Another Friday gift, liberally sprinkled with fluff to soothe your broken hearts!
"Merlin, did they hurt you before today? Merlin? Merlin!" Arthur snapped his fingers but it was no use. Merlin's eyes fluttered shut. "Gaius, he's unconscious."
"He needs the rest, but you'll have to wake him every few hours. He has a contusion on the back of his head and his eyes were unfocused. I suspect a concussion but it may also be the strain. Listen to his heart."
Arthur put his ear on Merlin's chest and listened to the erratic beat. It sped uncertainly, skipping beats here and there as if it tripped over itself. "Can't you calm it?"
"I'll give him a sedative if it doesn't calm on its own. He must have had a panic attack in the dungeon. A strong one, if his heart hasn't recovered yet. His nose looks like it bled, and it hasn't been hit, so I must conclude that this is all from the strain he was under today. This is more than a mean scare, more than a prank gone wrong. Those boys terrorized him, and it would have been obvious. Why did those boys put him in a dungeon?"
"It sounds like they were playing a game, but the more I think about it, the less it sounds like an innocent game gone wrong. Merlin's been avoiding them. He kept running away from them, and-" Arthur felt a deep pang of guilt. "I didn't realize why. I thought he just wanted my attention, or the attention of the people he was used to. I kept pushing him to play with them." He studied Merlin's bruised and still thin chest. His ribs were more prominent than Arthur remembered, and as he looked, really looked at Merlin's face, he could see where his face had lost the small bit of roundness it had gained. He must not have been eating. The signs had all been there. The maid, Mary, had mentioned an incident with Cedric and chickens. (Although in all honesty, what was he supposed to ado about chickens?) His father had told him that Katrina had comforted Merlin the same day. Gwen had suspected that Merlin was being hurt and tried to tell him. He buried his face in his hands.
Gaius placed his hand on his shoulder. "Arthur?"
"Gods, Gaius. I'm so stupid. He brought me the jar of arnica yesterday. I thought he was offering it to me for my sake, but what if – What if he was asking for me to use it on him? I'm such an idiot!"
"Arthur, feeling guilty isn't going to help Merlin now. Help me get the supplies. I'll send for Uther."
"Father? Why?" The last thing Arthur wanted was for his father to see how badly he'd neglected Merlin!
"Arthur, he needs to see this. Those boys told him Merlin ran away from them, when they confessed that they lost him. Uther needs to see the truth, for Merlin's sake."
It was true. He nodded and laid a blanket over Merlin. Obediently, he filled a tray with the usual poultices and a few vials Gaius requested. He sent word to Leon that he would be taking the day off tomorrow – something Leon had been pushing for days now. He also updated him on Merlin's condition.
He was running his fingers through Merlin's hair, avoiding the lump, when his father arrived. "Gaius, I got your message. What happened?"
Gaius waved Uther forward and Arthur pulled the blanket off Merlin. Uther's frown deepened. "What is this? What happened to him?"
Arthur spoke first. "Merlin said they were playing a game of knights, but they made him be the bandit, or sorcerer." He didn't like calling Merlin a sorcerer, even under the guise of a game, in front of Uther. "They chased him all over the castle before locking him in the dungeons. He seems to have had a panic attack when they left him down there. I found him there, barely conscious." Arthur guessed that the boys had returned to release him eventually, but when they found him gone decided to be the first to point fingers. They might admit to it but they couldn't prove it. Even if they said Merlin had escaped the cell, it was now Arthur's word against theirs – and their word was looking more worthless by the second.
Gaius was pointing to the dark purple bruises on Merlin's shoulder and chest. "These are not from today, Sire. Those boys have hurt him before." The other bruises were just beginning to turn – the red and pink was already giving way to purple. Merlin would be black and blue tomorrow.
Uther exhaled heavily. "Several of the servants spoke up today, when we were searching for him. The stable master, kennel keeper, and head cook all came forward and described incidents where the other boys instigated trouble."
Arthur was angry again "Why didn't they speak up when it happened? We could have prevented this!"
Uther turned his stern gaze on Arthur and his anger withered. "For the same reasons, you and I didn't see it for ourselves. With all the Yule business, their attention was diverted and they each believed it was an isolated incident. None described the boys hurting Merlin; they must have done it once they were left alone. We took his running away too lightly."
Gaius began cleaning Merlin's face, revealing a split lip and scraped chin. He shook his head. "It was too soon. Merlin is an easy target for bullies like this. Even if he were speaking normally, he probably felt like he had no choice but to play along."
Uther laid a hand over Merlin's small one. "I suspect we all put too much pressure on Merlin to fit in. I, myself, believed he wasn't trying hard enough. Then those boys gave their mothers some silly story about having a fight with Merlin, and they had injuries to show for it. I could scarcely believe it – Merlin, fighting? Even if I didn't know how timid Merlin is, these bruises prove it was never a fair fight. We'll have an audience with the boys and their mothers tomorrow morning. We'll also have to make alternate arrangements for Merlin's care."
"Father, I did consider a back-up plan. Morgana's maid, Guinevere, can be made available, and Merlin knows her. But for tomorrow, Leon's given me the day off and I think it would be best if I give it wholly to Merlin. He deserves a little comfort."
Uther studied Arthur for a moment and he was afraid that Uther would reject the idea, but he finally nodded. "I'll send for you when I have them gathered. Merlin needs to know he can speak up in his own defense and that we will protect him. I will not stand for anyone hurting a member of this family. Will he be able to recover for that, Gaius?"
"Yes, Sire. He will be quite sore but there are no broken bones. His shoulder feels dislocated but a sling will keep him comfortable after I set it. I would, however, suggest bedrest as much as possible tomorrow. Even if he does not have a concussion, at the very least he will probably have a serious headache. His heart also concerns me. He must be kept as calm as possible."
Uther placed his fingers on Merlin's neck, searching out his pulse point. Nodding gravely, he said, "We will see how he fares tomorrow. I would like him to be present, Arthur, but I leave it to you to decide if he is well enough. I will arrange for a later audience, before lunch."
With that, he swept out of the room. Arthur hoped Merlin would be well enough. His father was right, Merlin needed to witness justice on his behalf.
They settled down to take care of Merlin. After checking Merlin's scrapes, setting Merlin's arm, and after Gaius had administered a light sedative, he brought Merlin back to the room, placing him in a nest of pillows. The action was more familiar than Arthur liked. He kept watch for the rest of the night, but didn't have the heart to disturb Merlin's rest when it came time to check his concussion. He kept checking Merlin's pulse, half afraid it would stop without him noticing, but Gaius' sedative worked. Merlin's heart slowed, and gradually became regular. Arthur let himself doze, keeping one hand on Merlin's chest to feel the rise and fall of his breaths.
He was quick to soothe Merlin when he stirred the next morning. It was just before dawn, but he knew it was Merlin's habit to wake early. "You can keep sleeping, Merlin," he whispered. He pulled the blankets higher and stroked Merlin's hair.
