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I do not own Merlin or any of it's characters
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A long day anxiously yanked forward a violet dusk.
Merlin watched his own fingers tie the king's cape as they readied for a feast. Their feet stood in Arthurs chambers.
"The Herons are an interesting people.", stated Merlin.
"Yes.", agreed Arthur. "They're...uncivilized, to put it kindly.".
Merlin nodded. "I asked them if they wanted any garments washed last night and they said no because they'd already been washed this month. I thought they were joking.".
The two lightly chuckled.
"Alright all done. Ready?", asked Merlin as he dropped his hands and looked at Arthur with a soft grin.
"As I'll ever be. Don't forget to make sure their cups are always full of wine, they hate it when they get low.", told Arthur.
"Of course.", replied Merlin obediently as he followed Arthur towards the dining hall.
As laughs echoed down candelit halls and platters were emptied messily, the party found themselves hours deep into a feast long gone and many drinks in to wash it all down.
Merlin had to practically be in two places at once the whole night as he obeyed the requests of twenty different people. This included Arthur who didn't seem to want Merlin to leave his side the whole of the evening. His servant stood as not only a comfort in a room full of, truthfully, strangers, but also as a conversation buffer. This resulted in usually Merlin being the butt end of a joke which he simply stood and took. That is because he knew that secretly Arthur was sorry, but also that he was very awkward sometimes and never got used to entertaining a whole room on his own.
"And if he's not sleeping in or at the tavern, he's tripping over his own feet and giving me a headache.", chuckled a slightly drunk Arthur as he went on more than usual. The alcohol helped.
Merlin just smiled and poured more wine in someones silver cup.
An unshaven man with a good amount of mead in his beard laughed loudly as he slammed his hand onto the table. Silverware and crumbs jumped up on the impact. "You should be more grateful I say! He may not be bright but he's the best help I've ever witnessed.", said he who's name Arthur vaguely remembered as Vlasik.
Arthur raised his eyebrows as he set down his chalice and leaned back in his chair. "You are joking.".
"Not at all boy! The few servants we have are like stupid rodents compared to him. He does everything before you have to ask, he cooks, can do seemingly any task and even joins you on hunts and journeys. And all the while he jests and jokes for your entertainment.", explained the man never once looking at Merlin as he spoke about him.
"Hmm.", mumbled Arthur not knowing quite how to respond.
Merlin tried not to grin at the compliments, though he was feeling a little good about himself now.
"I wonder...", started Vlasik. "Perhaps we could take him off of your hands a while. Clearly he's annoying you and our castle could use a lot of order and grooming.", offered the man.
Arthur looked at him surprised. He felt Merlins eyes flickering at him nervously. The brunette tightened his hold on the wine pitcher in his grasp as he put his hope in his loyal master. The knights who also sat at the table looked at all parties with curiosity at how their king would reply to the request.
"Well...", started Arthur as he shuffled against the stiff back of the mighty chair. "He may be annoying but he's also my best council. I don't think I can afford to let him go.", answered the king.
The blonde would normally never admit that sort of thing but you must remember that he was slightly inebriated. This was beginning to sober him up though. That question had thrown him into a strange inner panic that he decided to claim as over eating.
Merlin felt overwhelming gratefullness for his dear master.
Vlasik looked at his men with a serious face as he leaned back and put his gaze onto Arthur.
"You cannot spare one measly boy for even a few days for your new friends?", asked the older woman to Vlasiks right. She had faded dark brown hair and wrinkles far beyond her years.
Arthur looked at his knights who also sensed the sudden subtle upset in the room. Their new allies were offended and obviously this matter was sensitive. They had to be careful.
"I mean no offense friends. I only admit that I'm helpless without a servant. He's really not as great as you imagine.", tried Arthur.
This twisted the mans face as if Arthur had said something quite abhorrent. The king immediately repeated his words in his head as he wondered what he'd said. Merlin watched anxiously as his heart beat. He dared not say a word.
