One note before the chapter begins. I added a part to the last chapter (Chapter 8: It's Time) and it is an important part and is mentioned in this chapter. So if you haven't already, please go back and read that so you can better understand this chapter. The part I added in is just about a paragraph long and talks about Gwen. So please go back and read that before starting this chapter. Next chapter starts the action!
Disclaimer: If I owned Merlin, the US would get it a whole lot quicker and would have reruns showing right now. Since that's not happening, I clearly don't own Merlin.
Chapter 9: Warning Bells
Gwaine and Gaius hurried along the corridors as fast as they could without drawing attention to themselves. They were heading to Arthur's chambers, hoping that the King would be there and not in a meeting. Gwaine wished they could hurry and get this over with, but he could only move as fast as Gaius, and Gaius was going slow so as not to arouse suspicion.
Gwaine sighed in relief when they finally reached Arthur's quarters. He started to step forward and throw the door open, but Gaius beat him to it and knocked three times before stepping back and waited. A guard patrolling the corridor saw them and headed there way.
"The King is in a meeting." The guard announced when he reached them.
"Do you know how long he will be?" Gaius asked.
"An hour, maybe more." The guard shrugged. "The meeting was called an hour ago."
"Thank you." Gaius said with a nod. "When he returns will you let him know we wish to speak to him?"
"Certainly." The guard replied and moved on.
"Now what do we do?" Gwaine moaned once the guard was out of hearing distance.
"We wait." Gaius replied.
"We don't have time to wait!" Gwaine argued angrily. "For all we know Morgana could be outside the city right now waiting to attack!"
"She hasn't had enough time to gather her army." Gaius replied with a shake of his head. The physician looked down the corridor, saw that the guard had turned around the corner, and quickly opened the door to Arthur's chambers and walked in, holding the door open for Gwaine who just stared at him in surprise. "Well come on."
Gwaine, still slightly shocked that Gaius had just opened the door to the King's chambers and gone in, followed. He could see himself breaking the rules and going into Arthur's chambers—something only Merlin Aggravaine and Gwen were supposed to be allowed to do, though that hadn't stopped Gwaine before—but Gaius was usually the one who lectured about rule breaking. Once Gwaine was inside, Gaius shut the door quietly.
"We'll wait here." Gaius announced as he sat down in a chair. "The guards change in ten minutes and I doubt he will remember to tell the King."
Gwaine shook his head, still surprised at Gaius, and sat down on Arthur's bed. He leaned back up against the pillows, folded his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. The bed was much more comfortable than the chairs would be.
"Sir Gwaine." Gaius chided, his eyebrow raising slightly.
"Hmm?" Gwaine muttered, opening his eyes.
"That is the King and Queen's bed," Gaius lectured. "I'm sure they do not want you on it."
"What they don't know won't hurt them." Gwaine laughed and closed his eyes again. "Might as well be comfortable. There's no telling how long we will have to wait for the princess."
Gaius sighed and shook his head, giving up on the knight. They waited in silence, Gaius dozing in his seat and Gwaine fast asleep on the bed, for close to two hours. Gaius shifted in the seat, growing uncomfortable, before sighing and standing up to stretch. As he stretched his arms, the door slowly creaked open and a woman's laughter could be heard. Gaius looked back at Gwaine, but the knight was still fast asleep.
Gaius didn't move as Gwen walked in and shut the door behind her. When she turned and looked around the room she gave a small yelp of surprise, but not loud enough to draw the guard's attention. Her yelp was loud enough, however, to wake Gwaine up. The knight sat up quickly and blinked several times, trying to get the sleep out of his eyes. Though his vision was slightly blurry, he saw the form of Gwen. He swung his legs over the bed quickly, but his legs gave out from under him as he put his weight on them and the knight crashed none too gracefully to the floor.
Gaius and Gwen burst out laughing as Gwaine got to his feet, mumbling something under his breath.
"Gaius, Gwaine." Gwen greeted when she stopped laughing. "What are you doing here?"
"We have something to discuss with Arthur." Gaius told her, laughter still in his voice.
"He should be here soon," Gwen told them. "He was stopped on the way here by Sir Leon. I believe he was looking for you Gwaine."
"When is he not?" Gwaine asked with a roll of his eyes. "I swear that man wants to keep me under lock and key when we aren't training."
"I believe it is his job to keep you away from the taverns." Gaius said, his eyebrow raised.
"We all know how that's gone." Gwaine replied with a large grin.
Gwen laughed, with Gwaine joining in, and Gaius grinned and shook his head at the knight's antics. The sound of the door opening stopped the laughter and the room's occupants turned to see King Arthur walking into the room. He closed the door behind him and folded his arms across his chest, staring at the occupants of the room.
"What are you doing here, Gwaine?" Arthur asked. "I thought we had an agreement that you wouldn't step foot in here again?"
"Hey, Gaius is here too." Gwaine argued. "You just said I couldn't come in here if I was alone."
Arthur sighed and shook his head.
"Is there something I can help you with Gaius?" he asked, deciding to ignore his crazy knight.
"Yes, there is." Gaius replied, bowing respectfully. "Have you noticed anything off about Merlin, Sire?"
"Merlin?" Arthur asked in confusion. "Other than the fact that he got his chores done on time today, no."
"Is something wrong with Merlin?" Gwen asked worriedly. "I asked him, but he said no."
Gaius looked at her curiously.
"Did anything seem off when you spoke to him?" Gwaine asked, walking over to join the group.
"He seemed distracted," Gwen replied slowly. "And he was very short with me, almost like he was angry with me."
"When did you see him?" Gaius asked.
"About ten minutes ago, before I went to find Arthur." Gwen answered. "He was headed toward the courtyard. Said he had some chores to do for Arthur."
"He finished all the chores I had for him today." Arthur cut in, clearly confused by all the talk about his manservant. "What is this all about, Gaius?"
"I believe, Sire," Gaius said slowly, taking a deep breath, "that Merlin has been enchanted."
"Why would anyone want to enchant Merlin?" Arthur asked, clearly not believing it.
"I don't know," Gwaine said sarcastically. "Maybe because he's the King's manservant and can move about the castle freely."
"What proof do you have?" Arthur asked.
"Other than his odd behavior, Gwaine saw his eyes turn red." Gaius replied.
"His eyes turned red?" Arthur gave them a look that clearly said he didn't believe them. "Are you sure you weren't just drunk and imagining things?"
"I was and am perfectly sober!" Gwaine snapped. "Though a nice tall tankard of ale would be nice right about now."
Gaius sighed, knowing that last sentence hadn't done them any help.
"I believe them, Arthur." Gwen said suddenly. "Merlin wasn't acting like himself at all. I have never seen him be irritated and angry before, and why would he lie about going to do his chores?"
Arthur frowned, clearly not believing that Merlin was enchanted, but he wouldn't go against his wife.
"What would you have me do then?" he finally asked.
"Double the guard for the next week or so." Gaius told him. "And keep a close eye on Merlin."
"Very well." Arthur nodded. "Gwaine and I will go and tell them now."
"Me?" Gwaine exclaimed. "Why?"
"Because you're going to be helping the guards tonight." Arthur smirked. "That's your punishment for spending the night at the taverns last night."
"Stupid Leon!" Gwaine murmured. "Why can't the man just take the bribe and not turn me in?"
"What was that?" Arthur asked, amusement clear on his face.
"Nothing." Gwaine said hastily and hurried out of the door.
Arthur laughed and leaned over to give Gwen a quick kiss before following the knight out of the chambers. He had just shut the door behind him when the warning bells began to ring.