The King's Bed
A/N [show-me-your-tardis]
Plot – A hunting trip goes terribly wrong; there's a strange disease spreading through Camelot and rumours are spreading about who, exactly, is in The King's Bed.
This will be a multi-chapter story. I promise, promise, promise not to abandon it like I did with The Second Wedding.
I go on holiday tomorrow (yaaaaay) so I'll upload the second chapter when I come back in a week. The chapters will be up weekly unless something horrific happens to me.
This chapter is sort of a preface to the rest of the story, hence why it's so short. Other chapters will be about twice this size.
Okay so spoilers: I'm not sure on the specifics of which episode but it's pre Mordred and post Lancelot's return, so if you have no idea who either of those guys are, I suggest you do not read!
Also, yes this is a slash-y one, so if you stick religiously to canon pairings this story probably isn't for you. I guess you could just hum loudly whenever I start shipping :)
As always please review. Thank you and I hope you enjoy reading it!
"Come on Merlin, you're not even trying." Arthur mocked, "You just have to focus. I know you're not a knight, but even you have some ability to focus. If you just aim carefully."
Merlin ignored Arthur's monologue, instead he jumped down from his horse and dislodged the poorly aimed arrow from the tree trunk. He could still hear Arthur rambling about focus, any minute now he'd start on about determination.
"If you just have a little determination." Arthur continued and Merlin resisted rolling his eyes, "What makes knights great is their ability to-"
"To be so arrogant and obnoxious that they-" Merlin began as he clambered back onto his horse.
"MERLIN!" Arthur bellowed.
Before Arthur could continue a deer dashed in front of their path. Arthur pushed his horse forward slowly and took aim. The deer caught sight of the two men and froze.
Seconds passed and Arthur took a deep breath. He let go of the arrow, felt the fletching cut into his cheek, and exhaled.
A twig snapped to their left. Merlin and Arthur's heads simultaneously snapped towards the sound, neither saw the arrow miss the deer.
Instead, Arthur heard a rustle of leaves where the deer had been.
"Hear that Merlin? Direct shot." Arthur boasted, "Help me get the thing."
Merlin rolled his eyes at the King's ego and jumped down from his horse for the second time. Arthur picked his way through the forest, closely followed by Merlin.
Another twig snapped, closer this time. Arthur froze, something wasn't right.
"Merlin-" Before Arthur could finish his warning, seven ugly faces emerged from the bushes. Rotten grins etched across each of their faces.
Merlin's heart sped up as he saw the gleaming weapons in their hands. Three had axes and the other four had swords. Arthur had left his sword with his horse, they had no means of defense, Merlin couldn't exactly use his magic right now.
Arthur knew they had no hope. He quickly skimmed through their options, the only one that even had a slight chance was to run. Yes it was cowardly, but it was the only option.
Quick as a flash he had Merlin's arm and was half leading, half dragging Merlin away from the bandits.
"RUN" He ordered, not giving Merlin much of a choice as he yanked him through the forest.
The pounding of feet followed them, the jeers and shouts from the bandits never ceased. Merlin's heart felt like it was going to burst through his chest, he knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. They had to lose them or he had to sacrifice himself to save Arthur.
Almost like he could hear Merlin's thoughts, Arthur tightened his grip on Merlin's arm. He wasn't about to lose him.
The first arrow came as a shock as it whizzed between their heads. They must have picked up Arthur's dropped crossbow.
Arthur pushed his body further, weaving expertly through the trees and rocks. Merlin followed clumsily; it seemed to Arthur he was purposely stumbling over every rock he saw. If they weren't running for their lives, he would have given him another lecture about focus. The boy never focused.
The second arrow bounced off Arthur's chainmail. Merlin said a silent thank you that he had managed to convince Arthur to wear it.
The third arrow, both Merlin and Arthur knew it was coming, took a bit longer. Arthur tried to think what could possibly keep them from firing the next arrow. Each idea he thought of came up worse. As he mentally planned their route through the forest, he didn't hear the snap of the bow behind him.
