*slowly edges into sight* ...Hello. Long time no see. Sorry it's been six weeks...please don't hurt me ;n;
Yeah, I know, it's been forever since I updated, my exams got in the way and so I just had no time, I still read all your reviews though! Thank you so much to all my lovely reviewers, it really did make my day to come home from an exam or to look on here after a day of hard revision and see I had a review :D Thank you to everyone who's still sticking with me after my absence :) I love you guys.
I actually still have two exams to do this Thursday and Friday, but during my breaks I've managed to write this chapter and I think you guys deserve it for waiting so long.
Ok, on with the chapter, I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a review if you have time as they really do make my day :)
As the Sun set, giving a display of blazing colours across the whole sky and rippling upon the surface of the ocean, Arthur let out a long sigh. As the final streaks of colour darkened and allowed the stars to become visible on the dark backdrop, Leon came to stand by his side.
"Captain? Would you like me to take over while you get some rest?"
"Yes, Thank you Leon, I would appreciate that. I'll be in my cabin if you need me." Arthur sighed again, stepping away from the helm, giving control over to Leon, before he went to collect some food from their stores, both for himself and his hostage. His posture was slumped and he felt older than he was. He'd known this mermaid for only two days now but he already felt like he'd aged ten years.
He'd been thinking of Merlin all day. That look of betrayal kept replaying in his mind and his feelings of guilt had only intensified over the day. Of course, it wasn't completely his fault; the mermaid had been pushing his boundaries and being a right pain, so really it was both of their faults. Arthur shook his head as he entered the stores and chose some food at random; not really taking note of what he was doing, just allowing his limbs to do as they would. The kraken pendant felt like it had burnt a hole through his shirt, its heaviness seeming to increase as he felt guiltier as the day progressed. But it would be easy enough to replace the leather chord and he planned to return it this evening anyway.
Another thing weighing on his mind all day, apart from the guilt, was just how different Merlin was from other mermaids. Or rather, how similar he was to humans. It was foolish to think that way, he knew, but Merlin really did seem fairly intelligent, even though he appeared to have no survival instincts whatsoever, and he was so curious, and he showed far more emotions than the wretched creatures he'd seen in his Father's cages. It confused him no end. Why did Merlin's behaviour not fit with what he'd observed in other Mermaids? Why couldn't he just fit into the stereotypical box in his head, like all the other mermaids did?! ...there was just something about him...
He gave a long suffering sigh as he made his way to his cabin. He hesitated outside for a second, raising one hand to check for the pendant in his shirt pocket, as he'd been doing all day, before he entered his room.
He turned to see Merlin curled in a corner of the crate, looking fairly miserable, before he saw Arthur and several expressions passed over his face. Anger, sorrow. Guilt. Good, at least the mermaid was regretting his unreasonable behaviour this morning. Arthur moved to his desk, thinking of what to say as he placed the plate of food down, but as he did he realised something was out of place. He fully took in the sight of his desk, glancing over all his paperwork and his equipment as he tried to put his finger on what was missing.
Just a second later it clicked. His black leather journal was nowhere to be found. He turned to Merlin, who was looking rather nervous, with a thunderous expression on his face.
"Merlin. You've been rooting through my possessions." Venom practically dripped from his voice as he stalked towards Merlin, not noticing as he subconsciously lifted his hand to the keys hanging around his neck, under his shirt, checking they were still there. But through the haze of fear licking at his mind, Merlin noticed the action and stored the information away for later.
Merlin stayed quiet as Arthur approached and stood before his crate, not wanting to irritate the captain. Yet it seemed his silence only made the man angrier.
"Tell me where my journal is, mermaid, or I will leave you tied on deck in the blistering sun and let you suffocate to death." Merlin cowered slightly at the vicious tone of the captain's voice, it was so different to the jovial tone he'd used when conversing with Merlin earlier in the day. The rage was painted clearly across his face and Merlin dropped his head to avoid looking into the eyes that held such contempt for him.
Merlin could tell that Arthur's patience was running out so he turned slightly to point behind the crate, indicating where the journal was. He held his breath as Arthur walked around the crate to find the journal, his heart hammering in his chest as he worried about the consequences of his actions.
Arthur leant down to pick up the leather journal that looked a little worse for wear, several torn and rumpled pieces of paper stuck out of the journal at haphazard angles. Arthur let out a ragged breath as his anger increased his heart rate and made his breathing uneven. He turned towards the mermaid, fury burning bright in his eyes, hostility showing in his body language. But when he spoke he sounded strangely controlled, and they both knew this was the calm before the storm.
"Merlin, why is my journal torn up? And why was it hidden behind your crate?" Arthur smiled, though not in a kind way, as he haltingly spoke, drawing out his questions and watching as Merlin squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze.
Merlin swallowed nervously, refusing to look at the captain as he sunk lower in the water, attempting to hide himself from the wrath of Arthur. Several tense seconds passed as Merlin tried to form an explanation, but before he could speak Arthur lashed out as his rage boiled over and his patience reached its limits. His face was red and his muscles were tense as he shouted at his hostage.
"You utter imbecile! Do you have any idea how important those notes were? How long it took to take such meticulous details? How dare you destroy my possessions and search my belongings! If you knew anything of common courtesy and respect for those of a higher position than yourself then you would have known not to do this, but then again, I guess it's just asking too much for a mermaid to know anything of courtesy and respect!" He spat the words at Merlin, not caring for how the scathing words affected him.
Merlin drew in a breath as if the sting in Arthur's words had physically harmed him. For a moment he didn't reply, but then his own anger rose to the surface, overcoming his fear and anxiety.
