Deviner Captive

Sneaking

…

Merlin walked quickly the halls on the lookout for guards.

The king thought he'd never be able to reach outside without being caught but he didn't know how many times he sneaked around successfully through Camelot. Merlin had many years of practice.

Even when he was wanted for witchcraft when the witch finder was there he'd managed to wonder the halls without notice.

Guards were coming, he could tell because of the sound their armor made as it clinked together. He wondered why it never caught any ones notice that the reason guards weren't very affective is because they weren't very stealthy. If someone was trying to sneak in they had enough notice to find a completely good hiding spot.

This is what Merlin was doing right now.

A very large potted plant caught his eye. He dashed behind it right before the two guards turned the corner. They walked right by without even noticing him. 'They should get these in Camelot' Merlin thought to himself 'They were good for hiding as well as making the hallway more pleasant'.

In Camelot he knew every nook and cranny of it but this castle was still a complete mystery to him. He didn't know where he was actually going except he just knew he had to go down and try to travel out from the middle of the building. Judging from the bragging of the king the blue room was on the very top floor in the middle of the castle.

A window would be nice so he could tell how far he had to go.

Finally Merlin managed to stumble across a set of stairs. They must be meant for the servants use since they were so narrow. That must mean that they lead down into the servants area of the castle which included the kitchens he thought with glee. Maybe he could steal some food for his travels.

This breaking out was going to be easier than he thought.

Merlin started to descend the stairs cautiously. The only thing he had to worry about now was running into other servants. Luckily the king had been keeping him behind lock and key so no one knew what their new court sorcerer looked like yet. Maybe he could pass himself off as a new servant.

The servant stairs were not made for comfort. Merlin kept banging his elbow off the wall when he wasn't careful. Suddenly being a servant in Camelot didn't seem so bad. He couldn't imagine having to carry laundry through the tight passage. He made a vow that Uther was never going to hear of this. Didn't want him getting any bright idea's

There was little light to see by as he descended. It made for perfect cover though. A washing maid brushed past him without even blinking at his identity.

When he finally reached the bottom he peaked around the corner to see if anyone was coming. The coast was clear so he was on the move again.

It sounded like there were way too many people in the kitchen for him to not be noticed.

Merlin observed there were bars on the window; they were under the ground level. He must have made it into the basement. A set of steps leading up caught his eye not too far away. The first floor always had the most foot traffic; he'd have to be super careful now.

The stairs led to a blue paneled hallway with flowers lining the wall. It seemed abandoned so he felt it was safe to continue. He could feel that he was so close to his freedom. It seemed too quite in the palace but he didn't question his luck.

Merlin reached a hall way full of doors but he didn't dare open any of them just in case anyone was on the other side. He speed walked past all the doors worried that one would suddenly open and discover him. This place must have an exit somewhere.

He stopped when he noticed sunlight on the stone floor. That meant there was at least a window that he could climb out of. He ran over to see it was actually a door that had a glass window over it.

Pushing the wooden doors open he was greeted by the sound of loud cheers. The sun was a sore sight for him since he'd been locked in the dark for a long time. He squinted into the light trying to see what was going on.

His eyes took some time to adjust. When they finally did his stomach dropped.

He was shocked when on the other side there was a balcony that held the king who was addressing his subjects. The whole population of … must be present.

He froze in place at the sight of thousands of eyes focusing on him. There weren't just subjects but hundreds of soldiers who looked like they were ready to march off into battle at any moment.

Gwrthfyr turned around at the sound of the door opening. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of him. "I give you your new court sorcerer!" He tried to play it off like he'd planned to reveal the identity that he'd been keeping a secret. It wouldn't do to allow the public to know that he'd allowed the prisoner to escape. 'How the hell did he get out?' The king thought.

Merlin tried to turn and run the other way but a wall of guards had already blocked his exit. He knew there was no escaping without full use of his magic now. His one and only chance had failed. He was sure the king would double the guard on him.

Merlin waved nervously back at the cheer his position at their court received by the people.

Gwrthfyr leaned over and whispered in his advisers ear. "Get him in my office, now." He commanded snappily. "I wish to question him before he is returned to his room."

Altoris nodded and stalked over to the lanky boy, grabbing his arm and dragging him over to a door off to the side.

