The Servant and His True Master (part two)
Words: 2,788
Charcters: Merlin, Arthur, Knights, Morgana
Warnings: More awkwardness, this time of a cheesy kind (I'm really not good with fluff, I'm telling you)
Summary: Same as before.
A/N: HA. HAHA. You all forgot about me, didn't you? Or gave up on me? It's okay, I understand. I kind of forgot I was doing HSC drama performances like two days after I last updated, and then suddenly I decided to have a social life (not all it's cracked up to be, really). So yeah, many apologies for the long wait. If it helps at all, I ended up finishing this in Business Studies today. I don't know whether to call it dedication or procrastination. Also, you know how I broke this one up so the chapters wouldn't be too long? Yeah... As you can see, this one almost reached 3000 words. Oops.
Oh, sorry, one more thing: one reviewer mentioned there have been a couple of grammatical errors and the like - I do sometimes spell words differently or use grammar a little differently because I live in Australia, and as with any country, we all do things a little differently. I don't know if that's what you were talking about, but I just thought I'd point that out in case it's confusing anyone :)
There was a tense silence as the party of six rode out of the city gates, their mission looming over them. There had been missions and patrols to seek out Morgana before, but none had been successful, and quite frankly, Arthur had always secretly been a little relieved by the fact. But now they had a witness who had been to her home and an all new purpose to find it; for if they did not, they could not save his manservant.
This was a confrontation that Arthur wished he had had more time to prepare for.
But beggars were never choosers. There was no other option, and Arthur told himself to suck it up, for god's sake, and focus on the task at hand. Looking to Merlin, who was riding just slightly in front with a rigid posture, Arthur suppressed a sigh. It seemed Merlin wasn't feeling much better about the whole deal than he was himself.
"How you doing up there, Merlin? Getting the urge to turn around and bite one of us?" Well, at least Gwaine had no qualms about asking.
Merlin looked back at his friend allowed a small, amused smile. "It doesn't make me a snake, you know."
Gwaine shrugged as if it made no difference. "I'm just wondering. Can never be too careful. Oh, and I forgive you for the 'filthy fingers' comment by the way."
Merlin's smile turned into a frown. "Yeah, I heard about that. Sorry."
"No worries, mate," Gwaine replied, with a smile that said it never had been. "I've been called much worse."
"How are you feeling, though?" asked Elyan, eyeing the servant curiously.
Merlin shrugged and turned back to the path in front of them. "Like myself, more or less. I take that as a good sign." There was a pause and then Merlin added, as if feeling the need to reassure, "you don't need to worry. Gaius said it would stay dead or… asleep, or whatever, until tomorrow."
"We were never worried, Merlin," said Arthur, adding a bit of extra pompousness to his voice. "As if you could overpower us."
"You'd be surprised," Merlin muttered, remaining face-forward.
"I doubt it," Arthur scoffed. Merlin brought his horse to a stop and Arthur waited for the retaliation, until he realised just why he had stopped. "We're here."
It was the bog where Gwaine and Arthur had found their friend. He had seemed perfectly Merlin-like at the time. Arthur winced as the memory of them hugging came to mind, and wondered if Merlin remembered that part. He hadn't said anything. Arthur couldn't help but hope it stayed that way.
"Where to from here, Merlin?" asked Leon. The boy in question looked around with narrowed eyes as he tried to remember. There was a long moment of silence.
Just as Arthur opened his mouth to complain, Merlin pointed east, downhill of where they had found him. "That way."
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked.
Merlin nodded. "I was sort of… in and out of consciousness. When she was moving me. I'll admit I was a bit out of it, but…" Merlin drifted off, suddenly looking tense, his eyes having almost glazed over, and Arthur knew he was remembering what Morgana did to him, what she said to him… whatever she did and said to him. Arthur made a mental note to talk to his servant about it later.
Riding up next to the boy, Arthur clapped a hand on his shoulder. Merlin dragged himself out of his reverie and focused on the king. "Let's get going then, shall we?" Arthur asked. His only answer was a quiet but determined nod.
They continued like that for about an hour, making slow progress one bit at a time, every now and then stopping for Merlin to gather his bearings. The sun was just beginning to lower in the sky when finally Merlin stopped and jumped off his horse without warning, taking a few quiet steps forward to where the ground dipped drastically. Without a word the others followed suit until they all stood in a line, gazing down at a simple door in the rock. It was so plain, so unassuming, Arthur couldn't help but wonder if perhaps a patrol had gone right past before and just not noticed it.
"That's it," said Merlin with certainty. As one the group stepped back and out of sight to discuss strategy. Arthur saw Merlin's mouth open and immediately knew he would not like what he heard. "I think I should go in, alone."
"Now slow down there," Gwaine protested before Arthur even had the chance. "I don't exactly know how you plan to fight some high priestess or whatever - who, let's not forget, only recently had you under her control - but I cannot see how going it alone would benefit you."