"We have seen that he is with our own eyes. The only conclusion I can come to is that you are harboring this asset and cannot stand the idea of sharing it with us for even a few days. If this small request we've humbly asked of you is treated with selfishness and greed then I can't imagine asking for your armies assistance or aid within a famine.", replied Vlasik with a sinister undertone lining his words.
This was one of those times that Arthur tried not wishing his father was there. He could handle this he told himself. He prayed he'd say the right thing. For the first time during the conversation he looked at Merlin. He was surprised to find that he looked truly scared. Instead of looking down on him for it, he understood it quite well. He wouldn't wish the fate on anyone and could not imagine committing that sort of betrayal toward the brunette.
"No honestly your highness, I withhold nothing from your great people. I only wish to save you the hindrance of the incredible annoyance and insolence that he brings everywhere he goes. Really he messes up more than he does anything right. He's only been perfect beneath your eye because you're guests. If I sent him with you he would easily revert back to his fumbling unhelpful ways. Ask for anything else and it's yours. Wine, supplies, weapons, seed, anything. You need only name it.", answered Arthur.
Merlin and the knights all thought that that was a pretty good reply.
Apparently however, the Herons did not think so. They looked at each other and at their leader.
"Your offense cannot be hidden with clever words! They think us too savage to see through the deceit!", he said as he looked at his people and pointed to Arthurs side of the table. Vlasik had stood up mid-sentence as his voice climbed. The knights tickled their swords with fingers listening only to instinct.
"Our feast here is finished!", added the haggard woman as she too stood. The other Herons did the same as they headed toward the exit angrily.
"Wait please!", yelled Arthur as he stood.
It did no good as soon the Herons were gone.
"Well there goes that ally.", said Arthur as he sat back down and sighed, feeling a bit like a failure.
"Maybe I should go with them.", offered Merlin with a rushed tone like he could still catch them.
Arthur held him back by grabbing the fabric of Merlins sleeve while he set down the pitcher.
"No it's alright. There wasn't much they had to offer us except maybe yaks milk but that tastes quite awful I've heard.", told Arthur as he let go.
Merlin untensed as he looked at his master gratefully. "I am sorry anyway.".
Arthur waved it off.
"I guess if I wasn't so outstanding none of this would've happened.", joked Merlin.
The others chuckled as Arthur harnessed a smirk.
"Right.", said the blonde implying that that was not quite the case.
The night ended there as everyone slowly trickled to bed leaving behind Merlin to clean a rather horrid mess among the fire light.
The next morning came as an uncomfortable awakening for Arthur. The mid-summer sun came bounding in with light from well into the morning. He pushed himself up with confusion and a raised eyebrow.
It was a few hours passed the dawn when he should've been woken. Arthur grumbled annoyedly as he felt the tug of oversleeping pull at his bones.
He got up and irritantly put on his clothes without the normal assistance.
And as he swiftly walked down the halls towards Merlin and Gaius' chambers, he half smiled to himself at the thought of waking Merlin in some cruel way. It would come to him and it would be perfectly nasty and quite deserving.
Suddenly, Leon rounded the corner with Percival and Gwaine following just behind. They almost collided with Arthur who stopped just in time.
"Oh good morning Sire.", said Leon cheerfully.
"Are you in a hurry for something?", asked Gwaine as he set his hands on his belt.
Arthur sighed. "Just to wring Merlins neck that's all.", he explained.
"Well if you're headed to his quarters he isn't there. I was just getting my finger stitched up from Gaius and he wasn't in.", relayed Percival.
"Hmm.", said Arthur as he mulled on that a moment.
"Let's check the dining hall. I'll bet he fell asleep cleaning that massive mess those animals left. I bet he didn't finish until two or three in the morning.", grinned Leon.
A few minutes later they opened the doors to that large room to find something surprising. Most of the mess from the night remained.
Instead of being even more upset, Arthur dropped his shoulders.
He walked forward and studied the room.
His warrior trained eye immediately thought just what the knights did. Something had happened there.
A swipe of the table was evident with an array of food and dishes cluttering the floor. The table wasn't straight either like it had been pushed.
"There was a struggle.", said Arthur creasing his eyebrows.