Merlin didn't fight. He knew there was no point now. His eyes took some time to adjust back to the dim indoor lighting.

Looking around, he examined the fine furnishings. This must be the Kings office he thought to himself. The man pushed him into a chair and then told him to "sit." Merlin frowned and thought 'I am sitting now, thanks to you.' He knew it would do him no good if he talked back so he stayed silent.

.

Gwrthfyr waved to his subjects before retreating back inside. He closed the door to the balcony behind him with a snap that made the class panels raddled in their frames. He started to pace in front of his warlock.

Merlin sunk down in his chair to attract less attention. The king seemed really mad.

"How the hell did you escape?" Gwrthfyr seethed. Everything was going perfect up till now.

Merlin decided it was best to stay silent. He didn't think it was a good idea to reveal that Matilda was the one that set him free even if it was by accident. The princess may be an ally in the future. It didn't seem like she got along well with her father.

Gwrthfyr narrowed his eyes when he received no answers.

He walked over to a cupboard he had and unlocked it. Throwing the doors open he retrieved an item. When the king turned around he could see that the boy realized what it was.

Merlin gulped when his wrists were shackled. The metal felt cold against his heated skin. It wasn't the first time he'd been put in one so it wasn't a foreign feeling. He examined them to see if they did anything.

"No, these have no ruins. I wish I had magic suppressing shackles." Gwrthfyr pursed his lips at the boy; he was much more slippery than he thought. "Altoris, search him."

The man started to pat him down. Not finding any large objects under his clothes he started to do a more thorough search. Merlin had never had anyone touch him in most of those places. He felt violated even though he knew the man was just doing as he was ordered and it wasn't sexual.

Altoris reached into the boys pocket and came back with a key. He showed it to the king and he signaled for him to hand it over.

Gwrthfyr examined the metal key. It looked almost identical to the skeleton key he kept so he'd never get locked out of any room in his castle. Reaching under his tunic he had to check that it wasn't his own that had fallen off somehow but his was still there. Narrowing his eyes he asked "Where did you get this?"

Merlin stubbornly stayed silent.

"Answer me!" He yelled but the boy imperiously ignored him. He had to resist the urge to back hand the boy. It wouldn't do to have his court sorcerer to be bruised when he was presented in public the next day.

The key would also open any locks in his office. Widening his eyes he ran over to his desk, fumbling with his own key he opened the drawer. Slamming it shut again when he found it to be empty. Leaning on the top of his desk breathing heavily through his nose trying to calm down.

There was no way that the boy could manage to get that key by himself. "Who helped you?" The only ones who had entered the room where the boy was being held was himself, Altoris, and the servant boy he'd assigned to the room.

"Bring him back to the blue room." Gwrthfyr instructed his adviser. Altoris just nodded, forced the boy to his feet and started to lead him towards the main exit. "Take guards with you. I won't risk him escaping."

Merlin was surrounded by ten guards as he ascended the stairs back up to the top floor. The procession being led by the king himself. He wasn't sure if all this was truly worth the few seconds of sun he managed to receive but he felt it was. He didn't want to be locked back in that dark luxurious room not knowing when he'd be able to leave, if ever.

Altoris unlocked the door and entered first. His eyes widened at the state the chair the boy had been held captive in. Both arms had been burned off and the metal had been melted.

Gwrthfyr searched around the room. Since the amulet wasn't on the boy it must still be in here. Looking around he spotted a chain peeking out from under a foot stool. He smiled as he tugged the amulet out and examined its ruins that were still intact.

"Should we find some way to restrict his movement?" Altoris asked.

"There's no point right now. We are leaving tomorrow and I doubt he'll be able to make another escape in one day." The king brushed away his advisers worries.

"I'm going with you, where?" Merlin asked nervously.

"To battle." Gwrthfyr revealed gleefully. "We are going to attack the neighboring kingdom that made a peace treaty with Camelot to have King Uther send soldiers to its defense."

Merlin was left alone to worry about when the morning came.

…

Merlin hadn't been able to sleep the whole night because he was worried about what was going to happen the next day.

