Thank you to Paralelsky for beta-ing!
Hope you guys like this installment :)
o}O{o
Candlelight dyed the halls of the castle in a warm light, giving the stone corridors a safe impression. But Mordred remained guarded despite the sense of security Camelot was beginning to instill in him. The young sorcerer's caution paid off when the echoes of sturdy footfalls filtered into his hearing. Mordred ducked behind a pillar and watched as Valiant strode into view, carrying his shield. The boy's turquoise eyes narrowed and he moved out into the hall when Valiant disappeared into his chambers. Mordred tread toward the door, his feet soundless as they touched the marble beneath. He approached the door to find it left open a crack and he carefully pressed it open a fraction.
The knight was oblivious to his presence and lifted a squirming mouse out of a small box. Mordred waited and watched as Valiant held the mouse over the shield. To shocked to do anything but stare, his eyes widened as the snakes suddenly came to life, groping for the meal. Valiant then dropped the mouse which fell squeaking, straight down into one of the snake's biting mouths. Mordred's stomach squirmed at the ferocity with which the snake was gnawing on the small creature. He hurriedly took his leave after that, stealing back into the corridor without a sound.
Mordred glanced behind him and breathed a sigh of relief when Valiant did not come striding out. The further he ran away the angrier he became. Valiant called himself a knight yet he was cheating. And not only that, but he was using magic to do it. Mordred stopped in the middle of the courtyard, weighing his options. The young boy hid himself in alcove to think and regain his breath. His first thought was to go to Gaius, but he could take a guess as to what the old man would say. Gaius was one for caution but Mordred knew that Valiant needed to be stopped as soon as possible. Before he could use his dirty snakes again.
Arthur. Arthur would do something. He would understand more than Gaius. Mordred nodded to himself and started to run to Arthur's chambers. Arthur would show Valiant what it meant to be a knight.
o}O{o
Arthur stretched out his limbs and set his practice sword down for the night. He only did light exercises as he had no wish to work up a sweat before bed. Just as he turned back his covers, which were cooler than he liked since he had let Mordred go for the evening, a pushy and impatient knock rapped upon his door. There was a short pause and Arthur opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by more rapid knocking. "Come in," Arthur shouted. He was hardly finished speaking when the door opened and he was not surprised to see it was Mordred. The servant bowed and shut the door in one motion. "What is it?" the prince asked, confused to why his servant would be here.
"Valiant is cheating," Mordred answered without preamble. The boy was out of breath as if he had run a fair distance.
Arthur's eye brows rose at the accusation. "What?" Was all he could think of to say.
"He's cheating," Mordred repeated and then hesitated. "He's using magic."
Arthur just stared at the boy. "I don't like the guy, but I doubt he would dare to use magic in Camelot."
Mordred huffed. "I saw it myself. He is using magic."
A glower came to darken Arthur's face when Mordred's expression did not waver. "Are you certain? How do you know this?"
Mordred then launched into an explanation about snake bites and shields coming to life, his words jumbling together and making it difficult for Arthur to understand. "Slow down, Mordred," Arthur ordered and grasped one piece of information he had gathered. "What were you doing spying on Valiant?"
Mordred sighed and then breathed in to collect himself. His light eyes pierced Arthur's as he explained. "This morning in the armoury, I heard a hissing noise. Morris heard it too. It came from Valiant's shield and when I went to investigate one of the eyes glowed red. I-"
"The eyes glowed?" Arthur interrupted with an incredulous look staining his features.
"Yes. Before I could touch it though, Valiant came in and stopped me. He wasn't pleased at all, he drew his sword," Mordred frowned, "if it was only a simple shield why would he have been so angry?"
The prince's eyes narrowed and his eyes skimmed down Mordred. "He drew his sword? On a child? Did he attack you?"
Mordred blinked at Arthur's angry tone. "No, he just pointed it at me." The servant licked his lips before speaking again and beginning to pace. "But Gaius found a snake bite on Ewan's neck. A snake bite, how could he have been bitten by a snake if he was fighting Valiant? There wasn't one in the arena and the puncture wounds are large, so someone should have seen it."
Arthur did not speak but his frown told Mordred to slow down. The young sorcerer stilled himself and got to the final point of his accusation. "I went to Valiant's chambers after I spoke with Gaius, and I saw him feed a mouse to his snakes. They came alive! One swallowed it whole!"
"You spied on Valiant?"
"I had to! He's cheating, he's breaking the rules of a knight." Mordred's voice became a touch surly at the disapproval in Arthur's tone.
