Another's Favor by ebhg

Rating: T

Pairings: Merthian/Arwen

Spoilers: Series 1-4 and up to episode 4 of Series 5.

Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to BBC.


Change of Plans

At the sight of the pendant bearing the symbol of Amata's army, Merlin drew closer to Mithian, crouching down beside her to get a better look at the would-be assassin. Gwaine and the other knights crowded around them, trying to place the features of the man on the floor.

"Do you recognise him?" Leon asked the other knights doubtfully.

"Not at all," Gwaine answered, even as Mordred, Percival and Elyan shook their heads.

"I've met nearly all the other visiting knights," Leon continued. "I know I have not seen this man here before."

"Specialized skills indeed," Gwaine muttered to nods all around. The door opening and the sound of a heavy bucket dropping to the floor with a wet crash startled everyone from their perusal of the dead attacker.

"Merlin! What in the name of magic have you been doing in here?" Gaius exclaimed. Merlin's mouth dropped open in indignation.

"How is it that you assume that this was my fault? I don't even live in here anymore," Merlin said, raising his eyebrow in disbelief and smiling at his foster father's resulting indignant expression.

"It wasn't me!" Daegal denied with wide eyes.

"What did happen then?!" Gaius asked, looking around at the toppled books, scattered papers, shattered vials and crushed herbs all over the floor.

"As it turns out, it was a good job Mordred was here," Merlin said by way of answer. "Otherwise we would have to add Raulf there to the list of dead witnesses."

Everyone parted to allow the physician to see what held their interest. Then Gaius finally saw the man on the floor with the knife still protruding from his chest.

"Things just got a bit more complicated," Gaius groaned, imagining the political ramifications of this man's attack and subsequent death. Merlin winced at that.

"Yes, well, he was throwing knives at me," the warlock objected. Gaius sighed.

"When isn't someone throwing some knife or axe or arrow at you? At least this time your word means something," Gaius reasoned.

"And he has my word as well," Mithian added.

"And mine," Mordred agreed. Gaius looked around at those in the room and sighed again. He was not looking forward to explaining this to the king.


Arthur was glad to have Guinevere at his side for the rest of the afternoon, even though he couldn't help but occasionally allow his thoughts to wander to what the others were doing. It wasn't in his nature to sit back while others followed the action. Regardless, it had been quite a productive afternoon, thanks to Guinevere's soothing personality.

"I'm sure they are doing just fine," Guinevere murmured, squeezing Arthur's hand as he escorted her to the dining hall. Arthur looked at her in surprise.

"I've been too distracted, haven't I?"

"Only to those who know what to look for," Gwen replied gently.

"I'm sorry. I am being a terrible host. If not for you, these talks probably would have gotten nowhere this afternoon. It would seem that I am not the great king the Druids spoke of," Arthur said only half jokingly.

"Nonsense," Guinevere chided. "You are a great king and you will always will be remembered as such."

Arthur smiled gratefully at his wife as he helped her into her seat. His smile did not last long, however, when Gaius, Merlin and Mithian strode into the room with determined expressions. Arthur remained standing beside Guinevere's chair, waiting for his Court Warlock to approach.

King Rodor smiled at his daughter and Merlin and rose to greet Mithian with a fatherly embrace. Merlin nodded respectfully at his father-in-law and Mithian before continuing towards his king with Gaius beside him. Arthur did not miss the way Sarrum watched Merlin cross the room, nor the way the Amatan ruler's jaw clenched tightly.

"Did something else happen?" Arthur asked as Merlin and Gaius stopped beside him. The physician and warlock exchanged a look, then the physician held out his hand, discretely revealing the amulet from the attacker.

"Isn't that the symbol of Amata? Where did you find it and why do the both of you look so grave?" the king pressed, lowering his voice to a low murmur.

"It is in fact an Amatan crest, and we found it on the man who attacked Mordred this afternoon, in what we believe was an attempt to silence the witness under my care," Gaius answered solemnly.

"What?!" Arthur hissed, fighting the urge to look at Sarrum. "Where is he? I want to speak to him."

"That could be problematic," Merlin admitted, wincing.

"Why is that?" Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes at his Court Warlock.

"He was attacking Mordred- I told you it was a good job to have him guarding Raulf!" Merlin said defensively, then he explained what had happened just as Mithian came to his side and laced her fingers into his.

"He's dead, then?" Arthur asked, sighing in frustration.

"Unfortunately, yes," Merlin replied.

"He was throwing knives," Mithian added.

"So I've heard," Arthur said dryly.

