The Lost King—Chapter 7
There weren't many things in this world that Arthur Pendragon was afraid of, but Dr. Drummet was one of them. She was the type of person that seemed perfectly harmless on the outside, but on the inside she was a snake coiled and ready to strike. Arthur wasn't sure if it was the way her eyes sized you up, found you unworthy, and then pretend you were invisible, or if it was the way she smiled. He was pretty sure she had fangs instead of real teeth, and that the bright red color of her lips wasn't paint, it was blood. No, Arthur thought, it was her voice that was worse than anything else. With the slightest intonation, she could make a grown man burst into tears. Arthur had seen this done. On more than one occasion. Her voice was like a metal being scraped against stone. It made your head start ringing and your ears bleed. If this lady wasn't a witch, he thought sourly, I'll eat my shoe. (Something which he had actually been forced to do once after losing a game of cards with Merlin, and so knew just how distasteful a shoe could be.)
"Arthur?" She said. He winced at the sound of his name emanating from her lips. She had a distinct way of saying it that he was sure would haunt his dreams for eternity. "Would you like to share with us today?"
No, Arthur did not want to share, but he knew from his experiences in the last couple of days that if he didn't get up and say something in front of the group, he would regret it. He rose from his seat and in the most kingly way he could manage, wrapped his fluffy robe about him "Hello, everyone," he began, "my name is Ki - (he caught the glare in Dr. Drummet's eye and bit back the '-ng') Arthur."
The group responded with an unamused chorus of, "Hello, Arthur."
Arthur set his jaw and looked around the room. There were ten including himself. Six males, four females. All were captives here, just like him. There was a pirate, an emperor, a Queen, and a President (whatever that was). There was even a King (although Arthur was sure that his kingdom of Rockandroll must not have a very good hygiene system. He never seemed to bathe. He was, however, very polite, always saying "Thank you very much" whenever he could.)
Dr. Drummet was tapping her foot very, very slightly. Soon, she would begin flicking her nails together and sighing a lot. None of these were good signs. This made Arthur forget what to say at all. She smiled and Arthur recoiled. "Arthur. Why don't you tell us all how you became king of Camelot? Hmm?"
Gods, she was still smiling. And tapping her foot. He had better talk fast. "Well, I became king when my father, Uther Pendragon, was killed."
"Ooh!" A doughy man across the room was waving his hand frantically. "How was he killed? Was he beheaded?"
Dr. Drummet raised a finger to her ruby lips and shushed him. "Now, Napoleon, it's Arthur's turn to talk. We don't interrupt while someone is talking, do we?" The man quickly lowered his hand and sunk far into his seat. "Good," she said, and turned her sharp green eyes back to Arthur. "Go ahead."
He trembled and pulled his robe closer. "Actually, my father was killed protecting me from an assassin." His thoughts returned back to that wicked day. How his father had heroically fought off the killer, only to be stabbed himself. How he couldn't save him.
"And how did that make you feel, Arthur?" She asked. She was always asking about his feelings. Why on earth would a witch like her care how he felt?
He stared at his feet, at the wall, anywhere but at Dr. Drummet. "Don't know. Bad?" She narrowed her eyes and clicked her nails. He hurriedly explained, "I mean..." What did he mean? "Guilty. I felt guilty." He sighed. He had felt guilty. Extremely so. He should have been able to protect him, he should have been there for him, he shouldn't have tried to use magic to heal him.
He inhaled sharply. He had forgotten momentarily. He had tried to use magic to heal his father. He had gone against everything his father had instilled in him. And he had lost both his parents to magic. Anger flared up in him. He shouldn't be feeling guilty. It wasn't his fault. It was that sorcerer-
"Oh." He exclaimed.
"What is it?" Dr. Drummet demanded.
Arthur wavered were he stood, as if he had been punched in the gut. It had finally come to him. All of it, like pieces in a puzzle falling into place. That old sorcerer. He had seen him before and after that day. And now he knew his identity.
