Royal in Hiding

Chapter 14: Misfortune or Fortune?

Shout out to magicalsanni for being the first one to vote on Chapter 13, also shout out to louislover16 for blowing up my notifications with comments and voting. To everyone else who has been reading and commenting, thank you so much and keep it up. I'll try to make at least one shout out to someone each chapter.

Merlin stared out at the now visible kingdom below. After years of being away and finally he was back.

It was worse than ever.

He could see the ramshackle condition the village was in. There were people in chains working a field with gaurds stationed around. The castle gates were closed with gaurds stationed everywhere. It was muddy and desolate.

The sorrow in the population was clear.

"Is that..." Arthur asked his friend as he looked on with shock.
"Yes it is." Merlin solemnly in responce.
"Did it always look so..." Gwain started to ask but lost his voice.

"Never, under the true King, Merlin's father, the town was full of life. The crops grew every year with the same fruitfulness. The people were happy, the streets were clean, we never owned slaves. It was peaceful and in balance. The False King has brought despair to our land." Imayn hissed angrily as she glared at the horizon.

"We need a scout to go ahead." Merlin murmured.
"What why?" Arthur asked him in confusion.
"Somethings not right. There is a presence that... she shouldn't be here..." Merlin distractedly murmured.
"Merlin who?" Arthur asked as he looked around.
"ARTHUR DUCK!" Merlin yelled before jumping expertly off his horse and knocking Arthur off his horse.

Together, the pair tumbled down the hill before rolling into a dirty stream of water. Following after them a large explosion shook rocks that  has ed after them.

"Run!" Arthur yelled, pulling his former manservant after him up the small ravine.

"That was close. We can't meet back up with them, that will give away our position and theirs." Arthur reasoned.
"I think I have an idea." Merlin stated as he watched two slaves come running in.

"Hey, you two. Want some help?" Merlin asked as he approached the men.
"Uh..." The prisoners blankly answered before they caught sight of his emblem. "Your Majesty!" They cried out in shock.

"I need your help." Merlin explained.
"Of course Milord." The two eagerly replied.

"I need your clothes." Merlin ordered, attempting to keep a straight face. "In return you can have ours." Merlin offered at their confused faces.

"Um, okay?" The taller one answered, his face twisted in confusion.
"Thank you both, what are your names?" Merlin asked.
"I'm Dean, and this is my brother Samuel." The shorter one told Merlin with a grin and a handshake.

"It's a pleasure. Also, when you run, there is an army up this hill coming to fight Draegan, tell them that the Once and Future King and his faithful Servant head to the Slave holders." Merlin cryptically ordered. The men didn't seem too bothered by the strange order.

Soon enough a fake Merlin and Arthur ran up the hill while the real Arthur and Merlin went into the fields and started working, their presence not noticed.