A.N. Hey y'all! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I updated this story. I got so busy with everything else that I didn't have the time I wanted. Hopefully, things will slow down enough so that I can update more frequently. I hope y'all enjoy this chapter!
Artur started awake the next morning as the rooster crowed his song. For a minute, he thought he was at home. He felt Myrddin stir next to him, and then he noticed they were sleeping on the floor instead of their beds. That, and the sound of an unknown person snoring, brought him back to reality. He knelt beside Myrddin, gently shaking his shoulder until he woke up. Myrddin sat up, blinking and looking confused. When he noticed his surroundings, he let out a small sound of distress.
Artur gathered his younger brother into his arms and rocked him back and forth. He whispered calming words to help quiet him. When Myrddin had calmed down, Artur began whispering a plan. "There shouldn't be too many people awake. We can slip out and go get the horses." Myrddin nodded in understanding, and both boys slowly got up and moved towards the door.
Unbeknownst to them, Cenred and Agravaine had thought of this. During the night, they had taken ropes and tied Myrddin and Artur's ankles to the beds. As they moved towards the door, they weren't expecting a sharp tug. They lost their footing, and fell onto their knees.
Agravaine and Cenred were on them in a flash. The ropes around their ankles were tied around their wrists. Agravaine got the supplies together while Cenred led the boys downstairs. They went out the back door to avoid meeting anyone who was awake. Agravaine met them with the horses a few minutes later and they put the boys into the saddles, mounting up behind them. They moved the horses into a trot, then into a canter.
For several miles, they kept the horses moving fast. When Cenred felt the group was far enough from the village, he had the horses slow into a walk. They continued on until they found a brook. Dismounting, Agravaine led the horses to the water while Cenred stood with Artur and Myrddin. He untied their hands so they could eat a meager meal of bread and cheese. They were also given their clothes so they could change out of their sleeping trousers.
When they finished, Cenred handed Artur a waterskin. Drinking quickly so it wouldn't be taken away, he passed it to Myrddin, who also drank quickly. Myrddin gave the skin back to Cenred, and when Agravaine returned with the horses, took it down to the creek to refill it. Agravaine proceeded to retie the ropes around the boy's wrists. Unlike hours before, Agravaine used a long piece of rope instead of a short piece. This confused them, but the reason was revealed not long later.
He led them over to where the horses had been left to graze. He tied the end of Myrddin's rope to Calypso's saddle, and Artur's rope to Gypsy's. Cenred returned from the creek, and tied the waterskins back onto the saddle. He mounted Calypso, and Agravaine mounted Gypsy. They kicked the horses, spurring them into a trot. Artur and Myrddin were jerked forward, and had to briskly jog to keep up with the horses.
After a day of traveling, they reached the port town of Dublin. It had started to rain a couple hours before, so the small party and their horses were soaked to the bone. They hadn't stopped for an evening meal because there was no dry wood to be found. They trotted through town, and came to a stop in front of the Clover Inn (A.N. I know, how so very cliché). A couple stable boys met them by the stable doors. "Take these horses and put them in a large stall." Cenred ordered as he and Agravaine dismounted.
The stable boys looked confused. "What about these two sir?" one inquired, pointing to Artur and Myrddin, still tied to the saddles. "Leave them as they are. Keep them in the same stall as the horses. No extra provisions are required". Agravaine and Cenred took their packs and went into the inn. Following the instructions given to them, the grooms led the horses into a double stall.
Ignoring the brothers, the grooms took the bridles off the horses and put halters on them, tying the lead ropes to rings in the wall. Removing the saddles and blankets, the stable boys put them in the corner furthest from the horses. They left the stall, leaving Artur and Myrddin alone. Artur looked through the remaining pack on his saddle. He found bread and a couple apples. He broke the bread in half, and gave it and an apple to Myrddin. They ate quickly and quietly. Afterwards, they used the saddle blankets to keep warm. They drifted off to sleep.