AN: In case the huge break didn't tip you off, I am back at school. This of course means I have no time for anything that isn't homework, classes or sleep. But I am trying to keep writing!
Sorry about the break. This is going to be a crazy semester, but hopefully I will fit in some writing time. I want to update once every two weeks, but that's looking less and less likely as I figure out just how busy I'm going to be, but I will try my best. I do love you guys and I want to keep updating, but it gets a bit difficult.
Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I'm almost done being cruel to Arthur, I promise ;) And Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, alerts and views! I really do appreciate all of them :)
Oh, and I don't own Merlin. I don't think that would fit in my schedule right now...
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Men and Monsters
Ever since Arthur had met Merlin he had realized that there was definitely something wrong with his father, but it wasn't until Uther ordered his own son whipped that he began to suspect the king was crazy. It was clear now that his delusions about the evils of magic had pushed him over the edge and into insanity.
Part of Arthur wanted to forgive him. To give in and go back to the life he had had before. To get the man he thought of as his father back. It was the same part of him that had constantly worked to gain Uther's affection as a child, and the part that still believed that underneath the madness there was still a good man and maybe even a just king. And, of course, going back to that life of comfort would also bring an end to the pain of Uther's so called "treatment", which sounded so supremely wonderful Arthur couldn't stop himself from considering his options.
But the blood he shared with the king was nothing compared to the bond he shared with Merlin. He would endure for him. It was humbling to think Merlin had definitely gone through worse when he was a prisoner in this castle, and it made Arthur feel stronger. This pain would be the proof that he truly did love Merlin, and each scar he was left with would be a testament to that love.
Of course, Uther was doing his best to make sure there were no scars. There were some from a few hours previous when the large guard had returned with a whip, and there were two small ones on either wrist where Uther had tried draining his blood as an alternative to the torture, but Gaius had been allowed to treat him after each session and had assured him that none of his injuries would have any other permanent results.
He had been left free of the hanging shackles when Uther left for the second time that day, which was a blessing. He was much too exhausted to even contemplate moving, which was probably why the restraints had been completely removed, but it was still comforting to be free of the heavy metal weight that had been hanging around his wrists for so long.
He had almost fallen asleep when the door to his little room burst open again. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed it wasn't Uther back again already before slowly rolling over to face the door. Arthur couldn't keep from smiling slightly as he saw a friendly, although slightly horrified face.
"Leon." Arthur huffed, "It is so good to see you."
Leon looked completely flabbergasted as he closed the distance between himself and Arthur, kneeling down beside Arthur's head and helping as Arthur pulled himself upright. His eyes were scanning Arthur the entire time, the horror that had been present on his face morphing into anger.
"Gaius told me what the king had done to you, but I didn't believe him." Leon whispered, "I suppose I was wrong in thinking that Uther still has a heart."
Arthur grimaced at Leon's comment, knowing that he was right but wishing he wasn't. Wanting nothing more than to change topics Arthur asked, "Did it work? Were you able to find Merlin?"
Leon pulled his eyes away from the bandages that encircled Arthur's wrists after he had finished speaking, and met his eyes with a sad smile. "Yes, Arthur. I found him. And he's going to get you out of here. I'm going to get him into the castle, a little after noon on the day after tomorrow, and then they'll get you out of here. I know there isn't much you can do, but try to be ready then."
Arthur nodded. In less than two days Merlin would be coming for him. Hope and worry raged within him as he thought about what that meant. Merlin coming here would put Merlin in grave danger, but it would get him away from the pain and loneliness his life was becoming. Arthur knew Merlin would be chastising him if he could hear Arthur's thoughts now. He would remind Arthur of his powers and his destiny, probably adding some insult into the mix, before reassuring Arthur that he would be careful and that nothing would keep them apart. Arthur tried to believe his imaginary Merlin, and trust that he would be strong enough to get Arthur out, but the worry was still there.
"Make sure he's safe, Leon. He doesn't always think to clearly when his friends are threatened, and I can't lose him. If you think for any reason your plan isn't going to work, forget about me and get him to safety. His life is so much more important than mine."
