neighbouring kingdoms, so I won't be able to live there either. I have no where to run to."

However depressing that sounded, it was true. Arthur stayed quiet, but at least he seemed to think it through. Then he snorted. What is it now?

"You are a powerful sorcerer."

"So?"

Merlin wasn't about to tell the Prince that he had no idea how to use his magic or that it was frightening him. He had come to close to revealing those secrets before. The thief wouldn't make the same mistake again. Plus, it was unlikely that Arthur would even believe him- after all he had managed to perform the spell against the sickness and returned a whole street to dust. The Prince seemed to think the same as he too raised a brow.

"So?! As soon as I'm gone you will free yourself and your... accomplices, change your appearance and flee. Or even better- you stay in Camelot. Why should it stop you that everyone knows your face? You've proven quite hard to catch. And if what you say is true and you have helped the peasants, I'm sure someone will take you in. Or at least not betray you when they spot you."

He leaned back, obviously pleased with himself, and Merlin bristled.

"But if I speak the truth, why would you even want to imprison me? I've helped those poorer than myself. And I've saved your life."

If Arthur's expression was anything to go by, it was the last fact that confused and angered him the most. Was it really that hard to understand that he wasn't all bad?

"He's right, mate", one of the twins cut in. His brother chuckled. "If Emrys was a knight, he would get a great reward and everything. You want to punish him. How's that fair?"

Arthur looked pointedly away from thw two of them. That is, until he suddenly span round and stared at them, his whole face lighting up with an idea. Merlin gulped. This can't end well.

"It's actually quite simple. You will accompany me. And if you do anything- and I mean anything- like trying to escape or to attack me, the twins pay the price. And believe me when I say that you won't be able to race here and free them before me. I have the guards and knights to help me. A simple signal and your two little friends are in trouble."

No, it wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. It was worse.

"Oh, and don't forget that this energy-spell is still working. Like you said- when I'm hurt your magic will heal me and slow you down in the process. So don't even think about that."

Great.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Arthur had never gone that deep into the lower part of Camelot city before. And honestly, he couldn't say that he regretted it.

"This place stinks!"

Merlin's glance back at where the crown Prince pressed against the wall, half hidden in the shadows (purely to go unnoticed of course- he wasn't trying to hide from some filthy peasants), apparently unsure if he should be amused or angry. In the end he looked at Arthur's slightly disgruntled face and went for the first.

"Oh, is it not to his Majesty's liking? Then maybe you should give some perfume to those poor people, who often can't afford food." His voice turned harder with each word, annoyance taking the place of his dripping sarcasm. "Or you could just move a little faster. Though I fear the smell won't get better."

Arthur huffed, although his eyes had gone serious. He wouodn't let some filthy thief tell him what to do. "At least now I know where your stench comes from" the Prince countered. Emrys stared at him for a moment, his gaze unreadable, before he answered.

"Better my smell than that stuff you use to hide yours. There are a few disadvantages when you get food whenever you want it, aren't there? Fa- heavy built people tend to sweat a bit more..."

"I am not fat!"

Arthur's cry was slightly too loud for someone who didn't want to draw attention. After all, the two blue and green cloaks they had found in Igraine's wardrobe wouldn't do for closer inspection (despite the fact that Emrys couldn't use is own in bright daylight for obvious reasons he seemed rather uncomfortable with taking from a dead woman, which Arthur found interesting).

Emrys cursed as several people turned to look and pulled the Prince into another smaller alley, either not noticing or ignoring the way Arthur tensed at the contact. He couldn't exactly help it. His instincts had learned to remain attentive after chasing the thief for a year. Now he had to get used to being led through the lower town like he was a visitor and Emrys his guide. At least that way he could follow the thief and keep an eye on him. Despite the twins as leverage Arthur would never want to have a powerful, snippy and more and more frustrated thief in his back. Especially when said thief was obviously Camelot's only chance, being the prophesied Emrys and all.

Arthur sighed softly as he ducked into the alley. He would cross that bridge when he came to it. Seeing the sickly pale faces they came across every few metres, it would rather be sooner than later.

He was so deep in though that he almost ran into Emrys when the thief stopped abruptly, staring at something around the corner. Arthur swore silently, steadying himself with one hand against the wall before he glared at Emrys. His companion didn't even seem to notice. For a moment the Prince wished that he was able to look under the hood and see the other's expression. Then Emrys pulled himself together and straightened, taking a step out of cover and into the bright morning sun. Arthur frowned, examining their surroudnings from the dark shadows.

The street was made of trampled earth, without any cobble stones or wood. Small buildings lined it on both sides. The Prince wasn't sure if he should call them houses- they looked all different, having nothing in common other than an obvious lack of money. Most were made out of wood and cloth and looked like they would come crashing down with the next breeze. There was a group of children playing in the dirt, using small stones and branches to mark their game board. At first they didn't even notice the two hooded figures, too engrossed in their game as they moved the stones or grabbed some to put them on the small pile in front of each child.

Arthur didn't know the game, but he couldn't help but think it must be fun to make the kids laugh in this area. Then one of the older boys looked up and stared at Emrys' blue cloak with obvious distrust, before a wide grin split his face.

"Emrys?"

Now the others also turned towards the corner where the thief stood, smiles appearing on more and more dirty little faces. Arthur stood lile frozen to the spot as he watched a mall girl, maybe seven years old, yell and throw herself at Emrys, even more shocked when the thief grabbed her and whirled her round.

"Freya! You're getting to old for that..."

The girl smiled up at him while her friends came forward to greet the thief with equally wide grins and happy 'hullo's.
"Not yet. You have to come more often, then you would get a bit of training."

