A/N: I honestly never believed this story would get so much attention. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews! You inspire me to continue and help make this a better story. Thanks as always goes to my beta Strut. Now, work has been absolutely crazy, my head is full, I feel awful, but I thought I really needed to update, as promised! Enjoy.

Chapter 5

Shuffling inside the council chambers behind the other servants, Merlin noticed every candle, every torch was lit. Dust particles floated in the sun's rays as it being noon, light streamed unencumbered in from the windows. Not a shadow was to be found, making him feel thoroughly uncomfortable. All he saw joining him were boys around his age. There were around ten of them. He recognized Arthur's previous servant, Manfred, standing to the far end as he got in line. Elliot, the kitchen boy stood next to him, but the head of stables wasn't here, nor were any other older men. Where were the maid servants, the kitchen wenches, the launder girls? Come to think of it, the pages, and those of noble birth sent to court to serve as part of their education weren't here either. Although he was glad that Gwen hadn't been summoned, for she could do without whatever Mathylda had planned for them, a feeling of foreboding clenched his chest.

This was a select group of people.

Tagan's words drifted back to him. He's young, therefore, he'll make mistakes. Could the scribe have made his pick this quickly? Sure enough the man in question entered first, followed by Mathylda, confirming his suspicions. He felt his heartbeat quicken. This was not about the new head of housekeep introducing herself. This was the perfect setting for Tagan to observe them.

"What do you suppose he got in there?" Elliot looked wide eyed at the small wooden chest Tagan carried.

Merlin shook his head. "I don't know." The scribe dropped the box on a wooden table that Merlin had never noticed there before. Apart from the thrones -looking old and lost in the bright light- the council chambers usually didn't hold much furniture. So Tagan must have put the table in front of them especially for this occasion. Sensing the boy's distress, Merlin tried to calm him. "Don't worry. It's going to be fine."

Elliot relaxed.

The kitchen boy was far younger than him, more of Mordred's age than his, and at times reminded Merlin of Will. It wasn't safe to remember his friend now though. He was having a hard enough time hiding his feelings of late as it was. He jumped when Mathylda drew their attention by hitting the table hard with what looked like an empty spindle that Merlin had once seen Gwen use in her capacity as a seamstress.

"You will not speak, unless spoken too." Mathylda walked toward them, her step echoing in the oppressive silence of the hall. She moved purposefully down the line and back again, her features tight, her eyes holding no warmth whatsoever. "You will not look any noble men in the eye, unless an answer is demanded." She stopped in front of him, addressing him directly. "You will not eat, sleep, or drink, unless they grant you permission. Do I make myself clear?"

Merlin stared at her. Was she serious? Quick as a whip snake, she lashed out at him with the spindle, hitting him full in the face. His jaw exploded in pain, causing his eyes to water. He cradled his cheek and felt a blood trickle down his chin where the spindle's sharp edged tip had broken skin. Shooting her a hurt glance, he was too shocked to pay attention to his magic rallying inside.

She watched him, her voice turning deceptively soft. "Did I give you permission to look me in the eye, Merlin?"

Part of him refused to buckle down, give in to her demands, but his sensible part told him this was a dangerous game he was playing. He opened his mouth, realised how close he was to releasing his power, so pulled away, reeling in his magic. "No, My Lady." He lowered his head.

All nine boys beside him followed his example, dipping their heads to their chest. As manservant of the prince, Merlin knew some of the younger boys at least held him in high regards, though he'd never done anything to encourage that behaviour. Elliot was one of them. He hated to let the boy down. He'd had no choice though. Not if he wanted to remain at Arthur's side. Biting his lip to keep from looking up, he could almost taste the fear in the air.

"That's better." Mathylda huffed, addressing all of them. Raising her voice, she stayed where she was, her heavily scented perfume –as opposed to the soft scents Gwen wore- adding another level of unease to his stinging cheek and watering eyes. "My name is the Lady Mathylda. I am here to run the royal household." She paused and moved away. "So far, I am not impressed with what I have seen. The orders I have given are only the first, and until you know how to serve, showing the proper demeanour and respect this court deserves, more measures will be taken."

Merlin swallowed. How was he going to help Arthur if he wasn't allowed to look at him, let alone speak to him?

"From now on you will answer only to me. That goes for you too, Merlin."

Something deep inside rebelled, something that wouldn't let her cut him off from Arthur like that. He quickly swallowed away the comment nearly spoken under his breath, not relishing another whip of her spindle. "Yes, My Lady."

