A/n
Okey, so I translate my stories, because I see you read them.
Every sign of your presence gives me great joy, and your reviews are the greatest. Thank you to everyone who has commented on the stories in this series so far. :)
At the root of evil
-„Why do you actually need that stupid neckerchief"?
Just so you can ask about it, sending me a contemptuous look, you pompous ass. Haven't you figured that out? After all, everything here revolves around you," I replied in my mind. Moments earlier, I had heard that I was probably the worst servant in the history of this kingdom and that, at the sight of me, his princely highness goes mad. I had almost replied that I go mad not only at the sight of him, but also at the sound of his voice, which put me at a definitely worse situation. Almost, because I don't like the idea of another day in the stocks. I therefore confined myself to ignoring the remarks. Contrary to Arthur's intentions, they didn't make me uncomfortable, I was just annoyed by the constant stream of words, as if I were under fire. Although there was a risk that Gaius would tell me to clean the leech tank or mop the floor later today, I longed to return to his chambers as soon as possible, just to get away from it. The prince accused me of being talkative, but in fact he himself had a serious problem with it. He had not stopped talking since I came to prepare him for bed.
„Is this some kind of village custom of yours? Do you signal this way that you are looking for a wife"? he continued. I could feel his gaze on my back as I set the leftover dinner dishes on the tray. I knew perfectly well that this wasn't about the neckerchief, that he wasn't really interested in it at all. He only asked in order to claim in passing that it was stupid, to emphasise once again that I was a primitive, worthless peasant and everything about me deserved derision. Even an unfortunate piece of cloth. In a way, I felt sorry for him, because he went to quite a lot of trouble, having no idea that his opinion of me was not even at the end of my list of current concerns.
„It's not a custom. I like it, so I wear it", I replied. Curiously, he deigned to shut up for one blessed moment, allowing other sounds to come to the fore. The sweet song of a redwing and the contrasting, raised, male voices were coming from outside the ajar window. I suspected they were guards. I thought I even recognised one of them as the one who had escorted me to the dungeons.
„Damn it! I don't know! I wasn't drunk or anything"!
„Maybe you just imagined it"?
„I told you I wasn't drunk! I'm going to have a drink now, because I'm feeling a bit light-headed".
„All right, all right. I'll wait for Liam and we'll go over there".
„You'll see nothing. It disappeared when I looked a second time. How many times do I have to tell you"?
„Tim, for God's sake! The witch nearly killed our prince, we can lose our heads, and you're talking to me about some disappearing carcass. You'd better go to Sir Leon, because he's been asking about you all day".
Sir Leon... I think he's the knight who stopped me in the corridor today, looked me over from head to toe like a horse at the market, muttered under his breath "Poor creature", patted me on the cheek and gently directed me towards a different door than the one I originally intended to open.
„It's the servants' passage", he explained. „Ask Guinevere to show you how to get around the citadel".
I was going to take this advice, as it was starting to get tiresome to keep bumping into people with a habit of kicking 'creatures' like me out of the way. No one explained to me which ways I was allowed to walk, which ways I wasn't, nor was I informed of my responsibilities, and when, following Gaius' advice, I approached the steward, he told me that he didn't care at all, because the pri'nce"s personal servant didn't report to him. So the first days of service were very nervous. I was constantly lost in the castle corridors and had to guess my duties.
„Shoes", Arthur finally threw in. I turned around and sent him a puzzled look.
„What's wrong with them"?
„Take off my shoes, you idiot".
I took a deep breath to control the overwhelming urge to go out and slam the door. Or slam Arthur in those crooked teeth. Everything in me was screaming, rebelling against such humiliation. Some 'creatures', although patient and non-aggressive by nature, can bite very hard when someone tries to trample them into the ground.
„Can't you really do it yourself"?
„I can, but I don't have to. That's your job".
Cursing in my spirit at Uther and his ways of rewarding people, I walked slowly over to Arthur and squatted down on bent legs, being careful not to look like I was kneeling in front of him. I only realised I was biting my lower lip when I felt the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. Arthur was smiling that arrogant grin of his, turning some small object in his hands, probably a sigil.
