Merlin Fan-Fiction
Concealed For Glory
A growl issued from its throat.
"I don't think its dead…" Merlin murmured to Arthur, as they crouched over the huge beast.
"You think?!?" Arthur hissed back, "Honestly, if only your brain was as big as your stupidity, you might actually learn something in life!" Arthur rolled his eyes, and then cautiously poked the creature's rump with his spear; it twitched in its sleep.
"Thanks!" Merlin said sarcastically, rather louder than he meant to.
"Shhh!" Arthur hissed, but it was too late. The sleeping beast woke and sighting Arthur and his knights, it raised itself onto its hind legs and roared with such ferocity that Merlin fell backwards in fear.
Arthur, however, raised his spear and aimed it at the beast's furry neck. The beast had a spotted tawny coat with huge horns and fangs protruding from its lower jaw. It pawed at the ground with its hoofed feet, swishing its
goat-like head from side to side as its long mane swished. It was a Yale. It snarled angrily and lunged at Arthur with its large fanged jaws wide open.
Arthur retreated back, aiming again at the creature with his spear. This time as the creature turned, Arthur threw his spear; however it only skimmed the creatures back, as it shook its head snarling. Arthur further away, taking a spear from the closest knight and aiming once again. Merlin propped himself up with his elbows. He could see that the beast was slowly inching towards Arthur; into striking range. Merlin shifted his vision to Arthur's fallen spear, lying forgotten on the ground.
"Ádýdan-néat", he muttered under his breath, just as Arthur let fly his second spear.
Arthur's spear flew at the beasts face but was smashed into splinters as the creature knocked it off course. Merlin's spear, however, imbedded itself deep into the creature's throat. It let out a pitiless moan and keeled over sideways, writhing as it lay dying. Merlin lay back in a heap of dry leaves relieved. Arthur pulled a dagger from his belt and slit the creature's throat, cutting short its moans.
Arthur turned to his men, clapping them on their backs, and then he sighted Merlin.
"Okay, Merlin. We'll just risk our lives, while you lie there. Well, don't get comfortable!" Arthur said angrily, pulling Merlin up and handing him his spear. "Collect all the spears, and then go saddle up the horses. Now!"
Merlin glared down at Arthur's feet, and then slunk off to collect the rest of the spears as Arthur looked over the Yale's body.
"Why is he always the hero?" Merlin grumbled to himself, as he polished Arthur's sword. It was dark in Camelot's royal armoury, as the only light shone through a small window on the back wall. The light gleamed on the polished metal of Arthur's sword. It was also quite damp, as the thatched roof had recently developed a hole, where the rain water from the storm outside slowly dripped in. Merlin smoothed his damp hair as the cold water slowly seeped through the roof into his head.
"I bet it's not even that hard, being a knight!"
Merlin stood up and pointed Arthur's sword at the wall.
"I'll show him who's the real hero and I won't even have to use magic! Now how to do it…" Merlin thought aloud.
"Merlin?"
"Arthur," Merlin said shocked, dropping the sword he had been brandishing at the wall.
"What do you think you are doing Merlin?" Arthur said, a look of disbelief on his face.
Merlin shuffled his feet and picked up Arthurs fallen sword.
"Merlin!" Arthur snarled impatiently.
"Nothing," Merlin muttered, replacing the sword and looking at Arthur.
"Get out of my sight," Arthur said, waving Merlin away, looking at him closely.
"Merlin, what's wrong? I haven't heard a word from you all evening," muttered Gaius through a mouthful of soup.
"Oh, it's nothing" Merlin mumbled sadly picking at his food.
"Merlin, you were never a good liar," Gaius smiled.
"What?"
"Just tell me what's wrong Merlin!" Gaius sighed, spooning soup into his mouth.
"Arthur caught me, trying out his sword…" Merlin said, embarrassed, wringing his hands under the table.
"'Trying out his sword'… Merlin? I don't understand you sometimes…" Gaius sighed, though he smiled despite his scolding tone.
"I guess it was on the spur of the moment, felt like it…" Merlin said his lip curling into a grin.
Gaius smiled, "Well, you can stop wasting your time with that soup. It's probably stone cold by now anyway."
He sighed, already beginning to stack the small wooden bowls which had held the soup into a pile.
"Get to bed and leave me to my work. I have a very complicated ointment I need to prepare by tomorrow so I can't be wasting time here watching you fiddle with your food. Off you go then!" he said, as Merlin hesitated.
Merlin grinned and got up from the table to go to his room. "Thanks for cheering me up Gaius."
He grunted in reply and began setting up his equipment.
Merlin sniggered and shut his door.
Leaves crunched beneath the trotting hooves of the large black horse which rode quickly towards Camelot. Sat astride was a figure fitted with heavy armour and a thick plated iron helmet. The horse snorted at the effort of carrying its heavy rider, inhaling the cold night air and feeling it rush past as it galloped. After reaching the heavily padlocked gates of Camelot, the figure forced his horse to halt. He hammered his gloved fist against the gates.
"Who knocks?" called a voice from the other side.
"It is I, Sir Crestar. Here for the tournament," said Sir Crestar in his deep menacing voice.
The sound sent shivers down the gateman's spine, but despite this, he unbolted the gates and let Camelot's final fate in.
