Okay, so this is my first Merlin fic and I'm still learning my way around the character's heads, so I apologize for any OCCness that you mind. If you have any constructive criticism, please do share because I would love to really delve into the Merlin side of fanfiction, so any help to improve my portrayal of them would be much appreciated. :)
Hope everyone enjoys!
Much love, Girl-of-Geekery
Merlin tensed, clenching the reins tighter and drawing himself up straighter in his saddle as the familiar dread crawled up his spine. Casting a quick glance around, however, showed only the knights and Arthur calmly riding on, unaware of any presence of danger.
He could see Percival throw him a curious look, but Merlin ignored him, not wanting to draw Arthur's attention.
"You're being paranoid, Merlin." He would scoff. "The only danger this close to Camelot is your clumsiness. The possibility that you might trip over your own feet and kill yourself on the way down is always a present danger."
The young Warlock shook himself, focusing back on the trail. Despite what Arthur might say, there was something wrong here. He could just feel it. Years of dealing with the dangers in Camelot, of running into bandits in the woods and fighting off crazy sorcerers bent on bringing about Camelot's doom, had taught him that.
Pretending to check the strap of his one of his mare's saddle bags, he snuck a glance over his shoulder, making sure there wasn't anything sneaking up behind him. But no, the trail was clear and bright, the sun casting a beautiful glow through the bright vibrant green of the leaves, giving off the very aura of peace and tranquility.
But instead of seeing the serenity of the beautiful forest, all Merlin could see were the shadows cast by the woods, the unnatural stillness of the grass, and the eerily silent trail behind them.
Biting back a nervous sigh, Merlin urged his steed a bit further so he was riding alongside Arthur; there was no way he was taking any chances.
He didn't know what was waiting for them, but something sure was.
Arthur cast a glance his way, probably more than a little suspicious of Merlin's silence. He had been talkative for the better part of the morning as they saddled their horses and rode into the woods for their monthly hunting trip, kept up the chatter (much to Arthur's annoyance) as they rode into the woods…while they hunted…as they gathered their catches for the day. He had done his best to ignore the empty pit in stomach for the better part of the day, had tried to treat it like any other trip. But something just felt…different. From the moment he set foot out of his bed this morning there had been a terrible gnawing in his gut that told him something was going to happen and, whatever it was, it wouldn't be pleasant. There was something coming, he could just a feel it; a strange shift in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and left his nerves feeling restless. It felt like…change. Like there was a change coming, something big, something life changing. And it unnerved him.
He'd ignored the feeling as best he could, and had done a spectacular job of it if he did say so himself, right up until Arthur announced their return to Camelot. Suddenly the foreboding had returned full force and had only increased its insistence with every step that brought them nearer to entrance of the city.
They weren't far now…perhaps a twenty minute ride. They just had to ride the length of the trail and then they would be in the open fields and not far from that were Camelot's gates. If they could just make it that far, they would be fine.
Merlin resisted the urge to push his horse to move a bit faster; if they could just get to the gates soon…
"Merlin, are you ill?"
"No, sire, why do you ask?" He inquired distractedly, glancing to the woods again, swallowing thickly as his stomach twisted with nerves.
"In all the time I have known you, I don't believe you have ever been this quiet." Arthur continued, shaking his head.
"Yes, well, I thought I would give silence a try…you seem rather fond of it." He teased half-heartedly.
"Well…stop it. It's unnerving."
Merlin blinked, looking at the king. "Let me get this straight…when I talk, you tell me to be quiet…but when I don't talk, you're telling me to speak up?"
"Yes." The king confirmed without preamble.
"And am I to assume that if I suddenly were to resume my, as you so kindly call it, 'mindless chatter' you would again tell me to be quiet?"
Scowling as Gwaine chuckled at the truthfulness of Merlin's words, Arthur said, "Shut up, Merlin."
The young warlock scoffed. "I thought so."
"What has got you so quiet, Merlin?" Arthur pressed, choosing instead to ignore the servant's cheek. "Silence, with you, never seems to be a good thing either way. Don't tell me you're thinking, you know how dangerous that is for you."
Merlin ignored the taunt, "I'm fine." He said, back tensing again at the ominous feeling that passed through the air.
"Now I know something's wrong."
Sighing harshly, the warlock finally turned to the king, "Arthur, why don't you just—"
But Merlin's words were abruptly drowned out at the unexpected, deafening yell of at least a dozen or so voices.
Merlin jerked and quickly pulled at his reigns, his horse whinnying and bucking in protest at the movement and the sudden noise, as the group burst through the trees.
There was nearly a dozen of them, all armed to the teeth with swords, maces, and crossbows; they didn't waste a second to descend on them, weapons aimed and swinging.
Distantly Merlin could hear Arthur barking orders at his knights as they dismounted, drawing their swords from their sheaths and moving to meet the bandits in their attack. He paid no attention to the clang of the swords or the yells of the falling thieves as he hurried away, backing into the shadows out of sight as to hide the glowing of his golden irises as he aided the knights against the attack.
It wasn't too difficult. They may have been out-numbered and even out armed, but the petty thieves weren't much of a match for the training of the knights of Camelot and the powers of a sorcerer.
The falling of a branch here, the loosening grip on a sword there, and the rest he left to the more than capable knights. Still he kept an eye out; just because it was easy didn't mean they still weren't dangerous.
A rustle of leaves behind him, however, had him twirling on his heel. He caught a glimpse of an archer scrambling down out of one of the trees, heard the distant whistle of something traveling through the air, felt the thud against his chest followed by a painful sting.
He stumbled, tripping out from the shadows and back onto the trail, looking down in surprise at the arrow that had planted itself in his chest.
With wide eyes, he fingered the tuft at the end of the shaft as an odd mix of pain and numbness spread from the wound.
"Merlin!" The yell brought the young servant's head around sharply.
He took in the scattered bodies on the forest floor, before belatedly raising his gaze to look at the knights. They stood amongst the fallen bandits, but they only seemed to have eyes for Merlin himself. Wide, shocked eyes that fit well with the growing expressions of horror and slack jaws as they watched him; Leon and Percival frozen in place, their swords still hanging in mid-air as if they had forgotten they were still holding them, while Gwaine and Elyan dropped their weapons to their sides, the latter knight looking practically ill.
Merlin gave them a confused look, uncomprehending. His brain tried to make sense of what he was seeing…he knew there was a reason they were looking at him like that, he knew it. But he just couldn't get his sluggish brain to cooperate.
"Merlin…"
That voice again…except this time it wasn't a yell, but more of a horrified whisper.
He followed the voice, finally finding its owner. Usually vibrant blue eyes, now dulled in pain, met the shocked green ones of the king.
"Arthur…" he whispered, voice pained and a bit frightened as his vision started to blur, blackening at the edges as he swayed in place.
He caught a glimpse of the knights moving forward and felt Percival's strong grip on his upper arm, keeping his face from smacking the forest floor before his vision finally faded all together and he descended into blissful darkness.
So, yeah, cliffhanger, sorry about that. :P The next chapter will be up in a week.
I'm going to try (try being the key word here) to stick to that for most updates and update at least once a week. Two at most. If I fall behind, I do apologize, but I am job hunting right now and if I should (hopefully) get hired soon, that will obviously cut back on my writing time.
That being said, please to tell me what you think! I live for reviews :D