"What do we do about it?" Merlin asked, catching a glimpse of Sarrum out of the corner of his eye as the ruler of the Amata tried to discreetly move closer as he took a seat at the table. Merlin let a subtle wall of magic develop around the five of them, preventing Sarrum from possibly overhearing anything.

"Nothing, yet," Arthur answered, a determined glint entering his eye. "I want you to stay in your chambers tonight. We'll be open about it. The two of you can join us now for supper and mention how glad you'll be to sleep in your own bed. Perhaps someone will pay you a visit and we can catch them in the act."

"Do you think that's wise, Sire?" Gaius asked, looking worriedly at his former ward.

"Like Merlin said earlier. If they want him, they can come and get him. It will be better if they incriminate themselves rather than have us accuse them and give them a chance to make us look like we're setting them up."

Merlin smiled mischievously. "So I'm the lure now? I suppose it's better than being stuffed into a dress. You're not afraid to let me handle the bad guy all by myself?"

"Shut up, Merlin. I'm not afraid of anything. I just know how helpless you are in the heat of battle," Arthur said snarkily. "I'm going to be there, of course."

"You're going to be in our chambers?" Merlin asked, looking at Mithian with a wrinkled nose even as Gwen smothered a giggle with her hand.

"How else do you propose I catch this assassin in the act?" Arthur said. Merlin narrowed his eyes.

"You do not get the bed."

"Shut up, Merlin, I'm going to be hidden of course. And why on earth would I want your bed?" Arthur asked indignantly.

"In any case, let's sit and enjoy our supper," Gwen interjected before king and warlock could argue any further.

At the queen's instruction, another few place settings were brought out and Gaius, Merlin and Mithian joined the gathering. Mithian felt somewhat self-conscious in her day dress at supper, but Merlin was glad for the excuse to not change clothes just to eat. Their attire also gave the warlock an excuse to drop into the conversation the fact that he was glad to get away from Gaius' watchful eye and back to his own chambers.

"It is good to see you well, Merlin," Rodor said genuinely, and several monarchs nodded in agreement.

"I must say, I am surprised to see you up and about today after such a terrible poisoning," Queen Annis remarked.

"Rapid healing. That is the true benefit of having magic," Prince Gavin said, smiling at Merlin.

"It does have its uses," the warlock agreed cheekily.

"Like juggling eggs perhaps?" Annis asked slyly.

"Among others," Merlin agreed, his smile never wavering.

"I am still hopeful that you'll favor us again with your talents," the Queen of Caerleon teased. Arthur laughed delightedly as his Court Warlock blushed when a few of the others cheerfully added their requests to Annis'. Nearly everyone in the room was smiling and laughing, enjoying the evening. Merlin and Mithian pretended not to notice Sarrum's cool expression, but Guinevere had to squeeze Arthur's leg under the table to keep him from glaring at the other monarch in righteous indignation.

Finally, after much food and conversation, their plates were cleared and the others began to make their way to their rooms to rest and digest the rich food they had just consumed. Arthur looked significantly at Merlin, who acknowledged the king with a barely discernable nod. Then the warlock looked at his wife with a puckish grin.

"Shall we retire for the evening?" He asked, his eyes sparkling as he stood up.

"Indeed we shall," Mithian replied, taking Merlin's outstretched hand and allowing him to pull her to her feet.

"Goodnight," Arthur said loudly.

"Sleep well," Gwen said, stifling a yawn as she caressed her ever-expanding middle.

Merlin gave a final wave to the room and then escorted Mithian to their chambers. As soon as they opened the door, the warlock raised his eyebrows at the mess still strewn about the room. With a few murmured words and a flick of his wrist, Merlin set the room to straightening itself. Mithian smiled delightedly as things put themselves away and her gowns flew one by one into the wardrobe.

"That is certainly useful," she chuckled.

"Yes, it is. Gaius would scold me for using my magic like this, but I find it very relaxing to allow my magic some form of release, little though it may be."

"It must be exhausting to always exercise such restraint," Mithian murmured sympathetically. Merlin smiled tenderly.

"At times, it was. Especially since I could never really get away with using my magic like this except in my bedroom."

"Not even when you were outside Camelot?" Mithian asked. Merlin smiled and shook his head ruefully.

"I made a horse figure in some smoke in the woods once. Uther brought in the witchfinder because of it and Gaius nearly died for my thoughtlessness. I swore to myself never to do so again unless it was to save someone's life."

"I'm sorry," Mithian murmured. Merlin shrugged.

"It was a long time ago," Merlin said, then grinned mischievously at the room cleaning itself. "You don't know how many times I wanted to do this to Arthur's chambers."

