CHAPTER 8 : ANTS IN YOUR PANTS

Waiting for a visiting king to arrive took a long time and Arthur noticed that there were ants running over the cobbles. He glanced at Merlin who took a piece of straw carried into the courtyard on a horse's hoof and laid it between two cobbles, making a bridge then trying to encourage the ants to take a short cut from the peak of one cobble to another.

Arthur grinned. This was better than standing waiting for the king to come. He had been standing near Gaius and was pleased to see Merlin standing behind him. Merlin grinned and Arthur shuffled slowly so that he was now almost hidden by the knights flanking the front stairs.

Ants were funny things he decided. They were always so busy and seldom left the track decided upon by the preceding ant. He decided to make a barrier and purposely put his foot over the track and watched as the lead ant stopped and decided to go around his boot.

Merlin nodded in encouragement and knelt down to put his hand beside Arthur's boot to further confuse the situation. Arthur glanced at the knights, they still hid them from the main stairs. He saw a few smiles and returned them. Now, he was more used to reacting with a smile since spending time with Merlin.

The knights were at ease waiting for the king and the senior council members to make an appearance on the steps. They talked quietly not paying too much attention to the two boys.

The ants were fascinating as they had decided that Merlin's hand was a suitable crossing place. Arthur couldn't believe that Merlin had the patience to wait until they had accepted him. He had already moved his boot and the ants were once again on their old course. He knelt down to move the piece of straw and waited smiling to himself as one brave individual decided to take advantage of the short cut.

The two boys were completely engrossed in their game. Gaius was busy talking to someone; the knights were still standing around so Arthur joined Merlin kneeling in the courtyard commandeering a squadron of ants. Merlin's ants were much more inquisitive than Arthur's, he was hunkered down and had them running over both of his hands.

Arthur nudged his knee with his elbow and he slipped backwards landing on his bottom. He retaliated by pulling Arthur over with him. They rolled around wrestling; the ants completely forgotten.

Geoffrey said to Gaius, "Better stop them before they get too carried away." Merlin had Arthur pinned to the cobbles and Arthur was grinning up at him.

Gaius walked over, "Get up, you can't wrestle here. Arthur, are you listening to me?"

Arthur had rolled Merlin over and was sitting on him with his arm raised in victory but not for long as the knights suddenly shuffled to attention and a voice bellowed across the courtyard, "Arthur!"

It had an immediate effect on more people than the unfortunate prince. Gaius moved forward and hauled him off Merlin, trying to straighten his clothes and pushed him forward to the king saying under his breath, "Remember, Arthur, his bark is worse than his bite!"

Geoffrey hauled Merlin up and hid him behind him. Merlin said, "...but it was as much my fault as his!"

Gaius returned from escorted a very frightened Arthur to the king and said, "Merlin, stop it! The king will not appreciate your involvement." Merlin eyes briefly glowed gold and Gaius grabbed his shoulder saying, "Don't you dare!"

The knights were watching their king as Arthur approached him, at that same moment, there was a flash of lightening and a snap of thunder. The flags on the turrets were whipped into action and the king's attention was averted from Arthur.

Sir Rupert put his hand on Arthur's shoulder and pulled him towards him. The king turned and saw that Arthur was now with Rupert. He said, "You take care of it. He seemed to have improved but rolling on the ground with a guttersnipe is certainly not what I would expect from a crown prince. Maybe some time in the stocks or the dungeon will help him mend his ways."

Merlin whose ears were tuned to the king's words, stiffened and if Gaius hadn't held him back he would have propelled himself forward to take on the king.

Gaius said, "He's going to be alright. Rupert will never hurt him; just give him a stern talking to, which I also intend to do the next time, I see him. You, too…when I get you back to our chambers!" He turned to look at Rupert and they exchanged looks over the heads of the boys whom they now had under their control.

At that moment, the guests rode into the courtyard and Camelot fell into its normal routine of welcoming royalty.

-0-0-

Gaius gave Merlin a royal talking to, in no time he was in tears. "Had he not thought that maybe the courtyard was not the best place to play rough and tumble with the crown prince? Other people rolling around like that with the prince would have ended up in the dungeon." Merlin blinked and more tears ran down his face.