Leon nodded slowly as he replied, "I'll do my best, and I know his friends will do everything they can to keep him safe as well, but I think in the end none of us will be able to keep him from you. And your life is important Arthur, probably more than you even realize. There are still many here who are loyal to you, and we will need a leader when the time comes. The people trust that you will return for them, and I want to be proud to be a knight of Camelot again. Someday you will be king, Arthur, no matter what anyone says or does. The loyalty you inspired as a prince guaranteed that. So please don't think that you are not important, because to the people of Camelot you are more important than you can imagine."
Arthur really hadn't been expecting that speech. Leon had never really been a man of many words, often preferring to listen than speak himself. And learning that Leon still believed that he would be king gave Arthur hope that he really would return to his people when he finally got the chance. He wanted to protect the people of the land, and he knew that working with Merlin did help him achieve that goal, but as king he would have the freedom to do all that he couldn't as an outlaw in the woods. He was still speechless when Leon gently patted him on the shoulder saying, "Get some rest, Arthur. And don't worry. The plan will work. I will be back tomorrow with Merlin, and he will get you out of Uther's grasp."
"Thank you." Arthur said with a small smile as he watched Leon leave. It wasn't long after the door to his prison had closed that he drifted back off to sleep, the smile still on his face.
Lancelot hated seeing Merlin alone. He couldn't imagine what their young leader must be going though. Lancelot knew that family was everything to Merlin, so losing any part of his strange little entourage would be devastating. But losing Arthur would be so much worse for him. Lancelot felt extremely lucky to consider himself one of Merlin's friends, and he figured that as one of the few he might have some idea what the man felt, but he was usually incredibly good at hiding his emotions. It wasn't until Arthur first stumbled into their camp that he had realized how much Merlin had been hiding from them. He knew Merlin had suffered in the past, but he always acted so carefree and happy it was easy to forget. But around Arthur he had changed, his joy seemed more genuine, his smiles brighter. Losing Arthur sent Merlin back into his shell, barely eating and rarely speaking to anyone unless they were working on the plan to rescue Arthur. Percy had been able to get him to eat a few small meals by reminding him he would need his strength for their mission, and he had been smiling slightly after returning from a walk with Gwaine, but in the end none of them could bring the new Merlin back without Arthur's help. Lancelot was almost certain if it hadn't been for Leon, Merlin would have stormed the castle on his own, and his recklessness would have almost definitely gotten him killed.
Luckily Leon had given Merlin hope, and because of that hope Merlin had stayed put, planning and resting and sulking as they waited for their moment to strike. Lancelot knew Leon's plan was for the best, but he couldn't help but wish the knight hadn't forced them to wait this extra day. Each time Merlin stood, either him, Percy, or Gwaine would stand as well, ready to stop him just in case he had decided he was done waiting and was going to attack the castle on his own. The entire day they had to wait was pure torture, keeping them all on their toes and incredibly nervous. At times it seemed that that one day would go on forever, but eventually the sun did eventually set, signaling them to settle down for the night. Sleep had been a little too much to hope for though, and as the sun rose Lancelot could tell that the others had all had similar nights. It was slightly worrying to think of storming Camelot while all of them were exhausted, but he knew waiting any longer would probably drive Merlin insane.
Gwen and Elyan had been handling the whole transition rather well, trying to help in whatever ways they could. Neither would be accompanying them to the castle as they were still too new to this life, but Elyan was enthusiastic about joining when he could and Gwen knew more about the secret passages of the castle then Arthur did. With her help they had come up with about three different routes in and out of the East Tower, hopefully one of which would be unguarded enough for them to pass through. Of course, with Leon's help that might not even be an issue.
Lancelot could not express how thankful he was to the rebellious knight for his help. After putting Merlin to sleep the night after Arthur had been captured, Percival, Gwaine, and himself had a discussion about what they would have to do to get Arthur out. They had come up with nothing. At the end of their failed discussion Percival had actually suggested tying Merlin up to keep him from running back to the castle on his own. Lancelot and Gwaine had considered it, but they knew Merlin would be able to break free, and his anger at being restrained would only make him even more likely to storm the castle on his own. But with Leon they actually stood a chance.
