"I've already cleaned them." Arthur sighed impatiently as he was being hassled by one of the rather pompous servants.
"There are spots, you twit." The young man pointed out as he held the chalice up at Arthur. "You expect a royal to drink out of something like this?"
"…I doubt they would really mind. Give them some credit." Arthur said. "They aren't all complete oafs like yourself."
"Not all of them?" the servant asked with eyes stretched in outrage. "Are you insulting royalty?!"
The entire kitchen of workers and passing maids stilled. They each looked over with mental spears poised in Arthur's direction as if realizing a traitor was among them.
"…I don't mean to insult your ruler, nor his family." Arthur said with honesty built in to every word. "I only mean that a few spots on the outside of a cup wouldn't be turned away simply because they're royal."
"You think they should be lowered to your standards?" the servant asked.
"Leave him alone, Henry." Annalisa said as she came to stand beside Arthur with a half-filled laundry basket in her arms. "He's not used to working and a cup with a few water spots is not anything to harass him about."
"It's alright, Anna. I am used to dealing with people of all sorts, not all quite as understanding as you." Arthur told her.
Annalisa smiled a bit at that while Henry glared harder.
"It doesn't excuse the poor job he's been doing since he first arrived. He isn't a dog." Henry told the young maid. "You have a job too. You can't do his work all the time."
"Well if you have all this time to complain to him," Annalisa said as she used one gentle hand to push the cup back to Henry's chest. "How about you wash it off?"
The servant stared at her for a moment but then his glare stiffened in frustration and he pushed the cup back onto the counter on his left before leaving. The kitchen then slowly resumed its pace but with lower voices than before. Arthur turned to thank the maid but Annalisa had a serious expression as she looked up at him.
"He is right, though." She said quietly so the others wouldn't hear. "I can't do your work either and if you plan on staying here longer, you have to pull your own weight. There are a lot of people who would do much more than clean just for that spot on the floor at night."
Arthur nearly answered with something along the lines of "they can find a floor just as good anywhere else" but closed his mouth and realized what she meant. It was a castle, a safer place than outside where Sythian struggled with crime and the boredom normally extinguished by work. Even if these people were offered work in other kingdoms where such problems weren't as difficult to overcome, they weren't welcome there. Nearly half of the servants in this castle were involved with magic in some way. This was their safe haven, a place where they were happy to work because it gave them reason and peace of mind.
"…you're very wise." Arthur told the girl with a light smirk. "You remind me of someone, actually."
"A brilliant high priestess?" Annalisa grinned charmingly through the slight smudge of dirt under her left cheekbone.
"Someone very important to me." Arthur said without as strong a smile as before but it was still there. "He doesn't have magic but he's oddly wise at times, very naïve and lazy…but very loyal."
"Sounds like a dog." Annalisa laughed.
"Sometimes I wonder." Arthur sighed with a wholehearted smile this time.
There was a sudden rumble of voices as a knight moved away from the stairs and someone stepped down them. His brown hair was briefly tugged at by the draft in the kitchen as he stepped down into it, shortly followed by a very particular dark-haired boy with fairer skin. Merlin's eyes immediately found Arthur but the hidden prince didn't step forward. He stood with the others in the kitchen like a normal servant though his posture in front of royalty already said otherwise.
"You," Garrick said, obviously avoiding using Arthur's name while looking at him. "We need to talk to you."
"Is it about the cup?" one of the maids asked and others burst into laughter.
The prince and Merlin's faces stayed serious, as did Arthur and Annalisa's.
"It's a matter of urgency." Garrick added unblinkingly.
Arthur, still stubborn and a bit bitter, didn't give in to the request.
"I'm only a servant. I can't have any sway in your urgent matters." He said and turned away.
"If you don't come, I'll have the guards take you." Garrick said with a harsh tone. "This isn't about me or you or Merlin. This is about my sister."
"She's a witch." Arthur said harshly as he looked back to the two with his arms crossed. "I'm sure she can fix whatever problem there is."
"She's the princess." Annalisa whispered to Arthur with a confused expression and he realized what he said.
"I…she has magic. I don't. What could I do for her?" Arthur whispered back as some form of apology.
"I don't have time for this, Arthur." Prince Garrick growled. "You have something that belongs to my sister and I demand it back. You can't steal from an ally."
The kitchen froze up as stares found Arthur again. Merlin directed his eyes at the Camelot Prince as well but for a different reason, just as a way of pleading. Arthur heard the thump beside him and looked over to see the laundry basket Annalisa had been holding now sat on the floor. The maid had stepped back from him with the heavy stare of fear glazed over her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry." She murmured vacantly as she sank to the floor in some kind of bow. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm sorry. I don't hurt people. I promise. I only do what's good for the Alder family."
Her head was ducked but Arthur could faintly hear the sniffling. His heart sank in confusion.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"I'm sorry, my lord." Annalisa told him quietly. "But I can't help being born like this. I've already lost my father, please. I promise I've done nothing wrong."
She's…scared of me, Arthur realized.
