AN: I'm glad you're still reading and (hopefully) liking the story so far.
Neutral territory
There had always been conflict within Albion and this time it was between King Alined and Lord Godwyn. The dispute concerned the exact lines of the border. Arthur offered to host the negotiations in Camelot since they shared an alliance with them. Every step closer to peace would be a step closer to uniting Albion. For once Merlin didn't have very much to do with the preparations. With two noble families visiting one would think there would be a lost to do but it was the exact opposite. Both parties did not only bring their own servants but sent a few of them ahead so everything needs would be tended to upon arrival. The leaders were in council for lengthy periods and Arthur dismissed his manservant so he could do something more meaningful.
Thankfully for Merlin Gaius didn't know. Merlin didn't really have any pastime because Arthur kept his manservant busy. He used his spare time not with an actual pastime but something important nonetheless. Magic. There were still many spells he had not mastered yet. Nimueh had powerful fire magic, Cornelius Sigan animated the Gargoyles, Gilli channelled magic into strength and Morgana was the mistress of black magic. So what was the power of the great Emrys? Stunning spells and falling branches weren't exactly fearful and his talents as a dragonlord were hereditary. He wasn't an amazing healer either. He could barely concoct a potion.
Then he saw what made him special and it wasn't even his magic. Improvisation was his power. It wasn't perfect. The encounter with Morgana and Alator had proven that. He needed more spells that would give him the element of surprise. It was time to go back to the hidden books where the Goblin remained.
At the end of the day Merlin knew by his master's demeanour that the meeting between Godwyn and Alined did not go well.
"Made any progress?" Merlin asked out of curiosity.
"At one point I thought they'd draw their swords." Arthur said as he dropped himself onto his chair.
"Perhaps tomorrow will be better." The manservant said in a fruitless effort to cheer up the King.
"Not if they keep bickering about times past. Especially Alined." The blonde kept complaining.
Merlin put his back against the wall and crossed his arms.
"They're not really cooperating, are they?" Times like these Arthur deserved a bit of empathy.
"There's the odd sentence where they actually make some sense but other than that, no."
"A bit like you then." Merlin joked and, despite it being a cheap shot, Arthur cracked a smile.
Bantering with Arthur was fun way to cheer him up but the moments were usually shortly lived.
"When all this is done there will be a feast. They might not deserve it but I will."
Merlin wanted to make a witty reference to the holes in his royal fatness' belt but the King moved on.
"I wonder if Alined would have his jester perform again." Arthur wondered
Merlin hoped he hadn't. The love spell he used on Arthur wasn't easily removed.
"He seemed a bit cross with him last time." Merlin smiled at the memory of the jester in chains behind Alined's horse.
"Didn't keep him from bringing him along." The King replied as he straightened his posture.
Trickler was in Camelot? How did he not see it? The library, of course. Come to think of it, Geoffrey seemed to live there and Merlin rarely saw him anywhere else. A bit of a recluse. Merlin shook away the stray thoughts and inquired about Alined's jester.
"When?"
Arthur took a moment and tried to remember when the jester had arrived. Failing to answer that question he gave a much simpler answer.
"He served us during council."
Merlin worried for a moment but Trickler wouldn't dare use magic that close to the armed men of Camelot. Elena was still in Gawant and would hopefully stay there. The last thing he needed was another thing to worry about. The warlock wanted to be rid of Trickler once and for all.
Later that evening Merlin discussed the matter with Gaius who had a few interesting thoughts to share. For starters, the negotiations as much a chance for peace as they were to bring war. At the very least between Alined and Godwyn. Secondly, Alined might have instigated their squabble for that very reason, a chance at war, but it was unlikely. Peace made him poor but going to war with someone himself was even worse. That's why he tried to bring war between Arthur and Olaf. If someone else were to be at war then they could supply men and metal. That's how he became rich. Lastly, killing Trickler should look like an accident. If either Alined or Godwyn found that it led back to Camelot then there would be hell to pay.
In the middle of the night Merlin left the comfort of his bed to seek out Trickler and end things before they had even begun. Wandering the corridors ideas were plentiful. A blow to the head and throwing him down the stairs, he slipped. He's standing on the balcony and it gives away leading to a deadly fall, too big for sabotage. Bruised, beaten, smelling of urine and dead in a ditch, a lethal bar brawl. If only he could make that last one actually happen, that would be amazing.
Then a shadow moved past a door in the distance. It seemed his was not alone despite it being the dead of night. Merlin knew out of instinct that it wasn't right. The torches should only reveal the armour of Knights at this time of day. The warlock hurried around the corner and saw that it was, in fact, another servant. Judging by his attire it was oneof Godwyn's. Although relieved, it did not put him at ease. Merlin kept following him from a distance. The unnamed servant's footsteps came to a halt near Godwyn's chambers but not in sight of them. It gave Merlin the opportunity to get a better look at him. Black hair, nose like a hawk, average height and build, no one special. He thought and smiled to himself for being paranoid like that.
But he was right after all at the sound of the words "Swefe nu."
The man guarding Godwyn's door fell asleep. Merlin's eyes widened and finally he saw it. The crystal that hung around his neck and rested on the servant's chest was not ordinary. Its distorting transparency was like that of a rhinestone and that's exactly what it did, distort what one saw. Merlin knew it as a Blood Crystal. All it needed was a single drop of another man's blood to take on his appearance. Trickler's treacherous trickery had to stop.
Trickler went inside and Merlin tarried fretting over what might happen if Godwyn saw his magic. It had to be stopped nonetheless, they would just have to understand. Merlin turned the handle and it seemed to open on its own. He stood eye-to-eye with Trickler who was still disguised as a servant. Alined's sorcerer was not shocked at seeing a person in front of him like Merlin did and saw merely an obstacle. Trickler knocked him to the floor with his shoulder and tried to flee when Merlin grabbed his leg and brought him to the floor as well. The warlock's silent, stealthy magic flung the dagger away from them and he pounced Trickler. For a moment Merlin had the advantage but the jester was stronger than him and managed to push him off him.
As they struggled they noticed the rattling of armour. Things had become a haze for the warlock. His sole intent was to keep Trickler there and pull off the necklace when the guards were there. And they were. Strong arms pulled them apart and Merlin reached for blood crystal but failed to grab it. His heart sank as the jester used the ace up his sleeve.
"He killed Lord Godwyn!" Trickler shouted in faked shock, complete with tears and all.
This was an absolute nightmare. Trickler still had the appearance of one of Godwyn's servants and he was a convincing actor. Adding to that was the blood of the knife that had rubbed off on both of them. It seemed like a Godwyn's loyal subject tried to apprehend his Lord's murderer.
"Liar!" Merlin shouted in denial but it was all in vain when a force connected with his head and the world faded to black.
AN:
Okay, maybe a bit predictable but I'll be pulling it to an emotionally higher level than most fics do.
