A/N: Thank you for all your reviews! Also thanks to all those who alerted/favourited this story! Hope you enjoy the chapter...it's not that long. I apologize but I do have school now so it's a little hard to update. Anyways...enjoy the chapter!
Spoilers: Up to Season 3 episode 13
Pairings: ArthurXGwen; slight GwenXLancelot; There is no slash in this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin".
He slipped in quietly, by-passing the guards. Camelot's defence was currently very weak, owing to the debacle with Morgana.
His primary objective was to slip in undetected into the servants' quarters. Once he reached that area he made his way towards one particular serving girl's rooms.
The woman was new so she wouldn't recognize him. Then again, it was just a precaution. The last time he had been to Camelot was quite a while ago, he doubted anyone would recognize him. Adding to that the enchantment he would place on the serving girl insured that no one would suspect a thing, which as a result wouldn't alert the resident warlock.
He successfully reached the girl's room. He looked around the tiny space and found the girl asleep. This was perfect for him because he could cast the enchantment without her knowing about it.
However, as he approached her tiny bed, the girl stirred, forcing him to lunge towards the bed and clamp her mouth shut just as her eyes opened up. The girl struggled some but he immediately whispered the words of the spell that would hypnotize her into believing him to be her nephew.
Once the words had been spoken the girl slumped unconscious. He laid her back down and stood up, a wicked smirk escaping his stoic facade. The first part of the plan had been successfully completed.
Merlin made his way towards Arthur's chambers with the Prince's breakfast in his hands. He had a small smile on his face. He had just overheard Mary, the new girl, speaking animatedly with the cook about her nephew who had come to town.
Merlin was happy for her. She was new and unfortunately had just started working, when Morgana took over. Having her nephew come to stay with her was probably a welcome change.
He pushed open Arthur's chamber doors, set the tray on the table and started cleaning up. He heard Arthur shifting in bed in response to the very small amount of noise.
Impressed, though unwilling to admit it, he threw open the curtains giving his customary 'rise n' shine' as the Prince groggily awoke.
Merlin went about the chambers cleaning up and tried to ignore the calculating stare that Arthur was giving him. Forcing his discomfort aside Merlin kept up a steady stream of chatter going. He spoke of everything under the sun.
His efforts were rewarded with the Prince turning his attention towards breakfast. As Arthur ate Merlin started to gradually quieten and only occasionally made a sarcastic comment or asked a question, for which he received a noncommittal one word answer.
This had been going on for the better part of a week, ever since Arthur had seen Merlin collapse. The warlock was worried that Arthur hadn`t let the matter go as easily as Merlin had hoped.
The Prince had been staring at Merlin and had also stopped insulting or ordering Merlin about. The stare was calculating...analyzing...it was the kind of stare Arthur used on people he was trying to break, people who he knew to be hiding something from him.
Merlin knew that Arthur realized the warlock was less than truthful about certain things; Arthur had given enough clues about that. However, the Prince never seriously brought the topic out for discussion. That unfortunately changed because Arthur suddenly asked, "Merlin, you're hiding something from me aren't you?"
Merlin's heart skipped a beat as he in turn asked, "Why would you think that?"
Arthur scowled and said, "Don't answer my question with another!"
Merlin shrugged, turning away from the Prince and said, "I'm not hiding anything from you."
Arthur grabbed the clothes Merlin was studiously folding and the warlock jumped, startled at the alacrity with which the Prince had moved.
Merlin swallowed quietly. This did not look good...
Lancelot cursed his bad luck! He had run into Guinevere again. He had been avoiding her like the plague ever since their awkward last meeting. He had been successful as well, but it seemed his luck had run out.
This meeting was similar to the last one, the stuttering and mumbling, the conscientious avoidance of the circumstances of their relationship, and the utter formality with which each spoke.
Lancelot was sick of it, but he wouldn't encroach on Arthur's property. It wasn't only that, he was quite sure Guinevere loved the Prince very much. She wouldn't have risked her life during Morgana's rule to come after Arthur if it hadn't been so.
Knowing this, Lancelot was praying for an interruption. As long as it wasn't Arthur himself, Lancelot would be happy for it.
His prayers were answered! Gwaine's boisterous laughter along with Elyan and Percival's quite tones reached the estranged pair. Lancelot almost sighed in relief when the three Knights came into view. At perceiving the pair the Knights made their way towards them.
Gwaine gave his greeting as a hard slap on Lancelot's back forcing a jovial laugh out of the later in relief and exasperation, "Are you drunk so early in the morning Gwaine?"
Gwaine looked mockingly affronted, "Hey! We need to deal with the snobbish Prince early in the morning. My mind needs some fortification!"
Elyan shook his head and said, "Don't worry Lance, we've kept him away from the tavern. I believe he's always like this and when he drinks he just gets worse!"
Percival nodded in affirmation, "I have to agree with you there."
This brought a round of laughs from everyone except Gwaine who looked truly affronted now, "That is not fair! You people would kill for my charms. You're all just jealous!"
Guinevere decided to save Knight by saying, "So how are you all enjoying Knighthood?"
This brought on different responses, of it being good, except Gwaine who said, "Well if there was alcohol I'd enjoy it a lot more than now!"