"Good. Now that this is clear to you, we can continue. You may have noticed not all members of the household are present in this room. The reason for this is that you are young, your eyes are quick, and your position is low enough to know exactly what is going on at court." She paused to let this information sink in. "Now, we all know magic is evil."

Nods everywhere.

"I can't hear you! Look up, and repeat after me."

Forced to do as he was told, he lifted his head along with the others and gazed at Mathylda, aware of Tagan watching him closely. Hating every word, Merlin was careful to keep his frustration from his face, because in this light, every twist of muscle would show. "Magic is evil," he chanted, every servant beside him sounding like they relished the phrase.

She looked pleased and backed off toward Tagan. "To aid the King in his efforts to rid the land of this evil, he has chosen you to be his eyes and ears." Since Merlin was present at their audience with Uther this morning, both the scribe and Mathylda would be aware that he knew what 'evil' they were looking for. Tagan and Mathylda glared at him, as if daring him to say something.

He watched them, warily.

"In order to help you achieve this goal, I give you Tagan, who will explain matters further," Mathylda stood aside and let the scribe step forward.

Tagan pointed at the dark wooden chest on the table, its frame braced with black steel. "I want you to come forward and pick up one of these." He opened the lid and took what looked like an amulet on a chain from the box.

Merlin could feel its power, his senses homing in on the object the moment the chest opened. Nausea rose. He hoped Tagan hadn't noticed and pretended he didn't taste bile rising in his throat. He was relieved to see that Elliot and the others were equally mesmerized by the amulet. For entirely different reasons, he guessed. Most of them had never seen anything this pretty. But at least their interest had masked his slip up.

"Elliot," Tagan bellowed in that deep voice of his.

Hands clenched in front of them, Elliot looked reluctant to step forward. Merlin noticed he was shaking and felt sorry for the young boy. Slowly, Elliot took the amulet from Tagan´s hands, then returned to his place.

"Merlin."

He walked over, feet feeling like lead as if his magic tried to root him on the spot. His eyes met Tagan. The scribe nodded at the box. Only years of hiding who he really was, kept him from showing any hesitation. Ignoring his instincts shouting hell and fury to get away from there, Merlin kept a straight face and reached inside. He touched a chain and lifted the object from its place. What he'd designated as an amulet was a small rectangular green crystal. The stone's magical power was fairly low, almost non existent if he had to be honest. Certainly not enough to warrant the warning bells going off in his head. He studied it, confused.

"Put it on," Tagan ordered.

Reluctantly he lowered the chain over his head. Expecting the crystal to dampen his powers or something, he was surprised to find his magic was still there, still easy to rally should he need it. Nothing had changed. As another servant was called forward, he went back to stand in line, not ready to breathe a sigh of relief yet.

"These crystals do not have any magic of their own," Tagan voiced what Merlin had already deduced. The scribe handed out the last one to Manfred. "Which is why the King allows me to use them." He closed the lid and started walking down the line. "They are however, sensitive to magical powers." Some of the boys stiffened.

Merlin glanced from the crystal to Tagan and back again.

"No, it's not dangerous," the scribe answered the obvious question hanging in the air. "All the stone does is detect active magic found in its proximity, nothing else." A grim smile contorted his features. "If a powerful sorcerer were to be standing with us in this room now," Tagan observed them, "he would be experiencing a low level of nausea. That's the stone, reflecting his magic back to him. The more powerful the sorcerer, the stronger the nausea." When no one reacted, Tagan continued. "Otherwise, the amulet is harmless. When magic is used, the stone will start to glow. This too will cause you no harm. All I'm asking is that you will investigate. The stone will keep glowing until you report back to me."

Tagan made it sound so simple. Elliot nodded, tension draining from the boy's face as the meeting came to a close, but Merlin felt frozen to the floor. That's why Tagan had summoned them. If the scribe's theory was true, that he would start to get sick if he couldn't use his powers for a prolonged amount of time, this was a good way to suss him out. Because wearing this crystal, although not a threat in itself, meant he couldn't use magic, couldn't even light a torch to save the day, couldn't protect Arthur.

"You are to wear your amulet visible at all times," Mathylda added. "If we find any of you without, punishment will be severe, for we will have to assume you wish evil upon this kingdom."

Merlin was silent as he left the room. Tagan was far more clever than he'd anticipated. He needed some advice, needed to talk to Gaius. Because he knew he couldn't keep his magic repressed forever. Especially with Arthur's tendencies to walk into a trap once a week. For now though, he could only hope they wouldn't make him wear this crystal indefinitely.

TBC

A/N: I promise, Arthur will be back next chapter.
Edit: Thank you Alia Inverse for pointing out what wasn't clear. I have changed a line concerning this above.