But Merlin's eyes fluttered open. He gave Arthur a sleepy smile and Arthur's guilt renewed. "How are you feeling, Merlin?"
Merlin, still smiling, tried to sit up and whimpered. Arthur could see the moment he remembered everything. His face paled and his expression blanked. "It's alright, Merlin. They're not going to hurt you anymore."
Merlin struggled up until Arthur helped him sit up. For an awful moment, Merlin flinched away from Arthur's hands but when Arthur tried to apologize, Merlin only looked away. Reaching forward again, Merlin let him make contact. He helped Merlin into a sling and then pulled him onto his lap. He was afraid that Merlin wanted to turn away from him and Arthur needed to talk to him before that. He settled against the headboard and pulled the blankets up around them. Merlin didn't try to move away but he remained stiff, his face averted. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I should have been paying more attention to you. You kept your promise, but I didn't keep mine."
Merlin still wouldn't look at him. "Leon was right. I was so worried about winning this tournament that I was blind to just how unhappy you were. Willfully blind."
"Katrina saw it first, I think. She told my father that maybe you weren't ready to be on your own. We thought that you simply needed more time to get used to your new friend." He didn't miss that Merlin's hand tightened where he gripped his shirt when he said 'friend.' It was confirmation that both boys had been mean to Merlin.
Confirmation he didn't need.
"Gwen tried to warn me too. She was worried they had hurt you and hoped I could get you to tell me. And you tried to tell me, didn't you? I remember it now, you said they hated you. It should have set off alarm bells right away, but I wasn't listening. Just like I wasn't paying attention when you tried to show me that you were hurt. That's what you were trying to do, with the arnica, isn't it, Merlin?"
Merlin gave him a tight shrug and winced. Arthur rubbed his back gently, avoiding the spots he knew were bruised. "I really am sorry, Merlin. Instead of helping you, I kept cutting off your options for retreat. That's why you went to Kilgharrah, isn't it? I wouldn't listen, but he did. This is a hard lesson for me, but I'm only sorry you had to pay the price for me to learn it. Can you ever forgive me, Merlin?"
Arthur could tell Merlin had already forgiven him because it only took a moment for him to lean back and rest his head on Arthur's shoulder. It was too easy, he thought. He wished Merlin would be angry, wished he could yell at him, but he knew that all Merlin wanted was comfort. Slowly, Merlin's tension melted away and he switched his grip to hold onto Arthur's arm. I missed you.
Arthur sighed and held tighter to Merlin. He wanted to say that he'd never left, but it wasn't true. He'd left Merlin on his own, glad that Merlin had friends his own age so that Arthur could return to his own friends. He'd been glad to be able to go out with the boys, train hard with them during the day and celebrate in the tavern at night. There had been at least one night when he hadn't even checked on Merlin before crashing on the bed to sleep.
Gods, he was a terrible person.
He sat quietly, holding Merlin against him and hoping that he would sleep a little more now that he knew he was safe. But Merlin stubbornly stayed awake, never letting go of his hold on Arthur's shirt. He learned why when the sun began to peek through the shutters. The light filtered through the open curtains on Arthur's side of the bed.
It's time for training. Merlin tried to pull away, despondency settling on him like a dark cloud.
Arthur held him still. "I'm not going to training, Merlin. Today, I'm all yours."
Merlin shook his head, and for a second, Arthur was afraid that Merlin wanted him to go away. You have to go. The tournament!
"I can afford to take a day off, Merlin. Even Leon practically ordered it. Don't you want me to stay with you?"
Merlin nodded. He fiddled with a loose thread on Arthur's sleeve. But you have to win. You can't miss it for me. I don't want… It's going to be my fault.
Arthur couldn't stop himself. He threw his head back, banging it on the headboard. Merlin looked at him in shock. He drew a deep breath to gain control over himself. "Merlin, you're not making me miss anything. I – I didn't mean that. I wasn't trying to blame you. I'm sorry I made you think that." He wrapped Merlin in another hug. "I was just angry that day, because I made stupid mistakes during a practice bout. I've been overdoing it and it caught up to me. I need this day as much as you do, and I will spend it with you."
"If you want me around."
Merlin turned in his lap and searched his eyes for a long moment. Then he wiggled until he could comfortably wrap his free arm around Arthur. I want that.
They sat quietly for a while longer. At length, a servant entered to tend the fire. Arthur waited until they were gone before he sat up. "Let's get you some breakfast. I know you haven't been eating. Not much of an appetite lately?"
Merlin shook his head. He clung to Arthur as Arthur moved off the bed. "Don't worry, Merlin. Today, I'm all yours, but I do need to check you over and give you your medicines. How does your head feel? Is your vision blurry?"
Another negative. "Gaius was worried that you might have a concussion. Tell me right away if your head starts hurting or you feel sick."
Arthur checked Merlin's pulse. It was mostly steady but it had sped up alarmingly when he moved and was still racing. Arthur tipped up Merlin's face. "Merlin, are you feeling anxious or afraid?"
Merlin frowned and shook his head. Why?
Arthur reached for a vial of the sedative prescribed by Gaius. "Your heart is beating very fast and missing beats. Has it ever done that before, skipped beats?"
Arthur meant in the period before this whole mess, but clearly Merlin was remembering further back. Yes. Arthur felt Merlin's heartrate jump again as Merlin ducked his face away.
"I can guess why. But has it happened since you came to Camelot?" He felt no need to question Merlin about the previous occasions; it was unlikely he'd even received treatment.
Merlin raised his head and shook his head. Arthur offered the small vial and Merlin opened his mouth without hesitation. "It's just a swallow of this, Merlin. A few times a day until your heart can stay regular on its own. And this other one," Arthur picked up a second vial, "should help with the pain. I'll rub in some balm in a moment."
He hurried to get Merlin dressed and ready, then readied himself. Merlin made a questioning noise when Arthur carried him out of the room without breakfast. Arthur smiled reassuringly. "I heard you have some friends in the kitchen and thought you might like to visit them. You'll have to introduce me. Do you think they'll feed us?"
Merlin's expression was joyous as he nodded. Really? Arthur nodded. "Today is all about you and what you like to do. I heard you spend a lot of time in the kitchens."
Merlin smiled happily. You'll like Big Mary. She always gives me cider and yummy buns.
"Why do you call her 'Big' Mary?"
Merlin giggled. Because my nanny's name is Mary too. But she's younger.
He was a bit slack in Arthur's arms, possibly because of the sedative. Gaius had said to make sure Merlin ate something when he took it. Arthur hurried on, trying to maintain a dignified pace but wanting to get Merlin to food quickly.
