A/N:
A day late but here I am.
Enjoy!
Ilandrae
Disclaimer: Still don't own Merlin
CHAPTER 30 – EMPTY GUARD POSTS
Camelot – Art POV
The day had dawned bright and clear. Spotless blue sky and a blazing sun so beautiful that it made everyone in Camelot think it a blessing for the day ahead. A good omen. Nearly every citizen arose with the dawn for this was not a day to laze in bed. This was not a day for chores, or for work, or for staying home. Today was for festivals and merry making. For drinking and celebrating. For on this day eleven years ago the citizens of Camelot had celebrated a new beginning they had never thought possible.
Today was Prince Arthur's birthday.
And for the first time in as long as Art could remember, he was actually having fun on his birthday.
"Art, Art, Art!" Mel cried out for what he thought was probably the fifth time. "Let's go see over there now!"
Mel had unceremoniously dragged him from his bed at the break of dawn. Then, upon realising that she had apparently beaten Terry dashed off again to drag his servant out of bed so he could serve him breakfast, despite the fact that Art had given him the day off. Terry had only smiled and shrugged when he'd tried to apologise.
Somehow Mel simultaneously shoved food down his throat and rifled through his closets with Terry to select his outfit for the day. He'd barely shrugged his jacket on when a soft knock sounded from the door.
"About time!" Mel swung it open and to reveal Marcus still with his hand raised. "You're late Marcus!"
"It's barely past dawn Village Girl!"
"No. It's time to go!"
As both he and Marcus were dragged from the Castle, he found out that Marcus had been assigned as his guard today. Due to the lack of manpower from Albion's Purge they couldn't form the full guard he usually had, so, Marcus had volunteered to follow the prince. Promising to contact Merlin at any sign of trouble.
Though Art had grumbled, seeing Mel's beaming face at the sight of the festival made it all worth it. Spreading across the entire city there wasn't a street that didn't have some stall or game to see, and people flocked to the arena that was showcasing the Camelot's knights' skills. In-between their patrols, Leon, Lancelot, Percival and Tristan proved that their skills were as sharp as ever (though when they faced a disguised Isolde, they were given a run for their money). Even Bedivere took a break from shadowing Merlin to have a joust or two.
Art forgot that this festival was for him. He forgot his usual fears and trepidations. Instead, he just had fun with his friends.
Mel appeared to have no idea which way to go and had dragged her poor companions from one event to the other. She'd been enraptured by the knights, asking questions about technique and strategy that Art did his best to answer. Then they'd find themselves whisked away to game after game trying win prizes. Then back to the arena. Then to a food stall. Back to the arena. Games. Food. Merlin. Arena. Leon. Arena. Bathroom break. Arena.
It was only midmorning.
"Village Girl I'm calling a time out." Marcus stopped her as the match they watched came to a stunning conclusion with Leon the victor and she made to dash off again.
Art flopped gratefully back into his seat.
Marcus smiled at Mel who seemed to chafe at the delay. "Has the festival met your expectations so far Village girl? Or do I have an appointment with a cart?"
"Of course it's amazing! I don't want to miss a thing!"
"Understood. But my ancient frame needs a break. If only to catch my breath."
Mel looked at her shoes with a small smile. "Sorry. I'm a little excited."
"If this is you a little excited," Art said, "I don't want to see you ecstatic."
She shoved him off his seat, "Shut up princeling."
"Then you'll get bored village girl."
They started bickering. After a few minutes when Marcus didn't butt in with a dry comment to break them up, Art turned to his guard only to see him looking around uneasily.
"Is something wrong Marcus?"
"I'm not sure." But the sorcerer's tense shoulders said otherwise. Art had only known the sorcerer for a short time but he was inclined to trust the teens instincts. He was standing before the sorcerer said, "Let's go for a walk."
Mel huffed. "But you just sai-"
"And now I think we should take a walk. Just slower this time, so I can see."
Mel seemed to catch the warning in his voice and glanced around as well.
"Fine."
Mel POV
Mel kept her eyes peeled as they walked. Instead of letting all the sights and the crowds of people distract her she looked at it all with as discerning an eye as she could muster.
They made their way back through the crowd, much slower than they had been travelling that morning. At first Mel thought Marcus was being paranoid, but as they walked, she felt it too. Something was off but she couldn't quite figure out what. It was the same feeling as when she'd first caught sight of the Albion's Purge house.
Mel and Marcus kept Art firmly between them, the prince only rolling his eyes at their protective stance.
They walked for another hour before Mel figured out what it was.
"The guards," she said quietly.
"What?" Art followed her eye. "They're there. Maybe fewer than usual but after half of them got fired it's not surprising that they're running a little thin."
But she didn't let it go.