"Hmm, I imagine quite a lot," Mithian mused, though her expression grew curious. "Why doesn't Gaius like you to use your magic in such a manner, if it helps you?"

"He says it makes me lazy and that I should use my gifts for less petty purposes. He says that magic is a gift to be cherished and used wisely, not squandered on fools."

"You're far from lazy," Mithian murmured. "Nor are you foolish."

"I may have initially started doing some of my chores with magic in order to save myself some work," Merlin admitted sheepishly. "In the long run, though, I found that it helped me to keep myself in control to do little things like this while in my room."

"How so?" Mithian asked interestedly. Merlin paused for a moment, thinking. Then his eyes lit up.

"If you're trying to carry a bucket of water, it's easier to keep your feet dry when the water isn't full to the top and sloshing over the sides. That's sort of how my magic is. Letting a little bit out here and there keeps my feet dry, so to speak."

"Then by all means, keep them dry," Mithian said, gesturing to the self-cleaning room. Then the princess looked down at her dress thoughtfully before looking back at Merlin impishly. "Gwaine and Elyan sent Tillie home."

"Yes, they did," Merlin replied, smiling curiously.

"You learned the hard way this morning how difficult it is for a woman to remove her dress on her own," Mithian continued, gesturing to her clothing. Merlin's eyes sparkled as he caught on to Mithian's intent.

"You've no handmaiden here," Merlin said with mock-solemnity. "And you're still dressed."

"Yes, I am. Tis a pity," she replied mischievously. "I'll need someone to help me out of this dress," Mithian replied coyly.

"I think I know just the person," Merlin replied with a grin, taking Mithian's hands and walking backwards as he guided her to their dressing screen. He had just finished loosening the laces of Mithian's dress and had begun to press his lips in a trail across her shoulders when a voice from the other side of the dressing screen silenced Mithian's resultant giggles.

"You do realize that if I were here to kill you, it wouldn't be entirely difficult at the moment, would it?"

Merlin groaned at Arthur's smug tone of voice and let his head drop in frustration against the curve of Mithian's shoulders.

"Tillie was sent home early tonight. I was just helping Mithian prepare for bed. Why are you here so soon?"

"Apparently saving you from complete distraction," Arthur said dryly. "Are you going to come out of there or am I going to have to keep talking to this screen?"

"Give me a minute," Merlin said, kissing Mithian's shoulder one last time before helping her into her nightdress and dressing gown and then quickly pulling on his own nightclothes. As they came around the screen, Merlin scowled at the king sitting at their table with his feet propped up, a smug grin on his face.

"You could have knocked," Merlin groused. Arthur's grin just grew wider.

"Revenge is really quite sweet," the king chuckled, then waved his hand in a vague gesture of encouragement. "Just pretend I'm not here."

Merlin grumbled and Mithian smiled at her husband's choice of murmured words. Then Merlin said a few words of the old tongue and set the bed to rights after it had been torn asunder by their would-be assassin.

"Very handy trick," Arthur said appreciatively.

"Trick?!" Merlin asked in frustration. "Why does everyone relegate my magic to the realm of mere tricks? In any case, aren't you supposed to be silent? Like you're not even here?"

"Of course, "Arthur allowed. "Don't mind me, I'll just be lurking over there in the shadows."

"That's a lovely thought," Merlin muttered sarcastically. Mithian chuckled and slipped into her side of the bed, picking up a brush on the bedside table and stroking it through her hair. Merlin busied himself with straightening a few more things, blatantly ignoring the dark corner that Arthur had retreated to. "You're sure no one saw you coming here?" Merlin asked finally as he sent a pair of boots walking themselves back to the cupboard as he tidied his books and papers.

"That really is quite fascinating," Arthur replied, ignoring his Court Warlock's question as the king watched things straighten themselves.

"Who's distracted now?" Merlin said smugly, smiling as his irritation lessened.

"You're not the only one who knows how to use the servant's passages, Merlin," Arthur finally answered.

"I'm amazed you even know where they go," Merlin teased.

"I grew up in this castle," Arthur replied. "Of course I know the servant's passages. How do you think I hid from my tutors as a boy?"

"Why does that not surprise me?" Merlin said, rolling his eyes.

"Come to bed, Merlin," Mithian entreated with a grin. "We're supposed to be pretending that Arthur isn't hiding behind the curtains."

