The next morning when George brought up Arthur's breakfast and Merlin's gruel. Arthur got dressed and did some paperwork while Merlin was taken down to the midden. When he got back and was chained up to the wall Arthur sent George off to get his chainmail. Arthur waited for George to leave before handing Merlin a lump of bread and some cheese. "Eat that before he gets back"
Merlin didn't need telling twice and soon finished off his extra food. Arthur gave him a goblet of watered down wine. "We are off on patrol today, we will have another sorcerer with us as well as you. Keep close to me if you can."
George came in and helped Arthur put on his armour "George go and get ready for the patrol we will be gone for four days. You aren't coming with us this time, I am taking some squires. While I'm gone catch up with your chores and make sure you exercise my dogs"
Arthur unlocked Merlin's chain from the wall and took him out of the room. As they went down the corridor they bumped into Morgana and her maid. "Hello Morgana, I will be gone for four days if you need extra help George will be able to help you" while he was talking he allowed Merlin's chain some slack and Morgana walked closer pulling Hunith with her.
Careful to shield Hunith with her body Morgana made sure Hunith and Merlin could get close. Hunith took her son's hands in hers and smiled at him, it was the smile Merlin remembered from his dreams. "Look after yourself Merlin" Hunith whispered "And remember I love you always" Merlin looked at his mother and gave her a seldom used grin.
"I love you mum" With that they were pulled apart as Arthur went on his way. The mother and son had had their first touch for seven years. Merlin had seen his mother form a distance but as soon as he heard her voice everything came back to him. How he hated Uther Pendragon. The young boy much older than his years had trouble not to cry as he was pulled away from his mother. But he swallowed his tears knowing that the Prince would be in trouble if his father knew what he had done. He wanted to speak to his mother again and would do anything to make sure he did.
As Hunith and Morgana walked away Hunith opened her hand to find a small flower, she had seen her son's eyes flash, even though he wasn't supposed to be able to use his magic with the collar on unless Arthur was in danger or he ordered it. She quickly put the flower in her pocket. She would not let even Morgana see it. When they got back to Morgana's room Hunith went to her room and put the flower safe. It was something she would treasure for as long as she could. Later when Hunith was sent to Gaius to get a sleeping potion she managed a quick word with the physician. "You know Merlin is with the Prince?"
"I do my dear, Arthur will look after him the best he can" gaisu reassured her
"They let us meet very briefly in the corridor" Hunith looked around before continuing "He did a small spell without Arthur knowing, he made me a flower"
"That's not a small thing Hunith, he must be careful, if you can warn him, or I will try. The Prince won't be able to save him if the King finds out. Now go I will try to come to talk to you soon." He handed Hunith a bottle "Tell my lady to drink as normal before she goes to bed." He said loud enough for the guard outside the door to here.
Hunith hurried back to Morgana while Gaius made up a skin of drugged wine, it seemed he would need to visit the dragon again. If Merlin was managing to get round the collar they might need to try to speak to him and warn him to be careful. No matter how powerful Merlin would be one day he was still young.
Arthur set off on patrol with six knight, two squires, Edwin and Merlin. Although the sorcerers had horses they were of poor quality, Uther made sure they couldn't run. But it did mean that the patrols were slower than they otherwise might have been. Edwin rode next to Merlin and looked across at his "Are you being looked after better?" he asked.
Merlin wasn't going to mention the extra food or his mother. "I sleep on a cold floor chained to a wall but I have a blanket and there is a fire in the room. But I get lonely I have no one to talk to"
"Do you get fed well?" Edwin persisted
"Same gruel although the night after the feast I had an apple as well" Merlin mentioned that, after all the servant had seen him get it.
"The Prince might be better than his father one day" Edwin commented "But he is young yet, at least you haven't been beaten"
"Only by Adrian at training I hate him" Merlin spat
"We all do boy, if any of us get the chance he will die"
Leon looked round at the two sorcerers "Quit talking, the bandits will hear you"
They continued for several more hours before stopping to let the horses rest. Then went on for another three hours. Just before settling for the knight one of the younger knights went to hunt for a couple of rabbits while the rest found a camp site and started to set up camp. The sorcerers were chained to tress as normal, they each had several yards of freedom. They looked after their own horses and then lit the fires with the wood the squires collected. The king and knights slept near the fire then the squires and on the outer edges the sorcerers set out their bedding, near to the trees they were chained to. At least on patrol they ate what everyone else did. It was the only time they got meat except for perhaps scraps after a feast. They didn't get as much as the knights but they didn't complain it was better than gruel and they were getting something three times a day.