The Unknown Son

Camelot

"Sire, we're under attack! They're already inside the city walls," Gwaine called.

"Merlin, take everyone inside," Arthur took off his cloak, "Gwaine, secure the armory. Percival come with me!"

Merlin saw Arthur got stabbed in his side, "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Maybe I broke my rib," Arthur replied before he saw who was leading this war - Morgana. And Agravaine. A little later he was treated by Gaius.

"Where's Nathan?" Arthur asked.

"He's back there," Gaius pointed to the corner where Nathan helped a maid treat an injured knight.

"He has to get out of here,"

"You too, Sire," Gaius nodded to Merlin, who took the willpower of the king with a spell.

"We have to go now, my lord," Merlin said.

"Yes, of course," Arthur agreed and looked like he had a few glasses too much intuition. Percival supported Arthur while Merlin ran ahead with Nathan.

They stole some new clothes for Arthur on the way, which he put on. Maybe they had been a little bit cramped for a well-fed king.

When Arthur showed up, Nathan grinned. He had never imagined the king like this.

"Merlin, what did Gaius give him?" the king did not behave as usual, instead he left Merlin in charge, which is really unusual for the king.

"Oh, just a painkiller," he grinned before walking on and encountering a band of smugglers.

"They were running around in the forest," the woman said, leading Merlin, Nathan and Arthur to a man.

"Is there something to see?" the man asked.

"No," Merlin said and he threw the knife at him. Fortunately, Merlin was able to bend down in time.

"Better stick your nose in things that don't concern you."

"I didn't see anything," said Merlin, "we just happened to come over here."

"They have no horses, no provisions, nothing," she explained.

"You like to have your hands free, huh?" the man said.

"You can put it that way," Merlin said.

"Where do you want to go?"

"North across the border",

"Lot's Kingdom? He is not particularly fond of strangers, I can tell you that," he now came closer to them.

"We already know that," Nathan said, "but why do you want to go there then?"

Only now did the man look down on the 8-year-old, "I have my reasons," he explained.

The gang of smugglers was generous and allowed the three to move with them. Well, the gold that they brought with them was probably crucial.

"Merlin, tell me how long does the painkillers work?" Nathan asked in a whisper.

"I honestly don't know that myself."

The next morning the world looked different again. The spell vanished and Arthur was the same snooty king as before.

"You have to be stupid," Nathan said like he does not care that he is talking with the king.

"Excuse me?"

"Merlin told them you were a dollophead. You should also behave like this, otherwise our camouflage will be exposed," Nathan explained.

Before Arthur could say anything, Tristan came and marveled at Arthur's sword. He quickly realized that the sword could only have come from the royal blacksmith of Camelot.