Chapter 10

Merlin lay on the bed staring at the roof, waiting for the Sun to start a new day. He had woken up several times due to night terrors and had lost his meagre meal sometime in the middle of the night to the chamber pot. Sweat coated his skin and the rest of his night was spent painfully awake with his body protesting at every restless toss and turn.

When the first rays of sunlight graced the heavens, tinting the previously indigo black sky a pale light blue with a mix of pink and gold, Merlin slowly rolled out of his cot and buried his face in his hands. Taking in a breath as deep as he could he rubbed the weariness from his eyes. Then he uncurled himself and checked his bandages. They were slightly damp from the combination of the paste and sweat and he could feel the sore muscles beneath them. He carefully poked at them and instantly stopped with a wince. He would need assistance in changing them.

He did not look forward to it. Not only would it require him to wake the slumbering physician it would make him late; not to mention, of course, the pain. According to Merlin's knowledge combined with his reluctance, they were tight enough and... frankly he didn't want to change it. So he just let them be. He was sore and the bruises still hurt. He knew that with the day he had ahead he would have to heal up a bit if he didn't want to be in a world of pain all day. Sighing, he focused on his aches and pains. Slowly letting his magic flow he concentrated on healing them.

After long time of using mild healing incantations, he had become a dab hand at healing minor bruises, lacerations and relieving muscle strain, but no matter how hard he tried he still couldn't use magic to heal broken bones or any deep wounds. Gaius was quite sure that, with time, Merlin could accomplish that feat as well.

Knowing that others had seen them Merlin let the visible wounds fade only slightly. He made sure to make them painless but still apparent on his pale skin.

After completing the morning rituals, slipping out of the room he started his journey to the kitchens. After greeting Martha he collected the plate for lord Dawayne and made his way to the said lord's chamber. He bade a merry day to Mary who was on her way to collect the Royals' breakfast and found himself in the west wing.

A few of the Gedref delegation had chosen to stay behind for longer than anticipated and Merlin was not surprised to see a few of them in the corridor, on their way to the hall for breakfast. With respectful nods he passed them and reached lord Dawayne's quarters. He knocked and waited. When a few moments went with no answer Merlin knocked again a bit more forcefully. A muffled 'come in' was heard and he entered the chamber.

Much to Merlin's surprise Dawayne was up and dressed and was at the table reading over a long scroll. "Ah! Merlin. Good morn." Dawayne greeted with a smile and gestured at another table to set the breakfast. "I am almost through with this." and bowed over the scroll again.

Merlin set the breakfast and went to fix the bed. By the time he finished that and gathered the used clothes for the maids to collect, Dawayne was done with the scroll. The lord stood up and neatened the table up. Merlin expecting the lord to go to the breakfast table was startled when Dawayne suddenly came towards him.

"Hmm I see your face is still very colourful." Dawayne said disapprovingly. "Hopefully you will no take any more tumbles, yes?" With that he went to the dining table leaving behind a wide eyed manservant.

A harsh croak drew the blushing servant's attention. The black raven was perched on a chair and flew to perch on Merlin's shoulder when it had his attention. Not-quite-as-much afraid as the night before Merlin tentatively pet the large bird.

"Here, you can feed him." Dawayne pushed a few sausages at Merlin. Careful not to jostle the bird Merlin edged near the table and picked up a sausage to feed to the raven. He was slowly lifting it when the previously complacent bird lunged at his fingers. His fear of its sharp beak returned when the bird bit through the thick sausage in one go. Dawayne laughed out right at the young man's wide eyed look.

Taking another look at the thin manservant Dawayne frowned contemplatively. "Say Merlin... I cannot possibly finish all of this and it would be such a waste of good food. Why don't you join me? Then we can finish this lovely dishes." He said casually with a look that implied it was not a request. When Merlin opened his mouth to decline he was cut off with a firm "I insist."

Dawayne waited a moment for a response that was not forthcoming. "Well? Come on, sit down. The morning is going away." Dawayne kicked out the chair in front of him to indicate his insistence. Unable to say anything in protest Merlin numbly sat down, momentarily forgetting the bird on his shoulder.

Dawayne continued his breakfast as if he always invited his servants to eat with him and when it became apparent that Merlin made no move toward the food the lord primly pushed a plate towards him impatiently.

