FIC: A King's Ransom (6/12) Merlin: Merlin/Arthur, PG-13
TITLE: A King's Ransom (6/12)
AUTHOR: Demon Faith
SERIES: Love and Loyalty
CATEGORY: Hurt/Comfort, Drama
PAIRING: Merlin/Arthur
SPOILERS: For Season 1 (AU after 1x5: Lancelot)
RATING: PG-13
WORDS: 1,645
SUMMARY: Camelot is burning. A Dragon's call, a Seer's voice and discord between lovers do battle in the fight for a kingdom - but can anyone truly emerge victorious?
DISCLAIMER: I own not the boys, nor the show. Thankfully, they’re doing just fine.
NOTES: Sequel to Fealty. Previous parts here
I really wasn't going to do this, but this savage little bunny latched on to my leg and wouldn't let go.
This is dedicated to The Coven and the Dragon. He knows why.
He hadn't spoken to Merlin since their argument. Gwen told him that Merlin had refused to leave with Lancelot, and Arthur had nodded tersely and returned to considering his plans. Merlin would be safe enough in the tavern, he told himself.
Merlin would be safer back in his village with his mother. Or...in their village, with Margery and Emma and little Thomas. Surrounded by his medicines and patching the roof yet again, while some pretty little wife made him pies and washed his tunic without complaint.
Arthur felt a surge of jealousy at the picture, but pushed it away. He'd been able to forget he was a prince for a time but he had a duty - he owed his allegiance to Camelot. But Merlin...Merlin could be free. He owed him that much, at least.
The sun had set and the night was drawing on. He had retrieved his sword from their things beneath the castle and its weight was comforting at his side. A crowd was starting to gather outside the tavern, armed with swords, scythes and torches. Lancelot had done well - these were sober men, determined and strong. And they met his eyes with respect, with pride in their bearing. They wanted Camelot under Pendragon rule; he could trust these men.
He looked up, and there was Merlin. He was leaning on Gwen, staring out of the window and assessing the crowd. Then, their eyes met.
Slowly, Arthur unsheathed his sword and held it up, tipping it slightly towards the window. My fealty is yours.
Merlin smiled and touched his lips before pressing his hand to the window. Fare well, sire.
Arthur turned and raised his sword. "For Camelot!" he shouted.
For Merlin
~
Morgana crept through the corridors, torch in hand. It was not far to her target and she knew the nearest watch would be completely distracted - they might even call in the rest of the guard. She could only hope.
The castle felt oppressive in the dark and she was jumping at shadows; she fancied she could hear the roar of the Dragon beneath the stone, biding his time, waiting to fly free. Or perhaps she heard the voice of Arthur's army, marching on the castle to restore their kingdom. She had to hurry.
The stable roof was visible from the window in the quarters reserved for visiting dignitaries. She had asked a stable boy to loosen the bolt on the door - the horses would escape, causing even more disruption. She had left nothing to chance.
"Stop!"
Whirling round, she saw Caradoc in the doorway, flanked by two guards. "No."
With all her strength, she flung the torch from the window and watched it settle on the stable roof. The thatch caught in seconds, but there was already water being thrown - what was this? A small group of guards put out the blaze quickly, a thin wisp of smoke carrying to the window.
"Every man has his price," Caradoc said, grinning. "Now, shall we meet your friends at the gate?"
~
The street was full of people, singing as they marched. Arthur led them towards the south gate, wondering if Morgana had started her distraction yet. She would need to occupy half the garrison for them to have a fighting chance.
As they approached, something looked wrong. There were lit torches in the guardhouses and all along the ramparts - they were expected.
"Halt!" he shouted and the line took a few moments to stop, jostling him forward. Suddenly, flaming arrows rained down on their heads; some men ran for cover, whilst others beat out the flames or dropped to the ground. His force was decimated in an instant.
"Prince Arthur! Welcome home!"
Caradoc was stood above the gate. And he had Morgana.
"Fight him, Arthur!" she shouted, before being forced back by the guards. He looked up, taking in the row of archers on either side of the gate. They had been expected.
"Come quietly, Pendragon, and I'll let these men go. They can return to their homes and their families, and all I ask is your...surrender."
Arthur swallowed hard. If he fought Caradoc now, at least half of these men would die and a further quarter would be seriously wounded. There was no hope of victory here.
If he surrendered, Lancelot and Gwen were still free. And Merlin - Merlin would be safe.
"I...accept your terms," he said.
There were cries of 'sire!' and 'my lord!' behind him, but he turned to them. "Go home! There will be other battles, but you must live to see them."
