Fic: Under Covers Part 1/2 (Merlin BBC)

[keep_counting]

 

Title: Under Covers – Part One of Two
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Gwen, Gaius, Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan and Lancelot. Minor Implied Gwen/Arthur and Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Pure crack; swearing and suggestive themes. set somewhere after S3 
Genre: Gen/Humor
Word-count: 5,134
Disclaimer: God, if I owned… but I don’t, unfortunately.
A/N: Written for the 007 challenge on great_tales humor, bordering on crack. I tried to write it in style with the show and it is very dialogue-heavy.
Summary: Someone in Camelot is using magic to steal several of the Court’s prized items: when all else fails, Merlin must use some rather… unconventional means to get to the bottom of this one.

 

 

PROLOGUE

 

The sunlight flickered in through the half-closed drapes, creating strange patterns in the dust floating around. Everything appeared old and un-touched, cobwebs already creating in the darkest corners of ceiling. Gwen dreaded to think what might be hiding under the bed.

This was Morgana’s room. Her old room. Like a holy shrine to something dark and sinister, it had been left untouched upon her betrayal and eventual disappearance. Arthur would not go near this place; Uther visited only to cry out his sorrow. Gwen came to stare out the window, taking only a few minutes out of her time, but it felt like hours. Wasted hours.

Something was wrong today however. Boot-prints in the dust covering the floor, pacing prints that wouldn’t belong to Uther who dare not enter too far into the room; not Gwen’s own either. It could be Arthur’s or Merlin’s, but then again…

Feeling a strange tingling down her spine, Gwen crossed the floor and opened one of the small, ornate boxes standing on the vanity. Her eyes widened; a pair of silver earrings and a golden necklace was missing. It had been old jewelry, kept only because they were gifts. Morgana had never worn them and it was unlikely that she should have come for them, when nothing else in the room seemed to have been touched.

They had been stolen.

Unlikely as it was that anyone would find out in the near-future – and if the time should come that they did go through Morgana’s things, it was even more unlikely that anyone besides Gwen should notice these things missing – she couldn’t help but feel dread come over her. Who had done this? And if it was discovered, who would be accused of having taken them? Certainly not the King – it would be the other one who sometimes occupied these halls.

Oh, great. Not again.

Shutting the box again, she quickly turned around and fled the room, closing the door swiftly behind her. She couldn’t go to Arthur with this; he would still flinch when someone as much as mentioned Morgana and ever since all that, he and his knights had been busy trying to clean up the mess that the witches had made of the city. Uther was already out of the question: as if he would ever listen to anything she had to say.

But of course, there was always someone else who would listen, and with a little luck, Gaius was still home on this fine morning.

 

oOo

 

Today was decidedly a good day.

The sun was shining, Merlin had had a big breakfast, Gaius was in a good mood, Gwen was in a good mood, Gwaine was in a good mood, Elyan was in a good mood… well, you get the gist.

Things were going better and better and even Uther had actually started to weakly smile again: not that Merlin cared particularly much for that detail, but still, it was always good for the people to see their king in better spirits.

Now, if only the king’s son would share the joy of the rest of the country.

“Merlin, what in the name of all that is holy, is this?”

Merlin glanced up from the armor he was polishing, casting a look at the crown-prince.

“Honestly, sire, I’d think a future king would be able to recognize his own trousers.”

Arthur’s glare turned absolutely murderous and Merlin had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling too happily. Uh-oh.

“I know what that is, but can you tell me what the hell this HOLE is?”

“Um… a hole sire?”

“Merlin!”

“Right, right, let me see…” Barely being able to suppress his own laughter, he stood up and moved over to Arthur, taking the clothing-item out of his hands.

“Well, sire, it looks too big to have been done by a mouse or rat.” Merlin said, putting on his best ‘god-I’m-so-smart’ voice as he examined them. Then he frowned, noticing the location of the hole. “Sire…”

“Yes?” Arthur mumbled, looking worried.

“Where you bit in the arse by a dog recently?”

