Out of Time

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Hello my wonderful readers! I am so glad that you guys are still enjoying this story. We've got another cute little chapter here but it does end on a cliffhanger. You guys know how I am with my cliffhangers! But you'll only have to wait a week to find out so that shouldn't be so bad. We're somewhere close to five chapters away to the end of Season 1 and my major event that I'm sure you'll all be mad about, so you know… we have a lot to look forward to! Don't forget, if you'd like to see yourself in the Shoutouts, Follow, Favourite or Review, if you're a guest member but a name on the review and I'll list it too! See you guys next Thrusday!

Shoutouts: ForeverTeamEdward13, Erudessa-gabrielle, Glaudia Garcia1996, Roseflame Crystalheart, WildCat3139, Verona1700, and Fang Kree.

Chapter 35: Out of Respect

Merlin was over the moon. Arthur had passed his first test, he just knew it.

Last night they had caught a man stealing from the grain reserves. He had two children at home were starving so he had chanced execution because he couldn't stand to see them suffer like that. And then, instead of arresting him and handing him over for execution, Arthur not only let the man go, but he had given him grain to feed his children.

Then in a turn for the creepy and the cryptic, the man had told Arthur that he had shown himself to be merciful and kind and that his actions would reap their own reward.

Merlin first assumed that it was some sort of goodness brownie point to add to Arthur's soul, or inflate his ego, but water returned to Camelot that morning.

Arthur might have been skeptical, but Merlin wasn't. He had passed his first test for sure! If Arthur kept this up they'd have food back in Camelot within the next couple of days. He just had to convince Arthur to be on his best behaviour.

But at that moment, all Merlin wanted to do was drink. So, the two of them holed up in Arthur's room and went about drinking an entire pitcher of water together. Or well, Arthur had his own goblet and let Merlin drink cup after cup of his own.

Merlin had been ever so thirsty.

"The sand's disappeared, water's back in the well. It doesn't make any sense," Arthur uttered into the silence. Merlin said nothing. He finished his drink, cleared his throat and turned away.

It was dinner after all and he had managed to rustle up some meat for Arthur. Since Arthur didn't want to hear about how this was all connected, he figured he'd just serve Arthur up some dinner and be done with it.

But Arthur must have caught the look Merlin had tried to not let grace his face for he suddenly said: "I suppose you have some explanation for this, Merlin."

Merlin had already turned his back on Arthur, but as soon as he heard those words he turned right back around. The smile on his face merely had Arthur shaking his head. "Alright, let's hear it."

He put down his tankard down an approached the table again. "Anhora said you would be tested and last night in the grain store you let that villager go and he said it would bring its own reward."

Arthur shrugged. "He was merely grateful. So, he should've been."

Merlin shook his head. "Maybe that was your first test. You passed it, so the curse has begun to lift."

It was. It was absolutely, without a doubt, his first test. But Arthur didn't want to hear that so Merlin was going to have to play it cool.

Merlin gestured to the water he still had yet to guzzle from his tankard. "Perhaps this is your reward?"

It was. It was definitely, entirely his reward. Seriously, how had Arthur not put this together himself?

Arthur stared at him for a moment like he was crazy and then glanced to his own tankard of water he had greedily been gulping down. He said nothing but it was clear that he didn't believe Merlin which was really starting to sting.

Merlin hung his head. "I know you don't have to listen to me—" "I'm glad we agree on something." "—If you're tested again, you have a chance to end your people's suffering. I know you want that more than anything."

Finally. Finally, Arthur looked like he was listening to him. So Merlin braced himself on the table, and leant in being sure to lower his voice. "Perhaps we should seek Anhora out?"

Arthur regarded him for a moment before saying: "I can't negotiate with sorcerers. My father wouldn't hear of it."

Ah, he said can't not won't. Merlin knew what that meant. "Then it's probably best you don't tell him."

Arthur appeared to not want to talk about it, though his eyes did narrow at the suggestion. "Don't you have a dinner to serve?" he asked instead of rising to Merlin's comment.

Ah yes this was where things were going to get a little… tricky.

Merlin nodded and went to the pot of stew and went about ladling it into Arthur's bowl. As he was doing that, Arthur softly asked: Do you really believe I'm responsible for the curse?"

