The afternoon was warm and bright, and the Lower Town was bustling as Merlin shuffled his way through the crowds. He hadn't left the physician's tower much since Gaius had returned, only when Arthur or Gaius had needed the boy to fetch something for them.
However, after several days, some carefully brewed remedies, and plenty of rest, Gaius was back on his feet and in working condition. Of course, he hadn't actually had much work to do. No one had come to see Gaius aside from Gwen and a couple of the knights.
The physician claimed it was because people wanted to give him the time to fully recover, but Merlin wasn't so sure. Everyone in the citadel had been keeping their distance, with fewer than normal stopping to speak with Merlin during his daily chores.
So once he'd finished with his work for the afternoon, the young warlock had made his way into the Lower Town in an attempt to spread the news that his guardian was fit to take patients once again. Turning a corner near one of the fruit stands, Merlin paused as he heard the owner, an older woman named Miriam, let out a hacking cough.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked, stopping across from her stand and watching her in concern as the woman wheezed in her next breath.
"Fine, fine. Just the hay and coal." She waved a hand dismissively at him, a gesture he'd never received from what he'd always considered a kind woman.
"You know, if you stop by, I'm certain Gaius could help with that cough. He's got some great remedies stored up for this time of year." Merlin offered, only to hear a snort come from behind him.
"No one wants that old man's help."
Merlin bristled at the comment, and as he turned, he found himself staring down at a young man wearing guard attire. He was barely more than a child, with thin arms and a short build that made him appear as if he were merely playing dress up in the uniform he wore.
"What is that supposed to mean?" The warlock asked, working to keep his voice level as the young man scoffed and folded his arms.
Despite not looking like much, the young guard had a sword strapped to his side, though the emblem on the sheath didn't match Camelot's. "It means no one wants to get help from a man suspected of sorcery." The young man let out a laugh, and Merlin had to stop himself from sneering down at him.
"He wasn't doing any magic. He was abducted." The warlock countered angrily, his voice rising as a few of the market's shopkeepers turned their way at the noise.
"That's a likely story."
"It's the truth! He was barely alive when we found him." Merlin snapped, his hands balling into fists at his sides.
"Well, maybe he shouldn't even be alive at all." The young guard retorted, his dark eyes glaring up at Merlin, obviously daring him to fight back.
"What did you say?" The warlock's voice came out low and cold, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt the eyes of several people on the two of them.
"Everyone else who practices magic in this kingdom is put to death, but that old man is given a pass because of what, his age? Because of his friendship with a king that is dead?" The young guard shook his head furiously, fire dancing in his eyes as he kept hold of Merlin's stare. "In my home this would never have been tolerated. If a king decrees something, it is followed, no exceptions."
Merlin opened his mouth to respond before his eyes darted back to the young man's sheath. Of course. He wasn't from Camelot. Arthur had told him weeks ago that they were training a new rank of guards for some reason or another, but they weren't to stay in the kingdom.
"He was the exception not only because of his loyalty but because he did nothing wrong." Merlin's words were spoken carefully, though his anger was quickly rising as the young guard laughed again.
"And who are you to talk? The king's faithful mutt and what, bastard of that old man?"
The warlock's next breath came out slow, his mind picturing spell after spell that he could use if he would just open his mouth. But no, now was not the time and the market was certainly not the place.
"You're pathetic, you can't even defend yourself." The young man scoffed, patting his sword while throwing his head back with a cruel laugh that drew the attention of even more of the townsfolk. "Be glad you didn't." Turning his back to him, the young guard began marching away, his head held high and his shoulders straight.
Follow him. A voice whispered in the warlock's mind, and Merlin started forward, anger fueling his steps.
"Merlin, don't." A gentle hand on his arm brought the young man to a stop, and the warlock turned to find Gwen beside him, sympathetic eyes watching him. "He doesn't know what he's talking about, and he's not worth going after."
"Then he shouldn't speak at all. Who even is he?" Merlin spat, watching as the woman pulled her hand away with a sigh.
