Pounding echoed through the castle, as diggers worked day and night to uncover treasures supposedly buried beneath Camelot. Arthur had moved Merlin to his antechamber, stating that it was for his own good but it was really because Genevieve had moved Isabel into her own chamber and Arthur refused to be outdone by his sister.
Merlin laid on the antechamber floor, lost in thought about the events of the past few weeks. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that the daughter of Uther was a witch! And now, Arthur knew about his and Isabel's magic! This went against everything the Great Dragon had told them. But, why would the Great Dragon lie to them?
"Merlin!" He heard Arthur bellow in a great imitation of Uther. He went to open the door of the Prince's bedchamber, only to run into the young man.
"Yes, sire?" He asked tiredly.
"Are you deaf?" Arthur cruelly asked of the sleep deprived boy.
"I wish," Merlin replied sullenly.
"I want you to go down and tell them to stop!"
"But they're working under the King's orders," Merlin weakly protested, knowing full well that it wouldn't matter to the Prince.
"Yes, and you're working under mine!" Arthur wished that the diggers would stop working at night so the castle could sleep. He watched as Merlin left his chambers and decided to go see if Gwaine or his sister was awake.
Gwaine had been given his own set of chambers, as far from Genevieve's chambers as was proper for a noble. Arthur was already planning Gwaine's knighting ceremony, and Uther had begrudgingly planned a tournament in honor of Gwaine and Genevieve's engagement. The tournament was going to be happening in a month's time, giving the rulers of the various kingdoms enough time to travel to Camelot to attend the tournament and the wedding.
As Arthur was making his way to his sister's rooms, figuring that if she was awake, then Gwaine would be in there, Merlin was making his way to the tunnels underneath the castle. He was muttering to himself the entire time, talking about what a prat the prince was being. He quickly made his way through the now silent and abandoned tunnels, not even noticing that he was alone. He followed the excavated tunnels until he found a small chamber off to the side of the tunnel. He looked inside and found one of the diggers sitting in the chamber, slumped against what looked like a coffin, a very ornate coffin. "Hello?" He cautiously asked as he moved towards the worker, hand outstretched. He nudged to man, concerned that he hadn't received a reaction, hoping that he was just asleep. That hope was dashed when, as he gently touched the man, it was revealed that he was dead.
Merlin ran, escaping from the tomb and the death there. He didn't stop running until he reached Arthur's now empty rooms. He frantically knocked at the door, and continued knocking for several minutes until it became obvious to his frazzled mind that the Prince wasn't in his rooms.
Merlin, calm down. What's wrong? He heard Genevieve's voice ask him.
I can't find Arthur! He replied in anything but a calm manner.
He's here with me and Gwaine. Now, Merlin, tell me what is wrong? Genevieve, who had previously been laughing with her fiancee and brother, had heard Merlin's distress as he unconsciously projected his thoughts. Instead of waking Isabel to go find Merlin, she decided to check on the younger man herself. Instead of a clear picture, all Merlin could mentally mutter was something about a dead body. Go get Gauis, Genevieve calmly informed the panicking man. I will wake up Isabel, who will meet you there, and send Arthur to get the King. When Merlin had given a somewhat calmer response, Genevieve went into action. She went over and gently, but urgently, woke the heavily sleeping girl. She quietly told the girl to head to Gaius's chambers as quickly as possible, that Merlin would be waiting for her. As the girl ran out of the room, with Arthur's concerned eyes following her, Genevieve turned to the two most important men in her life. "Arthur," she began with a practiced calm, "there seems to have been an accident down in the tunnels." Arthur immediately grew concerned, thinking the worst had happened to Merlin. Genevieve, knowing where her brother's thoughts had turned to, continued on. "Merlin discovered the dead body of one of the workers, from what I could gather from his scattered thoughts." Arthur still looked concerned, but less so. "I sent him and Isabel to go get Gaius, and you need to go get Uther, quickly." Arthur, realizing that his sister was more shaken than she let on, quickly gave her a hug before running off to go get their father. Before he had left her chambers, she called out to him. "Arthur! We'll wait for you in your rooms. Just tell us everything that happens, please." He nodded his head, and continued out the door to his father's chambers.
