Merlin and Arthur in Lockdown

Thirteen

There was another deafening sound that seemed to shake the columns of the corridor. It was followed by the creak of ruptured stone. Pieces of stone crashed down from the ceiling.

While they ducked the five sorcerers made a run for it. Arthur rose from a crouch to find the Phoenix crew giving chase to the criminals. Fox and several others joined the chase while another unit of the taskforce stormed into the room occupied by the sorcerers. Arthur ran along Fox, past the main library floor, down flights of stairs and finally down the main, long hallway to the entrance.

When he ran out through the library doors, he stopped abruptly behind Fox. The library was surrounded by a swarming crowd of protesters.

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Merlin tried to look as anonymous as possible. He wore a non-descript facemask and a dark grey hoodie he was sure Arthur hadn't seen him in. He kept the hood up on his head, casting his face in shadow. Not that he had any chance of standing out in this sea of protesters.

He had turned out to the protest following word on the Internet alleyways. The protesters believed the King and the government were sending a taskforce to the library to arrest an innocent group who had magical abilities and would accuse them of creating the plague. Throwing caution to the wind about the stay-at-home orders, the crowds turned out to the library to stop this arrest, which they didn't believe was simply going to end in a fair trial. They were convinced the arrested sorcerers were going to be taken into an 'off the map' facility before no one heard from them ever again.

It wouldn't be the first time that happened.

'Free Magic!

Free Magic!

Free Magic!'

The chant from the protesters blasted against Merlin's ears. Despite knowing these people supported people with magic, just like him, he felt intimidated being enveloped in the crowd. He craned his neck to see what was happening at the library entrance, if the taskforce was coming out with those arrested.

Merlin wished he was able to accompany Arthur. If something were to happen to the prince Merlin would not be able to fulfil the task that the Dragon set him. But then he thought of the last couple of weeks, when he and Arthur had kept each other afloat during the lockdown -usually under the pretext of having a go at one another. And those rare moments when they didn't, like the random chat over the biscuits.

Merlin knew somewhere in his mind that he would have been here to see Arthur was safe even without the Dragon's words.

His train of thought was cut off by a booming noise coming from inside the library.

The impact must have come from the second storey. Everyone looked up as glass shattered and rained down from some windows on that level. Many in the crowd started to scream and run, fearing for their lives.

Something knotted in Merlin's stomach. Arthur must have been there, where the explosion happened. A couple of anxious minutes later the doors of the library opened. Five individuals burst out the door, their faces hidden by facemasks, their coats or cloaks flowing in their wake. They were followed by a dozen or so black-clad people -members of the taskforce, it seemed.

Much of the crowd dispersed to let these people through but the "Free Magic" chants rose in volume. Merlin guessed the first group that ran out must have been the accused sorcerers.

The crowd-control police surrounding the protesters broke their chain for a moment and attempted to cut off the sorcerers to help out the taskforce. Merlin leapt back along with other protesters, but his eyes were glued on the black-clad group, going from one person to the next.

There was no way to tell if Arthur was amongst them.

Another of the sorcerers cast their palm outward toward a line of police. A loud bang rang out, followed by frenzied shouts from the crowds. A part of the garden at the courtyard was on fire and the stone fountain was shattered. Fresh troops joined the fighting against the sorcerers, jumping from vehicles which screeched to a stop in front of the library and were barely parked.

A small group of the new troops broke off and zeroed in on someone specific in the taskforce. They surrounded him and seemed to usher him away from the fray.

Merlin's eyes narrowed. That must have been Arthur.

Unfortunately, the special treatment which this member of the taskforce was getting did not escape the notice of one of the sorcerers.