Merlin chuckled, but conceded to his wife's request, allowing the candles to extinguish and the straightening things to come to a rest as he settled into the bed on his side and pulled Mithian into his chest. Taking a deep breath, he buried his face in her hair and pressed one last, lingering kiss to the nape of her neck. Arthur groaned in the darkness, and Merlin raised his head to glare in the king's direction.

"This was your idea, and if I recall, you are supposed to be pretending you aren't standing where you're standing."

Arthur said nothing and Merlin allowed his head to flop back onto his pillow even as Mithian's body shook with suppressed laughter.

"I'm glad someone is enjoying this," Merlin chuckled, tightening his grip around Mithian's waist in a gentle hug.

"The both of you are rather irrepressible, did you know?" Mithian asked in the darkness. "It's what makes you both such good leaders."

Merlin smiled in the darkness, though he was sure he could feel Arthur rolling his eyes in silence.

"Goodnight, Mithian," Merlin said, kissing her shoulder again as she wove her fingers into his and squeezed.

"Goodnight, Merlin," she whispered, and the room fell silent for a few moments.

"No one wants to wish me goodnight?"

"Goodnight, specter of the king who really isn't there," Merlin drawled, smiling as Mithian clapped a hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter.

"You dollophead," Arthur chuckled.

"My word!" Merlin said, allowing his suddenly weary body to relax with the knowledge that Arthur would raise the alarm if anything happened.


Arthur watched in amusement as Merlin drifted off to sleep curled around Mithian as though he didn't have a care in the world. For a long time, Arthur had put Merlin's utter and often foolish bravery down to simple-mindedness; but now he knew that it was Merlin's magic that made him so fearless. The king could not imagine wielding such immense power that he was unafraid of the thought of an assassin actively trying to kill him. Arthur supposed that was why he himself was so worried. He had to be concerned enough for the both of them, since Merlin didn't seem even a bit anxious, despite the fact that the warlock had only the night before been fighting for his life as poison coursed through his veins.

"Dollophead," Arthur repeated quietly, allowing a fond grin to quirk one side of his mouth upwards as he leaned against the wall and prepared to watch and wait.

The moon had nearly crossed the expanse of the darkened starlit sky when the soft snick of the door being unlatched pulled Arthur from a light doze that he hadn't realized he'd fallen into. Luckily, he was still concealed behind the curtain in the darkness, and he pushed the slight gap between the panels of fabric open a bit farther.

Arthur was pleased to see Merlin's eyes snap open, though the warlock did not move a muscle. Merlin's back was to the main portion of the room, where Arthur could now make out the shadowy silhouette of a robust man stepping slowly and silently towards the bed. Arthur tensed, waiting to see what the intruder would do, and how Merlin would handle it.

The man stepped closer to the bed, stopping right beside it. Arthur held his breath, wondering why Merlin hadn't moved yet. Then the king saw a brief flash of silver as the intruder raised a long knife over the warlock. Arthur's heart began to race at the sight and he nearly burst out of his hiding place to defend the pair on the bed when he realized that the man was frozen where he stood, the knife still poised over Merlin ominously. Then Arthur's eyes burned as the candles suddenly flared to life seemingly of their own accord, illuminating the room as Merlin casually rolled onto his back and raised an eyebrow at his would-be-attacker.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" Merlin asked Sarrum coolly, even as Mithian moved out from the covers and grabbed her crossbow from beneath the bed. The princess leveled her weapon at the ruler of Amata as Arthur revealed himself with sword drawn.

"I'd like to know that myself," Arthur said, and Sarrum's eyes widened even further, though the rest of him appeared to be completely frozen. Arthur's brow furrowed as he looked at the door when it opened with a bang, revealing Mordred, Gwaine and Percival.

"I called for Mordred," Merlin explained reassuringly, seeing the alarmed expression on Arthur's face. Then the warlock turned to address Mordred. "Thank you."

"Are Elyan and Leon still with Guinevere? Is she safe?" Arthur asked anxiously, though he relaxed visibly as soon as Gwaine nodded.

"The queen is perfectly safe, though she's a bit upset that she had to be under guard. Said something about living all on her own for years and knowing how to take care of herself. But Elyan reminded her that his nephew was at risk and that seemed to settle her frustration."

"Good," Arthur said, then turned back to Sarrum and narrowed his eyes. "I suspected it was your man who was trying to kill my Court Warlock, but I have to admit, I'm surprised to see you come here yourself. Why are you doing this?"

Sarrum remained silent, even as Merlin reached up and pulled the knife from his frozen grasp, handing it across the bed to Mithian pommel first. Then the warlock slowly moved across Mithian's side and stood up, never taking his eyes off the man whose angry glare followed his every move.

