Hello!
I recently found the series on Netflix. I completely forgot how much I actually love this series. And I was really surprised when I realized how old the series is. But always worth seeing. Too bad that it stopped after 5 seasons. I would have loved to see more seasons around Merlin and Arthur. I just love this friendship that connects them so.
And somehow I ran into this idea in my Merlin's Marathon.
I would be very grateful for a short feedback. You are welcome to bring in ideas and suggestions for improvement.
English is a foreign language for me. I therefore apologize for any grammar and spelling errors.
The story takes place after Uther's death, but before the engagement to Gwen.
Bye,
Lelema
Chapter 1 - The Little Troublemaker
A sheer thread with a fish hook attached to it. He slowly let the thread down through the small opening. He is very hungry and the courtyard kitchen is perfect there. There is plenty of food here without stealing from poor citizens.
"Hey what are you doing!" one of the knights of Camelot shouted.
He startled, letting the end of the thread go, which completely disappeared into the stew. He looked at the knight, what should he do now? Staring at him would mean captivity. As quickly as his short legs could carry him, he ran away from the knight. Not long and the bells of the Camelot ring the alarm. He can't be caught. Several times he turned in any direction and threw several vases and other objects until he hid behind a curtain. He feels safe here. The knights ran right past him. They are idiots!
But suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turns his head slowly and almost froze. An older man, black hair, black clothes.
His breathing almost doubles at the sight of the evil man. Maybe he wasn't evil either, but somehow he gave the impression that he wasn't up to anything. And his first assessment of this man turned out to be true.
The guards, one grabbing him on the right, the other on the left, took him to a large hall at the end of which the throne of the King of Camelot stood. Knights and some older people stood by the side and looked at him.
The guards pushed him against the floor. He knelt down and soon the black-clad man emerged.
"Theft and looting are not tolerated here in Camelot," he said, "You have misused the king's wealth. This must be a great lesson for you and everyone else. So you will be executed at dawn."
This time it felt like his heart stopped. Death penalty for stealing food from the royal kitchen?
"Lord Agravaine, this would certainly not be in the King's interest," interjected a woman.
"As long as Arthur isn't here, I'm in charge," Agravaine said.
"He is still a child!" the woman said.
"Age doesn't matter," Agravaine grated, "He stole coins!"
"But they are mine! They were given to me!" the boy shouted indignantly.
"In a bag with a royal seal?" Agravaine questioned suspiciously.
At the same time, an older man with white hair reaching up to his shoulder emerged from the crowd, "I'm sure Arthur wants to be part of the boy's trial."
Agravaine was forced to give up and had the boy locked in the dungeon. He personally put him behind bars.
"Let this be a lesson to you," he hissed and pushed the petite boy against the wall, where a fastening protrudes, where you can tie up the prisoner. He groaned in pain, tears rolled down his cheek. But none of this mattered to the man. Instead, he grabbed his arm and shoved him onto the bare floor.
"Enjoy your last days," he whispered and left the dungeon.
His hand slid to the left side of the abdomen. It hurt so much and blood flowed from the wound. It was cold here in the dungeon, there was no bed, just a little straw. The small lattice window was so high up on the wall that he couldn't see out even there. No daylight - nothing.
Gwen longed for Arthur's day to arrive. She happened to look out of the window when she saw the knights' horses coming. She left the basket full of laundry in the middle of the aisle and hurried down the stairs to the courtyard.
"Arthur," she said, relieved, "Thank God you've been here. A young boy was locked in the dungeon. He urgently needs your help."
"What did the boy do?" Arthur asked curiously. And while Gwen accompanied him to the dungeon, she told him about the incident.
Now they were standing in front of the grille. The boy was right in front of them, face to wall.
Arthur knelt down to him, gently put his hand on his narrow shoulder, "My name is Arthur and yours?"
The young king waited a moment, but when he realized that the boy was not answering, but trembled heavily instead, he touched the child's forehead.
"His forehead is very hot," he murmured, slowly turning him to face him. So he saw the child's face. Blue eyes, blonde hair.
"Don't be afraid," Arthur said to him before turning to Gwen, "We have to take him to Gaius." While Arthur was carrying the boy, Gwen hurried ahead to inform the court physician.
"When I last saw him in the throne room, he had no injury," said Gaius angrily. Arthur lowered the boy on the bench in front of the table so that he could lean against the table with his back.
"This is secondary now," said Arthur, "Can you help him?"
The thought that a child died in the dungeon because he presumably stole food and gold coins from despair should not pay for it with his life. Not under his rule.
"I'm sure he'll be fully recovered," Gaius said, cleaning and bandaging the wound.
"Gwen," said the boy suddenly, stretching out his hand for the woman who first took sides in the throne room. She came to see him a few times, but Agravaine quickly ordered a visit ban.
Gwen couldn't resist, took a seat next to the boy and pulled him into her arms, "It's all good. Nothing will happen to you anymore."
Arthur was still standing silently in the corner. He wanted to give Gaius room to work and now his great love promised a little boy that he would be safe even though he had robbed her and a trial will decide the child's future.
But the sight of his love and her care for this strange boy soften his heart.
"How old are you?" Gwen asked curiously.
"Eight," he said. He reached for his waistband with his hand and pulled out a letter.
"A letter for me?" Gaius marveled and accepted it. His name was in a beautiful font. The old man was almost speechless. He kept looking up and looking back and forth between the boy, the letter, and even Arthur.
"Gaius? What is the letter about?" Merlin asked curiously.
"I would also like to know that," Arthur said, coming out of his corner, stepping across the old man hoping to take a look at the letter. It did not escape the young king that Gaius looked back and forth between him and the boy.
"So your name is Nathan," Gaius smiled and turned his attention to Merlin, "Please bring the boy something to eat and drink," then Gaius looked at Arthur, "I need to speak to you urgently, Sire."
Before they knew it, they were in Merlin's little room. It was a mystery to Arthur why they wanted to talk to each other here and not in his royal and tidy rooms.
"Please read this letter," Gaius ordered.