Merlin knew that the reason Arthur was having trouble believing all of this was because if he did, that meant he'd have to acknowledge that he had caused the curse. That killing the unicorn had been the wrong thing to do.

"I'm afraid so," Merlin whispered back to him. He put the bowl in front of Arthur and then stepped back lest the Prince tried to throw it at him.

Arthur thought this over, staring, as if contemplating the stew, which Merlin really wished he wouldn't. Finally, after a lengthy heavy pause he said: "We're going to the forest first thing in the morning. Maybe we can pick up Anhora's trail. Whatever it takes."

The man could vanish at will, Merlin doubted that they'd pick up any trail, but if Arthur went looking for his next test it would most likely end the curse quicker. And it meant that Arthur was finally listening to him!

"Okay put you have to eat," he urged pushing the shallow bowl closer to Arthur. "You won't be able to help anyone if you're too weak to pass the test."

Merlin then stepped away, being sure to put the lid back onto the serving pot and keep his back turned as Arthur spooned some of the stew into his mouth, getting a big bite of the meat in there.

Merlin just stood there thinking: please don't notice. Please don't notice. All while pointedly looked away from him and trying to seem innocent.

"What kind of meat is this? It has a very strange texture."

Aw bollocks.

Merlin turned and with the straightest, most serious face he could muster said: "It's Pork."

God in heaven please let this idiot believe me.

"This isn't pork." Well. Shit. "It's far too stringy. What is it? It's, uh…"

Please don't figure it out. Please don't figure it out.

"It's rat, isn't it?"

Well that was the cat out of the bag. Or the rat anyway. Arthur had been on him to catch that rat, the one that was shitting all over his room and chewing holes into Arthur's boots. Merlin had deduced that the poor little guy was hungry if he had resorted to Arthur's stinky boots, but when he finally caught him he turned out to be quite plump. And Arthur was expecting some sort of meaty meal that night, so Merlin thought to appease him in some way. He was just hoping that Arthur wouldn't figure it out.

But there was no point in lying now so he simply nodded at Arthur. "Try not to think about it."

The spoon clattered out of Arthur's hand as he lurched for the goblet of water. Drinking down as much as he could trying to wash the taste out of his mouth.

Once he was done he turned what Merlin could only call a sadistic smile up to him. "Look at me. I'm being rude! Here I am, stuffing my face with this delicious stew, when you're hungry too."

Uh-oh.

Arthur stood and walked over to Merlin. "Come on," he said clapping his hands onto Merlin's shoulders and forcing him into his chair. "Eat."

Merlin didn't want to of course, but with Arthur's domineering presence literally hovering over him he had no choice but to spoon his own mouthful of rat stew into his mouth. And Arthur wouldn't let him spit it out either. He even forced a second mouthful into him.

If it weren't for Morgana's timely appearance, Arthur might have made Merlin eat the whole pot.

The following morning, Arthur made Merlin go to the forest to where he had killed the unicorn to look for some sign on Anhora. He had tried to go to Addison for some good luck but Addison wouldn't talk to him. She just lay in bed, too tired to move. He found out from Morgana that she hadn't eaten or drank anything in a few days so he left it to her to get her to consume something.

In his heart he knew he had to find Anhora to free his people of this curse, and potentially talk to him about a cure for Addison's seemingly broken heart. But he had a feeling, since he hadn't gotten any luck from Addison, he probably wouldn't find Anhora today.

Which almost meant that he would have to stay out here all night, camping with Merlin, because he was not going back to Camelot until he talked to Anhora and that crazy man took the curse off of Camelot.

And Merlin was driving him crazy. He kept asking him stupid questions like…

"I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for."

Alright so it wasn't a question but it was a still a pretty stupid thing to say. Arthur had to remind himself that Merlin wasn't a trained hunter like him. So, he said: "You're looking for footprints or broken branches, anything that would indicate someone passed that…"

He trailed off, there, in the distance, he swore he saw Anhora slipping away. Arthur shouted Merlin's name and took off after Anhora, sword out ready to go. He had to be intimidating to get his way, though nothing he had done before had intimidating Anhora. He was hoping the sword would be his tipping point.

