I am the Keeper (Prince Arthur and Merlin)

[neav]

If anyone had bothered noticed the changes in Neav, they did not wonder at them. War does change people, even those who do not fight. But most of the stable-hands noticed nothing more than their tiny stable-boy was growing like a pale bean-plant. He could claim two inches and five feet (if he cheated a little) and his weed-like thinness only made him seem taller. But boys of somewhere-around-fifteen always grew like this and so it was of no importance.

If anyone noticed that Neav seemed to have changed inside as well as out, the made no comment. He had always been silent, after all... and a differerent kind of silence can only be noticed by those who take time to listen to it.
At the start of this year Neav had been forever frightened, skittish as a foal. He did not speak unless he was forced. If he stayed secret and silent, he stayed safe.
But now... now Neav wore his silence like cloak. A shadow-cloak to hide something that he did not want to be found. His ice blue eyes saw all, remembered all and was not afraid.
Changed by war? Perhaps.
But perhaps it was more to do with magic. Learning that you carry an anicent and impossibly strong power can change a person far more than war.

*

Neav was scrubbing out a water-bucket like when they bought her in. If he had his magic cast out wide he would have known... in the early days of the war he had done this, trying to keep track of every horse. But their pain, their deaths he felt so strongly that it had half killed him. Now he had to shut them out and care only for those with him, though it made him cry inside.

There had been another battle, close to Camelot or else she never would have made it. Gillyflower, one of the youngest mares in the fighting, limped into the yard. She was covered in blood and slashes, more dead than alive. Neav heard the head groom draw a sharp breath behind him.
"She wont live. Leave her," was his command. Neav ignored him.

He lead Gillyflower to her stall, slowly and gently washing her with magic so that she could walk that last distance. Then he helped her to lay trembling in the straw. Neav did not once think of the consiquences of what he was about to do.
He knelt, holding his hands over her, as though warming them at a fire. His eyes flashed silver. Magic flowed through him and from him touching each of Gillyflower's wounds and smoothing them away.

Neav did not know how long he had knelt there. It was almost dark when he was finished. The mare was now sleeping, peaceful with no sign she had been in a fight. Neav found he was shaking. He was suddenly so tired...
But next second he was wide awake for a voice behind him cried out.
"Magic! You! You used magic. Of all the people..."
Neav turned, white with horror. One of the stable-hands stood their, pointing with a shaking finger. The boy said nothing. There was nothing he could say...
"You, stay here. I'm calling the guards. I'm telling the Prince!"
Still Neav said nothing as the young man turned and ran. Fear took him like a slow, creeping frost in a way it had not done for months. He was caught. He had been careless and he was caught and now he was going to die...


Timeline: one year gap, three weeks before Morgana is found
Tags: Prince Arthur, Merlin
Notes: I am so sorry about how long this is! I am not sure how it happened... and I hope this is ok for the start?

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had just returned from a very intense battle. The war with Cenred was getting more and more intense, and they were losing a great deal of men. On top of everything else, Morgana still had not been found. Half their efforts were focused on defense, and the other half was focused on constantly sending out search parties to find her. Arthur could not object to either, but at the same time, he could ignore how weakened the kingdom was getting. The king's judgment was clouded with concern for Morgana . . . and Arthur could not blame him. Every moment that went by when she was not found, was a more difficult one for the Prince to endure. But he would not stop looking, or give up hope. He still planned to somehow find her, and bring her home safely.

But for now, they had to focus on the battle. Arthur was standing in the courtyard, with a few other knights. Some of which were the guards, and the others were the survivors of the battle. Those who had just returned -- the Prince included -- were tired, dirty, and mourning for those who had not come back with them. The Prince was receiving a brief update from one of the guards, determining what had happened in the kingdom in the knight's absence, when all of a sudden, someone came running desparetely towards them.

"My lord! Neav, the stable boy! He has used sorcery!"

Arthur, never in a million years would have expected to hear such words. Not only had they come from no where, but their actual meaning was . . . no. It could not be. Neav. Really? The innocent stable boy? That was just it. He was just a boy! How could he have used such strong magic? Then again, Arthur knew better than to question the limitations of sorcery . . . there never seemed to be any. This was not what Arthur wanted to do. He did not want to arrest a servant who had proved to be such a help to him personally, and to all the horses. He had done his job dutifully, and so what had his actions in magic done? Was it something dangerous? Something threatening?