"Why?" Merlin asked quietly, his eyes flashing in frustration. Sarrum gritted his teeth and glared at Merlin, his expression hardening in indignation.

"Magic is unnatural. You are no better than an animal," was Sarrum's only reply.

Arthur gritted his teeth and looked at Gwaine, Percival and Mordred. "Make sure he doesn't have any other weapons then take him to his rooms. He is to be under guard and secured until otherwise noted."

Merlin released Sarrum from the restraining magic as Gwaine and Percival moved forward, the tall knight searching the Amatan ruler as Gwaine stood by with his sword at the ready. Mordred stayed close to the door and glanced back into the hallway in case Sarrum had back-up. After a moment's searching, Percival confiscated two more knives and a vial of some sort of liquid from Sarrum, stepping back to place them on the table. Then Arthur waited wordlessly as the knights escorted a mulish Sarrum from Merlin's chambers.

"Hopefully, that will put an end to this ridiculousness," Arthur groused as the door shut behind them, though Merlin sighed in frustration.

"Unfortunately, it's usually when I think along those lines that something else happens."

"Let us hope for the best, then," Mithian said, giving Merlin's arm a squeeze in support. Arthur nodded his agreement and made for the door.

"I'm going to bed. Don't let yourselves get too distracted now that I'm leaving," the king teased, chuckling as he shut the door behind him. After a moment, Merlin turned to Mithian and raised an eyebrow. The princess smiled indulgently, then giggled when Merlin swept her into his arms and tossed her onto the bed.


The following morning brought another set of problems. Word had spread quickly that Arthur had confined Sarrum to his chambers under armed guard. The king had hardly finished his breakfast before he began to receive messages from the other monarchs requesting an explanation. Steeling himself for the inevitable, Arthur gathered his papers and held an arm out for Guinevere.

"You'll do fine," Guinevere reassured him. Arthur smiled at her confidence and kissed her.

"Thank you. I'll do well as long as you're with me," the king murmured. Gwen smiled and the two of them headed for the council chambers. Merlin and Mithian joined them just as they reached the back entrance, and Arthur looked at Merlin questioningly before he gripped the door pull. The warlock nodded in wordless confirmation and Arthur straightened his posture as he pulled the door open and joined the already gathered monarchs.

"What is going on, Arthur?" King Lot asked suspiciously before they could get to their seats.

"What is it that concerns you?" Arthur asked curiously.

"Why is Sarrum being held prisoner?" Odin asked before Lot could reply.

"He was found trying to kill my Court Warlock," Arthur answered, gesturing towards Merlin as the four of them joined the gathering at the table.

"And who has accused Sarrum thus?" Alined asked, looking at Merlin with obvious distrust.

"Merlin had no need to accuse him, I witnessed it myself," Arthur explained, raising eyebrows all around the room.

"I trust King Arthur's witness," Rodor said, emphasizing Arthur's title to further validate his words. Queen Annis nodded while looking shrewdly at Alined.

"And I as well," she said, prompting Princess Elena to add her agreement, as well as that of her father.

"Just what do you plan on doing to Sarrum?" Alined asked, causing everyone to look at Arthur solemnly.

"I plan to give him a trial of his peers. He is a king, and so I believe that his fate should be a joint decision amongst us."

"But you have already assured us all of his guilt," Alined pressed. "How can we assume this trial will be fair?"

"It will be fair, on my honor," Arthur answered, silencing any further protests. The rest of the day moved fairly uneventfully, though Sarrum's detainment and as-yet-uncertain future had given Lot and Alined excuse to argue the treaty details further. Arthur was glad to be finished with the day's talks and allowed to retreat to the solitude of his chambers for a private supper with Guinevere.

Merlin, though, had found himself under Alined's scrutiny several times over the course of the day, and something about Alined's self-satisfied grin after they had broken for dinner had left Merlin unsettled.

"Something on your mind?" Mithian asked as they left the hall and made their way to their own chambers for supper.

"Alined was looking far too pleased for my comfort," Merlin said softly, reaching out with his senses to ensure no one was listening.

"Do you think he was working with Sarrum?" Mithian asked softly, grasping Merlin's hand in hers.

"I'm not sure. Though I think that Lord Vidor's missing money chest is more telling than Alined's smug expression. It's more likely that the late nobleman had had enough of me and decided to do something about it."

"You've said that Alined has tried to disrupt peace talks before. Perhaps he's merely pleased by the delay."

"We can only hope," Merlin sighed, weary from the last few days.

"Why don't we go and see your mother? We've not seen her since yesterday morning, and I'm sure you'd like to see her when you're not dressed as a woman."

