Chapter 22 [Camelot]

Gaius shuffled up the granite staircase. Exhaustion bowed his back and stabbed at his knees. Relief warmed him to be back in Camelot and in service to Uther. Expectation pressed him to see Merlin's activities during his absence. Hopefully that boy kept the chamber in adequate order. That is if Arthur has not kept him upstairs.

Courtiers hustled past him. Duty lent speed to some of them. Still Eyes averted themselves from him. Sympathy hung on their faces.

Instinct screamed at the aged physician. Something had happened. Urgency lent speed to his shuffles. He efforted himself down the passage. He opened the door. "Merlin?" He looked about the chamber.

Darkness cloaked the chamber. Luna's light gleamed off of the shelves' bottles and his chemistry set. Candles however remained unlit.

"What on Earth? Merlin? Merlin, where are you?" Gaius walked about the passage. He noted Bottles arranged on their shelves. He could see his chemistry set cleaned with careful polish. The chairs pushed up against the table. "At least he cleaned while I was gone." He fumbled on the table for a candle. "It is quite odd that he did not light a candle at least." The Eyebrow raised his hairline.

A folded piece of parchment sat on his desk. His name lay scrawled on it….

…in Merlin's handwriting….

"What is this? Merlin, please tell me you did not go off by yourself!" Worry chilled Gaius' heart. He unfolded the parchment. His eyes scanned the document to find:

"Gaius,

I am sorry. Uther has sacked Gwen and me. We have to leave Camelot by the end of the day. I did not do anything with my magic. Uther wants to keep Arthur and Gwen apart. He does not want me talking to Arthur any longer. I cleaned everything. The bedroom is tidy and swept.

Be careful. Morgana is behind this. You know what she's capable of.

Be well. I will go to Ealdor. At least I can take care of Mother. Maybe Gwen will go with me. I can keep her safe for the time being.

Thank you for everything. Take care.

Merlin"

Gaius shook his head. This has to be Morgana's work! Uther suspected Gwen and Arthur. Still that was cleared up! He frowned. He ambled across the chamber. His feet creaked up the old wooden stairs. He pushed the bedroom door open.

Merlin had left the bedroom in the same condition. He'd made the bed and swept the floor. Everything seemed in order.

He is really gone! Gaius shook his head. He sucked in a deep breath.

Answers were (respectfully) needed…but needed nonetheless….

[Arthur's Chamber—A Half an Hourglass Turn Later]

Arthur paced about the chamber. His eyes took in every corner and nuance. The knights locked and guarded the door. Sentries watched the window and the tower wall. More knights stood on the stones below.

Uther, it seemed, left nothing to chance this time….

Father, why must you do this? Arthur clenched his fist. He understood Duty's call. He loved Camelot. He'd lay down his life for the kingdom. But to marry someone he did not know much less love?

Heart protested. Pain stabbed through his chest.

How can he expect me to do this? He glared out the window and toward the wall…

…toward Freedom….

Gwen, wherever you are, just be happy. Please, Merlin, do not screw this up! He rolled his eyes. I'm pining like some *girl*! He rubbed the back of his neck. "What else can happen?"

"Sire, dinner!" George pranced into the chamber.

I had to ask! Arthur ground his teeth. "George, what a surprise! Meal time again so soon?"

Befuddlement lifted George's brow. "Aye, Sire! Surely you should keep up your strength! We'll give you that trim and polished outlook in no time!" Pride swelled his chest. Glee lightened his tone over the latest polishing joke.

Arthur grimaced. And I used to complain about Merlin's prattling on? Someone please kill me now! Maybe there's poison in there? He studied the plate on the table. "Vegetables?"

"Sire, all of that meat is not good for you." George filled the goblet all of the way to the top. "I do not skimp like that peasant."

Arthur glanced at his sleeve. The previous wine stain reminded him to take care with George's efforts. "Aye. I am sure." He frowned. "One needs to keep up strength to be in fighting shape. Merlin at least knew to serve me meat."

George sniffed. "I suppose. Merlin did not care as I do, Sire." Indignity curled his nose. "Do you know how much dust was in here? My word! Did that boy ever dust in here? And the silver? The brass? Tsk! Tsk! How anyone can deal with this?" Regard guided his eye to the candlestick holder. "I mean how does one get through the day without polishing an elegant item such as this or one's sword? It's not like one of the maids will do it for me." He wiped the candlestick holder in front of his Prince. "There! All buffed and ready to go!"

Arthur put his hand over his mouth. Not even Merlin is this big of an idiot! "We shall…have to work on all of that. Perhaps after the Princess' arrival, you might ask her?"

George clapped his hands. "AYE! WE SHALL DO THAT!" He skipped over to the corner. His hand seized on a waiting scroll. "I made a list! I will clean everything to her exact specifications!"

"Of course you will." Arthur looked at the window again. He somehow resisted the urge to jump or throw George out of it. "Then perhaps you should keep it in a special place. Perhaps you can find that right now."

"But, Sire! I cannot leave you to eat by yourself!" Protest paled George's face. His eyes bulged. A gasp escaped his lips.

"I wish to ponder deeper matters of state. Why…don't you polish some silver in the west wing?" Arthur knocked on the door. When it opened, he shoved George out into the passage.

Gaius managed to evade the ejected servant. "My word!"

"Gaius?" Arthur winced. "Come in! Please!" He pulled the elderly physician inside of the chamber. He slammed the door shut.

Confusion befuddled Gaius' thinking. He glanced back at the closed door. "Prince Arthur, with due respect, what is going on?" He bowed to Arthur.

"My father has decided to take matters into his own hands." Arthur frowned. "He and Lord Aethelwald of Nemeth negotiated a marriage between Princess Mithian and me. He sacked Merlin and Gwen. They were banished from Camelot." He shook his head. "Someone must have heard us talking."

"Heard you talking?" Gaius raised The Eyebrow. "What did Merlin say?"

Arthur frowned. "He and I were talking about how things would be different once I came to the throne. Someone must have told my father. King Kay wanted to marry his sister to someone. Father wants me married and away from Gwen." Frustration slammed his hand on the table. "For once, Gaius, Merlin was doing his job! He was not prattling on the way he normally does. Then George shows up and announces the news." He threw his hands up in the air. "Polishing. How many polishing jokes are there?"

Gaius shrugged. "I am afraid I have no idea, Sire." Arthur's recounting confirmed Merlin's suspicions. "Merlin, I am sure, got Gwen safely out of Camelot. He knows her importance to you."

"Aye. If he can keep her out of a tavern. I told him to get her to Ealdor. I will not have Father harming Gwen. I just hope he watches out for them both!" Arthur ran his hands through his hair. "Pardon me, Gaius, you do not deserve this. I wish Father had not gone with Leon and the knights."

"Gone? Gone where?" Gaius narrowed his eyes. Suspicion now bloomed in his mind as well.

"He led the knights to the Severn. He wants to escort the Princess back here safely." Arthur frowned. "Gaius…."

"Sire, I wish I could say something. I cannot speak against the King. I am sorry." Gaius ambled about the area. "Once the King comes back, I will ask to go to Ealdor. I wish to make sure Merlin and Gwen are all right."

"Perhaps you should go now. I am under guard until his return." Arthur folded his arms. "I just hope Merlin can keep her safe and not trip over his own feet." He rolled his eyes.

"I am sure he will be just fine, Sire. I will leave at First Light." Gaius bowed. He departed the area.

After the door closed, Arthur stared out the window. Just keep your eyes open, Merlin! PLEASE!

Trust came in short supply it seemed….