Arthur did not have time to question it. This messenger had no reason to lie, and that was why all the knight's around Arthur had raised their guards. Even one small accusation such as this would not be questioned. He knew if his father had his way, he would have the boy killed on the spot. But Arthur could not do this. He would not. For now, he had to act his role though . . . just as he had done several times in the past.

He walked alongside the knights, towards the one place that Neav without undoubtedly be: the stables. When Arthur saw him, his expression was completely emotionless and this same lack of feeling was apparent in his voice. "Arrest the boy." Arthur's tone was detached, formal, stern. His mind went back to Mordred, and how the poor boy had been so sick, and how his father would have killed him. Arthur could not kill a child; so that was when he silently decided that he was going to do what he could to save the boy. But for now, they would have to arrest him.

[pie]

Merlin had been returning to Arthur's chambers with the recently done laundry when he saw the knights, and Arthur, moving down the halls with a quick pace. Was something wrong? More than curious, Merlin, still carrying the laundry, matched pace with them, but would remain behind at the same time. If there was some kind of danger, than he didn't want to be a hindrance to them, to mess up their concentration or something.

Why, then, did he have a worried feeling about this?

What could cause this? He had heard no warning bells, no hint that their was danger about. Was it something that they wanted to keep secret, then? Were they riding off again so soon? No, he couldn't believe either possibility, and he had to find out what was really happening, what had really caused them to leave the castle, Merlin in pursuit, as they headed to the one place that Merlin never would have expected: The stables.

His eyes widened slightly as he slowed his pace when he neared the group. There was Neav, and there was Arthur, declaring he be arrested. Merlin's face drained of color for a moment, then turned back to a deeper red as he marched forward, pushing his way past the guards to stand in front of Neav and between the two groups. He had a lot of nerve for doing this, standing up against the Prince when he ordered someone arrested. Yet he knew not what for he was being arrested.

Even if he did, he would be doing the same thing.

"Arrest him?" he asked, shock and disbelief etching an angry voice. "Arthur, he's just a boy!" He cast a worried look at Neav over his shoulder, then back to Arthur, with it obvious that he didn't approve of this. What would the Prince do, though? Merlin didn't know, nor did he care how he reacted to Merlin's actions! This was just wrong!

Wrong no matter what he did!

[neav]

It might have been eternity or only a few seconds before Neav heard the tell-tale marching of guards. His mind seemed to have stopped working. He could not quite believe what had happened... Could not quite believe that the Prince would arrest him. Neav had worked for the Prince with unquestioning loyalty and all he had done was heal Gillyflower's wounds. Surely it would be alright? Everyone said that they horses moved so much better in fights since Neav had worked with them... surely he could not be killed?

Neav felt sick as the tramping guards filled his stables. He was sure he would be sick if he stood and so he stayed kneeling by the sleeping horse, white as death. The Prince was with them. Neav gazed up at him, ice eyes pleading... but he was met with nothing but the flat order for his arrest.
But before Neav could say anything, someone seemed to leap to his defense. Someone pushed through the guards and spoke for him. Merlin. The Prince's manservant, Neav knew. How did he dare... and why did he dare? Of course Neav knew him - Prince Arthur seemed to be always sending Merlin to muck out stables. But it was not as though they were close friends.
Shakily, Neav got to his feet. He did not want to seem as though he were cowering on his knees behind a servant he hardly knew.
"I - I didn't..." he whispered, so soft it could hardly be heard. "I was not bad. I only made her well again...."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had to admit that he was surprised to suddenly hear Merlin object to the arrest. Arthur did not react to it. He stayed professional because in the public eye, he had to comply with his father's laws. He only disobeyed him over very specific things, and even then, it was usually in privacy. He may be arresting Neav, but that did not mean he would allow him to burn at the stake, or be executed. He was a child; a boy. He had the rest of his life ahead of him. "Stay out of this Merlin," Arthur said in a stern voice, though it was not a yell. "It does not concern you."

