Hello my dears. I would like to thank MoreOfALoner, Meri Ley (Guest), Gingeraffealene, Guardian of the Inheritance, SherlockHolmes4884, gaylelbf, OechsnerC and mersan123 (Guest) for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, it is set at the beginning of season 2, episode 12 'The Coming of Arthur, Part 1'. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, nor any of the lines I have taken from it.
Arthur and Merlin returned from the hunting trip closer than they had ever been. There was no more secrets between them. Everything was out in the open, and they both knew that it would stay that way. They would not keep the other in the dark again, no matter what it was they had to do to defend their people No matter what was needed to protect Camelot.
They walked their horses through the gate, joking with each other as they always did, only to find another there before them. The sight of the man wearing Cenred's colours caused both to pause before handing over their horses to a stable hand and making their way towards him. Arthur in the fore as his right as prince of the realm.
"What are you doing here?" He asked in his most arrogant of voices.
"I come with a message from my king to yours." The messenger replied with a bow.
"I am Prince Arthur, I will hear you message." Arthur responded.
"Very well." The messenger replied, holding out a bloodied clock bearing the crest of Camelot boldly upon it. "King Cenred told me to inform you that the patrol trespassed on his land. An example had to be made. He has killed them all, and will kill any others who cross the broader." He said repeating the words told him by his king.
"I will inform the king." Arthur replied not sure there was anything else he could say as he took the bloodied garment from the man. He didn't stop to watch he leave and instead turned to Merlin with a look of horror on his face.
"They will be avenged, Arthur." Merlin said when he saw the look on his friends face. He knew there was no way Uther would let this pass. Just as he and Arthur would not.
"Leon was leading them, Merlin." Arthur choked out before pulling himself together. The knowledge that his old friend was dead, it was too much, but he needed to get this news to the king. "Come, lets tell my father."
And with that Merlin followed, determined to do what he could for Arthur, and for the fallen knight who had been one of the few who was always kind to him. Cenred would not get away with this. He would not get away with killing their friend.
Morgana had watched Merlin and Arthur return and she knew her time of reprieve was over. She would have to talk to the man and soon. She needed answers, and the time that had passed had given her the strength to face the man she had loved, the man who had broken her with his betrayal in a way she had not realised she could be broken. The man who had smashed her heart into a thousand pieces and tossed it to the dogs. No, don't think of that. Think of the questions you want to ask him, the answers you seek. There was nothing more between them now. All they had to link them now was Arthur, was protecting their future king. Protecting the one that would give them the freedom she wished for with everything she was. With that in mind she made her way towards the throne room to welcome back the wandering prince, and hopefully have a chance to inform Merlin of her need to speak with him. But as she sat on her throne and heard what Cenred's messenger had said, she knew now was not the time to confront Merlin. Arthur would need him more than she did right then. And so she would wait, and she was not putting off the conversation. She wasn't, no matter what the small voice in the back of her mind told her.
The king spent the next few days closest with his council, trying to decide on what response to give to Cenred's message. Arthur of course was at his side, and as such so was Merlin, serving water and wine as the talks went round in circles and strategies were proposed and dismissed. It was becoming increasingly clear there was very little that could be done to avenge those who had died.
It was late towards the second evening that a servant rushed into the room, interrupting the discussion.
"What is the meaning of this?" Uther demanded as the trembling boy bowed before him.
"Forgive, Sire, but Sir Leon has returned." He muttered though loud enough for all to hear. He hoped his reasoning would be enough to save him from the stocks or worse for interrupting the king's council.
"Send him to me. In the throne room." Uther replied standing and already making his way out of the room. He needed to greet his knight, and find out how it was he had survived when all others were lost. Needed to see with his own eyes that Sir Leon really was back.
"Of course, Sire." The servant answered bowing once more before rushing off to complete his mission.
Arthur had been frozen as he heard the words, but soon found his feet and rushed to follow his father. He needed to see his friend alive. Needed to know he truly was still with them. Merlin was hot on heals as always.
