A/N Hey everyone! Yes, I'm still back and I actually have quite a few prompts lined up! :) Hope you all enjoy! Also I have absolutely no self-control sometimes, I was going to save this to post in a few days in the case I got caught up in something but I couldn't bring myself too so I'm just going to post it as soon as I'm done! I can't help myself, I wanted to post it now as soon as I was done xDD
Prompt: A bully from Merlin's past shows up in Camelot by Nelly2560.
Characters: Gaius, Merlin, Arthur, Gwaine, Percival, Leon, Lancelot, and Elyan
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
It was a rather peaceful day and Merlin could not help but smile as he watches the city come to life. It was still rather early and he had plenty of time before he had to go and serve Arthur. The sun was slowly beginning to rise behind him and the servant could feel the sun hit his back. Smoke begins to rise from the bakery, the sounds of metal on metal echoes throughout the marketplace. Maids in their work attire begin to filter out of houses and he can see Gwen skip out of her own house, Elyan following behind with his cloak billowing. But something was wrong, Merlin could feel in in his gut and his eyes flicker around nervously. Merlin was so distracted, he did not hear the footsteps that were coming from behind him.
"You're up early Merlin." Lancelot's voice floats over the noise of the city as the knight joins Merlin on the turret. Merlin had been coming up here ever since Lancelot had shown him it. The turret overlooked the entire marketplace and despite the hustle and bustle, there wasn't a more peaceful place in the entire kingdom. Looking over the citizens that had changed so much during Arthur's reign always brought a smile to the warlock. Despite the peacefulness that the Camelot marketplace brings him, Merlin still can't shake the feeling of unease.
"Couldn't sleep, something feels off." Merlin replies shortly, breaking the comfortable silence between the two. Out on the marketplace, he spots Gwaine and Percival returning from their late night watch and when the two knights spot them, they wave and smile. Leon walks out to meet them and soon Elyan joins them, their faces show no sign of unease and they laugh as they all turn to walk back into the castle. Apparently, Merlin was the only one who felt any kind of unease today.
"Should you not be joining them Lancelot?" Merlin asks, nodding towards the rest of the Knights of the Round Table who had all just entered the castle doors. Merlin doesn't have to turn to see Lancelot shrug and resumes his attention to the bustling marketplace. The sun rises more and Merlin can feel it beating down on his head, he usually uses it as his que to leave. Lancelot seems to know this and he casts a smile over at Merlin as the servant turns, waving at the knight before heading down to the kitchen. Lancelot remains up on the turret for a few more moments, just long enough to see a man walk through the west gate, a bag slung over his shoulder. He looks around before settling his eyes on the castle and begins to walk towards it. The knights stop him and that's when Lancelot turns, there was a meeting of the Round Table later this morning and he wants to eat beforehand.
"RISE AND SHINE!" Merlin shouts, pulling the curtains back after setting the King's breakfast down on his desk. A groan comes from the bed and sun streams into the room. Merlin smirks and moves over to where the King is attempting, and failing, to fall back asleep.
"No time for that today Arthur!" Merlin exclaims, pulling Arthur over to edge of the bed before pulling him, grumpily, to his feet. Arthur sends a rather weak glare at the servant and makes his way over to his desk. The King plops himself down into the chair and digs in immediately to his breakfast. Merlin begins to work, staying silent as he makes the bed and pulls out the clothes for Arthur's day.
"You okay Merlin?" Arthur asks, attempting to cover the worry but failing. Merlin nods, quickly helping Arthur dress. The feeling grew more and more every moment and Merlin couldn't bring himself to joke around today, he couldn't place the feeling but whatever it was, but for some reason, he knew he could not go to the meeting today. It was just a feeling and Merlin was struggling to figure out if it was something that would happen at the meeting regardless or that would only happen if he went. He chooses the latter and picks up the armor from near the wardrobe.
"I'll be polishing your armor if you need me? Good luck in the meeting today." Merlin explains, sending Arthur a smile before disappearing out the door. The feeling still bugs Merlin as he heads to the armory. He glances over his shoulder as he walks down the stairs of the castle, smiling slightly as he catches sight of the council room where the Round Table was meeting. Typically Merlin joins them but today he wants to be alone. Next thing he knows, he's falling down the stone stairs and the armor he was carrying flies out of his hand. The passing by citizens laugh, shaking their head slightly at the King's manservant but none stop to help all just assuming he was fine. It was quite the opposite quite honestly. The only person to stop was the last person Merlin wants to see and seeing the smirk on his face, Merlin has the distinct feeling of regret at not joining Arthur today.
