Lethervale had decided to hold court with his most trusted people and his guests, gathering them all around a long table. If Lethervale hadn't also ordered Arthur to scrub the room's floor, Gwaine would have just stayed in his bedroom and watched the gate. Merlin slumped beside him, not looking at Arthur who was on his hands and knees with a scrub brush, a new bruise blossoming on his left cheek.

Lethervale left to welcome another guest. Gwaine elbowed Merlin.

"Why can't you look at Arthur?" Gwaine whispered.

Merlin hunched in his chair. "I'm the one that gave him that bruise. They made me prove I had turned on him to let me out."

Gwaine winced. "I'm sure he'll forgive you."

"It was his idea," Merlin replied. "But I'm supposed to be the one protecting him, not the one hurting him."

Gwaine frowned at that odd statement. "You're his servant, mate, not his bodyguard."

Lethervale laughed as he strolled in, an older man walking beside him.

Gwaine's body chilled. The older man was Gwaine's father's manservant, Terrold. He'd taken over running of the manor house once Gwaine's father died. He'd almost become like a second father to Gwaine before they had to let him go due to lack of funds. He'd been the last servant to leave.

"Gwaine?" Terrold said.

"Terrold." Gwaine nodded at his surrogate father.

"I haven't seen you in ages, little one. How have you been?" Terrold asked.

"Fine. Just fine." Gwaine swallowed, his dry throat scraping.

"You two know each other?" Lethervale asked.

Don't say it, don't say it…

"I served in his father's household for many years. He's the kindest noble I've ever met," Terrold said.

"You're a noble?" Ice filled Lethervale's voice.

Gwaine cursed and darted to his feet. "Time to go!" He grabbed Arthur and slung him over his shoulder. No time to nurse his pride and he couldn't run with that leg. "Come on, Merlin!"

"What are you doing? Put me down!" Arthur protested.

Gwaine ignored him as they ran from the room into the courtyard. Men ran at them but for some reason never managed to get close.

"Merlin, get horses!"

Merlin nodded and ran into the stables.


Arthur burned from his position over Gwaine's shoulder. "Put me down!"

"Fine, then." Gwaine abruptly set him on his feet.

Arthur's head spun. He grabbed Gwaine's shoulder. "Are you really a noble?"

"Yeah. After my father died, the king tossed us out on our ears, so I developed a hatred of nobles. Then you came along," Gwaine said.

"Got the horses!" Merlin dragged three saddled horses over to them.

"Here, I'll boost you up," Gwaine said.

Arthur bit his lip and let Gwaine help him up. Gwaine and Merlin swung themselves up and they thundered out of the open gate. All the guards swarmed them, but they were all struck back with magic. Some had their sword hilts glow red hot, some had their pants fall down, and some simply fell over.

Arthur smiled. Merlin's magic should make him nervous or angry, but he was just glad it meant he wasn't going back.

People scattered as they thundered through the streets of the small town into the countryside.

"Follow me!" Gwaine led them through the forest paths for several miles until the forest dropped away and they emerged into a valley.

The valley below them was spread with colorful tents set in newly fallen snow. Banners of knights and nobles from all over Camelot fluttered from the tents. A tree toppled over at the far edge of the camp. Several small men dragged it over to a line of half-built siege engines. In the middle of the camp was a large red tent from which fluttered the royal banner of the Pendragon family.

Father. Father was still here. He had gathered an army and was building siege engines in preparation for rescuing Arthur.

Arthur spurred his horse on, thundering through the camp. "Father! Father!"

A strong, broad-shouldered figure emerged from the tent in shining chainmail, his red cape fluttering behind him.

Father.

Arthur slid off his horse and pelted forward as fast as his weak leg would carry him. Hot tears filled his eyes. "Father."

"Arthur?" Father ran forward. "Arthur!"

Arthur crashed into Father's arms. He wrapped his filthy arms around the shining chainmail. Father's strong arms squeezed him tight.

"Oh, my son, my son," Father said.

Arthur burst into heaving sobs. Father's old words—"No man is worth your tears"—echoed in his ears, but he just buried his face in Father's shoulder and kept crying. "I missed you so much."

Father sank to his knees, still holding tight to Arthur. He stroked his hair. "It's all right. Everything's fine. I'm here now, Arthur. I've got you." He rocked back and forth, soothing him.

Arthur curled his hands in Father's cloak. He was safe. He was finally safe. "I thought I'd never see you again." He pulled back.

"Well, thank goodness you were wrong." Father laughed, tears in his eyes. He ran his gloved thumb over the aching bruises on Arthur's cheek and eye. "You've been hurt."

Arthur ducked his head. "They hurt me quite often. They wanted to teach nobles a lesson and made me be their slave."

Father curled his hand into a fist. "I promise you I'll make them pay for what they did to you."

Arthur shook his head. "I just want to go home. It's been so long." He kept back another sob.

"If that's what you wish." Father drew him to his feet. "Come, let's get you to Gaius."