Gaius let it sink in and then used another tack. "So, I guess, you don't want to have anything more to do with the prince as that was one sure way of making the king regret that he ever allowed you to associate with his son." Gaius paused for effect before continuing, "Merlin, you are a visitor here and as such have more freedom than any of the pages or the squires. I know that you did nothing wrong but in the king's eyes it was unbecoming for his son to be seen in broad daylight wrestling while everyone was expecting the imminent arrival of King Odard."

Gaius's heart broke as Merlin turned up his tear-stained face and said, "Are you going to send me away?"

Not being able to take anymore, Gaius opened his arms and Merlin clung to him sobbing.

"I didn't mean to get Arthur into trouble. We were just playing with the ants and he unbalanced me and I…" he paused to wipe away a tear, "I did the same to him. I know I shouldn't have but at the time, it seemed perfectly alright. Will Arthur be whipped?" Again a big tear escaped and ran down his cheek and he brushed it away.

"I don't think so…"

"You know his father has whipped him on a few occasions but only when no one is around. Arthur showed me the bruises one day."

Gaius was shocked. Arthur had never mentioned anything about being physically reprimanded by his father. He knew that Merlin wouldn't lie to him and decided then and there to follow up on that situation. Someone must have known what was going on as Arthur's manservant or Richard the king's manservant were continually present. Why hadn't Charles noticed the bruises and come to him for advice? Gaius was vehemently opposed to abusing children. Life was dangerous enough when you were an adult as few people valued human life, but surely while a child you deserved to be protected and loved.

He might condone a slap on the bottom if a young child persistently puts itself in a dangerous situation and refuses to listen or obey orders but to purposely hit an older child, he could not agree with that. He knew that the pages were often caned as were some of the squires but he suddenly realised that he would put himself between Merlin and any adult regardless of whom they were if they dared raise a hand against him and by extension, he knew that he would also stand up for Arthur.

"You didn't know, did you, Gaius? I knew you would never let anyone hurt Arthur. Will he get beaten by Sir Rupert?"

"No, Rupert would never hit Arthur just as he wouldn't hit his own son Rudyard. Life is very hard and I can't promise that no one will ever take out their anger on you but I promise that it won't happen in Camelot. You're safe here. That doesn't mean that you can break all the rules and expect to get away scot-free but if you keep an eye out for danger you should be able to avoid it. Should anything happen, I would expect you to tell me and let me deal with it, not decide yourself to call down the wrath of heaven upon your accuser.

"You were really wrong using magic this morning. If someone had noticed, you would probably be under guard in the dungeons at this very minute. Try to think before you act. Merlin, I could not bear to stand by and watch you being punished for something that is second nature to you."

He continued smiling softly and said, "Anyway, whatever would I do with Pendragon?"

Merlin grinned…"I love you, Gaius, I really, really do!"

"…and Arthur?"

Merlin grinned and nodded. "Then," said Gaius, "It will be your responsibility to watch out for the two of you. Think before you agree to anything which might get him into trouble…"

There was a tap on the door and a very subdued Arthur was brought in by Sir Martin. Merlin grinned and smiling at Gaius, said, "Can Arthur and I go into my room for a little while?"

Gaius said, "You can as you are able but surely the question should have been, 'May Arthur and I go into my room?"

Arthur spoke up, saying, "May we, please, Gaius?"

"You may but no roughhousing we've had enough of that for a day!" Gaius motioned Martin to a chair and quietly asked about Rupert and Arthur.

"Rupert just gave him a good talking to, putting emphasis on the inappropriate behaviour and Arthur's need to act his years. He really wasn't very cross as Arthur was so frightened and embarrassed by the king's bellowing at him in front of all the knights and the lightning that he needed little saying to him. One good thing though, the prince will not be expected to attend the welcoming dinner tonight as his father doesn't want to lay eyes on him."

"Why not join us for supper here, Martin, that is, unless you have to put in an appearance in the dining hall?"

"No, I wasn't invited so that would be great. I'll let the kitchens know that we'll need food for four and also tell Charles he won't be needed till later on. Better get back to Geoffrey as he wants to re-shelve some volumes." He turned to leave.

"Martin?" Gaius said, "Have you any books suitable for Merlin about unicorns? Arthur was teasing him and he knows nothing about them. Don't let on, as I want to have a chat with him about them first!"

