Here's the next chapter! In my opinion, this one's pretty long, but it's pretty good, I think.

Read on and enjoy!


Chapter 29: Aithusa Part 2

The next morning, Merlin and Cade walked to the inn that Borden had told Gaius he was staying at. Upon entering his room, they were jumped. Cade was knocked to the floor and a boot-covered foot was placed on her chest. Merlin was slammed against the wall as a knife was pointed at his neck. The two looked to see that the one holding them was Gaius's old pupil, Julius Borden.

"What do you want?" Sneered Borden

"We want to help you get the dragon egg." Merlin answered nervously, "We're friends of Gaius."

"Did he send you?" Borden asked

"No, but we know everything about dragons!" Merlin insisted. Cade grinned in agreement, the boot on her chest making it difficult for her to breath properly.

"Get out." The older man grumbled releasing the boy and girl.

"But-" Cade choked out.

"Get. Out"

"I can help you get the third piece of the Triskellion!" Merlin insisted desperately

"How can a boy and a girl like you two help me?" Bored questioned.

Cade grinned. "Because we're the personal servants of King Arthur." Borden looked curiously at them, to which the two responded with a wide smile.


Once they had gotten back to the castle, the two servants went directly to Arthur's chambers, where they found the king asleep. Walking to the cabinet by his bed, the two began searching for the right key to unlock the vaults. As they fingered through the keys, neither sibling noticed that Arthur was beginning to wake up. He turned on his side and opened his eyes. Seeing his manservant and maidservant by his bedside cabinet, he got a look of annoyed confusion on his face.

"What on earth are you two doing?" he asked, catching the warlock and witch's attentions.

Thinking quick, Merlin and Cade began knocking their knuckles on Arthur's cabinet. "Looking for woodworms." Merlin answered as he and Cade continuously knocked on the wood. Arthur gave them an confused look.

"Before breakfast?" he questioned.

Cade grinned as she placed her ear to the cabinet. "That is when the worms are most active." She said, glancing down at Arthur.

Arthur just continued to look at them as if they were crazy. "Get out." he said. Merlin and Cade did as they were told. However, as they walked by the end of Arthur's bed, Arthur's pile of clothes caught their eyes, because, sitting on top of it all was the key to the vaults. Casually as possible, Merlin bent down and grabbed the pile of clothes.

"These need washing." He said.

"And these." Arthur said, tossing more clothes at Merlin and Cade. They began to walk away when, "And Merlin, Caden?" The turned back to him as he turned in bed. "Before you go, leave that belt." The two siblings looked at each other with looks of annoyance as Merlin slammed the belt back down on the bed.


The next time the siblings tried to get the vault, Arthur was in the council chambers discussing some sort of battle strategy with his knights. Using magic, Merlin caused Arthur's trousers to fall to the ground. Cade turned away, not wanting to see the king in his underwear. Merlin, however, took the opportunity to try and help Arthur get his trousers back up while Merlin was actually trying to get a hold of the vault key.
Soon, Arthur had his trousers back up and, unknown to said king, Merlin had the vault key safely hidden behind his back. As Merlin and Cade left the room, Arthur tried to make things appear as normal as they had been prior to the de-trousering


That evening, Merlin and Cade crept down in the castle to a door that led from the outside wall. They found Borden, pacing waiting for them. As he turned, he found the two siblings poking their heads out of the door. Borden grinned. "I'm beginning to like you both." he said and followed them inside.

The siblings led Borden down the stairs, stopping at the bottom. Merlin held up the key to the vaults. "This is as far as we go." Merlin said. "This key opens the last gate, but you have to get past the guards." He handed the key over.

As Borden took the key, he drew his sword saying, "That won't be a problem." And he was gone, Cade glaring at him suspiciously as he did. Though she hated even considering it, she had to admit to herself that even if this guy was looking for the last dragon egg, maybe, just maybe, Gaius had been right. What if Borden wasn't as trustworthy as he let on.

"Merlin," she said. "I'm beginning to think we were wrong to do this. What if Gaius was right about him?" Merlin glared at her in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" He asked. "Borden wants to retrieve the dragon egg for good reasons, I'm sure."

Cade just looked back where Borden had been. A little later, they heard the sounds of footsteps and found Borden coming back, the Triskellion fully formed once again. The warlock and witch led Borden out of the vaults and out the castle walls. Merlin took back the key and started to lock the door back.

"Tell me, Merlin, Cade," Borden started, sheathing his sword and turning his gaze on the siblings. "Would you say you're good liars?"

Merlin and Cade looked at each other, then back at Borden. "If we need to be." Cade answered, turning her attention back to the locking of the door. She heard Borden smirk, then felt a sharp pain to the back of her head as Borden hit both Merlin and Cade, knocking them down and reopening the door. He dropped the key on top of them.

"You're going to need to be." he said softly and with that, he was gone.


How was this one? Read and Review please?