"They're not just thin. I've only seen a handful in the past hour. Besides, I was with Lady Isolde when she was helping Leon and Tristan plan security for today. We've past two posts that were meant to be manned at all times."
"That's not good," Marcus said.
"Well duh. Not to mention I haven't recognised a single one of the knights I've seen since leaving the arena. And as you know, I pay particular attention to all of the knights."
"You're right. I don't like this," Marcus said and they hurried into a nearby ally and off the streets.
"I tried to contact Emrys but something's blocking me." Marcus nervously ran a hand through his hair.
"Blocking you?" Mel asked.
"Blocking me, blocking him, just plain messing with the magic in the area I don't know!" Marcus huffed. "The fact is I can't get a hold of him so I'm going to have to go and find him."
Taking a deep breath, the sorcerer looked down at them. It was a seriousness Mel hadn't seen on him before.
"I need you two to do exactly as I say. Agreed?"
"Of course," both she and Art said immediately.
"Emrys has told me the both of you can handle yourself pretty well. Leon should still be at the barracks after his fights. If you hurry you should catch him. If anything happens on the way you run. Ok?"
Mel nodded.
"What if Leon's not there?" Art asked.
"Someone will be there, I'm sure. A knight a guard, someone. We just need to let someone know. I'll tell Emrys. You tell the knights."
Mel felt her heart rate building. Her fingers itched to grab a weapon and her eyes continued to dart around them, making sure they were still alone while also fixated on Marcus' words.
"So, what are you doing you two?"
"Going to the barracks and warning the knights," Art said.
"And if someone chases you or anything at all happens?"
"Run," Mel didn't hesitate.
"Good now go."
Marcus disappeared in a shimmer and a golden flash. Art and Mel shared a look. Then without a word they left the alley.
They walked quickly, Mel bought two painted masks that most of the children around were wearing and soon the two of them were simply another two kids in the crowd.
Thankfully, they made it to the barracks without incident. But despite Marcus' surety, they found it empty without a soul in sight.
"Maybe Leon's still in the armoury?" Mel said desperately.
They hurried into the armoury next door but the second they stepped through the door they froze in their tracks.
"This is very, very bad," Art whispered.
"Well duh," Mel said quietly before dashing to where Sir Leon lay unconscious on the floor, hands and feet bound. Next to him lay a crowd of other knights and guards all in the same predicament.
"They're still alive." Mel breathed a sigh of relief when she felt a pulse.
"Why does this always happen," Art whispered and Mel's head snapped towards him. "Why does this always happen!"
"Art," she snapped, "focus. Remember, not your fault. Now we need to figure out what we're going to do to make sure nobody else gets hurt. I don't think these guys are waking up anytime soon."
The prince shook it off. "You're right, sorry Mel. Let's at least cut these guys loose so if they do wake up they can do something."
"Right."
They freed the knights and guards but just as they finished Art grabbed her arm.
"Mel. This just got a whole lot worse."
"How could this get worse! We don't even know what's happening!"
"You said you didn't recognise any of the knights you'd seen. And that the guards didn't seem to know what posts they were meant to be at."
"Yes. Get to the point."
"None of these guys have their uniforms on. Not even Leon."
Somehow her pulse ramped up even more. "Those knights and guards we saw... They aren't ours. Who the hell were they?"
"We have to find Merlin." Art started rifling through the swords. "Or Percival, Tristan someone..."
"The courtyard," Mel went over to him. "It's nearly midday. Everyone will be there for the Queen's speech."
Art turned back and she realised it wasn't a practise sword that was buckled to his hip. "I'm meant to be there anyway. Here, it's a late birthday present from my mother and I."
Dumbstruck she took the sword he held out to her; it was identical to his own other than the three small red stones in the pommel and either end of the hand guard.
"How did you know?" she realised she was wasting time and strapped on the weapon.
"Don't look at me, it was Merlin who blabbed. He helped me imbue those stones with magic by the way." Art continued to talk as they dashed from the armoury. "They hold the same magic that he normally casts for you to deflect magic with it."
"You made them though?" Mel was impressed.
"Yeah." He smiled as they put their masks back on and resumed their rapid walk through the lower town back to the castle. "But that's all the magic I could put in them. It won't protect you from anything. If anything happens, that will be up to you."
"If anything happens, I'll be the one protecting you Princeling. So, you can literally work your magic."
His head snapped to her. "There's no need for that."
She laughed. "Of course there is. It's your birthday."
But he stopped her, grabbing her wrist again.
"But no one dies this year," he said seriously.
Mel shifted their grip, so they gripped each other's hand between their chests.
"No one dies except them that threaten us. Now let's go make sure of that."
A/N:
Til next fortnight!
I ;)