The servant boy never showed up that night to serve him dinner. He guessed that he was being punished for his escape attempt. If the king still valued him he knew the food shortage wouldn't last for too long. This was nothing compared to when he was younger and he'd go for days without anything to eat during the winter.

It also meant that the candles were never relit. They'd burnt out before the morning came. When the door was opened again they were met with a dark room.

Merlin's chains clinked together as he sat up. His eyes burned when the light hit his eyes after starring into the darkness for so long.

They instructed him to put on a certain robe that the king had made for him.

Merlin was dragged from the room and escorted down many flights of stairs. Instead of being led through the main hallways the guards used the servant routes. It was like they were trying to hide him. He guessed the court sorcerer couldn't be seen wearing hand cuffs.

They took him down into the kitchen and out a side entrance where the food was usually delivered. Outside there was a large blue carriage that had moon and stars all over it.

"Do you like it?" Gwrthfyr asked, appearing beside him. "The court sorcerer used this carriage when he went out to address the people and make his rounds."

"What does it have to do with me?" Merlin asked, shifted in his chains.

"It hasn't been used in years but I had it taken out of storage just for you." Gwrthfyr answered.

"You mean, this what I'll be traveling in?" Merlin asked, looking at the carriage apprehensively. In Camelot they never wasted money on such extravagances; Arthur preferred riding horses so he'd never actually been inside a carriage before.

The king signaled a blacksmith to come forward that Merlin hadn't noticed was standing there but he must have been here the whole time. The man instructed him to spread his legs apart. A shackle was chained to his left leg. "A ball and chain!?" Merlin exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, we can't have you trying to run away again now can we." Gwrthfyr replied as he leaned down to arrange the warlocks cloak to cover it. "Get in the carriage." He commanded the boy.

Merlin rolled his eyes but moved to follow instructions, dragging the heavy ball. Before he could climb in the black smith stopped him and removed the shackles around his wrists. "So my feet need to be shackled so I can't move but having my hands free now is fine?" Merlin asked to clarify as he rubbed his wrists.

Gwrthfyr pushed the warlock in the back to force him to get in. "Don't forget to wave." The king exclaimed as he swung the carriage door shut.

Merlin wondered what he meant by that. He noticed once he was more settled he wasn't alone in the carriage. There was a large guard sitting in the seat across from him.

Merlin almost fell off the seat once the carriage jerked into motion since he was sitting backwards. He had to hold onto the edge of the seat to not slide off at first.

When he looked out the window he realized they were leaving the palace grounds and going into the town. The sound of marching feet could be heard from behind them. It made him realize that his carriage was leading the possession of knights marching off to battle.

He could see that many citizens had started to line the streets to watch.

Merlin winced when the guard across from him kicked him in the shin to gain his attention. He looked at the man with confused eyes. He acted out waving and smiling at the crowd then pointed at him.

'Did the king really expect him to do that' Merlin thought to himself. It really was all an act. That was the reason his shackles were removed so that he could have full use of his hands. The king wanted it to appear that he was happily supporting the kingdom.

The guard gave him a threatening look when he didn't immediately comply.

Merlin started waving and smiling before the guard kicked his other leg. One bruised shin bone was enough. The citizens cheered at the sight of him. They were innocent in the knowledge of what their king was planning on doing so he didn't blame them in any of this.

Once they'd left … stone walls and the draw bridge was up once again the king called a halt. Merlin waited anxiously to hear anything since it seemed everyone was silent now. The door to his carriage was suddenly opened and the king climbed in.

"I need you to put a barrier around all the troops. I can't have them unprotected from attack." Gwrthfyr explained what he was going to do. Hopefully this worked as well as last time since the boy had tampered with the ruins. He spoke the magic word and he could see that it was starting to work because the boy's eyes were turning gold.

Merlin could feel his magic reaching out and searching through all the knights until it found the end of the line. A large blue dome encased the possession. He could hear the knight's exclamations in amazement.

"Good." Gwrthfyr exclaimed as he pushed the curtain out of the way so that he could see if it had worked or not. "Keep an eye on him." He instructed the guard before leaving.

Merlin didn't think he'd be escaping anytime soon. His eyes had already started to droop. He may be all powerful but it still took a lot of energy to cover so much ground. His head lent against the side of the carriage wall and he fell asleep.

...TBC