No on and nothing part 11b
Author: ![]()
archaeologist_d
Title: No one and Nothing part 11b
Rating: R
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Leon, Iseldir, Tristan, Isolde
Summary: Merlin saves Arthur’s life in front of the whole court and has to run for his life. But when Arthur shows up, asking for help, what was Merlin to do, say no?
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1130
Camelot Drabble Prompt: 554: ally
Author’s Notes: The other chapters are found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/46585663/chapters/117313327
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
----------
There was something off about Rhain.
Merlin hadn’t seen him use magic, even though he was in the dungeons for it. In fact, as far as Merlin could tell from the gossips whispering behind their hands, no one had. But Uther had accused him of it in front of the whole court, shouting about the evils of sorcery and how the whole kingdom needed to be purged. Nothing that Merlin hadn’t heard before.
But still, it was strange. Uther kept looking at the man, not with disgust but a kind of satiated satisfaction. It looked more like he was plotting something, not condemning a man to death but almost like a spider pulling in its victim.
And Rhain, too, was a puzzle. Newly come to Camelot, he seemed friendly enough, inhabiting the tavern most evenings and doing odd jobs around the lower town. He listened more than he spoke and no one knew where he had come from or how long he would stay. It wasn’t all that uncommon. People tended to be cautious in Camelot when they first arrived and for good reason. But it had been a week, and by then, the gossips should have had something to say.
Rhain didn’t even struggle when Uther condemned him, at least not a lot. It looked almost staged.
Arthur, of course, wanted to rescue him. His sense of honour was out in full force and Merlin’s reticence seemed to puzzle him. “He’s accused of sorcery, Merlin, not play-acting. And it wasn’t for something nefarious, just a book of magic in his possession. I don’t understand why you would even hesitate.”
It had been a long day. Gaius needed herbs from the woods and a couple of toads for paste and the toads hadn’t been happy to be caught. They gave him a merry chase, and Merlin was covered in slime and bits of leaves for his troubles. His burns still itched and he hadn’t eaten at all.
“The name’s Simmons, you prat,” Merlin grumbled. He had thought about using Will’s name but it just hurt him to remember Will’s pale face and blood spilling everywhere. “Merlin is the name of that sorcerer, condemned by your father, a while back, as you well know, my lord..” Leaning in, Merlin whispered, “You want me to get killed? There are ears everywhere.”
“Although none as large as yours.” Arthur would never admit he was wrong, the cabbagehead. “Well, Simmons, standard procedures?”
“I’m telling you something is off about him. He was too calm. So either, he’s the greatest sorcerer who ever lived and will escape in a whirlwind of magic and dust or he’s an idiot who doesn’t realised just how dire his options are. Or Uther is on to us and this is a trap.” The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed Uther was plotting something. Arthur was always too naïve about just how devious his father could be.
Sometimes it made Merlin want to beat Arthur about the head to knock some sense into him and sometimes, he just wanted to give him a hug. Instead, Merlin asked, “Can you find out?”
“Whether he’s an idiot or not? I thought that was your area of expertise.” Arthur flicked one finger at Merlin, hitting him square in the forehead, as if to remind Merlin of all the times he’d done truly idiotic things despite Arthur’s better judgment. But when Merlin just scowled at him, rubbing at the sore spot, Arthur gave in. “Fine, I’ll have supper with my father. Although you do realise just how much of a sacrifice it is.”
“Yeah, poor you, surrounded by rich food and fine wines. And honey cakes. However will you cope?” Merlin laid it on thick. He was very hungry and likely to be hungrier after Gaius’s poor attempts at cooking.
Narrowing his eyes, glaring at Merlin, Arthur muttered, “There isn’t enough rich food in all of Camelot to make up for sitting through father’s lectures. But I will find out.” When Merlin didn’t tell him how wonderful he was to be sacrificing himself for the greater good, Arthur’s glare grew more pointed, then he said, “Until then, prepare the usual, just in case we have to act fast.”