“MERLIN!”

“Ha! Sorry… ow! No-no, don’t throw that!” Merlin quickly dived behind the table for cover, flinging the torn trouser through the air, desperately lacking a white flag. “I’ll mend them alright? They’ll be as good as new!”

“You will do no such thing, Merlin!” Arthur hissed, folding his arms over his chest. “Last time you mended anything, you completely ruined it.”

Merlin peeked over the table. “Ah, so you want me to give Gwen your arse-torn trousers for her to mend instead?”

Arthur’s face was matching the red of his banner. “No!” He hissed. “You’ll do it. And if you can’t, just throw them out. I have other trousers.”

“I should certainly hope so, sire.”

“Merlin, get out!”

“Of course, sire.” Merlin said, elaborately bowing as he went out the room. He was still smiling like a maniac when he got to the stables, too lost in his own crackling thoughts to notice the young man carrying a bucket of water.

Somehow, though both of them where only walking at a normal pace, they crashed into each other and somehow, though the other man was holding the bucket so that it nearly touched the floor… well, it ended up over Merlin’s head.

“What in the maces is wrong with you?” A heavily accented, but muffled through the bucket, voice was heard. The bucket was ripped off his now drenched head and Merlin was staring directly into a broad and angry-set jaw. Raising his eyes, he met with a pair of dark and even angrier looking eyes staring back at him.

“Um… walking?” He quibbled. “What happened?”

“What happened? What happened is that you ran directly into me!” The giant – who actually wasn’t a giant, but appeared to be as in his angry tantrum – bellowed. Merlin could practically see the walls of the stables shaking.

“I wasn’t running,” He mumbled, but was cut off as a strong hand seized his collar.

“You weren’t?”

“You’re right. Maybe I was.” Merlin mumbled, gently trying to nudge himself free from the other one’s grip and wondering if anyone would notice if he made a pile of horse-dung fly into the other man’s neck. “Um, sorry, what is your name?”

“Alexander – and you would do best to avoid me, are we clear?” He – Alexander – growled, finally letting go so that Merlin could breathe again.

“Right. Sure. Whatever you say.” Merlin said. He was about to push past Alexander, when he was yet again stopped.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“This way is the fastest to the weaponry,” Merlin mumbled, not missing the sudden gleam in Alexander’s eyes.

“Is it now?”

“Yes, in fact. Can I go now...”

“No. Find another way,”

“What!” Merlin exclaimed. “Look, this isn’t your stable, you can’t just ARGH! Ow, yeah, sure you can. I’ll go now… please put me down. Thank-you sir.”

“Much better,” Alexander sneered, watching Merlin as he walked away. Well, more like ran, because run he did – he needed to see Gaius.

 

oOo

 

“And you’re sure Morgana didn’t take them?”

“Completely. They’ve been in that box for years, no one ever touched them.” Gwen said, wringing her hands together. “I only looked because… well.” She didn’t finish her sentence as she wished to, knowing that Gaius would understand. Because of a lost and faded memory that once used to be their good friend.

“Well…” Gaius mumbled. “I don’t see that there is much we can do Gwen.”

“But is it possible that Morgana has somehow returned? I mean, it’s probably just a thief, right?”

“Yes, most likely. But the problem is, why only take those items?”

“Well, Morgana hasn’t worn them for years, it is unlikely that anyone would notice them missing for a very long time.” Gwen mumbled. “But then it would have to be someone who knew this and…”

“And that leaves you as the most opportune candidate.”

“Exactly. I really don’t want to…”

“He’s using magic!” The door swung open with a loud bang, the voice of Merlin filling the air. He stopped short when he saw Gwen, eyes turning round and jaw hanging slack.

“Who is?” She exclaimed, oblivious to the stern look Gaius was sending his charge.

“Uh… it… uhm… the… the clerk is.”

Gwen frowned. “The clerk?”

“Yes! The clerk in the book… I’m reading.”

Gaius sighed, if in relief or exasperation was hard to say.