It turned out that Big Mary was the head cook and oh, how she adored Merlin. Although she had been surprised to see Arthur in the kitchen, her eyes had immediately softened when Merlin waved to her. With one snapped order, a table was cleared near the least used fireplace and food set out for them. She brought their food herself, never missing a beat in managing the others. Exactly as Merlin said, Mary promised him a sweet pastry and cider if he ate all of his breakfast. Arthur was served a generous breakfast as well, which he greatly enjoyed (there was chicken and sausages). He watched Merlin eat and took pity on him when Merlin began to struggle. With a wink, he finished off Merlin's plate and nudged the pastry closer. He carried his plates to Mary, using it as an excuse to ask her if she knew anything about Merlin's past few days. Though she was hesitant at first, Arthur insisted that he was only interested in knowing the truth. It was clear from her description that she was fiercely protective of Merlin and would have liked to keep him away from Cedric. She hadn't witnessed Cedric hurting Merlin, but she made sure to express just how sad Merlin had been after an incident with a chick.
While Merlin sipped his cider and nibbled on his pastry, Guinevere came in to fetch Morgana's breakfast. Arthur also approached her and apologetically requested that she watch over Merlin in the next few days. She agreed immediately, waving to an anxiously watching Merlin, and promised to make the necessary arrangements with the steward and Morgana. Feeling better, Arthur returned to Merlin and delivered the good news. Merlin looked intensely relieved.
Having eaten breakfast, they were left with a few hours before Uther would require them. Arthur asked Merlin what he would like to do. Merlin brightened and pointed the way. He had wanted to walk, but Arthur didn't want to tire him out and so had resolved to carry Merlin everywhere. "I'm your pony today, Merlin."
Merlin giggled.
They started off with a visit to the stables where Arthur let Merlin down so he could greet his pony. The pony seemed just as overjoyed to see Merlin as Merlin was to see him. He pranced in his stall until Arthur set Merlin down, wary of letting him near the hyper pony. His worry was for naught – as soon as Merlin ducked inside, Tidbit proceeded to nuzzle and lick his face as Merlin hugged him tightly. The peals of Merlin's laughter attracted the attention of Henry and Arthur took the opportunity to talk to him.
Henry told him about Merlin's last ride, how upset Mary had been when the boys did not return on time, and that Cedric had left the grounds against her rules. He confessed that he'd asked Merlin to stay away after Cedric's appalling behavior. He made it clear that Merlin was always welcome, but Henry wanted nothing to do with Cedric – for Merlin's and the ponies' sakes. The man obviously felt badly about separating the two friends and Arthur reassured him that he'd done the right thing. "However, in the future, please inform me of any similar incidents. I am sure you have noticed that Merlin doesn't speak much – but these are the kinds of things I need to know."
He had similar discussions all around the castle as Merlin led him to different points. Servants everywhere paused in their tasks to greet Merlin wholeheartedly. Maids cooed when they noticed his sling and wished him a quick recovery. Merlin seemed relieved when they talked to him and it didn't take long for Arthur to figure out that the staff had begun to avoid Merlin for fear of having to deal with Cedric and Arien. It drove home just how isolated Merlin must have felt.
He laughed when he stopped to let Merlin pick flowers to hand out to the laundry maids – Morgana had sent the gardener to him when the man kept insisting there was a thief stealing his roses. Arthur would have to talk to him, now, to be sure that Merlin didn't get in trouble.
At the kennels, Ulric let Merlin into the pup corral whilst he talked to Arthur. A large sniffing hound howled mournfully from across the way until Merlin went to it and lavished attention on him as well. Arthur watched with interest as the dog sniffed around Merlin's sling before licking his face thoroughly. Arthur grimaced a little. He definitely needed to give Merlin a bath tonight!
"Merlin calls that one Droopy. He's absolutely loyal to Merlin. He guarded him when he hid from those boys. In fact, all of the dogs in that pack protected him. Sometimes I think they think he's one of their own."
Arthur was glad to hear it. He found it funny that mere dogs had known Merlin needed protecting before he himself had known it. Then again, Merlin definitely had a way with animals.
He interrupted Merlin's tour of the castle to bring him to the room for a time. It was nearly noon and Uther would be summoning them soon. He gave Merlin another dose of the sedative – he seemed fine now, but Arthur was acting preemptively. Merlin would be facing off with the boys that hurt him. He wouldn't be alone, but it was sure to be stressful nonetheless. As he rubbed more arnica into Merlin's bruises, he explained to Merlin what would be happening.
"Father is going to hold a meeting today, on your behalf, with Sir Gaedric's widow and Sir Urien and his wife. Cedric and Arien will be there too." As expected, Merlin became nervous instantly. "They won't hurt you, Merlin. This is a formal meeting. They had better be on their best behavior."
I don't want to go.
"Merlin, I know you're frightened of them, and for good reason, but I want you to go. Not for me, not for Uther, but for you. You don't have to be frightened of them anymore. I want you to see it for yourself."
I – I hit them back. Am I in trouble too?
"We know you fought back. It was self-defense and you're not in trouble. You're allowed to defend yourself. Maybe this is the wrong thing to say, but I'm proud of you for that. I haven't seen those boys, but father said they didn't get away unscathed. Good on you, Merlin."
Merlin didn't seem proud, only ashamed. Merlin wasn't a fighter, that much was clear. It had taken the extreme fear to get him to fight back, but he regretted it. They had squires like that, even a knight or two; good men, greatly capable – they did what was required of them in battle, but came down from the fights with heavy hearts. Leon would know how to talk to Merlin about that. Arthur reminded himself to mention it to Leon.
"It's important that you know that you can help yourself. I want you to know it's safe to speak up. If ever I'm not listening to you, not seeing something, you can't give up on me, Merlin. I know speaking is hard for you, but that can't be the thing that stops you from telling someone that you need help. Katrina, Gwen, Uther, all of us would have acted immediately if we'd known that those boys were actually hurting you. We can't make them be nice to you, that part is something we can talk about later, but we absolutely will not allow them to hurt you. As Uther's ward, you are a part of this family, and no one, no one, is allowed to hurt you."
I wanted to get along. They said they were playing.
"Play is fun, Merlin, like when we played in the snow. If someone is getting hurt, that's not playing." He sighed. "Do you want to try going to the meeting?"
Merlin didn't answer. Arthur could feel his tension as he continued to rub balm into Merlin's skin. He didn't push Merlin. Maybe he should push, but he didn't have the heart to do it now, not while he was looking at the evidence of just how hard Merlin had tried to fit in.
They hadn't needed to pressure him, he realized suddenly. Merlin was conditioned to obey, so conditioned, that he had put up with being hurt! Maybe it was part of the reason why he so regretted fighting back. Maybe it was why he had waited so long before fighting back.
Maybe he shouldn't have asked in the first place, but the question was out now. It was all he could do to not press.
A messenger came to get them. Arthur kneeled in front of Merlin who looked up at him pleadingly. Will you be there?
"Yes. I'll be right beside you. Father will be there too. You can count on us, Merlin."
Merlin finally nodded. Arthur slipped his shirt and sling back on. "I knew you were brave, Merlin."
Poor Merlin paled with every step they took. Before entering the Great Hall, Arthur asked Merlin once again if he wanted to do this. Merlin hesitated longer but his answer did not change.
