Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin series.
Chapter 7 The Secret Sharer
Merlin's eyes open wide as he realizes it is morning. And he is still in bed. Arthur's bed. This was not good. A guard could walk in on them at any moment. He quickly gets out of bed.
"Up," Merlin tells Arthur.
"What for?" Arthur groans, throwing a pillow over his face as Merlin pulls the curtains open.
"Late. Bath. Both of us," Merlin says.
"Breakfast?" Arthur asks.
Merlin shoves a roll in Arthur's mouth. They quickly bathe.
"Full day today. Like actually having to work," Merlin replies with a smirk. Arthur rolls his eyes. Merlin gives Arthur a look, no longer joking around. "You're doing very well."
"I don't know," Arthur says.
Merlin smiles and puts a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"You are," he assures him.
"Thank you," Arthur replies.
There is a knock at the door. It is Agravaine.
"I'd like to discuss something with you in private," he tells Arthur.
Merlin nods and takes his leave. Agravaine tries to convince Arthur that Gaius is the traitor they have been looking for. Meanwhile, Morgana tells a man named Alator to abduct Gaius so she could get him to tell her who Emrys is.
xxx
Agravaine talks to both Gaius and Merlin separately.
"Merlin, you and Arthur are close, correct?" he asks later on that day.
Merlin tenses a little. He thought this was going to be about Gaius.
"I suppose," Merlin replies.
He is a little confused as to what Agravaine is trying to get at. Did he possibly know about him and Arthur?
"He trusts you," Agravaine says.
"Yes," Merlin replies.
"Then will you have this sharpened for me?" Agravaine asks, pulling out a knife and showing it to Merlin. "It's a present for Arthur."
Merlin smiles in relief.
"It's beautiful," he says.
While Merlin is doing this, Gaius is being captured. A planted book in his chambers convinces Arthur that Gaius is a sorcerer and has run away in fear on being executed.
"How can you believe this?" Merlin asks Arthur when they are they only two left in the council room.
He begins to leave, but Arthur takes his hand.
"I know how you must feel," Arthur says.
"He would never betray you," Merlin replies angrily, pulling Arthur's hand away.
"Then why did you leave?" Arthur asks.
Merlin does not answer.
xxx
A figure walks into Gaius's chambers, finding Merlin siting on the floor, reading a book.
"Merlin…" a soft says.
He turns quickly to see that it is Gwen.
"Gwen. I thought you were Gaius," Merlin tells her, his sulky expression returning. She sits next to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. "It's Agravaine. He's done something to Gaius. I know it."
Little did they know Gaius is being tortured? Merlin finds proof Agravaine had Gaius taken. He and Gwaine go to find him. They split up. Gwaine finds Gaius with Agravaine. Agravaine convinces Gwaine that he is there to help. They leave, not knowing Merlin had run into Morgana.
"You really are a thorn in my side, aren't you?" Morgana asks Merlin, who has been cornered.
She puts a dagger to his throat.
"If you have harmed Gaius…" Merlin beings to say.
"He had the information I needed," Morgana explains. "The whereabouts of the sorcerer Emrys." Alator enters. Merlin tries not to look alarmed. Has Gaius told him? "This is Merlin."
She does not know Gaius has told him who Emrys is. With the look Alator is giving Merlin, he knows Gaius has reviled his secret.
"Did Gaius tell you?" Morgana asks.
"Indeed he did," Alator tells her.
"Then tell me," Morgana says.
Instead, Alator throws Morgana backwards against a rock, knocking her unconscious. He bends down next to Merlin.
"Gaius told me. I will keep your secret," Alator says.
xxx
Merlin helps with Gaius when they get back in Camelot.
"I'm sorry," Gaius apologizes.
"They would've killed you," Merlin tells him.
He quickly turns when the door opens. It is Arthur. Merlin smiles when Arthur nods to him.
"Merlin, I'd like to speak to Gaius," Arthur says.
"I get the morning off?" he asks.
"Yes," Arthur answers. Merlin raises his eyebrows in surprise. "To clean my chambers and launder my clothes."
"You certainly know how to apologize," Merlin tells me.
They smile and Merlin leaves.
"The things that boy has done for you," Gaius says.
Arthur nods.
AN: For missing this past weekend!