"Are you certain?"
"I know magic when I see it, Sire," Mordred maintained strongly.
"Yes you would," Arthur quietly said. He thought for a while, shooting glances at the servant. "I can't go accusing a knight without proof. Even though you are a credible source for identifying sorcery, you are still just a child."
Mordred ignored the slight, no matter how true it was. "You believe me?" Mordred smiled.
Arthur regarded him with a frown. "Unless you are lying."
The young guardian frantically shook his head. "No, I swear I'm telling the truth. I'll show you the shield. I can catch a mouse and you will see. Gaius needs the venom anyway, or else Sir Ewan is going to die without an antidote."
"And you said he keeps the shield with him?"
"Yes. Perhaps... tomorrow night Valiant will be dining with you and the king. If you leave early, I can bring you to his chambers. And he'll still be there by the time we get back."
Arthur frowned. "That may be our only window."
Mordred waited and sighed in relief. He bowed and turned to leave the chambers.
"You had better be right about this," the prince called.
Mordred turned and looked up at him. "I am. Goodnight, Sire."
The door closed behind him and Mordred allowed himself to grin. That went better than he had hoped. As he walked back to his chambers, a smug smile remained on his lips- Arthur had believed him. And together they would be exposing Valiant. Mordred had to laugh quietly. It looked like protecting Arthur wasn't all down to Merlin; Mordred could help too. He could only hope tomorrow night would go just as well.
o}O{o
The next day, Mordred couldn't seem to stand still- excitement for tonight made him energetic. He was counting down the hours until he and Arthur could expose Valiant. The yellow clad knight was strolling around the practice yard, getting ready for his upcoming fight and glancing occasionally at the match going on in the arena. Prince Arthur was fighting a knight almost as twice as big as he was, yet the golden haired knight was winning. Mordred wandered outside Arthur's tent, under the guise of putting things in order but was really keeping an eye on Valiant. Their eyes met for a moment and Valiant grinned condescendingly at him, waving his sword as if in greeting. Mordred was unaware that he was glaring daggers at the knight.
"How are you getting on?" Gaius' voice asked from behind him.
Mordred turned to face him but kept on fidgeting. "Fine, just tidying up. Not much of anything really." He cleared his throat when he caught himself beginning to ramble.
A white eyebrow rose slightly. "You seem tense this morning," Gaius noted.
In answer Mordred glanced pointedly at the tent behind them. The physician was fooled and he smiled while patting the boy on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Merlin won't come out. Not with all the fighting."
Mordred sighed. "Unless he gets bored. I'm going to check on him."
The physician's gaze trailed after him as Mordred set a quick pace for the tent. The servant ducked through the flaps and grinned when he found Merlin banging his two knight figures together. The boy looked up from where he was seated on the ground and excitedly offered him one. He had a large smile on his face and his cobalt eyes were expectant. Mordred took one glance at his face and found himself looking back outside to gauge the progress of Arthur's match. The bigger knight was tiring, but looked to be holding out for all he was worth. "Oh!" Mordred exclaimed when Arthur was forced to dodge a viciously powerful strike.
There was a tugging on his cloak and Mordred looked down to see Merlin holding out a toy to him. The young sorcerer smiled and retreated back inside while taking the wooden knight from Merlin's small hand. "Are you Prince Arthur again, then?" Mordred asked him.
Merlin nodded enthusiastically and knelt across from him. He held his toy on the ground in anticipation. "Alright," Mordred said as he placed his own figure opposite Merlin's, "I'll be Valiant." The child immediately used his wooden knight to hit Mordred's and the older boy let his own toy struggle before acting out Valiant's death scene, complete with sound effects.
Merlin jumped up and waved his knight around proudly, looking very smug. But the tent flaps opened behind Mordred and the child stared in fear before he realized it was Arthur. The prince stood out of breath and sweating, but he still managed an amused air as he looked at Morded.
"Sire," Mordred greeted and was quick to go to one of the tables in the tent. There, he poured Arthur a goblet of water from the pitcher. Mordred presented it to the prince who took it with the same amused expression.
"Having fun?" Arthur asked innocently. Merlin came up to him and nodded, and he grinned when Arthur ruffled his unruly hair.
Mordred was unabashed that Arthur appeared to have heard them playing. Perhaps he should not have indulged Merlin while he was working, but he didn't exactly care in the slightest. He simply smiled at the prince and brandished the wooden knight he had kept a hold of. "Valiant suffered a swift and brutal defeat."