Gwaine could see how shaken Genevieve was, and quickly enveloped her in a hug, much like Isabel was doing to her brother. Merlin was explaining, shakily, to Gaius what he had seen down in the tunnels. Arthur, meanwhile, was explaining the brief story that Genevieve had given him, but leaving out Genevieve's name, instead opting to say that Merlin had told him. Uther, however, didn't hear anything about the dead body. He had stopped listening to his son after he heard that a tomb had been discovered.
Gaius had made his way down to the tomb, with Isabel and a much calmer Merlin following close behind. Gaius had given him a weak calming draught to help settle his nerves. The trio finally made their way to the tomb, where Merlin and Gaius immediately entered and began examining the treasure filled room. Isabel stayed at the entrance, dread filling her. It had started out small, but kept increasing the closer they got to the tomb, until it became overwhelming. She felt physically sick and just wanted to run away, preferably screaming.
"How do you think he died?" Merlin asked as Gaius examined the body. "Gaius?" He asked his uncle, having quickly realized that the man had been lost in thought and didn't hear him.
"Hmm?" Gaius turned his attention to his nephew. He saw that Isabel still hadn't entered into the tomb. He filed away the observation to be dealt with later, at a better time.
"Do you know whose tomb it is?" Merlin asked, changing his original question.
"Not sure," Gaius admitted.
"Do you think it might be cursed?" Isabel asked, shifting restlessly from where she was standing at the entrance of the tomb. It was taking all her strength to not throw up, or run screaming, or just sit and rock back and forth. Gaius, seeing his niece's obvious distress, moved to comfort her, stepping on a stone in the floor, which immediately depressed, setting off a trap. One of the decorative stone birds within in the tomb shot an arrow where he was standing. Merlin moved a plate, magically, to block the arrow, while Isabel yanked her uncle back, still not entering the tomb. She could feel her magic being rejected by whoever's tomb it was, but it only caused her to pull harder. Their combined efforts saved Gaius from what would be a certain death otherwise.
"You saved my life," he told the twins while looking at them in almost awe as he quickly moved back to his feet, brushing the dust off his robes. "Thank you."
Uther's thundering footsteps could be heard coming down the tunnel. Isabel moved out of the way as Merlin dropped the plate that had still been suspended in the air. The dropped plate rolled toward the King's feet as he entered into the tomb, talking to his son. "...guard at all times." He looked at the plate at his feet, noting that it seemed to be solid gold, before looking over to Merlin and calling him an idiot.
"Were you born clumsy, or do you work at it?" Arthur hissed at his manservant, without truly looking at him. Arthur had noticed that Isabel refused to enter into the tomb, and it truly worried him.
"It's just one of my many gifts," Merlin cheerfully answered him, following his gaze. The draught that Gaius had given him was working wonders on his mental state. While they had been watching Isabel, Uther had been examining the tomb, and he liked what was there. "Well, this is quite a find. You see, Gaius, I was right. There is treasure to be found under Camelot. Which of my predecessors do I have to thank for all this?" He questioned the physician, enjoying the amount of wealth presented in the tomb. If he played his cards right, he could use some of this wealth as a dowry to marry Genevieve off to someone better suited for her. The only reason he had agreed to a tournament for her engagement to that troublesome Gwaine was in the hopes that she would meet someone better and forget all about the scruffy wanna be noble that was currently staying in Camelot.
Uther noticed that Gaius, who was examining the sarcophagus, hadn't been paying attention. "Gaius?" He not so gently reminded the man that he was there.
"Uh, I'd have to look into it, Sire," Gaius uncertainly told his ruler.
"How did he die?" Uther asked, finally remembering that one of the men he had sent down here to work had died.
"He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here," Gaius informed the King.
