Chapter Text
Arthur knelt on the muddy ground, panting. Merlin lay sprawled in front of him, very unconscious, but breathing. He heard the trees creak and the ground shiver as the monster ambled closer. Nothing he did hurt it, no amount of sword or arrow or fire.
Merlin had fallen into him, rather luckily for Arthur, just as the beast was about to claw him. He knocked them both backwards, but not enough that Merlin himself didn’t get snatched and thrown like a rag doll into the woods. Arthur ran after him, and now, crouching over his stupidly clumsy manservant, he gathered Merlin up and weighed his chances of fleeing with the both of them.
Then the monster was there, huge and unstoppable. Closer and closer it stepped until Arthur could feel the tremors in his very bones and he looked up, craning his neck to see it. His bones were vibrating and the air was humming. He held Merlin tightly, some pathetic form of comfort as he stared death straight on.
And then, there was no monster.
Arthur, still clutching Merlin like a lifeline, looked around. A wooden and stone building, many tables, and a bar. It looked like a tavern.
Just
Suddenly,
A tavern.
He loosened his hold on Merlin and placed his hand on the sword at his hip. There were a few tenants, but they were absorbed in their own drinks. He blinked, judged them safe for the moment, and examined Merlin. He looked up and around constantly, and one hand never strayed far from his dagger. A quick sweep of the area told Arthur the tenants there didn’t even seem to have even acknowledged their sudden entrance.
A man behind a counter looked over at them distantly and without a welcome. He put down a dirty glass he'd been wiping with a dirty rag.
"You gonna buy somethin'?"
"...We are bleeding. He's unconscious. Perhaps later." Arthur said with more than a little sarcasm. The man made a face full of distaste and went back to the dirty cup and rag. No one else seemed to care much.
He didn’t seem very impressed with his money when Arthur tried to buy a room for the night, and only took it because it's gold. Arthur scooped Merlin up and made it to the stairs when the door swung open. He switched Merlin from arms to shoulder and put his hand on his hilt in case of an attack.
Several younger people came in and slid into a table at the corner. He watched them, tense, and they didn't seem to notice him either. Then Merlin (the oaf) groans so loudly the entire pub looks over.
"Arthur, what happened? I feel like I was hit with an ox, plus cart..."
"Shut. Up." he said.
"Why do I have such a view of your behind?"
"Merlin!" he hissed. "For once in your sad, dimwitted life—!" He backed up the stairs, watching the room in a highly suspicious manner.
Merlin kicked his legs in frustration. "You look like you're abducting me, you prat! Let go!"
One of the children laughs. "Did he just call him Merlin?"
Arthur turned his gaze on them. He just got the response that "His mum was rather hopeful."
"She could have been muggleborn," a girl whispered rather scoldingly.
Arthur backed the rest of the way upstairs and located their room.
Hermione said they should do something. The other two weren't sure what, and more students started to arrive.
"He really did look like he was being abducted." Ron admitted.
Ginny sat down, looking curiously at them. "What are you talking about? Has something happened?"
"Someone's been hurt," Harry whispers. "They've gone upstairs."
"Oh!" Ginny said. "Well, I could offer this. I have it for Umbridge's awful punishments." She digs in her bags and pulls out a clear jar full of something thick.
Harry leaned forward, looking at it curiously. "What is it?"
"It's a sort of healing balm. Madam Pomfrey made it up."
A slow nod. "Alright. How about I take it up? And you lot can greet everyone as they arrive."
"Harry, they're all here for you..."
"...Oh. Right. Um." He looked nervous again and Hermione started to reassure him.
Ginny gave Ron the jar and told him to take it.
"You take it!"
"Michael is going to be here soon!"
"Then definitely take it! I want to talk to that bloke."
"Ron, get out of my sight right now before I hex your hair off."
"Both of you go before you start a scene," Hermione hissed. "Ginny, it's better if there are two of you in case they’re trouble."
Ginny huffed, but they both agreed and scurried upstairs. The bartender watched them with the same distaste he showed everyone. They slipped upstairs as even more people came in. It occurred to them belatedly that they didn’t know which room they wanted.