“You’re reading a book about a magic clerk?” Gwen mumbled, staring at her friend.

“Yes, but it’s not a very good book.” Merlin countered, closing the door behind him. “Hello Gwen! What a beautiful day, don’t you think?”

“I doubt that Guinevere has noticed,” Gaius interrupted. “It seems she has a small problem, and you have come just in time to help.”

 

PART ONE

 

”Magic has been used in Morgana’s room,” Gaius said, seating down for dinner that same evening. “Very powerful: the user must have located the items that had seen the least use and then taking them. I doubt even you could do that, Merlin.”

“I could so do it,” Merlin rebuffed, but retreated at Gaius’ stern look. “But of course I wouldn’t.” He took a healthy bite out of his bread. “Maybe it’s Alexander!”

“The new stable boy?”

“Yes, he was the one I was talking about earlier, when Gwen was here.”

Gaius raised an eyebrow. “So it wasn’t a magic clerk?”

“Oh, ha ha. The excuse worked, that’s what matters.” Merlin muttered, barely chewing before taking another bite. “But that Alexander, we had a little… well, argument down in the stables… you might have noticed I was sopping wet when I came in?”

Gaius mumbled something, eyeing the water still covering the floor.

“Well, I wanted you know, to just teach him a little lesson afterwards…”

“You cannot misuse your magic like that, Merlin. What if someone had seen?”

“Right, I know, I know… God, must you lecture me every time?” He mumbled, downing the water in his mug. “Problem was, I couldn’t. He has some kind of magic shield around himself that’s just always in place, like if he wore armor I think. It just rebuffed. I don’t think he even noticed that I was using magic, but I couldn’t reach him anyway.”

“Such a powerful spell shows that he knows how to use magic, but that his training isn’t perfect,” Gaius mumbled. “He must be very strong. You should be careful Merlin.”

“When am I not?” The young warlock mumbled, the words barely getting around all the food in his mouth. He obediently chewed and swallowed at Gaius pointed look. “But isn’t it very possible that he is the one stealing from Morgana’s room? I mean, why else would someone that powerful work as a stable boy, for a king that hates his kind? Why lower himself like that?”

“Yes, why indeed, Merlin.” Gaius chuckled, his young charge too caught up in his food to notice the knowing look he shot him. “But yes, it is very probable, though we should not draw too hasty conclusions just because the young man is a brute.”

“I’ll talk to Gwen in the morning: she was worried out of her mind about this. And maybe she can help.”

“I trust you are not going to do anything rash, Merlin?” Gaius admonished. Merlin quickly shook his head, an innocent look on his face.

“No Gaius, of course not. What would make you think that?”

 

oOo

 

“I cannot believe I let myself be talked into this.” Gwen muttered, skittishly peeking over her shoulder in the dark. “This is madness Merlin!”

“Sssh! Do you want to catch the thief, or not?” Merlin muttered, still picking at the lock and waiting for the opportune moment to use magic without her noticing. “Sir Leon says he’s had something stolen too, and Alexander’s duties put him in the area at the time of the disappearance!”

“Right, but what if he catches us? Do you have any idea what kind of trouble we would be in?”

Merlin sighed, giving up on the lock for the time being and turning to face her. “I am the crown-prince’s servant and, whether he likes it or not, his friend. I am also very close friends with Sir Lancelot, Sir Gwaine, Sir Leon, Sir Percival and Sir Elyan, the last who is your brother, and Sir Leon who you have known your entire life. Oh, and did I mention that the crown-prince and Sir Lancelot and possibly also Sir Gwaine is madly in love with you?”

“Alright, you’ve made your point!” Gwen hissed, blushing so fiercely that Merlin could see it even in the dark of the evening. “But still…”

“No buts, Gwen! Come on, I know you’re braver than this,” Merlin said, letting his hand pass over the lock and distinctly hearing the click! as it unlocked. “See? So far so good.”

