Daily Interference Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Soft Side of a King

Just wrote this tonight as I have had a busy week at school so enjoy! Saturday as promised!

ARTHUR

Arthur and his most trusted knights managed to get going early the morning after. Now they were into their last day of the trip until they were back home . Merlin had been tremendous during the night, especially with what he had gone through. Gwaine and the Prince had managed to somehow cover most of the skinned area up without making the serving boy uncomfortable and in pain.

Then Arthur managed to get a good look at what his manservant had gone through for the past week. His torso was covered in black and blue bruises, which had basically layered yellow bruises. There were dints in his body and a few cuts which indicated that Prince Stephen had rings on his blood-marked hands. There were also a few larger dents, showing that there had been a few kicks in Merlin's beatings. Arthur promised Merlin, nothing like this will ever happen again.

"Sir Percival, ride ahead and inform the King that we are returning within two hours. Lancelot, inform the Court Physician I will be heading there straight away with Merlin. Inform him of the boys' condition and offer your help." Arthur ordered.

"Yes sire!" The two knights answered back before galloping ahead.

PERCIVAL

When the two red-cloaked knights entered the city walls, the townspeople quickly moved out of the way for their out of breath horses. They had both rode like mad to get back to the castle, knowing the Arthur and Merlin could be showing up with the rest of the knights any time after them.

When Percival dismounted, his friend and himself parted ways to do their tasks, the strong knight found himself rather nervous for this audience with the King. The King was very angry at the moment over the loss of his heir. Percival just hoped the boy did not get the blame for this.

When the doors opened leading into the throne room, Percival took a deep breath to calm his nerves. The King was pacing around the pillars, looking fairly distressed- not that the knight blamed him.

"My Lord." Percival bowed in respect.

"Rise knight, what news do you bring?" Uther asked. The Knight in the red cloak straightened his back and looked at the leader of the Kingdom.

"Arthur and the boy Merlin are riding back with the rest of the knights and should be here within the hour." Percival stated.

"Is Arthur well?" Uther asked, clearly relieved they were on their way back.

"Yes sire."

"And the boy?"

"I'm afraid not." Percival bowed his head in shame.

"What's wrong with him?" Uther asked. "What has this man done to my son's manservant?"

"Prince Stephen of the North East was a sorcerer sire. He has beaten the boy, malnourished him and worst yet- skinned the boy of his shoulder blade which stretches to the front of his top torso and stretches down his forearm. " Percival explained. The King turned his head away, his eyes full of debating.

"The boy should not have gone through that." Uther said after several moments. He then turned to the knight and stood tall and proud. "Meet Arthur outside when he comes. I will not see him tonight. He needs to be rested. Take him to Gaius chambers and then go to the Palace Kitchens. Tell them that I order them to send the Prince's food there for tonight and give them the order to send full meals there each day, lunch and dinner for the boy and Gaius."

"Yes sire." Percival bowed before leaving the King to his thoughts.

MERLIN

Merlin was half conscious when he started to smell the familiar aroma of Camelot. He was happy, he was home, but he was hurt. His shoulder blade was erupting with pain, unbearable pain that made him want to whimper, but he didn't. Someone was clutching his waist which was firm, but not tight. His head was lolling against a broad, tense shoulder.

"Arthur. The King ordered for you to go to Gaius' chambers and to rest." He heard a voice say. It sounded like he was under water.

"Help me move him." Arthur said. Arthur had a hold of him. He sighed when two pairs of hands lifted him down and placed him on the cobbled floor. That was the last thing he could sense before he finally dipped back into unconsciousness.

ARTHUR

Poor Merlin. Arthur could tell when he was conscious or not. He didn't say anything though when he felt his breathing become more short and in pain. The Prince of Camelot knew he was only just in our world. Then just as they were about to take the young warlock to the Court Physician, Merlin went limp. Arthur was more relieved to see Merlin go limp to see his face relax instead of showing the pain he was going through.

Knocking on the door of Gaius' chambers with one hand, and steadying Merlin in the other, the Prince of Camelot rushed in and quickly lay Merlin on the patients' bed.

"Arthur! I'm glad to see you are well." Gaius greeted as he came over. "What happened to Merlin? Merlin? Can you hear me?"

"Gaius, Merlin has been skinned. Look!" Arthur insisted as he began to ease the boy's blue and patched with crimson shirt off.

"That's nasty." Gaius examined the awful wound.

"Can you heal it?" Arthur implored.

"No, the healing will come naturally, all I can do is clean it and put some paste on it to help take away the pain and to cool it down." The old man hobbled away, only to return moments later with a bowl of warm water, a cloth and some paste.

"I'll clean the wound, you sort out the paste." Arthur said, not waiting for the offer to be declined. He cleaned Merlin's wound, soaking up most of the blood that was left to slowly ooze out of it. Then he went onto cleaning up the dried blood, revealing the horrible bruising that was showing around the edges of the skin that was left on the boys shoulder.

Once Merlin's shoulder was completely taken care of, Gaius forced Arthur to sit down at the table and eat.

"You have to eat sire. You haven't eaten properly since the day you went missing. Now sit and eat. Doctor's orders." Prince Arthur really couldn't blame him.

"Where did all this come from?" He asked, finally taking in the food he would normally getting when he was dining with the king.

"You're father had ordered the kitchen staff to send food up here for a week. I really don't know why he had done it." Gaius explained, surprise showing in his voice.

"I didn't know he could be so kind." Arthur muttered.

"Well, it's a miracle. Now, eat up and then go and rest in Merlin's room." Gaius said, walking away from the table.

"What about Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"Merlin won't be able to eat until he gains fully consciousness. So don't worry. I will be making him have some protein potions until he does." Gaius informed, smiling.

"And yourself?" Arthur inquired.

"I will eat later."

"Of course." Arthur said, turning around so he could eat.

There you go. Short and abrupt I know, but I really wanted to post tonight. I promised you! Was this chapter boring, or did you like it? I have something in mind for the next chapters so I can't wait to blow you guys off your seats. Just please… don't kill me when I post them?

Cat is out!

(that's me…Cat!)