„Oh, don't you know how to untie your shoelaces? Do you need to figure it out? Relax, we have time".
Unlike you, I learnt it when I was about three years old. It just makes me sick at the thought of touching your mangy legs, you overgrown toad. I mean... sire," I thought.
I struggled to overcome my inner resistance and, trying not to touch him, quite efficiently removed his shoes. I grasped them in two fingers, as if I were picking up one of the more disgusting ingredients in Gaius' potions, and put them away, making a mental note to throw small, sharp pebbles into them in the morning, or if I managed to find an anthill, a few nice red ants.
„Why did you save my life if you hate me so much"? Artur asked suddenly. „What do you even mean"?
I closed the wardrobe and looked at him more intently than ever before. I was surprised by something in the expression of his eyes; a shade of sadness, as it were, hidden deep beneath the blue. I couldn't help the bizarre impression that I was looking into a mirror, that although I had nothing in common with the pampered prince, those eyes told an all too familiar story of loneliness.
„Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I could calmly watch someone try to murder you when I had the power to stop it", I replied.
„You don't like me", he repeated with slight exasperation. I deliberately used a milder term than he did and he evidently took notice. „Servants don't say such things. No one says such things to the heir to the throne".
„You asked, so I answered. According to the truth".
„Aren't you afraid that I might fire you for this"?
„Why should I be afraid of that? After all, we both know very well that you will do it within the next week".
„Don't you care one bit? Many people would like to be in your position".
„I'm more than happy to give way to them. Seriously, if there's anyone …who would be happy…
Arthur put the object he was holding in his hands back in the drawer and locked it.
„You're strange", he stated. I shrugged my shoulders. I looked hopefully at the door, but it soon became apparent that it was also my job to help the prince change his clothes. Given how much reluctance I had to do this, I got rid of it fairly quickly, but at that moment, the only thing stopping me from banging my head against the wall was the unpleasant prospect of getting a bump. I helped Will with various activities when he broke his right arm, but Will was my friend and it came most naturally. With Arthur, on the other hand, it caused - to put it mildly - embarrassment. I got through that first time with my jaw clenched to the point of pain and my face on fire. In a silly, childish way, I consoled myself with the thought that if I wanted to turn his life into hell, no one would be able to stop me. After all, it could always happen that the ants would grow a bit and bite his ears, his fingers, or any other part of his body. Preferably the tongue, so that no one has to listen to that awful voice anymore.
Arthur still didn't stop talking. He gave up for now on his ineffective attempts to insult me and started bragging about his horses and stallions. I did not focus on this. Suddenly, however, something in his tiresome chatter caught my attention.
„You know…" He said, stretching out on the bed and propping himself up on his elbow. „Morgana used to have a cat. She wanted a cat, so she got one. One that was black, with white socks. The cat was very intrusive and cheeky enough to go up to my father's tame she-wolf and take her food from under her nose, or jump on people's backs. My uncle, Agravaine, was even bitten. Morgana, like a girl, tied a scarf around his neck, exactly the same colour as yours. All in all, it was probably the idea of that maid of hers. No matter. In any case, he wore a red scarf".
Unexpectedly, my heart thumped wildly until it darkened before my eyes. I tightened my fingers on the tunic I had just folded. A deep, paralysing fear overwhelmed me. A vague, monstrous premonition drove an icy pin into my stomach, passed through my viscera further down my spine, and turned the hair on the back of my neck up. What is he talking about? What is he telling it for? I don't want to hear the end of it. I don't want to! I don't want to! But I had no choice. The prince looked straight at me, with a deadly serious look on his face, completely unsuited to the dismissive way he spoke.
„One day, Morgana's maid found the stupid creature hanging from a branch, with its tongue outstretched and eyes bulging. A scarf twisted and tightened around its neck like a rope. If I were you, Merlin, I'd be very careful. It's not hard to end up similar here. Next time the intercession of Gaius might not help, do you understand"?
„I understand", I replied, vainly fighting the horror that permeated me.