"That sounds nice. It doesn't matter if she's in Camelot if I don't actually spend time with her."

Mithian chuckled, pulling Merlin away from the corridor leading to their chambers and turning towards Hunith's. The warlock smiled at Mithian as she wove their fingers together.

"How is it that you already know what I need better than I do myself?" Merlin mused, a fond smile quirking his lips into a lopsided slant.

"Of course I know better. I'm your wife," Mithian said impishly.

"Oh, I thought maybe it might have been something to do with love and affection. I guess I was mistaken," Merlin chuckled dryly.

"Heavens, no, where did you ever get that idea?" Mithian said, raising an eyebrow and struggling to keep her smile hidden.

"I'm not entirely, sure," Merlin drawled, stopping in the middle of the hallway and turning to Mithian before slowly backing her into the wall. "Perhaps from here," he murmured before he pressed his lips to hers. Mithian thought about their exposed location for just a split second before returning the kiss with equal fervor.

A nearby door closing rather loudly caused them to break apart and take a step back. Just as they did, a blushing serving girl carried a basket of laundry past them while avoiding their gaze, her hair scarf doing a poor job of hiding her reddened face. Merlin chuckled and looked at Mithian sheepishly.

"You're causing all sorts of mischief today," Mithian teased. "Let's go see Hunith."

Merlin did not protest when Mithian pulled him further down the hall and knocked gently on Hunith's door. Nearly two minutes passed before Merlin knocked more firmly and reached out with his magic to open the door.

"Mother?" He called out tentatively, his eyes sweeping the all too familiar and worrisome sight of a room that had been thoroughly searched.

"Hunith?" Mithian said, her eyes tracing over the disturbed room.

"Mother?!" Merlin called again, more urgently than before. "Where is she?" He asked in a nervous voice as Mithian checked behind the changing screen.

"Not here," Mithian replied sadly, worry furrowing her brow. Merlin walked to the table beside the bed and his heart leapt at the sight of a scrap of parchment tucked under an empty goblet. The nondescript handwriting of the hastily scrawled note gave very little away; Gwaine's crossbow bolt had revealed more. Mithian came up behind Merlin and pulled the parchment from her husband's shaking hand, reading the message aloud in a strangled whisper.

"Finder's keepers. Come and find your mother if you dare..."


Before Merlin fully realized what he was doing, he found himself barrelling through the door to Arthur and Gwen's chambers. Mithian nearly ran into his back when he came to an abrupt halt just as the king and queen looked up in startled alarm.

"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, though the look on Merlin's face silenced any further protest. The warlock was only just in control and the king wasn't eager to test Merlin's limits.

"What happened?" Gwen asked, seeing Merlin's distress and knowing that very little could elicit such a reaction from the cheerful warlock.

"It's Hunith," Mithian began, even as Merlin finally managed to speak.

"They have her. Someone took her," he said in quick, clipped tones, his anger and frustration keeping him from chattering as he usually did.

"What?! Who?" Arthur demanded. Gwen gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.

"I don't know. They left this," Merlin said, holding out his tightly clenched fist and forcing it open, revealing the crumpled parchment within his grip.

"Her chambers had been ransacked, same as ours had been," Mithian explained. Arthur stood slowly and approached Merlin, holding his advisor's gaze as the king carefully took the note. The warlock relinquished his hold on the scrap of parchment, and Arthur looked over it carefully.

"Finder's keepers," he read aloud softly, understanding Merlin's distress better. His own anger flared at the audacity of Hunith's abductors. "We'll find her, Merlin."

"Why are they doing this?!" the warlock finally burst out, the candles flaring as his tenuous hold on his temper slipped.

"I don't know," Arthur murmured, his eyes softening as Merlin shook with the effort to keep his magic and his fury reigned in. Mithian put a hand on Merlin's back in an attempt to soothe her husband while Arthur clapped his advisor on the shoulder in support. The warlock clenched his fists again, closed his eyes and took several deep, calming breaths. Arthur raised his eyebrows in astonishment as a pressure within the room that he hadn't quite realized was building melted away. Then Merlin's shoulders sagged and he staggered to a seat at the table, nearly trembling in frustration and anger. Gwen rushed to get a goblet of water and Merlin gulped it down thirstily.

"I think the reason is obvious if you just look a little closer," Guinevere said shrewdly, catching everyone's attention. At their questioning looks, the queen continued. "What, or who, I should say, is Camelot and Arthur's greatest defense?"

"Merlin," Mithian said, looking at her husband as the pieces came together.