To Arthur's relief, Morgana was also present. She winked good-naturedly from where she sat in her throne beside a stern and regal Uther. His own throne was on Uther's right and Arthur immediately understood the implications. Uther was making a statement, loud and clear, of a united front. This would not be only a reprimand for misbehaving boys. This was a courtly declaration; Merlin is a part of this family, and woe betide any who treat Merlin otherwise. Arthur had never felt so gleeful about seeing someone get their due.
As Arthur approached his throne, Uther waved him over. Uther gestured for him to set Merlin down before him – which Arthur did while keeping hold of Merlin's small hand. "Merlin, I have become accustomed to your… quiet nature, however, today, I must ask you to speak up when I ask you a direct question."
Merlin looked up worriedly at Arthur – and he gave him an encouraging nod. He wouldn't be able to answer for Merlin, not today.
Uther gently placed his hand on Merlin's head to gain his attention, saying, "I want you to learn something from this, Merlin. I have told you before that no one here will punish you for speaking, but I see now that it wasn't what I should have said. I should have said that you are welcome to speak, expected to speak. If you are being hurt, if you see someone being hurt, if you see something that none of us has seen, anything at all, I absolutely expect you to speak up. However much effort it takes, however many times you have to repeat yourself, however loud you have to get, you must speak up. It's your duty now, as part of this family, to speak up in defense of Camelot and her people. That includes you."
Arthur was surprised at the tender undertone in his father's otherwise solemn words. Merlin was listening raptly, his eyes wide and expression cleared of fright.
Uther studied Merlin. "Do you understand me, Merlin?"
Merlin nodded and when Uther tilted his head, he cleared his throat. "Yes, Sire."
Uther patted Merlin's shoulder approvingly and waved them to take their seats. Merlin settled stiffly on Arthur's lap and he rubbed soothing circles on Merlin's back until he felt Merlin take a deep breath.
Right as the bells tolled the hour, the guilty parties made their entrance. Their bearing was not guilty – they still thought they were being honored with an audience with the king. Only Sir Urien seemed to have an inkling that all was not well as he took in the lineup of thrones and Merlin's bruised appearance.
Uther waited until they greeted him, the two boys in question edging ever so slightly behind their mothers. Arthur could see Merlin gripping tightly to the hem of his sling and placed his hand on Merlin's shoulder to help ground him.
Uther stood up to speak. "I would like to extend my gratitude to you for accepting my request to arrive early so that my young ward, Merlin, might have friends with whom to play. It appears, however, that there have been some problems. I would like the boys to step forward, please."
With a worried look at his father, Arien stepped forward and took a knee. Cedric reluctantly followed suit. Arthur studied them; Arien had a bruise on his chin and scratches were barely visible under the edge of his tunic. Cedric's left eye was blackened, not from a direct hit, but rather from having had his nose broken. Neither boy was looking at Merlin.
"Tell me what happened yesterday." Uther's tone was suddenly less accommodating.
Cedric turned back to look at his mother, who stepped forward. "Your Royal Highness – "
"Silence." Uther kept his eyes on the boys. Arthur watched as Arien paled when he glanced up at Uther – the boy even had the gall to shoot a pleading look at Merlin! He withered under Arthur's own glare. "I know what the boys told you, but I will hear the truth of the matter, now, from their mouths."
Urien seemed to have realized something. He spoke commandingly, "Answer the King, Arien."
Arien fixed his stare on the ground. "We were playing a game, Your Majesty." He paused, waiting for Uther to respond, and continuing nervously when it was clear there would be no interruption. "We were playing and we fell down some stairs and we lost Mer – Lord Merlin in the dungeons."
"Is that exactly what happened? Cedric?"
Cedric nodded hastily.
"What game were you playing?"
"Well, we were just playing together." A sharp reprimand from his father had Arien gulping guiltily. "We were playing a game of Knights."
Uther began to pace. "I see. And who were the knights?"
Cedric finally spoke up. "We all were. Sire. Your Majesty, sir."
Arthur bit back the urge to interrupt. His father knew perfectly well how a game of Knights operated. Urien, too, appeared to have caught on to the lie.
"Is that true, Arien?"
Arien glared at Cedric but nodded. Uther turned to Merlin. "Merlin, what were the roles in the game?"
Merlin stiffened. Raising his chin, he met Uther's eyes. "T-two knights, one s-s-sorc-cerer."
"And what role were you given?"
"S-sorcerer."
Uther turned back to the boys. "So, who is telling the truth?"
Lady Beatrice stepped forward indignantly. "Perhaps there was a miscommunication, but surely Lord Merlin wouldn't call our boys liars."
Uther sharply interrupted her, "Are you calling Merlin a liar?"
Lady Beatrice paled at Uther's tone. Arthur could see that she had underestimated Merlin's status in Uther's eyes. "No, Your Majesty. Of course, not. I merely suggest that perhaps this mistake is the root of their conflict. Boys will be boys, after all."
It was Urien that surprised Arthur. "My Lady, perhaps your gentle eye cannot see it, but seeing the state of the boys together, I am starting to doubt that this was any kind of game. I grew up in a family of all boys, and have six of my own. I know when one is being picked on. Something more has happened here."
Lady Beatrice still looked unconvinced and Uther turned his attention to her. "My Lady, Merlin's background is enough to assure me of his honesty, and every game of Knights needs an adversary." He stepped in front of Cedric and Arien, "Good sportsmanship demands that the turns be rotated fairly." He returned his attention to the parents. "Furthermore, this wasn't a simple fight like you describe, nor did Merlin run away as you were told. Arthur, please tell them where you found Merlin."
Cedric was looking pleadingly at Arien, but the older boy stared resignedly at his boots. "I found him locked in a cell in the dungeons, sick, battered, and barely conscious."
"We were just playing! We were going to let him out but when we went back, he was gone!" Cedric shouted, looking equally angry and scared. Now both mothers looked mortified, and Sir Urien was looking angry.
Sir Urien strode forward to box Arien's ears. "Arien! What did you do?"
Uther glared at Cedric until the boy ducked his head. "Obviously, you intended to leave Merlin there. Were you angry that he fought back? Afraid he would tell someone what happened? Is that why you locked him in a dungeon cell, ignoring his cries for help, and left him there? Well?"
He received no reply but Uther was done. "I conducted my own investigation yesterday, especially after seeing Merlin's injuries. Several servants and guards described Merlin being chased through the castle down to the lower levels. My court physician, Gaius, pieced together the story after that. The boys did indeed fall down the stairs, but once there, they beat Merlin until they were able to subdue him and throw him in the cell."
"He hit us too." Cedric mumbled petulantly under his breath. His mother pinched his ear, but Uther had heard him.
"Shall we compare injuries? You have a broken nose and perhaps a bruise. Arien appears to have some scratches and a bite wound. Did I miss anything?"
Arien was determinedly ignoring Cedric now, and Arthur couldn't blame him. Cedric was just digging his grave deeper.
