When Aredian came for Merlin Arthur followed once more, he could tell the witch finder wasn't happy but he knew he could do nothing about it. Arthur wasn't surprised to find Edwin and Jonus waiting, he realised that Aredian would be well aware of the dynamics among the collared ones. He was pleased he had got the potion from Gaius. Now all he needed to do was stop things when Merlin had had enough. Much like last time the two older sorcerers were ordered to challenge Merlin and throw various spells at Merlin, Arthur could tell they were more powerful than the previous week.
Merlin was doing his best to avoid getting hurt but not showing his full power, he was helped by the potion, which made him feel slightly sluggish. After over half an hour of punishment Merlin fell to the floor and didn't rise. Aredian walked across and forced Merlin to his feet and was about to order more when Arthur stopped him. "Enough is enough, I need my sorcerer to be able to work not be exhausted for a week."
Aredian turned his face showing his fight to keep control. "Sire it is my duty to test the collared ones as I see fit, I have held this post for years and have never had complaints"
"But who would complain? Hardly the collared ones." Arthur sneered "Look at him he can't stand! I will take him back, if you know your job you should be able to report your findings from what has already happened."
"The boy could be hiding power, he has to be tested further!" Aredian grabbed Merlin by the arm and started to drag him upright.
Arthur had had enough he wouldn't see Merlin put through anymore, watching what he already had was bad enough. He strode forward, "I said enough!" he turned to Edwin "Take the boy to my rooms and ask the guard to settle him on his blankets." Turning back to Aredian "Don't try my patience, the boy cannot be expected to face two adult mages and do more than he has. It is clear to anyone that he did his best. I don't want him out of action I have a patrol tomorrow"
Aredian tried a different tactic "You could take one of the others Sire, as you say the boy is young. It is clear he isn't as powerful as we thought he would be by now"
Arthur snapped his trap shut. "I'm glad you agree with me, your testing has clearly got the results you needed. The boy will do me tomorrow it is a short ride out. I will report to my father that your findings are that the boy is not yet into his adult powers." As Arthur walked away he saw the look that Edwin gave Jonus and knew he would have to watch them closely.
Aredian took his temper out on the two sorcerers so they kept their counsel, they knew something had been stopping Merlin they could sense it but couldn't work out what. Merlin had been doing his best they were sure, no one would take that punishment if they could stop it. It looked like they would have to wait and watch.
Merlin was asleep when Arthur reached his rooms, but it was an exhausted sleep and Arthur could see the sheen of sweat over the slender body. He got the second flask from his cupboard and bent down and made Merlin drink the green fluid. Then offered Merlin a sip of wine to help mask the taste. He knew from experience just how foul Gaius's potions could be. The Arthur sat and filled in his time with paperwork so he could watch over his cousin.
George arrived with his supper and Arthur ordered a bath and told George he could cope and would call when he wanted it disposed of. "I want to soak in peace"
George bowed and did as he was asked. After Arthur had eaten his fill he had a quick strip down wash before waking Merlin and getting the tired boy into the bath. "Come on Merlin you need to soak those muscles of yours"
Merlin was awake enough to undress and wash himself then Arthur let him use his magic to reheat the water so he could lie and soak. When he was finished Arthur helped him dress then sat him at the table with the rest of the supper. Arthur blessed the fact that George seemed to think he had the appetite of two men, it allowed Merlin to at least get enough to eat. Once Merlin was finished eating he made the boy comfortable in his blankets. He wished he could let Merlin sleep in his bed, but the risk of detection was two great.
The next morning Merlin was far better than Arthur had expected. So they set off with a patrol including Merlin to accompany Arthur. They were going to check on a nearby village and would only be gone for a couple of hours. On their way back they came across a group of bandits who were robbing some peasant travellers. One man there was trying to fight them off. Arthur and the knights attacked with Merlin backing them as always. Arthur preferred to not totally rely on Merlin, one it wasn't fair on the boy and two it made the knights lazy. The fight was hard and brutal but was soon over. Checking for injuries they found only the original swordsman had been hurt taking a sword slice across thigh. As the others checked the peasants and made sure the bandits were dead or at least not going to cause a problem. Merlin went to their helper and tried to stanch the flow of blood with his magic.
Once the blood flow had stopped the man looked up at his saviour. The brunette was about the same age as the Prince with shoulder length hair and a short beard. He reached up and touched Merlin's collar. His expression one of disgust. Arthur chose the moment to come to see how the swordsman was.
