Behind the Mask - part 6
Author: 
archaeologist_d
Title: Behind the mask – part 6
Rating: R
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: A drink, a seedy tavern as Arthur was chasing down rumours of a slaver in the neighbourhood, a slip into stupidity that he wasn’t proud of.
Warnings: talk of potential non-con but nothing explicit; foul language
Word Count:1397
Camelot Drabble Prompt bingo 512: secret relationship
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Arthur was going mad. Gaius kept telling him that training wasn’t possible just yet, that he had to rest, but Arthur was never one to sit still. A number of times, he was caught sneaking out, sword in hand, but Merlin chased him back inside, scowling, clucking like the mother hen he was, and berating him for being a clotpole about it.
Instead, most of the time, Arthur would lay there, staring up at the ceiling or else going through paperwork—which he hated, and thinking about the past few weeks.
At least Merlin was there to keep him company some of the time. Babbling as usual, his stories were filled with nonsense but sometimes there were nuggets of other things, servants’ gossip, things Merlin had heard from his friends in taverns and further afield.
If he concentrated, Arthur could almost see what Merlin had been moaning about that night in the inn, about how servants were treated as furniture and knew everything but said nothing for fear of reprisal. That’s how, listening to Merlin nattering on, he found out that Lord Askelon wasn’t paying his proper amount of taxes, that Cenred was pushing at Camelot’s boundaries again, that Lady Ismere was a spy for Bayard. That Rolf and May were about to have a baby and it wasn’t Rolf’s.
Arthur knew that a kingdom depended on knowledge, that it was the peasantry and those not of the noble class that really made things run. But his father refused to see such things, pandering to the aristocracy and getting things wrong more often than not.
In fact, when in the first few days that he was able to attend a private meeting with his father, Arthur still wrapped in bandages but able to sit at least, he’d tried to get Uther to look into Askelon’s profits but was dismissed out of hand.
Trying again with Cenred’s movements, Uther had frowned at him, then told him that things were under control.
After that, back in his rooms, Arthur thought a long while before calling Merlin to attend him. In private.
When Merlin finally arrived, his hair leaf-blown and a smudge of something on his cheek, Arthur just sighed. “Do I want to know where you’ve been?”
“Umm, probably not,” Merlin gave him a gormless grin, one that Arthur used to fall for when he thought Merlin a brainless idiot, but their last ‘adventure’ had opened Arthur’s eyes.
“I’ve just come from my father. I hate to admit it, but you were right.” Merlin’s grin turned genuine, as if he’d been gifted a treasure. Arthur continued, “He only wants to hear about what the nobles have to say. I want to know the truth.”
That grin of Merlin’s turned tentative, then disappeared altogether. “Umm, truth? About May’s baby?”
“No, you idiot, the other things, things that can affect the kingdom. If my father refuses to see what is right in front of him, then it’s up to me to make sure Camelot and its people are safe. For that, I’ll need to know what’s going on. And for that, I expect you to tell me everything, not just what you think I want to hear.”
“Me? I don’t know anything. I’m just a servant, I’m an idiot, remember?” Merlin squeaked. He didn’t look happy about it, either.
“We both know that isn’t true,” Arthur said, leaning forward, trying not to wince from his sore chest as he did so. “You know more than you are letting on. I need you to be honest with me. How else can I make the right decisions?”
“I… look, Arthur, I know things, yes, but sometimes, to know them doesn’t mean they are bad. And I promised not to say… umm things about some people. I don’t want to get them into trouble or worse.” Merlin grimaced at that, maybe thinking that he was revealing too much. “I… there are laws in place that could be bad for them if I said anything. I’m not going to betray my friends just because you are feeling left out.”
“I’m not feeling left out. I’m trying to do better. And what laws would make you this nervous? It’s not like you know someone with magic, do you?” Arthur snapped.
Merlin’s gaze slid away, then turned back, his false smile firmly in place. “Umm, I… did you know May is having a baby? And Morgana’s horse ran away but Sir Leon found it just outside the postern gate and brought it back and you should have seen his face when Morgana thanked him. He was bright red and tripped over a rock, but Morgana didn’t see that so it’s all right, right?” He gave a little laugh, then looked guilty as if he knew that Arthur wouldn’t be pleased with the evasions.
He was right. Before, Arthur would have enjoyed the tale of Morgana’s horse, but now he could see that Merlin wasn’t answering the question, just trying to change the subject.
Arthur wasn’t having any of it. “So, you do know someone with magic.”
“I know lots of people,” Merlin muttered, shrugging as if it were nothing. But his face shuttered, his body stiff, as if preparing for a blow.
“Merlin, magic is dangerous. My father—,” Arthur didn’t quite shout but it was a near thing.
Scowling, Merlin snapped back, “Your father is an arse.”
