Destiny - a Merthur fic

Chapter XII

Arthur's POV

Ever since the man left, I’d felt antsy. I’d searched the room thoroughly trying to find a way out, and the only way out I could think of was out the window. It was dangerous, but I’d done worse.

There didn’t seem to be a way to open the window, so that left me with one choice – break it.

The man was a descendant of Morgana – that meant I couldn’t trust him. Morgana had betrayed my trust so many times before and in the worst ways and there was no way that I could believe that her spawn was any different.

But thinking about me and my father – we were different, right? In my nightmares, I saw Merlin looming over me and sneering “You’re no different than your father.” Were my nightmares really wrong?

 I shook my head. Now was my time to escape. I didn’t want any more trouble from Morgana, or anyone related to her. You’re related to her, you idiot! I thought to myself.

I looked around for something to break the window with. There was nothing suitable in sight – with a deep breath, I looked down at my hand and clenched it into a fist.

 I ran towards the window and plunged my hand into the glass – to my surprise, it didn’t break, although I’m pretty sure my hand had. I grabbed my wrist with my other hand and sunk to my knees, cussing. “That really goddamn hurt,” I muttered to myself.

I shook my head and stood up. It would seem that they’d gotten better at making glass in the future. I’d have to find something stronger to break it with. I looked around and decided that I’d use the lamp – at least I thought it was a lamp, it looked a lot different than lamps I’d seen – that stood on the table beside the bed. I picked it up and hurled it at the window as strongly as I could, and the lamp shattered but still the window didn’t.

I cursed again and bit my cheek. There had to be something strong enough to break the window with.

I had noticed earlier that there was another door that was left slightly open at the side of my room, and I’d only taken a peek in it – it had been dark and all that I could see in there were a bunch of strange porcelain structures, but maybe there was something that could be useful. I walked over to it but it was dark, so I smacked my arm along the wall to find a torch or something to light. My arm hit a bump on the wall and I felt it move, and all of a sudden the room was light. I stumbled out, alarmed. I blinked a few times and peered back in, and the room was still light.

 I stepped cautiously inside. There was a long metal thing and two smaller metal things on the other side of it that hung over another large porcelain bowl. Yes. Perfect. I could use those to break the window. I grabbed one and yanked as hard as I could, but all that happened was that my hands slipped off of it and I toppled backwards to the floor. I swore again, louder than ever this time.

There had to be some way to break that window. I’d just keep trying with my fists until my fingers were broken.

I emerged back out into the main room and punched the window. Over and over again. My hands throbbed and I was about to give up, but then a tiny crack formed in the window. A spark of hope ignited in myself, and I continued to punch. More cracks formed, but the window still wasn’t breaking.

I backed up a few steps and took it at a run, throwing my fist out and hitting the window as hard as I could. It shattered, and I could feel glass sliding into my hand. I let out a disgruntled sound but I’d had worse, and if this was the price for escaping then so be it. I stuck my head out the window and instantly felt sick. Looking down, it was like a cliff face, except higher than anything I’d ever seen and a much harsher landing. However, there were ledges here and there just below other windows that I could climb on, but I’d need a destination before I decided to risk my life. I looked around and could see no place to go other than down to the ground. I clenched my teeth. So be it.

I put weight on my hand to pull myself out of the window, and winced. I didn’t see how I’d be able to climb all the way down if my hand was like this. But I had to try. I pulled my legs out and stood on the ledge, the wind blowing through my hair. I was tempted to close my eyes and let myself fall – but I pushed the thought away. That’s not who I was. I was a king. I opened my eyes again and crouched down, grasping the ledge as tightly as I could. I looked down at my fingers and they were white. I took a deep breath.

I lowered myself down and my feet were dangling, trying to find another ledge. I finally felt something substantial beneath myself and I slowly put my weight onto it.

It was gonna be a long way down.