"Ah," Arthur tried not to grin. "Sir Merlin saved the day then?" He looked down at Merlin who was leaning slightly against him. The small boy grinned and shook his head before looking at Mordred to explain.
"Sir Arthur, actually." Morded told the prince seriously. Arthur's eye brows rose and the embarrassment he felt was stolen away by Mordred who brought him down to earth. "Speaking of Valiant..." he mentioned.
Arthur quickly sobered at the reminder and put his empty goblet down. "It's warm in here, come outside and get this off me."
Merlin sighed but drew away, having no wish to go outside when the fighting was still on. Mordred smiled at him and gave Merlin the toy as he passed. Arthur was standing facing the arena, scrutinizing the fight that was taking place. Mordred watched Valiant and his opponent duel as he worked to get Arthur's armour off.
"I'm assuming you have a plan," Arthur told him quietly without looking in his direction.
Mordred carried on his task and explained softly. "I've already caught a mouse. All I need to do is get Valiant's door open at dinner, since it will be locked. When I've done that, I shall alert you."
"And how do you plan to open the lock without a key?"
"Servants have their ways, Sire," Mordred smiled to himself.
Arthur immediately frowned and did not answer right away. "Do what you must. And do not get caught."
Mordred nodded, knowing Arthur did not mean it the way Mordred was intending. The guardian had arisen early in the morning, practicing an unlocking spell. He did not quite have it down yet, but he was sure he would be able to execute it. Mordred swallowed. He didn't have a choice.
o}O{o
"Oh come on!" Mordred hissed. He was late for the start of dinner already, and he could only hope that when he entered the dining hall, the nobles would not notice. Mordred exhaled and closed his eyes, ready to incant the spell for the fourth time. His light eyes opened and they stared at the crack in the door that enabled him to see the lock. "Álíesan," he whispered. Magic heated his eyes golden and the latch opened with an audible click. Mordred grinned at his success and then took a glance around the candle lit hall to recheck his surroundings. He was alone. Mordred quickly made sure the door was firmly unlocked and then shut it before hurrying to the dining hall.
As he approached, voices belonging to the dinner party drifted out into the corridor. Mordred calmed his breathing and slid into the shadows. He watched as the table of knights ate and talked merrily, and as Valiant engaged in conversation with King Uther. Arthur had a bored look on his face as he tried to be polite and pay attention.
Mordred looked up as soft footsteps tread closer to him and he nodded to the king's servant when the older man stopped beside him. "Mordred, what are you doing here?" Rupert questioned.
"Prince Arthur is needed, I've been asked to collect him."
"Oh," the older servant spoke in a sympathetic manner, "he will not be pleased to be taken away from dinner."
Mordred put on a pretend grimace. "I realize, but it should not take long apparently."
Rupert patted his shoulder before drifting to the table to refill empty goblets. "For your sake I hope so."
Mordred followed him and then broke away to stand behind the prince. He was only noticed by King Uther who spared him an uninterested glance as Mordred leant in toward Arthur. "I got the door open," Mordred whispered.
The prince nodded and then sighed dramatically. He looked to his father and spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry, father, but a matter needs my attention. I should not be long."
The king merely nodded, intent in his conversation with Sir Valiant. Both Arthur and Mordred glanced disparagingly at the knight before the prince led the way out of the dining hall. Once they were away from the hall and walking through the empty corridors, Arthur turned to him.
"You're late," he informed sourly.
Mordred put his head down and apologized, having no wish to talk about how he got the door open. They made their way in silence to the chambers, and Mordred hurried forward to hold the door for the prince. He was rather smug about the door opening without trouble, but Arthur pretended not to notice. The prince walked through to stand in Valiant's quarters, looking around indifferently.
"Here," Mordred rushed over to Valiant's shield and stood over it proudly. Arthur followed him slowly with a reluctant and slightly wary look in his eyes. The room was quiet and the shield gleamed softly in the candlelight, resting innocently on a chair. Mordred braced himself and pulled out the dead mouse from his pocket to dangle it in front of the shield. The prince looked alarmed at the mouse.
"Have you been carrying that around all day?"
"No," Mordred answered disgustedly without taking his eyes off the shield. After a few seconds without even a glitter of red eyes and Arthur's crushing stare on his back, Mordred swallowed nervously.
"I never thought you were one to make up stories," Arthur said lightly but with a dangerous edge.
"I'm telling the truth!" Mordred snapped loudly. He spun around and bit his lip. Arthur's eyes narrowed and his lips formed a frown. "Sire." Mordred winced and averted his eyes from Arthur's heatedly, choosing to wait with his back to the shield.
