Deviner Captive
Servant Folder
...
Merlin walked into his master's chambers without knocking; like usual since he was trying to act normal.
"There you are. Where've you been?" Arthur stood from his spot at the table to question his manservant.
"I forgot and I went to visit Lancelot." Merlin made up an excuse. 'Note to self: Get Lancelot to cover for me.' He thought to himself for later.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Well sorry isn't going to get the wasted time back that I need to get ready. I still smell like horses and the forest. Hurry up and run me a bath." The prince commanded.
Merlin sighed before mock bowing. "Yes sir." He walked over to the bathing area and grabbed the bucket before leaving.
The warlock cursed how the nobility had to bath regularly. It was fine for them since they weren't the ones who had to fill the dam tub. They also tended to live on higher floors so he had to trek up and down the stairs multiple times every time the Prince did anything remotely physical.
If only magic wasn't banned he could have it filled with a snap. The warlock silently cursed Uther in his head. It was sad how he most often used his magic for cleaning than anything else.
….
King Gwrthfyr paced his chambers anxious for his informant to get back with any information. He knew he should be getting ready for dinner but he too anxious to care. He'd stripped of his robes and crown as soon as he was able to go back to his chambers to relax.
They'd come to Camelot not to make peace but to gather information on its current strengths and weaknesses.
He'd heard through the grape vine about the king's wards betrayal and how it had affected Uther's mental state. All the other kings in Albion were so curios they accepted the invitation to make peace just so that they could see for themselves the state of what was once the supposed strongest kingdom.
After being here for a week Gwrthfyr was disappointed that it seemed that Camelot wasn't in shambles like the rumors had foretold. When Uther had been out of commission Prince Arthur had taken control and successfully put the kingdom back to together once it had fallen apart.
The other kings after realizing the prince's strength and leadership skills decided it was best if they just signed the peace treaty. Hearing all the stories of his valiant battles, having defeated the last dragon didn't hurt either. Uther didn't have many more years of rein. They weren't thinking about the present but the future, knowing that they would be no match for Arthur once he took up the crown.
The King of Dyfed suspected that the prince must be having some sort of magical help.
The only way he could think that they could've defeated Morgause's undead army was with magic. The boy he'd saw earlier must have had something to do with the defeat. And if he was involved that time he must've been around all the other times the prince was attacked, secretly using his magic to help from the sidelines without anyone's knowledge.
If he was right, removing the boy could be the kingdoms downfall. Camelot's prince would stumble without his support and finally fall.
Before he acted his curiosity needed to be answered.
There was still the question of why the boy put himself willingly right at the center of the most magic hating kingdom ever known. There must be more to the boy than just mediocre magic tricks used to do chores. Behind the innocent servant façade he believed there was an all-powerful sorcerer. He could feel it in his gut.
But why use his powers to protect the prince? Uther's son at that. Out of all the kingdoms with princes he picked Camelot.
...
The door was quickly opened and closed again by his informant, Altoris. Who was a tall man with dark green eyes and dark brown hair that went down just past his ears that was dead straight. "I got the servants personal file you asked for." He held it up so that the king could clearly see what was in his hand.
"What took you so long?" Gwrthfyr demanded impatiently after he stopped pacing. The man had been his most trusted servant and had moved his way up in the ranks over the years. When he assigned him a mission he always could count on it being completed.
"Sorry my Lord, I got by the guards which were easy but the old librarian was much harder to thwart." Altoris apologized as he strided over and placed the folder on the table by his king.
"Why is it so thick?" The Gwrthfyr asked in shock. The folder was very large compared to ones he kept on his servants the king thought to himself, maybe they were much more thorough here in keeping track of their help.
"Like ours; all the folders just contain basic personal information, if they were ever arrested, and any major altercations they took part in. His was the only one this large. " Altoris shrugged in confusion.
"Well, let's see what the boy has been up to shall we." The king asked his informant as he flipped open the folder and looked at the first sheet of parchment, which contained his servant contract. "Name Merlin originally from the village of Eldor." He read out loud. Noting the boys hometown in his mind for latter.
Then scanned the rest of the page with his finger quickly and flipped to the next one when nothing jumped out at him as important. It was all basic information such as height and weight and a description of the servant, which wasn't very useful since he knew all that already.
"This is interesting." He stopped for dramatic effect. "He became Prince Arthur's manservant after he saved him from being stabbed with a dagger by a witch disguised as a honored guest, looking for revenge for her son, that Uther had executed earlier that month. Why would he go against his own kind to save the prince?"
"It is a very un-usual action to take." Altoris agreed with his question but had no answer.
He scanned further down the page. "The boy was originally only here to be the physician's assistant, recommended by his mother; which was why he was at the banguet in the first place, and is still in residency with the old man."
He flipped to the next sheet and stopped.
"A warrant of arrest, dated before he even became the princes manservant, interesting; and even more interesting." The king added on as he read more. "Arrested for challenging the crowned prince, to a fight over the treatment of the prince's former manservant. Released within two hours after the physician came for him." He stopped to contemplate. "Yet he ended up becoming the prince's manservant himself even after he saw how dismal he would be treated?" Gwrthfyr asked himself in confusion.
Altoris watched as the king pulled out another sheet of parchment and stopped in confusion. "Tell me that I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing" The king asked as he passed the sheet to him. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Arrested for sorcery over 5 times and they've lost count at how many times he's been put in the stocks, last counted at 153 over 2 years ago."
"How could he have possibly managed to get out of so many accusations alive?" The king asked.
"Says here that every time that evidence he had been falsely accused was brought forward right before he was to be executed." Altoris pointed out as he read over his lord's shoulder.
"Which we both know to be a lie. He must be the luckiest boy alive to have managed to lie his way out of being executed more than once." A knock came at the door that interrupted them. The king rolled his eyes and signaled for his informant to hide the folder. "Enter!"
Altoris put some other papers over it and a book for good measure.
One of his own servants appeared at the door so he was free to relax. "I was told by the head cook to inform you that dinner is now ready." The king nodded that he understood and the boy bowed before leaving.
"I guess I better make my way to the dining hall. My presence would be missed if I did not attend." Gwrthfyr looked at where he knew the file to be on the table even though it was no longer visible. "We've only scratched the surface on the boy. When I come back we'll look through it with a fine tooth comb for anything useful."
The king put his crown and robe on before leaving with his informant. Lucking the door soundly behind him just in case anyone went snooping while he was away. It would look suspicious if anyone found the file of one of Camelot's servants in his chambers.
...TBC