Through clenched teeth, he raged, "I just remembered how my father was really killed. And if I see that little, cabbage-headed, good-for-nothing again, this time I really will have his head! In fact, I'll string him up myself! Forget everything I ever said about him. I take it all back. I never want to see his stupid, incompetent face ever again!"
With growing interest, Dr. Drummet said, "Who, Arthur? Who do you never want to see?"
"Mer-" Something had caught his eye at the back of the room. Just through the set of doors.
"Yes?"
It had been a face, with a daft smile and dark black hair. "-lin?" Arthur flung himself from the chair and ran for the doors, ignoring the cries from the witch doctor and the applause from everyone else. He had seen the face again. And now, he was certain who it belonged to.
He flew through the doors, crashing them open, and skidded to a halt. It was him: idiot, servant, cabbagehead, sorcerer,...friend. He was just standing there, grinning ear-to-ear and... Wait! What was he doing?
"MERLIN! WHERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN!" Arthur demanded while Merlin squeezed him in a fierce bear hug. Just as quickly, Arthur pushed Merlin away. "Get off me!" What had gotten into him?
"I'm sorry I'm late, Sire. I've been looking for you for so long, you have no idea! And there is so much to tell you. But we need to go, Arthur. Now." He said all in one complexly emotional breath. His eyes shone like miniature suns.
"Merlin," Arthur said, adjusting his fluffy robe. "Were you crying?"
"No."
"Then why are your cheeks wet? Honestly, you are such a girl sometimes." He said folding his arms together.
"Oh, yeah. Then what are you?" Merlin said, pointing to Arthur's face.
Arthur felt his own cheeks. "I'm...I'm not crying. I'm...I'm sweating." He said defensively.
"Sweating?"
"Yes. It was a long run out those doors...and...oh, shut up and get me out of here!"
Merlin nodded and pulled Arthur down the hallway. As they ran, Arthur asked. "How long have I been gone? Do they all think I'm dead? Has Gwen been made Queen?"
Merlin answered none of the questions, he just kept running. Now was not the time. Finally, they came to the last set of double doors. As they rounded the corner, he ran smack into Addy, toppling them both to the ground.
"Ouch! Watch it!" She yelled, and hit him lightly in the arm.
"Addy!" He cried with relief. "I'm glad you found us. We need to leave!"
She glared at him and motioned with her eyes to the very short man standing right next to them. She picked herself up off the ground and took a breath. "Dr. Emrys. This is Dr. Bretir. He was helping me look for a suitable patient for our research." She set her jaw and waited to see if he would catch on.
Clearing his addled brain, Merlin got to his feet and snapped to attention. "Oh, hello," he said, eyeing Dr. Bretir warily. He was confused. There was something very familiar about the doctor, but he couldn't place it. I should know this man, he thought. But the memory wouldn't come.
Dr. Bretir merely smiled and patted Addy on the hand. "Nevermind. I know how it is for you youngsters." He gave Merlin a curious wink. "Always in a hurry." He glanced up at Merlin, "Look, as I was explaining to your colleague, I don't see any reason why a patient of ours couldn't accompany you back to your hospital. Providing you fill out all the necessary paperwork at the main desk below. Oh, and Arthur, I expect you to behave yourself. No more flashing the public, eh?" He then moved out of the way of the doors.
Arthur glanced at Merlin, then back to the doctor. It couldn't be that easy, could it? After everything I've been through, they just let him take me! Pfft. Sorcerers. Merlin nodded gratefully and pulled Arthur with him through the door.
Left alone, Addy thanked the doctor for his help and turned to leave as well. But just as her hand touched the knob, he spoke. His tone was different now, more sad and cautious. "Be careful, my dear. Remember what I told you. They're going to need your help, before the end."
Confused, she nodded and followed after the servant and his King.
Author's note-
Okay, I had a hard time with this one. I wanted a massive 'blow-your-socks-off' reunion, but it just wouldn't fit in with the pacing of the story. Also, for Arthur, its only been few days. But don't worry, I'll cover more of it when our trio has a little more time to breathe. Enjoy! As always, tell me what you think!