The Runaway Servant

Chapter 8

The next day, Gaius takes Merlin with him to attend King Ambrosius. They are walking through the grand entryway approach to the throne room and main staircase up to the King's chambers. "Should we be going this way?" Merlin asks Gaius, nervously looking around.

"How else do we get there?" Gaius asks. "The King's rooms are just upstairs."

"What about the servants' passages?"

"This way is fastest," Gaius concludes reasonably. He looks at Merlin's bruised face, with his split lit and his purple and swollen eye. He sighs. "What happened, Merlin?"

"Malus. I found him," Merlin shivers. "You were right. He is dangerous. But not to Arthur. He was looking for Emrys."

"Why?"

"To destroy me." Merlin looks around; no one is near, but he says softly, "Gaius, I am truly frightened of the power that Malus displayed. I can't imagine what magic was required to maintain the enchantment of the castle, keep his disguise, and deal with me. All at once."

"Merlin. You cannot let him find out who Emrys is." Gaius is whispering.

"Well, I certainly don't plan on telling him!" Merlin manages to bark out a laugh.

"Tell who what?" Arthur's voice interrupts as he approaches the pair outside Ambrosius's chambers.

"Ah . . erm . . . . Sir Bors. That I don't want to work at the stables anymore. Master Seward would be too disappointed."

Arthur snorts. "Don't flatter yourself, Merlin." Merlin glares at Arthur's back as he leads the way up the stairs to the upper level.

The three men stand outside the partially open door, and can hear voices within. Uther is saying, "Seriously? I thought it was a myth."

He's answered by Ambrosius. "No, apparently it's true. There is a treasure buried underneath Camelot." Arthur looks at Merlin and Gaius with a puzzled frown, and knocks on the door.

"Enter," Ambrosius's voice rings out, healthy and strong.

Gaius looks at Merlin with a raised eyebrow. Merlin shrugs at him as they enter the room behind Arthur. Ambrosius has made a swift and complete recovery. He is sitting in a chair near the fireplace, Aurelius standing behind him, both facing Uther who is seated in the other chair.

"My Lord, how are you feeling?" Gaius says, crossing the room to examine Ambrosius. "I am delighted to see you so strong and well."

"Gaius, it's like a miracle. Just yesterday afternoon, I suddenly felt like myself again. Like I snapped my fingers and was made well."

Still standing at the door, Merlin gasps. "Malus," he thinks.

xXx

The King and court arrive back in Camelot after several days travel from Londinium. As they left the city, Merlin looked back to see if he could spot the Citadel of Daelbeth. He couldn't find it. The progress was uneventful, with stops overnight at the homes of loyal nobles.

When they arrive in Camelot, Merlin and other servants and squires take the horses to the stables to take care of them. Just outside the door to the barn, Merlin lets Arthur's amber pendant slip through his fingers to the ground, murmuring a small enchantment. He keeps the medallion in his pocket.

When he finishes grooming and feeding Llamri and his own horse, Merlin sees Master Seward approaching. "Is there anything else you need me to do?" Merlin asks. "I have to attend the prince now, but I can come back later."

"No, Merlin." Seward leans on the half door to Llamri's stall. "Sir Bors has just told me that you are to be relieved of your duties here. He's found another servant to work here full time."

"Oh! Thank you, thank you!" Merlin gushes, a broad smile lighting up his face. "It's been hard."

Seward smiles at Merlin's reaction. "How was Llamri on this trip?" he asks.

Merlin smiles broadly in response. "Fine. She's much calmer and seems to be devoted to Arthur."

"I think he owes you a debt of thanks."

Merlin laughs, "yeah, right. Like that's going to happen."

The horse master laughs at that, and says, "I saw how diligently you worked with her. You did a good job." Seward pauses, "come visit us when you can. My wife still thinks she needs to fatten you up!" He laughs again and gives Merlin a friendly clap on the shoulder.

xXx

Some days later, Arthur is seated at his table eating lunch, as Merlin stands nearby. "More water, Sire?" he asks.

"No, Merlin." Arthur says. "Stop hovering and go finish your other chores. Come back later to clear this away."

Merlin nods and sets down the pitcher on the table and heads to the door. He opens it to find Master Seward about to knock. He utters a startled "oh!"

Tyr is standing behind his father, looking very nervous. "May we see the prince?" Seward asks.

"Come in," Arthur calls out. "Master Seward? What is it? Is Llamri all right?"

"Yes, my Lord. She's fine." The father and son approach the table and bob their heads in a bow. Tyr is clutching Arthur's amber pendant. From the doorway, Merlin smiles to see it.

"Sire," Seward starts to speak, "my son Tyr found something that I think belongs to you." He gives the boy a slight nudge to move forward.

Arthur looks inquisitively at the young boy. Tyr looks nervously at his father, then back at Merlin, who smiles and nods encouragingly. The young boy steps forward and places the pendant on the table. "I found this near the doorway outside the stables," he says and steps back quickly to stand near his father.

Arthur smiles to see it. "Why thank you, . . . Tyr, is it?" The boy nods shyly. "I thought that this was lost for good. My idiot servant couldn't manage to find it." Arthur turns in his chair and wags his finger at Merlin, "you should have looked harder. I told you it was somewhere."

"Well, actually, I was the one who said . . ." Merlin grins and starts to say, before Arthur interrupts.

"Shut up, Merlin."

END