There was hesitation, unease, but another volley of arrows sent them fleeing, his fledgling army running from their prince.
He was alone.
~
One of the rioters burst into the room and Gwen stood instantly, panicking. "Where's Arthur?"
Merlin was also on his feet, hand braced against the wall. "Simon?"
The man swallowed. "He...he surrendered. So that we could escape."
Gwen gasped and Merlin sat down hard. Arthur was imprisoned. What hope was there now?
"Gwen, we need to go to the castle," Merlin said, slowly, standing again and reaching for his walking sticks. He was swaying but he didn't seem to notice, and Gwen was torn.
"We can't...rescue him. We'll never-"
"We're not going to rescue him," Merlin said, his voice shaking. "Not yet. There's another prisoner we need to release."
His face was determined and Gwen knew there would be no dissuading him. She helped him with his cloak and supported him as he approached the door. Simon stood aside, shaking his head. "The prince...he wouldn't-"
"And what he doesn't know won't hurt him," Merlin said lightly, but there was a dark edge to his tone. Gwen pitied anyone that crossed them that night.
Once they were out of the tavern, Merlin led them towards the storage houses to the east of the castle. They were rarely patrolled and they slipped inside unseen. Merlin walked up to one of the walls and tapped it - it slid open to reveal a tunnel.
"Arthur told me about this passage," he said quietly. "It leads right into the armoury."
Gwen looked at Merlin and then at the tunnel. "You can't go in there, Merlin. You're in no condition-"
"I need to do this now," he said, gritting his teeth as he dropped the sticks and pulled himself into the tunnel. Gwen followed close behind, as the wall reclosed itself, leaving them in darkness. Light suddenly seemed to surround them and Gwen realised there was a glowing blue ball ahead of them, lighting their way through the tunnel.
With aching slowness, they edged forward, Merlin hissing and grunting with every movement. Gwen didn't know if they'd even make it to the castle - Merlin had barely walked across the room before now, and he looked exhausted. Still, there was a determined air about him and he wouldn't rest until they'd achieved their goal.
Not that Gwen was entirely sure what they were meant to be doing, but someone had to watch out for Merlin in this condition. If Arthur found out she'd let him do this, she was going to be eating gruel for a month.
After what seemed like two hours of crawling, they reached the end and Merlin, breathless and crying with pain, pressed his hand against the door. Gwen heard a lock click and then the wall swung open, letting in the sickly light from a fading torch.
"Gwen, you...go..."
She clambered over him and then reached up to help him down. With shaking legs, he stood, but she was carrying most of his weight. Slowly, they limped forward towards the door, but each step seemed like it was draining the very life from her friend.
"Perhaps we should rest."
"We need to keep going," he rasped. "It had to be done by morning - he's cocky now. Tomorrow...tomorrow, he'll think again."
"How do you-"
"That's...Arthur. He's the same."
They walked on in silence; the basement level was quiet and the few guards they saw were sent running by a gentle flick of Merlin's wrist and a few guttering torches.
Eventually, they arrived at an unfamiliar gate and Merlin motioned for her to light a torch. The steps seemed to go on forever, and it was another long and painful hour before they reached the bottom and the immense cavern that spread before them. Gwen had never been this far underground before - she wondered what was so important down here.
Merlin collapsed to the floor, leaning against the cavern wall. "Here," he murmured. "Come on."
A gust of wind whipped through the cavern and suddenly there was a massive Dragon before them! Gwen's jaw dropped as she took in the sight of the beast - his wings were huge, and his eyes held all eternity. She felt she should curtsey.
"Young warlock? You are injured."
"We need...we need to free you."
The Dragon looked like he was worried for Merlin, and that made Gwen stop for a moment. She knew Dragons were dangerous, but this one seemed attached to Merlin. Almost...kind.
"You would use your strength for this?"
"Arthur's been captured," Merlin said weakly. "You're our only hope."
The Dragon nodded. "If you are sure. Together, then?"
Merlin smiled. "Together." He held out a shaking hand and closed his eyes, as the Dragon tilted his head towards the chain that tethered him and roared out a stream of fire! From Merlin's hand, blue light surged forward and the lights merged together - Gwen shut her eyes and shielded her face, as something burst and, with a screech of delight, the Dragon was flying up and away, the chains falling deep into the chasm below.
"I will return, young one!"
Gwen turned to Merlin, but he was passed out on the floor. Carefully, she spread her cloak over him and waited for dawn to filter into the cavern.