Freya gasped as she saw Merlin fall to the ground, going to Merlin's side she could see no immediate reason for Merlin's collapse so went to the door and told Percival they needed the Physician. The knight immediately called a passing servant to collect Gaius while he went into the room and carefully picked Merlin up and place him on the bed. It was then that he noticed Merlin's shoes, designed for indoor use where plastered in mud as was the bottoms of his trousers. He pointed them out to Freya "I think Emrys has been out of the castle. Take his shoes off and hide them. Then we will get his trousers off. No one must know"
Freya did as asked taking the shoes off and hiding them in a basket of linens, then carefully slipped off Merlin's trousers whilst Percival kept watch at the door. She had just replaced them when Gaius arrived. Kicking the dirty ones under the bed quickly Freya covered Merlin with a sheet.
Gaius came to the bedside "What happened?" he demanded
"I walked into the room to see Emrys standing, then she fell, like she fainted. Sir Percival came when I asked and lifted her onto the bed." Freya explained
Gaius examined Merlin and frowned "It appears to be a faint as you say. Has anyone called Prince Arthur?" Gaius had a good idea what had caused it but was unaware just how much the maidservant knew about Merlin's magic.
Freya shrugged "I will ask Sir Percival" she was about to go when there was a knock at the door. Opening it Freya found Sir Lancelot outside with Aithusa. Taking the baby dragon she turned to Percival "Has the Prince been called?"
"He has" with that footsteps could be heard running down the corridor and Arthur came round the corner
"What happened?" he demanded running into the room.
Gaius looked at Freya "Could you get some warm water and a calamine tea to be fetched please"
As Freya left closing the door behind her Gaius turned to the Prince who was already sat by Merlin. "If I didn't know better I would say Merlin has been using a lot of magic, that with the blood lose from her injury and the injury it's self has exhausted him."
Arthur got up and went to the door calling Percival in, he asked "Has Emrys left the room at all?"
"Not that I know of Sire. The lady Morgana visited a little while ago." Percy looked across at the bed. Then whispered "When we got him on the bed, his shoes and trousers had mud on them we changed them, Emrys could have slowed time"
Arthur grimaced "Gaius knows of Emrys's powers Percival. And thank you" Turning to Gaius Arthur repeated what the knight had said. "But why would he have gone out the fool"
As he said that the alarm bells sounded. Arthur looked at Merlin then Gaius "The prisoners! The damn fool helped them escape! Morgana must have told him about them" Arthur looked at Gaius "Look after him, I must go" As he opened the door Freya was about to come in. Arthur looked at her and said "The Physician knows everything you can trust him, tell him the truth" with that he was gone.
Arthur soon had it confirmed that the prisoners had escaped. The guards had woken to find the cell empty and had raised the alarm. It was assumed, correctly in that at least, that a spell had been used to knock them out and someone had helped then escape. A search was immediately started and the citadel gates shut and the town was being searched. As the guards on the battlements had seen no one leaving the town except for single people it was assumed they hadn't got far. It was an hour later before the first patrols were sent out. Uther was livid and immediately said anyone found to have helped the family escape or was helping to hide the family would also be executed. The search went on well into the night and didn't stop before every house and building in the town had been searched as well as every room in the castle.
Even the Princes rooms had been searched, even though there had been a knight on guard all the time. Sir Leon lead that search and was a quiet and careful as he could be. He knew Arthur would be livid that Merlin had been disturbed. Prince Arthur had tried to be with Merlin himself but the King had insisted that he lead the search. Prince Gwaine had however refused to join in the search and had sat at his sibling's side throughout. He himself had been at the training ground with Camelot's knights that afternoon so had an iron clad alibi.
Merlin slept through all the disturbance and didn't even wake when Arthur joined him in bed late that night. When Arthur got up the next morning Merlin was still asleep. He went to a council meeting where he told Uther that Merlin would not be attending the arrival of Sarrum or the feast "I am sorry but Gaius as seen her, she collapsed yesterday from the shock of the injury and loss of blood he wants her to rest"
Uther glared at his son "She can rest all she needs to afterwards but she will be there to great our guests and for the feast. Remind your wife of her duties. It's not like she has to do a lot. It appears we won't be having an execution as your search has been useless." The escape of the family had made Uther's normal short temper even worse. The failure to find then despite the searches rankled "Unless of course the patrols find them"
Arthur went to see Gaius "The King says Merlin must attend tonight, will h..she be awake by then?" he remembered just in time that they weren't in his own chambers where he could speak freely.