"His name is Nathanial. He's the child of a council member from a kingdom I can hardly remember the name of. He, and four others, have been training in Camelot for the last week. Arthur told me he is doing this as a favor for his father's friend, but those boys are nearly uncontrollable." Gwen's explanation ended with a heaving breath, and the frustration was clear on her face.
"He reminded me of Arthur when I first met him, only much worse." Merlin grumbled, catching the small smile that flashed across Gwen's face.
"Perhaps with time you'll have a better influence on them like you did with Arthur."
"Somehow I doubt that." Merlin frowned, turning back to the crowd where the young man had disappeared.
For the rest of the day and evening Merlin stayed in the physician's tower with Gaius, helping him to dry new herbs and create fresh remedies. There had been no calls made aside from Gwaine, who had demanded Merlin go to the tavern with him that night.
The warlock hadn't wanted to go, his mood barely improved from that afternoon, but at Gaius' insistence he had made his way out of the citadel and to the lively tavern after his duties were finished. As Merlin walked inside, music was playing in one corner where a young woman was dancing, bringing over a large crowd that left a few empty tables and the counter free.
Sitting down on one of the stools across from the tavern owner, Merlin asked for two pints of ale and sat waiting for Gwaine. As the music ended and a round of cheers went up for the dancing maiden, Merlin took a drink and listened to footsteps coming up behind him.
"Look over here boys, the king's mutt decided to join us."
Glancing over his shoulder, the warlock resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Nathanial, and four other young men still dressed in their guard attire, approached where he sat. Deciding to ignore rather than confront, Merlin took another drink of his ale before a hand swung around and snatched up the one he'd ordered for Gwaine.
"You bought me a drink, what a faithful mutt you are." Nathanial laughed, tilting his head back as he downed the drink to the chorus of the other boys laughing around him.
Biting down on his tongue, Merlin let out a slow breath as a nagging voice in his mind pushed for a spell to set the group's leader on fire.
"You think you're better than us because you go everywhere with the king, don't you?"
The now empty stein slammed down next to the warlock, and Nathanial leaned down to get right in his face. The scent of cheap ale wafted off the young guard, and Merlin pulled away in disgust at how drunk the boy already was.
"You think we don't know that you and the old man are whispering in King Arthur's ear? We know you're trying to burn this kingdom down, the both of you, with your talks of magics and other such nonsense. But we won't let you."
"What are you even talking about?" Merlin asked incredulously, turning finally to face the boy only to feel a fist sink deep into his stomach.
As the warlock lurched forward with a pained gasp, one of the other young guards caught ahold of his shoulders as the tavern's owner turned their way. "What in the hell are you boys doing? No fightin' in my tavern, take it outside!"
"Apologies Sir, our friend had a bit too much, but we'll take care of him." Nathanial promised, grabbing hold of Merlin's arm and yanking him upright as the warlock struggled against him.
"What do you think you're doing?" Merlin snapped, though the words were strained as he fought to return the air to his lungs.
"Teaching you a lesson." Nathanial spat, driving his fist into the warlock's side before forcing him out the tavern doors followed by the other boys.
Once outside, Merlin was thrown to the ground, his shoulder landing hard in the dirt as he turned over and stared up at the five young men hovering over him.
"Not much of a fair fight, is it?" Merlin asked dryly, eyeing the boys carefully while his mind raced. He could try using his magic, but with so many of them focused on him, he wasn't sure how easily he could get away with it.
"Just feel lucky if we leave you in one piece." One of the boys quipped before his foot flew out and kicked the warlock hard in the chest.
Pain radiated out from his side, and Merlin's arms instinctively wrapped around the injured area.
"You're nothing, and neither is that old man! Both of you should be strung up for what you encourage!" Another boy yelled before a second boot struck him in his shoulder, causing the warlock to roll over onto his stomach.
Wheezing in pain, Merlin clutched at the ground, his fingers digging into the dirt and his teeth gritting in anger. Listening as the next boy approached, the warlock concentrated as his eyes suddenly flashed gold, and he heard the boy behind him overthrow his kick and fall to the ground.