Merlin had been incredibly jumpy all morning. He had kept one hand clenched around the blue-gray stone since the sun had risen, and had his personality had done almost a 180 since yesterday, going from sullen and sulky to excited and quite loud. He had discussed the plan with everyone, glancing up at the sun every few seconds. It was nice to have him so energetic again, but Lancelot wasn't sure he had wanted this kind of energy. Merlin was acting like a general going into battle and it scared him a little. Lancelot had always believed Merlin was the perfect person to receive such awesome powers, but seeing him acting like this made him nervous. When he was like this Lancelot knew that Merlin could destroy the entire world with a flick of his wrist if he so desired.
Needless to say, Merlin wasn't the only one overly excited to get Arthur back. Lancelot jumped up as soon as Merlin declared it was time, and was quickly followed by Percival and Gwaine. Gwen and Elyan would stay at their new camp, keeping an eye on their meager belongings while the rest of them went to rescue Merlin's prince.
The walk to the lake seemed shorter today than it had two days ago. It felt as if no time had passed before they were standing before the calm lake, their reflections rippling in the sunlight. They were slightly early, Leon wasn't supposed to arrive until noon and the sun still had a ways to go before reaching its peak, but that was part of the plan. They needed time to find the perfect place to ambush the unsuspecting men. Gwaine was an expert at keeping hidden (usually from an angry husband) and quickly found the best places for them to wait and hide. Merlin and Gwaine had gone upwards, concealing themselves in the branches of the trees overhanging the path to the lake's shore while Lancelot and Percival remained on the ground, peeking out from within the thick undergrowth that covered the forest floor. They had just finished hiding themselves when the sound of approaching horses and a mental message from Merlin warned Lancelot their target was near.
Leon had so much trouble concealing his true feelings for the king over the day before he went out to meet with Merlin and rescue Arthur. He couldn't risk going back to check on the prince, as he looked suspicious enough already, but he hated leaving Arthur alone and injured in the tower. And watching the king go about his daily business as if nothing was wrong was infuriating. Leon hated that he had sworn allegiance to such a terrible tyrant, but more than that he hated that he could do nothing to protect the man he considered both leader and friend from the cruel actions of his own father. Only by avoiding Uther as much as possible and nearly destroying a training dummy was Leon able to make it through the next day.
The prospect of doing something to free Arthur made the morning pass much faster than the previous day had. Action was the perfect cure for his restless anger, and there was much to do before he could set his plan in motion. He would need to choose the men who would accompany him carefully. If he could get the strongest and most loyal out of the castle, they would stand a better chance of freeing Arthur when the time came. Of course this could also mean risking his position in the court, but at this point Leon no longer cared. Arthur was his priority; he could worry about the rest later.
It was a half an hour before noon when Leon and four of the smartest and strongest mercenaries rode out into the woods. Tricking them into believing he had found Emrys' trail but wanted to keep the glory (and ransom) for the smallest group possible had been incredibly easy. Leon had almost worried they would get to the lake too early when he saw how quickly the men rode with the prospect of gold leading them on.
When they were about five minutes ride from the lake's shore Leon grabbed the rock Arthur had entrusted him with once more. He really had no idea how it worked (besides the obvious answer of magic) but he trusted Merlin had gotten the message and knew that he was on his way.
Still, Leon couldn't help but worry he had made a mistake. If Merlin or any of his friends were caught because of his folly, Arthur would never forgive him. Hell, he would never forgive himself. But he couldn't allow Arthur to remain in that terrible room, so he had to take this risk.
Of course he shouldn't have worried. There was a reason Emrys was the most wanted man in the kingdom. Leon had just enough time to question everything before the first of the guards was thrown from his horse, as if the beast was spooked. The second man was blown backwards by a sudden gust of wind, landing heavily on the ground. Neither looked like they would be getting up any time soon. The other two mercenaries had stopped, both drawing their weapons and searching for the source of the attack as Merlin and Gwaine dropped from the trees ahead of them, Percival and Lancelot springing from the undergrowth just behind. Now both surrounded and outnumbered the remaining two mercenaries began to glance around nervously, as if looking for a way out. The glint in Merlin's eyes promised them no chance of escape, as with a sweep of his arms they were both blown backwards, flying into trees on either side of the path, each landing on the ground in two heaps of unwashed flesh and weapons.
"Ah, the knights of Camelot," Gwaine said with a smile sauntering towards Leon, "Truly a formidable foe. I'd say that took about one second per man. That may be a new record, Merlin."