He went on to hear what Neav had done. He had cured the horses? What exactly did his powers fully entail? Arthur had so many questions for him . . . he wanted to know so much, though he felt a massive betrayal from the boy who he had rewarded for his loyalty. Those with magic, should not practice magic in Camelot. It was as simple as that, because when they were caught, Arthur had to deal with punishing them . . . which put him in a terrible situation, especially when it was someone he had trusted.

Neav did not even try to disagree with the accusations, saying they were false, and that he had done nothing. He accepted it, even admitted it. It was why Arthur had believed the boy to be so honest. But it did not surprise him that the boy had risked using it if it meant saving one of the horses. He knew just how close he was to them. And yet, his father would never understand. He still had to arrest him, throw him in the dungeon, and then he would have a trial, in which he would inevitably be found guilty . . . and then he would be executed. This was the process of how it would work. And Arthur feared for the child. "You are charged with practicing sorcery," Arthur continued in the same emotionless, authoritative, and serious tone. Two guards went up to the boy and each one grabbed an arm, beginning to literally drag him from the stables. Arthur hated watching this, but for now, he would have to hide the discomfort in witnessing a young boy get arrested to his death, and appear to be professional.

[pie]

Merlin's gaze turned helpless at Arthur's command. Was the Prince so heartless? No, he knew he was not, and yet... did this not bother him at all? Neav was just a boy! His gaze lowered a little, as if apologizing. He knew that he shouldn't argue with the Prince in front of the guards, that, even if Arthur cared, he couldn't show it in front of them. He had to hope that that was what he was doing, acting, because this was wrong. And then Neav admitted to using magic.

He had just healed a horse, though! Just healed. How was that bad? He barely knew the boy, but he knew enough to know that there was no way that he meant to harm. This law against magic was wrong, but those who went against the king were killed, no matter what there purpose was. Would the king kill someone if they used magic to heal him? Merlin sincerely hoped not, but he couldn't be sure. The same went for Arthur. What would Arthur do if he found out that Merlin had magic? Would he order him arrested too? There had been times when yes, Merlin had been arrested for "magic", but in the end, he was always proven innocent.

It was things like this that made Merlin afraid to tell Arthur, the son of King Uther, that he had and used magic. Despite all of his claims that he trusted the Prince, did he really, deep down not fully? If he did, then why was he so afraid to tell him? He would just blame it on "It's not the right time".

He couldn't watch the guards begin to drag Neav out of the stables. He turned his gaze away, then, after a moment, would direct another glare at Arthur. With them gone, he wasn't afraid to. Hopefully, if Arthur actually didn't plan to go through with this, he would say something, because the whole matter really annoyed Merlin. He still didn't believe Neav deserved this, and that thought was conveyed perfectly in his glare.

[neav]

Neav flinched as two guards moved forward and caught his arms. The boy looked at the Prince and again met those stern, expressionless eyes.
He really does not care, Neav realized. As the guards began to haul him away he gave Merlin one last, desperate glance -- but he had his eyes lowered, obedient now after his sudden out-burst.
There is no one who will help me.

Neav was marched to the castle, looking smaller than ever between the armored guards. His face was death-pale.
They dragged him through the maze of the castle and Neav was lost almost at once. Stable-boys did not often enter into this place.
It was not long before they reached an empty cell, the guards wordlessly tossing him inside. Neav staggered, tripped and fell in a scattering of damp hay that he would never let come in a mile of his horses.
Then he was alone.

Neav crouched near the back wall. There was a bar-slit window to let the light in but it was so high that he could not see out...
He began to shiver. This place was all stone, all cold hard stone... he could feel it pressing in on him. Neav had never been long in any building expect the stables, which was so open and airy it hardly counted. He had the forest in his blood, his mind sang with the wild winds... and they had shut him in this cold dark place to be smothered by stone. Neav gave another violent shiver.
"I am not sorry," he told himself through gritted teeth. "They can kill me a thousand times over and I will not be sorry! Not for saving Gilly or any of the others."