They each scanned the room carefully.
Arthur scanned one part in particular. He crouched down and swiped something with his finger. "This isn't wine.", he began. "It's blood.".
The knights looked at the crimson staining Arthurs fingertips.
"Those savages!", swore Gwaine.
"He must've fought hard.", said a troubled Leon.
"What are we going to do Sire?", asked Percival.
"Surely we must go after them.", added Gwaine.
"They will be back in their castle by now.", said Leon.
Arthur let them talk as he stood up and rubbed the back of his neck.
"They stole him those beasts.", he writhed. "We are going to steal him back.".
The knights nodded finding relief with the plan they hoped he'd propose.
As much as they wanted to go right away and storm the place, they were unaware of the Herons guards, gates, and castle layout. They didn't know anything and they needed a plan.
They quickly got hold of the map that illustrated that part of the countrys landscape. To their dismay, the trees surrounding it were very thick and the hills before it were tall and made deep valleys.
As they gathered their armor and weapons, they mounted their horses under a rain that had started a bit ago and was getting slowly thicker.
"Let us go show Albion what happens when you steal from Camelot.", said Arthur as the knights nodded strongly and they rode off.
Long hours passed as they anxiously trudged through what was now a brutal downpour and an unforgiving terrain.
The rain made the dirt of every valley into rivers of treacherously thick mud that slowed them down horribly.
"The horses can't make it through another valley!", yelled out Leon above the rain.
"We either have to go around the hills or abandon the horses and walk through!", answered Gwaine as he whipped his hair out of his eyes.
Arthur studied the view in front of him as if it were the two options. He couldn't figure out which was the lesser of two evils. Either one added at least a day and a half to their journey.
Reluctantly, he made a decision after wiping the water from his face.
"We'll go round the hills. We'll need the horses for a quick escape if it comes to that.".
The knights nodded as they pulled their reigns to the side and went on.
More hours later night came quickly behind a dark stormy sky. Camp was wet and uncomfortable. None of them said it, but ironically they wished Merlin was with them to assist the quest. He always seemed to be able to light a fire no matter how wet or cold the conditions. He'd have dried their socks and made a hot stew to warm their insides too. Then some tea would follow to lull them into the sleep they needed. His absence was frigid and dreadful.
Arthur lied awake for a long time. Had he been alone he'd have ridden through the night. With the harsh weather though and his men it just wasn't wise. So instead the king anxiously fought sleep and stared at the pitch black.
The misty morning came quick enough as they mounted their horses. Now one day and two nights had passed with Merlin in their hands.
It would take until the next morning to get there. The day of steady rain went by in an unsettling silence. The kind of silence that came from waiting for the result of something. Until they got to the castle of their new enemies and their hands on the servant it would be mostly silence.
Their horses were relieved to travel on sturdy land that did not cave and shift. The men ushered time to pass and for a dry sun to shine. One of two wishes were granted as they found dusk nearing across another horizon. This horizon that changed steadily across the trek now painted a distant line of thicker trees ahead.
"We're close.", stated Arthur.
"Another hour and we'll be there.", told Percival.
"It's almost pitch black. We will lose our way in the wood if we continue in this downpour.", said Gwaine.
"Let's get some rest and make an early start.", spoke Leon.
The night went like the last had with little sleep and wretched discomfort.
A brighter morning came with hope and relief. The summer sun reclaimed it's spot as it dried their bodies and the damp lands.
It made them feel stronger as they mounted their horses with a new energy.
"Come on men.", said Arthur.
They cut the hour journey in half with determination as they rode through the sun drenched thicket of protective woods.
As they emerged on the other side into the clear they collectively stopped and looked at their destination before them.
The Herons did have a castle indeed, but the stone used was not the finest, looking messily built and mistreated.
Now that they saw their defenses and lack of many guards they looked at each other understanding the plan. Their plan was to simply walk in and get him. Anyone was free to try and stop them.
The four of them dismounted their horses as they entered the castle. Inside after knocking out two easy guards, they noticed how dim the almost windowless place was. There was no color or decoration or beauty in almost anything. Some animal heads and old swords hung on the stone walls but it was quite dismal.
