A/N I don't own Merlin nor do I make any profit from it
Full Summary: When hunted for the blood she possesses, Sara runs for her life. On the brink of death, she is saved and brought to Camelot. Her race is feared for the dark power they possess. Yet, can love blossom between a man who hates magic and a vampire who fears humans? ArthurxOC
Chapter 1 - Hunted
Screams pierced the silent air as a young woman ran for her life. Rain fell torrentially and a light yet icy breeze blew by. The sound of galloping horses could be heard as a band of men pursued her. The girl's blue silk gown was tore and ripped on branches and rocks as she ran through the forest. Her ringleted, flowing white hair stuck to her face and her sapphire blue eyes shone with fear.
"Please, just leave me alone! Neither our kind nor I alone have done anything to you," she cried as she ran for her life, "You just hunt us for sport and for your own vanity!"
Her translucent, billowing blue sleeves became caught upon some low branches, prompting her to tear her sleeves off in desperation. However, the action caused her pursuers to swiftly catch up to her. Attempting to throw them off her trail, she turned sharply to the right and ran that way. A trail of ice began to form as the girl ran, hoping that that might further slow them down.
"Where has that girl gone," one of the hunters asked gruffly, "We cannot let her escape. Her blood is worth more than gold and diamonds. Don't let the vampire princess escape!"
Indeed, the girl, Sara, was vampire who had no human heritage. She was one of many who were being hunted for their blood. Their blood contained vital powers that make even the weakest of humans invincible.
Sara leapt up into one of the trees and bounced off the higher branches to another tree, "We can see you in the trees, princess, you cannot hide from us," the gang leader, Michael, scorned. His malicious words fell on deaf ears as Sara ran for her life. The hunters began to pull out their bows and arrows, hoping that would help to catch her more effectively.
Arrows flew past her head and Sara had barely enough time to dodge them. It was then that an arrow was shot and went right through her leg. Sara screamed and lost her footing within the tree. As she fell to the ground, Sara fell into a heap.
She struggled to breathe with the pain but knew that if she didn't get up and run, even with an arrow sticking out of her leg, she would be caught. Sara also knew that even if she pulled the arrow out, her wound would not heal. Her accelerated healing was prevented by the special metal in the arrow head that temporarily prevented vampires from using their healing powers or any of their powers for that matter.
Limping on, Sara made her escape but left a trail of her blood behind. She could hear the distant voices of the hunters as they relentlessly searched for her, "I can smell the blood of that girl," Michael said in a malicious tone, "If we lose her, we'll have lost our money's worth."
Sara hid behind a large tree to compose herself. It was then that she heard voices of people she did not recognise. As the rain the fell and the wind died down, she could hear them more closely.
"Merlin, stop being lazy and carry the bags," the voice of a young man, who was Prince Arthur, said in a tired tone, "And stop complaining about the rain. It won't hurt you."
Sara limped towards the voices, hoping these were benevolent people she was heading towards. Her blood was pouring down her leg and she didn't know how much longer she could keep herself conscious as the pain levels rose.
"Hey, Arthur," Merlin said as he squinted through the rain.
"What is it," Arthur asked curtly.
"Is there someone approaching us," Merlin asked as he strained to see who was approaching them. Arthur leaned forward and also strained to see who Merlin was talking about.
"Sire, I think it's a girl," one of the knights, Sir Gwaine, said as he halted his horse. Sara, who was close to death, was about to speak but collapsed to the rain soaked ground. Her blood trickled into the ground and her vision began to blur.
Arthur and the other knights dismounted their horses and drew their swords. It was the age of chivalry but they also knew that they had to be on their guard. Merlin was the first to approach her. He knelt by her side and Sara struggled to look up at him. Merlin frowned, immediately noticing that the girl wasn't human. King Uther, the king who had band magic and among other things, would have her killed if he knew that Sara wasn't human.
But he also knew that he didn't have the heart to leave her. Noticing the arrow in her leg, Merlin thought about pulling it out but thought better of it, thinking Gaius, Camelot's famed physician, would do a much better job.