"To deter grave robber," Arthur determined, his focus still on the now shaking girl standing in the tunnel. He had never seen Isabel, quiet but strong Isabel, act this way before. It was unnerving. Isabel was currently fighting her every instinct to run away and remain where she was now firmly planted.
"Well," Uther began, oblivious to where his son was looking. "There's plenty in here people would want to steal. Have them secure the tomb," he continued as he turned to face his son. Merlin nudged Arthur as Uther turned around, giving him enough warning about Uther's actions that Arthur was able to tear his gaze away from Isabel and instead focus on his father, saving Isabel from the wrath of Uther. "Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur," he told his pride and joy as he swept out of the room, almost knocking over Isabel in the process.
"Yes, Father," Arthur replied as he followed Uther out of the tomb, steadying Isabel in the process.
Everyone left the tomb, and the tunnels, to return to their respective rooms.
Arthur walked into his room, happy to see that Gwaine and Genevieve were there and still awake. As he opened his mouth to share about what had occurred, a gentle but insistent knock come from his door. He went to open it, and found Morgana there, who quickly swept into the room, moving to perch gracefully on Arthur's bed. Arthur merely raised an eyebrow before shaking his head, and began to inform the group about what had happened.
"The poor girl was frightened. She couldn't stop shaking," he finished. He had told them general details about what had occurred, but had unconsciously focused majority of his story on Isabel.
"And you said she refused to even enter the tomb?" Genevieve asked, gently shaking off Gwaine's arm as she moved near her brother.
"That's right," he said, curious as to what could be going through his sister's mind.
"I've found that Isabel is more sensitive to residual magic," Genevieve informed the room casually, as if she were informing them of what was for dinner. Everyone looked at her, as if she grew a second head, but she didn't notice. "If Isabel didn't want to enter the room, if she was shaking so bad that it was visible, it could be indicative of a powerful wizard or sorcerer. I suggest we all be extremely careful until the identity can be determined. And, we all work as hard as possible to keep her away from the tomb and everything having to do with it." It was then that she noticed the numerous looks coming from all around the room.
"And how do you know this?" Arthur gently asked his sister. Genevieve stumbled over her words, not quite sure how to explain how she knew that about Isabel. Gwaine signaled to Arthur not to push the subject matter at this time. He was somewhat used to such proclamations from Genevieve, and found it best to just go with whatever she had said.
"Either way," Morgana spoke up, "it sounds as if it would be better for the poor girl to avoid anything to do with the tomb. Genevieve, would you mind if I borrowed her for the time being?" Genevieve nodded her agreement, plans already forming in her mind on investigating the tomb and discovering who had left the residual magic that so greatly disturbed.
While this group was discussing the tomb, another trio was discussing it as well. Gaius, along with his calmed nephew and very shaken niece. Gaius was running through a simple check on her, making sure that she was alright. "And you said that the tomb repelled your magic?" Gaius asked her.
"Well… it tried to. I pushed against it, and, even though I was able to pull you back, Gaius, it was like something was fighting me. Didn't you feel it, Merlin?" Both turned to look at the spaced out young man, who quickly shook his head. Merlin hadn't felt any sort of magic within the tomb, with the exception of when both he and Isabel had used their magic.
Everyone in the castle thought about what had occurred that night, for different reasons. Arthur, Gwaine, Morgana, and Genevieve worried about the tomb and its unknown danger, while Gaius worried about the tomb in general. Merlin was worried about his sister, and Isabel was worried about the obvious danger, in her mind, that the tomb presented. Uther's mind swirled around treasure, much like another mind did down in the tavern, as the loose lips of one of the workers drunkenly spoke of the treasure laden tomb, and the security measures already in place. Everyone fell into a peaceful sleep, minds made up on what they would be doing in the morning.
Morning came quickly for the residents of Camelot. Isabel and Merlin woke up early that morning, setting out to do their chores and avoid anything even remotely having to do with the tomb. Gaius sat down that morning, books in hand and loading down the table, as he researched whose tomb had been discovered.