Suddenly a presence in the doorway a yard away shocked them. It was Merlin who had yet to see them.
They almost didn't believe it was him. It seemed too easy. It had been only half a week but, he didn't look like him.
His shackled wrists moved to wring out a rag into a bucket. His slim fingers twisted the red fabric as sudsy water spilled from it. His head hung as he watched his sore hands with a blank expression.
Arthur blinked as he looked at him. A hot poker stung the middle of his rib cage as he studied his servant.
Merlins brown locks had been shaved to a tenth of an inch across his head. Bruises colored his milky white skin that was now tan with dust and dirt. His shirt was gone and his feet were also shackled together. He looked thinner too if that was possible.
The scuffle of their boots made Merlin look over. He slightly widened his eyes as he let out a breath.
He dropped the rag and walked over to them with his eyebrows slightly bent upward. It was a soft expression of the horror that embodied him and how he felt seeing them.
"We're glad to see you Merlin.", said one of them in a breath.
"We should find Vlasik and teach him a lesson.", growled Gwaine as he put a hand on Merlins elbow.
"I want to get my hands on that demon.", said Leon.
"What do you think we should do Merlin? Is he heavily guarded?", asked Percival.
They looked at the servant for an answer though he did not give one. Instead he lifted his chin and hovered his cuffed hands around his blue and purple throat with a wince.
His dry cracked lips were useless to them. And apparently unwanted by the Herons who they envisioned beating the boys throat to ensure silence.
The men were speechless like him, but not in the same way. It was too brutal to believe. Not to Merlin. One of them. It was too horrendous.
Arthur breathed in unsteadily as he squeezed his swords handle. Emotion flooded his expression.
"They will not get away with this by the love of Albion they are going to recompense with their blood!", seethed an overwhelmed king who could barely look at Merlin.
Merlin held a finger to his mouth telling his king to quiet. Then he patted him on the shoulder telling him it was alright. He pointed toward the door and gestured for them all to leave.
At this point they knew that he knew much more than they did about it all. He'd never been wrong before and perhaps always unsaid, they trusted his instincts.
"Alright.", said an unsure Arthur. "They're not good enough to beat senseless anyway.".
Arthur instinctively put a hand toward his servant to usher him in the direction he desired. When his glove met Merlins back though he flinched away. They looked at the cause and saw the reason why his shirt was missing. Whip marks to encourage his work stained his back.
The men looked at each other in the crimson horror of it. The wounds were ugly and unclean.
"I'm going to kill them all. Let me go Merlin, let me slaughter them.", begged Arthur.
Merlin put a hand on his arm and shook his head. Arthur grumbled and sighed in unease and dissatisfaction.
"You'll be mended soon my friend. All will be right.", promised Leon.
Arthur bit back an overflow. He put his hand on the only uninjured place he could find on Merlins shoulder as he gave his servant a look that told him everything he wanted to say. Mostly, it was pain.
They exited the dim brown hall as they re-entered the bright sunlight. Though they all winced at it a moment, Merlin fully turned his head away throwing up his hands to block it out. He'd been in that dark place for so long, like a baby in the womb with no light.
The first thing done was by the servant who knelt down.
He held out his wrists against the ground as he tried steadying his hands that subtly shook. Gwaine saw his silent request and raised his weapon carefully. He then swung his sword precisely at the chain that cut roughly in half. Each half dangled at his wrists. Gwaine then repeated the action on Merlins shackled ankles.
Percival whistled for the horses as they closed the short distance.
Merlin stood and seperated from them a moment as he carefully peered around the short wall near them. Then he walked around it and came back a second later with a horse. It wasn't so beautifully groomed as the Camelot steeds, but it was a horse nonetheless. Merlin mounted him at once.
Now they saw him clearly up on the horse and in the clear sunlight. They stared a moment but then quickly looked away. Never had a body been so mistreated. And to the Herons that's all he'd been, a body.
Soon enough they were riding through the hills and valleys, now dried.