"Merlin, on the other hand, suffered a concussion, a dislocated arm, several bruised ribs, has kick-bruises on his back, and was left to lie in the dark in a puddle of his own sick. Two, older, bigger boys against him. What part of that would make me believe this was a fair fight?" Uther raised a hand to stop Beatrice from interrupting. "Furthermore, in my investigation, I have learned that this was not an isolated incident. Merlin bears bruises from previous days. In addition, in the few days you have been here, you have been banned from various areas of the castle by trusted staff for causing trouble."
Uther returned to his throne. "It is clear to me that you boys have taken advantage of my household, my ward, and my goodwill. These are grievous trespasses and harming a member of my house is enough to earn you lashes and banishment."
Cedric's jaw dropped as he finally gave in to his tears. Arien held his eyes clenched shut even as he trembled where he stood. Arthur was relishing the moment, but was snapped out of it by Merlin, of all people.
Merlin slid off his lap and moved to face Uther from between the chairs. Arthur could see the tension in Merlin's shoulders as he reached his uninjured hand to grasp Uther's hand. "P-p-please d-don't hurt them-m or b-banish them. I – I'm n-not worth it-t."
One sweep of the room confirmed to Arthur that all of the adults were focused on Merlin now. Arthur knew Uther never meant to follow through on such a punishment – these were boys after all, and the sons of loyal knights. But Merlin's intervention was perfect nonetheless, because it proved that Merlin was not an instigator in this matter and that he really did hold the King's favor.
Uther settled his arm around Merlin. "You are absolutely worth it, Merlin. You are my ward and that affords you the same protections as if you were my son. However, in light of your request and in recognition of your fathers' services to me," Uther turned back to the boys, "I will leave the matter of your discipline in your parents' hands. Actually, perhaps Urien, it would be best if you disciplined both boys. One day, they will be expected to join the ranks of Camelot's knights and, as one of our own, I know you will be able to correct their behavior adequately."
Arthur watched as Urien accepted the request with the same seriousness as he would a mission. Arien's two older brothers, one a squire and one a junior knight, were good men. Knowing this, Arthur decided that he could trust Urien to be strict without being abusive. He caught Urien's eye and received a serious nod. Yes, the boys were in for true discipline.
The meeting was adjourned and as soon as they were gone, Morgana indignantly demanded to know why Uther was letting the boys off so lightly. Uther didn't answer her, instead lifting Merlin into his lap. "Take three deep breaths, Merlin."
Arthur stood up to look at Morgana. "You can't really expect him to order children to be lashed and banished."
Morgana rolled her eyes. "Of course, not. But, honestly, to just let their parents handle it? What kind of punishment is that?"
Uther was whispering in Merlin's ear, almost as if talking him down. Arthur kept watch as he answered Morgana. "Urien is a good man, a good knight, and his two eldest are turning out likewise. He obviously knows how to be a father, and I think we can trust him to exact a fair punishment. Besides, now those boys are indebted to Merlin. He spoke up for them, and they know it."
Uther gestured for Arthur to take Merlin who stood teary-eyed but calm. "The matter is settled now. I don't want either of you," he pointedly glanced at Arthur and Morgana, "to seek any kind of retribution. From now on, our focus will be on helping Merlin recover and to better ease his transition to our way of life. I leave it to you two to figure it out. And Merlin?"
Merlin nodded somberly, his hand over his heart in promise.
"Good. Now go on. I have other business to attend to."
Outside, Morgana turned to Arthur. "Gwen already asked me and I said yes. I would invite Merlin to join me but I don't want to inflict that kind of boredom on him, much less expose him to the niggling judgement of those airheads."
Arthur barked out a laugh. "Who?"
Morgana waved dismissively. "All the ladies and their well-to-do daughters." When Arthur kept laughing, she smirked. "You won't be laughing when Uther parades them out for you. They all adore you and can't wait to dance with you."
Arthur growled in disgust. He was almost of age, which meant the pursuits would be worse now. He shook his head dismissively. "Maybe they'll go after Merlin instead."
Morgana slapped Arthur's arm playfully before reluctantly excusing herself to return to the ladies' party.
Arthur hadn't missed Merlin's detachment from the conversation. "Merlin, are you alright?" He checked Merlin's pulse – fast but regular. Merlin pointed outside and Arthur dutifully carried him out. Merlin led them to the training field where the men were just finishing their run.
Arthur stayed back. "Merlin, I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to run."
Leon, concerned and aware of yesterday's trouble, approached. "Is something wrong? How did the audience go?"
Arthur kept tight hold of Merlin. "It went fine. I think Merlin was hoping to run, but I'm not sure it's a good idea. Gaius recommended bedrest in case he had a concussion and his heart was still acting funny."
Leon crouched to meet Merlin's eyes and held up his hand questioningly. When Merlin nodded, Leon sought out his pulse, then ran his hand over the back of Merlin's head. Merlin winced slightly when he touched the sore spot, but otherwise seemed fine. "He seems fine to me, Arthur. Maybe he just needs to run off the tension of the meeting. Besides, if he feels off, you'll be there to catch him, won't you?"
Merlin wriggled in his arms desperately. Please? His baby blue eyes carried just the edge of tears as they reflected the afternoon sunlight brightly.
How could he say no to that look? With a sigh, he thanked Leon and carried Merlin closer to the benches.
Grudgingly, he let Merlin down but kept hold of him. "Wait, Merlin." He pulled off Merlin's cloak and tightened his boots before attending to his own clothing. He left their cloaks and tunics on the benches, leaving them to run in just their shirts. He led Merlin to the edge of the field. "Alright, Merlin. You set the pace, but if you feel something wrong, tell me right away." Merlin nodded and took off like an arrow leaping from a bow. Arthur followed, staying behind him and watching carefully for any signs of distress.
But Merlin ran steadily. His pace was faster than usual, but as they rounded the last corner, Arthur could see Merlin beginning to loosen up. Merlin slowed as they approached the benches and Arthur expected him to stop. Merlin, however, kept going. Leon waved Arthur aside. He reluctantly left Merlin to run another lap alone.
Leon handed him a waterskin. "He's doing fine. He needs an outlet for his nervous energy, Arthur."
Arthur took a deep draught. "You didn't see him yesterday, Leon. His heart was skipping beats, and he couldn't even look straight. And he's covered in bruises, not to mention his shoulder was dislocated. He has to be feeling some pain!"
Leon shook his head. "Arthur, what did you do after your father sent a patrol to that village to collect the tithes you forgave?"
Arthur groaned. "I did some extra training."
Leon raised a brow, laughing. "Some? Arthur, you ran those squires ragged. They still live in fear of your moods. Not to mention how many bruises you gave me."
Arthur fought the smile that threatened to appear on his face. He tracked Merlin as he rounded the furthest length. "Yes, but I wasn't injured, Leon."