The return of Leon was joyous, until he mentioned that it was the druids that had brought him back. That it was the cup of life that saved him. Listening to Leon's description of how he was alive, Arthur cut his eyes to Merlin, wondering if his friend had any idea of what he was talking about. He saw how his eyes widened when he mentioned a cup, and he remembered well the story of how Merlin had bargained his life for Arthur's many years ago, and how instead the high priestess Nimeuh had paid the price the old region demanded. He hadn't thought to ask Merlin what had happened the cup after that. It seemed he probably should have done considering it looked like it was back now. I mean how many magical cups could there be that would restore someone from the brink of death? He desperately wanted to get his servant on his own so he could ask him all the questions that were currently running through his mind, but knew he couldn't. He had his duty to do. He had to make sure Leon was safe and well, and behave like the dutiful son, before he could corner his friend for answers.
So it was with gritted teeth that he followed Leon back to his quarters and waited with him while Gaius looked him over. Stayed behind when Gaius and his father left, followed by Merlin. Stayed and made sure Leon was comfortable and well, talked to him as he would any knight who had almost died in the serve of his kingdom, and talked him like the friend he was.
In fact it wasn't until after his father had called him and instructed that he go alone to find the cup that he had a chance to talk to Merlin.
"My father wants us to go after the cup." He said without preamble when he entered his chambers closed the door behind him. He knew his father had told him to tell no one, but he could not keep this secret from Merlin. Not when he was sure that the other man knew more about it than either he or his father did.
"It would be safer with the druids." Merlin replied quietly so that only Arthur would hear. He knew they would protect it from Cenred. Though even as he thought that the words Gaius had said to him about how it had once been used as a weapon echoed in his head, and he couldn't help but wonder if the druids would be able to keep it out of the other king's hands.
"I know, but I have to follow his orders. He is still the king." Arthur responded with a sigh before pulling a map onto the table in front of him so he could try and figure out where it was they needed to go.
"Wouldn't that mean you should kill me then?" Merlin asked in his usual cheekily tone as he made his way towards the wardrobe already thinking about what he would need to pack for the two of them.
"Don't be stupid, Merlin. He hasn't ordered your death, though I might if you don't start packing." Arthur responded with his normal put-upon tone, though there was a smile dancing round his lips at how obviously Merlin trusted him to joke about such a thing. That trust, it meant more to him than anything, he was glad that the hunting trip had done its job in solidifying it for the both of them.
"Fine. So who is going with us?" Merlin asked as he pulled out Arthur's cloak, crest emblazoned on its back.
"No one. And nothing bearing the crest of Camelot. We're going undercover." Arthur responded resolutely.
"Oh well that does sound like fun, and not like we'll get killed at all." Merlin replied with a roll of his eyes. Nothing good ever came from them going on undercover quests alone. Though in truth nothing came of going on quests full stop. They really should stop them in his mind.
"You and I both know we can protect ourselves, Merlin. Or were you exaggerating you tales?" Arthur asked with a smirk and a raise of his eyebrows, knowing that there was nothing Merlin could say to that. Not that he expected the other man to stay quiet, which was a good thing considering he didn't.
"Dollop-head. Just because I can protect you royal pratness, doesn't mean I always have the opportunity to do so." Merlin stated folding his arms even while he had one of Arthur's shirts in his hand, getting tangled up in it as he did so.
"Worked well enough so far, hasn't it?" Arthur asked back, though he did wonder how as he watched Merlin trying to remove his arms from the shirt they were now wrapped up in. Was he really the most powerful sorcerer ever to be born? He really couldn't see it right then.
"Of course. It will work right up until the day it doesn't. It would help if you stopped going into dangerous situations alone." Merlin replied finally succeeding in untangling himself so he could glare at the prince.
"Come on, Merlin. We both know that's never going to happen, plus I won't be alone. You'll be with me." Arthur reasoned with a smug smile. After all he hadn't actually been anywhere alone since Merlin became his servant, had he? Even when he thought he had.
"Fantastic." Merlin muttered sarcastically before turning back to sorting out clothes.
"Shut up and pack, Merlin. We need to leave with day break." And with that Arthur turned to look at the map, wondering where he was going to find the druids, thought he was hoping that the warlock at his side might help him with that one. But that wasn't a question he felt able to ask inside of Camelot. He didn't want anyone getting wind of who Merlin really was, and what it was he could really do.