After a few hours they took a rest in a grassy clearing. A brooke ran through the crease of a hill as the horses helped themselves. Merlin washed his face in the clear beautiful water. His shoulder blades protruded and twisted sharply as he brought the liquid up to his cheeks.
Water droplets made paths through days of blood and dirt across his skin. He tried desperately to hide it but it showed in the corners of his eyes. He had slept very little.
Arthur had removed his armor and then his under shirt. He reapplied his chainmail and handed Merlin the shirt. Merlin took it and humbly nodded a thank you.
Another good bunch of hours later they weren't too far from Camelot. Merlins eyes drooped closed for a second though he quickly woke himself up. He hoped no one saw as he rubbed his face.
And soon they were home.
Before going to the castle they visited the closest blacksmith who removed the ghastly shackles. Bruises left the spectre of them along his skin.
Then, after giving Gaius quite a terrible shock, Merlin finally got a lot of rest. Gaius mended him as he slept long and deep.
The next day, Merlin showed up for work back in his normal clothes. It was doing no good to make anyone forget that he was in pain and had been through quite the traumatic experience. His shaved head nakeded his damage and everything that they had to guess happened.
With his colorfully bruised and slender form still temporarily mute, his lack of voice created a strange anxiousness much of the time. Had it been up to any one of them, they'd have made him take at least a few days off. Arthur especially wanted that more than anything. He was also a bit selfishly worried that people would think he forced him back and that he was cruel for it.
He might have asked him why he came back right away, but he'd have only recieved a physical and vague response.
The truth was, Merlin just craved the normalcy Arthur guessed that much. What he didn't guess though was that Merlin also felt safe by the kings side.
So now as deep night set in, Arthur left Merlin to tidy his chambers as he seeked a little comfort or guidance. He didn't really know but either way he searched for Gauis.
He'd only made it a few steps from his doorway when he heard something loud and unfamiliar.
It was a mixture of glass shattering and hundreds of crashes within the royal chambers. One wretched sound stood out among it all in those few seconds when he hadn't even had time to turn around.
It was his name being screamed.
Hundreds, probably thousands of rocks and stones were pelted against the castle toward the Kings windows.
Merlin did scream his name with vulnerability and helplessness in his imperfect state of body and mind. His voice wasn't supposed to be used and you could hear it in the fearful shout. It was so strangled and strained you could almost feel the pain yourself if you heard it. It didn't sound like Merlins voice at all.
Arthur ran back into the room as he grabbed the platter off the table. Stones continued to be pelted in as he shielded himself and went round the bed to Merlin who in those few seconds only had time to get low and hold up his hands.
Arthur grabbed his elbow and held up the platter as they made their escape.
In the hallway Arthur grabbed Merlins arms with shock as he breathed. "Are you alright!?".
Merlin nodded though a trickle of blood spilled down the side of his face like a tear.
Arthur clenched his teeth at yet more pain aimed at the innocent servant before him. He could've cried when he saw the face of pain that Merlin suppressed for the horrible use of his voice, the stones that fulfilled their purpose in finding him, and the unwanted emotion of being further tormented.
Arthur hated seeing the blood from a stone meant for him. He wiped it from Merlins face and angrily closed it into his fist. "This was meant for me you understand? Not you.", he told him as he looked him hard in the eye.
Merlins wide eyes looked back as he nodded.
Arthur left down the hall as he called out for guards and drew alert to the attack.
The Herons tried to run but they were all eventually caught. The knights enjoyed painfully taking them into the dungeon and letting Arthur decide their due retribution.
The Herons never threatened Camelot again let alone show their faces anywhere nearby. Arthur and the knights put fear forever in their eyes.
After a while Merlins throat healed and his pretty voice returned. His hair grew too and his bruises healed. He stopped flinching when instinctively he thought Arthur was going to hit him. And eventually the whole thing was almost forgotten. Not quite though. The knights would never be able to wash the figure of Merlin that they barely recognized from their memories. And Arthur, he'd never unhear the echo of Merlins harrowing scream. Just the memory raised the hair off his skin.
Never again would anyone steal from Camelot.