If he had not been tired and cold and numb with shock, perhaps he would have considered breaking out. He might have managed it. His magic might have let him... or perhaps he would not have thought of it, for when you have been obedient your whole life it kind of becomes a habit.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur knew that Merlin was glaring at him, but he ignored it. His servant had to remain silent for now, despite the fact that Arthur did -- on some odd level -- value his opinion. But for now, he could not have the guards see Arthur's hesitation in arresting someone who was caught using magic. Nor could he allow them to see the casual manner in which his servant objected to his decisions, and ultimately, the law. Arthur lead the guards to the castle, unable to look at the boy and so did not accompany them to the dungeon. Instead, Arthur went to his father to inform him of the most recent event.

Arthur did not want to make such a big deal about it, but he had to. There was been so many guards around, and the witness would not remain quiet about it. So it had to be addressed. His father was eager to execute him, and even with Arthur's reminder of the trial, the king did not want to take any chances. Since there was a witness, they had all the proof they needed. The trial would have inevitably had the same result; Naev would have been found guilty and then immediately executed. But at least it would have been a way for him to buy time to devise a plan to help the boy. Even though he was still conflicted as to what to do.

He needed to talk to the stable boy.

After a couple of hours, making sure things were in order, he offered to be the one to inform Neav. Arthur went down to the dungeons, motioning for the guards to open the door. When Arthur was inside the cell, the guards closed the cell door behind him and went back to their posts. Now, it was just Prince Arthur and Neav the stable boy. It was hard to look at the boy in such a state; he was dirty, and looked frightened, as he should be. Arthur at first began pacing a bit, unable to stand still. "You are to be executed at first light tomorrow," he informed him, his voice still holding that same lack of emotion, while he still did not look at the child. After several moments of silence, Arthur stopped walking, and just stood straight, looking directly at Neav.

"Why Neav?" Why did he do it. Why had he put himself in such a terrible decision. Why did he not know the consequences of such actions. Why had he lied to Arthur for all this time. Just . . . why. Arthur was angry; angry that he may have to kill a boy just for saving a horse. It was the laws of Camelot though! Why did people constantly challenge them?! Arthur's frustration really just stemmed with his lack of strength in being able to kill a child. He could not see it, no matter how differently his father thought.

[pie]

Merlin continued to glare at Arthur when the Prince just ignored him and left. He couldn't believe this! How could Arthur just allow someone to be executed! And he didn't even tell Merlin what he wanted to hear! That he didn't plan on allowing this, that he planned on doing something. Merlin wanted to know that Arthur wasn't that heartless! He didn't really know Neav, but he knew that he hadn't meant any harm. He just wanted to heal the horse.

He accompanied Arthur to the throne room, so silent and grim that he wasn't even sure if the Prince knew he was there anymore. And then, when Arthur went in, he turned around and stalked to the end of the hallway to take up a position there and wait. Merlin wasn't quite sure how long he waited, but he did. He had nothing else to do, but was thinking of ways to break Neav out, with or without Arthur's help. He wouldn't allow this to happen.

He had finally sat down against the wall when Arthur finally came out, and by the way he walked, just that normal air about him that he usually had, Merlin knew that the king had ordered Neav executed. He hadn't expected anything less. And so he instantly stood up and pressed himself against the wall. He planned on secretly following the Prince, and that course would lead him to the expected place. The dungeons. He had come to tell Neav that the king had ordered him executed.

Merlin knew that the guards wouldn't let him in, or at least, would inform the Prince, and he didn't want that. But he couldn't get close to listen if they were there. Taking a deep breath, he peered around a corner in the section he was hiding at, and noticed that there was an urn next to where he was standing. A small one, probably just holding incense or something, but he picked it up quietly, set it on its side, and mumbled, "Swertha!" which made the urn roll out. The guards both came closer to the area, drawing their swords quietly, and Merlin smiled as they neared his corner. "Swefe nu!" he said, his eyes glowing the telltale gold color of magic before returning to normal. Upon this magical command, both guards slipped forward, falling asleep where they stood.

Merlin rushed forward and used all his strength, despite how "much" that was, to make sure that the guards didn't fall with a heavy crash. Gently, grunting with it, he lowered them to the ground before stepping over their bodies and quietly sneaking towards the cell, where he would lean against the wall and listen, grinning at his own cleverness.