"I know plenty of courtesy and respect, it's just that I only show it to those who are deserving of it! Which you, Captain Prat, are not!"
At this Arthur reached for the sword that leant against his desk, pulling it from its scabbard and swinging round to point the blade at Merlin's neck, suddenly seeming more deadly than just angry.
"Watch your tongue mermaid, or I shall cut it out." Merlin stretched his neck to put more distance between him and the blade as Arthur spoke again. "Now, since you seem so keen on destroying my possessions, perhaps I should return the favour." With the hand not holding his sword he reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant, holding it firmly in his grip, threatening to shatter the fragile carving in his palm.
"Wait, don't!" Merlin called out, moving forwards, as if being closer to the pendant would somehow protect it from Arthur.
The captain raised his sword from where he had let it rest and forced the mermaid back.
"You have no control in this situation, Merlin," the name dripped with contempt and Merlin drew back even further "how many times do I need to tell you that I am the one in the position of authority here? You are at my mercy. So perhaps you should work more on pleasing me, rather than riling me up."
Merlin let his head drop to his chest as his emotions coursed through him. He was scared. The man in front of him seemed more of a monster than a human, he was vicious, arrogant and cruel, and that made him a dangerous man to anger. But at the same time, Merlin had never been one to blindly follow authority, and he didn't appreciate others putting themselves above him and playing with the power they had. He drew in a breath, feeling Arthur's eyes burning into him.
"Stop it..." It came out rather quiet, less commanding than Merlin had hoped it would be, but it caught Arthur's attention.
"What was that? Speak up mermaid." Arthur lightly tapped Merlin's chin with the flat side of his blade, forcing the mermaid to raise his head. Arthur was slightly surprised to see the burning determination in Merlin's eyes.
"I said stop it! Just stop! Why must you constantly say you are above me? What makes you more important than me? Why is it, that just because I have a tail rather than legs, you consider me a lesser being? I have thoughts and feelings just like you! I form friendships and bonds with others. I learn, I read and write. We have a society. We care for each other and protect our loved ones just as humans do. I feel pain and I can cry. I feel love and I can smile. Can't you see that we are the same? I am not a monster. I am not beneath you. We are equals. Having a tail doesn't make my life less important than yours. I just wish you understood that." Merlin's breath came out harshly as he finished his speech, glaring slightly at the captain who stood over him.
But then Arthur stepped back, trying to hide his shock at the mermaid addressing him this way, before he lowered his sword to his side. Several seconds passed as Merlin's words sunk in, his mind reeling at the amount of emotion that Merlin had shown. It was such an unusual sight to see a mermaid stand up to him, to actually hold an argument and feel so strongly over something. To move towards him, even when he had held a blade to the mermaid's throat. Merlin was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. Either way, it was clear that he fought for what he believed in, and that was an admirable trait. A trait that Arthur had thought was inherently human before this moment.
And yet, this mermaid showed that trait. Maybe... Maybe the traits that Arthur thought made humans, well, human, were applicable to mermaids too. Perhaps they weren't the pathetic creatures he had thought them to be...
Arthur clenched his teeth in annoyance. This damn Merlin was really messing with his head. He was flipping all his thoughts on their heads and making him question what he'd seen as truth just earlier this afternoon. He looked down at the pendant and then to Merlin, who was still breathing heavily as the adrenaline flowed through him, before he threw the pendant to Merlin, turning away to sheath the sword as Merlin caught the carving carefully in both hands.
"I didn't..." He paused as he reworded his sentence, "I always planned on giving it back alright? I wasn't going to steal it from you." Arthur refused to look at the mermaid as he spoke, instead choosing to balance the sword against his desk again, before reading over some papers on his desk. He didn't know what made him say it, but he suddenly felt that he didn't want Merlin to think too badly off him. He cared little for what other mermaids thought of him, but it seemed that this Merlin had managed to worm himself in, and Arthur didn't want to be thought of badly by him.
Merlin looked down at the pendant, slightly shocked that Arthur had returned it, especially after he had gone off on the captain like that. The chord was still broken, but with a quick knot he'd learnt when he was younger he had it tied around his neck again. He let out a relieved breath and looked up to watch as Arthur pretended to look through things on his desk. It seemed that the man was really thinking over what he'd said.
"Thank you." Two simple words, but they shocked Arthur. Even after he had taken the pendant in the first place and then threatened to destroy it and harm Merlin...the mermaid still thanked him. He nodded jerkily in reply, not trusting his voice.
"And...I'm sorry for damaging your journal. I let my anger get the best of me and I shouldn't have gone that far." Merlin lowered his head in apology, missing the look of utter disbelief that crossed Arthur's face, his eyebrows threatening to disappear into his hairline.
It wasn't enough that the mermaid had thanked him, he was now apologising as well. Will this day's surprises never end? Merlin raised his head in time to catch another distracted nod from Arthur before Arthur turned away and began to spoke.
"It's late; I think we should both get some rest. I'll have a lot of questions for you tomorrow after all, to make up for the information I lost." Arthur strode to the bed, quickly pulling off his clothes to switch into his nightwear. Arthur was soon in bed, for once falling into a slumber rather quickly, not wanting to deal with the many new thoughts echoing through his mind.
He hadn't noticed Merlin eyeing the key that hung around his neck.
As I said earlier, my last exam is Friday...so hopefully, unless I get caught up in something else, the next update shouldn't take anywhere near as long as this one did.
I hope you liked this chapter, I was a little nervous about writing the argument, seeing as I'm not an argumentative person myself, and when I do argue I tend to just get too emotional rather then explain my point, so I hope it was all ok.