"Stop joking around Gwaine." Merlin said, moving to the smallest of the four guards, who was still nearly twice his side. "Arthur's waiting for us."
Leon was surprised that Gwaine didn't reply to that. From the little he knew of the outlaw, he seemed to be constantly making jokes. His expression now was incredibly somber, showing Leon just how worried all of the thieves were. All of them were watching Merlin as if he was likely to blow up at any second. Leon gulped as he realized that their fears might have been legitimate. With such great powers, any emotional turbulence could have significant side effects for any near him. If he knew what the king had done to Arthur, he would surely forgo any plans and rush the castle himself, taking out any who got in his way. So Leon kept his mouth shut, hoping he was making the right decision as the four men stripped the unconscious mercenaries and quickly pulled on their clothes. Merlin then knelt in front of each mercenary, and with a flash of his eyes altered their memories. He had assured Leon that when they were done, the men would have no recollection of what had really happened to them, or that he had had anything to do with it. Leon was surprised the young warlock would be willing to protect his position as a knight, but he was grateful. He wanted to continue to protect the people from the inside, no matter how hard that was getting to be. With the armor of the knights of Camelot and a little help from Merlin's magic, the four of them were soon unrecognizable.
"Thank you for doing this." Lancelot (Leon was almost sure it was him, the disguise was quite good though, and even seemed to mask his voice) said. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't offered your help."
"I'm Arthur's friend." Leon replied, "I want him to be happy, just as you wish the same for Merlin. His life hasn't been as easy as many would be lead to think. There is no need to thank me, just promise that when you do get him out of there he will be happy. He's a good man, no matter who his father is."
"We know." The largest, so almost definitely Percival said, "He's proved that to us over and over again. We won't let Uther dictate his life any longer."
"And he will be happy." Merlin said. Even with his disguise he was easily distinguishable from the rest. It wasn't just his size though, his voice was so sure, and he seemed to radiate power even as the knight's clothing swamped his smaller form. "I will do everything I can to make sure of that."
"I can tell." Leon responded. "I've never seen him act the way he does around you before. You've changed him, made him his own man, not his father's. It is obvious to any who know him that you do make him happy."
"Except Uther." The man Leon was pretty certain was Gwaine grunted. "That man must be as blind as a wilddeoren not to see it, or at least as stupid as one."
Leon couldn't respond to that. He couldn't get the image of Arthur lying beaten on the floor of the tower room, barely able to pull himself into a sitting position because of Uther. Stupid was too good of a word to use to describe the king.
"We should get moving." Merlin directed, "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get Arthur out."
Leon agreed, spurring his horse into motion as they took off towards Camelot, Uther, and Arthur.
It wasn't long before Merlin spotted the gleaming white spires of Camelot's castle. It was strange to think that such a glorious kingdom could be ruled by such a cruel man. Merlin scowled as he thought of Uther, but now wasn't the time to fixate on his hatred for the man who continued to take everything from him. If he stayed focused and kept to their plan, it wouldn't be long before he at least had Arthur back.
Their first test would be getting through the gate. With Leon leading the way and their disguises keeping them hidden the pass into the city was smoother than ever before. Still, Merlin couldn't help but hold his breath as he felt the guard's gaze pass over him, Lancelot, Gwaine, and Percival, and he couldn't hold back the audible sigh that escaped his lips as they were allowed through without further inspection. No one questioned it though, so he continued riding forward through the streets of the city.
The one thing he hadn't been prepared for was the look many of the citizens were giving him. Many of the men, women, and children he had helped in the past were now watching him with fear and hatred, mothers pulling toddlers out of his gaze, and doors quickly slammed as they approached. Leon seemed to be used to it, but Merlin couldn't help but gaze around him in sadness as he was reminded again of how much these people had suffered. Soon, he promised himself, things would be different. When he made Arthur king, things would change. Together, they would fix this kingdom.