Arthur, upon waking up, decided that a hunt was in order, and when Merlin delivered his breakfast, ordered Merlin to go prepare for said hunt. Merlin immediately went to Gwaine, not wanting to deal with a hunt without the man there to temper Arthur.
Isabel had been summoned by Genevieve to Morgana's chambers. When she arrived, she was surprised to see that Genevieve wasn't there. "Milady?" She asked cautiously as she fully entered into the room. Morgana quickly waved at her to shut the door.
"Please, Isabel, no need to be so formal. It's Morgana to my friends, and I do hope that we are friends by now," Morgana said in her regal, yet charming, way. "Now, Genevieve and I were talking, and we thought it might be beneficial for you to assist me for a few days," Morgana gently told the young with who was still standing in front of her.
"Am I in trouble?" Isabel timidly asked.
Morgana let out a gentle laugh. "No, Isabel, no!"
"Then why am I supposed to assist you?" Isabel finally let go of the fear that kept her words in line. "If I have done nothing wrong, why would you and Genevieve talk about having me work for you?"
"Arthur told us about what happened in the tomb," Morgana blurted out. Isabel stopped her rant and stared at the lady.
"What do you mean?" She asked, containing her worry for the moment.
"About how you wouldn't even enter into the tomb, about how scared you looked, how you couldn't stop shaking," Morgana explained.
"And how does that have anything to do with me serving you for a few days?" The girl huffed.
"Genevieve might have mentioned how you are more sensitive to residual magic, and we agreed that it might be better for you if you didn't have to deal with that, and since Genevieve plans on investigating the tomb more, she didn't want you to have to worry about anything," Morgana rambled on. "And besides, I need help planning the wedding, because Genevieve and Gwaine absolutely refuse to do any planning, and Uther just wants to pretend that the wedding isn't going to happen." Morgana and Genevieve had excellent intentions, Isabel could see that. What she didn't like is the thought that she had to be protected. She was a witch, a decently powerful one! She didn't need to be protected, she could protect herself. Then, she thought back to last night, when she was at the tomb, how it was almost impossible to breathe and how she couldn't move, all without entering into the tomb. And, while she didn't know the princess very well, what she did know of her suggested that Genevieve was genuinely concerned, not just being a prat like Prince Arthur typically was. So, Isabel agreed to stay and help Morgana, and Gwen when she arrived, plan the wedding, while Merlin struggled with a horse.
Merlin had been running around all morning, gathering nobles, knights and servants to go on a hunt. He hadn't been able to find Gwaine, much to the young man's dismay, nor was the Princess around. He figured that they had probably snuck off for some alone time, away from the prying eyes of Uther.
Merlin had gathered enough people for the hunt, and was making his way to the courtyard. He had just exited the castle doors when a call of "Hurry up, Merlin!" Reached his ears. Arthur was impatiently waiting beside his horse for Merlin, fully prepared to take advantage of the young man.
Merlin got on his hand and knees, preparing to help the Prince onto his horse when a clatter of hooves reached both of their ears. Arthur looked behind him and Merlin looked up, grateful to see Genevieve and Gwaine there. "Merlin, get up," Genevieve told the young man while glaring at Arthur. "Really, Arthur, I expected more of you," she calmly said as she dismounted from her mare. Gwaine remained where he was, leaning forward in the saddle as he watched what was occurring.
"I have no idea what you mean, Sister," Arthur replied formally.
"Well," Genevieve began, a twinkle in her eye that gave a warning to Arthur that he made a mistake. "I expected that a great prince, such as yourself, should be able to get onto a horse as well, if not better, than his sister, a lowly princess." Gwaine let out a bark of a laugh as he looked at the confounded face of the Prince. Genevieve didn't even wait for her brother to respond. She simply moved back to her mare and mounted gracefully, fully challenging Arthur to prove her wrong.