"Look," Ginny whispered. She gestured to a smeared drop of red on the ground. Ron nodded, and knocked on the door nearest.
There was a scuffle and a loud ‘oof!’ followed by one of the voices saying "I said get the door! You're not that hurt."
"Alright, alright! ...dollophead."
Ron choked on a breath and the door opened. A black haired boy looked at the curiously, smiling a little. He was reminiscent of Ron, in his long lanky limbs.
"Hello? Is there a... problem?"
"Here," Ginny pushed forward and offered the jar. "You looked pretty bad off, so we thought you might appreciate it." Ron nodded.
Merlin grinned at them. "Thank you, my lady!" Ron doubled over laughing and Ginny blushed. (Just a little.)
"Oh. Well, you're welcome. Can I ask what happened?"
Merlin laughed. "Oh, my master and I were just in a bit of trouble, nothing to worry about." The man in the background scoffed.
"Oh. Well, I hope you two are okay. I'm sure someone in town would let you floo to St. Mungo's if you need to." Ginny said.
"Also," Ron said. "The Three Broomsticks might be a nicer place to stay." He looked down the dank hallway, with peeling wallpaper, everything a sickly white and yellow and brown. Dust floated past the flickering and coughing lamps mounted on the walls.
Merlin grinned at them, and nodded. "Sure thanks. Erm- where's that?"
"Merlin we're not moving. We need to figure out where we are."
Merlin glanced at Arthur then back over to the two redheads. "Yes well, do either of you two know where we are? How far from Camelot?"
"Camelot!" Ron and Ginny looked shocked. "You're in Scotland!" Ron said.
"Yes, well, how far?" Arthur said. Merlin glanced back at him and decided he should give Arthur their balm gift.
"Well, it's not really a matter of how far, but" Ron shook his head. "No one's known where the location was for centuries! I mean, come on! Your name is Merlin, but this is ridiculous."
Merlin snickered at Ron’s energy but he looked confused. "I'm not really following."
Ron raised his eyebrows. "You're pretty ridiculous, mate."
Arthur stepped forward. "’Mate’?"
Ron looked over at him, a little nervously. He looked like a mix of Goyle and Malfoy. Prissy and spoiled and far more buff then he ought to be.
Ginny glared and stepped right up to him. "I have given you that but I will take it right back!" Arthur blinked down at her, but Merlin slipped in between them.
"I'm thinking we ended up father away that I thought. You sound a bit, well, odd to me. Perhaps I'm saying something that means differently to you." He looked sheepish."Sorry!” he added. Ginny looked at him huffily, obviously wanting to go after Arthur.
"Yeah, sorry, didn't mean to... offend..." Ron coughed, really not sure what he could possibly have said.
Arthur scoffed in a very superior sort of way. "Merlin, just make yourself useful for once and go down and see if this place serves food." He looked down at the jar, saying a little softer, "May we still use this?"
Ginny nods after a moment, then turns and walks away.
"Food here's gross," Ron warned, and turned. Merlin slipped out, closed the door and followed.
The three of them went down the narrow stairs together. It was far more crowded now. The group in the corner was noticeable and loud. Ron and Ginny looked at each other, suddenly nervous.
Merlin looked over curious, but went over to the bar to ask about food as ordered. The man grumbled that he wouldn't be taking any more of that nasty fake money if he was expecting anything.
"Erm well... I think we're foreign to here. We don't know your currency. Is there any-"
"Don't know the currency, what rubbish is that? It's all the same!"
Some of the kids glanced over as Merlin huffed.
"Could I... work for some food? We only really need one meal, I can do without."
The man looked surprised at the suggestion and, after a moment, nodded.
"Fine. What do you want?"
"A meal of whatever meat you have on the fire, bread and wine." Merlin asked.
"...Fine."
Merlin beamed at him. "What do you need done my good man?"
He was eyed up and down. "What can ya do well? Any use?"
"I'm very good at scrubbing floors. Polishing things. Cleaning up after people. I could..... deal with any roughs you have bothering your establishment?" He added the last one jokingly, but he was met with a complete lack of amusement.
