Sorry for not posting last week. I got a new job, which takes up more of my time so I might only post every other week instead of every week. But, rest assured I will finish this story.
It was almost as if fate was planning something. For, as soon as Gwaine left, not ten minutes later did a parade of carriages and people came gallivanting through the streets of Camelot.
"Best clothes, Merlin. Wash your face as well," Leon said, desperately trying to scrub some dirt that had made its way onto Merlin's face.
"Leon!" the boy groaned, trying to shy away from Leon's hands.
"Let the boy be," Morgana cooed, pulling Merlin away from the knight.
"Well, I would if Merlin didn't get so dirty," Leon hissed, once again trying his best to make Merlin look presentable.
"Honestly, you're as bad as Arthur was at this age," Leon grumbled. Merlin giggled before running over to Perivale. He tugged on the large knight's tunic, gaining Percival's attention. Percival smiled and bend down to scoop Merlin up.
"Where do you think Gwaine is right now?" Merlin asked, leaning his head against Percival's broad shoulders.
"Probably out in the woods somewhere, looking for honey," Percival responded.
"I bet he doesn't have to be dressed in these itchy clothes," Merlin grumbled. Percival laughed and set the boy so that he was on his shoulders. "I don't get what's so important about this man anyways. He's just a person," Merlin said, waving his arms before placing them on the top of Percival's head.
"He has some excess grain he would like to trade with us. He might have enough to increase the amount of food in Camelot. Wouldn't that be great if no one had to go hungry again?" Percival asked the small boy questioningly.
"I guess, but why can't I dress like I normally do," Merlin asked.
"Because everyone needs to make a good impression. Just be glad you aren't wearing the official servant's garb," Lancelot chuckled.
"Oh, your head wouldn't be able to stay up with the amount of feathers in the hat," Lancelot continued. Merlin perked up.
"I want to wear a feather hat," he said.
"Maybe when your older," Morgana cooed. Merlin pouted and continued to run his fingers through Percival's hair.
"Merlin, " Lancelot called. Merlin looked at him. "When Lord Ulrich comes through the gate, you'll have to be on the ground. " Lancelot explained.
"But I want to see," Merlin pouted.
"It really won't be that interesting. Plus you'll have plenty of time to see him at the feast tonight," Elyan said.
"He's not going," Arthur's voice called out from behind the group.
"Why not?" Merlin whined.
"Because you're too young to be serving alcohol to the guests. Plus, I wouldn't want you tripping and spilling wine all over Ulrich," Arthur said. Truth be told, he was worried about Merlin and Ulrich being in the same room together. Gwaine had told Arthur that Ulrich had probably changed, but that didn't stop Arthur from being suspicious. If the man really had killed Gwaine's mother and younger brother, then what else was he capable of. Gwaine's family could have committed a crime. But that didn't seem likely. For all the questionable hobbies Gwaine had, Arthur never once felt as though Gwaine could be an actual criminal. Sure there were times when he had been banished, arrested, and set to be executed. This wasn't really helping Arthur's case. But Gwaine didn't seem like the person who could do anything in cold blood. Usually his crimes hinged on misunderstanding, usually because the man drank too much and kissed the wrong woman. But still, Arthur didn't want Merlin to be near anyone who might hurt him. Drake was still out there somewhere and Arthur now had another possible assailant in his midst. He told the others about Gwaine's confession, drawing mixed responses from the crowd. Lancelot and Gwen had suggested that it might be a different Ulrich. Percival asked if Camelot was safe for the people. Morgana and Leon had immediately asked what Arthur was going to if Ulrich had attacked Camelot. And Elyan sat there quietly.
What everyone was most worried about was Merlin. The boy had no sense of self-preservation and Arthur was worried that if Merlin found out Ulrich had hurt Gwaine, he could try and get revenge on the man. The last thing Arthur needed was to try and stop an execution for Merlin. So, no, Merlin wasn't going to be serving Ulrich. If Arthur could manage it, he wasn't going to be leaving Arthur's chambers until Ulrich had left.
The group reached the courtyard and Merlin was put don on the ground. He Immediately went to hide behind Morgana. Morgana laughed and patted his head.
"It'll be fine, Merlin," She said with confidence that wasn't all there.
"I don't like him. He isn't nice," Merlin said softly.
"You've never met him," Leon pointed out.
"But he's scary. I'm scared." Merlin said, burying his head into Morgana's skirts. They looked at one another. If Merlin was already afraid of the visitor, then that didn't bode well for the next two weeks. The parade of carriages stopped in front of Uther and Arthur. Why the man needed so much stuff, Arthur would never know. All he knew was that he was probably looking at another bootlicker.
The carriage doors opened revealing a man in his mid-thirties. He had chocolate brown hair that was wavy and reached his shoulders. A beard speckled with grey on his chin HIs eyes were a humorless brown. They were almost soulless, it made Arthur shiver. The man stepped gracefully out of the carriage and spread his arms in a welcoming gesture. It was the opposite of what should be happening.