“If you’re that close, why didn’t you ask one of them to come?” Gwen whispered as they quietly slipped into the small, dark house. “Lancelot would do anything you asked him and Gwaine is always looking for danger and intrigue: I’m sure he’d be jumping for an opportunity to break into a house right now.”

Merlin couldn’t help but grin at the thought of his friend who, frankly, was getting a little bored with ‘the noble life’ as he called it. “Yeah, but they’re all so very busy and it’s you in danger of being accused of stealing.”

“I’m busy too!” Gwen murmured, slapping at his shoulder. “But… thanks.”

“You’re welcome. What friends are for, right?” Merlin answered, his teeth gleaming in a smile. A low creaking sound made them both stop short though, frozen in fear of discovery.

“Merlin… when was Alexander to return home?” Gwen hissed, as loud as she dared.

“I asked Gwaine and Percival to occupy him at the tavern as long as possible!” Merlin whispered in answer. “I said it was very important and that it involved your safety – they’d knock him out before they let him go,” as he muttered the words, a rat slipped out from the shadows and deftly crawled over the floor, making more floorboards creak. They both breathed out in relief, before Gwen yet again glared at him.

“You said they were busy!”

“With Gwaine ‘busy’ means ‘drunk’, okay? Let’s just go look around.” He said, fishing out a wax-candle from his inner-pocket. Realizing that he couldn’t just magic, he awkwardly turned to Gwen who was standing with her hands on her hips.

“Uh… I…”

“You forgot something to light it with?” She finished, her tone exasperated.

“Well…”

“You’re a dollop head, Merlin.”

“Hey!” Merlin protested, watching as she produced a couple of matches seemingly out of thin air. “It’s Arthur who’s the dollop head.”

“You both are,” She grinned, lighting the candle. “Do you have another one, or should one of us just wander around in blindness?”

Merlin murmured something about ‘evil women’ and produced another candle. Gwen seemed worried that the light could be seen from outside, so they quickly set to work.

Alexander’s house was small and hardly looked inhabited at all: it contained a small table, two chairs, a wooden chest and an unmade bed. The remnants of breakfast was on the table, along with an almost burned-down candle, but the room was dirty and dusty and cobwebs seemed to have taken over the ceiling completely.

“If you hear a scream it’s just because I’ve found a spider in my hair,” Gwen muttered, shivering as she looked at the many-legged creatures crawling around. “Can you see anything, because there seems to be nothing out of the ordinary in this corner, and…”

“It’s right here,” Merlin interrupted. Under the covers of the bed there’d been a blue tablecloth folded in a bundle; as he’d unwrapped it, a gleam of gold had caught his eyes, until at last all of the stolen items lay before his eyes. There was Morgana’s earrings and necklace, the elaborate dagger belonging to Sir Leon, along with a few other things with the Pendragon crest on it.

Gwen moved over to stand beside him, wax dripping from her candle. “Where?”

As they talked, the bundle glowed brightly and suddenly another necklace joined the pile.

“Did you see that? He really is using magic!” Merlin exclaimed, practically jumping up and down in glee.

“See what? Merlin, there’s nothing there!” Gwen said, now staring at him as if he’d grown a second head. Merlin turned to stare like-wise.

“You mean… you don’t see it?”

“There’s just a bed and some linen.”

“You can’t see a blue table-cloth? You can’t see this?” He reached for one of the earrings, but drew his hand back with a cry as it scorched his fingers. “Ow! Bloody hell, what was that?”

“You hand!” Gwen grabbed it and brought it closer to the light from her candle. “Your fingers are burned – how did…?”

“As I told you – all of the stolen things are right there!” Merlin said, making a wide gesture with his free hand towards the bed. Unfortunately, it made the candle in his hand splutter and die, but not before a long stream of black wax had flown out over the white linen. “Ooops.”

The sound of heavy boots nearby interrupted them, swiftly followed by a low bird-cry that sounded unmistakably like Gwaine’s deep voice.

“God, he’s really bad at that,” Gwen muttered.