"I can use magic for all that, boy. Try again."
Merlin's face dropped, he blinked, then laughed. "Oh- well then! Best not tell my master then, we're from Camelot."
The man raised a single eyebrow. "Camelot's been gone for centuries." he said. "What can you do?"
"...cook?" Merlin tried, but he was distracted now. Camelot was gone? How could it be gone? The idea was chilling.
"Don't tell my master that either," he said as an afterthought.
The man looks impatient and unamused. "Cooking then. That'll do, should anyone order a meal."
"Well... I have. I can wait tables, I suppose too. You don't use magic for that, I hope?"
He shook his head. "Go wait tables, then. And cook what they ask for."
The man put down his dirty rag and cup and walked into the back, presumably to cook Arthur's meal. Merlin glanced around nervously, and then magicked the cloth and cup clean. He ran upstairs but he was back quickly after to make rounds to all the residents.
He got several (bloody) orders from gnarled sounding women in veils, and then he approached the kids.
"So. You all need anything to eat? Please? I need to work this off."
Hermione had been talking about something, a scroll out on the table, but she'd stopped as he approached. She sat up straighter and smiled a little nervously. "Um... I suppose, yes. I could have some..... lunch. I suppose."
Merlin grinned in a very apologetic way. "I would rather a more specific order, if you could think of one. Otherwise I'll just be making you whatever I find.”
"Oh, uh. Perhaps a watercress sandwich?"
He nodded and looked around at the others. Several headshakes and a few more orders later, he moved on.
Hermione let out a breath and pulled out the paper again.
Ron laughed. "Well that was awkward! You know he's telling people he's from Camelot?"
"It’s not important, Ron! We need to do this."
Merlin headed into the back to start cooking. The bartender was just putting a rather unappetizing plate together. He shoved it into Merlin's hands as he approached.
"Take it up and get to work, boy."
Merlin grinned at the food and brought it upstairs. He gave it to Arthur very quickly and ran back downstairs and vaulted the counter.
For the rest of the evening he was in and out, handing off meals to people and collecting payment. The bartender just stood by the bar, wiping his clean rag on the clean cup.
Hermione was rather impressed by her sandwich. The bartender was a little surprised, later in the day when he saw how clean the kitchen was. Merlin needed it to be to cook, after all. Merlin ran out of things of do pretty quickly and just leaned on the counter, watching things. The group of younger folks in the corner was by far the most interesting.
They seemed upset about something, and secretive. He listened only to keep Arthur safe, though. Speaking of which, he should check on the dolt.
He slipped back upstairs, after checking no one wanted a refill on drinks or anything, and got a wooden plate thrown at his head as he entered the room.
"Hey! What if it wasn't me?!"
"It was you, Merlin. And that was disgusting."
"Well that's not my fault, they said it will be! You should be thankful you got anything; I’m going hungry!"
"Go get something better, even if you have to make it yourself!"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Yes, sire." he said. Arthur looked like he was trying to find something else to throw. Merlin ducked out quickly. He went back downstairs, paused, then ran back up.
"Arthur," he stuck his head back in. "Are you done with the salve? I should return it."
Arthur looked down at the jar and nodded. "Did you need any? Were you injured?"
"Nah, I’m fine." Merlin grinned encouragingly, but darted in to take it. "I'll see if I can get you something more, but it'll mean I'm here longer to pay it off!" He ran off again before Arthur could say much.
"Excuse me, my lady?" Merlin crept up to the group, tilting a little to get a look at Ginny through the group. "Forgive me. I have your salve?" He offered it up.
Ginny blinked as everyone went quiet. She got a couple funny looks and her ears turned red. The boy next to her frowned at Merlin and grabbed Ginny’s freckled hand in his brown one.
"...Thank you. I hope you are both alright?"
Merlin grinned and nodded. "Yes, thank you." She smiled awkwardly back. Michael switched hands and pointedly slung an arm around her. Merlin didn't even seem to notice. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him.
"If there is ever a favor you need, please just tell me and I will repay the debt."
"No... you don't have to......"
He shook his head. "No really, I mean it." He bowed to the group and walked back behind the bar. Ginny looked down at the jar skeptically.