Guinevere shook her head in exasperation, while the Knights gave Gwaine their normal laughter. Gwaine, Lancelot knew, was basically the joker of the group. Of course that didn't mean he wasn't a good fighter. Gwaine was a contradictory mixture of a good Knight and a jovial drunk!
Lancelot tuned back into the conversation at the mention of a feast. It seems Uther was planning on holding a small gathering in celebration of the new Knights.
Lancelot joined in the conversation, "I heard about that myself. I hear it's only going to hold all of us and the King."
Percival nodded, "All of us, meaning the people of the round table."
Elyan thought that through and said, "I wonder if Merlin will be joining us...?"
Lancelot tensed, and he noticed Gwaine did as well. Guinevere not noticing the unease of the two Knights continued the conversation, "I think Merlin has more of a reason to be celebrated than any of us. I would never have gotten close to Arthur if it hadn't been for Merlin."
Elyan nodded saying, "I'm also indirectly indebted to him for this Knighthood because of you Gwen. Since I'm your brother I got to know Arthur, who you got to know through Merlin!"
Percival chuckled at Elyan saying, "Yes, I'm also indebted to him indirectly. It was because of Lancelot I helped Arthur in the first place. Right Lance?"
Lancelot tried to go along with the flow of the conversation saying, "Yes, I met Arthur because of Merlin, and through me I guess Percival got his wishes granted. For me though it's not an indirect debt. I owe my Knighthood entirely to Merlin."
Gwaine rousing at that stated, "Yeah, that's me as well my Knighthood, though Arthur granted it, I wouldn't have received if it weren't for Merlin."
Elyan then stated a little confused, "Merlin is really odd in certain ways...I don't understand his utter loyalty to Arthur."
Gwen backed that statement, "It's true...sometimes I've noticed his loyalty goes above and beyond just regular servitude...then again Arthur and Merlin are friends no matter how much the two deny it."
Lancelot realized the conversation was treading on dangerous grounds and so did Gwaine because he immediately interrupted saying, "Well, it's not like it matters now. You've got me completely thinking about the feast. I'm wondering if there'll be any alcohol!"
This abruptly changed the topic back to the feast and Gwaine's unhealthy love for alcohol. Lancelot and Gwaine shared a quick glance, continuing the flow of conversation away from Merlin.
After all, Merlin had told both of them the entire story and neither was willing to betray the warlock's trust.
As the conversation continued, Lancelot heard hurried footsteps making their way towards the group. He turned to look down the hallway along with the others to see Arthur barrel down the turn.
The Prince looked up to see the group and immediately asked, "Did Merlin pass this way?"
Arthur asked the question and hoped for a positive answer. However, the negatives from Elyan, Percival, and Gwen crashed his hopes.
He gave a quick glance to Gwaine and Lancelot to see that both the Knights had stiffened at the mention of Merlin.
Gwaine asked, "What's wrong?"
Arthur, suspicions growing, said, "I was asking Merlin a question...well...he was thinking of an answer when suddenly he grew rigid...it felt like he was far away for that moment. Then all of a sudden he dashed out of my rooms. I tried to follow him but I can't find him anymore."
Gwaine and Lancelot exchanged a terrified look, which Arthur caught. The Prince had had a feeling for a while now that Merlin, Gwaine, and Lancelot were hiding something very big from him, his suspicions were confirmed now.
"Gwaine, Lancelot...what do you know?"
The two aforementioned Knights jumped, startled. Lancelot answered, "I think we need to find Merlin first, Sire."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. He was not happy with the outcome but he realized from the fear on Gwaine and Lancelot's features that Merlin might be in trouble.
The Prince nodded and for the next hour the six of them looked all over the castle. They met back in the courtyard, only one place left to check-up: the tunnels that these very same people had used to get into Camelot to save Uther.
They ran towards the tunnels, Arthur in the lead, ignoring the wondering glances of the people that they passed. When they reached the spot, Arthur's heart nearly stopped at the sight that greeted them.
Merlin lay still and unmoving close to the entrance of the tunnels. Arthur fell to his knees beside the prone figure, followed by Lancelot and Gwaine.
"Merlin! Merlin! Wake up!"
Arthur felt fear grip his heart when he couldn't rouse the servant. Then Gwen, bless her, asked the imperative question, "Did you check his heartbeat?"
Arthur did that immediately. With his head against Merlin's chest, Arthur listened attentively, his fear mounting at the increased quiet that seemed to echo across Merlin's chest.
The three met up in an unused and darkened hallway.
"It's done."
The leader nodded, "Great, I think we should move ahead to the next part of the plan. Did you ask Mary about us working with her in the kitchens during the feast?"
He nodded, stoically. Closer to a boy than a man though he was he knew the importance of this mission. The third person of the party, smirked and whispered, "I started brewing the potion already, all that is required is the blood. The scroll says the potion, once made, takes about a day to settle."
The leader nodded once more, "That's more than enough time, after all their guardian angel is...incapacitated."
A/N: OH YEAH! I know wicked cliff-hanger! I just needed to keep you people guessing! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I'm quite sure the three people are obvious...but here I'll give you a bone...*GASP* who do you guys think the three people are? LOL I think the biggest cliff-hanger is the plan for the attack!
Anyways, read and review m'dears! Until next time!