Arthur just gave a tired nod.
Sir Leon was probably the only person in the whole kingdom he felt he could be open with on some level all his life. With the training and expectations, there was a certain similarity between them. Well, there was Gaius too if he needed a talk, and now Merlin..
The prince swallowed. Merlin.
Just what has gotten into his father?! Has he seen something or heard something?
Merlin was the most loyal servant the prince ever had. The king himself appointed the boy to him as servant. Sure he was clumsy and brash. - Incredibly brash. - But he's been there. Through thick and thin he stuck to Arthur like glue.. so why has his father ordered him to be taken… there? Of all places..
He's been in the dungeons and he's been in the stocks.. but down below.. why? Why?! Down below.. was that place..
That was where the cuffs and chains were; that's where they kept the iron heated and hot; and the knives sharp; the rats hungry and ready.. and never bothered to scrub the blood off the floor. His stomach tensed so much he felt he will double over and retch there and then, just from the thought of it; just from the thought of Merlin being there.. of things being done to him..
But he didn't want to stop. He couldn't stop.. he had to get his manservant back. He had to focus on that and nothing else. He needed Merlin. A year or two ago he wouldn't have been bothered. But now he was. - More then he'd care to admit.
He didn't need him just to help him get dressed, or bring his meals, or polish his armor, or serve as source of amusement with his clumsiness, he needed him to.. just be there. To give wise advice at odd times, to give him a piece of his mind when the blonde man was overstepping his lines, to make him see sense, to encourage him when the prince felt he was losing faith. Arthur wouldn't stand for losing that. He couldn't lose Merlin; nor the others that cared about the boy.
He won't let that happen.