Chapter 4

Merlin

Two days later

"I can't do it, Gwen, I can't!" I shouted at my best friend, before collapsing on her bedroll with my head in my hands.

"Merlin," she says softly, "You don't have a choice, you have to." Her large brown eyes are full of sympathy. "I thought working for Morgana would be awful, but it's not bad at all." I know she's trying to help, but she doesn't understand.

"Gwen, what if-what if he's like Uther? I can't- I just-"

"He helped you," she reminds me gently. Without wanting to, the memory of that day invades my mind: that voice, his voice, shouting for it to stop. The way he looked when he rushed over to me, his face illuminated by the sun, his blond hair looked gold, his eyes looking at me with... concern? And then, nothing.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts of him, I realize Gwen is trying to get my attention. "Sorry," I smile at her sheepishly. She just smiles at me and shakes her head like she knows something I don't.

"Here's my advice about Arthur: Don't try and befriend him. Don't do anything that will make him see you for more than a servant." Her face goes from serious to happy in an instant, "Okay, enough talk about Arthur, I have news!" I smile and make a "go on" gesture. "Do you know the guard Lancelot?"

I nod.

"Well, we have been, well-" Her smile lights up her cell, and I can't help but be happy for her.

"Oh, Gwen, that's amazing! You're so lucky, he is.. he is..."

"Kind? Wonderful?" She laughs, then says, "Please don't tell anyone. If Uther were to find out..." She shudders.

I put my hands on her shoulders, "I promise." She smiles are pulls me into a hug. "Oh Gwen," I think, "Please don't get hurt, I couldn't bear it."

Later

"Sir, wake up." I say, pulling up the curtains, and letting the sun into Arthur's chambers.

No response.

"Sir! Wake up!"

No response.

Annoyance fills my voice, "Sir!" My hands go to the larger man's shoulders, shaking him, "Wake the hell up!"

Arthur's eyes fly open, and shoves me away from him as he jolts awake. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! How dare you touch me!" His voice is filled with contempt, and this only annoys me more.

"I'm doing my job, you prat! Your breakfast is ready, and I was instructed to wake you, and dress you. You can take it up with your father if you have a complaint." I say, filling my voice with as much spite as I can muster.

The momentary look of shock on his face is almost worth the slap.

Almost.

"What the bloody hell did you do that for?!" I ask, my hand flying to my stinging cheek.

"I will not allow a mere servant speak to me as you did! This is your only warning, Merlin." Anger flashed in his eyes, "What are you standing around for? Get on with my breakfast!"

Stiffly, I walk to where I placed the tray of food, and began to set the table. I can feel Arthur's eyes on my back as a set food on an absurdly expensive-looking plate. When I finish I say, "Breakfast is served, Sir." My voice dripping with sarcasm. From the glare he gives me, I can tell he noticed.

"Merlin," he say when he sits at the table, "What were you doing at my father's the other day?"

I can feel the blood rush from my face as the memories flood my brain. The smell of stale cigarettes on his breath, the blood, all the air gone from my lungs, the fight, the struggle to breathe. Panic surges through my body as I force the lie out from my lips, "I was...cleaning... and, erm, finding out when I began work for you." Hastily I add, "Sir."

His eyes narrow, and I hold my breath, praying to whoever is listening that he will believe me. "Shut up, Merlin. You think I believe that truly awful lie? Tell me what really happened!" Before I can protest he adds, "That's an order!"

I began backing towards the door, "Thats...I'm not... I just...I've got to... Sorry Arthur, got to go." I turn my back to the confused man and run as quickly as I can ignoring the shouts of: "Get back here, Merlin, NOW!"

I turn back for a moment to make sure Arthur wasn't following me, and slam right into one of Arthur's personal guards.

Gwaine

The day had been entirely uneventful, guarding the princess usually was, I ran into Merlin. Well, he did the running. "Woah," I say, holding up my hands in surrender, a lazy smile crossing my face. "Where are you off to so quickly, mate? Does the princess grab random men off the street now? Right to run away, you are, the tales I've heard from people who've shagged him." I shudder for effect, "Well, lets just hope you never find out." The smirk I wear slides off my face at the his look.