"And what, do you think, would be the best way to neutralize that protection?" Gwen asked softly, looking at Merlin regretfully.

"By hurting the ones I care about," Merlin said, his blue eyes hardening as he turned to look at the others. "If they're trying to distract me, then you are all in danger. Probably you, as king, most of all, Arthur."

"Or Guinevere," Arthur reasoned. "She is just as important as I am, if not more so, as she is carrying Camelot's heir."

"I will not allow anything to happen to either of you," Merlin vowed, standing as his resolve strengthened. "We're going to find my mother and we're going to finish these peace talks. Whoever is trying to stop us is going to regret they ever set foot in Camelot with dishonorable intentions."

Arthur clapped a hand on Merlin's shoulder in support, looking him in the eye. "You should get some rest while you can."

"I have to find my mother!" Merlin protested, but Arthur shook his head sadly.

"There's nothing we can do tonight. The sun has set and there is really no other trail to follow. We'll have the knights start searching at first light."

"I can make light," Merlin argued.

"And wear yourself out," Arthur reasoned. "If someone is trying to distract you, it's working. You need to focus. I need you to focus. Guinevere's or my life may depend on it. As much as it pains me to admit, you are my greatest defense. Don't fall into their trap."

Mithian watched as Merlin's shoulders fell and his face went blank as he tucked his own worries for Hunith away within his mind and focused on the king. Her heart hurt for her husband, who had yet again been forced to put his own grief aside to protect Arthur and Camelot.

"We'll find Hunith," Mithian promised. Merlin turned to look at her with pained eyes. The princess did not have to wonder at Merlin's new distress.

"You are in danger, as well, Mithian," Merlin said sadly. "No one I love is safe right now."

"I'll be fine. It's you and the king and queen I'm worried about."

Merlin closed his eyes and exhaled a long, exhausted breath.

"Go get some rest," Arthur ordered, his tone allowing no protest. Merlin stood and allowed Mithian to guide him towards their chambers, his mind swirling with his worries.

Sleep did not come easily for him that night. He lay in the darkness of his and Mithian's chambers, holding her to his chest in a grip so tight that Mithian could hardly breathe. She did not protest, though, as she felt a similar desire to hold him to her and never let go.


Before the sun had fully risen, Arthur summoned Leon, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine and Mordred to his chambers. Merlin and Mithian had shown up before dawn; the warlock was eager to do something after spending a restless night worrying for his mother. As they waited for George to convey the king's summons to the knights, Merlin paced anxiously, chewing on his nail as he moved back and forth beside the table.

"Merlin," Arthur scolded, causing the warlock to stop and look questioningly at his king. "You need to calm down. I can't have you acting like this in front of the other royals."

"What do you mean, in front of the others? I've got to find my mother," Merlin protested.

"This is a time to step back and let others do the work," Arthur said cautiously, knowing how Merlin would react.

"You expect me to sit back when my mother has been kidnapped?!" Merlin asked incredulously.

"Yes. I need you to be there in the council room, calm and collected. You can't show any fear; as I said last night, whoever took Hunith did so with the intent to hurt and distract you. You cannot let them win, Merlin. To do so could leave Guinevere or myself vulnerable."

Merlin took a deep breath; he knew that Arthur was right, but he was unwilling to give in immediately.

"I'm the most capable of finding my mother before something happens to her," Merlin argued.

"Though that will take you away from Arthur's side," Guinevere said sadly. "I'm worried about Hunith, too, but I think Arthur needs your protection right now."

"They're right, Merlin," Mithian added. "I'll go with the knights. I can help them find Hunith."

Merlin looked between the three of them for nearly a full minute, then sighed and sat down in defeat.

"I'm so sorry that protecting me and Guinevere and our child is such a burden," Arthur drawled facetiously, knowing that Merlin needed to be provoked.

"You know it isn't," Merlin said, not in the mood to rise to the bait, but appreciating the taunt for what it was.

"Of course I know that, you just needed to be reminded is all," Arthur replied with a cheeky grin. Merlin rolled his eyes just as the door opened and Gwaine entered, his fellow knights following behind.

"You're just as bad as Merlin, you know? Did neither of you ever learn to knock?" Arthur complained, though Gwaine looked back at the door unconcernedly before shrugging at Arthur.

"You knew we were coming, so why waste time with knocking?"

It was Arthur's turn to roll his eyes as the other knights chuckled.

"What is it you require of us?" Leon asked, showing much more respect and decorum than Gwaine ever could. Arthur met each of their gazes with a solemn expression before gesturing to Merlin.

