Arthur the Snake Chapter 11.
Morning dawn broke over Albion, revealing a cold and misty morning. For people in Camelot's castle the day was looking to be normal. Normal chores, chatter and business depending on who you were, and for the Lady Morgana and Guinevere it was no exception. Morgana woke from nightmares to find Gwen laying out her clothes for the day, the red dress it seemed.
"Morning my lady," Gwen said smiling at her mistress and friend.
"Morning Gwen, had a better nights sleep than me I suppose?" Morgana replied all but absently. She had been distant for some time now, but after last night Gwen had been hoping she was getting over it. Apparently not.
The first thing Merlin noticed as he awoke was a cold air that hung around him, like a claustrophobic sticky cloud that would not let go. The second thought was the aches creeping slowly down his body a result of sleeping awkwardly on the ground for so long. The third was that there was someone laying beside him, someone very blonde, very human and to Merlin's distress very naked. Merlin averted his eyes away from his friend a mixture a shock, joy, confusion and stress running through his mind all at the same time.
"Nrgh!" Came a groan next to him then a "Where am I? What's this place?" and then "WHERE THE HELL ARE MY CLOTHES!"
Merlin's mind kicked into gear at the sound of Arthur's shouts and he shrugged out of his customary jacket handing it absently to Arthur who growled at him. " I can't go back to Camelot just wearing your jacket Mer-lin." Placing extra emphasis on Merlin's name just like he always did.
"Nice to see you too!" Muttered Merlin before adding under his breath "Prince prat has returned to glory," He got another playful slap.
"Hey I thought you'd lost your keen sense of hearing," Merlin complained. Arthur smirked.
"Yes but my eye-sight is as good as ever, now will you find me some clothes PLEASE!"
Sighing Merlin got to his feet and still looking anywhere but at the Prince made his way to the bags, through which he found nothing except the remnants of food he had brought for himself on the trip. "Oh fantastic now what am I supposed to do?" He thought to himself.
"Come back to the place where you were a few days ago… I have some spare clothes fit for a Prince." A reply resonated in his head and for a moment Merlin was shaken off balance. He hadn't heard from Dellarux since the argument at the lake, and hadn't expected to againif he was honest. The reply was still as silky as it had been when Merlin had first heard it, but there was a twinge of something else in combination. It sounded like misery.
He could not think any more on it however as Arthur was pacing around awkwardly with Merlin's jacket and had begun complaining again. Merlin stood up and rounded to the horse that was still resting but looking at Arthur almost with amusement in it's eyes.
Uther paced up and down the floors in front of his knights, personally Sir Leon was absolutely sure the King was going to fall through the floorboards if he didn't stop, but said nothing.
"He must be found," Uther muttered for the hundredth time before rounding on the knights gathered. "Prepare the army for battle," He snapped.
Sir Leon looked up sharply. "With respect Sire who are we going to fight?"
"We aren't, we are going to find my son and your crown prince. I have had enough of this waiting around!" Uther banged his fist on the throne he had finally stopped beside, as if to add unnecessary weight to his claim.
The knights shared a glance, leaving the kingdom defenceless was not an idea befitting a monarch, but then who would risk losing their heads by questioning it? No-one spoke up so Sir Leon swallowed hard and stood to face the King.
"Sire…" He began, but at that moment a guard entered the chamber hurrying towards the King carrying a scroll in hand. He bowed presenting the King with it then bowing again left almost running. Sir Leon suppressed a small smile. Uther undid the parchment and read it silently. After he seemed to silently contemplate upon a course of action, whilst the knights waited patiently.
Finally the King arose "Call off the army!" He said simply.
Sir Leon's face wasn't the only relieved one in the room but he at least tried to compose himself and asked why. For a reply Uther threw him the letter and he read it with the others looking over his shoulder. It read: My Dear Father,
Do not worry for my health and safety, for I can assure you that I am well. I will be returning to Camelot within the next two days and hope that you will forgive me for leaving so. I wished to clear my head after a disastrous hunting trip but thanks to my servant I seemed to have lost my way. I have since found some willing villagers on the boarder who have taken me in and now I am prepared to set off. My deepest apologies for my inconvenient reply.
Arthur Crown Prince of Camelot.
Sir Leon finished the letter, and looked more closely at it again. Maybe it was him but he had seen Prince Arthur's handwriting before and this was not accurate. Also since when had Arthur called his father dear it didn't add up. He could see from the other knights that they were thinking the same thing, but now what to do? Did he tell Uther his fears that this may well be a sign of trouble for the Prince? Or did he keep quiet and hope for the best knowing Camelot would be safe? Decisions, Decisions!
Merlin was grumpy! There was no other word for it. After trying for an hour to persuade Arthur to go back to get some clothes, he was now walking beside the horse bearing Arthur, feeling cold and wet. To be frank he doubted that a practically naked Arthur was feeling much better, but still. They had been walking for about two and half hours and the house by the lake was beginning to become clearer through the mist, which had still not dispersed.
"Why don't you wait here?" Merlin enquired of Arthur who fixed him sharp look.
"No, No I won't let you go back in there alone, not with a sorcerer in there," He indicated to house by which they had stopped. Merlin was unsure how to take the Prince's words. There was surprisingly an empty tone in the voice behind the words making him unsure as to whether Arthur was concerned for him, or whether Arthur wanted to get back at Dellarux.
He didn't see the point in arguing however as he was too cold, so instead he shrugged and moved to the door, hearing Arthur dismount and come up behind. Merlin pushed on the door and it swung open with a tasteful creak. Inside it was dark but the beautiful furniture and fine silks still glimmered even when cast in shadow. Upon a chair by the bed where Merlin had been laying whilst ill was two sets of clothes, both made out of velvet and silk, one black the other a royal blue. Arthur looked around and moved cautiously to the clothes, taking the black set and shifting to the dressing screen at the other side of the room. Merlin waited for a moment before Arthur appeared fully dressed and looking much happier.
"Well he certainly had good taste in clothing at least!" He stated as he made a few collar adjustments.
Merlin looked at the royal blue set left behind, Arthur turned and saw him. "You should get changed," He remarked dryly. "The clothes you have are wet and frankly beyond saving," but then added in a more gentle tone. "At least he was courteous enough to leave them for us,"
Merlin sighed inwardly not wanting to think about it, he gathered the clothes and disappeared to change. When he came back Arthur was sat in the chair fiddling with his thumbs, and Merlin realised Arthur was wearing the same clothes Dellarux had been, last time he had seen him. He felt suddenly like crying but couldn't explain why.
After a second or two, Arthur stood up. "Let's get back to Camelot shall we, I don't know about you but I want to go home before my father finds out and sends the army after us!"
Merlin nodded not trusting his voice and followed Arthur glancing back at the rooms one last time. As he did something caught his eye. A white and yellow patchy snake with pink eyes was curled up by the fireplace, staring blankly at it.
Merlin made a snap decision, he slipped back and grasped the snake around the middle hoisting it into the bag that he had left behind. Slinging that over his shoulder he hurried after Arthur.
"Dellarux, Dellarux is that you?" He thought silently, but he got no reply.