The boys sat on Merlin's bed, "Did you get into a lot of trouble, Merlin?"

"No, but Gaius was really cross…well not so much cross as sad that we had been so stupid to do that in the courtyard and the king caught us. I was frightened that he might decide to send me away."

Arthur feeing much older and wiser, put his arm around Merlin's shoulders and said seriously, "I would never have allowed him to do that…"

"Did Sir Rupert hurt you?"

Arthur grinned, "No! Sir Rupert isn't like that he just talked to me very seriously and told me that the king was disappointed with me and so annoyed that he didn't want to see me for the rest of the day."

They heard Gaius calling them and went down the stairs. Merlin looked at Arthur and realised that there was much about this young prince which he didn't know but which he intended to find out.

Both boys were thrilled to hear that they would be having supper together with the two adults.

True to his word, Martin returned and put a couple of books on Gaius's work table and joined the others in the little private courtyard where Arthur and Merlin were playing with a rabbit called Knightly.

-0-0-

Charles arrived at Gaius's after being notified by a page that the court physician wished to see him. Gaius had decided that the only way to get to the bottom of Arthur's statement to Merlin about the beating was to speak directly to his manservant.

"I'm having a snack, join me…Merlin's delivering medicines and I wanted to talk to you about Arthur."

Charles heard him out and then said apologetically that he had on two occasions noticed marks on Arthur's back but that the prince had explained them away as a fall during a riding lesson and a horse backing him up against the wall of the stable.

Without mentioning his sources, Gaius explained what he had heard. "If you ever notice the same marks again, please notify me. Arthur is coming around nicely and I don't want a setback because the king is unable to control his anger and is rough with him. When did you last see any marks?"

Charles thought and felt that it was probably a week or two after Merlin arrived but that there had been nothing since. "Honestly, Gaius, he always kept everything to himself and he never showed that he was in pain. I more or less accepted his explanation and he never seemed any more afraid of the king than he always has been. But I will say that more recently the king seems to have relinquished his constant criticism of the prince, even during supper. Richard and I have commented afterwards that they seem to be getting along better, less criticism and more general conversations."

"Is Arthur any easier to deal with in your capacity as manservant?"

"Gaius, you don't know!" Charles smiled, "He's a different person and a pleasure to serve. He's positive and bubbly and he has even begun talking to me about what he and Merlin get up to."

Gaius raised his eyebrows.

Charles laughed, "Don't worry, nothing that you and I wouldn't have got into as kids. His latest claim was that he had been in the dungeons spying on the guards and the prisoners. I told him that that wasn't safe but he had assured me that as long as he was with Merlin, he would be alright! Seems, you told him that…"

"Well, I was actually referring to normal everyday occurrences not acting as spies!"

The door burst open and Merlin came rushing in, not seeing Charles, he called to Gaius, "I saw Arthur and he was playing with some birds. He could let them go and they would come back to him. Must have been a long piece of string! I'm leaving the basket here and going back to watch him, alright, Gaius?"

He turned seeing Charles and smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. May I, Gaius?"

"Yes, go but remember your place no interfering with the birds…" and he gave Merlin a knowing look. Merlin grinned back, spun around and as he went out the door he called, "Goodbye, Gaius! Goodbye Charles!"

Charles spluttered, "...long string, no less? Honestly, Gaius, that young man is going to be someone to contend with when he grows up. Anyway, I have work to get done. I will certainly keep you advised regarding Arthur…" and so saying he left.

Gaius decided he would wander down to watch Merlin as he was introduced to the art of falconry. It would be pleasant to spend a couple of hours outside watching the interaction between the two of them. He did not intend to mention the subject of his chat with Charles but he was pleased that Arthur had felt relaxed enough with Merlin that he had confided in him.

Merlin was besotted with two things; one that the birds were called his name and the other that they could be let loose and come back by themselves. "Do they get into trouble if they just sit in a tree and watch you but refuse to come back? Why would they ever want to come back as they could go and visit other birds? Do they ever fly away and become lost?"

All Arthur could do was to shake his head. He vaguely remembered years ago wondering why the falcons stayed around but now he was more knowledgeable and decided that he would explain all the ins and outs of the sport to Merlin.