Arthur, seeing the challenge for what it was, quickly went to mount his own horse. He swiftly mounted, and turned the horse to where he could face his sister. As he had finished the rotation, his saddle slid from where it had been secured and he slid off the back of the steed and into the courtyard. "Merlin!" He angrily screamed over the combined laughs of Genevieve and Gwaine.
"I don't understand!" Merlin stated, confused as to how the girth could have loosened. He had secured it, and made sure that it was secure.
"Well, there's a surprise." Arthur's sarcasm cut deep this time. It wasn't the playful sarcasm that had become the usual since the return of Genevieve, it was the harmful one of before.
"I did that girth up myself," Merlin defended over the growing laughter of the couple. He knew they weren't laughing at him, but at the Prince.
"Well, I think that might have been the problem!" Arthur was enraged now. He did not like being laughed at, especially when it wasn't his fault that something had occurred.
"It wasn't my fault!" Merlin continued to protest. Another man walked up at this point, causing Genevieve to stop laughing and observe then man. There was something off about him, something she didn't like. The three men around her noticed her sudden silence and looked at the strange man.
"Would you like me to fit the girth properly for you, Sire?" He asked, his practiced simper obvious to the couple still mounted, but not to the Prince, who was still angry that he had been laughed at.
"Thank you," he told the stranger, grateful to have someone who wasn't laughing at him.
"It's an honuor to be of service to the Prince," he replied with a small bow as he finished redoing the girth.
"The honour," Arthur whispered to his sister, servant, and soon to be brother. All three responded with eye rolls at the Prince.
"Anything else I can do for you, sir?" He asked.
"Well, you can give Merlin here a kick up the backside," Arthur responded with seriously. Genevieve turned her glare from the man to her brother, her eyes glowing gold briefly as she used her magic to give her brother a pinch, thus causing the Prince to wince and attempt to cover up his wince with a chuckle.
"I wouldn't wish to deprive you of the pleasure, sir."
"Ha!" Arthur laughed, glad to feel like he had someone on his side. "What's your name?"
"Cedric. I've come to Camelot in search of work."
"Good. You can be a beater on the hunt. We're short of a man or two," Arthur told the charming man.
"Especially because Gwaine and I have decided to join you on the hunt, Arthur," Genevieve announced. Merlin shot her a thankful look. Keep an eye of him, Merlin. There's something off about him She instructed the servant. Merlin nodded his head, acknowledging the advice.
Merlin picked up one of the beater bats, and not so gently passed it Cedric. "Here. You'll need a beater," he told the man, hitting him in the gut. "Oh, sorry," he insincerely told the man.
The party made their way to the forest, excitement causing their horses to prance. Genevieve and Gwaine stayed towards the back of the group, acting like the couple in love, but were focusing on Cedric. Arthur had pulled Merlin to the front of the group, berating him for the incident earlier. They arrived in a clearing where they tied up the horses and continued on foot.
Everyone's attention was quickly drawn to an overgrown bush as it rustled with the sound of a rather large animal. The smaller group if beaters slowly approached the bush, bats at the ready. Before they could get to close, a huge boar stormed out of the bush, surprising everyone at it's size and ferocity. Gwaine immediately went on the defensive, falling into the protector roll that he possessed for years with Genevieve. Genevieve, however, was more concerned about her brother. Unbeknownst to Gwaine, Genevieve had been prepared and had created a protection charm for both herself, and Gwaine. She had intended to create one for Arthur, but didn't have it ready for today. The again, she also didn't expect to need it today, or anytime soon, especially with Merlin being around.
During the chaos that ensued, Merlin dropped his bat, turning his focus to Arthur and protecting the Prince. He saw that Arthur was tossed from his horse, but was able to get up quickly. However, while Arthur was distracted, the boar began to charge towards him. Merlin hastened to use his magic to propel a discarded spear into the giant boar, killing it instantly. Arthur turned around, surprised to see the best dead, with a spear sticking out of it.
"Who threw that?" He questioned, looking at the group gathered around him. Everyone cast glances around, unsure of who could have thrown the spear. Genevieve, however, kept her eyes to Merlin, who merely shrugged at her knowing look.