"King Uther, Prince Arthur," the man said with a bright smile on his face. Arthur was sure he heard Merlin whimper and wouldn't be surprised if the boy had turned tail and ran back to his room. "How pleasant of you to invite me to Camelot. I hope that we can reach an agreement for trade." Ulric finished. Uther stepped forward.
"Good to see you, Lord Ulric. I hope your journey was a pleasant one," Uther said. The two started walking up the stairs, making small talk. Arthur, Morgana and Leon followed. Percival had picked Merlin back up and was carrying him back to Arthur's chambers. Arthur knew this was going to be a long week.
A few days later, Arthur wanted to scream. Ulric was nothing but kind. Even if he did seem a bit insincere at times, he still seemed to really care about the trade. As far as nobles go, he was one of the least irritating that Arthur had ever known. He bowed down to Arthur and Uther but also stood his ground on some things. He sometimes smiled a fake smile, but his laugh was always true and full of warmth. He wasn't unkind to the servants, but he wasn't overly kind either. He had a sense of holier than thou, but he also seemed to know his flaws.
If Arthur didn't know Gwaine, he would have said that the man was just trying to get out of training. But, Gwaine would never leave Merlin for such a long period of time. And the fear in his eyes was evident when talking to Arthur. It could be that Ulric's execution of Gwaine's family was a misunderstanding. Or maybe he was in the right. Or maybe he had changed. Either way, this man didn't seem to hold any ill will towards Camelot. Leon was having similar thoughts. While he didn't get the story from Gwaine, he was sure that the rogue knight wouldn't make something like that up. Even Gwaine had standards. He didn't really like Ulric, but the man was more pleasant to be around than some of the other nobles. He didn't seem overly arrogant but he did seem to feel entitled to certain things. There were a few rude remarks towards serving girls that probably shouldn't have been mentioned. But Leon had heard worse coming from his own knights. So, when Leon stumbled onto Ulric in the afternoon of his third day in Camelot, he was really surprised, and furious.
"A little thing like you shouldn't be a servant," Ulric chuckled darkly. Leon tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and made his way to the visiting noble. He would not have anyone mistreating the servants. And then he heard a whimper. A whimper that he had been all too accustomed to hearing.
"Why don't you come with me, boy," Ulric said with a dark voice. Leon picked up his pace and turned to corner to see Merlin cowering with Arthur's dinner while Ulric loomed over him.
"Lord Ulric," his voice echoed through the hallway, causing both to jump. Ulric turned and saw Leon. He gave a smile and ruffled Merlin's hair. Merlin seemed frozen.
"I was just messing around. The kid needs to learn to lighten up," Ulric said.
"And you need to take your hands off him. Merlin is not here to serve you. He is here to serve Arthur." Leon said, trying to draw attention away from Merlin and onto himself. Ulric sighed.
"Fine, sheesh. I wasn't going to do anything to him," he said, taking a step back and walking down the corridor.
"Merlin, come here," Leon said softly after the man had no longer in sight. Merlin whimpered and dropped the tray of food, scrambling towards Leon.
"Sorry," he hiccupped, starting to sob into Leon's cloak. Leon sighed and picked the boy up, kicking the remains of Arthur's dinner out of the way.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Merlin. Did he hurt you?" Leon ask.
"No, he just scared me. And he wouldn't let me go," Merlin said, continuing to cry. Leon heard him sniff and rubbed the back of Merlin. They reached Arthur chambers to see Lancelot and Arthur sitting at the table.
"Merlin, where have you been? I'm starving," Arthur called, not quite realizing that Merlin was currently sobbing into Leon's shirt.
"What happened," Lancelot asked, getting up from the table and going to look at Merlin. Arthur looked up and saw Merlin and Leon, his eyes narrowing.
"I found Ulric cornering him in the hallway," Leon said, passing Merlin to Lancelot. Lancelot started cooing and trying to calm Merlin down.
"Is he hurt?" Arthur asked. Leon shook his head.
"I knew there was something about that man. He was perfect enough so that we wouldn't suspect him, but not so perfect so as for us to be slightly annoyed by him," Lancelot spat. Arthur nodded and stood to brush Merlin's hair out of his eyes. Once the boy had calmed down and was put to bed, the three men sat around the table.
"He's hiding something," Arthur said.
"Yeah, but we have no proof," Lancelot reminded Arthur.
"We don't even know what he could possibly be hiding. He might want the kingdom, I suppose," Leon mused.
"He doesn't seem like that kind of guy, though," Arthur stated.
"Well, then, we'll just have to find some evidence," Lancelot said, standing and making his way to the doo.
"What, are you crazy?" Arthur cried.
"We need to make sure that he isn't going to try and take over Camelot. HE's hiding something. I am going to figure out what it is," Lancelot stated. Arthur swallowed and nodded.
"Just, be careful," he said. Lancelot nodded and was out the door.
"I'll go find the others and tell them of our suspicions," Leon said, also standing and making his way to the door.
"I'll stay with Merlin. I pray that Ulric was just drunk and not actually evil." Arthur said sadly. Leon nodded and left the chambers. Arthur sank back. He felt as though his world was falling to pieces around him.