Chapter 9 - Camelot
"Sire, we're under attack! They're already inside the city walls," Gwaine called.
"Merlin, take everyone inside," Arthur took off his cloak, "Gwaine, secure the armory. Percival come with me!"
Merlin saw Arthur got stabbed in his side, "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Maybe I broke my rib," Arthur replied before he saw who was leading this war - Morgana. And Agravaine. A little later he was treated by Gaius.
"Where's Nathan?" Arthur asked.
"He's back there," Gaius pointed to the corner where Nathan helped a maid treat an injured knight.
"He has to get out of here,"
"You too, Sire," Gaius nodded to Merlin, who took the willpower of the king with a spell.
"We have to go now, my lord," Merlin said.
"Yes, of course," Arthur agreed and looked like he had a few glasses too much intuition. Percival supported Arthur while Merlin ran ahead with Nathan.
They stole some new clothes for Arthur on the way, which he put on. Maybe they had been a little bit cramped for a well-fed king.
When Arthur showed up, Nathan grinned. He had never imagined the king like this.
"Merlin, what did Gaius give him?" the king did not behave as usual, instead he left Merlin in charge, which is really unusual for the king.
"Oh, just a painkiller," he grinned before walking on and encountering a band of smugglers.
"They were running around in the forest," the woman said, leading Merlin, Nathan and Arthur to a man.
"Is there something to see?" the man asked.
"No," Merlin said and he threw the knife at him. Fortunately, Merlin was able to bend down in time.
"Better stick your nose in things that don't concern you."
"I didn't see anything," said Merlin, "we just happened to come over here."
"They have no horses, no provisions, nothing," she explained.
"You like to have your hands free, huh?" the man said.
"You can put it that way," Merlin said.
"Where do you want to go?"
"North across the border",
"Lot's Kingdom? He is not particularly fond of strangers, I can tell you that," he now came closer to them.
"We already know that," Nathan said, "but why do you want to go there then?"
Only now did the man look down on the 8-year-old, "I have my reasons," he explained.
The gang of smugglers was generous and allowed the three to move with them. Well, the gold that they brought with them was probably crucial.
"Merlin, tell me how long does the painkillers work?" Nathan asked in a whisper.
"I honestly don't know that myself."
The next morning the world looked different again. The spell vanished and Arthur was the same snooty king as before.
"You have to be stupid," Nathan said like he does not care that he is talking with the king.
"Excuse me?"
"Merlin told them you were a dollophead. You should also behave like this, otherwise our camouflage will be exposed," Nathan explained.
Before Arthur could say anything, Tristan came and marveled at Arthur's sword. He quickly realized that the sword could only have come from the royal blacksmith of Camelot.
"I won it at a card game. Since then he has been protecting it like a treasure," Merlin told him.
"I hope for you that this is true. Not that it turns out that I was traveling with a Camelot knight. "
"Yes, Sire," Arthur reluctantly played his role as a dollophead, taking the sword back.
Isolde chuckled, "A Knight of Camelot?"
"You're right. The knights may be stupid, but not that stupid," Tristan grinned.
Even Nathan and Merlin laughed. Only Arthur deformed a fake grin.
"Pack our things, dollophead" ordered Merlin. Arthur grabbed Merlin by the arm, "Say that again and I'll impale you."
"We don't have to play the comedy much longer, don't worry," before Arthur could answer, an arrow flew straight into a smuggler's throat. Arthur reflexively pulled the boy behind him protectively as the next arrow got stuck next to him on the tree.
"We have to get out of here," Arthur ordered. They hid behind the carriage, where Tristan and Isolde were already seeking protection.
"Run to the trees. We'll give you cover," said Arthur, but neither Tristan nor Isolde reacted.
"Do you want to stay alive or not?" Arthur hissed, "And take care of Nathan!", pushed the boy to Tristan and Isolde, who first had to deal with the shock that the idiot was not an idiot. However, Isolde took Nathan's hand and pulled the boy into the forest with and Merlin followed.
"They haven't discovered our load yet," said Isolde optimistically. She still held the little 8-year-old boy close to her.
"They will," Tristan hissed angrily, "Besides, they weren't looking for the load, they were looking for you," and glowered at Arthur and Merlin.
"My name is Arthur Pendragon."
"The King of Camelot", followed by a little argument between Arthur and Tristan about the taxes. At least until Merlin interrupted them and drew attention to the approaching enemies. They immediately pounced on the enemies.
Nathan remained silently pressed against the tree and watched the events. But when branches suddenly cracked behind him, he knew that his place was not safe. Nathan turned around anxiously and recognized one of the knights dressed in black, who raised his sword. The little boy dodged as swiftly as he could. Nevertheless, the knight managed to touch the child's arm and leave a bloody cut. Nathan cried out in pain and caught the attention of the 4 adults before he tripped over a root and fell to the ground.
Tristan was able to take out the last attacker in no time, while Arthur stood there paralyzed. He had forgotten to protect his son.
"Are you all right?" Tristan asked, but Nathan shook his head, saw the bloody wound on his upper arm.
"Let's see," Merlin knelt down to him, "The wound is pretty deep, but it's okay I can handle it" Merlin used fabric remnants to connect the injured area.
"Do you think you can walk?" Arthur finally noticed. So far he was watching everything silently. It may be that he had known Nathan for a while now, but he often felt helpless and overwhelmed by the boy.
Nathan nodded and Isolde helped him to his feet, "We will accompany you," she announced, "You need all the help you can get. What if you are attacked again? Someone has to take care of Nathan and get him to safety. "
"Would you do that?" Arthur wondered.
"Definitely not for you, Arthur, but the child can't do anything about being here with you," said Tristan.
For Arthur, this remark felt like a slap in the face. As if Nathan deserved better. He tried to give Nathan a safe and good childhood. For this very reason, Nathan still doesn't know about his royal origins.
Arthur sighed, ignoring his own injury and jerking his son up in his arms to carry him.
"I'm sorry that you are slowing down because of me now," he said.
"You certainly don't have to be sorry, Nathan," said Arthur.
"He came out of nowhere and I couldn't defend myself without a sword."
"You are a child. One day when you are older you can fight. Until then, I will teach you a lot of tips and tricks."
The next day they reached Ealdor. Merlin's home. And there was also a reunion with Gwen. That same evening, however, Agravaine attacked the village. They fled to a cave and soon reached the Essitir forest.
On the way back to Camelot - to find people and knights and to win back the castle. Not to forget the story with the sword in the stone - Excalibur.
Arthur rammed the sword into the earth. He took a seat next to Nathan. The boy had suddenly fallen silent, watching the preparation for tomorrow's attack on Camelot to take the castle back.
"One day, Nathan, Camelot will be yours," said Arthur.
"My lord, I don't quite understand," Nathan interrupted, irritated.
"Let me finish," said Arthur. It was time to tell Nathan the truth, who knows if he will survive tomorrow, "Many years ago my father made a wrong decision, which I am not proud of. He exiled a friend of mine from Camelot because she got pregnant from me and was inappropriate. If I had known about it, Nathan believe me, I would not have allowed it."
"What do you want to tell me?"
"You are my son and therefore the Prince of Camelot."
I know. It's been a long time… And actually I don't like it myself when the story is paused for so long. But I just didn't know how to write it without completely taking over the episode.