"Merlin? It is you!" The man smirks as he speaks, trying to make his voice sound lighthearted but the look in his eyes betray that. Merlin glares at him and starts to stand. With every intention at getting away as soon as possible, Merlin gathers the armor and starts to head off but doesn't get very far. A large hand grabs his shoulder and there is no kindness in his voice or eyes anymore.
"I didn't say you could leave Merlin. Keep in mind, I'm above you in station still, despite that we are no longer in Ealdor!" The man growls lowly and Merlin can't help the flinch that runs through his body or the slight gasp. Merlin pulls away, full on sprinting through the marketplace, hoping to get to the armory. With a glance over his shoulder, the servant finds that the man had given chase and Merlin couldn't help the whimper that escapes. The servant ducks behind the tavern and sprints through the mostly empty alley. Not his most bright idea, upon further thought, but at the moment, Merlin couldn't think straight. The man grabbed the servant again, causing the armor to spill everywhere and Merlin yelps.
"Leave me alone Jonathan, you have no business here." Merlin mutters, his voice shaking with the fear as memories from his past come flying at him. The endless nights where he lay awake thinking about what was next or waking up in shock from all the nightmares that Jonathan had caused. The servant shrunk away, attempting to break free but the hand on his arm tightened.
"That's where you're wrong Merlin, I do have business here. You. You ruined my reputation!" Jonathan growls, shoving Merlin back, "If you hadn't screamed, then they would've never known!"
"You got off scot free! Your father was the village elder, it does not matter what I said, you would've gotten off with little punishment!" Merlin shouts, his anger overtaking his fear for a split moment but it quickly faded away when pain erupts in his cheek and Merlin falls to the ground from the force. Jonathan stands over him, his eyes alight with fire and Merlin shrinks in on himself. The servant reaches a hand to his cheek, feeling where Jonathan had just landed a punch on his cheek and winces as it throbs. A bell tolls and Merlin stands suddenly. This was his ticket out, he had to tend to Arthur.
"I must go, I have to tend to the King." Merlin tries but Jonathan doesn't seem to believe him as he once again grips his arm tightly, digging his fingernails into Merlin's wrist. The anger in his eyes causes a shiver to run down Merlin's spine and even if Jonathan let him go now, it was no where near over. Merlin prays that Jonathan believes him but otherwise stays silent. Finally, Jonathan releases him and leaves with a promise that this is not over, and that Merlin will be seeing him again. The servant shakes off the pain and quickly gathers the King's armor and rushes to the armory. His cheek throbs and Merlin knows that he should probably go to Gaius and get something to help the inevitable swelling. No, Merlin thinks firmly, he'll only ask too many questions. He can't know what is going on, it will only worry him more. Merlin sighs and begins to turn his attention to the armor as the doors fly open behind him. Merlin silently curses as he looks at the state of the armor, it was worse than when he left. Arthur was going to kill him, or more likely, threaten to put him in the stocks and then give him ten more chores to make up for in.
"There you are Merlin!" Gwaine exclaims and Merlin visibly relaxes. Gwaine didn't catch this and he plops himself down next to Merlin, who is furiously polishing the armor. The knight looks confused before seeing the state that the armor is in and puts together that he had just gotten here.
"What happened mate?" Gwaine asks, picking up a rag before nodding towards the dirty armor. The knight grabs the helmet and quickly works to get the dirt off before Arthur comes storming in, most likely sometime soon.
"Tripped." Merlin replies shortly and he doesn't look up at Gwaine, keeping his focus on the armor in front of him. The knight nods, but knows Merlin didn't see it. The doors fly open again and Arthur strides in, shouting for Merlin to hurry up and stop being lazy. The King stops short when he sees the dirt and mud covering his armor and can't stop the anger that flares inside him.
"Merlin! What is the meaning of this? My armor is an absolute wreck and I know for sure it wasn't like this when you left with it! First you skip out of serving us at the meeting, then you fail to even clean my armor! Really Merlin, you are useless aren't you?" Arthur shouts, striding up to the servant who has not yet looked up. Gwaine silently sets down the helmet and rag, knowing that it would only fuel Arthur's anger further and pretends to not be paying any attention to what is going on next to him.