“Merlin! You can’t be saying things like that.” Arthur was horrified. If Uther had heard him, Merlin would be in for the stocks at the very least and ten lashes or more if his father was in the bad mood.
Merlin wasn’t having it, apparently. Waving his arms about, almost if he had too much anger in him and no way to let it out, Merlin shouted, “You want the truth? Well, here’s some. There are lots of people with magic in Camelot, some who have barely any at all, some pretty powerful. All of them afraid. They hide because they have to. They hide because if they don’t, your tyrant of a father will chop off their heads or burn them at the stake or drown them. And is that just? If they don’t hurt anyone, what harm are they doing?” He scowled at Arthur, as cross as Arthur had ever seen him. “So, you can send me to the dungeons or to the stocks or whatever, but I won’t betray someone who isn’t doing anything but trying to exist.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way.” Arthur had never heard Merlin so passionate about something, especially when he tended to avoid any talk of magic at all. In fact, Arthur had thought Merlin felt as he did. This was a surprise, as much as knowing that his clumsy fool of a manservant was brave and loyal and stubborn when he thought he was right.
“Well, now you do. If you want me to help you find out things, then yes, I’ll do it, but I won’t condemn someone for having magic. I just won’t,” Merlin protested, folding his arms across his chest, and looking defiant as hell.
“And if they attack Camelot?” Arthur said.
Giving a little sigh, relaxing a little, Merlin said, “Then I’ll be by your side as always, keeping you safe.”
“You? You can’t keep from tripping over your own feet. I remember the last time you tried to help. You…,” Arthur stopped, thinking about the last time and how Merlin had managed to save Arthur’s life, rather brilliantly if truth be told. Perhaps he had a point after all. Clearing his throat, Arthur said, “I’ll take it under advisement.”
Reaching over, pulling Merlin down so that they were sitting next to each other, Merlin wary and Arthur determined, Arthur said, more gently, “I need help, the kind only a sneaky, secret-finding, idiotic-looking imbecile who can sometimes—very rarely— be wise. So, will you? Help me?”
Merlin softened, nodding. “I always have.”
‘Most of the time, you just get in the way.” When Merlin grumbled at that, Arthur said, “It will have to remain a secret between us. If my father found out, he might… misinterpret things.”
“Well, I certainly won’t be telling him, but I’ll have to tell Gaius. He’s been helping me anyway,” Merlin pointed out.
Arthur nodded. “Agreed but not any of the others.”
Merlin just grinned. “My lips are sealed.”
archaeologist_dTitle: Behind the mask – part 6
Rating: R
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: A drink, a seedy tavern as Arthur was chasing down rumours of a slaver in the neighbourhood, a slip into stupidity that he wasn’t proud of.
Warnings: talk of potential non-con but nothing explicit; foul language
Word Count:1397
Camelot Drabble Prompt bingo 512: secret relationship
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Arthur was going mad. Gaius kept telling him that training wasn’t possible just yet, that he had to rest, but Arthur was never one to sit still. A number of times, he was caught sneaking out, sword in hand, but Merlin chased him back inside, scowling, clucking like the mother hen he was, and berating him for being a clotpole about it.
Instead, most of the time, Arthur would lay there, staring up at the ceiling or else going through paperwork—which he hated, and thinking about the past few weeks.
At least Merlin was there to keep him company some of the time. Babbling as usual, his stories were filled with nonsense but sometimes there were nuggets of other things, servants’ gossip, things Merlin had heard from his friends in taverns and further afield.
If he concentrated, Arthur could almost see what Merlin had been moaning about that night in the inn, about how servants were treated as furniture and knew everything but said nothing for fear of reprisal. That’s how, listening to Merlin nattering on, he found out that Lord Askelon wasn’t paying his proper amount of taxes, that Cenred was pushing at Camelot’s boundaries again, that Lady Ismere was a spy for Bayard. That Rolf and May were about to have a baby and it wasn’t Rolf’s.
Arthur knew that a kingdom depended on knowledge, that it was the peasantry and those not of the noble class that really made things run. But his father refused to see such things, pandering to the aristocracy and getting things wrong more often than not.
In fact, when in the first few days that he was able to attend a private meeting with his father, Arthur still wrapped in bandages but able to sit at least, he’d tried to get Uther to look into Askelon’s profits but was dismissed out of hand.
Trying again with Cenred’s movements, Uther had frowned at him, then told him that things were under control.
After that, back in his rooms, Arthur thought a long while before calling Merlin to attend him. In private.
When Merlin finally arrived, his hair leaf-blown and a smudge of something on his cheek, Arthur just sighed. “Do I want to know where you’ve been?”
“Umm, probably not,” Merlin gave him a gormless grin, one that Arthur used to fall for when he thought Merlin a brainless idiot, but their last ‘adventure’ had opened Arthur’s eyes.