"Well," she said. Ron, and several of the other boys, snorted and snickered. Hermione said that she thought that was very thoughtful.
Merlin made another meal up for Arthur and brought it upstairs. He poured also a glass of... well, something in a bottle. It smoked briefly in the cup and then lay still. Merlin gave it a nervous sniff, but it smelled properly like liquor. He even cast a quick spell on it. It was not poisoned. He thought briefly of diluting it, but the water ran sort of orange and smelled like blood and copper.
Finally, he brought the meal up to Arthur. Arthur took it, much more pleased. "Yes, finally something edible. Thank you, Merlin. Now-"
"I have to go work off your two dinners, sire. I'll be back later."
Merlin ran out before Arthur could give him any more to do. When he got downstairs, all of the kids were going over and signing the scroll. He glanced over at them. He felt magic in the air, like they were consenting to a pact of some sort. It made him nervous, though they all seemed in excellent cheer. He shook the thought out of his head and finished up the last meals. He tidied up the kitchen with a quick wave and a mutter, and then left to the bartender.
"Thank you," he bowed.
The bartender nodded, and said if he was expecting more than a night's sleep then he’d be working again in the morning. Merlin laughed a little awkwardly but nodded and promised to consult his master on the subject.
He didn't really feel like actually going upstairs to the royal pain quite yet though, so he decided to wander over to the kids again. They all looked over at him. One blond young man in yellow and black turned on him. "And what exactly is your reason for coming over here so often?"
Merlin smiled, just a touch nervous. "Sorry, my lord. Didn't mean anything."
"And why on earth are you talking like that!"
"Uh, like what, my lord?"
"Like that!" the other boy insisted. "And you're changing the subject. We're having a private meeting."
The others were just looking back and forth between them. Zachariah was snappish and annoying, but the stranger’s presence was nerve wracking to a clandestine meeting.
Merlin bowed his head. "I apologize my lord, you just seemed young to me, to be... having private meetings and the like. I can leave you be."
"You better!" The boy all but snarled, pointing a rather short stick at him and waving it.
"Stop it! He's done nothing wrong!" Ginny snapped.
A snort. "You just like him 'cause he's flirting with you."
Merlin laughed, eyeing the stick like it was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen. "Sorry, but... what is that going to do to me?"
"Hex you if I have anything to say about it!" Merlin blinked.
"Oh. Well!"
"Smith!" George said threateningly. He waved a small metal... thing, rather threateningly. "Seat yourself. We've had enough from you."
Merlin looked over at him, then backed away muttering about needing to check on his master. He skirted off upstairs again.
Hermione frowned, watching him go worriedly. "He didn't really seem to know what a wand was, did he...."
Ron laughed. "Just sounded a little cocky to me. He thinks we're kids."
"Noooo.... I don't think that's it. He addresses us like a house elf...."
Ron snorted. "No he doesn’t." Hermione just hummed in response.
"The ... meeting is over now, so." Harry said, standing. "Leave in small groups. And. Yeah, that's all."
They started to disperse. Hermione insisted that they go check on the poor man upstairs.
"Are you alright?" she asked, once they had arrived at the visitors’ door.
Merlin looked up at her and smiled sweetly. He slipped outside the room and closed the door. "Yes, my lady! He's a bit of a prat, isn't he?"
Hermione smiled apologetically. "A bit, yes.... Um, may I ask-"
"You're not secretly an elf, are you?" Ron interrupted, a little pointedly, a little mockingly. "I only ask because Hermione thinks you talk like one."
Merlin blinked at him and laughed rather heartily. "What? No, I'm human, my lord. What do elves talk like?"
Ron raised a brow at Hermione. She gave him a dirty look. “Well, sort of kowtow, you know? Like everyone else is more important."
"Oh. I thought you were nobility is all." Merlin said. He looked them up and down. "You seem...well cared for." He waved an arm towards the stairs. “We should go sit.”
Ron looked confused. Hermione looked like she wanted to make sure Merlin was well care for.
"We...aren't. We're students." He said, walking with Merlin and his friends to their newly empty table.