[neav]

How could anyone live inside walls of stone? Neav continued to shiver, eyes squeezed tight shut as if he could block out the feeling of the dungeon. But the walls still pressed on him, seeming to grow colder and closer and closer...

Suddenly the cell door swung open. The hinges rasped and Neav jumped to his feet. He did not know if it was the movement or the sight of the Prince that made his head spin.
Neav watched with haunted, hunted eyes as Prince Arthur paced the cell. He quivered like a captured animal, watching and waiting...

"You are to be executed at first light tomorrow."

Neav's eyes widened but he said no word. Of course he had known that would be his fate, but it somehow seemed so much more terrible to have it announced from someone you thought you could trust...
The stone walls pressed closer and Neav longed to cry and crouch on the floor... but he would not been seen to be such a coward. If he was going to be killed, then he was not going to cry like a child about it.
Instead he just waited, a small and silent ghost, for the Prince to leave again.

But he did not. Instead he stopped his pacing and looked directly down at him for the first time that day. Neav stared back with eyes like chits of ice. He saw the anger in the Prince's face; anger at his breaking the law, he thought.
"If you had the power..." Neav began carefully, consentrating hard to keep the tremble from his voice. "If you had the power to save your Lady Morgana, would you refuse because you know you might be murdured for it?"

It was not a direct answer to the question... and nor was it the answer of a child. Those words denied the terrified, shivvering body of a child and whispered of the wisdom of his race.
"Even if I had refused to help my mare... I am breaking your law simply by being alive. My mother was not human. My Grandfather..." Neav lifted his chin with a kind of terrified pride. "My Grandfather is Anhora, Keeper of the Unicorns."

[Arthur Pendragon]

The mention of Morgana was enough to cause his heart to ache. She was still missing, and still therefore a very sore subject for the prince to discuss. His father's desperation to find her was negatively impacting the kingdom, but Arthur could dare not protest . . . for he wanted her to be found just as badly. His methods differed, but at the same time, he wanted her to be safe and sound. He could not admit how much he missed her, how little he slept because of her absence. She was like a sister to him, and one of the few people that were very dear and near to his heart. He did not react to Neav's words, other than with slight anger and frustration. It was more anger towards himself, for failing to protect her, for not being able to find her . . . he had no one to blame but himself, and Morgause for abducting her in the first place.

"Do not turn this situation on me," he said in a very stern, authoritative voice. As he silently knew, it was a sore subject for him and he would not allow anyone to question just how desperate he was to find her. "We are not talking about me right now, we are talking about you, and what you have done." Arthur's voice did not become any more sympathetic, but that did not mean he did not have compassion to wards the boy. It only meant that he had to mask it . . . for now. Just until he finally decided exactly what needed to be done. He knew for sure he could not stand in the square tomorrow, watching this boy either burned to death or his head cut off for his acts of magic.

And then there was another big revelation. It was enough to make Arthur slightly flinch in shock and curiosity. Anhora. He was related to Anhora?! Arthur would not openly admit it, but he was a bit afraid of the sorcerer. He had been powerful enough to put a curse on the entire kingdom, one that would have led to its quick destruction. And here Neav was, a very young boy, revealing that he was related to such a grand sorcerer. "I have met him," Arthur said in the same toneless voice. He was not sure if Neav's relation to him was a good thing, or a bad thing. All he knew was that he had very limited time, and Arthur just wanted to know the basics of Neav's abilities and motives. He did not want to hear the whole story because . . . well, frankly it was not the greatest thing to hear of such betrayal, as that was Arthur regarded this as.

"You still did not answer my question," he told him, going back to the one simple word he had asked the boy. He needed to know what his intentions were, because Arthur was not like his father in the sense that he did not believe all magic was used for evil purposes. Unfortunately, most of his experiences had shown that magic was reserved for those who were evil, but the Prince was not about to dismiss what few exceptions to this generalization there were.

