Chapter 2 : Primus Dies
Disclaimer: Merlin and its characters do not belong to me
The sun had just started to filter through his window, when it began. A strange, whispery voice, calling his name over and over again, as if it were trying to attract his attention. Startled, Merlin shot up out of bed, looking around to see who was calling. Seeing no one, he shrugged it off as a lingering memory of a dream, before getting up.
Once he was dressed, Merlin moved down to the physician's chambers, where he found Gaius by the fireplace, dishing up breakfast.
"I got you water. You didn't wash last night." Gaius informed him.
"Sorry, I was a bit distracted, what with the rather public beheading," Merlin murmured, following Gaius to one of the tables, where a space had been cleared.
"Which is why I needn't tell you to be careful. Help yourself to breakfast." Gaius gestured cheerfully towards a bowl of watery porridge.
Thanking him, Merlin sat down and started to eat – after a quick investigation of the contents. Meanwhile, Gaius waited until Merlin was preoccupied, before pushing the bucket of water off the table. Caught off guard by the movement, Merlin looked up, his magic reacting instinctively and freezing the bucket in mid-air as he jumped to his feet. Causing Gaius to gasp and look at him. Upon realising what he had done, Merlin relaxed the magic, letting the bucket fall.
"How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?" Gaius mused.
"I don't know any spells." Merlin explained, shaking his head.
"So what did you do? There must be something!" Gaius retorted, staring at him confused.
"It just happens." Merlin said slowly after a slight pause, before moving towards the mop.
With a sigh, Gaius turned back to the mess on the floor, watching as Merlin started to clean it up.
"Well, we'd better keep you out of trouble, then. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here." Gaius decided, heading over to a small table by the fireplace where he picked up some bottles and a pouch. "Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once." He placed them on the table as he mentioned them.
"Ok," Merlin nodded while picking them up.
"And here." Gaius added, lifting up a plate containing a meat sandwich (with considerably more bread than meat), causing Merlin to smile gratefully, before picking it up.
"Off you go." Gaius dismissed with a wave of his hand.
Nodding, Merlin handed over the mop and headed for the door.
"And, Merlin!" Gaius called as he was opening the door. "I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will Get. You. Killed."
Merlin nodded before heading out. The sandwich was gone by the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, leaving him free to ask for directions to his first stop – Sir Olwin. A kind chambermaid directed him out, across the courtyard towards a stand-alone building near one of the turrets. Upon entering, Merlin had to pause to adjust to the darker passageway, as there were fewer windows than in the main building, along with fewer people to ask directions of.
Eventually, he found himself in front of the correct door, and upon knocking, was greeted by an old man, who squinted up at him in surprise.
"Erm, I-I've brought you your medicine." Merlin stated, holding out the bottle with yellow liquid.
Instantly, Sir Olwin held his hand out - in the wrong direction. Seeing this, Merlin hesitated for a moment, before catching Sir Olwin's hand and placing the bottle in it. Just as he was leaving to find Lady Percival, he remembered what Gaius had told him, and started to turn back.
"Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at..." He looked up to find that Sir Olwin had already finished. "I'm sure it's fine." He amended with a nervous smile. Sir Olwin nodded and thanked him, before retreating back into his rooms.
The Lady Percival's chambers were much easier to find, however, seeing as they were situated just down the corridor from the Throne Room. Finding the correct hallway, Merlin very narrowly avoided running into a maid carrying a small, wooden chest.
"Sorry," he murmured.
"Oh, it's quite alright. Are you lost?" She asked, looking him over.
"No, or at least, I don't think so, I'm looking for Lady Percival's chambers? Gaius asked me to deliver these." He held up the small bottle and bag.
"Well then, you're in luck, I was just bringing this, come with me," she offered, turning and walking along the hallway.
Lady Percival was seated at a table, a white china tea set in front of her. When she looked up, a pair of bright blue eyes greeted the newcomers.
"Ah, Julia, put it down in the corner, would you? And, I don't think we've met?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Umm, I'm Merlin. Gaius asked me to give you these?" Merlin stammered, holding up the bottle and bag.
"Ah, yes. Just put them down on the table, please." the Lady waved her hand at a clear space. "Was there anything else?"
"No, my lady, that was all." Merlin answered, heading back to the door, and escaping down the hallway.
Not wanting to head back to Gaius' chambers just yet, Merlin decided to explore the grounds. As he crossed the drawbridge, however, he was confronted by a group of knights and a servant. One of the knights was throwing a dagger at a large wooden target the servant was carrying across the field.
"Hey! Hang on!" The servant called out, obviously not expecting a piece of metal to hit the target, near his hand, while he moved it.
"Don't stop!" The knight called back.
Nodding, the servant continued a few paces, before turning back to the knights. "Here?" He asked.
"I told you to keep moving!" The knight returned angrily, before throwing another dagger. "Come on! Run!"
Terrified, the servant turned and began moving as fast as he could with the heavy target, while the knight continued to throw daggers at him. Before long, the exhausted servant lost his grip on the target, and fell down. Seeing the target roll towards him, Merlin put his foot on the edge, preventing it from being picked up again.
"Hey, come on, that's enough," Merlin declared.
"What?" The knight asked, genuine confusion beginning to take over his features.
"You've had your fun, my friend." Merlin clarified, wondering if all knights were this stupid.
"Do I know you?" The knight asked as he walked over.
"Er, I'm Merlin." He said, moving to hold out his hand.
"So I don't know you," The knight clarified, ignoring the offered hand.
"No." Merlin shook his head.
"Yet you called me 'friend.'" The knight stated, confusion still showing.
Merlin nodded slightly. "That was my mistake."
"Yes, I think so." The knight agreed, looking like he was ready to go back to torturing the servant.
"Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass." Merlin retorted, thinking of Will, and how he would have reacted to what he'd just seen, before turning to continue his exploration.
The knight burst out laughing. "Or I one who could be so stupid." He exclaimed.
Annoyed, Merlin stopped walking and turned back to him.
"Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?" He asked.
"No." Merlin replied, noticing that the knight was closing in on him.
"Would you like me to help you?" The knight asked, finding something amusing.
"I wouldn't if I were you."
"Why? What are you going to do to me?" The knight was definitely laughing now.
"You have no idea." Merlin warned him, feeling his magic beginning to hum just under his skin.
"Be my guest! Come on!" The knight smirked.
Annoyed, Merlin shoved his magic back down, before taking a swing at the knight. Still smirking, the knight easily grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm round behind him, pushing it up against his back.
"I'll have you thrown in jail for that." The knight hissed in Merlin's ear.
"What, who do you think you are? The King?" Merlin retorted, still processing what had just happened.
"No. I'm his son, Arthur." He replied, before knocking Merlin's legs out from under him and calling the guards, who took him straight down to the dungeons and threw him into a cell.