"I suggest you allow Merlin to sleep as long as you can. Then perhaps a warm bath will help to revive Emrys. As for the feast I'm sure she can leave after a reasonable time. But this will take several days to recover from." He handed Arthur a bottle. "Once Emrys is awake tell her to drink this it will help restore some of her energy."
Arthur went up to his rooms and sat by Merlin and watched him sleep "You damn fool, what am I going to do about you?" he muttered as he held Merlin's hand. Against all his rules he had found Aithusa curled up my Merlin but didn't have the heart to move the dragon. As he left to attend the duties he had to do he patted the dragon on the head "Look after Merlin for me"
The dragon chirped and lay her head right next to Merlin's. Arthur left the room and Freya went in to sit with Merlin "Merlin will need a bath to help wake her so she can met the visiting King. There is a bottle on the side make sure she drinks it all. I will be up to bathe and change later. Call me if I am needed"
It took Freya a long time to wake Merlin, he was just too exhausted, as soon as she got Merlin awake enough Freya made him drink Gaius's potion then gave him a colder than usual bath to help wake him further. Being careful not to get his dressing wet. Then after making Merlin get out of the bath Freya helped Merlin dress and brushed his hair. Even after all that Merlin was still drowsy. Freya could hear George getting the Prince ready in the next room. Just before they were due to leave Arthur entered the room in his hand was Merlin's coronet, the one he had worn at his marriage. Arthur was already wearing his crown as befitted the Crown Prince of Camelot.
"Well my sleepy head are you ready to go to welcome King Sarrum to out fair Kingdom?" Arthur's tone showed how much he was dreading the event. He carefully placed the coronet on Merlin's head with a smile.
"Can I got to bed I want to sleep" Merlin mumbled
"No you cannot" then whispering in Merlin's ear so George didn't overhear. "If you are tired perhaps you shouldn't have been using so much magic after losing blood you idiot" Then louder "I know you have been injured my love but we need to welcome our visitors, then you can rest until the feast"
Merlin glared at Arthur until it sunk in that the blonde had clearly guessed what he had done, then he paled slightly before saying. "Must I attend the feast as well?"
"Yes the King commands it, after all you have had some time to recover from your injuries and he is not best pleased at how you came to be injured." Lowering his voice once more he added "And you best stay awake. And we will be talking soon as well about your total lack of self-preservation."
Gwaine knocked on the door before the two men left, walking in he too was dressed in his finest clothing of the blue and silver of the Gangani royal family and had a crown fixed on his head, closing the door he smiled at Merlin then glared at Arthur "I can guess what happened and heard that Emrys was unwell, why is the pure One not resting in bed?" he demanded
"Because the King wishes us to be present for King Sarrum's arrival" Arthur snarled hating the implication he wasn't looking after his spouse "As Merlin has had time to recover from his injury it is a request we have no reason not to comply with not without bringing suspicion on him following the recent incident!"
"GWAINE! I understand why I need to do this. It was my fault for over extending myself but I don't regret it" Merlin told his brother. "M'fine"
"You are not! But I suppose you have no choice, but you must be more careful what you did was stupid. I would not have let them die! I would have got them out and then left Uther couldn't do anything to me if I wasn't here. I could have called Kilgarrah and we would all have been in Gangani before he knew it" Gwaine told his brother. "You are not the only one who can do things, Arthur is right you are an idiot!"
