Chapter Text
“Throw him in the dungeons!” Arthur ordered. Douxie stared at the king open mouthed and wide eyed.
“Your majesty!” He exclaimed. “I swear it wasn’t me!”
“Enough lies boy.” Arthur snapped. He waved his hand. Two knights grabbed him and hauled him from the room.
“I didn’t do this!” Douxie yelled as the doors closed behind them.
An explosion in the knights’ barracks had taken out a couple of knights, while injuring several more. And it hadn’t looked like a natural explosion either. There was evidence of some kind of magical involvement. Since Merlin had been up in his tower arguing with Arthur and Morgana the only sorcerer unaccounted for was Douxie. Despite his protests that he hadn’t been there at all, no one was listening to him. Now he’d been throw into the dungeons with other magical beings. Some of the trolls snarled at him and the goblins made obscene gestures. Most just left him alone to curl up against the wall. They hadn’t been able to remove the gauntlet from his arm. Not that it mattered. Merlin himself had enchanted the prison. Magic only worked outside of the cells. He heard footsteps approaching and stood up. He gripped the bars, ready to give whoever it was a piece of his mind.
“Master?” He asked in surprise. The other prisoners jeered at the older wizard. “You’re here.”
“Hmmm of course I am.” Merlin said. “Now tell me how you managed to get arrested? You didn’t get caught scamming Galahad with that shell game did you?” Douxie cringed but plunged into the story.
“They’re blaming me for the explosion.” Douxie said. “The one in the knights’ barracks. I wasn’t even there.”
“Where were you?” Merlin asked. Douxie hesitated before answering.
“I might have been practicing an enchanted flame spell.” Douxie winced. “In my room.” Merlin sighed.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to practice fire spells in your highly flammable bedroom?” He asked. “Or do you want to lose all your spell books?” Douxie chuckled sheepishly.
“But you believe me?” Douxie asked earnestly.
“Of course. You have your bad habits Hisirdoux, but lying isn’t one of them.” Merlin said, he turned away from Douxie, pacing the corridor. “Hmm the issue is convincing Arthur.”
“If we, I mean you.” Douxie corrected quickly at Merlin’s raised eyebrow. “Found out who it really was then he’d let me go right?” Merlin didn’t look at him but nodded.
“That might work.” He said turning back to Douxie. “Don’t do anything foolish.”
“What could I possibly do locked up in here?” Douxie asked. Merlin smiled.
“Oh I’m sure you’d find a way.”
Douxie sat in the cell, ignoring the jeers from the other prisoners. They’d clearly head him call Merlin master, and Merlin might as well have been dirt to them. He wished Archie could be there with him but it was better for the familiar to be far away. Arthur would find a way to blame him somehow. Archie was no doubt helping Merlin look for the real perpetrator. He wasn’t expecting any visitors. But Morgana turned up on the second day of his imprisonment.
“How are you doing?” She asked. Douxie didn’t know why she was here but he was happy to talk to her.
“Fine.” Douxie said, approaching the bars. “Any news?”
“Merlin has a lead he’s pursuing.” Morgana said. “I’m appealing to my brother to just keep you here instead of...” She trailed off but Douxie could draw his own conclusions. “I wish there was more I could do.” She sounded bitter.
“You’re doing more than enough.” Douxie reassured her. “Thank you, Lady Morgana.” She smiled warmly at him.
“Come now Hisirdoux, you can just call me Morgana.” She said. “We’ve known each other long enough. And we’re both Merlin’s students.” They ignored the influx of jeers and spitting.
“Morgana.” Douxie said with a smile. “Then call me Douxie.”
“Douxie.” Morgana repeated. “It suits you.” She pressed her hand to the bars. “Don’t worry Douxie, we’ll get you out of here.” She stayed for a bit longer to chat about more mundane things. The weather. Some of the latest gossip. She left, promising him again that they’d get him out.
Being dragged into Arthur’s throne room was not the best wake up call. He was forced to kneel before the king, Morgana and Merlin both stood at his side. Arthur looked down at him impassively.
“Merlin tells me you were not responsible for this attack.” He said.
“I wasn’t!” Douxie exclaimed. Merlin gave him a look that told him to keep quiet.
“As I told you my King.” Merlin said. “The attack used Dworkstones.”
“Magic.” Arthur said.
“Yes my King, but Dworkstones are troll magic.” Merlin said quickly. “And last I checked my apprentice was not a troll.”
“But he could have acquired them.” Arthur pointed out.
“Anyone could have.” Merlin countered. “And I already told you he was no where near the barracks.”
“Yes, in his room.” Arthur said dismissively. “Alone. No one can verify his whereabouts.”
“His familiar-.”
“Isn’t a reliable witness.” Arthur interrupted. “And you honestly believe him?” Douxie flicked his eyes between the two of them like they were a tennis match.
“I do.” Merlin said firmly. “My apprentice doesn’t lie. Not to me. If he says he was in his room. Then he was in his room.” Douxie smiled gratefully at his master. “If you won’t take his word, then take mine.”
“You do realise.” Arthur said, a stormy look crossing his face. “That if I find him guilty then it will be your neck too.” Douxie and Morgana gasped. He couldn’t ask his master to do that!
“Oh I know.” Merlin said darkly. “But I have complete faith in my apprentice.”
“Very well.” Arthur said, leaning back on his throne. “Release the boy, and investigate this matter thoroughly.” The knights let Douxie go and he jumped to his feet. He followed Merlin out; passing Morgana, who gave him a friendly smile.
“Thank you Master.” Douxie said. Merlin was deep in thought.
“What? Oh yes, of course Hisirdoux.” He said distractedly as they walked to the tower. “Now let’s find out who did this. I’m rather attached to having my neck attached to my head.”
“Yes Master.”