[neav]

[img src="

i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx29/euphoria001/Neav%20Layouts/neav1.gif"]

Neav shivered at the sterness in the Prince's voice. He could guess how much he hurt for having that lady stolen away... that was why he had mentioned it. Not to try and turn the situation on the Prince, as he had accused, but to tell him that he loved his horses in the same way the Prince loved the Lady Morgana.
He would do anything for them.

Staring at his feet again, Neav did not notice Prince Arthur flinch at the sound of Anhora's name. Neav knew that the two had met -- his grandfather had told him that story -- but he did not know that the Prince was afraid. Neav did not believe that the Prince was afarid of anything. Indeed his voice was as toneless as before.
"I know," he said simply and meant nothing by it. In the story his grandfather told, the Prince had prooved his heart to be pure by giving his life for Merlin's... but looking at the Prince now, Neav thought sadly that pure hearts must twist and change. The was no sweetness to be found in this man.
And then his spoke sterness again.

Neav gave the smallest of frowns. Had he not answered it? Had he not said it was because he loved his horses more than he loved his own life? Besides, the magic he had was not fully under his control. It was likely that the mare's need would have pulled the healing magic through him even if he had not willed it. But Neav, who was never good at explaining things, did not know how to say it.
"Gillyflower was dying," he spoke carefully again. Perhaps he had misunderstood the question. "So I had to help her. Don't you understand?" and suddenly all his strange wisdom was gone. Neav stood there again, nothing more than a frightened child.
"Don't you understand? I can not just watch my friends die if I have the magic to help them. That is why I am here! Vaari - " unthinkingly he used his affectionate term for Anhora "Vaari told me not to come back. He said the Camelot king would kill me if he knew who I was... but I said I would because I promised to look after Gilly and Folly and Kingfisher and everyone and I couldn't just leave them! And if I had not been here in this war then so so many more would have died."

Angry, helpless tears danced in his eyes. Neav rubbed them angerily, refusing to flinch away. He knew he would be in trouble for such an out-burst, but who cared? Let the Prince hit him! He was going to be killed tomorrow anyway. What did it matter?

[pie]

Merlin listened to the conversation inside the cell with more than a passing interest. In fact, as the conversation went on, he grew more and more interested. Still, he stood by his belief that what was happening was wrong! Neav didn't deserve any of this! And if Merlin had to disobey Arthur's orders and get the boy out with his own magic, then he would.

He remained perfectly silent, afraid to even breath. He didn't want Arthur to find him eavesdropping. Who knew what the Prince would do! But he hard a hard time not gasping in surprise when he heard that Neav was Anhora's grandson! Anhora! That was the man that had put Arthur through tests to save Camelot because he killed an Unicorn! What a surprise, if he did say so himself! For some reason, he had never even imagined that Anhora would have had children that would then go and have their own children! It just never seemed important to think of!

But, here was the sorcerer's grandson. Maybe that would prove a reason for Arthur to help the boy? Even if it was out of fear of brining destruction on Camelot?

Neav's reason as to why he had used magic didn't surprise Merlin nearly as much. He knew the feeling of protecting his friends whatever the cost, even if his friends weren't the horses. But did that make a difference? No, not to him, at least. He would have done the same, he knew. He wouldn't have been able to let one of his friend's die, and he didn't think he would have been able to let a horse die right in front of him either.

Merlin believed that Neav's decision was justified. But that didn't mean that Uther would, or that Arthur would. He just hoped that the man he had chosen as his friend wasn't without compassion...

[ Sooorry for the lateness! ]

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur knew the loyalty Neav had to the horses, he had been impressed with it in the past and it had been one of the main reasons Arthur had even appointed him to the position that he had. Still. He could not ignore the betrayal he felt at this moment; that this boy had been lying to him for so long. It reminded Arthur of the time Merlin had kept the secret about William back in Ealdor. It was something Arthur should have known about . . . and at the same time, could he be truly angry at them when he knew what punishment awaited them if they were exposed?

