Chapter Text
Spending hours on a horse was not Merlin's idea of fun, but it was made almost unbearable with hardly any sleep and a visiting noble along for the duration of the trip. Lord Gwer was a burly man, with a deep voice and a reputation for being cruel.
Abandoning his usual place at Arthur's side, Merlin trailed behind the group and stayed quiet as they rode through the woods. The sun had just begun to sink behind some distant mountains, when Arthur decided that they should make camp and Merlin got straight to work on his chores.
Laying the final bedroll out, Merlin got the fire going and started on dinner. It was a while, before everyone had finished eating and he collected the bowls to clean at a stream that ran nearby.
"You boy," Lord Gwer shouted, causing Merlin to approach and bow his head in respect, "I need more water and my horse needs tending to, make sure you see to it."
"Of course," Merlin replied, picking up the nobles waterskin off the floor and heading back to the stream with his shoulders slumped.
Returning to the camp, Merlin delivered the waterskin to Lord Gwer and then stumbled over to his bedroll in hopes of sleeping. Waking up the next morning, Merlin tended to Lord Gwer's horse and rushed to prepare breakfast as everyone began to stir. Watching the flames dance in the gentle morning breeze, Merlin slipped into his own head and jumped as a hand gripped his shoulder.
"Easy," came Lancelot's voice from beside him, "Is everything okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Merlin asked, looking over at Lancelot and seeing the concern swimming in his steady gaze, "It's nothing, I just..."
"Where's my breakfast boy?" Lord Gwer practically growled, making his way over to the fire and towering over Merlin threateningly.
"It's right here," Merlin mumbled, dishing some food into a bowl and handing it over.
Eating his own breakfast away from the group, Merlin sat back against the trunk of a tree and listened to the conversation going on between the others by the fire.
"How is it that you ended up with that servant of yours Arthur?" Merlin heard Lord Gwer inquire.
"He was rewarded that position by my father, after he saved my life," Arthur explained, a hint of pride in his voice and Merlin couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his face.
"If it was me, I would have gotten rid of him as soon as I knew how clumsy he was..." Lord Gwer told him, "I've seen how disrespectful he is towards you and your knights, thinking that he is an equal... that sort of behavior is easily fixed."
"Is that so?" Arthur added.
"Oh yes," Lord Gwer stated, "I've always told your father that he is far too lenient with the servants, they need to know their place and a little harsh discipline always does the job. That boy of yours would benefit greatly from a time in my household, he'd soon learn his place... "
"I understand that you have your own ways of dealing with your servants, Lord Gwer..." Arthur cut in, anger clear in his voice, "I, however, do not believe in the mistreatment of the people that serve me and I would ask you politely to keep your thoughts to yourself."
The conversation quickly changed after that, but the tension in the air was thick and Arthur soon gave the order to pack up camp. They continued their hunt for most of the afternoon, before finally turning back and heading home to Camelot.
Lancelot rode beside Merlin on the journey back, remaining silent and glaring at the back of Lord Gwer's head. Once they had stopped to let the horses rest, Merlin collected everyone's waterskins and trekked a little way through the trees to fill them at the stream.
Hearing heavy footsteps approaching him, Merlin tensed and turned to find Lord Gwer standing behind him. The look in the nobles eyes made Merlin uneasy, so he quickly finished filling the last waterskin and stood up to make his way back to the others.
He had only taken a few steps, when a large hand wrapped around his wrist like a vice and yanked him back roughly into the bigger man's chest. With one hand holding him still, Merlin felt the other come around his throat and panic surged through him as the man spoke.
"You need to know your place boy," Lord Gwer whispered in his ear, sending a shiver of fear down Merlin's spine, "You're not an equal... you're nothing but a lowly servant, do you understand me?"
Nodding his head as much as he could, Merlin gasped as the hand disappeared from his throat and frantically fought to regain control of his breathing. Rejoining the group, Merlin handed out the waterskins and returned to his horse without a word.
Arriving back in Camelot just before dark, Merlin took Arthur's horse's reins and silently headed towards the stables.
***
Watching as Merlin took the horses back to the stables with no complaints, Arthur bid Lord Gwer goodnight and waited until the noble was out of view before turning to his knights concerned.
"Does anyone know what's going on with Merlin?" He asked, hoping that someone had an answer and that he could fix whatever the problem was.
"I don't know," Lancelot replied, "I did ask him and he was about to tell me, but Gwer interrupted our conversation."
"I'll try and talk to him tonight, but keep a close eye on him... especially while Lord Gwer is here," Arthur stated, earning nods from his knights and turning to leave as Gwaine spoke.
"Don't worry your royal head, princess... we'll figure out what's wrong with him."
Rolling his eyes at his friend's comment, Arthur chose to ignore it and made his way to his chambers. He was lost in deep thought, when someone knocked quietly on his door and he was snapped back to reality.
"Enter," he called, looking up as the door opened and Merlin entered.
"Sorry I'm late," Merlin mumbled, heading to the prince's wardrobe and pulling out a fresh set of sleeping clothes.
Once he was dressed and Merlin had turned down his bed covers, Arthur observed his manservant with a frown. The usual smiling, bumbling, chatty idiot was suddenly quiet and it put Arthur on edge.
"Merlin?" The prince said, drawing the boys attention away from the dirty laundry he'd been picking up, "Is something that matter?"
"No, why?"
"You're doing your chores without complaint and you've hardly said two words to me, since we left on the hunting trip."
"Sorry."
"I don't want you to apologize, Merlin," Arthur told him, moving over to the younger man and lifting his chin with his thumb, "I want you to tell me what's wrong?"
"I'm just tired, is there anything else you need Sire?" Merlin asked, stepping away from Arthur's touch and making his way over to extinguish the candles.
"No, that will be all."
"Goodnight, Sire."
"Sleep well, Merlin," Arthur mumbled as Merlin left, climbing into bed and staring at the ceiling.