"Students? What is your apprenticeship, if you don’t mind me asking?" Merlin said amicably. Ron gave him an odd look. Harry laughed, looking confused.
"Well... Magic I suppose."
Merlin's face fell, and he glanced at the stairs. "Really now. Try not to mention that to my master. He's not fond of magic."
"What?" Ron sounded outright skeptical now.
Hermione cut him off. "What do you mean master?"
"I'm his manservant. He is nobility." Merlin said, grinning. "And, well," he was whispering now. “He was brought up to fear it."
"Really?" Harry said.
"Really?" from Ron. Merlin laughed again.
"Yes well, no one seems to believe me when I say we're from Camelot."
Hermione paid this line of conversation no mind, she was frowning worriedly. "Do you get... paid for being a manservant?"
Merlin blinked at her. "Well yes, a little, and usually room and board. I don't need much though, I get by."
She hummed. "I'm just worried for you." she said. Merlin blushed.
"You're too kind. Please don't worry my- miss. I'm fine! I like working for the idiot. Mostly."
"Yeah, Hermione, I don't think he's house-elvish." Ron was amused by the insulting of the large Goyle-Malfoy upstairs. Merlin laughed and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted before the words could leave his mouth.
"Meeeeeeeerrrrlllimnnnnnnnnnnn theeeeere you are where have you been???" There was a thump, and Arthur slammed heavily into the side of the doorjamb at the base of the staircase, looking... very out of it.
Merlin blinked. "Arthur. You're… drunk."
Arthur all but flopped on him. "No I’m not! I hardly had a full glassssss of whatever you mave ge."
Merlin cackled, grabbing Arthur’s arm and bracing himself on the wall. Arthur demanded to know what was so funny.
“How did you even manage it?” Merlin said. “I didn’t even give you the bottle. It was only a glass!”
“A glass of what exactly? They have some pretty strong stuff round here. The warlocks like them.”
Arthur reeled back in drunken alarm. “Warlocks?! Where?!” he fumbled, and drew his sword.
“Arthur! Arthur, you’re drunk, you misheard.” Merlin soothed. “Don’t make a fool of yourself.”
Arthur glared, a little cross-eyed, at the implication. “Merliiin,” he glared and Merlin made a face because he could tell what was coming. “Shaddup.”
Merlin sighed. “No, sire, you did mishear them. Go upstairs and sleep it off or something.”
Arthur rolled his eyes in a very loose and exaggerated way. “Whatever. Yeah. Upstairs.” He wandered until Merlin pointed him in the right direction. Then he rounded on the trio.
“Do you want to die?” He looks and sounds so exasperated they draw back startled.
“Oi!” Ron said angrily.
Merlin paid him no heed. “I just told you he’s not good with magic! He’ll have your heads if you talk about it like that again.”
“But you have magic, don’t you?” Merlin glanced at the stairs uneasily.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But don’t suggest anything about magic near him. Please.”
Hermione looked concerned again, but so did the other two. “But this village is entirely magic.”
“…Bollocks.” He’d gone a little pale, and looked tired and twitchy all of a sudden. “And… no idea where Camelot is, right?”
“It really doesn’t exist anymore.” Ron informed him with a fair amount of exasperation.
“No, of course not. That would be ridiculous.” Merlin muttered. “Fine. Okay. I’ll do without!” He paced, thinking hard about his duties to Arthur and his destiny. “Would you, uh, mind much telling me about the area?” He looked pitiful, pulling a face like he was awaiting the death sentence with their words.
“If he’s abusing you, you shouldn’t have to serve him any longer!” Hermione insisted instead. “Quit! There are plenty of jobs in town.”
Merlin laughed dryly, smiling again. “What? No. Well, doesn’t your master abuse you all sometimes? You’re apprentices; they can’t be that good to you. You just get used to that sort of thing right?”
Ron hummed grumpily, thinking of Snape. Harry’s expression was foul, thinking of Umbridge. Hermione looked horrified and insisted that ”No! None of their teachers are brandishing swords at them!”
Merlin snorts. “Well, you’re quite lucky! My first day, he used me as a practice dummy.”