"I thank you for helping the citizens of Camelot Sir, I can see you are not one of them, I hope you are not too badly hurt?" Arthur knelt down and proffered his hand. "Prince Arthur of Camelot"
The man ignored the hand "I would help anyone in need, think nothing of it."
Arthur withdrew his hand wondering what he had done to make the man act so. "I see you are hurt, we are returning to Camelot, we will take you with us so the Court Physician can look at you"
The man snorted "Your pet sorcerer has already stopped the bleeding"
Merlin looked at Arthur before saying "It needs stitches, I could try heal it if you want me to"
"No boy leave it" the brunette said kindly
"You object to magic?" Arthur asked knowing that there were many who wouldn't have it used on them.
"No I object to people being used as slaves because of their skills, those collars are an abomination" snarled the man as he tried to stand.
Merlin looked at him "Please Sire if you will not let me try then come with us, the wound needs treatment"
Arthur spoke once more "Your leg really does need treatment" then more kindly "May I have your name Sir? that I may thank you properly."
"Sir Gwaine of Essetir"
"Sir Gwaine, you are a long way from home"
"Just passing through on my way to Mercia, I intend to ask King Bayard if I can join his Knights." Gwaine said shortly.
By now the patrol was setting up camp. Arthur turned round to the knights "Sir Caridoc and Sir Codor accompany the travellers to their village"
The knights looked unhappy but couldn't disobey a direct order. Even though it meant that the Kings knights would be absent. Leon and Pellinor being the Princes men. Arthur turned to Gwaine once more
"Does King Cenred have all the knights he needs that you are travelling so far. If you are looking for a knighthood Camelot will offer you one"
"I think not, I left Essetir as I didn't like what I was seeing, and I don't like what I am seeing here either Sire" the brunette pointedly looked at Merlin's collar.
Arthur nodded but said no more instead he went to sort his horse, Merlin scampered after him. Leon came to the knight and gave him a hot drink. "The Prince is a good man, he is not his father"
"Yet he keeps a collared one" snarled Gwaine "and a young one at that, the boy isn't young enough to be killing"
Leon looked at the man in front of him "Don't judge everything on face value, if Merlin wasn't with the Prince his life would be much harder"
After the men had sorted themselves out and eaten they continued back to Camelot where Gwaine was taken to Gaius for treatment. As Gwaine was helped into the physicians chambers Leon explained "Gaius Sir Gwaine helped us with some bandits, he has a leg wound, Merlin stopped the bleeding, could you care for him please?"
Gaius told Gwaine to sit down then chased Leon off out of the way, the minute Leon was gone Gwaine spoke "Gaius, the same Gaius who was Uncle to Lady Hunith?"
Gaius looked up in panic "Hush Sir please, that is not a safe thing to talk of here"
"Then you are, my mother was the lady's best friend she would like to hear what happened." Gwaine persisted
Gaius looked at Gwaine "You look like your father, leave your questions until it is safe. Now let me look at your leg, you were lucky young Merlin was there. Why didn't he heal it?"
"I wouldn't let him, the boy had already been in the fight, he is young I didn't want to exhaust him" Gwaine explained "I saw he was the Princes collared one"
"Ummm" was the only reply he got.
Later once Gaius had sewn up Gwaine's leg and helped him into the small room of his chambers to recover the physician spoke to Gwaine once more. "It would be best if you took great care when mentioning certain names in Camelot Sir Gwaine, when the castle is quiet, I will answer your questions but not before. But know this the Prince is a young good man, don't take all at face value." He left a thoughtful man as he went about his duties.
Arthur made his report to his father and before he left Uther said "Don't interfere with Aredian's duties in future"
Arthur turned "He come running to you did he, well his methods were weakening my collared one, I needed him fit for today"
Uther looked at his son clearly unhappy "You could have taken another, I feel you are getting overly fond of the boy, don't make me regret letting you have him"
Arthur knew he needed to take care not to raise his father's suspicions "No father, not fond, but he is working and training with my knights, they are used to his ways and work well together. He is a valuable resource that I don't want ruined by Aredian's ways. He is unnecessarily cruel the boy is loyal to me and like a spirited horse broken too far and he will be worthless"
Uther looked thoughtful "You may be right, but watch yourself son, sorcerers are a necessary evil, they will manipulate you given the chance like all animals they are cunning"
Arthur turned his head so the King didn't see the look of disgust in his eyes "I will remember Sire"
Arthur left the throne room and made his way to the physician's chambers he couldn't help but think the time was coming when he would have to act and that the knight from Essetir would be a good edition to his men if he could be persuaded to stay. What he had seen of the other man's skills with a sword he was unconventional but good, very good.