Chapter 4 can be credited to llLethall and my Merlin friend: LunaShadowWolf13(she's really great!)
Chapter 4: Secret Spy
The following morning led to Merlin reliving a worst nightmare… or what it seemed. He was up at the crack of dawn, not wanting to be late for Prince Pr-no. The Visiting Prince of the North East may have stolen him, but he will not be stealing his ways of name calling. That was just too out of line.
He carried the large silver tray covered in colourful food and one jug of water through the corridor. Not many people were out at this time. He looked around the corridor joined to the courtyard to see servants already doing errands and market keepers setting up their stalls for the day ahead. The patrol of Knights that worked their shift a few hours before dawn had just arrived and dismounted by the stable. He beamed brightly when he saw Morgana and her maid taking a stroll through the corridor. The Lady smiled back and waved, but continued talking to lovely Gwen.
Then everything like paradise clouded over. Especially when he felt fingers on the back of his neck, squeezing until he choked and gasped for air. The chortling came from a Knight…a knight wearing the flag of Prince Stephen. He was thrown to the floor… the Prince's breakfast thrown everywhere. The jug of water that had been taken from the tray was thrown over his head, making his splutter. He was done for this time. Not from the knight, but from Prince Twat. (A/N: You guy's don't mind this do you? If you don't help me think of a better name for him!) The man that done this to him, walked away laughing.
All the Young Warlock wanted to do was curl up and weep. How come all the bad luck came crashing to him? An ecstasy of high heels on stone floor, Merlin was hauled up gently to sit against the wall.
"Merlin! Merlin, are you okay?" Morgana's sweet voice came. Merlin looked up to see her worried, but yet angered expression painted on her face. All the young servant could do was nod and look back down again.
"Merlin, why did he do this to you?" Morgana asked. Merlin only shrugged, the tears threatening to take over him. He managed to choke out a few words.
"Have to w-work for P-Prince S-S-Steph-en." Merlin said, taking deep breaths.
"Merlin, calm down breathe. Come on I'll take you to Gaius." Morgana smiled and held out a hand for him as she stood up. He gratefully took it and stood up on shaking legs.
"Hello there, can you do me a favour and pick up this mess for me?" Morgana asked a passing maid. The maid smiled and nodded, immediately turning to do her task. "Come on Merlin."
Morgana led Merlin through the doors of Gaius' chambers and looked around for Gaius, who was probably either on some of his rounds or in the cupboard at the side of the room.
"Morgana! How can I help you? Merlin, what are you doing here?" Gaius asked, eyeing the boy suspiciously. "Shouldn't you be with Prince Stephen?" With that comment Merlin's eyes went wide and he nodded, and attempted to get out of the room ,to hurry off and get the Prince's breakfast.
"No you don't. You're staying here. Gaius, I think he hit his head again, would you check it? I have to go. I order Merlin to have the day off to rest. Gaius, if Prince Stephen comes, tell him Merlin has a twisted ankle or something. Do it for Merlin's sake." Morgana said, her eyebrow raising up. Gaius only nodded.
"Of course my Lady. Here, take a sleeping draught." Gaius said, a hint of something in his eye. Morgana immediately picked it up and smirked.
"Of course Gaius, thank you for helping me." Morgana smiled, before turning around and heading out of the door, shooting Merlin a comforting glance along the way.
Gaius was concerned for his ward. This Prince was not doing him any good, and already Merlin was showing signs of breaking. He was hardly even speaking.
"Merlin, you should go and rest." Gaius said pointing to the room. His ward nodded and walked into his room, shutting the door and bolting it straight after.
After about five minutes of working in the chambers, there was a horrible banging coming from the door. The old man hobbled quickly to open it, but within five steps of reaching the door, the person burst in automatically.
"Where is that worthless servant?" The Visiting Prince spat, searching the room.
"I'm afraid he fell down the stairs from his room. Knocked himself unconscious and twisted his ankle. I took a look at him, looks like he will be out for most of the day." Gaius lied instantly to protect his ward. The North East Prince snarled under his breath, an evil glimmer of pleasure suddenly gone from his eyes.
"The clumsy piece of-…" The Prince muttered.
"-I'm sorry, I wish I could help, but there should be another servant to help you for today." The Physician said. Stephen nodded reluctantly and left the room, muttering to himself something that Gaius was straining to hear.
Breakfast with the King was like torture to Arthur…especially when he didn't have Merlin to amuse him. He hadn't seen him since yesterday dinner time and was worried. Morgana had accompanied the King and the Crowned Prince this morning and Arthur could tell something was on her mind. She noticed him glancing at her and her eyes told the conversation. What are you looking at? They seemed to say. He tried to look confused about her expression, which she finally got after about several moments before she mouthed the word he really didn't want to hear…Merlin.
"If you two are trying to hold a conversation, you might as well speak up." The King muttered, cutting into his meat.