"I hope you're not waiting for me to fix you a plate." He asked in a haughty manner that made Merlin squeak out a hasty "No sire!" and fix a small plate for himself. Pleased, Dawayne returned to his own plate as Merlin, too, ate hesitantly.

Alternately feeding the raven when it croaked demanding food, Merlin managed to clean his plate with no prompting. He didn't notice Dawayne casually sneaking more sausages and rashes and slices of bread onto Merlin's plate when Merlin was busy with the bird.

Satisfied with the way his day started, Dawayne hailed a passing guard to fetch a servant to clean the breakfast things and ignored a protesting Merlin with a "we have better things to do Merlin!". With that they left to view the rest of the castle.

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Tour of the castle done with, (Merlin was amused when the lord pointed out a childish drawing of a knight drawn by a little Dwayane still present in an seldom frequented amoury) they made it to the courtyard at noon just as the kitchen-hands brought out the hampers filled with various foods. The stablemen had prepared the horses.

Seeing that the horses were already saddled and ready, Merlin quickly went to help a few servants to carry and distribute quivers and arrows to the hunting party.

Percival, who was conversing with Lancelot, was the first to notice Merlin's approach and greeted him with a friendly smile. Lancelot turned in time to see Merlin's answering smile.

"Good to see you Merlin." Lancelot greeted warmly while taking in the slightly healed bruises. With his back to Percival, he gave his friend a questioning look and discreetly wiggled his fingers. Merlin ruefully nodded his head in a positive reply to his friend's not so subtle question whether he used magic to make his bruises painless.

Soon the party were all ready to go and were waiting on the still absent King. When Merlin was on the verge of going to see what was keeping him, Arthur swept down the stairs with lord Dawayne's cousin Metus.

After greeting the King the party set out for their hunt. Merlin was trying to relax on the hard saddle as the King and the lords rode ahead. Lancelot gave a parting wave as the knights rode to catch up with them. Resigning himself to a day spent in a constant state of mild aches Merlin joined the few servants chosen to assist in the hunt by chasing out the pray. A duty Merlin had every intention of failing.

When they arrived near the centre of the wood the servants spread out to flush out the deer and rabbits in hiding. Merlin half heartedly poked a few spindly bushes that obviously hid no pray, much to Gawain's silent amusement. It was well known among the Round Table that Merlin simply detested hunting trips.

Suddenly a servant cried out and rushed at a thick waist high bush. Obviously seeing or hearing a rustle. A moment later the poor man was felled with a long black arrow sticking out his chest.

It only took a moment. Sir Fenwick yelled for the knights to take arm and then it all descended into chaos.

Merlin quickly too his place behind a thick bush and started tripping the enemy swordsmen. They were all wearing faded black garments that signed a uniformed and thus an organised assault, but they bore no sigil or badge that gave away their allegiance. Merlin was quite frustrated that Camelot seemed to get no respite and took the frustration out on a bowman hiding atop a nearby tree. The man seemed to wobble and fell down with a startled yell that was quickly silenced by a knight's sword.

But, much to Merlin's horror, the arrow the fallen bowmen had drawn still flew free. Aimed straight towards Arthur's unguarded back.

Merlin felt panic choke him as he quickly tried to deflect the arrow. But the arrow was faster than Merlin hoped and he missed it. Merlin made up his mind to strangle Arthur himself for not donning full armour if the clotpole survived this.

Merlin's mind froze as the arrow seemed to veer off course and hit the tree next to Arthur, instead of his back.

Not losing his momentum Arthur carried on defeating his opponent. Merlin, bewildered at the use of magic, for it was magic or Merlin would eat his neckerchief, frantically looked around for the source.

It only took a moment to see the bright yellow eyes fade into blue-green and the extended arm fall to his side. Blue-green met sky blue across the battle field for a moment before the owner of those eyes turned around to impale another assailant on his sword.

But that moment was enough. Merlin felt as if the whole world muted for a moment.

Dawayne had magic.

A/N After a log time. I know! But haay I have 394 followers! Prof. Snape would be proud. I'm officially back on track and will not go off grid for so long again. Promise.

See you next chapter in a week. Cheers.

LLAP

Argos.