“That’s the warning signal – we need to go!” Merlin quickly put the light from Gwen’s candle out and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the door. They’d just barely gotten out and sneaked behind the corner, when Alexander’s broad frame appeared, walking back into his house.

“Dammit! Now he’ll know we were in there,” Merlin said. “I’ve spilled wax everywhere.”

“Well, that’s your fault, isn’t it?” Gwen countered, still gripping his hand tightly. “God, what if he’d seen us? My hearts still pounding like crazy,”

“Well, he didn’t, that’s what matters,” Merlin retorted, not wanting to voice his fears to Gwen and scare her even more. If Alexander was powerful enough to cast such magic shields, maybe he could cast a spell that showed him who had been in his room.

“You believe me right? When I say I saw those things…”

“Of course I do. I just don’t understand how you could see them and I couldn’t,”

“Um… maybe I’ve just been… exposed to so much magic during all these years.” Merlin said, knowing it was a lame reason. Gwen snuck him an odd glance, but then shrugged.

“Perhaps. I don’t doubt you Merlin: it makes sense that it was Alexander. But how are we going to prove it, if he can turn things invisible?”

Merlin pulled her into the shadow cast by the castle wing they’d just passed.

“Um… I might have an idea. But… you’re not going to like it.”

Gwen sighed. “I hardly ever like your little ideas Merlin. What is it this time?”

“You’re going to have to seduce Alexander.”

“WHAT??”

“Keep your voice down, woman!”

“I can’t… Merlin…” Gwen spluttered, looking completely horrified. “I can’t… I can’t seduce him!”

“Alright, poor choice of words… just… gain his confidence. Make him brag. He’ll tell you all his secrets if he likes you!”

“That is insane! How could I make anyone…”

“What, throw themselves at your feet like Arthur and Lancelot have?” Merlin countered, ready to play dirty. Gwen’s eyes narrowed.

“I beg to differ. I didn’t do anything to make them do that. I’m sure I would have failed miserably if I’d tried.”

“Exactly, Gwen! You just have to be your usual charming self, and no one can resist you! C’mon, everyone whose met you liked you!”

“Oh, really, everyone?” Gwen murmured, looking both disturbed and a little amused.

“Okay, maybe not every single person, but a lot of people do. I mean, any normal male who isn’t crazy or anything would like you. I mean, they’d have to be blind not to!”

She was blushing now: almost there.

“And what if Alexander is crazy, which he’s shown a lot of promise towards?”

“Well, then, don’t talk to him unless there’s someone nearby who can help you if he starts with something.”

She was still hesitating. “I really don’t know Merlin…”

“Come on, Gwen! The guy is using magic; he might try to hurt Arthur.”

“What? We can’t be sure of that!”

“He’s a thief!” Merlin hissed, grabbing her arm and shaking her lightly. “A murderous thief who uses magic! He must be stopped and it is your duty to do so!”

Silence. Gwen stared at him. Merlin blinked.

“Too much?”

She let out a low snort. “Just a little.” She sighed and stared at him. “I don’t know…”

“Come ooon… so far so good, right?”

Gwen took a deep breath, wondering why she hadn’t noticed her friends craziness earlier. “Alright then. I’ll do it.”

 

oOo

 

Gwen barged into her house, the purple dress she was wearing billowing around her legs as she ran.

“Oh God! Merlin, don’t ever ask me to do something like that again!”

“I must agree, he was pretty vile.” Merlin muttered, seating himself on one of her chairs. “But you chatted him up real nice – he was perfectly charmed.”

“You’re going to ask me to do it again, aren’t you?” She spun around, staring at him in wide-eyed horror. “How you ever managed to talk me into it in the first place…”

“Hey, so far so good, right? We can’t give up now!”

“We?? I don’t see you putting on a skirt and flirting with some idiotic stable-boy, Merlin!”

“I doubt I’d look as good in that dress as you do,” Merlin mumbled, but she luckily didn’t hear him. He didn’t want to think of what she might do to him if he provoked her any further. Castration was one of the options.

