I DO NOT OWN MERLIN AND THE CHARACTERS. BBC DOES. THIS IS JUST MY IMAGINATION RUNNING WILD.
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CHAPTER 1: The Encounter
"Arthur, remind me again why we are in the Valley of the Fallen Kings in the middle of the night?" Merlin asked as he looked around suspiciously into the dark forest.
"For the love of god Merlin, how many times do I have to tell you?" Arthur exclaimed in exasperation.
"How about once more?" Merlin said sheepishly. The knights laughed. Arthur sighed loudly and shook his head.
"Once again Merlin, we are out here because the tradesmen have been getting attacked, and it's causing other traders to stop coming to Camelot. So we are going to stop them, and then the trade route will be safe for the tradesman."
"And we're out here in the dark why?"
"Because Merlin, we are going to sneak up on their camp that's why. Now do you need me to tell you again or do you understand now?"
The knights behind the two snickered. Even though one was the King and the other his servant they were as close as brothers, though neither would ever admit it.
The group was still in high spirits at the past conversation when Leon, who had been scouting ahead, barged through the trees: "Sire, I think I found someone."
"A bandit?" Arthur asked.
"I'm not sure Sire. They figure was cloaked and sleeping next to a tree."
"Well then we should wake them and see what's their business here in this cursed Valley."
"But Arthur," Merlin interrupted, "what if they're not a bandit? They could just be a traveler. We could scare them to death!" Arthur sighed.
"That's why we are going to wake them up Merlin." This time it was Merlin's turn to sigh.
"Clotpole."
Arthur swiveled on him: "What did you say?"
"Oh nothing at all, Your Highness." The knights again sniggered at Merlin's fun with their King.
As they moved through the forest silently following Leon, Merlin got a feeling that they shouldn't be sneaking up on this person. It was just a feeling, he thought to himself, but he knows that his feelings are usually more than just "feelings".
About 10 minutes later the group came upon the figure sleeping. From where Arthur stood it appeared as if the person had no armor or weapon, and was dead asleep. But something was making him feel uneasy about waking the figure. Something felt wrong.
"Merlin," Arthur said quietly, "go wake him."
"Me? Why?" Merlin whined.
"Because I told you to. Now go!"
Merlin crept out of the tress toward the figure, and with each step he took the "feeling" got worse. When he was about 5 feet from the figure, and all the knights were ready to kill, Merlin cleared his throat: "Umm, excuse me, are you awake?"
He got no reply and so he tried again, but this time with a louder voice: "I'm sorry for waking you, but are you doing here in the Valley?"
Again: no reply. So Merlin edged closer. By this time he was a mere foot away. Just when he was about to ask again, the figure moved from its place on the ground and put a knife to his throat. They still said nothing though as Arthur and the knights stepped forward into the little clearing with their swords aimed for the figure.
Merlin who was pretty uncomfortable tried again: "We mean you no harm. We are looking for bandits and were wondering if you happened to be one."
For a second no one moved, but suddenly time seemed to slow. The figure released Merlin and ran sword pointed to Arthur, but instead of striking Arthur they skewered the bandit hiding behind him. That's when all hell broke loose.
Merlin watched curiously from his spot near Arthur how the figure seemed to be protecting the knights, and helping kill the bandits. They moved so fast and elegantly, that to Merlin, it almost looked as if they were dancing. Soon enough all the bandits in the clearing were defeated and the knights and the figure just stood there surveying the mess. The silence only lasted for a second, before Arthur turned to the figure.
"Who are you?" he asked, but he received no reply.
"I asked you a question. The least you could do is reply." Again silence. Arthur sighed and was clearly frustrated.
"Who are you?" Arthur said even louder this time, making the figure cringe.
Merlin watched from his place behind Arthur as the figure stepped forward and seemed like they were about to speak, when something caught their attention to their left. The knights heard it to and were ready when over ten bandits ran though the clearing heading straight for Arthur.
In less than a few minutes they were taken care of by the tired knights and the figure, who was now mere feet from Arthur's side.
Arthur turned to the figure and was about to ask again, when they heard one of the bandits move and throw a knife straight at Arthur's chest. No had time to move or even think before Arthur was suddenly on the ground with the cloaked figure on top of him.
Merlin was shocked. The figure had taken the blade meant for Arthur, and it was now buried deep in their shoulder. Already, blood was dripping from hits hilt onto their back. He watched as Arthur tried to help the figure stand, but failed when they moved away from him swiftly and stood on the edge of the clearing.
Merlin watched as the figure quickly inspected their wound before placing their hand on the hilt, and pulling the blade out quickly. He guessed the blade was covered in poison, as it seemed to have a deep blue stain on it. Whoever this was, he thought, was going to need some help.
Arthur noticed this too before stepping closer to the figure, who was still covered by their long dark blue cloak.
"Thank you for saving my life. I owe you a debt." Arthur said hoping to get an answer. When there was none he tried again.
"As you probably know now, that blade was covered in poison. And in return for saving my life, I can save yours." Still he received no reply.
"Please let me help you. I promise no harm will come to you. Please, let me save you." After a moment the figure nodded and stepped forward, but thanks to the fast effects of the poison they lost their balance and fell forward. Luckily Arthur caught them before they hit the ground. While falling though, the cloak had slipped off their face, and what the men saw stunned them. The figure, who now lay unconscious in Arthur's arms, was not a man, but a young woman.
Arthur was transfixed on the young woman he now cradled in his arms. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. The girl was probably around his age, and had flaming red hair that was held captive in a braid running down her back. If down, he suspected, it would go to her waist. From what her could see, her skin was pale and covered with sprinkles of freckles. Her face was heart-shaped with delicate features, rosy lips, and held what he assumed to be beautiful eyes, but since they were closed he had no idea. As he picked her up he noticed that she was slim enough that her weight didn't bother him at all, but he also felt that she held delicate curves. In short: she was beautiful.
He was shot back to reality as he felt her blood seeping into his armor.
"We need to get back to Camelot now if she is to live. Mount your horses. Let's go!" Arthur yelled at his men with a panic filled voice as he strode over to his own horse. He handed the girl reluctantly off to Merlin for a second as he mounted his horse, before cradling her back in his arms.
He would save this girl, he swore to himself as they started off at a deadly speed for Camelot, and he would never let her go.
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