"I'm sorry sire." Merlin whispers, his head bowed. Gwaine freezes and Arthur was in such shock that his yelling ceases immediately. The King and knight share a look before both turning their attention onto the servant who was still furiously polishing the armor. It was only then that the other two notice that Merlin's hands are shaking as he tries to furiously get the dirt off of the armor.
"I'll have it done before lunch sire." Merlin murmurs and Arthur, not knowing what to say, nods and leaves. He had a hearing with his citizens this morning and it would be commencing soon. Gwaine stays put, looking worriedly at Merlin.
"Mate, look at me." Gwaine orders softly, his voice laced with worry and when Merlin looks up, Gwaine feels anger take over his mind, "What happened to you Merlin?" Gwaine's voice was laced with anger this time and the servant flinches away and Gwaine immediately softens his tone and puts a hand on his shoulder. The servant again flinches and Gwaine pulls his hand back as if he was burned. Merlin looks shameful and turns his eyes back to the armor.
"I just tripped. You should go and get some sleep Sir Gwaine, you had a late night last night." Merlin advises softly and Gwaine feels his heart fall into his stomach, Merlin never addresses him as Sir Gwaine and the servant has never so blatantly lied to him either. The knight finds himself nodding along, though he has no intentions of going to his chambers. Merlin smiles at him and tries to make it seem as if nothing is wrong but Gwaine sees right through it, but the knight waves and heads towards the castle. All the Knights of the Round Table were standing with some other knights as citizens began to line the stairs, ready for the hearings. Gwaine walks up to his friends and stands beside them and Leon gives him a look that clearly shows that he's going to get a reprimand for being late later. Arthur strides out of the doors and nods to his knights, who all bow and then step aside to allow the citizens to see the King as he addresses them.
"Please, follow me into the council room and we shall begin." Arthur declares and sends his charming smile to them before turning and leading them into the castle. The knights follow after the citizens and Gwaine stops for a moment to cast a worried glance over to the armory before Leon is grabbing his arm and quietly reprimanding him for being late.
Merlin sat quietly in the armory, scrubbing the armor and couldn't help but feel as if he's being watched. But that wasn't possible, practically everyone was attending the hearing, it wasn't a requirement but the citizens love to go as it always provides information they previously did not know and it helps them settle minor disputes as well. Merlin flinches as he knocks a gauntlet to the floor and wonders why, after so many years, Jonathan scares him so much. Maybe it was because the kid had almost killed him, or maybe it was because Jonathan had somehow figured out where to find him.
Merlin was walking out of the forest, heading home when Jonathan stopped him. Will had been caught up with working with his father so Merlin had gone alone into the forest that day to gather some herbs and berries for his mom to use to cook. For some odd reason, Jonathan had taken an immediate disliking towards him as soon as he was old enough to speak and walk. The boy use to push Merlin around and call him names, and as they grew older, so did the insults and the injuries. When they were ten, Jonathan had begun to call Merlin a bastard and use him as his personal punching bag. No one dared to disagree with the boy as his father was an elder in the village. And as they grew, it got worse. Today was when it finally boiled over. Jonathan had strut up to him and had a smirk on his face as he pushes the warlock to the ground.
"What're you doing out here bastard boy?" Jonathan laughs at his own insult and takes a fist down on Merlin's head. Stars dance in the warlock's vision and when he's pushed down, he didn't have the energy to try and get up. Jonathan continued to dig his foot into the boys stomach and ribs, laughing as the warlock screams. Jonathan, who was heading to the forest himself to get some firewood for his father purposefully stepped on Merlin's knee and smirks when he hears the crack that came from the boys knee and the evil glint in his eyes as he hears the scream that comes from Merlin. Jonathan kicks him again, this time aiming for his head and laughs as he sees the blood coming from the warlock's nose. He starts to head towards the forest when he hears his father shout his name. Jonathan turns and sees the village elders, along with Merlin's mother standing near Merlin's crumpled form. Hunith cries out and drops to her knees beside her son.
"Come with us now." Jonathan's father orders before grabbing his son by the arm and dragging him towards their house. Hunith cries as Will, Merlin's only friend, quickly runs back to their house to get his father and the first aid materials that they had, even if it wasn't much. When they returned, they patched the warlock up as much as possible and carefully moved him back to Hunith's hut. While he was unconscious, Hunith wrote a plea to Gaius, who she knew could help her son asking if he could come stay with him. Hunith had hoped this would be the last time Merlin would ever have to see Jonathan, and the next thing she knew, Merlin was heading off towards Camelot in hopes of being safe.