-----
When he came back from supper, Arthur looked troubled. “I won’t say that you are right because you never are, but my father was a lot more understanding than usual, almost like he had something on his mind and couldn’t be bothered to nitpick every little thing. He wouldn’t say, though, other than to insist that my loyalties must be with Camelot and that he was counting on me.”
“I won’t say I told you so because you never listen anyway, but Rhain has to be a spy. Uther has to know that not everyone accused of sorcery would kill themselves to escape the pyre. After all, hope does make fools of us all.” Merlin wasn’t happy to be right, either. It would make things that much more difficult.
“If he is a spy, we have to know for sure. We can’t just assume he is helping my father.” Arthur’s trusting nature would get them all killed one of these days.
Finally, Merlin let out a long put upon sigh, just to make sure the prat understood that Merlin thought Arthur was being an idiot. Honestly, though, someone had to find out and it might as well be Merlin. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Arthur looked at him, up and down, as if challenging Merlin to object. “Not looking like that. If he does go back to my father, you would be the next in line for the pyre.”
Merlin narrowed his eyes. Arthur was hiding a grin behind that crabbed mouth of his. Disgruntled, Merlin snapped, “You just want to see me in a dress again, don’t you?”
Arthur put his palm against his chest, pretending to be aghast at such an idea. “You wound me,” he said, then let out a laugh. “You do make a very convincing girl. And with my father going on and on about bastards and you and me, it was hard to keep a straight face.”
“You are a condescending, supercilious, mangy prat with a head so swollen that it’s a wonder you can get through the door. I don’t know why I put up with you.” Hands on hips, Merlin sent him a scowl that should have reduced Arthur to ash.
It didn’t work.
Arthur’s hands circling his head as if it were Merlin who was the madman, Arthur snickered, “Yes, it’s a mystery.” But sobering, looking a bit worried, Arthur said, “And Mer… err, Simmons, be careful.”
archaeologist_d
Title: No one and Nothing part 11b
Rating: R
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Leon, Iseldir, Tristan, Isolde
Summary: Merlin saves Arthur’s life in front of the whole court and has to run for his life. But when Arthur shows up, asking for help, what was Merlin to do, say no?
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1130
Camelot Drabble Prompt: 554: ally
Author’s Notes: The other chapters are found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/46585663/chapters/117313327
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
----------
There was something off about Rhain.
Merlin hadn’t seen him use magic, even though he was in the dungeons for it. In fact, as far as Merlin could tell from the gossips whispering behind their hands, no one had. But Uther had accused him of it in front of the whole court, shouting about the evils of sorcery and how the whole kingdom needed to be purged. Nothing that Merlin hadn’t heard before.
But still, it was strange. Uther kept looking at the man, not with disgust but a kind of satiated satisfaction. It looked more like he was plotting something, not condemning a man to death but almost like a spider pulling in its victim.
And Rhain, too, was a puzzle. Newly come to Camelot, he seemed friendly enough, inhabiting the tavern most evenings and doing odd jobs around the lower town. He listened more than he spoke and no one knew where he had come from or how long he would stay. It wasn’t all that uncommon. People tended to be cautious in Camelot when they first arrived and for good reason. But it had been a week, and by then, the gossips should have had something to say.
Rhain didn’t even struggle when Uther condemned him, at least not a lot. It looked almost staged.
Arthur, of course, wanted to rescue him. His sense of honour was out in full force and Merlin’s reticence seemed to puzzle him. “He’s accused of sorcery, Merlin, not play-acting. And it wasn’t for something nefarious, just a book of magic in his possession. I don’t understand why you would even hesitate.”
It had been a long day. Gaius needed herbs from the woods and a couple of toads for paste and the toads hadn’t been happy to be caught. They gave him a merry chase, and Merlin was covered in slime and bits of leaves for his troubles. His burns still itched and he hadn’t eaten at all.