Merlin shook his head. "I don't plan to confront her. We wait until we know she's out, I sneak in, find the fomorrah, kill it, and be done with the thing."
"Even if we don't face Morgana, and that's a big if," said Arthur, "I don't see why you should be the one to go in."
"Do any of you know what the mother beast looks like?" Merlin asked with raised eyebrows, knowing the answer. "I'll be quickest - I'll know what I'm looking for." The group hesitated and Merlin pushed on. "Trust me, I can do this. I want to do it."
On that last line Merlin's fierce eyes locked with Arthur's. It was the kind of defiant determination Merlin had wore when they were going to face the dragon, or right before they had gone in to fight Morgana and Morgause's invincible army. Arthur knew that look; Merlin would not back down. Not from this. He saw it as his responsibility, most likely his duty, to fix this. Ridiculous as that was, Arthur could understand it. He would feel the same way.
"Fine," he finally said, and continued over Gwaine's immediate protests, "But not until we know for certain she has left."
And so they waited. And waited. And waited some more. Finally the forest was dipped in dark as the sun fell behind the distant hills, and the knights began to grow fidgety.
"Maybe she isn't there at all?" suggested Elyan, but with no way to get closer without possibly being spotted, his idea could not be confirmed or denied.
Arthur was just beginning to think about heading back for the night when finally the door creaked open. They all waited and watched with baited breath as out stepped a figure in a dark cloak. Her hair, a raven's nest of locks, framed her pale face, her neck the only other part of pallid skin exposed from under the cloak and ratty dress she wore. It was without a doubt Morgana, and Arthur's stomach twinged at the sight of her. So many memories, so many emotions he had to push down on and bottle up for another time. He had to stay focused. Morgana looked around her in search of prying eyes (most likely a habit over years of betrayal) but did not spot them from the ridge, and set off at a brisk pace.
Merlin immediately rose but Arthur grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down, holding him in place, waiting.
"Sire?" asked Leon.
"Shadow her," he decided quickly. "Do not engage her. Do not be spotted."
"Yes sire," Leon assured, standing gracefully and without a sound. With a hand gesture from Arthur, Elyan copied his movements and followed.
Arthur then turned to Merlin who was looking impatient. "One word from us, and you get out of there." Merlin quickly went to stand again, but Arthur again pulled him down. "Are we clear, Merlin?"
Merlin nodded. "Relax, Arthur, I hear you. Now can I go?"
With one last hesitant pause Arthur let go and watched as Merlin stepped back and around, following the narrow path to the side that led down to the hovel. "This better work," muttered Gwaine, taking Merlin's spot. Percival remained silent on his other side.
"It will," assured Arthur. It had too.
After only twenty minutes had passed Arthur was growing twitchy, and he wasn't the only one. "What's taking him so long?" hissed Gwaine.
But Arthur was not given a chance to answer. A sound of pounding footsteps reached them and they all turned to find Leon and Elyan, looking harried. "She's coming back."
"Already?" asked Arthur, his muscles tensing.
Leon nodded. "It looked like she was waiting for something, or someone, in a clearing not far from here, but she must have gotten impatient."
Arthur cursed and turned back in direction of the door where Merlin was still oblivious inside. But Percival beat him to the punch, already pelting a rock at the door.
"Come on, Merlin, hurry up," muttered Arthur.
Merlin stepped inside with apprehension, despite knowing Morgana was gone. A dying fire in the centre cast shadows about the room and with it came flashes of last time Merlin was here, of being tied up, of Morgana's breath on his shoulder, of the searing pain as the fomorrah dug into the back of his neck. He attempted to rid his mind of the images with a shake of his head and walked further into the room. It was dark and cluttered, causing Merlin to take extra care as he looked about. Stepping around the fire he walked to a random shelf and rifled through the contents unceremoniously. Empty clay bowls and mysterious cloth bundles were knocked about under his slender fingers, and even a small set of cleaned bones of some animal he didn't recognise. Merlin shuddered to think what they would be used for. Unsuccessful, he turned to the next set of shelves and continued to search.
Finally his wandering hands came across a jar, not as dusty as most contents of Morgana's home, half covered by an old cloth. Pulling it away with a flourish, Merlin sighed in relief. There it was. Finally.
The monstrous snake hissed from within, all of its seven heads immediately focusing to him and opening their mouths as one in animosity. Merlin pulled a face, remembering there was one buried in his own skin at that very moment, and quickly swiped the jar.
Suddenly a harsh bang on the door pulled his attention and Merlin took that as his cue to make a quick getaway. Gripping the jar tightly he rushed back the way he came, stumbling slightly in the now almost complete darkness, and wrenched the door open. Seeing no vengeful witch in the way, he closed the door behind him and began to run back towards where the others would be waiting.
