No. 3: Sticks and stones may break my bones but…
Whumpee: Merlin
Between his job as being the servant for the Crown Prince of Camelot and as a physician in training with Gaius, Merlin usually didn't have time to make the people from the lower town angry at him.
Usually.
Aside from his many times in the stocks from Uther, Merlin didn't even really see many people from the lower town, so he didn't know that Finneas, one of the pub owners, was infamous for his temper. Knowledge that would've come in handy before he ran into him with Gaius's basket of herbs and mushrooms.
"Watch where you're walking, boy," Finneas leered. "Are you so stupid that you don't know who I am?"
Merlin had the same look on his face as a deer in a line of crossbows. "Uh, sorry, sir, I was rushing too fast."
"I was rushing too fast" Finneas mimicked in a high falsetto. "Y'don't say! Now, git, and don't let me see you 'round here again!"
Merlin quickly gathered his herbs and mushrooms, and took off as fast as he could, mind already on the 20 tasks that he had to complete for Gaius and Arthur before the noontime meal.
Finneas didn't even cross his mind until a few days later, when Merlin had to take some of Gaius's potions to Victor and Elisa in the lower town. Merlin was on his way back up the hill to the castle when he was distracted by Finneas's large shadow.
"Ay, you! Din't I tell you not to come 'round 'ere again? Do you need a reminder?"
Merlin dodged the first punch while trying to remember if he saw any guards around here. Oh right… they were in the lower town. There was maybe 1 guard to every 30 people to keep order and prevent them from killing one another, but the majority of the guards were in the castle with the King and Arthur. In fact, he was so busy thinking of a way to get around this hulk of a man, he didn't even listen to the taunts and mutterings of Finneas, just working on dodging and weaving and trying to get through the crowd that had built up over the past few minutes.
"Ah, Finneas, give it up, 'e's just a boy!"
"Uppercut! Punch! Put some heave into it!"
"Quick, don't let 'im run out now, Finn must've caught him stealing!"
"Thief, thief!"
The same moment that Merlin realized the crowd was calling him a thief was the same moment that Finneas's meaty hand landed right between the shoulder blades and took his breath out of him. His body toppled, and Merlin heard rather than felt both of his knees clang off of the hard ground. Merlin didn't even waste any time trying to get his breath back. He stumbled up, giving one fearful look behind his shoulder, and staggered up the hill once more.
It was dumb luck that Arthur was leaving the training grounds right when Merlin was lurching himself up to the castle, to Gaius's chambers, to bated relief and an open hug where he could cry and not worry about his manliness because gods this hurt… he didn't see Arthur in time, until he was right in front of him asking in his kind voice, "Merlin… who did this to you?"
That voice that was so kind and caring, Merlin almost teared up, but then he'd hear the usual "MER-lin stop being such a girl!" and he didn't have time for that. Oh no, Arthur was still waiting for an answer, somewhat expectantly, giving orders to someone behind him, and saying, "Let Father know I'll be a little late to the council meeting; I need to get him to Gaius."
Merlin sniffled (and there was the "Don't be such a girl, Gaius'll fix you up" he had been waiting for), as he followed Arthur to Gaius's chambers. Once in his bed, he had to swallow a foul-tasting potion. As Gaius wrapped his knees, Arthur knelt in front of him.
"Merlin, I'm serious. I can't help you if I don't know who did this to you… and I know how annoying and how clumsy you can be, but there's absolutely no reason why someone can harm you like this. Who was it?"
Unfortunately, during all of the beating, Merlin never got a name. "I'm not sure, Arthur, it's not like he introduced himself before towering all over me like crazy. He was big and brash and loud and had a ponytail down his back."
Gaius perked up. "Merlin, were you on Blue Bell Way from Victor and Elisa's house?"
"Yes, I think so, at least to start…"
Gaius stepped in, relieved that Finneas could finally be put in his place. "Sire, I believe it was Finneas, the pub owner, who runs the Dragon Inn. He's notoriously easy to anger and he enjoys throwing fellows out of his pub with a bit more violence than necessary. All the lower townspeople know to avoid him – he gets angry if you just make eye contact – but of course, Merlin isn't in the lower town all that much."
Arthur heard this, nodding and already planning the knights he'd take with him when he went to go see this Finneas tomorrow. "Thank you, Gaius. Myself and a few knights will take care of him tomorrow."
With that, he cuffed Merlin on the shoulder with a, "Feel better, stay out of the lower town for a few days, and I expect you in my chambers tomorrow", gave Gaius a goodbye nod, and went to the council meeting with Uther.
As soon as Arthur left, Merlin mumbled, "I don't need him to fight my battles for me. This man was just so angry…". Gaius gave him an understanding hug and brought his stew over to him. "Come, my boy. We'll eat in your room for the night." Shortly after dinner, Merlin was softly snoring, leaned against the wall. Gaius rearranged him for the night, putting some extra pillows under his knees. Though this boy had a weight of a destiny on his shoulders, he didn't need to do it alone. With a last smile, Gaius closed the door, getting his room ready for another day of patients, stories, and support.
-Fin-