"The girl is severely wounded," Merlin said as he shouted back to the knights and Arthur. He tore a piece of his tunic and wrapped it around Sara's calf in an attempt to stop some of the bleeding. Arthur approached Merlin and Sara crouched down beside them. His eyes too fell on the arrow in Sara's leg, "Should we take her back to Camelot? It wouldn't be chivalrous or honourable of you and your knights if we just left her."
Arthur nodded, "We have no choice and besides, judging by this silk dress she's wearing, she's of noble blood. But I wonder who shot at her."
It was then that vampire hunters appeared on their hunters approached them, "That girl is ours," Michael said as he dismounted his horse. The knights became on their guard again and Michael raised his hands in mock surrender, "We don't want any trouble, gentlemen, we just want the girl. Give her to us and we'll go away."
"Was it you who attacked her," Sir Percival, one of the other knights, asked.
"That girl is ours and we will not leave without her," Michael persisted, ignoring Percival's question.
"I asked you a questi-" Percival was about to ask him as he rose his sworn in a threatening stance but Arthur lifted his hand to stop him, "Sire?"
"Why do you want her so much? Why harm a lady in such a fashion," Arthur said as he picked the surprisingly light Sara up into his arms. Even though he was in chainmail and various other layers of clothing, he could still feel how cold she was. It made him frown with wonder.
"We cannot let her go with you," Arthur said, "You were the ones who clearly injured her."
"In advise you to give us the girl," Michael replied in an attempt to be menacing, "Because, if you don't…I cannot promise a very bright future for that precious little kingdom you have…what's it called…Camelot, no?"
"We will not give in to threats," Arthur said, "We will take the girl back to Camelot with us and be under our protection. You will not touch her."
"My…such big words from such a…little prince," Michael said scathingly, "Are you sure you want to make an enemy of us?"
"And who, may I ask, would I be making an enemy of," Arthur asked stiffly. Michael chuckled darkly.
"You don't really want to know," he said, "But it'll be a matter time before you find out."
Merlin, who had been silent for most of this discussion, discreetly eyed the weapons that the hunters wielded. The metal in the swords, spears and arrow heads seemed to resonate with each other and he seemed to be the only one who had noticed this.
"Well, until that time comes," Arthur said, "We will take care of the girl."
Michael snarled and cleaned his fists, "Fine, your highness," he mock bowed to him, "On your heads be it."
Michael turned on his heal and walked back to his horse. With a grin, her mounted his steed and wordlessly galloped away. His fellow hunters did the same and they too cantered away from the scene. Arthur raised an eyebrow and turned to his companions. It was only then that everyone noticed that the rain had stopped.
"It appears that we will have a conflict on our hands," Arthur said as he walked towards his stallion, which patiently grazed upon the low rising foliage.
"Nah," Gwaine said as he turned towards his own horse, "They were scared off but I wouldn't have minded fighting a couple of them," he mounted his horse.
"Well, we know you would," Merlin muttered under his breath. Arthur carefully mounted his horse with Sara safely nestled within his arms. She was still deeply unconscious and it seemed that it would be a while until she woke up.
"Let's get back to Camelot," Arthur said, "I don't think this girl can hang on much longer," he was about to turn his horse away before he turned to Merlin, "When we get back to Camelot, alert Gaius immediately so I suggest you go ahead of us."
"I won't make it back before you," Merlin scoffed, "I'd need a horse."
Arthur rolled his eyes shook his head before turning to Gwaine and signalled him to give up his horse. Gwaine laughed slightly in understanding, "Don't worry about it; I like the walk."
Gwaine dismounted his horse and handed the reins to Merlin, "Take care of him, Merlin," he said as he patted his back jovially. Merlin smiled wryly before mounting Gwaine's horse. Gwaine then slapped the hide of his horse, causing the animal to gallop away before Merlin was ready, "Ah, I forgot to mention that my horse is a bit skittish."
Arthur and Percival laughed slightly in response as they began the long journey back to Camelot. Gwaine, who was left behind, found that the bags had been left. Shaking his head in slight displeasure, he picked them up and followed them back to Camelot.
When Merlin arrived back at Camelot, he quickly ran to Gaius's room and walked inside, closing the door behind him. The aging physician turned to him as he was mixing a potion, ready for use, "Gaius, we found a girl in the forest today."
"A girl in the forest, you say," Gaius replied with light irony in his voice, "My, you don't see many of those every day."