Arthur walked with him into the large tent. Merlin hurried right behind him and Gwaine trailed behind the rest, following them all.

Gaius was bent over a table, reading a book. He straightened, then broke into a smile. He closed the book. "I suppose I won't need this anymore." Arthur caught a flash of an older language. Was that…a magic book?

Gaius shuffled forward towards Merlin, opening his arms. "My boy."

Merlin ran forward and hugged him.

Father helped Arthur onto a cot with a white fur spread. He stretched out his bad leg and propped himself up on his elbow to keep his welts from the bed. He'd probably make the fur smell like pigs and dung.

Gaius released Merlin and shuffled to Arthur. "Merlin, grab my bag."

Merlin darted across the tent and grabbed Gaius's medical bag, dropping it at his side.

Gaius settled down next to the cot. "Oh, my poor boy." He patted Arthur's shoulder. "What can you tell me about your state of health?"

"My leg," Arthur said. "They broke my leg when I tried to escape and bound it so it healed wrong and I couldn't run anymore."

Gaius's withered yet strong fingers probed the bruises on his face. "These should fade in a few weeks."

Arthur nodded. "My back. It's…"

Merlin stepped forward. "Here, let me." He helped Arthur slip out of his shirt.

Father and Gaius inhaled sharply.

"Did they whip you?" Father demanded.

"And caned me. Anytime they felt I wasn't good enough," Arthur said.

Gaius smeared salve on Arthur's back. Arthur shivered, pain crackling through his skin.

Father laid his hand on the top of Arthur's head.

"Is there anything else you need to mention?" Gaius asked.

Arthur shook his head.

"He's starving," Merlin said. "I did my best to give him more until he kicked me out of the dungeons with him, but they didn't really give him much to eat."

Gaius nodded, pulling up Arthur's right pants leg. "I can see you've been suffering from malnutrition." He probed the crooked bone. "I believe I can rebreak this and reset it properly. Perhaps it would be best to wait until we return to Camelot for ease of travel."

"That sounds fine," Arthur said.

Uther gestured at Merlin. "Go fetch food for Arthur."

Merlin bowed to the king and left, skirting around Gwaine who hovered in the doorway.

"You." Father straightened, throwing his shoulders back. "Didn't I banish you from Camelot?"

Arthur grabbed Father's arm. "Gwaine saved my life. This is the third time he saved my life. He walked into the castle and got me out, even though he knew he was in danger like me due to his noble background." It was probably a bit underhanded to out Gwaine's heritage when he obviously didn't want to share it, but Arthur refused to let him suffer under a sentence he didn't deserve. "You banished him because he attacked and accused two knights as a commoner, but those men weren't truly knights and Gwaine is the son of a knight. He is the one man who fights as good as I do and would be a great asset to Camelot's knights."

Father's muscles tensed under Arthur's hand. He turned and melted. He laid his hand on Arthur's cheek, stroking the bruises. "If that's what you wish, then Gwaine is pardoned."

Arthur closed his eyes, soaking in the rare affection. He couldn't remember a time when Father had been so soft.

His head spun. He steadied himself with Father's arms. "Is there somewhere I can lay down?"

"What's wrong with here?" Father asked.

"It's very nice and I'm…filthy," Arthur said.

"That's true," Gaius said. "I don't feel comfortable bandaging your back until you've bathed. Gwaine, can you find some servants and draw up a bath for Arthur?"

"Of course," Gwaine said, his eyes shadowed. He strode off.

"I don't care about the furs," Father said. "All I care about is that you're all right. Just lie down. The furs don't matter."

Arthur sank down on the furs with his chest down to preserve his back. He closed his eyes, drifting off.

Gaius gently woke him when Merlin returned with food. Arthur ate until Gaius told him to stop.

"All right now, if you'll just bring it in here." Gwaine held the tent flap open. Four male servants walked in carrying a steaming tub between them.

Arthur snorted. Of course Gwaine had found a way to not do the work himself.

The servants set the bathtub down in front of Arthur's bed. One of them bowed to Arthur.

"So good to see you back, sire," he said.

Arthur nodded.

Merlin dragged over a partition from the back of the tent and placed it in front of the bathtub.

Arthur undressed and sank into the tub. His whole back stung. He hissed. Warm water sloshed against his skin. His muscles loosened.

Unbidden tears filled his eyes. He was safe. He was really safe. Nobody would push him around or beat him or mock him or starve him. No one would treat him like an animal. He was a prince again.

"Where's the—" Merlin started.

"Over there," Gaius said.

Father laid a set of Arthur's sleep clothes on the white fur of the cot. "I made sure all your favorite clothes were brought."

"Thank you," Arthur whispered.

Father patted Arthur's head and strode out.

Merlin helped Arthur get clean. He cleaned the lashes on his back much gentler than the physician at Lethervale's castle had. Arthur almost drifted off in the bath, so he climbed out and dressed. Gaius smeared more salve on his back and bandaged it. Arthur crawled under the furs on the cot and dropped off to sleep.