Hi everyone. Someone comment on this story about how they wished that certain facts came into light the last chapter. I went back over the story and realized that this would be a great place for this to happen. I deleted chapter 23 and placed the new events under this chapter. I hope you enjoy the changes and I always like getting feedback.
Something is wrong but I have no idea what. Everything looks normal. People are going about their everyday lives. There is a cat chasing a mouse by the stables and a baby crying out in the distance. Nothing unusual but this feeling won't cease. It started about thirty minutes ago and has only grown.
I was trying to work on the ever-growing mountain of paperwork when I felt like I ate a squad of living butterflies. That squad has now turned into an army of butterflies.
My instincts are normally very reliable but I've never felt anything like this before. As I walk by the armory the feeling increases.
What could be going on in there? At this time of the day it is mostly empty. Even Merlin should have left by now. Unless…
I almost run to the armory door and throw it open. At first glance it looks like Merlin fell asleep polishing my armor but is that blood on the floor? Not just dried flakes but a small puddle by the table. Giving up on dignity I run over to the sleeping or unconscious servant.
His pulse is slightly elevated but strong. He looks awful. I've seen soldiers come back from fighting bandits with odds 1 to 3 looking better.
His clothes are covered in blood and there is blood flowing from his head. His arms are also covered in bruises.
I've felt anger before. Several times in fact but I've never wanted to slowly beat someone until I felt their ribs break. I wish Gaius was here but he won't return from his trip until the day after tomorrow. I rip the sleeve of my shirt off and place it on the wound. I then run over to the door but slowly open the armory door. Good, there's no one there. This will make things easier in the long run. I head back to Merlin and as carefully as I can pick up the unconscious boy. I make sure to hold the material in place. He is horribly light. He needs to eat more. After this, I'm going to force-feed him if I have to.
I quickly move to the servants' entrance and start to jog up the stairs. Once Merlin is awake and fine I'm going to demand a duel against the idiot who hurt Merlin. No he doesn't' get the title of idiot. That title is too good for him. Whoever it is, is a snake. A vicious snake whose head needs to be chopped off. I can claim that by punishing my servant he insulted and belittled my authority since I should be the only one, besides the king, that can punish my manservant. That is the only way my father will allow a duel. Just because my pride is hurt not because someone used another person as a literal training dummy. This is taking longer than I thought it would.
I've never noticed how many stairs it takes to get to my room from the armory. I've done worse but I'm starting to breathe a little heavy by the time I see the exit that leads to the wing of the castle, where my chamber is located.
I slowly push on the door. Unfortunately the hallway is not unoccupied. Gabe (?) is leaving one of the chambers that will be used in a few weeks. Maybe it's not so unfortunate. I slowly sit Merlin down and lean him against the wall. I quickly but quietly exit the servant's passage.
"Ahem" I clear my throat loudly to get whatever his name is attention.
"Sire" he bows perfectly and doesn't seem surprised by my sudden appearance. "How may I help you?"
"My other servant is busy. Please arrange a bath and my dinner. Also add some broth to that meal as well. A pain reliever and salve is also needed. "
"Yes, Sire. He bows again and starts towards the servants' passage.
"Take the main passage. It will be quicker." There shouldn't be anyone around. My chamber is one of the nearest to the kitchens and no noble should see him on his way.
"As you wish." He must be great at betting. His face is always so blank.
Once he has disappeared around the corner, I run back to Merlin. This would be so much easier if Gaius was here. If I recall correctly Ambrose seems to have a short temper when it comes to his servants. The castle servants are already busy with their duties and getting ready for next month's celebration. That leaves me. I'm also oddly reluctant to leave him in someone else's care. What if his magic acts up or something? If my father found out about me trying to take care of a servant he would go into a furious rampage.
Once I'm in my chamber I lay Merlin on my bed and head over to the chair at my desk. I place the chair behind the screen and go to pick up Merlin once again. I place him on the chair and against the wall. I grab the first clean material that I get my hands on which is one of my older shirts. I quickly tie it around the cut on Merlin's head. Once the bath is filled I can start to clean the wounds.
Thunk, Thunk
That was quick. I walk over to my bed and sit down. "Come in." six servants enter my room. The first five are carrying large buckets of hot water and the last is carrying the desired food and the supplies from Gaius's rooms. The five buckets go into the wooden tub without a dropped being spilled and the tray is placed on my table. "You may go." More bowing and once the door is shut and I'm once more carrying my servant around.
"Only you Merlin could get into this much trouble. I hope you appreciate this."
I should probably strip him off to his undergarments and clean him off before I try applying the sab cream. I've never done this before but there is a first time for everything. I'll start by removing his shoes. "The things I do for my secret sorcerer."