"Sometimes, the pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body. He doesn't have any other way to vent, Arthur. He likely has never had a chance to vent. Imagine bottling up all of your emotions for years. He's obviously good at it – if he didn't let on what those boys did to him and how he felt about it."
"Yes, I think we've all given him the speak-up-for-yourself lecture."
"But you know that speaking is hard for him, especially if he doesn't know how to communicate what he feels, or worse, cannot identify what he is feeling. He needs this, needs to have options."
Arthur sighed. "I hate it when you speak reason to me."
Leon laughed, his breath catching at the same moment as Arthur when Merlin stumbled. He caught himself and kept running, slower now on the third length. "Only because I say out loud what you already know."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I only know it because you've told me. Did you know, it's your voice I hear whenever I am debating a decision?"
"Then listen to it. Me."
They laughed again. "He's tiring."
"Yes, but he's determined to make it on his own."
Arthur watched as Merlin slowed further. "I never thanked you for taking him out that day. With Guinevere." Leon shrugged nonchalantly. "It meant a lot to Merlin. He was worried about being recognized in the town and it's brought up an important point. What to do if he is recognized?"
Leon sucked a tooth in thought. "I hadn't thought of that. I thought he was merely overwhelmed at leaving the closed area of the keep." He dug into the mud as he continued thinking. "How likely is he to be recognized?"
Arthur shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think Cenred would have shown him off too much, but Cenred is the boasting type."
Leon lowered his voice – Merlin was close now. "See if you can find out from Merlin how much he was – shown off. I'll think it over on my own as well." He called out, "Did you have a good run, Merlin?"
Merlin was walking now, panting but relaxed. He nodded as he stopped in front of them. Arthur crouched down to help him drink from the waterskin. Leon bent beside him, reaching to check Merlin's pulse. He gave Arthur a satisfied nod. With one last pat to Merlin's head, he said, "Good. You're an excellent runner, Merlin, and all the best runners know to rest and refuel adequately before their next run. Listen to Arthur, he'll tell you what you need."
Merlin nodded seriously at Leon and Arthur had to stifle a laugh. How in the world was Leon so good at getting children – everyone – to heed him?
"Well, Merlin, we've had a busy morning. It's time for your medicine and then we can rest."
Merlin didn't resist when Arthur lifted him up, settling him on his hip for the walk to the room.
He didn't resist when Arthur gave him a quick wipe with a washcloth before dosing him.
He resisted when Arthur tried to settle him down for a nap. "Merlin, you heard Leon. You need to rest. I'll be right here and I promise to wake you up in a short while. We can have a nice picnic while the sun's still out." Merlin clung to him and grizzled.
Arthur stopped struggling with him and stood upright. He took a deep breath. "Merlin, talk to me. Why don't you want to nap?"
Merlin fidgeted. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
He fidgeted some more. I only have today with you. He glanced up and saw Arthur's questioning expression. I don't want to waste it. He blushed scarlet at the admission.
Arthur relaxed. This was an easy fix. "I'm not going anywhere, Merlin. I'll be right here in the room with you." Merlin didn't look at all appeased and Arthur took a moment to rethink. Merlin hadn't wanted to sleep this morning either, preferring to be awake and cuddle with Arthur.
Merlin, despite his general aversion to touch, responded happily to tactile comfort from Arthur. Arthur was a tactile person and recognizing it, he worried that he imposed more touch on Merlin than he was ready for. Yet, maybe, this was his way of asking for more. It made him wonder if Hunith had been the type to cuddle with Merlin.
Arthur carried Merlin to fetch a book from his desk before climbing right into bed with his load. "Alright, how about this; you can sit with me while I read this book and if you happen to fall asleep, I'll wake you in time for our picnic. Deal?"
Merlin, looking much happier, settled himself comfortably against Arthur's chest. Arthur, knowing it would soothe him, read quietly and stroked Merlin's hair. Rather predictably, Merlin soon fell asleep, giving in to the comfort of Arthur's proximity and the dose of Gaius' sedative. Though he was tempted to settle Merlin on the bed, Arthur kept his promise.
Roughly an hour later, give or take a few pages of his book, Arthur carefully climbed out of bed. He quietly waved down a passing servant to request the picnic supplies. When the servant returned, seeing that Arthur intended to carry Merlin, the basket, and a few blankets, he volunteered to carry the supplies. Arthur led the way to a spot on the battlements and gratefully waved to the servant for laying everything out. Once he was settled down comfortably, he wrapped a blanket around Merlin and waited for him to wake, knowing that the sunlight and fresh breeze would soon have him stirring. He reached for an apple and waited.
True to form, Merlin's eyes flickered open and squinted up at Arthur with a sleepy smile. Arthur decided that there was nothing more endearing in the whole world than a sleepily contented Merlin smile. "There you are, sleepyhead."
Merlin didn't immediately move. He lay contentedly against Arthur, only turning his head slightly to look out over Arthur's shoulder. Arthur kept eating his apple, eventually drawing Merlin's attention. Merlin's stomach gurgled and Arthur tickled him softly, finally pulling him away to get a good look at him. "Did you sleep well?"
Merlin nodded as he rubbed his eyes. He didn't protest when Arthur settled him on the blanket next to him, keeping him wrapped against the slight chill. "Good. Now, it's time for to eat, to refuel like Leon said. Take your pick, Merlin."
Arthur had requested simple food – dried sausages, cheese, and bread. It was arranged within easy reach for Merlin and Arthur led by example, reaching for a sausage and taking a big bite. Merlin watched him, then reached for the bread loaf. He tore away the butt of the loaf and ate out the soft middle. Arthur watched with amusement as Merlin then stuffed a piece of cheese into the hollow and took a bite. He laughed when Merlin glanced at him, "That's brilliant, Merlin." He handed Merlin a sausage as well before pulling out his knife to cut himself slices. He indulgently cut off the other end of the loaf and dropped it in Merlin's lap.
As they ate, Merlin began to move about more, obviously refreshed by the nap and the food. Arthur laid back and enjoyed the peace and quiet, all whilst keeping an eye as Merlin explored the battlements. When a guard passed, Merlin offered a hunk of cheese, gratefully accepted after Arthur nodded that it was fine. Merlin followed after the guard but skipped back before leaving Arthur's line of sight. He liked to look out over the battlements, using the uneven edges of the stonework to pull himself up high enough to see over the edge. Every few minutes he returned and Arthur would cut him another slice of his apple. Merlin climbed back up and nibbled happily, coming back only to get a new slice.
After Merlin returned to the same spot a handful of times, Arthur 's curiosity was piqued. Merlin held his half-eaten slice distractedly, squinting into the distance. Arthur came to stand behind him and lifted him up to stand on the wall, keeping a tight embrace around him. "What's caught your eye, Merlin?"
Merlin shrugged but pointed out on the main road to the west. Arthur squinted past the glare of the sun. It took a few moments before he saw it. The dust of the road had been kicked up – and the size of the cloud indicated a large group. Arthur ran through the expected arrivals, but none were expected from this direction. The group was traveling fast, he estimated that they would arrive before sunset.