She was only just smiling at Arthur and now she was shaking with tears. The same girl who had helped him since he arrived was scared of him, terrified of what he might do to her. Arthur could almost hear his father condemning her despite that. A Pendragon entered this safe haven and hid himself. Of course a witch would be scared.
Arthur knelt down and gently rested a hand on the girl's shoulder. She flinched but didn't dare move.
"I'm not my father, Anna." Arthur told her quietly. "You're safe here, I promise. I know you to be a good friend…it's alright if you want to be mad at me for not saying anything. My father isn't your king anymore."
Annalisa carefully looked up. Her shaking lessened but no smile found her lips again. She quickly grabbed the laundry basket from between them and hurried out of the kitchen through the outside door with tears still in her eyes. When Arthur stood, he didn't even have to look back to know that everyone was staring at him, waiting, either scared or angry or maybe even amused that a prince would scrub pots. He directed his attention to the other prince in the room instead.
"I'm sorry," Garrick said steadily, seriously. "But it's important."
Arthur looked to Merlin who briefly glanced away but met his eyes again with a nod of insistence.
"…we should go upstairs then." Arthur said.
Garrick nodded and turned. He let Merlin walk ahead of him to Arthur's distaste but the filth-covered prince followed without another word or glance in the direction of the kitchen. Arthur requested clean clothes and Garrick led him to a guest chamber separate from Merlin's. The two lovers waited outside while Arthur was bathing.
"It's not like Arthur to steal." Merlin told Garrick as they were waiting. "Maybe it's just rolled away or one of the maids threw it outside thinking it was just a pebble."
"Love makes you do crazy things." Garrick said with his arms folded which caused discomfort to course through Merlin.
Merlin listened for a brief moment to make sure Arthur and the servant inside the room were still trying to get him washed. Then he turned to lean on Garrick against the wall. The prince was confused but not entirely bothered. Merlin stared into his eyes from a six-inch distance at a nearly equal level.
"You're stubborn in a surprising way." Merlin said quietly.
"You're stubborn in a not-so-surprising way." Garrick countered.
"Well I'm not a prince." Merlin smiled a bit.
"You're more than a prince." Garrick nodded quietly and Merlin's smile faded. "You realize the heart of a warrior is what makes one great? It's the same for a ruler, a knight, even a servant. We have reasons for what we do, why we fight, what keeps us alive. Eldon and Aster have that for each other…and that's what you are for me. I would do anything to keep you safe. That's what it means when I say I love you."
Merlin's heart pounded and Garrick could faintly feel it against his chest. It briefly reminded him of an excited animal. Merlin tried to cover it up a bit when he remembered where they are.
"Well you shouldn't worry." He said and dropped his voice to an even lower whisper. "I'm also very powerful in a surprising way."
"I know you are." Garrick smiled and pressed a gentle kiss under Merlin's eye.
Merlin took the risk and met his lips anyway, if even for a moment, just to get another taste of his lips, sweet like the wine that was served with dinner. The two parted before a maid came down the hall and try to act casual though the maid wore a knowing look as she passed with a smile. Merlin blushed but Garrick smiled pleasantly with a nod. Seconds later, the servant left Arthur's chambers. Prince Garrick and Merlin stepped in to find him leaning back against one beam of the bed with his arms folded and his hair nearly dry.
"Better?" Garrick asked.
"What is it you're looking for?" Arthur asked without looking over. "I haven't taken anything."
"We're only asking because I lost it around the time I spoke to you." Merlin said with only a little delicacy toward his former master and lover's guest.
Arthur's posture turned a bit uneasy and Garrick noticed the stiffness in his shoulders.
"You know what we're talking about, don't you?" he asked the other prince.
"A rock?" Arthur asked in a disinterested tone but his eyes told a different story when he glanced at Merlin. "The little pebble you dropped? That's what's so important that you had to out me in front of the kitchen staff and scare Anna for?"
"The stone's enchanted, Arthur." Merlin said seriously.
Surprise widened Arthur's eyes but Garrick became less patient.
"Where is it now?" he demanded of Arthur.
Arthur didn't speak and only answered with a glare. Garrick took a step forward but Merlin took his arm. Arthur was confused why Garrick would stop so easily but Garrick knew that Merlin might use his magic to protect Arthur. There was no point in putting Merlin in danger just so Garrick could knock some sense into the spoiled prince. Merlin pulled him back for a moment.
"What if you go speak with your father for now?" He asked Garrick. "Tell him that we'll be leaving soon. We last saw Arthur not long ago so it can't be far. I'll stay here and get an answer."
"I can't leave you here w-"
"Yes you can." Merlin said quietly. "Remember? I'm powerful in a surprising way. Besides, Arthur isn't the brightest when it comes to my talents. I can handle myself."
"I know you can." Garrick said.
He pressed a kiss onto Merlin's forehead, not even meaning to smite Arthur but it worked. Arthur's blood boiled at the sight but Garrick left the room before anything could breakout between them. The door closed and Arthur was left with the boy who used to serve him with a sarcastic grin and seemingly annoying banter that the prince now missed gravely.
"You've come a long way." Arthur said before Merlin could get a word out. "Does it feel good? Being treated like royalty?"
