xiii.
Arthur awoke and bolted upright, looking around in an attempt to place his location. He remembered, belatedly, the previous night. He closed his eyes and drooped back against the pillows, pressing a hand to his eyes. Merlin was no where in the room. Maybe he had frightened him off with his emotions. That would be ideal, given that Arthur did not want to admit to himself that he had opened up to Merlin like that. He barely did so with his own wife.
Crap. Gwen. And Lord William. And the other lords that were set to arrive today. He leapt from the bed and rushed to the window, looking out at the sky. It was well past dawn, when he usually woke. He ran out of the room.
Servants scurried out of his way with scared bows as he sprinted past them to his own bed chamber. That was empty as well. He yanked on clothes that had been laid out for him and left to go where he was most likely needed, the throne room.
Sure enough, Guinevere was there, speaking with not only Lord William but Lord Heath and Lord Green as well. They must have arrived that morning.
"Ah!" Gwen said, catching his eye as he approached. "Here is The Majesty. You may relay your concerns to him yourself." She bowed from the conversation. Arthur turned to the others, raising his eyebrows.
"Your Majesty," Lord Heath and Green gave deep bows.
"What were your concerns?" he asked. They exchanged a telling glance. They worried it would offend him. He did not care for such fears. "Tell me straight and true, sirs, or do not tell me at all," he said. The chastising seemed to work.
"Your Majesty, we understand the need for this war, how our very livelihoods depend on it. But it has been a cool summer, and the harvest does not look in our favor. Our farmers are struggling to pay their taxes as is. Raising an army has already proven difficult for me and Lord Heath. Funding it will be an even greater challenge."
Arthur rubbed his chin. He knew of his outer territories' difficulties, but he had heard of no real problems in collecting taxes. When things were truly grim, the people protested, usually violently. The absence of such was no reason not to try and prevent such extremes. If his people started a rebellion in the midst of a war, it would prove catastrophic.
"I see your troubles," Arthur said. "We will discuss them in the strategy meeting before King Nicholas arrives. Does that suit you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, of course." The two barons bowed again. They did not seem eager to continue the conversation.
Arthur looked to William. "How are your farmers doing?"
"They are quite alright, My King," he replied stiffly, side-eying the others. Arthur knew him well enough to know he thought it a pitiful excuse and a terrible entreaty to the king. He was the kind of lord who dealt with such problems on his own.
"All the same," Arthur said, a reassurance to the other two that their problem would be addressed. He left them be to mingle with the council members who were about, before taking his place beside Guinevere on the throne—free of grass and vines—to begin a court session.
It was typical daily news and grievances. The state of the treasury, the armory, the prisons. Difficulties with product regulation and stifled economy with trade slowing due to the fears of magic and war. Arthur paid only as much attention as he was required. Much of his thoughts were on Merlin. As soon as the meeting was adjourned, Arthur made sure Gwen was okay before he left, dismissing any attempts to speak to him with a short wave.
He asked around the palace. No one had seen Merlin since the previous day. That was not particularly unusual, given his abilities, but Arthur was beset with a strange sort of panic regardless. After everything he had told Merlin, was he off to blackmail him, or use his emotions against him? Arthur suppressed the deeper, less sensical concern. Had Merlin gone somewhere and gotten in trouble? He was a fairy, he could get himself out of trouble with a thought. Nonetheless, Arthur could not shake the image of Merlin dead in the forest by a terrible magic hand.
He sent men to check the city streets. He wished to go himself, but even to his own mind it was not a good excuse to abandon his duties at the castle. He had a war to prepare for.
The next meeting was in the more formal council hall, but it was far from a formal affair. Men stood, banged the table, yelled across it at each other and over each other. Multiple times Arthur had to stand and silence the room. Some thought because of Gareth's dishonorable tactics, they needed to employ the same strategies. Others thought that worse than death. Still others wanted to attempt envoys of peace and end the war before it began, even at a loss. They were convinced a war of magic was certain death for every single soldier and knight in their armies.
None of it was resolved. Halfway through the meeting, a messenger burst into the hall, quieting another bout of heated argument as they all turned to look at him.
"Your Majesty," he panted, falling to a knee almost in relief at the chance to rest. "Merlin has found Gwaine's body."
Arthur's chair scraped back against the stone floor as he stood. "What?" he hissed.
"He is at the city gates, Your Majesty. He requests your presence, if you deem it fit."
"We will continue later tonight," Arthur said to the table, not bothering with proper closings. He was out the door before the men could say anything else.
Merlin had been sequestered into the holding cell inside the city gates, which he clearly was not taking kindly to. He refused to remain seated on the wooden bench and paced the floor. He turned on Arthur when he arrived.
"Finally!" he huffed. "What took you so long?" The audible gasp of the attending guard was the only thing that made Merlin add a gruff, "Your Majesty."
"Gwaine?" Arthur demanded, not deigning Merlin's own rude demands with a response. He could not even form a full sentence. He knew where Gwaine had been, so he could not ask where Merlin had found him. He wanted to ask how he had found him, and why. After insisting he would not return to that castle, here he was with proof of such an excursion.
"My King," the guard said, dipping his head low and gesturing to a side door. Arthur strode through it. Gwaine had been laid respectfully onto a table and covered with white linen. Arthur lifted one end to see his friend, well and truly dead, with his head put carefully in place above his severed neck.
He dropped the cloth immediately, trying to control his quickened breath and pounding heart.
"I decided to investigate the forest further," Merlin said from the doorway. "I found him as such and thought it pertinent to return him for proper burial."
Arthur's hands trembled, with anger or sorrow or gratitude he did not know.
"Did you come across any dangers on such a voyage?" Arthur asked delicately.
"No, sir," Merlin replied emphatically. "I came across no persons whatsoever."
Arthur turned his shoulder to look at the fairy. Merlin tilted his head down in a subtle nod. He drew in a shaky breath.
"Guard!" Arthur yelled. He popped into the doorway behind Merlin. "Take care and bring his body to the church to prepare it for proper rites and burial. Have four men help you."
"Of course, Your Majesty." The guard dipped his head again and left.
Arthur stepped closer to Merlin. "Thank you," he said, breathless from more than just his run through the city. Merlin grinned in his usual cavalier way and for once it wasn't infuriating.
"Think nothing of it, Your Majesty." He bowed dramatically. Arthur pulled him up into a hug, where Merlin stiffened. He stood like a board, straight and unsure.
"No, Merlin, truly. Thank you." He released him, since the fairy seemed so unfit to be hugged, and gripped his arms instead. "I shall owe you a favor if you ever wish to take it."
"I am sure I can think of a use," Merlin replied coyly.
"We will talk again soon," Arthur reassured him. "For now, I have… several things I need to do."
"Yes, yes." Merlin flapped his hand at the king. "Go solve the world's problems, or whatever it is your job entails."
Arthur shook his head, still not able to find true annoyance with the fairy, before skirting around him to find the guards and help oversee Gwaine's relocation.