The Lady of the Lake, a Merlin fanfic

Chapter 1

Merlin walked quickly through the street, holding the silver jug which hid the stolen sausages close to his chest. Checking over his shoulder and not looking where he was going, he walked slap bang into Halig.

He looked up slowly, panic bubbling up through him. Halig seized him by the scruff of the neck and shoved him into the arms of two Camelot guards, who appeared to be accompanying him.

"I want a word with you, boy," he hissed. "Somewhere private."

'Somewhere private' turned out to be the dungeons. Merlin's heart was hammering against his rib cage as the two guards dragged him forcefully by the jacket into a cell. Halig left the door open, then stalked up to Merlin and seized the jug in his hands.

Merlin's gulped as Halig tipped the sausages onto the straw strewn floor.

"It's just the Prince's leftovers," he blurted out, desperate to get away.

"Does he know you steal his food?" Halig asked harshly.

Merlin hesitated.

"Not exactly," he muttered.

"Where were you taking it?" Halig demanded.

"Home, for my dinner!" Merlin said, trying to sound honest but feeling rather desperate.

"Really?" Halig got right up in Merlin's face. He wanted to squirm away but couldn't let Halig think he was afraid of him. In truth, he was very much afraid.

"The Druid girl I'm looking for," Halig continued, "have you seen her?"

"No," Merlin said at once, a little too quickly.

"Do you know how much money she's worth to me?"

He shook his head, keeping his eyes averted for fear that they would give away the truth.

"More than your life," Halig snarled nastily. "So, I'm asking you again- have you seen the Druid girl?"

Merlin finally looked up, made clear eye contact with Halig, and said firmly,

"No."

Halig's expression darkened and he shoved Merlin into the single chair that occupied the cell. Merlin grunted in discomfort as he hit the hard wooden frame jarringly.

"Hold him," Halig ordered the two guards. Merlin felt terror rise in him like bile as they grasped his arms firmly, keeping him stuck in the chair. Entirely at Halig's mercy.

Halig cracked the chain in his hand against the floor. He loomed over Merlin, mouth twisted, eyes gleaming.

"I think you're lying to me," he whispered dangerously.

Merlin was trapped- the guards' grips on his arms was painfully tight and Halig was standing over him menacingly.

"I'm not," Merlin blurted out, but he knew he had lost. It didn't matter what he said. He knew what Halig was going to do, and unless he wanted to reveal his secret, he was powerless.

"I don't believe you," Halig snapped, and he raised his fist.