"Well?" Arthur pressed.
"I don't know why they aren't coming out. Maybe it only works with live mice." Mordred let the dead critter fall to the ground and he wiped his hands on his cloak. "There must be another way," Mordred insisted.
Arthur did not need to wait for the boy to think of one because one of the snake's eyes glared red and a head slunk out from the shield. Arthur barely had time to widen his eyes in surprise before the snake regarded the revealed back of the young boy hungrily. In a spurt of reaction, Arthur sprang toward his servant.
The prince wrenched Mordred forward, whipping his sword out simultaneously and pushing the startled servant behind him. An angry hiss sliced the air and Arthur was stunned to see three snakes swaying from the shield.
"See!" Mordred supplied unhelpfully.
Arthur merely grunted and swept forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc as the snakes vaulted forward. But Arthur's arm drove faster and the steel cut through all of them. Arthur and Mordred winced as the serpents emitted a high pitched hiss and writhed on the ground. When they fell still, Arthur prodded one with his sword and relaxed when it did not react.
The prince sheathed his sword and turned to his servant. "Thank you," Mordred said before Arthur could open his mouth.
The prince nodded and then strode toward the exit. "Bring those as proof, though I hardly think they will be needed."
Mordred looked hesitantly at the snakes before doing as Arthur asked. He grabbed their tails, and let their bodies drag on the ground. A small smile grew on Mordred's lips as they treaded closer to the dining hall. Arthur called along various guards as they passed and they all stared at the snakes dragging behind the servant. Neither he nor Arthur offered an explanation and they broached the dining hall in silence. Mordred willed his smile away but his eyes glittered vindictively as the doors opened and Arthur strode in with the guards at his back.
The table fell quiet and looked in surprise at the entrance. Arthur spoke before his father could demand an explanation. "Arrest Sir Valiant," he told the guards at his back, "he is to be charged in accordance with the law for using sorcery."
The knights at the table gasped and the guards moved forward after a moment of hesitation. Valiant stood up in an outrage. "I beg your pardon!" He turned to the king who was glancing angrily between his son and Valiant. "My lord, I assure you these accusations are false."
"Do you have proof, Arthur?" Uther regarded him seriously.
"I witnessed Valiant's treachery with my own eyes, your majesty," Arthur stated and then looked at Mordred who moved forward with the snakes. He did not walk far in front of Arthur but presented the dead snakes so they were in view. They fell from his hands to thump lightly onto the floor. Mordred looked at Valiant to see panic flash in his eyes. "His shield was enchanted. Those snakes tried to kill my servant and myself."
Everyone turned to Valiant for an explanation and he backed away from the guards. "Lies!" he spat. "If the prince did not want to face me, he need only have said so."
It was now Uther decided to rise out of his seat. "My son is no liar, Valiant. Nor is he a coward. Guards, arrest him!"
The guards moved towards Valiant faster upon the king's order but the knight was not one to give in. He brandished his sword and swung it threateningly. Arthur narrowed his eyes and drew his own sword out, letting the metal ring loudly in the room. "I assure you, Valiant," he bit out while striding forward, "I know I have nothing to fear from you."
As one, the guards retreated and gave the prince a clear path to Valiant. The knight grinned and twirled his sword, bringing it up in time to meet Arthur's blade. They fought viciously, their swords flashing in a silver blur- there was no clear victor yet. Mordred looked on nervously, remembering that the prince was not wearing armour. This was a fight to the death.
The room cringed as the two knights quickened their lethal dance, their movements becoming almost too quick to follow. But they abruptly stopped and looked to be embracing. Only Valiant's pained shout prevented Mordred from fearing the worst. The prince's back was toward him, but the boy realized that he must have run Valiant through. Arthur pulled away and the now dead Valiant fell to the ground. He turned to his father and breathed out.
Mordred just gazed at Arthur as the king strode forward to congratulate him. They grinned at each other and Uther light-heartedly cuffed Arthur's head. The prince had not a scratch on him.
A sudden hand at his shoulder had Mordred recoiling. "Rupert," he gasped at the concerned looking man.
"Are you alright, lad?" the grey haired man asked. He looked at Valiant's dead body and back at Mordred.
"Yes," he answered. But then he caught sight of Uther striding in their direction and he wanted to revise his statement.