Beginning to push himself up, Merlin was prepared to strike the first person he saw when another boot collided with his back, and he sprawled on the ground with renewed pain.
"You don't deserve to be in this kingdom." Nathanial snarled, swaying slightly on his feet as he lifted his foot again for what Merlin knew would be a painful strike.
Or, it would have been, if the young guard's boot had actually struck him. Instead, the sound of a blade unsheathing seemed to echo in the night, and a low, threatening voice spoke.
"Make another move and you'll find your blood staining your tunic."
Everything had gone silent other than Merlin's pounding heart, and when he turned over and looked up, he was stunned to see Leon standing over him with a blade under Nathanial's chin.
"Leave, now, before I think better of letting you keep your head on your shoulders." Leon warned, lowering his blade a fraction as the boys hurried off, barely even looking at Merlin again before they disappeared into the night.
The warlock blinked up at the man above him, his body throbbing and blood coating the inside of his mouth, and he wondered briefly if he was dreaming because Leon didn't look like Leon. The man had the same curly hair, but he was wearing a pair of dark trousers, and a white tunic that was hanging partially open.
He carried his sword with him on a belt, and the thick boots he wore looked practical but comfortable. Merlin could hardly think of a time he'd seen Leon in anything other than his knight's attire, but as the man sheathed his sword and knelt down beside the warlock, he knew undoubtedly that it was him.
"Are you alright?" Leon asked, taking the young man's arm as Merlin slowly sat upright.
"I'm fine." He grimaced, clutching his chest with one hand as a burning pain coursed through him.
"Here, let me help you up." Without waiting for the young man to answer, Leon wrapped his arm around his back and helped the warlock to rise. A fresh wave of pain shot through him with the movement, and Merlin slumped against the knight's chest as Leon helped to keep him upright.
"I'll help you get home." The knight offered, his voice woven with concern as Merlin's head jolted up and he met his friend's gaze.
"No."
"What?"
"Gaius doesn't need to have another thing to worry about. I'll get there myself." Pulling himself away from Leon, Merlin forced himself to stand upright. As he did, his next breath rattled out, and a sudden bout of dizziness had him swaying where he stood as he fought to catch his breath.
"Hold on, Merlin. You could be seriously hurt; you can barely stand." Leon argued, reaching for him again as the warlock pulled himself out of reach before hunching over in pain.
"No. I mean it, Leon. He's had enough to deal with this past week. I won't add to that. I'm fine."
Leon matched the warlock's hard stare with one of his own until finally his shoulders relaxed. "Fine. Come with me."
"But—"
"Come on, Merlin." Taking his arm carefully but still managing to keep a firm grip, Leon guided the warlock away from the tavern and towards the citadel.
Their walk was slow, with Merlin's rattled breathing disrupting the quiet everywhere they went, but it wasn't too long before Leon was guiding him to a back room on the lowest level.
"Where are we going?" Merlin asked, glancing around the unfamiliar halls while his voice bounced off the walls.
"To my room." Leon answered, guiding him around a corner as the warlock looked to the knight in surprise.
"Sorry, your what?"
"My room. I've had one here for years." Leon gave a simple shrug, as if that was a sufficient enough answer.
A moment later they stopped outside of a simple wooden door, and Leon pushed it open to reveal a small, but warm, room. It was half the size of Arthur's chambers, with a simple bed and desk off to one side, as well as a small fireplace with a chair beside that.
A few books were stacked on the desk, as well as some parchment and a quill. Hanging over the back of the chair near the fire were Leon's knight's robes, as well as his cape that hung from a peg on the wall.
"Here, sit right there." Leon finally let go of the young man's arm and pointed to the chair.
As Merlin sat down, the knight put a log in the fireplace and set it aflame, feeding the fire until it was blazing and filling the room with its light.
"Alright, let me see." Kneeling down next to the warlock, Leon lifted the edge of his tunic while Merlin grimaced.
Stretching down one side of his chest were angry red patches of skin that screamed when Leon prodded at them.