Merlin was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the footsteps of someone walking towards the doors to the armory. So when the doors flew open and loudly bangs against the wall behind it, Merlin couldn't help but jump and let out a gasp. Standing in the doorway was Jonathan with a smirk on his face as he advanced on the servant.
"Told you this wasn't over, and nobody's going to be around for a while." Jonathan growls and Merlin shrinks down, hunching his shoulders and bowing his head, "Now, where were we? Oh right. Payback." And with that, Jonathan heaves Merlin to his feet. But he doesn't stay standing for very long, Jonathan shoves the servant to the ground and looms over him, a threatening look in his eyes. The man glances around the room before settling back on him.
"You ruined my life Merlin, I can't be a village elder now, not when every parent keeps their children away from me in fear that I'll hurt them! I would never hurt anyone that didn't deserve it! You did, you're just filthy and a bastard." Jonathan shouts, his anger getting the best of him as he seizes Merlin by his neck and yanks him to his feet. Merlin coughs and Jonathan's eyes glint with an anger that Merlin had never seen before as he takes the arm of the servant and pushes it up his back. Merlin let's out a yelp and winces as his stomach is shoved into the table as Jonathan bends him over it.
"I didn't do anything..." Merlin mutters and curses himself as his voice shakes with fear. Jonathan pushes his arm up more and Merlin lets out a pained yelp.
"Admit it you bastard! You ruined my life and then, as soon as that was done, you just left Ealdor, didn't even bother to stick around and try to explain I didn't do anything!" Jonathan shouts angrily, shoving Merlin's arm up more and can't help but feel satisfied as he hears a crack and a cry from Merlin. The servant falls to his knees as soon as Jonathan releases him and Merlin cradles his arm. Merlin wants to beg, wants to beg this man to stop but he can't seem to find his voice and Jonathan kicks him down so he was laying on his back. Memories fly back but Jonathan refuses to fail this time, refuses to get caught. After placing some well earned kicks to the servants sides, Jonathan circles Merlin with the look of an animal stalking it's prey. Merlin tries to curl himself into a ball but it was too late, Jonathan was already on top of him. The man places his hands on the servants upper arms, and when Merlin lets out a pained scream, he pushes down more.
"Listen here Merlin, you will admit to what you have done. You ruined my life and I demand that you admit to it, and I demand that it be changed, or else you will die right here on the floor like the dirt you are." Jonathan threatens angrily and he is so caught up in his revenge, so caught up in what he is doing that the sounds as people return to the marketplace from the citizens hearing go unnoticed by him. Jonathan's rage flares when Merlin shakes his head and tries to break free. The fear in the servant's eyes give Jonathan a sense of satisfaction and he pushes down more, causing another pained scream from the servant. But this time, it wasn't going to go unnoticed. Jonathan wraps one of his hands around the servant's scrawny neck and smirks when he sees the fear light up in Merlin's eyes.
"Either you admit you ruined my life on purpose, or you will be dead before anyone can find you." Jonathan threatens and when he gets no immediate answer, he begins to push down on the servant's neck. Merlin lets out a scream, or he tries to but no sound comes out. The servant tries to thrash but it does no good, Jonathan squeezes Merlin's neck and his eyes seem to be excited. He's finally done it, he's finally appeased what this, this bastard did to him! The armory door flies open just as Merlin's eyes begin to droop.
"Release him." A voice demands and the sounds of swords being drawn echoes around the armory. Jonathan flinches as someone digs the point of one into his back and he instantly releases the servant. Two knights reach down and grab him by the arms, pulling him off Merlin and tossing him to the ground.
"Percival, Gwaine, take him to Gaius. Lancelot, go find Arthur, tell him what happened. We'll keep him here until Arthur gets here." The same voice orders and when Jonathan looks up, he finds two knights staring down at him. Jonathan recognizes them immediately, they were apart King Arthur's most trusted knights, Sir Leon and Sir Elyan. He knew he was in trouble but he refuses to believe it and tries to throw all the blame onto Merlin as he has done so many times before. After all, Merlin was just a servant.
"H-he attacked me first!" Jonathan tries and both of the knights give him sharp looks, Jonathan looks down to his feet, "It's true! He's a servant, do you really trust his word over mine? I'm the son of a village elder in Ealdor!" Jonathan's confidence grew as he tries to stand and once again both knights have their swords at his throat.