Ron laughed then felt rather bad. Merlin was still grinning. Hermione glared reproachfully at Ron. “It’s not right! Tell him Harry, come on!”
“Well, it’s not, and you shouldn’t do what he says if he’s being such a prat to you.”
“Well, he may be a prat, but he’s a good man. I’d lay down my life for him.” He coughed, “But actually, I’d really like some information on the town.”
“It’s called Hogsmeade.” Herminie said grumpily. “It’s in Scotland, but otherwise unplottable. Everyone here is some being or another of magic, and it’s obvious.”
“That’s incredible.” Merlin said. “And there are no laws against it, or anything?” Oh, maybe he’ll just accept that. He looked a little worried still, smile nervous, but he seemed to be relaxing. “He understands there are places not our own, with different views.” Merlin explained. Then his smile widened into a grin again. “Thanks so much. He probably won’t trust you though, since you’re sorcerers.”
“Rude.” Ron muttered.
“Oh, very,” Merlin said and went back upstairs. “Thank you again! And my thanks to the fiery Lady, too.”
He ran upstairs. Ron laughed, but then frowned. “That was bloody weird. How’d they even get here if he can’t have any magic?”
“I don’t know, but the poor thing! We need to help him. Maybe we should tell Professor Dumbledore?” Casually, without their notice, the hag behind the veil in the corner stood and walked out of the pub. Harry and Ron nodded and after a moment, they left. Hermione was already plotting when they could ask the headmaster.
Upstairs, Merlin sat to wait in until Arthur was awake and not snoring. Actually going to sleep sounded nice right now. Going to sleep sounded so good that Merlin barely pulled the top layer of clothing off and fell into bed before he was fast asleep.
Merlin didn’t wake up until halfway through the night, when Arthur freaked out and flailed around the room with the sword because he remembered what he heard about warlocks. At that point, Merlin had to explain tiredly to a, luckily, much more sober Arthur that this whole town had no laws against magic. It was like a safe haven.
When they got back to the castle, Harry suggested they go to try Dumbledore’s office right then. Hermione looked delighted at the suggestion, and lead the way. They came to the gargoyle, and looked at each other.
“Should we just start guessing?" Harry asked.
Ron looked skeptically at him, but nodded. “Yeah… It was Muggle candy, right?”
“Any, actually.”
Hermione nodded, looking determined. “Sugar dots, Peppermint canes, Chocolate frogs…”
“Lemon drops. Honey sticks?”
“Mars bars. Bertie Bott’s Every flavor Beans.” They took turns naming anything they could think of until it opened to a desperate “Jelly bellies?”
Dumbledore welcomed them easily when they knocked on his office door. “And what is it you need?”
“There’s a boy in the village, in Hogsmeade,” Hermione began. “He’s only our age, I think, but he works for someone who has him so scared of magic and it’s awful!” Dumbledore actually seemed quite surprised. He was obviously expecting nothing of the sort. “He’s got a sword, Professor! And it sounds like he does awful things to him, too. He’s obviously a wizard, but he hasn’t even got a wand because this man is so oppressive he just pretends he can’t use magic!”
The headmaster looked very curious indeed. “Are you sure? Where in Hogsmeade is he? It will be checked on immediately.”
“The Hogs Head pub!” Hermione said. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Dumbledore nodded. “Is there anything more about the situation you should tell me?”
“Only that the poor thing calls that man his master!” Hermione informed him passionately.
Ron coughs back a laugh and said “And he keeps insisting he’s from Camelot or something.”
“They were hurt when we first went in,” Harry said after a moment “He was unconscious and very confused about everything when he came downstairs. He didn’t know where he was.”
Hermione nodded vigorously. “He gets frightened when we talk of magic. He thought that man would kill us!”
Dumbledore frowned. “That is very odd,” He nodded to them. “Thank you for telling me. You should go back to dinner now.”
Hermione opened her mouth to say more, but Ron and Harry thought it best to leave things there. They pulled her out with a last thank you of their own.
Dumbledore decided wasting time would be foolish in this situation, and set out to inform Minerva that he would be attending to some business in town.