Luckily though, the prince had been intercepted by the rest of the dinner party wanting to congratulate him, which in turn stopped the king as well. It did not look like Uther minded and he sent a quick order to the guards to get rid of Valiant's body. He must have noticed the blood creeping out from under the treacherous knight the same time Mordred did for he easily ushered the small crowd away, all the while championing his son.
The young sorcerer gritted his teeth- only now that Arthur won against Valiant, was he being boasted about. "No need to act brave, Mordred," Rupert stated, noting that Mordred's head was still downturned. They were the last ones in the room and Rupert moved to block the blood from view.
The boy frowned, and his dark lashes flashed across his light eyes. "I'm fine." He glanced at the older servant before picking up a snake. Gaius would need it for an antidote.
The king's servant decided to follow him though he eyed the dead snake warily. "But you were brave, you helped exposed Valiant, correct?"
Mordred gave him a side long glance and smiled. "I did."
"Keep this up, and you will get quite the reputation," Rupert noted.
The sorcerer shrugged. "I don't care for a reputation."
Rupert furrowed his brow. "A reward though surely. Not many would risk what you did."
Mordred immediately thought of receiving training lessons but he did not mention it, instead choosing to comment on Rupert's statement- with an impatient edge creeping into his tone. "I couldn't do nothing."
"No I suppose not," Rupert smiled kindly. He then engaged Mordred in idle chit chat, not talking about much of anything until they reached the physician's chambers. "Well goodnight, Mordred. I shall see you around."
Mordred turned and nodded to the older man. "Thank you, you did not need to come with me."
Rupert merely smiled and then walked off, leaving Mordred to enter the chambers. Gaius looked up curiously from tending Ewan and stared at the snake Mordred was bringing to him. The guardian took a quick glance around the cluttered chambers for Merlin, and turned back to Gaius when the child appeared to be missing from the room. "Valiant's dead. He was using sorcery," Mordred said simply and offered Gaius the snake. "This is the snake that bit Sir Ewan. Is Merlin taking a nap?"
The physician blinked at the snake and then at Mordred before coming to his senses. "Yes he is. Now I think you need to start from the beginning." He took the snake from Mordred and extracted its venom while the boy explained. Gaius' work was often punctuated by stern glances to Mordred when he heard something he did not like.
The guardian finished the same time Gaius prepared his antidote and not even the old man's expression was enough to clear Mordred's face of a small smile. "You realize how foolish you've acted?" Gaius frowned.
Mordred immediately scowled. "What do you mean? I saved Prince Arthur's life."
Gaius administered the antidote to Ewan as he replied. "And that is remarkable, Mordred. But on matters of sorcery, I insist you come to me. What would have happened if Arthur did not believe you? You would have been in trouble."
"But he did believe me. He can be trusted, Gaius," Mordred told him.
There was silence as Gaius registered Sir Ewan's reaction to the potion and he seemed satisfied when the knight breathed a little easier. The physician then turned his grey eyes on Mordred. "Arthur is young yet, he knows not what he believes. He is loyal to his father, Mordred and I dread to think what he would do if you were found out. It is too early for you to be reckless like this."
Mordred stood up in anger. "There was no other way!" he kept his tone hushed and struggled to remember that Gaius was his elder and guardian. "Gaius, I had no choice..."
The physician sighed and strolled over to the table where Mordred was standing. "Perhaps, perhaps not. But you know the dangers of being a sorcerer, you must be careful."
The boy looked down but then back up as Gaius gripped his shoulder. "Just remember to be careful. But you did a splendid job today." Mordred offered a small smile, pleased at the compliment if a bit put out by Gaius' lecture. "Now, why don't you go study. I will be out here."
Mordred brightened and was quick to head to his room. It was not often that Gaius allowed him to study magic on his own. He made sure to be quiet when entering the room and then strode over to where Merlin was sleeping. Satisfied that the boy was peaceful, Morded hiked the rebellious covers over Merlin's shoulders. He then fished their spell book from out under the floor board and contentedly sat on a bed with it.
First order of business was reviewing unlocking spells.
o}O{o
So, how do you think my finagling went? Not exactly a big huge change but that comes in the next episode ;) For now stay tuned for the next sub ep where I promise there will be more Merlin and Arthur interaction. *BUT I start school on Tuesday so I'll probably update around mid September. I plan to stick with my updating schedule so I'm hoping at least two updates a month. Don't worry though, there's no way I'm putting this on hiatus since I have so many chapters stockpiled so expect updates throughout the school year even though I won't have time to write. Aren't I so considerate?*
See you guys, and thanks for reading. Please tell me what you thought :)