"Looks like you may have some bruised ribs. Hold tight, I think I have some supplies here." Leaving Merlin to hold his tunic up, the knight began to rummage about under his bed while the warlock took in his small home.
There was hardly anything personal lying around, and aside from a homemade blanket stretched on the lower half of an immaculately made bed, nothing about the place screamed it was Leon's.
"I never knew you lived down here." Merlin finally spoke, catching Leon's faint smile as he pulled a chest out from under the mattress.
"Only part of the time. I have my own home, but I'd often be charged with keeping an eye on Arthur while we were younger, and sleeping here just made the task easier."
"I can understand that." Merlin chuckled before hissing at the way his ribs throbbed from the action.
"Hold it up higher." Leon instructed, pushing the warlock's tunic up before sitting back on the floor with wrappings and a damp cloth.
As he began to clean the dirt and grime from the young man's skin, Merlin tried to focus on anything other than the pain.
"I heard some of what those guards were saying," Leon spoke suddenly, breaking the silence with his words. "I hope you know that no one truly thinks those things of Gaius."
"It sure seems like they do." Merlin winced as Leon dropped the cloth and grabbed a long strip of bandages.
"The people are just nervous, what with Arthur now on the throne and Morgana still managing to cause mayhem everywhere she goes."
As Leon tightened the bindings around Merlin's chest, the warlock let out a shaking breath. "But they turned on him so easily. After all the years of his loyalty and service, they acted as if none of it mattered."
Securing the wrap carefully, Leon eased Merlin's tunic back down and stared up at the young man from where he knelt beside him on the floor. "We care for Gaius as one of our own, Merlin. You ought to know that by now."
Glancing away, Merlin stared at the cape hanging from the wall. "No one seemed eager to help him. He nearly died."
"I would have, had I not been away." Leon objected, hurt clear in his voice as Merlin's head dropped. "But Merlin, you must know.." As the knight trailed off, the warlock looked back and found Leon's eyes fixed intently on him. "We care for you as one of our own as well. Those children playing at guards, they know nothing of true loyalty."
A warmth spread through Merlin at the words, seeming to dull the ache of his ribs. "You won't tell Gaius of what happened?"
"No."
"Don't say a word to Arthur either."
"Are you certain that's what you want?" Leon asked, obviously skeptical of the request.
"As you said, people care. Things will return to normal on their own."
At that, Leon smiled, and as he stood and returned the chest he'd pulled out earlier, he spoke over his shoulder. "Would you like to share a drink, Merlin?"
"Honestly I'd rather not return to the tavern tonight." The warlock grimaced, placing a hand gently on his side where the bandages were wrapped tightly around him.
"Who said anything about that?" Leon asked, turning back around with two small mugs and a flask in his hand as Merlin's brows shot up in surprise.
"Does Gwaine know you stash that in here?" He questioned while Leon poured two drinks and passed one to the young man.
"No, and for good reason."
Laughing despite the pain, Merlin took a drink of the alcohol while Leon settled onto the edge of his bed.
"So tell me, what was it like keeping as eye on our king as children?" Merlin asked as Leon let out his own laugh while kicking off his boots.
"There's quite a few stories I could tell you." The knight grinned, pushing himself up against the wall and pulling his feet onto the bed. "My favorite however might just be the night Arthur and I snuck into the great hall at the End of the Year feast and watched while the entertainment made fools out of the king and the court."
While Merlin listened to the man talk, his body began to relax, an ease he hadn't felt around Leon before settling into him. This was a safe haven. People cared about him, and Gaius, and he had friends like Gwaine and Leon who would be there to help when things became too difficult to manage alone. Gaius was recovering, and Leon was right, things would surely return to normal soon.
A/N
I don't know if this is against canon or not but listen. The idea of Leon being a big brother to Arthur as they grew up and then taking on that role for Merlin was just too beautiful not to write. Like. Big Brother Leon is a whole mood and I regret NOTHING.
I know it's been a while, but I'm slowly getting back on my feet after my cat and the holidays. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you all in the next one soon. Thank you as always for your patience!