"Did it feel good being treated like a servant?" Merlin replied evenly.
Arthur reluctantly accepted the blow. It was true. Being a servant wasn't easy. The problem was that here, servants were treated badly by other servants. That wouldn't be a problem in Camelot, really, but Arthur could imagine that in Camelot, most of those at higher stations treated servants badly. Arthur wasn't sure which was worse.
"That stone is very important, Arthur." Merlin said and Arthur unfolded his arms. "You know Eldon? Garrick's servant?"
"The mute?" Arthur asked. "The one that's in love with Annalisa?"
"…wow, they are gossips." Merlin murmured.
"What does he have to do with the stone? How is it enchanted?" Arthur asked. "Does Eldon have magic? Has he hurt someone?"
"Not everyone with magic is evil, Arthur." Merlin said while trying to keep the personal tone of hurt out of his voice but failing. "…do you think anyone with a sword is evil?"
"Swords are different than magic." Arthur answered.
"How?" Merlin asked. "A sword can kill someone. A sword in the hands of a bad man doesn't make the sword bad, Arthur. It could be the same sword you use to defend the innocent lives of others and magic is the same as that. It's the person wielding it. Having magic doesn't make someone good or evil. It only gives them something to defend themselves with."
"You say that because you've spent all your time inside the castle." Arthur argued.
"The princess has magic." Merlin said. "Do you know what she plans to do with it? Heal people. It's like what I do only her magic could save someone near death. She's a good person. What about Annalisa? She has magic. You told her you aren't like your father but you refuse to believe any good can come from magic. You would see her burned because of it?"
"She doesn't have to practice it." Arthur said but his voice wasn't as strong as his doubts grew.
"She was born with it. It's part of her. Do you know how it feels to have to deny that? Something that makes you special?"
Arthur didn't speak this time. He could feel his resolve crumbling away. Every reason he'd held onto, every word his father had told him, they weren't strong enough. The truth of what Merlin was telling him was harsh. The way Arthur thought, the things he'd believed in up until now, it was all for nothing? Just a waste?
"This stone is important to Aster and Eldon." Merlin said while Arthur was still trying to process his thoughts. "With it, Aster will be able to hear him. That stone allows someone to hear the thoughts of whoever's blood first touches it. That was Eldon's. Where did you put it, Arthur?"
"…a cave." Arthur answered uneasily as he thought back to his brief journey. "…I can go get it. I'll ride out in the morning."
"The morning?" Merlin asked.
"It's already dark." Arthur nodded toward the windows. "…and the cave is difficult to navigate. It will be easier in the light."
A silence weighed through the room and Arthur looked to Merlin again. Merlin stared back with an unreadable expression that made Arthur feel guilty and childish.
"Why did you do it?" Merlin finally asked.
"I thought it belonged to you." Arthur answered honestly.
"And that's why you threw it into a cave?" Merlin asked with a disbelieving look. "Because you were jealous of Garrick?"
"I don't have to be jealous of a-"
"Don't think that because you're royalty you can insult him." Merlin said in a harsh tone. "He isn't the one at fault here so quit being a clotpole and just be grateful that he's not forcing you out of the castle into a kingdom of magic. You're not safe here, Arthur. I said that it matters who wields the magic and Sythian has its bad people just like Camelot does. You have enemies out there, ones who have lost their loved ones and would kill you for revenge against Uther."
"So why did your lover have to mention that we were allies?" Arthur argued.
"Because you were being an idiot!" Merlin shouted at him.
Arthur stood in silence and Merlin briefly regreted raising his voice if only for the reason that Arthur was still a prince, still capable of putting someone like Merlin in the stocks where he'd prefer not to be.
"What's done is done." Merlin stated. "We'll protect you on our way out tomorrow but you have to come with us to show us the cave."
"You're awfully sure of yourself now that you have a bit of power." Arthur nodded. "…he hasn't actually made you a noble yet, has he?"
Merlin didn't answer. Arthur didn't need to know that he was still technically a commoner. That status wasn't as degraded here, not that Arthur was the type to degrade someone for it.
"I could treat you like royalty, you know." Arthur said and Merlin tried to shut out his words with closed eyes. "The law wouldn't let us be together but one day I'll be king. Things will change."
Arthur hit an unknown chord with Merlin.
Things will change…
Was that how Merlin was supposed to guide Arthur? To create Albion? Not by their being together but could Merlin convince Arthur that magic could be good? That it wasn't always evil? Was that their destiny?
But Garrick, Merlin thought to himself.
"I'm not going to change my mind." Merlin said strongly. "There's nothing you can do, Arthur. He's important to me and I'm not going to leave his side. He needs me more than you do."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Arthur asked with an offended tone though his throat ached dryly.
"I should go and tell Garrick that we aren't leaving until the morning." Merlin said as he turned. "Sleep well, Arthur."
Arthur didn't even have the time to respond before the chamber doors were shut and he was left in a silence only broken by the fire crackling at the right of the room. He only endured it for a moment before leaving the room and going after Merlin himself. He wasn't finished, not just yet.