Sorry for the delay guys, I was away from the Wifi for awhile. I'll try and do a longer chapter instead- if not now, next time.
The court was alive with booming exclamations. A man had been found brutally murdered, his body mutilated and barely unrecognisable and the court were trying to find out who did it. Their were suggestions such as common thugs, a sorcerer and somebody even had the audacity to suggest Morgana. Arthur wasn't happy. Looking to his left, he could see Merlin with his head bowed, leaning against a pillar, very obviously asleep. Arthur did nothing though because Gauis had come to him earlier, explaining that his ward had been up all night with nightmares. Eyes softening, Arthur decided that he would let the boy have a day off tomorrow. Drawing his eyes away, he became of somebody saying his name: Lord Rawhide. "What is it Lord Rawhide?" He snapped. He couldn't stand the man. He had seen the way he treat his servants and the way he acted as if everybody was below him. Smiling his smug grin at the attention Rawhide continued: "It is my belief sire that it is that abominable creature stalking the night. The one people call the 'Raven'". Arthur frowned; he thought that Raven helped stop criminals, not murdered people. By now, the whole court was in uproar. Most were agreeing with Rawhide whilst a few were protecting Raven's innocence. "SILENCE!" Arthur's voice rang loud and clear through the hall. All eyes were in him. Sighing, Arthur knew what he had to do. "I will put notices about this 'Raven' up around Camelot and will issue a curfew. However, until proven guilty, he is to brought to me alive for questioning. Do I make myself clear?" All around the room there was murmurs of agreement. One person decided to be more vocal. Rawhide, again. Honestly, did the man never shut up? "Thank you sire," The title sounded like a mockery. " I will sleep safer knowing that the freak is going to be apprehended."
Since entering the court, Merlin had been meditating; head bowed, eyes closed, completely silent. It was the anniversary of the...incident. All he wanted to do was figure things out however his attention was brought back to the present when he heated Arthur shout out. "I will put notices about this 'Raven' up around Camelot and will issue a curfew. However, until proven guilty, he is to brought to me alive for questioning. Do I make myself clear?" Great thought he, I'm now wanted. Merlin was ready to meditate when Lord Rawhide's voice called out: " I will sleep safer knowing that the freak is going to be apprehended." Looking up, all Merlin could see were his parents arguing whilst he was crouched in the corner; bloody, beaten and whimpering. "HE'S A DISGUSTING FREAK DEAR AND I'M OBLIGED TO TREAT HIM LIKE ONE!" Shouted his dad, spit flying out his mouth into the face of his crying mother. "He is no such thing Albert. Please look at him!" She whispered, tears cascading down her thin face. Merlin watched as his father stormed towards his younger self, stopped and then grab his neck so he couldn't breathe. He watched as the child struggled for all his worth and then slump down, unconscious. Merlin stared, helpless as his father pulled up a floorboard and throw him in it, snarling. Then everything faded away into bittersweet emptiness...
Arthur was in a daze. After Rawhide's deceleration, Merlin had gasped, looked up then passed out. Sprinting, Arthur caught him and was instantly surrounded by the inner circle of knights. His eyes widened when he felt how cold Merlin was. Picking his manservant up (who was far too light) Arthur sped away to Gaius's chambers. The rest of the knights and Gwen rushed behind him, desperate to discover what was wrong with their friend. As luck would have it, Gauis wasn't in his chambers, leaving Arthur, the knights, Gwen and an unconscious Merlin. "Quick, put him in the cot by the fire" Came Percival's calm and quiet voice. Doing what he was told, Arthur laid his friend down and covered him in blankets and the capes of the knights behind him. Jumping from foot to foot, Arthur bit his lip and wondered what to do. He was just about to leave and find Gauis when he heard a quiet groan behind him. Merlin was waking up.
So, how was it? And what could the incident be?