I don't know why but I feel odd undressing Merlin. I've seen men naked before while swimming or changing clothing while in the forest. I've also seen knights with horrible burns, sword wounds, and other painful injuries. This should not be making me feel nervous.
Ignoring the feeling I peel off the patched socks. Hum, maybe I should wait on the pants and start with the shirt first. It's caked with blood from the head wound.
Merlin's shirt is worn but not as worn as his socks. Unlike his socks I'll have a hard time removing his shirt without aggravating his injuries. Heading over to my desk I grab a small knife that my father gave me for my fifteenth birthday. L
"Sorry Merlin, I'll pay for the shirt." I whisper. I doubt he can hear me. The material is easily cut by the sharp blade. What on earth? Merlin's chest area is already wrapped up. Was he hurt before this. I lean over to look closer expecting to find some type of injury but that's not the issue. Merlin has well… well he has parts that are more developed than they should be.
Jumping pack I turn my eye to Merlin's face. Merlin's face has always been thin and more on the delicate side. My eyes helplessly turn back to Merlin's chest area. Realizing my theory is really correct I quickly place the blanket over Merlin for modesty.
My manservant, best friend and secret sorcery is a woman. I have so many questions. Why is she pretending to be a boy? Does Morgana and Sir Ambrose know? They would have to know wouldn't they? She's been with them since she was born. On Merlin's first visit she told me she and her mother had always worked for the Amborses until her mother left for some reason. How could they not know?
Merlin mutters something and her eyes flick open. "What happened?"
She starts coughing loudly. I grab the glass of water and help her drink down the cold liquid hoping it will help with the coughts. Once the cough stops Merlin opens her mouth as if to speak again. I place my finger against her mouth. A mouth which is very full. How have I never noticed that before? Better question: why am I noticing now?
"Don't talk, your throat is bruised."
Merlin doesn't listen and speaks anyway.
"What happened?"
"That's a question I would love answered but I have another one I would like answered first. I keep my voice calm as possible. The idea that someone had hurt Merlin before had angered me into a fury but knowing that he is now as she makes it even worse. Not that Merlin isn't still Merlin but If the other person had found out she was a girl while being my manservant and all alone….. Nope not going there.
"What question?" Merlin looks very confused.
"Well, it's more like an answer to a fact. You're a girl." Merlin blue eyes get huge and she's imitating a fish.
" I found you bleeding in the armory. I was trying to take your shirt off to clean the wounds…"
Merlin is now blushing and I can't really blame her while my own face is trying to heat up.
"I'm sorry." Merlin looks exhausted and as if she thinks I'm going to throw her in the dungeons for deceiving me.
"I'm already committing treason for you idiot. I think I can handle this secret."
"Treason?" Merlin eyes somehow get even bigger. "You know that…"
"That you're the same idiot that came to Camelot years ago and did magic in an abandoned room to get caught by the kindest and most wonderful prince ever." I raise my eyebrow wondering how she'll respond.
"More like the biggest prattish toad ever." Merlin's voice is heavily full of sarcasm but she is smiling largely.
"Merlin, shut up." Looking at each other we realize how odd this situation really is and we both smile.
" But seriously don't you remember what happened?
Merlin looks like she's trying to remember. She has a very readable face. It's clear when she recalls something.
"I know you recall something. Your face gives you away." I inform her in case she wants to pretend not to remember.
"I fell down some stairs."
" You fell? I suppose the steps somehow left handprints on your skin?." I point to her right arm where a very nasty and very obvious human handprint is standing out even among the bruises." Not going to talk your way out of this one Merlin.
I once again met Merlin's gaze. Has her eyes always been that blue? It's like looking into a storm? I wonder what her eyes look like when they're golden? I don't recall them every well. Brain focus, now is not the time to be thinking about Merlin's eye color of all things.
"Merlin, trust me.""Merlin, tell me why I had to find my servant bleeding out in the armory? Why did I have to carry an unconscious servant to my room since the court physician is gone and why is someone that's…..under my protection been harmed?"
"You won't like the answer." Merlin bluntly states.
" I already know it was a nobleman. It wasn't hard to figure that part out." I sit back down in the chair that is next to the bed.
"I thought I heard a noise coming from across the armory. When I walked over there Valiant entered. He thought I was messing with his shield."
The furious feeling is fully back but I try to remain calm.
"Thank you for telling me, Merlin."
"So will you leave so I can get cleaned up?"
"Very well then."
I get up and open the door and look both ways before quietly whispering " Use your magic as much as you can, idiot." and closes the door.