"Merlin's mother has been abducted," he began without preamble. The knight's eyes widened, and their shoulders tensed.

"Hunith?!" Gwaine asked; his face reddening in his anger. He had taken quite a liking to the no-nonsense peasant woman, and not just because she held within her a veritable treasure trove of stories with which to embarrass Merlin. She had, in the weeks since she had come to Camelot permanently, become a mother figure for all of them.

"Yes," Arthur confirmed. "It is my hope that we can keep her disappearance quiet. I want the five of you to search through the citadel and the town for any sign of her-"

"And me as well," Mithian interjected. Arthur gave her a brief nod in acknowledgement and continued.

"We have reason to believe that this was done in an attempt to pull Merlin away from protecting me and Guinevere."

"He spent all of yesterday away from you," Gwaine interjected. "The night before that, he was entirely unconscious. You were more vulnerable then, yet no one attacked you. Who's to say that this isn't another attack on Merlin in direct retaliation for Sarrum's capture?"

"Believe me, I had the same thought. Until I saw this," Arthur answered, pulling out the now smoothed slip of parchment Merlin had found and passing it to his knights for them to examine.

"Finder's keepers?" Leon read aloud, his brow furrowing as he passed the note to Elyan.

"What's this?!" Gwaine asked, leaning over Elyan's shoulder to read the note before pulling it from his fellow knight's hands.

"Someone wants Merlin out of the way, then," Leon concluded.

"That's what we thought," Merlin agreed.

"But Sarrum has been caught; he's confined to his chambers. Why would he want to get Merlin out of the way?" Elyan asked as Gwaine passed the note to Percival.

"I believe that Sarrum has an accomplice," Arthur answered regretfully.

"Vidor, probably, but he's dead," Percival said, though Mithian shook her head.

"He might have hired Sarrum initially, but there's more to this than simply a hatred of magic. As my father said, this is an attempt to ruin these peace talks, and whoever was working with the Amatans in targeting Merlin must have realized the difficulty of their task."

"Exactly," Arthur agreed. "And as you said, Sarrum has been caught. I believe the accomplice has changed their plan from killing Merlin, to getting him out of the way. "

"Meaning their target has changed," Gwen interjected, looking significantly at Arthur.

"What makes you think it's not another of Sarrum's men who's behind Hunith's disappearance?" Gwaine asked, all traces of humor gone. "Perhaps Sarrum had a back-up plan."

"Sarrum and his men are ruthless and they showed that they were willing to kill whoever and whenever. I don't think this is the work of any Amatan. If it were, I believe we would have found Hunith's body, rather than this note encouraging Merlin to search for her."

Merlin grimaced at Arthur's theory. It had been hard enough finding the note; he could not imagine finding his mother dead. Mithian reached out and squeezed his shoulder in support.

"Where do we look first?" Gwaine asked, eager to get started.

"The catacombs?" Elyan suggested. "They probably wouldn't want to take her far, if they are still here, coordinating another attack."

"That's a good place to start," Arthur agreed. "You and Leon will begin there. Gwaine? You and Percival will start with the guards at the gates. Find out if anyone left with a cart or with someone who was concealed. Mordred-"

"Whoever took my mother did it because as you said, they know that killing me would be harder than getting me out of the way," Merlin interrupted. "The guards at the gates are likely to have our next clue. The abductors wouldn't have risked keeping my mother in the castle or town. It's too close- too easy for me to find her and stay near to Arthur. I think they would have taken her to a place far enough away that it will keep me from interfering with their plan and dangerous enough that I wouldn't hesitate to leave Arthur defenseless in Camelot in order to rescue her."

"Where is that?" Guinevere asked anxiously.

"What is the most dangerous, bandit-infested, avoided travel route you can think of?" Merlin asked wryly.

"The Valley of the Fallen Kings," Arthur, Leon, Gwaine and Percival immediately answered.

"Exactly," Merlin replied.

"Very well, then. Leon? You and Elyan will remain here. I still think we should at least give the catacombs a cursory search. Gwaine? You, Percival and Mordred will ask at the gates, then head towards the Valley of the Fallen Kings."

"I'll go with them," Mithian said, causing Merlin's brow to crumple.

"You should stay here," he began, but one raised eyebrow from Mithian silenced him on the subject.

"Hunith is now just as much my mother as yours," she said softly, coaxing a grateful smile from Merlin. "I'll be fine."

"Excellent," Arthur said, looking at each of them in turn. "You have your assignments. Good luck."


A/N: Uh oh, the baddies have really stepped in it now... Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, they really make my day!