"Well, well." Merlin froze at the voice, his stomach pooling with dread. "And here I thought my home would be safe from sneaky little thieves." Turning to face her was unnecessary, as Merlin already clearly knew who it was. But he did so anyway, remaining defiant and hoping to god Arthur and the knights were not about to rashly interfere. "I believe you have something of mine," Morgana said, her lips in that ever-present sneer, and her hand unfurled in front of her expectantly. "I'd like that back, please."
"Morgana!" Merlin's shoulders dropped as he heard the sound of numerous swords being unsheathed behind him. So much for his hope. "Step away from him."
Morgana's eyes flicked behind Merlin but there was no fear there. No, instead, she threw her head back and laughed. "Or what, dear brother? You'll jab me with that pathetic stick?"
There was a soft crunching of leaves as the knights came closer, effectively reaching and soon shielding Merlin, who held back a roll of his eyes. If they had just kept out of the way…
"You want to talk about pathetic? Using a servant to get to the king? Have you really stooped so low, Morgana?" Arthur's voice was hard, but Merlin knew this was hurting him. To be so against someone that had once been such a friend, almost family… How could it not?
"And I see he has failed spectacularly. You really should reconsider your hired help, Arthur."
Merlin's attention was drawn to Gwaine's hand, held low behind his back, that was making a gesture that clearly said 'get out of here'. Merlin held back a snort. Well, that just wasn't happening. Unless…
An idea struck Merlin and suddenly he found himself much more compliant, slowly backing away.
"I… find it so hard to reconcile who you were with this image before me," admitted Arthur, taking a small step forward and keeping the witch's eyes on him.
"Do not bother," Morgana spat back, raising a hand threateningly as he got closer, and Merlin quietly picked up his pace. "I am nothing like the weakling you knew."
Arthur took another step forward and Morgana's eyes glowed a molten gold, with a word sending him flying back in the air. Taking use of the distraction Merlin dropped all pretenses and quickly ducked to the side, amongst a small cluster of trees. A flurry of movement broke out as the knights attacked - rather unsuccessfully - in a bid to protect their king. Leon and Gwaine were sent flying back like Arthur was, and Percival thrown up into the air to come crashing down with a harsh thud. He rolled to his side with a groan as Elyan found himself on his knees, grasping at his throat and gasping for air. Merlin quickly focused the magic he felt buzzing under his skin towards the witch.
"Ateon heo craeft buton!"
With a shriek Morgana dropped her arms and curled into her stomach in a hunched-over position. She looked about with panicked eyes just as Arthur took another swing. Quickly raising her hand Morgana attempted to repeat her spell, but Arthur only found himself pushed back barely a meter. Merlin grimaced; his spell hadn't completely suppressed her powers like it was supposed to, but it was something. After only a second of silent shock, Arthur continued, and Morgana stumbled backwards, her expression that of a deer about to be struck down. With a fast string of words a wind picked up and she was gone, leaving nothing but an echoing hiss and a rustle of leaves behind. The knights gathered in confusion and Merlin slowly stepped out from his hiding spot, the jar still held firmly in his hands.
"What the hell happened?" questioned Arthur, looking around for any lingering trace of his half-sister.
"Perhaps she recognised the force she was up against, us proud knights of Camelot," suggested Gwaine with a roguish grin.
"No… something went wrong…"
Merlin, not particularly wanting them to ponder it for too long, quickly and loudly stepped forward. The knights all jumped, but relaxed when they saw who it was.
"Nice of you to join us, Merlin," Arthur announced, back to his usual prattish self in a heartbeat. "Don't you worry though, we had it covered."
"So I can see, well done," said Merlin quickly. He held up the jar in front of him, seven snake heads all hissing in anger. "Now can we get rid of this thing?"
Merlin gathered up Arthur's discarded clothes from the floor, his king already getting comfortable amongst his many pillows. The fomorrah was burned and all the knights had gratefully staggered off to their own beds. Merlin was looking forward to doing the same. But just as he reached the door, Arthur called out to him, and he couldn't help but internally groan. "Yes, sire?"
"I'm… glad you're alright, Merlin."
Merlin smirked. "You were the one in danger, you know."
A quiet scoff escaped the blankets of the bed. "With you as my assassin? Please." There was a pause and Merlin wondered if he could leave yet. "I don't know if you remember, Merlin, but I meant what I said." Merlin's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, the small flashes of what he could remember with the fomorrah in control whizzing through his mind. "I do trust you."
"Oh." Merlin's mind went blank, unsure what to say in return. "Ummm…"
Arthur sighed and a pillow was torpedoed at his head. "Just get out, Merlin."
Ducking, Merlin quickly opened the door, his smile hidden by the shadows. "Thanks, Arthur." And with that, he was gone.
See? Terrible at fluff. I'll keep practicing though. And don't judge me for the terrible old english, I tried okay :'( If anyone has a good website to use for when you need to make up spells, please let me know for extra cookies. One author listed the sites they use in one of their stories, but I can't remember which one -facepalm- So anyways, that's the end of that one. I'm especially looking forward to the next one ;) Thanks for reading!