"No, it's alright, just us bickering as usual." Arthur said, his eyes telling Morgana to play along or else.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is. You see, Arthur keeps kicking me under the table." Morgana snarled as Arthur rolled his eyes.
"I never kicked you! That is way too babyish Morgana." Arthur's voice turning into a growl.
"Right. Get out. I'm not having you two bickering first thing in the morning. Seriously, like children you are." The King said viciously. Morgana and Arthur reluctantly bowed and stood up from the table.
As they walked out, they shot side glances at each other, smirking along the way. Once they were out of the dining hall and walking through the corridor's, Arthur spoke.
"What's happening Morgana. What has you so worried about Merlin?"
"Arthur, do you know that the Visiting Prince is hurting Merlin?" Morgana whispered, knowing that the Prince could be hiding anywhere and eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Yes of course I do. What's happened?" Arthur asked, trying to keep the concern out of his voice.
"Arthur stop pretending like you don't care because if you didn't you would be listening or be even here right now." Morgana snapped, turning the corner to go to Gaius chambers.
"Fine, what's happened?" Arthur asked.
"I was taking my morning walk with Gwen this morning. Merlin was walking along fine one minute, smiling at the pair of us, when the next a man, the Visiting Prince's Knight grabbing his neck and forcing him to the floor. He poured the water from the jug onto him as well. When I sent Gwen away to start working on my room, I hurried to Merlin to find him still on the floor, curled up with the food everywhere." Morgana told her story.
"Where is Merlin now?" The Prince snarled.
"I hope you're not angry at Merlin he doesn't-…" Morgana was interrupted then by the Prince.
"-Deserve it, I know. It's not Merlin I'm angry with. It's that bas…" Arthur growled but was silenced by Morgana.
"Yes I know, Arthur." Morgana rolled his eyes at her brother's cursing as she knocked on the door to Gaius chambers. The door opened twenty moments later to find Gaius.
"Can we see Merlin, please, Gaius?" Morgana asked sweetly. Gaius nodded and let the pair in.
"Of course, he could do with some company right now. Arthur are you sure you should be here? If the King comes along and catches you…"
"He wont know, nor will he come along Gaius." Gaius nodded and walked up to Merlin's room. "Merlin, you have some company."
"If it's Prince Twat (A/N: sorry if you don't like this, I need Merlin to say this though please tell me if I shouldn't use this!) tell him to go away." Merlin muttered through the wooden door.
"No, it's not Prince Stephen, it's more of Prince Arthur and Lady Morgana." Gaius sighed, rolling his eyes at the nickname Merlin had given the Visiting Prince. There was the sound of heavy footsteps before a lock clicked open.
"Why does he have his bedroom door locked?" Arthur asked.
"In case I was out and the Prince got in." Arthur nodded at the sensible idea Merlin had had.
Arthur was the first to enter the room, followed by of course, Morgana. He looked straight ahead in the tiny room to see Merlin sitting with his legs tucked up to his chin, his arms folded across them, and his head resting on the top.
"Hello nincompoop." Arthur smirked, getting a smile out of Merlin.
"Hello Prince Prat. How can I be of service?" Merlin asked, looking up. Morgana sat on the foot of the small bed while Arthur took the seat next to Merlin.
"Just wanted to come see how you were doing, seen as you had a tough morning." Morgana replied. Merlin nodded and looked down and looked up again, smirking.
"Sorry, I'm not used to the whole 'getting company' thing. Gaius is… not me." Merlin laughed awkwardly.
"Of course, we only want to make sure you were alright. Don't make it sound as if I will be doing this on a regular basis though." Arthur smirked, gently ruffling Merlin's hair. Merlin laughed and shooed his hands away.
"You love me really." Merlin said sarcastically. Morgana rolled her eyes.
"Of course he does. Now, we better be going. Uther will get suspicious and Arthur is not meant to be here." Morgana smiled. Merlin nodded in understanding what she was saying.
"Then you can be like a spy, you can pass messages to from Me and Merlin so we are keeping in contact. You could even be watching to see what 'Prince Twat' is getting up to with Merlin. You're awfully good at sneaking around." Arthur smirked.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Merlin nodded in agreement.
"Fine, if it keeps you boys happy." Morgana rolled her eyes and strolled from the room after giving a little kiss to Merlin on his cheek (a way of saying goodbye). Arthur rolled his eyes.
"What about me?" He pouted.
"Find your own girl." Morgana told him sternly. Arthur smirked his Princely smirk and stood up.
"I better be going too." He smiled patting Merlin's shoulder. He strode from Merlin's room to be greeted with the unwanted sight.
Uther.
Hahaha, I bet you hate me now! The Plan is in place for the 'Secret Spy' But how will things go with Uther now in the way? Please review and I hope you enjoyed this Morgana!
I added a little comedy into this and please tell me if you like/not like the name I gave for Prince Stephen (Merlin's nickname for him!)
Thanks, It's Tuesday and I am out all day tomorrow and Thursday so probably Saturday will be the be the next update! Until then! Bye and review please!