Seeing the boy though . . . in his state of trepidation . . . Arthur could not allow him to die. He wished he could bring his father here so that he could see first hand just how frightened the boy was. But he knew the king would not hear of it. He almost sheltered himself from it; as Arthur was the one to make the arrest, and his father saw only evil surrounding anyone with magic. But Neav was like Mordred; or perhaps even with better intentions as he had only used his magic for good. It was a rarity to see this. Arthur was brought up with the belief that all magic was banned firmly placed in his mind . . . but how could this innocent boy, encompass all that was evil? He had challenged his father's judgment before, and he knew that he could not this time. He would take matters into his own hands.

Arthur just looked at him, having so many questions, but also knowing that they were trivial. There was no time for irrelevant questions; his time here was already very limited. He just looked at the boy, his arms folded across his chest, unsure what more there was to say in this moment. "You shouldn't have come back." Arthur's voice held that same consistent tone of sternness. With those words, he turned and motioned for the guards to open the door. As he walked out, he did not give the boy a second glance. He knew what had to be done, and he hated it because it meant that he would have to betray his father. The last time, he saved Mordred because he could not stand to see a child die, but also because he saw what he meant to Morgana. Now . . . this was a decision he had to make. Could he betray the king, his father or could he really watch a boy executed for helping those he clearly cared about.

He walked out of the dungeon, ascending the steps and knowing that he had to do what he planned very quickly before he had second thoughts about it.

[neav]

The silence seemed to streatch away forever. Neav stared at the floor, stared at the Prince and his terrible expression and then back at the floor again. He did not guess that the Prince might feel betrayed. Neav did not see that he had done anything to harm anyone; he knew he had broken a law... but as he had said before, he was breaking that law anyway simply by being alive.
Once again he looked up, still somehow hoping for a flicker of compassion, but there was none.

"You shouldn't have come back."

And with that last statement, the Prince turned and left. He did not look back once.
Now he was alone again, surround by cold unfeeling stone... and the walls began to press in on him again. Neav crouched on the floor, curling himself over his knees. He pressed his hands against his eyes. He was going to be killed. He was going to have his head cut off or be slowly burned alive...
"Vaari... " he whispered to himself. "I am so sorry... I should have listened. I should have listened."

[pie]

Merlin was surprised by Arthur actually not noticing him outside the cell when he came out. Nor did he notice the guards sleeping on the dungeon floor. Curious. Oh well, better for him. So as Arthur walked off the other direction, Merlin would take a gamble and talk to Neav himself while he could. If Arthur wasn't going to save him, then he would! Yes, he would disobey Arthur's orders -- when did he not? --, he would commit, in simple words, treason. But again, when did he not? This seemed to be a frequent thing, him disobeying the law. Of course, he only did it for what he saw as good.

So when he was sure that Arthur was far enough away, he slipped into the cell and stood silent a moment, taking a few deep breaths to steady his beating heart. What if Arthur came back? What if Arthur came back and brought Uther? What if the guards woke up and caught him? If he tried to help Neav escape, he would be risking a big gamble!

"Neav, the guards didn't hurt you when they brought you here, did they?" he finally spoke, quietly. "This is wrong." The last he said more to himself.

And surely he believed so, still. Everything about this was wrong. Uther's attitude towards magic was wrong -- not everyone with magic used it for evil! Take him, or Neav, or even Gaius for example! --, the whole execution plans were wrong, the whole ban on magic was wrong, the whole philosophy on magic was wrong. And if Arthur agreed with them, then he was wrong, too! And he didn't plan to let this happen!

[neav]

His mind filled with thoughts of burning and executing and cold walls that pressed closer and closer... Neav did not notice that another person had entered his cell. Normally he would have known, been as sensitive as a wild horse but now... he had other things to think about.

It was only when Merlin spoke did Neav know he was no longer alone. He startled, looking up at him with wide, frightened eyes. What was he doing here? Had the Prince send him to hurt him, or ask more questions, or to say if it would be burning or execution?
It took Neav a moment to realise what Merlin had actually said.
"N - no..." he answered, rather shakily. He did not move from the floor. Somehow it did not seem nessicary to try and be brave with Merlin, in the way it was with the Prince.
"No, they didn't... But these walls... They press on me." He shuddered violently. "No one ever locked me inside before..." From the way he spoke, being inside a cell troubled him more than execution.

