"Is it me, or are you getting fat?" Arthur gestured toward his manservant with his knife that he had been fiddling with.

Lifting up his tunic with a smile, Merlin revealed a rope wrapped around his torso. The impressed Arthur grinned at the servant's ingenuity. Now he could climb out his chamber's window to escape his father's imprisonment and find Morgause.

Meanwhile, outside of the prince's chambers, two guard stayed standing discussing some very important issues.

" I spy something red-"

"The tapestry." The second answered quickly, then gave a heavy sigh, "This is a stupid game."

"You got any better ideas how to pass the time, Robin?"

" Well-"

Inside the chambers, Merlin had just put on some black leathered gloves as he held the rope. Arthur was holding at the other end, perched at the window. Warily he watched as Merlin was assessing the rope.

"Are you sure you're strong enough to hold me?"

"Yeah," the thin and rather muscle lacking looking man replied, "I'm stronger than I look."

Arthur was beginning to question if he would regret this and then jumped out the window with rope in hand.

Back with the two guards, Robin had indeed a different idea how to pass the time.

"Is it Gaius?" whispered the other, watching a very strange performance from Robin.

Robin, who had been hunched over with his bottom teeth protruding forward and walking around like some fat lump, stood up straight and looked at the man as if he were the dimmest thing alive. How could this man not understand the game of 'guess who' ?

"No, Terrin, does Gaius cackle?"

"No, but-"

Robin sighed, "Here, let me try again."

Return to his former position he spoke in an ugly voice, "Have the dung from the stables brought here, immediately! Uther, raise the taxes so I can have all that lovely gold!"

Terrin tilted his head, " Sorry, I still have no idea."

Giving up on the weak minded fool, Robin sighed. Suddenly they both heard a shout from inside the room. It sounded like the boy Merlin.

"There is no more rope!"

Glancing at each other, the knights were deciphering his words, when a thought occurred to them.

"Do you think the prince is trying to escape?" asked Robin.

"Probably."

"Well, we should stop him!"

Terrin prevented him from barging in, "King Uther expressly forbid anyone but him, Gaius or Arthur's manservant from entering."

"Yes, but we're also supposed to make sure he doesn't leave."

Terrin had the most peculiar expression written on his face.

"Why?"

Exasperated, Robin huffed indignantly.

"Because the King ordered us to."

"I don't remember that." Terrin was utterly befuddled.

Robin was at his wit's ends, "He told us to make sure Arthur stays in his chambers."

"Oh, Arthur! Yes, I remember that. I thought you were talking about Merlin."

He threw his arms up with frustration, "Why on earth would the King want Merlin to stay in Arthur's chambers?"

"I don't know, you were the one who said it."

"No I didn't!"

" I'm pretty sure you did." He countered.

"Look," Robin regained his composer, "why don't we go in there and stop Arthur from running away?"

Terrin, who was only slightly older than Robin, place his hand over the other's shoulder like a father would a child, "I know you're fairly new, but that's not the way things work around here."

"And how do things work around here?" Robin didn't understand.

" Playing dice while siting outside the great dragon's cave, card games when on prison duty, allowing hooded figures to pass in and out with no questions... you know guarding."

That's when Merlin came out of the room.

"Hi Merlin." Terrin acknowledged him.

"Hi Terrin." Merlin waved as he left, no doubt to exit the castle to join Arthur. Robin, wanted to stop him, but was too confused to say a word

He began, "But-"

"Don't worry," Terrin interrupted, "wait until I tell you what happens to those wearing red capes."

The end