He crashed on after Anhora, down a darkened rocky area, deeper into the woods. As he ran, he caught glimpses of Anhora through the trees. He made his way down a rocky outcropping into a little gully, wondering if this was the route Addison used to take to visit with her little beasty, because if so, dear god how had she not twisted an ankle? He watched her trip over her a single strand of hay once.

He got into that gully and came to a stop with a shaky grunt of: "You?" because there was someone apparently living in that gully and it wasn't Anhora.

It was the man from the night before, the one that Arthur had shown mercy to. He was sitting there in the clearing simply surrounded by things with a pot of something delicious smelling sitting on a fire. But do you know what was missing? Fucking Children. The man didn't have children.

"You're a thief."

It was clear as day that Arthur had been lied to and normally he would have done something about that, but he was busy with Anhora right now. He could come back and kill the man later. In fact, when he came back he was going to kill the guy and take all his supplies, he had enough food to feed the villagers a least for one day, more if they rationed it right.

"Wasn't that obvious when you caught me stealing your grain?" the man shot back.

"You're fortunate I have more important things to deal with," Arthur snapped refusing to rise to the bait. His people needed him after all except…

"You didn't really believe that story about my children, did you?"

Arthur paused. He shouldn't have but the man was laughing at him. So, Arthur came back. "What kind of man lies about starving children to save his own skin?"

The man didn't seem troubled at all that Arthur was looming over him, sword in hand, all while very clearly being annoyed. Anyone else would be worried but this man clearly wasn't.

"Your people starve because you let thieves steal their grain." And he definitely wasn't smart enough to keep his mouth shut. "That is why they doubt you."

Okay. Now he was going too far. But speaking about his people reminded him of his quest and what he had to do, and he couldn't waste time sitting around there with a thief.

Arthur turned his back on him once more. "You don't speak for my people," he told him as he purposely stalked away. He was going to find Anhora and take his frustrations out on him, that's what Arthur was going to do.

"Your father never would have allowed himself to be fooled like that," the man called out and Arthur came to a stop. Yes, that's right, he wouldn't have, but he also would have just killed the man.

"You hold your tongue," he warned. "Or I will make time to teach you some manners."

But not even that scared this thief. "Your father would have had me executed but you didn't have the stomach for it, did you, Arthur?"

That had not been the problem at all. He just didn't want his people, or his people's children to suffer. Not if there was something he could do about it.

"And that's why he doubts you'll make a good king."

The problem with that comment was that it stung. Because Arthur often felt like he disappointed his father. And it wasn't fair that this guy had picked up on it… because… well… how would he have known? Was it really that obvious?

"You know nothing of what my father thinks."

Also true, because Uther was very much a closed book. He said very little and his face only depicted anger, disappointment or passive disinterest.

The man scoffed, however, not sensing the impending danger from Crown Prince's barely controlled anger. "I think he wishes he had another son, one who was worthy of taking his place," but it wasn't until the man took his eyes off of the fire to look him dead in the eye to say: "You shame him," that Arthur lost it.

Arthur was officially off the whole curse of Anhora quest now. Which was a shame, cause if the man had just shut up this all could have been avoided.

He stalked towards the man, ordering him to pick up his sword, but he just laughed. But he wearily got to his feet like this was tiring him as he picked up the sword he had impaled in the ground by his seat. Stupid place to keep a sword if you asked Arthur… or anyone. Hell, even Merlin would have known it was stupid it leave a sword like that.

"The king must fear the day when you will take the throne."

Yep, Arthur was going to kill him.

He twirled his sword, just to show off and then he swung at him, but the thief moved to the side. The man blocked his first two blows and then they swords were locked and Arthur was forced to stare into this man's eyes.

This was embarrassing, Arthur was usually better than this. He always touted that one couldn't do battle if emotions were tied into it because those emotions clouded one's judgement. Maybe he needed to do those breathing exercises and he'd feel better. Maybe he and this thief could talk it out, Arthur did have other things he was supposed to be doing.

"He fears you do not have enough strength to defeat his enemies," he growled and then threw Arthur away from him.

Nope, screw talking things out, death was the only option.