"Sit." Elyan orders and when Jonathan doesn't, the knight puts a hand on his shoulder and forces him down. Jonathan didn't try to speak again until the King of Camelot burst through the doors, a knight on his heel who disappears as soon as the King arrives, claiming to go check on Merlin. Jonathan didn't believe him, after all, he was a knight and Merlin was a mere servant. Jonathan rose to look at the King and quickly kneels in an attempt to recover ground it seems he has already lost without even speaking. When Jonathan begins to rise, the King finally speaks.
"What is the meaning of this? I come from a citizen council and as I am helping the last of them, I have one of my knights come running in saying that some man was harming my manservant." Arthur's voice shook with anger and he wants nothing more than to punch this man right here and right now.
"He attacked me first sire!" Jonathan tries and the King looks at his knights with a look of disbelief and to Jonathan's utter shock, laughs, "It's true sire! It was all self defense!" That stops the laughing and Arthur's face hardens. Self defense? Arthur thought angrily, did this man just try to justify nearly killing Merlin as it being self defense? Arthur couldn't help himself, he strides forward and connects his right first with Jonathan's left cheek. The two knights step forward and they both put a hand on the King's shoulders, pulling him back lightly. Jonathan splutters in shock and was about to stand again when Elyan gives him a look.
"Self defense?" Arthur exclaims, anger leaking into his voice as he shakes off his knights hands, "That was not self defense, that was straight up abuse! Self defense is getting them away from you and running. You were trying to kill him! Leon, take him to the dungeons, he'll be tried tomorrow morning after the council meeting. Understood?" The knight nods and together, Elyan and Leon pull Jonathan to his feet and drag him off towards the castle's dungeons. Arthur takes a deep breath and a new wave of anger comes over him when he sees that his armor is still dirty, but this time it's not directed at Merlin. It's the fact his armor looks the same as it did before and yet he had been gone for nearly an hour! The King takes another deep breath and heads towards the castle, heading straight towards Gaius's chambers as soon as he enters the castle.
"How is he Gaius?" Arthur asks as soon as he enters and can't help the small smile as he finds the knights all surrounding Merlin's bedside as Gauis tends to the servant. Arthur moves to join his knights and when he catches sight of Merlin, he feels the urge to return to the dungeons and destroy Jonathan.
"He's been better, but he'll live. He's gotten a broken arm, his ribs are severely bruised, and of course, he will have many bruises. I do not believe that he will have any lasting side effects from being strangled as it seemed to not have been going on for very long, but we'll have to wait and see for when he wakes up." Gaius explains and Arthur nods, Gwaine sighs and plops himself onto the medical bed beside his friend, Percival and Lancelot soon join him. Arthur pulls up a chair and sits beside the servant. Gaius soon excuses himself to go to the lower town and Merlin is left alone with the King and his knights. The silence, while comfortable, seems to be gnawing at him and before they know it, Gwaine has drawn them all into a conversation about some dream he had about them all celebrating with a huge mug of ale that was apparently bigger than the entire table they were at. Merlin wakes as the sun begins to go down and at first no one notices as they're all to caught up in swapping stories and laughing. The servant pushes himself up with his good arm and the sudden movement is what caught their attention. Gwaine smiles, Arthur seems to relax immediately, Elyan stops telling his story and turns to face the servant, Leon stands, Percival nods at him with a small smile, and Lancelot is shoving some potion into his hand.
"Drink, Gaius's orders." Arthur orders from beside Lancelot and Merlin grumpily complies, "How are you feeling?"
"Could be worse, but I'm alive." Merlin smiles and for a moment they're all silent before Elyan picks back up his story and all the attention is back to telling stories. Merlin smiles and his thoughts wonder to his destiny. These people that surround him, that care for him more than they should with their status, were apart of his destiny and he couldn't have been more happy. When Gaius returns later that night to Merlin fast asleep, he smiles and as his eyes adjust to the dark of the room, he finds the knights and king sprawled out fast asleep as well. Gaius makes his way carefully to his bed and as he studies what he sees, he cannot help but smile. This Kingdom was going to be great, especially with this group leading it.
A/N I hope you all enjoy this story! I tried to do a flashback, but I didn't really know what to write or how to form it and I'm so not use to reading fanfiction on my laptop (I read on my phone, write on my laptop) and since it's been so long, I feel like it was really really short! I hope you guys like it though! Till next time! Also thank you all for your input on my previous Author's Note chapter! That's what I'm hoping to have come up next! :)