Merlin was dumbfounded. They did it for food. He said, "But if they can catch their own food why don't they just do that and not return to the gauntlet."

Arthur explained, "They have been trained from babies and any which are not trustworthy are retrained and if that doesn't work they are dispatched."

"You mean to tell me, Arthur, that just because they act like birds and want to fly away they are killed? I'll have to let Gaius know about this as he won't be very pleased at all."

"Merlin, you are so innocent, it is almost funny!" and Arthur started to laugh at his expense.

"It's not nice to laugh at me and I don't even know what the word means."

".. that you know nothing."

"I do, so! I know that it is wrong to kill something for no reason. I hate you Arthur you are mean and cruel."

Arthur's jaw dropped. "But, Merlin, I don't wring their necks, the falconer does…"

"But you think that it's alright!" Merlin yelled as he ran past Gaius back to the castle.

"What did I say wrong, Gaius? It's the truth. Why did he get so het up about it? I didn't mean to upset him."

"It's alright, Arthur. It wasn't your fault." Gaius put his hand across Arthur's shoulder and turned him to him. "He knows animals are killed for food but he was so taken with the falcons that the idea that they are killed just for being themselves is hard for him to understand." …And continuing, he whispered, "Remember he shares a name with them and it must have made it doubly hard thinking about their being killed. We'll just have to treat our Merlin in a special way, won't we?"

Arthur smiled up at him and said, "He really is very special and I would never think of doing anything to hurt him." He felt all of a sudden quite grown up, Gaius had shared something very important with him. In future, he would keep an eye out for his most recently acquired Merlin.

-0-0-

Merlin wouldn't be attending the Investiture but Gaius promised that he could stand beside him as the candidates for the knighthood made their way to the Grand Hall, following their night of vigil. Arthur would be in attendance and was looking forward to it and he had listened carefully with Merlin as Gaius had explained what was going to happen to Rodick.

If Arthur told the truth, he was more interested in the upcoming summer tournament and his birthday. However, he understood that the ceremony of the investiture was very important as Gaius had mentioned that one day he would become a knight and then when he was king it would be his job to knight the candidates.

"Maybe, I will knight Merlin as well."

"You can't because I'm a peasant."

"I'll change the rules!"

"It's alright, Arthur, as Gaius said that I can have a horse and a woollen cloak even if I'm not a knight."

On the appointed day, Merlin stood in the corridor as the candidates, each one vested in white with black boots, made their way to the Grand Hall with their squire masters, sponsors and squires. He saw the selected squires carrying the red cloaks for the soon to be invested knights and the sponsors with the swords. For a second, he thought it would have been so much fun to be involved as a squire…Soon the candidates had passed and he made his way back to his chambers as Gaius followed the procession into the Grand Hall.

Merlin sat in the courtyard and thought about the exciting days to come, with the tournament and Arthur's birthday. Gaius had turned down his first two presents for Arthur. He had not felt that a magic eagle which had suddenly appeared, would be as wonderful an idea as Merlin had. The arrival of a miniature silver wolf which prowled around their courtyard was also vetoed.

Gaius explained that Arthur would not be able to keep either the eagle or the wolf but maybe a drawing of them might be acceptable. Merlin sat at the table and concentrated. He had a piece of rough paper and a twig with a burned tip which made not too thick marks. Gaius smiled watching Merlin concentrate. The tip of his tongue held firmly between his teeth. Soon the masterpiece was finished and Gaius was shocked to see that he had incorporated the two animals and had given the wolf wings, a feathered eagle-like head and talons.

"It's special, just like Arthur, brave yet not too scary! He won't laugh, will he, Gaius?" asked the seven year old.

"I'm sure he will be impressed. Whatever made you think to combine the two animals?"

"I don't know, it just seemed right…my hand seemed to have a life of its own."

"Does it have a name?"

"Well, I'd call it Rhubarb as I love rhubarb but it is called an eagloup."

Gaius was suitable impressed with both words but suggested that Arthur might like to name it himself. He made a note to check with Sir Geoffrey just to see if an eagloup was a mythical creature.

Arthur was impressed with the gift and Charles mentioned that he had insisted banging a nail into one of his bedposts so he could lie in bed and look at Merlin's strange creature.