As the group approached, Arthur realized it was larger than he first thought. This crowd could easily be the complete inhabitants of a small village. Growing concerned, he pulled Merlin off the wall. "Help me pack this up, Merlin. We need to talk to Leon."
They hurriedly packed up the remaining food and blankets. He handed it off to the first servant they passed and lifted Merlin onto his hip to hurry.
What's wrong?
Arthur answered Merlin as he headed to the field. "I don't know, Merlin. Maybe nothing but I have a bad feeling about this. It's a large traveling group and they're moving fast. I want to get a patrol out to them before they reach the city."
Spotting Leon, Arthur caught his attention. "Leon! A word!"
Leon gave out instructions to his training group and came to them. "What is it, Sire?"
"There's a large group heading this way on the western road. They're moving fast, almost like they are racing to get here before sundown. Send out a patrol and check it out."
Leon quickly called out a few names and sent for a few older knights as well. As the men mounted, Leon returned to them. "Show me where you saw them."
Arthur led him up to the battlements. "Merlin spotted them first. Can you point it out, Merlin?"
The group was easy to pick out now, they truly were racing towards Camelot, but Merlin dutifully pointed them out. They watched as the patrol rode out and, after a long while, met up with the group. The group didn't stop, but there was no sign of a skirmish. Instead, Arthur could just make out the knights surrounding the group and two men riding back at full canter. Something was definitely wrong.
By unspoken agreement, they walked back down in time to meet the returning knights. They had two passengers with them, one looking seriously injured but mobile. Sir Bohrs dismounted and headed straight to Arthur. "Sire, I think the King needs to hear this too."
With a nod, Arthur led the way, hearing the men fall in place beside him. He didn't wait to be announced, instead striding right into the Great Hall where Uther was entertaining several older nobles. "Arthur, what is the meaning of this?"
Arthur settled Merlin into a chair. "Sire, Merlin spotted a large group racing this way. We sent out a patrol and they returned with urgent news. Sir Bohrs?"
All eyes turned to Bohrs. "Your Royal Highness, the group appears to be composed of villagers, the survivors from at least three villages out by the White Mountains. They claim to be running from a creature. I hurried back with these two men, elders from region."
Uther waved for a servant to bring a chair for the injured man. "Describe your situation."
The uninjured man bowed and spoke up. "Your Majesty. My name is John and this is Eric. We are elders of neighboring villages at the western base of the White Mountains. A few days ago, a creature attacked my village and killed our livestock. It returned the next night and began to tear apart homes and attack the people. We fled to Eric's village but the creature followed. Since then, we've been travelling as fast as we can to Camelot. The creature doesn't follow us directly, but it attacked another village and we brought those survivors with us."
Uther waved them over to the table with the map of the kingdom. "Show me where your villages are." John dutifully pointed out his and Eric's villages, as well as any other villages that were attacked. "It's heading toward Camelot. What manner of creature is it?"
At this, John became uncomfortable. "It only attacks at night, Sire. It will not go near fire, but when we lit fires to keep it away, it simply attacked from another direction. We know only that it can fly and has four legs. Eric's injuries show the nature of its claws."
Leon leaned closer to look at Eric's wounds. Arthur kept his attention on John. "What of its face? What kind of noise did it make?"
John shook his head. "I, myself, have not seen its face. I'm afraid our people have distorted any reliable witness with all the time we've had to talk. As for noises, it makes an awful screeching noise."
Arthur shook his head, it didn't sound like any creature he recognized. Moreover, if it had the ability to fly, it was looking more likely that the creature would be magical in origins.
Leon approached the map. "How far behind you is it?"
John shrugged. "We have not seen it for three nights now. We passed two more villages on the road, four and three nights ago, but they would not listen. I suspect that the creature will linger there, detained by the source of…"
"Food. It feeds on its kills, then?" Uther studied the man.
"Yes, Sire."
Uther turned to Arthur. "Pick your men. You'll ride out in the morning. We cannot allow this thing to reach the city. You'll need to get Gaius in on this. Perhaps he can identify the creature and give you information to help you kill it."
"Yes, Sire." Arthur bowed and headed out with Leon. They picked out their choice of men and Leon went off to find them. Arthur sent Bohrs off to wait for the incoming villagers with instructions to direct them to temporary accommodation and medical attention as needed. He was leading the two elders to Gaius himself when Arthur realized he'd forgotten, "Merlin!" He turned on his heel and nearly tripped on Merlin who'd been following behind. Arthur lifted him up, "Gods, Merlin. I'm sorry."
Merlin shrugged, unconcerned at being forgotten. On reaching Gaius' chambers, Arthur set him down on a table. Gaius looked up from his brewing contraption. "Gaius, these men are part of a larger group coming from several villages. They were attacked by an unknown creature that appears to be heading this way. I need to know what this creature might be. Maybe you have information in one of your books?"
Gaius pulled out several large tomes and waved the villagers closer. Seeing Eric's bandages, he fetched his kit. "While I treat you, tell me what you know."
Arthur stepped back. "I'll return later, Gaius. I need to see to our weapons." He turned to lift Merlin but Merlin danced back. "Merlin?"
Merlin glanced nervously at the village elders and bit his lip. Arthur crouched close, impatient but recognizing that Merlin had something to say. I can help Gaius. I can read! I can check the books. And you have things to do. I'll just be in your way.
Arthur hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Merlin." He spoke loudly, so that Gaius could hear too, "I'm sure that Gaius can use your help with his research. I'll return for you later tonight."
Arthur stayed long enough to see Merlin make himself comfortable at Gaius' desk and open one of the heavy books. Merlin had been helpful the last time they had researched Edwin's creatures, so Arthur left him to it.
The preparations passed in a blur of action underlined by the tension of having to wait before they rode out. Provisions were requisitioned and weapons readied. Arthur found himself feeling grateful for George's tedious nature – his chainmail was flawlessly oiled and his armor in great condition. Once his preparations were complete, Arthur helped erect tents for the villagers to stay in tonight. Tomorrow, they would be placed with the townspeople but there was no time for it now.
It was full dark by the time Arthur finally found himself at loose ends. Everything was ready for tomorrow's early morning departure and the villagers were settling down, grateful to be within Camelot's gates for the night. He called for a bath and supper to be brought to his room, and finally headed to Gaius' chambers.
It was quiet but crowded when he entered. Anyone with light injuries had been treated and sent down to spend the night with the rest of the villagers. Up here, the villagers with the most serious injuries had been settled on thin pallets around the room. Gaius waved from where he was wrapping someone's arm and pointed at the back room. Arthur weaved between resting villagers and knocked lightly on the door.
Merlin was sound asleep, his head resting on one of the largest books Arthur had seen. It was adorable – and he felt a little guilty for disturbing his rest. He gently rubbed Merlin's back. "Merlin?"