"I had to do something Gwaine there was a child! They hadn't done anything wrong!" Merlin protested
"Merlin they had by Camelot law, I don't agree with it but you won't be able to save everyone, you do know that don't you?" Arthur demanded. "It will change but not yet. Look Gwaine we must go, the King is already seething as it is. You have no need to attend but we do"
Gwaine gave a sinister smile "Oh I think I might join you, I have heard about Sarrum, After all as a visiting King I should pay my respects." with that he held out his arm to Merlin "Come on you until we get close you can have my arm as well as the Princess's. We need to keep you upright"
Arthur looked at his brother in law and hissed "Don't cause problems Gwaine, it will reflect on Merlin, you may be leaving in a few weeks but Merlin lives here now"
"I will be the epitome of diplomacy" Gwaine said, smiling in such a way that made Arthur worry.
Gwaine kept his promise and helped support his brother until they reached the steps of the castle, then he took a step away. Arthur stood next to his father with Merlin on his other side. Morgana was to Uther's left with her husband and son. Gwaine stood next to Merlin. The knights of Camelot were on each flank, red capes in place.
Sarrum's party rode into the courtyard flanked by his knights, including Albin a knight that Arthur had heard many tales of. The King was a hard looking man who was well known throughout the Kingdoms for his cruel streak. He was known to be a sadist who ruled by fear and intimidation. A servant ran forward as Sarrum stopped his horse and knelt so the King could use his as a step to get off his horse. As he set foot on the cobbles he kicked the servant with his foot causing the poor man to fall face first on to the ground. Swaggering he made his way towards Uther.
Uther stepped forward "Good to see you again my friend, I hope you had a good journey?"
Sarrum nodded "Fair enough" he growled as he took Uther's hand. With that he looked at the others. First looking Morgana up and down the smallest upward curl to his mouth as he noted the high collar the Princess was wearing. "You are looking well Princess"
Morgana merely gave a slight nod in return. Uther spoke once more "Our family has grown since your last visit may I present Princess Merlin formally of Gangani who has married my son Crown Prince Arthur."
Sarrum looked at Merlin a sneer on his face "I heard you had married Arthur. So this is your bride?" his look made Merlin feel uncomfortable as it was clearly designed to do. "Princess" he said as he looked Merlin in the eye.
Merlin nodded but like Morgana just nodded. Arthur spoke "We are recently married my spouse is not used to his sort of event and is recovering from as injury." His arm curled protectively around Merlin's waist. Then Arthur indicated Gwaine "May I introduce Crown Prince Gwaine of Gangani, who is staying with us for a time to help his sibling settle so far from home."
Sarrum looked at Gwaine and sneered "Your Kingdom is part of Hibernia is it not? A primitive land I hear."
Gwaine's eyes twinkled as he replied "Indeed it is, but it has never been defeated and we have the best fleet known, not to mention our legendary metalwork. We have kept the Romans from our lands and your new religion, not bad for primitives." He gave a small and at the same time derogatory bow to the visiting King.
Sarrum was clearly unamused although his Kingdom had been stable for several years it was well known in the past he had been fighting a long battle, with some of his neighbours to protect his lands and had lost some ground in the years since he had taken power. It was a sore point with him.
Uther deciding that enough was enough spoke up "Sarrum my friend it is good to see you again I know we have a lot to discuss. I have arranged for you to be shown to your chambers. A feast is to be held in your honour later."
Sarrum had clearly noticed Merlin wobble slightly as he had been looking at the new member of Camelot's Royal family "I hope I will have the chance to speak to Arthur's new bride then." As he turned to leave with Uther the others heard him say "Quiet little mouse I look forward to hearing it squeak"
Gwaine went to step forward but Arthur caught his arm. "Leave it, we can deal with him later." Arthur then looked at Merlin "Go careful with anything you say to him he will twist it to his own ends"
As they went to walk into the castle Morgana sniggered "It looks like I will get a break this time. You are welcome to him Merlin. Just watch his wandering hands he doesn't care you are married and Uther will want to keep him sweet so you won't get any help there."
"Emrys won't need the Kings help, I'll cut the bastards hands off if they wander King or no King" Gwaine said fiercely
"Don't Gwaine I'm sure the Princess is joking, he won't be so forward" Merlin pleaded with Gwaine
Arthur looked doubtful but agreed "Gwaine take care, I will protect Merlin if it is required but remember both yourself and King Sarrum are guests here, we don't want a diplomatic incident."