The thief blocked the next two swings, and pushed Arthur back again. And then actually pushed him back even farther by coming at Arthur with heavier and heavier swings. Arthur should have been able to take him down by now but he was angry and he wasn't thinking straight. Their swords locked again, this time pointed to the ground, their shoulders touching.

The thief growled at him and knocked his shoulder into Arthur's, just as Arthur was getting the upper hand, sending him scattering to the side.

Time to recompose himself. As the thief came forward Arthur forced himself to walk back and take three deep breaths. When the thief swung at him again, he was ready. He blocked each swing and lunge, but when he went for an underhanded blow, the thief knocked the sword out of his hands.

Well shit. Usually the three deep breaths worked. Unless this man was a master sword fighter which Arthur was assuming he wasn't.

This had to be because he didn't get his luck from Addison that day.

He shoved the thief away from him and raced off after his sword. By the time he got it and turned around the thief was right across from him, which made no sense because Arthur had shoved him right into the rocks.

"The king must wonder if you are even his son."

And now he was implying that his mother slept around? What the hell?! This man had a major death wish.

And that was where the anger tipped the scales. Arthur went at him after that, each blow clanging, jolting up his arms he was swinging so damn hard. He battered that man away and around until he was backed up against a tree.

Just as he was taking the final swing he swore he heard Addison voice screaming No Arthur in his head. But not even the sweet sound of her voice pleading with him could save that man's life.

Problem was, he swung what should have been a death blow and the man just vanished. Not in a puff of smoke, nor did he turn into something else. He just winked out of existence.

Arthur was properly confused. The thief was a sorcerer too? What the hell was going on?

When he turned around Anhora was there. Well wasn't that just a good time for him to show up? Though Arthur had a feeling that this was all to his design.

"This is your doing!" he accused. He had made the man disappear, probably saved his miserable life.

"It was a test to see what is truly in your heart."

Oh lord. Not good. Bluff, Arthur, bluff! "Your tricks prove nothing!" he shouted to cover the fear that had started to creep up his spine.

"Why did you kill this man?" Anhora asked instead. His voice steadfast remaining low and calm.

Why the hell did that matter? Did he not hear what the man was saying? "He insulted my honor!" Arthur raged.

Anhora did not seem impressed. "You could have chosen to ignore his taunts. What harm would they do you?" Did this man not understand what honor meant in this world? It was everything.

Clearly this man was crazy. Arthur renewed his grip on his sword and pointed it at him. "You will lift the curse, sorcerer."

"It is not in my power."

Wrong answer. "Then you will die!" Arthur stalked forward, using two hands to put as much power into that blow so he could lop the man's head clean off, but as he swung Anhora disappeared. Arthur had swung so hard that without a target for his sword to land on, he ended up uneven on his own feet, sending him down to the ground in a terrible spiral.

"Killing me will not help you," Anhora said from the new spot he had appeared from. But Arthur just got right back up and did it again. That time the swing didn't just take him down to the ground he actually rolled back into the gully where the thief's camp had completely disappeared.

Great not even the food was real? He could have really used that for his people.

"You have shown that you would kill a man to defend your pride. You have failed the test. For this, Camelot will pay dearly."

Arthur had rolled, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. His eyes finally meeting Anhora's.

"My people have done nothing!" Arthur shouted.

"Your people's suffering is not my doing. It is yours."

No! It couldn't be. He didn't want to believe that but there was nothing that could change that now. Maybe, if he couldn't save them all, maybe he could just save one…

"You can't want that… not when Addison…"

"I trusted the Royal songbird because I saw great purity in her heart. She swore, on the day she took responsibility for that foal, that no harm would come to it. She knew of the consequence…"

"But it wasn't her fault! Make Addison's punishment mine!"

"Addison's punishment is completely different matter than yours," Anhora said stiffly. "It is only a mere coincidence that her punishment will make you suffer as well."

Make him suffer as well? No! No!

That time when Anhora disappeared he didn't return. Not long later Merlin crashed into the gully. Arthur wanted to take the time to describe what had happened, explain what he had done wrong, but he couldn't.

He could only tell him that something was very wrong with Addison and that he had to get back to Camelot right at that moment.

The problem was, by the time he got back it was too late. Addison was simply… gone.