After a short amount of time had passed, a small "ahem" was heard. Every head turned towards the origin of the voice, and Genevieve was unsurprised to see that Cedric was taking the credit for the kill.
"Was it you?" Arthur asked incredulously. Cedric gave a small nod. " You just saved my life," the Prince stated, a small sense of humbleness evident in his voice.
"Honestly, Sire, it was nothing," came the mock protest of Cedric's. Genevieve could feel herself glaring at the man, her distrust evident on her face.
"I shall be forever indebted to you. You must be rewarded!" Arthur declared to the hunting party.
"No, I couldn't possibly," Cedric again weakly protested.
"Come on. What do you wish for?"
"I desire only one thing, Sire," the man simpered. Genevieve could tell that he was manipulating her brother but made no moves to stop it. If Arthur wanted to be an idiot, then so be it.
"Anything," Arthur promised, not fully thinking through what he was saying.
"A position in the royal household," Cedric declared with more confidence than he had shown before.
"Good! Consider it done," Arthur looked around the small hunting party before giving out a laugh. He noticed his sister's glare, but decided to ignore it. Just because she has magic doesn't mean she is all knowing.
Cedric turned to Merlin, a sly grin on his face. "You can have that back," he declared before shoving the bat into Merlin's scrawny body, which just served to anger both Gwaine and Genevieve. Merlin gave out a grunt of pain at the harsh treatment. Cedric apologize insincerely.
The hunting party returned to Camelot, where Genevieve immediately stormed away to her room, ignoring her brother and his newfound servant. Arthur looked at his sister's retreating form before turning to Gwaine, who had remained by his side for the time being. "Where is she off to then?"
"Probably her room to get away from Cedric, and you, Arthur," Gwaine informed the prince before following his fiancée up the stairs and to her chambers, prepared for a rant. However, Arthur followed closely behind him, still trying to figure why Genevieve would have a problem with Cedric, who seemed perfectly normal and alright.
As they approached the door to Genevieve's chamber, they heard a loud crash, followed by angry muttering. Both rushed in, assuming that she was under attack. Instead, they found the room ransacked and Genevieve red in the face, a murderous glint in her eye. "Gen," Gwaine said calmly as he approached with his hands raised as if he were addressing a wild animal, "what's wrong?"
"My idiot brother!" She yelled, seemingly unaware that said idiot brother was behind Gwaine. "How could he just hire that no good, conniving, little weasel?! How blind is Arthur? Cedric is just using him!" She ranted, stalking through the room, magically repairing it as she passed through it. Gwaine motioned behind his back for Arthur to run away, and quickly. Arthur wisely decided to leave rather than stay behind and deal with his sister's wrath. Gwaine stayed with her through her rant, helping her calm down.
Elsewhere in the castle, Arthur was escaping from his sister's wrath. The only person he knew that could rival his sister's wrath was his father's, which was a scary thought. He was now wondering the halls of the castle, thinking about what his sister had been yelling about. Arthur did not see himself as an idiot, and really disliked when his sister called him one. He was lost in thought and wasn't paying attention to where he was going until he ran into someone and sent them crashing to the floor. He was violently thrown from his train of thought and began to focus on the person he had so rudely run into. Much to his surprise, it was Isabel. Arthur immediately began to help the girl stand up, feeling guilty that he had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even heard the poor girl. "Are you alright?" He asked, his hand wrapped around hers. She gave a small nod, not wanting to speak. Isabel, despite her better judgement, had decided to go and investigate the tomb some more, and it had left her shaken all day. She too had been lost in thought and hadn't seen Arthur.
Arthur could feel her hand shaking and immediately grew concerned. "Isabel, what's wrong?" He inquired. Instead of answering, the maidservant began crying uncontrollably. Unthinkingly, Arthur wrapped the weeping girl in his arms and began to comfort her. When her crying had subsided enough, Arthur began to escort her back to Gaius's chambers.