Gaius was in a good mood that evening and slipped me the goodies he had bought at the market, but which I was unable to enjoy. If Arthur's story was a camouflaged threat, if he wanted to frighten me, he succeeded. Not that I feared death at his hand. He would not have been able to do me the slightest harm if I had defended myself using my full powers. But that's me, with my magic. Cats, mere servants, no 'poor creatures' at his mercy, stand no chance against him. A dark premonition lodged in my throat like a bone. What did Lady Morgana owe him for acting so cruelly with her beloved pet? Trapped beneath the castle, the dragon was obviously not in his right mind, or he had decided, for his own amusement, to make an idiot of me by telling me that we were connected by some kind of destiny.
"Why did you save my life if you hate me so much"? Good question. Perhaps I made the mistake of assuming you were merely stupid and not thoroughly evil.
„What's the matter with you, boy"? asked Gaius when, instead of eating the cranberry cake, I began to crumble it involuntarily. - 'Stop that at once. „Look what you've done. A flock of hens would have eaten".
„Sorry", I muttered. I hastily collected the crumbs from the table, tripping the clay bowl in the process. The bowl hit the water jug and both dishes fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. I froze in stillness, held my breath. Mum was extremely annoyed by such accidents. We didn't have many dishes, but she stubbornly forbade me to fix them with magic.
„Just clean it up", Gaius said. With unspeakable relief, I dashed for a broom and stumbled onto a small wooden stool, hooking my arm into a rack that wobbled dangerously. Dozens of flacons of mysterious substances began to slide off the shelves. I had no choice but to use magic to prevent an inevitable disaster. I stared at the floor, but it was difficult to hide anything from Gaius. He raised one eyebrow in a very threatening expression. Great. A solid brawl will be a fitting culmination to this awful day. Tomorrow is better not to think about. I may have to escape the stake, or the gallows? I've unpacked things unnecessarily. I'll pack them back just in case. Contrary to Mum's expectations, this place is unlikely to become my home. I might as well try to live in a wasp's nest.
„Who have you angered this time"?
Gaius' calm voice pulled me away from my gloomy musings. I must have had a surprised look on my face, because he smiled slightly. And yet no brawls? Could it be that Merlin had finally had some luck? I tentatively reciprocated the smile.
„No one. But I'm afraid I've fallen head over heels into something I want absolutely nothing to do with".
„As for Arthur, you'll have to get used to it", he said sharply. „You've been met with an honour and in time you'll appreciate it".
„The honour of taking off the prince's shoes? Anyway, that's not the point".
I told him everything, while sweeping the floor. The atmosphere thickened, as if I had broached some uncomfortable subject, accidentally unearthed a stinking carcass buried under a tree.
„If it reassures you, I can assure you that Arthur did not hang that unfortunate cat", Gaius said quietly. „Morgana admittedly accused him of it, and Uther even punished him, but ... I have known him since the day he was born, and I have no reason to suppose that such a thing even occurred to him. He turned up at the scene because he heard Gwen screaming. What's more, he was the only one who noticed that it would be appropriate to get her out of there. You can imagine how shocked she was. She was fond of that cat. Arthur practically brought her to me. If you had seen him then, you would never have thought it was him".
„If you'd heard him today, you'd have given your hand that it was him", I replied. I put down the broom and sat down at the table.
„No, Merlin. You're prejudiced against him and you went completely the wrong way. Probably a simple accident happened. A scarf snagged on a branch and the cat suffocated. Morgana... Well... Her nerves were pretty shattered at the time. I told you she was plagued by nightmares. She didn't want to accept that she had made the mistake of letting the cat outside with a scarf around its neck. She was looking for someone to blame. She was constantly arguing with Arthur, so making him spend the day in the dungeon perhaps gave her a sense of victory".
„I don't blame her", I muttered. „Even if he didn't actually put his hand to it, he's extremely despicable. He tried to intimidate me".
Gaius sighed deeply. He pressed a cup of milk into my hands and sat down next to me on the bench.
„The sooner you grasp the rules here, the better for you, my boy. And in the meantime, trust me, you have nothing to worry about. Arthur is very much like his mother, not his father".