Merlin's breath caught in his throat. The arrow had pierced through the weak part of the chainmail on Arthur's shoulder.
"ARTHUR" Merlin cried, but the sound was distorted by the increasing jeers of the bandits.
Arthur slowed, his legs became less certain on the ground, but he never let go of Merlin's arm. Eventually his foot caught on a log and he fell face first into the ground. Merlin barely resisted being dragged down with him. Somehow he managed to stay on his feet. He spun round, flung his hand out and watched the seven bodies fly backwards through the forest.
He didn't have much time before they came back. They knew they had injured the King of Camelot, there's no way they'd leave without him. Merlin jumped over the log and bent down to Arthur.
"Come on, Arthur we don't have much time." Merlin insisted.
Arthur didn't respond. Merlin pulled Arthur's arm over his shoulder and dragged him up. Arthur's eyes remained unfocused as Merlin dragged him along, the roles reversed.
Stumbling through the forest, Merlin looked for a place to hide. There was no way they could ever outrun the bandits, especially now Arthur was injured. Merlin tried to picture where they were in the forest but he wasn't as good as Arthur. He spotted a sizeable rock. That would have to do.
He heaved Arthur towards the rock and set him down behind it. He leant down and looked into Arthur's eyes.
"Arthur, look at me." Merlin begged. Arthur's eyelids drooped, his eyes remaining unfocused.
Carefully Merlin looked at the wound. The arrow had penetrated right through the chainmail, the shirt and Arthur's skin. Blood leaked out on Arthur's white cotton shirt and stained the chainmail. Merlin panicked. What on earth should he do?
He gritted his teeth, and yanked. The arrow came out, without looking at it, Merlin flung it behind him.
"Okay, think Merlin." Merlin whispered to himself, trying desperately to remember any of his physician lessons.
Plug the wound.
Gaius' voice came back to Merlin but could he trust it? He was panicking right now and if he did this wrong it would all be on him. Maybe his mind had just distorted his own thoughts into Gaius' voice.
Well it was the only course of action he knew right now. He swiftly untied the scarf from around his neck and stuffed it under the chainmain against the wound. Instantly, the maroon became stained with dark brown.
Merlin moved backwards and tilted Arthur's head towards him, the eyes remained closed, the skin was pale – there was no blood in his cheeks.
Merlin held back the curse words that threatened to escape his lips. He had to use magic. Without it, Arthur would just continue to get worse.
He lay Arthur down on his stomach. Taking a deep breath, Merlin muttered the spell under his breath, his hand placed over Arthur. He saw the gold line his vision and felt the magic ripple down his arm.
Before he could check if it had worked, Merlin heard footsteps on the other side of the rock. He ducked down behind the rock and held his breath. Willing Arthur to stay silent until the bandits had passed.
"Where'd he go?" A grissly voice came from behind the rock.
Merlin ducked closer to the ground.
"Don' know. We need to find 'im though." Another voice replied.
"Dis way. Look!" A higher pitched voice came through. Merlin guessed it was more likely to be a young boy than a woman.
The footsteps died away, Merlin had no idea what had caught their attention but he thanked whatever it was.
The light of the forest began to die away as the evening turned into night. Merlin pulled off his jacket, after feeling how cold the King was, and draped it over him. The small jacket barely covered Arthur's muscles but it was better than nothing.
Merlin felt the wind pick up around them and subconsciously wriggled closer to Arthur.
Eventually he fell asleep.
At some time close to dawn, Merlin snapped awake, tormented by the nightmares of the day before.
He shook his head trying to shake out the image of Arthur being hit by an arrow. He turned to the body next to him and felt Arthur's forehead. It was still icy cold.
Sighing Merlin turned back and rested his head on the rock.
His eyes locked onto the unpleasant face in front of him.