"Gaius, I'm serious," Merlin said as he gathered some bandages, "She was shot in the leg with an arrow by a gang of men. We were confronted by them and they demanded that we give them this girl. I seemed to be the only one who noticed this, but their weapons seemed to resonate with each other, as if they were alive. I also think that the girl isn't human but I'll let you decide that."
Gaius watched as Merlin rushed around the room gathering appropriate ointments and equipment, "Is the girl here yet," Gaius asked. Merlin stopped for a moment and turned to the window.
"Yeah," Merlin replied, "Arthur has her."
The prince and Sir Percival had arrived in the courtyard and were quickly entering the castle, "It also appears that Gwaine is not back yet. He had to give me his horse so that I could ride here ahead."
"I see," Gaius said with a hint of amusement in his voice. The next thing they knew, a guard had burst into the room, "Yes?" Gaius calmly replied.
"Prince Arthur has summoned you to the main guest room and you are both to come immediately," the guard replied. Gaius nodded, unfazed and jaded by the sudden panic.
"Let's go, Merlin," Gaius said but Merlin was already beside him. They walked out towards the main guest room, which was situated by the Lady Morgana's room, the king's ward. Knocking on the door, they heard Arthur answer.
"Enter," Arthur said and Gaius walked in with Merlin. The old physician walked to the bedside and let his eyes roam over Sara, searching for the problem. His eyes eventually fell upon the arrow, which was protruding out of her slender calf, "Will she be all right," Arthur asked. Gaius looked up at him and nodded.
"We will need to keep her warm and I will get to work with removing that arrow," Gaius said, "As soon as we've done that, Gwen can change her if she doesn't mind."
The pretty, dark woman who was standing next to Arthur nodded, smiling meekly, "I'll do anything that is needed."
Gaius nodded, "Well, if you could all go out so that I can get to work, the sooner we can do the other jobs," Gaius said as he made a gesture towards the door. Arthur and Gwen nodded and walked out, closing the door behind them.
Gaius turned back to Sara and her leg. Merlin stood the other side, "Can you tell that she isn't human, Gaius," Merlin asked. Gaius raised his grey eyebrows.
"There is only one way to find out," Gaius said as he pressed down upon Sara's leg and curled his aged hand around the arrow. His eyes flickered to Sara, making sure that she was truly unconscious, and he swiftly pulled out the arrow, blood splattering all over his long robe.
As soon as he did so, the hold which the arrow had made had completely healed, "No, she isn't human."
"What is she," Merlin asked, still staring at her healed leg.
"You say that there were men after her with special weapon, yes? I thought as much…she's a vampire," Gaius said, "With healing powers that quick, she is a pure blooded vampire too, a vampire who has no human blood flowing through their veins."
"Is she…a dead…a creature of magic," Merlin asked, surprising calm despite what he felt.
"It's a common misconception to think that vampires are dead. It's a myth. They are a different species of human and they don't need blood to survive. It is only an indulgence," Gaius explained.
"Is it also a myth that they can turn humans into vampires," Merlin asked.
"Yes…and no," Gaius said, "Vampires can choose whether they inject their venom or not. However, it is rumoured that is only pure bread vampires can do so. It is also rumoured that if a human drinks a vampire's blood, that it will grant the human extraordinary powers. It is prized more than gold and status. In other words, it's an elixir of life."
"Do you think that is why the hunters wanted her," Merlin asked.
"I would say so," Gaius replied.
"But should she be allowed to stay in Camelot? Isn't it dangerous?"
"I doubt it. Vampires are generally benevolent and shy creatures," Gaius said as he handed the arrow to Merlin, "We'll just keep an eye on her and not let Arthur nor Uther know what she is."
Merlin nodded, "Are you finished? Shall I call Gwen in?"
"Yes, she should be through the worst of it by now," Gaius said, a he bandaged Sara's leg as to not cause suspicion. Merlin nodded and walked over to the door, opening it. Gwen immediately walked in with a fresh night gown.
"Remember to keep her warm, Gwen," Gaius said, "Other than that, she'll be fine."
"Yes, Gaius," Gwen said as she walked over to the bed. Gaius and Merlin left the room and Gwen set to work to make Sara as comfortable as she could.
Please Review!
Be kind. This is my first Merlin story.