"What's wrong, mate?" I ask, knowing what Uther does to the handsome man standing in front on me. "Did he..." I start, warning in my voice.

"No, no!" Merlin says quickly, "It's just... well, I work for the prat now." He smiles, "Manservant to Arthur Pendragon, at your service." He bows at me, laughs.

I laugh at his grandeur, and bow in return. "Personal guard to the princess, Arthur Pendragon." I look him in the eyes and wink, "At your service."

At this Merlin laughs so loudly that the other guards give us odd looks, but I don't care. I laugh with him, and soon we are both doubled over with tears streaming down our faces.

When the laughter stops, I turn to him and say, "Seriously though, mate, I'll protect you, from the princess at least. You're a good friend, mate, I don't want to see you get hurt." I smile, and shrug, "Now, run along, I'll let you know if the princess or his father need anything."

Merlin smiles at me, and begins to walk away, but stops and says, "Thank you, Gwaine. For... everything." He winks at me, laughs, and walks away.

An hour later the princess emerged from his chambers, "Gwaine," he shouts at me, "If my father comes by tell him I went to visit Morgana." He takes three steps, then turns back to me, "And if he asks about Merlin, my servant, tell him everything was fine, nothing out of the ordinary happened." He starts to leave again.

"What did you do to him, mate?" I call after him, "What made him run?"

He turns back, and says, "I asked him a question. Nothing more. I've no idea why he ran." This time when he turns to leave I let him.

Arthur

"Arthur, what a pleasant surprise." Morgana smiles at me as she ushers me into her chambers, and bids me to sit at her table. "Gwen," she says loudly, as a woman with dark hair, and darker skin wearing a lavender dress emerges from Morgana's kitchen, "Could you get tea for Arthur and myself?"

The woman, Gwen, smiles and says, "Yes, my lady," before disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Thank you, Gwen!" Morgana calls to her, before turning to me. "That's my maidservant, Gwen, she's a lovely girl, a loyal friend." She smiles, "How's Merlin?"

"How do you know Merlin?" I ask, more sharply than I intended to. If Morgana notices she doesn't say anything.

"Merlin and Gwen are great friends, he comes round all the time." She waves her hand dismissively, "Now, tell me, how did he do?"

"Well," I start, "It was... a bit odd."

"Odd," She asks, "How?"

"Well, the other day I saw him leaving Uther's chambers. When I asked him about it he made up some pathetic excuse, and ran." I shrug, "He was also quite rude, and sarcastic. Not at all servant like." I complain.

Morgana smiles at that, but the smile falls from her face as she says, "If I were you, I wouldn't question him about Uther, it's a... touchy subject for him."

Before I can ask what she means, she stands and begins to walk to the door, "Sorry, darling, must go. Enjoy your tea." She smiles over her shoulder at me, then walks out the door.

Gwen comes back with the tea moments after she leaves. "Did you know she was going to do that?" I demand.

Gwen smiles, "I suspect she left so you could question me about Merlin." She sits across from me, without invitation, and says, "Go ahead, ask me." She remembers who she is talking to and adds, "Sir."

Before I can say anything, there is a knock on the door, and Merlin bursts in. "Sorry, Gwen." He smiles apologetically, "Gwaine said Arthur was here and-" he stops when he sees me. "Oh, hello Arthur. Sorry, but Uther, uh, your father, wanted you to know that you will be leaving with some of your guards to fetch some prisoners." He looks from me to Gwen unsure of what to do, I ask, "Which guards?" He begins to rapidly list off name, but I don't listen. I look at his face, all sharp angles and cheekbones. His black hair contrasting his blue eyes, and pale skin. His tongue darts out to lick his lips like he doesn't even know he's doing it.

"Merlin, when do we leave?" I cut him off in mid sentence.

"An hour," he says quickly.

"Good," I turn to Gwen, "Get someone to pack my bags." She nods, and rushes off. I turn back to Merlin, "Prepare the horses, and polish my armor." I reach the door before he calls to me.

"Horses?"

"Yes, horses. Two of them."

"But, why?" He asks, puzzled.

"You're coming with us. Be ready within the hour." The last thing I see before I leave is the shocked look on Merlin's face