“The name’s Simmons, you prat,” Merlin grumbled. He had thought about using Will’s name but it just hurt him to remember Will’s pale face and blood spilling everywhere. “Merlin is the name of that sorcerer, condemned by your father, a while back, as you well know, my lord..” Leaning in, Merlin whispered, “You want me to get killed? There are ears everywhere.”
“Although none as large as yours.” Arthur would never admit he was wrong, the cabbagehead. “Well, Simmons, standard procedures?”
“I’m telling you something is off about him. He was too calm. So either, he’s the greatest sorcerer who ever lived and will escape in a whirlwind of magic and dust or he’s an idiot who doesn’t realised just how dire his options are. Or Uther is on to us and this is a trap.” The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed Uther was plotting something. Arthur was always too naïve about just how devious his father could be.
Sometimes it made Merlin want to beat Arthur about the head to knock some sense into him and sometimes, he just wanted to give him a hug. Instead, Merlin asked, “Can you find out?”
“Whether he’s an idiot or not? I thought that was your area of expertise.” Arthur flicked one finger at Merlin, hitting him square in the forehead, as if to remind Merlin of all the times he’d done truly idiotic things despite Arthur’s better judgment. But when Merlin just scowled at him, rubbing at the sore spot, Arthur gave in. “Fine, I’ll have supper with my father. Although you do realise just how much of a sacrifice it is.”
“Yeah, poor you, surrounded by rich food and fine wines. And honey cakes. However will you cope?” Merlin laid it on thick. He was very hungry and likely to be hungrier after Gaius’s poor attempts at cooking.
Narrowing his eyes, glaring at Merlin, Arthur muttered, “There isn’t enough rich food in all of Camelot to make up for sitting through father’s lectures. But I will find out.” When Merlin didn’t tell him how wonderful he was to be sacrificing himself for the greater good, Arthur’s glare grew more pointed, then he said, “Until then, prepare the usual, just in case we have to act fast.”
-----
When he came back from supper, Arthur looked troubled. “I won’t say that you are right because you never are, but my father was a lot more understanding than usual, almost like he had something on his mind and couldn’t be bothered to nitpick every little thing. He wouldn’t say, though, other than to insist that my loyalties must be with Camelot and that he was counting on me.”
“I won’t say I told you so because you never listen anyway, but Rhain has to be a spy. Uther has to know that not everyone accused of sorcery would kill themselves to escape the pyre. After all, hope does make fools of us all.” Merlin wasn’t happy to be right, either. It would make things that much more difficult.
“If he is a spy, we have to know for sure. We can’t just assume he is helping my father.” Arthur’s trusting nature would get them all killed one of these days.
Finally, Merlin let out a long put upon sigh, just to make sure the prat understood that Merlin thought Arthur was being an idiot. Honestly, though, someone had to find out and it might as well be Merlin. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Arthur looked at him, up and down, as if challenging Merlin to object. “Not looking like that. If he does go back to my father, you would be the next in line for the pyre.”
Merlin narrowed his eyes. Arthur was hiding a grin behind that crabbed mouth of his. Disgruntled, Merlin snapped, “You just want to see me in a dress again, don’t you?”
Arthur put his palm against his chest, pretending to be aghast at such an idea. “You wound me,” he said, then let out a laugh. “You do make a very convincing girl. And with my father going on and on about bastards and you and me, it was hard to keep a straight face.”
“You are a condescending, supercilious, mangy prat with a head so swollen that it’s a wonder you can get through the door. I don’t know why I put up with you.” Hands on hips, Merlin sent him a scowl that should have reduced Arthur to ash.
It didn’t work.
Arthur’s hands circling his head as if it were Merlin who was the madman, Arthur snickered, “Yes, it’s a mystery.” But sobering, looking a bit worried, Arthur said, “And Mer… err, Simmons, be careful.”