“I’ve just come from my father. I hate to admit it, but you were right.” Merlin’s grin turned genuine, as if he’d been gifted a treasure. Arthur continued, “He only wants to hear about what the nobles have to say. I want to know the truth.”
That grin of Merlin’s turned tentative, then disappeared altogether. “Umm, truth? About May’s baby?”
“No, you idiot, the other things, things that can affect the kingdom. If my father refuses to see what is right in front of him, then it’s up to me to make sure Camelot and its people are safe. For that, I’ll need to know what’s going on. And for that, I expect you to tell me everything, not just what you think I want to hear.”
“Me? I don’t know anything. I’m just a servant, I’m an idiot, remember?” Merlin squeaked. He didn’t look happy about it, either.
“We both know that isn’t true,” Arthur said, leaning forward, trying not to wince from his sore chest as he did so. “You know more than you are letting on. I need you to be honest with me. How else can I make the right decisions?”
“I… look, Arthur, I know things, yes, but sometimes, to know them doesn’t mean they are bad. And I promised not to say… umm things about some people. I don’t want to get them into trouble or worse.” Merlin grimaced at that, maybe thinking that he was revealing too much. “I… there are laws in place that could be bad for them if I said anything. I’m not going to betray my friends just because you are feeling left out.”
“I’m not feeling left out. I’m trying to do better. And what laws would make you this nervous? It’s not like you know someone with magic, do you?” Arthur snapped.
Merlin’s gaze slid away, then turned back, his false smile firmly in place. “Umm, I… did you know May is having a baby? And Morgana’s horse ran away but Sir Leon found it just outside the postern gate and brought it back and you should have seen his face when Morgana thanked him. He was bright red and tripped over a rock, but Morgana didn’t see that so it’s all right, right?” He gave a little laugh, then looked guilty as if he knew that Arthur wouldn’t be pleased with the evasions.
He was right. Before, Arthur would have enjoyed the tale of Morgana’s horse, but now he could see that Merlin wasn’t answering the question, just trying to change the subject.
Arthur wasn’t having any of it. “So, you do know someone with magic.”
“I know lots of people,” Merlin muttered, shrugging as if it were nothing. But his face shuttered, his body stiff, as if preparing for a blow.
“Merlin, magic is dangerous. My father—,” Arthur didn’t quite shout but it was a near thing.
Scowling, Merlin snapped back, “Your father is an arse.”
“Merlin! You can’t be saying things like that.” Arthur was horrified. If Uther had heard him, Merlin would be in for the stocks at the very least and ten lashes or more if his father was in the bad mood.
Merlin wasn’t having it, apparently. Waving his arms about, almost if he had too much anger in him and no way to let it out, Merlin shouted, “You want the truth? Well, here’s some. There are lots of people with magic in Camelot, some who have barely any at all, some pretty powerful. All of them afraid. They hide because they have to. They hide because if they don’t, your tyrant of a father will chop off their heads or burn them at the stake or drown them. And is that just? If they don’t hurt anyone, what harm are they doing?” He scowled at Arthur, as cross as Arthur had ever seen him. “So, you can send me to the dungeons or to the stocks or whatever, but I won’t betray someone who isn’t doing anything but trying to exist.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way.” Arthur had never heard Merlin so passionate about something, especially when he tended to avoid any talk of magic at all. In fact, Arthur had thought Merlin felt as he did. This was a surprise, as much as knowing that his clumsy fool of a manservant was brave and loyal and stubborn when he thought he was right.
“Well, now you do. If you want me to help you find out things, then yes, I’ll do it, but I won’t condemn someone for having magic. I just won’t,” Merlin protested, folding his arms across his chest, and looking defiant as hell.
“And if they attack Camelot?” Arthur said.
Giving a little sigh, relaxing a little, Merlin said, “Then I’ll be by your side as always, keeping you safe.”
“You? You can’t keep from tripping over your own feet. I remember the last time you tried to help. You…,” Arthur stopped, thinking about the last time and how Merlin had managed to save Arthur’s life, rather brilliantly if truth be told. Perhaps he had a point after all. Clearing his throat, Arthur said, “I’ll take it under advisement.”
Reaching over, pulling Merlin down so that they were sitting next to each other, Merlin wary and Arthur determined, Arthur said, more gently, “I need help, the kind only a sneaky, secret-finding, idiotic-looking imbecile who can sometimes—very rarely— be wise. So, will you? Help me?”
Merlin softened, nodding. “I always have.”
‘Most of the time, you just get in the way.” When Merlin grumbled at that, Arthur said, “It will have to remain a secret between us. If my father found out, he might… misinterpret things.”
“Well, I certainly won’t be telling him, but I’ll have to tell Gaius. He’s been helping me anyway,” Merlin pointed out.
Arthur nodded. “Agreed but not any of the others.”
Merlin just grinned. “My lips are sealed.”