He’d sneaked back into Alexander’s house while Gwen had been out charming their target, only to find that the spilled wax had been cleaned up, but the bundle of stolen items were lying exactly as they had been when he left them, Alexander apparently too confident in his abilities to hide them somewhere else.

Or maybe he just wasn’t counting on the world’s most powerful warlock to be hot on his heels. Well, Alexander’s confidence would be his downfall – as soon as they obtained the secret of what spell he was using: Merlin had already tried several different ones to break it, only to have all of them rebuffed.

“You are going to talk to him again, Gwen.” Merlin said, trying to adopt the stern look Gaius would use on them both. “More items have been stolen and the knights are getting all suspicious. If anything disappears from Arthur’s chambers, I’ll be the next suspect!” He tried his best to look wounded and defeated at the last words.

“But it isn’t working, Merlin!”

“Yes it is! He couldn’t stop staring at your ars… at you when you walked away again. You’re wearing your nicest dress and your hair looks fabulous and you’re sweet and kind and have a nice smile.”

Gwen folded her arms and made a grimace at him. “Why is it that you only compliment me when you want me to do something stupid or embarrassing, and most likely both?”

“Um, because it works?” Merlin tried, giving her his most winning smile (the one normally reserved only for Arthur in a foul mood)

Gwen gave him an incredulous look and cocked her head to the side. “You’re lucky you’re cute Merlin, or I would bash your head in right now.”

“Was that a hint for me to go?”

“It was.”

“But you’ll talk to Alexander again tomorrow, right?”

“I will.”

“And you should wear that pink dress, it makes your eyes look very…”

“Merlin, out!”

 

oOo

 

Gwen took a deep breath, clutching the basket in her hands tightly to her chest. Alexander was just across the courtyard, chatting with some of the other servants, and there, in the other corner were some of the knights – including Lancelot and her brother – training away. There would be no harm in going over there.

Alexander spotter her just as she reached the group, sending her a winning smile that, to be honest, left her a little weak in the knees. If nothing else, he was handsome, even if his eyes tended to stray somewhat below her face.

“Hello, beautiful!” He called out, perhaps a bit too loudly. Anyway, Gwen was glad of it, because Lancelot heard it and saw her approaching, his eyes narrowing slightly, before he returned to his own work again.

“Hi!” She said, trying to look excited and shy at the same time; the shy wasn’t a hard part, because she did genuinely wish that she was anywhere but here right now. Or, preferably, that Alexander was. Delving into her basket, she produced one of the red fruits she was carrying. “Apple?”

“I’d take anything you give me,” Alexander leered, purposely letting their finger’s brush as he took it. He looked very pleased as she shivered, most likely because he had no notion that it was out of disgust instead of pleasure.

Noticing that know Elyan was also frowning in their direction, Gwen decided that she better speed things along.

“So, Alexander, exactly how long are you planning to stay in Camelot?”

“I don’t know. It depends on… the company,” He smiled, twirling the apple in his hand.

“Really?” Gwen deliberately moved closer, silently wondering if Merlin had advised upon the pink dress because of the way it brought out her eyes or because of… well, cleavage.

“And what kind of company would that be, exactly?” A little step closer. She was completely invading his personal space now, why wasn’t he pulling away, dammit! Oh god, oh dear god, move away you oaf!

“I must say, I am enjoying the present company quite a lot actually.” Oh, no way, he was going to kiss her, wasn’t he? Gwen muttered some very un-ladylike words in her head and amply moved backwards again.

“Well, good sir, I am sure that, as much as you might enjoy my company, you can find similar entertainment elsewhere.” She said, hoisting up her basket and preparing to leave – she could practically hear Elyan sigh in relief from over here.

It didn’t work however: apparently, Alexander was a man who liked a good challenge. Seizing her by the arm, he amply stopped her flight, grinning at her like a madman.