[pie]

He breathed a sigh of relief. Good, they hadn't hurt him! He didn't know what he would have been able to do if they had, but it was a relief that they hadn't! That they still treated him kindly enough not to hurt him. He nodded slowly to Neav's words, knowing well that being a prisoner awaiting your death couldn't have been a pleasant feeling. He took another deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "Neav..."

He took another step forward, slowly, towards the boy, until he stood in front of him. He shook his head. "Don't be afraid, Neav. What they're doing here is wrong. You don't deserve this, just for saving one of your friends. I..." He took another deep breath, and looked towards the cell door, somewhat glaring at it. "I am not going to let this happen! By tomorrow morning, they will find an empty cell, and you will be far away from Camelot! If, of course... You want to escape? I won't let them execute you. I will help you escape, and you can get back to your grandfather, or wherever you want to go." He spoke softly, not wanting to frighten him with the possibilities of what would happen if they were caught.

If they were caught, however, Merlin would still do anything it took to protect him. Even use magic. "I know the fear of being found out that you have magic. The fear that you can't let anyone know or... this will happen. I won't let it happen!" Yes, he had no problems with letting Neav know he had magic too.

[neav]

Neav watched Merlin step closer, somewhat wary. He still did not know why Prince Arthur's manservant had come to talk to him. Could it really just have been to check he was ok...? Why would he do such a thing? Neav remembered how Merlin had tried to stop the guards from arresting him... why?

Neav listened, fasinated by how angry Merlin seemed to be. He was glaring at the cell door as though he was the one who was captive. Neav did not understand. Why did Merlin care so much? Neav was nothing to him, surely. Just the stable-boy...
And now he was offering to help him escape! Neav stared, eyes like saucers. Merlin would really do that for him? Risk his own life to help a boy he hardly knew? It seemed too good to be true but Neav was not in any situation to refuse help. He opened his mouth to say of course he wanted to escape when the meaning of Merlin's last sentance suddenly hit him.

"You know what it is like?" he whispered. "You know..."
Neav suddenly scrambled to his feet. The shock of learning that Merlin also had magic had jolted his fear off sideways. The walls stopped moving threateningly closer and stayed where they ought to be. Neav's mind was whirling, puting two and two and two together and easily making six....
His grandfather had told him that Emrys was in Camelot. He had told him the stories and the prophecies, that a warlock with magic greater than any ever known would guard the life of the Pendragon prince....
Arthur's manservant. Merlin. Emrys. It had to be.

Neav suddenly smiled through his tears, smiled up at Merlin.
"You are Emrys," he said. "I did not realise..." there was no need to be afraid. If Emrys would help him, he was safe.

[pie]

Merlin nodded when Neav whispered. Yes, he knew. Many times he had tried to reveal it, but in the end, it was never taken seriously, or something happened to prove otherwise. And with more and more terrible things happening dealing with magic, Merlin only feared what Arthur would think and do if he ever found out he had magic. Would he also order him to be arrested and executed? Magic was a crime in Camelot, an unjust crime, and it was predicted that Arthur would unite Albion in the future and allow magic, but... with how things were happening, he was beginning to doubt it...

He had no problem with telling Neav, had no fear of letting him know. Even though he barely knew him, he trusted him with his secret, as he wanted Neav to feel like he could trust him, also. Because whatever it took, he was going to get Neav out of Camelot and to safety... Still, he wished that he had Arthur's assistance, that the Prince didn't want this to happen to the poor boy. If Arthur or Uther found out Merlin was aiding Neav... He would face those possibilities and consequences later, then, and without regret. He knew that this was the right thing to do.

The fact that Neav knew the title that the Druids called him by, surprised Merlin, however, which was evident as his eyes widened. He had never fully gotten over that title, Emrys. And he still did not know what it meant or entailed, but several people he had met had called him by it. He wasn't even sure if the title was a good thing or not!

Yet he nodded again, and this time spoke, "Yes, I'm Emrys. But really, I prefer Merlin more. Not realizing I was Emrys is a good thing, I'd think. Meaning no one suspected me, at least that I know of. But we should quickly leave, before Arthur returns, or before the guards wake up." Yes, wake up. He didn't know how long his spell would last.