Emrys huffed, but Arthur could tell he didn't mean it. "Hey, calm down, will you? Your parents are gonna think there's an emergency or something!"

The kids just laughed, apparently not caring. The boy who had noticed Emrys first, an about-twelf-year-old with wild blond-brown hair and freckles, gave Emrys a stern look. "Freya said you were hurt, and then they caught you and we didn't know if you'd come back."

The thief knelt down in front of him, grabbing the thin shoulders firmly as he glanced round at the other children. Suddenly it was a lot quieter. "You didn't lose your faith, did you? Because I promised you that I'd look after you. And promises can never be broken."

A few small smiles lit their owners faces. Then another girl of maybe three years rushed forward and grasped the thief's leg, declaring that she'd never let go and that they couldn't put him in those 'dark scary dungeons' again, and promptly breaking the dark mood. Emrys smiled and lifted the squealing child up to sit her on his back. The Prince remembered the face he had made little ago when his wound throbbed at being bound.

"I'm sorry, but I haven't got any food with me today" Emrys declared finally, before a mischivous look crossed his face. "Well, nothing apart from this."

He shifted the girl to his hip so he could reach into his pocket and pull out a square that was wrapped in red paper and looked exactly like the chocolate Arthur had taken just before he went to the dungeons, was kidnapped and the whole episode began.

A chocolate that had still been in his pocket a few minutes earlier when Emrys had pulled him into the alley. Elusive stupid thief. Somehow Arthur couldn't be angry while he saw the children's happy faces.
Which was most likely what Emrys had counted on. Damn.

"...and I've also brought along a... friend of mine who wants to meet you."

The Prince grimaced slightly, but he stepped out into the sun, suddenly glad that he had a hood. Those children didn't have to know who he was. A few kids stepped back slightly unsure or distrustful and the black-haired girl- Freya, he recalled- narrowed her eyes, but the Prince just waved at them.

"Hey, I'm Arthur. And you are...?"

Was it clever to say his real name? The question came a little too late as he wss already overloaded with names, all excited to see a new face- well, hood. Obviously they trusted Emrys enough to extend the same trust to his companions. Which meant that the thief had been telling the truth.

Said thief looked up and, as if reading his thoughts, flashed Arthur a smug smile- just visible under the hood. The Prince nearly growled. Why did things always have to be so complicated? Why couldn't Emrys just be the bad guy- arrested by Arthur- instead of a helper of the poor and Camelot's saviour? Did fate want to make his head hurt?

"Are you best friends?"

The girl's voice wormed itself into Arthur's thoughts and the Prince froze for a moment, unsure what to say. Emrys just sniggered, though he sighed at the Prince's glare.

"You are all my friends."

The children grinned, obviously not noticing that their idol was evading the question. Arthur thought for a moment, examining them, before he sat down on next to Emrys- of course always ready to jumo up if necessary.

"So, usually Emrys brings food?"

The small group nodded. "Yup. And gold and med- medi-"
"Medicine" an older girl helped out. Arthur frowned, feeling the thief's smugness increase by second.

"Do you know where he gets all those things?"

"He steals them."
It was almost shocking how unfazed the kids sounded. Maybe that comes with living in the lower town.

"But stealing is bad!" Arthur argued, leaning himself forward expectantly. He received a few glares and grimaces.

"Don't say anything against Emrys, he is our friend!"
"And he steals only what's necessary-"
"He saved my Mum-"
"We are hungry, too!"
"Those stupid prats in the castle don't even need it!"

The Prince startled at the sudden force with which they defended the thief. Obviously it wasn't allowed to say anything against their 'hero'. Though Arthur did recognize the "prat" from someone...

Emrys seemed to blush as he shushed them, telling the kids that his friend was just curious, because he was new in town and didn't know lots of people here. The latter stung, especially since it was so painfully true. Why had no one ever told him about the conditions in Camelot's outer parts? Someone must have noticed!

"...sure he'd like to play with you for a while."

Emrys' comment made the Prince instantly forget his thoughts as his eyes widened. What the hell was the thief thinking?! The children in contrast looked a lot more cheerful.

"Can we play 'catching the beast'? And he is the beast?"

The suggestion was met with loud squeals of delight and Emrys paused for a second, before something sinister crossed his smile and he nodded. "Of course. I'm sure Arthur would love to play the beast. He's quite good at it."

The Prince didn't have the time to glare, all of his questions drownign in the shouts and clapping. All he could to was to give Emrys a slightly panicked look (which he would deny later). Then a yelling bunch of kids overran him and pulled him under.

Poor Arthur... :D though it is kinda his own fault.
Now, three things:

1) What do you think? Was it alright? (Even though there wasn't really a lot of banter. I'll try to get more into the next chapters.)

2) What do you prefer- longer but slower updates (which means, like right now) or shorter and quicker (about 1k)? I was just wondering after having written the first part, 'cause I didn't know how to continue- but it was only half as long as my chapters usually are.

3) Completely off-topic: Do you celebrate carnival? And how?

Review Responses:

Lonely Foxboy (nice name, btw): Thanks for your review! :D And wow, I'm really happy that you felt like this was an original story for a few chapters. Seriously, that made my day! :)
Zorro is one of the characters that just appear when I'm writing- and I'm glad he did. Love him xD.
As for Mordred- I hadn't planned on writing him into the story, because Merlin and Arthur don't even know him in this AU (since they never rescued him). But my story refuses to follow any kind of outline I had planned, so I'll see if he fits into it somehow. :)