“Not at all, my good lady: yours is, I must say, the company I enjoy to its fullest.” He probably thought that she was blushing out of embarrassment, instead of pure mortification. If the earth would open up and swallow her right now, Gwen would be indefinitely grateful. “Or, at least, I hope to one day.”

Oh, that was it. Half-raising her hand, ready to smack the life out of him, she was interrupted by a clear and familiar voice just to the left of her ringing out.

“What is going on here?”

Oh, great. Things just got a hell of a lot worse.

Turning around to face her brother and – oh god, Lancelot – Gwen plastered on her widest (and unfortunately also fakest) smile.

“Is he bothering you, Gwen?”

“No, no, Elyan, it’s fine.”

“Yeah, Elyan, it’s fine.” Alexander’s voice boomed out and he impulsively grabbed Gwen’s hand again. “So why don’t you run along again?”

Lancelot’s eyes narrowed. “I will have you know that you are talking to a knight.”

Alexander’s eyebrows shot upwards. “No, really – you, a knight?”

Lancelot and Elyan both moved forward, and Gwen practically sprang in-between the two parties.

“Look, look, there isn’t a problem, okay? I was going along and so was Alexander and I’m sure you both have training to see to, right?”

“Actually, Gwen, I need to talk to you.” Elyan’s eyes where boring into hers, offering no argument. Gwen sighed, obediently following her brother after making sure that Alexander and Lancelot would go to their own devices instead of busting each other’s heads in.

“What the hell are you doing with a guy like Alexander?” Elyan hissed at her as soon as they’d gotten out of earshot.

“Nothing, I was just being friendly.” Gwen shot back, her finger’s nervously playing with the edge of the basket. “You know me, I’m silly and inconspicuous.”

“Inconspi…” Elyan let out a low laugh, some of the anger in his face melting away. “Gwen, honestly.”

“What?” She mumbled, smiling at him sweetly. “Look, honestly Elyan, nothing’s the matter, okay?”

“Okay.” He said, though the worry in his face belied his words. “Just stay away from him in the future, alright? I don’t like him and he isn’t exactly known for treating people nice.”

“I will. I promise.” Gwen said, half-mad with glee that she now had a brilliant excuse to use to Merlin.

 

oOo

 

“The golden trident has been stolen.”

Merlin promptly dropped the armor in his hands. It fell to the floor with a loud clang, that made Arthur flinch.

“What?” Merlin hissed. Arthur rolled his eyes.

“You heard me. The trident has been stolen.”

“But how? Wasn’t it protected by a massively armed guard and hundred sets of traps and vicious dogs and…”

“And a fluffy little rabbit, yes, Merlin, it was.” Arthur retorted, looking tired and worn-out and ready to strangle something. Or maybe someone. “But someone has stolen it.”

“How is that possible?” Merlin asked, already knowing the answer. Arthur rolled his eyes yet again and Merlin was tempted to make them stuck like that.

“Someone… used magic.”

“Ah,” Merlin muttered, bending down to pick up the dropped armor again. “You’ll best find him then.”

“I was wondering if you’d seen anything, on your way through the Castle?” Arthur asked, sounding as if the question gave him some pains.

“No, uh, no nothing,” Merlin mumbled, wondering if he should mention Alexander. “Just, you know, the usual, people, castle, sky… couple of clouds.” He blinked a few times. “In the stables.”

Arthur shot him a look that clearly questioned his servant’s intelligence. “What on earth are you mumbling about?”

“Um, nothing. I’ll be going now. To the stables. Or, you know, home, since my duties are all done. So… bye!”

Arthur stood staring at the door long after it had closed. Merlin, however, rushed home, barely uttering a word of goodnight to Gaius, before he seated himself with his book, rifling through it all night in order to find the perfect spell.

What was it Gwen had said? I don’t see you putting on a skirt and flirting with some idiotic stable-boy!

Well, they were going to have to see about that, weren’t they?

 

To be continued…


Part two here

Comments

[orion1432.livejournal.com]

This was very interesting. I hope there is more!

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

Part two will be up soon ;) I'm glad you liked it