He called louder until Merlin stirred. Merlin woke with a guilty start, relaxing when he noticed Arthur. He reached up to him with both arms, wincing slightly at the movement but wanting to be picked up. Arthur didn't hesitate to do so. "Come along, Merlin. It's nearly bedtime, for both of us."
When he turned to leave, Merlin stopped him with a choked, "Wait!" He pointed at the desk and when Arthur investigated, he found a piece of paper filled with notes in Merlin's hand. "What is this?"
Research.
Arthur studied the notes. At the top was written what they knew of the creature, followed by what appeared to be a list of possibilities. There was a clear rendition of each creature next to the listing of features – and more importantly, any information on how to fight and/or kill the creature. Arthur was impressed. "Merlin, did you do this?"
Gaius helped. He told me where to look and brought me the books.
"Still... did you make these drawings?"
Merlin gave him a guilty look. Nobody saw, I promise.
Arthur took that to mean that Merlin had somehow used his magic. He wanted to scold Merlin, should discourage using magic with so many strangers close by, but Merlin had gone above and beyond for Arthur's sake. He hugged Merlin instead. "Let me have a quick word with Gaius about these. We'll take it with us. Thank you, Merlin."
Arthur left Merlin in the room and went to Gaius. "Gaius, have you seen this?"
Gaius nodded proudly. "He's a bright boy, isn't he? All I did was give him the books and add a note here and there. I've half a mind to make him my apprentice!"
Arthur nodded appreciatively. "Is there any way to narrow this list down?"
Gaius shook his head. "I've asked but I'm getting a lot of different answers. Merlin made a copy for me and if I learn anything new, I'll send a messenger after you, but as it stands now, that list is all we can give you."
"No matter, I'm sure we'll get a look soon enough."
Gaius pulled Arthur outside. "Arthur, most of those creatures are magical, and a good number can only be killed with magic. That means two things. First, if it turns out to be one of those, retreat back here. Once we know what it is, I may be able to help you find a solution."
Arthur knew that would be risky – they could end up leading the creature right into the city. "And the second thing?"
"Merlin is going to want to go with you."
Arthur looked up sharply. "He can't."
Gaius sighed. "I know, Arthur. I have already told him so, but it is in his head. He is afraid for you and you can hardly blame him. Edwin was hard enough to fight off – a magical creature will be worse."
Arthur sighed. "So, what are you saying?"
"Just be ready for it, I'm sure he's planning to ask you himself. We cannot rule out the possibility of him helping you from here, as he did with Edwin. Be sure to leave him with people that know. He's welcome to visit with me when I'm not on my rounds. That way, if he – can help – someone can look out for him."
Arthur helped Gaius inside. "Thank you, Gaius. I'll let Guinevere know – she's going to be watching over him. I'd better get Merlin to bed soon. Will you be alright tonight?"
Gaius waved him away dismissively. "Yes, yes. This is nothing I can't handle."
Merlin was peeking from behind the door in the back room. At Arthur's wave, he raced forward into Arthur's arms.
"Right then, Merlin. It's time for a bath, supper, and bed. Maybe a little time for light reading as well. How does that sound to you?"
Merlin smiled at him. I like it.
In an attempt to make up for having their day interrupted, Arthur took every opportunity to make Merlin laugh. Bath time was playful – his splashes were defeated by Merlin's ability to levitate a great big bubble of water and bring it cascading down on Arthur's head. He'd have to remember that for summer, he thought, wringing his sodden shirt.
Dressing Merlin turned into a tickle battle. Arthur had Merlin pinned as he blew into his belly while Merlin laughed and struggled fruitlessly. Fruitlessly, until he used his magic to slip out of Arthur's hold like a wet bar of soap. Then, Arthur was forced to chase him around the room, playfully crawling under the table after him rather than getting ahead of him. It ended when he got stuck halfway under the bed and Merlin had to use his magic to help him out – nearly choking on his laughter as he did it.
Supper was light, and to both their delights, there were iced buns for both of them. Arthur pretended to sneak bites from Merlin's bun. Merlin responded by using his magic to hide it from sight. When he made it reappear, it came with a candy for Arthur.
Finally, it was time for bed and Arthur settled into bed with Merlin and his list. As Gaius predicted, when Arthur made a note to pack lances at the bottom, Merlin spoke up.
"I want t-to go with you. I sh-should go."
Arthur sighed. "No, Merlin. You're much too young and I'm not taking you on such a dangerous mission. You'll be safe here."
But you need magic.
He shook his head firmly. "We might need magic, Merlin. If that turns out to be the case, I'll come back here. If we do need magic, we'll talk about it then."
But –
Arthur met Merlin's eyes and made sure his tone was final. "No, Merlin. You are not a weapon. I refuse to treat you like one. You are a boy, and boys need to be protected. I'll be fine, Merlin. I'll have Leon and six other, experienced, knights with me. If we need help, we'll come back for reinforcements. I need you to have faith in me, Merlin."
Merlin's eyes teared up. His pout became a frustrated frown as he took a deep breath. He got off Arthur's lap and walked over to where his equipment was laid out for the morning. Before Arthur could ask, Merlin placed his hands on Arthur's mail and it glowed. "Merlin?"
Merlin ignored him and repeated whatever he was doing on Arthur's armor. He calmly climbed back onto Arthur's lap and placed his little hands on either side of Arthur's face. "Merlin, what are you- "
A familiar warmth washed over Arthur and settled over him like a second skin, the sensation disappearing almost instantly. Merlin sagged against him and Arthur held tight to him. "That felt like – like that time when I rode out after Edwin. What was it, Merlin?"
Merlin wrapped himself around Arthur. A wish. Be safe.
A protection spell. "Oh, Merlin. Thank you. I will be safe. I'll come back to you, Merlin. I promise. You shouldn't tire yourself out."
Not tired. Easy.
Arthur settled down, rubbing Merlin's back. "Thank you, Merlin."
First of all, I want to thank you ALL for your lovely reviews! SO MUCH. I got a lot of the notifications while I was running that night and it made me so happy, I ran about a minute faster (avg) per mile! Some of you also seem a bit clairvoyant! I hope you stick around to see if your wishes are fulfilled.
The last chapter touched more people than I expected and all I can say is that it was a painfully honest and heartfelt chapter on my end as well. Arthur's been so good about supporting Merlin, but he is a teenager. I wanted to show what it might be like if he acted more like his show-self. Do you think he learned his lesson? I also wonder how many of you bloodthirsty readers are going to demand worse punishments for Cedric and Arien. And, yes, I wanted to force Kilgharrah to further change his behavior as he learns to deal with Merlin. Hopefully, this chapter was a bit of a balm... at least, before the drama kicked up again!
These next two weeks mark the end of classes which means that our professors are trying to assign homework/projects while they still can (before final exams). SO... wish me luck. Please, please, please be patient with me. I'm in a bit of a writing mood so I don't think I'll completely punt the story but IRL obligations have to come first.
As always, I look forward to your comments and reviews! I can't wait to hear your theories and I'd love to hear if the fluff fixed your hearts :)