But to do that he would first need to get Arthur back. Merlin spurred his horse forward as he reminded himself how close he was to reuniting with his prince. Just ahead of them was the mighty castle where his love was waiting for him. It was strange riding up to the front doors like guests, especially as the last time Merlin had passed this way he had been in chains. Today was different though, with Leon they would be safe, no one would doubt their presence in the castle. Hoping he looked confident enough to be one of the newly appointed mercenary-knights, Merlin jumped off his horse and followed Leon into the castle. Once again Merlin had to hide his surprise as the servants and maids flinched as he passed. A few did smile at Leon though, confirming Merlin's belief that the knight who had agreed to help them really was as good as Arthur believed him to be. They didn't stop moving until Leon ushered them into a small, unused room, checking carefully to be certain no one was watching them before he did so.
"The base of the east tower is just around the corner." The knight said, gesturing in the direction they had been going before he had pulled them aside. "Two men are stationed at the bottom, and two at the top. Uther appoints them himself, so they will be loyal to him and I won't be able to convince them to move. If I am to remain in Camelot, I won't be able to accompany you any further."
Merlin nodded, saying, "I think it would be best if you kept your position here, it would be nice to know at least some of the knights still hold the people's best interests in heart."
Leon smiled at him and said, "I fear I do little good, but thank you. You should get moving, the guards increase after dark."
With that, Leon left the room empty of everything except the four disguised outlaws. Merlin was sad to see him go, he seemed a genuinely good man and probably knew more about Arthur than anyone else. But he would do more good on if he was free to wander the streets of Camelot than if he was forced to creep through the shadows, labeled as a criminal.
"Shall we be on our way then?" Gwaine asked, gesturing towards the door and shaking Merlin out of his thoughts. "We do have a princess to save."
"Don't let Arthur hear you calling him a princess." Lancelot added, with a hesitant smile. "I don't think he would appreciate that, and he has won more tournaments than anyone else in Camelot."
"Perhaps, but he's never fought me, has he? And if he doesn't want to be called a princess he should be more careful about getting locked up in towers. I think that makes him a princess by default."
"Now really isn't the time to be arguing about this." Merlin added, even though he couldn't help but smile at Gwaine's point. He would definitely be teasing Arthur about this once they got him out of the tower. Gwaine and Lancelot both nodded and sobered up immediately as Merlin took charge, reciting their plan allowed, even though they all knew it by heart. "Alright, we need to take out the guards at the bottom of the tower first. Lancelot and Gwaine will take their place and try to keep anyone else from getting in our way or getting suspicious. Percival will go up, take care of the two remaining guards, free Arthur and meet you two back at the bottom of the stairs. When we have Arthur we have to assume that the castle will be on high alert. If we stick to the hidden servant passageways Gwen told us about we should be alright, but we need to move quickly."
"We're ready, Merlin." Percival said, giving Merlin's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "We can do this, you know we can."
Merlin nodded and led the way out of the room. Leon's guidance had brought them right to the base of the tower, and just as they turned the corner they saw the two guards, stationed on either end of a narrow, curving stairway. Luckily no one else was in this part of the castle, so as Merlin whispered "Swefe nu" no one noticed the two guards crumple to the ground, both fast asleep. Gwaine and Lancelot ran to the two unconscious men, each grabbing one and hauling them off in the direction they had come, presumably back to the room they had been hiding in. Merlin and Percival took the spot of the two guards as they waited for Lancelot and Gwaine to return. It wasn't more than a minute before they were back, taking the positions assigned to them in Merlin's plan.
Merlin than ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, the prospect of Arthur waiting at the top spurring him on. He had been so distracted by the thought that he almost hadn't heard the cry of pain as he neared the top. But he did hear it, and if the expression on Percival's face was anything to go by he had as well. Someone at the top of this tower was in pain. And that could mean only one thing.
Someone was hurting Arthur.
Merlin's blood went cold as he practically flew up the remaining steps, not really hearing Percival over the pounding in his ears. The small wooden door that stood in his way at the end of the spiral staircase was no match for the power of his fury. It was less than splinters after his magic was through with it, leaving only a cloud of sawdust floating down the stairwell. It wasn't the door Merlin was angry at though, it was the man behind it. No, not the man, the monster who was beating his son with some type of wooden sword. Everything froze for a moment as Merlin burst into the room, forgoing all plans of silence and stealth now that he knew Arthur was being tortured by Uther. The stillness didn't last for long though, as Merlin's rage boiled over, and his magic took control.