"Come oooon, Merlin! Hurry it up already! We're starving!"

Tight-lipped, Merlin continued roasting the sausages in the pan above the campfire. "If you don't want to wait for your meal, maybe you should make it yourself."

"Or maybe I should just hire myself a new manservant." Arthur retorted from his spot in the clearing. "One who understands that breakfast is a meal usually served in the morning!"

"Can't you two wait until after breakfast to start bickering?" Leon asked as he and the other knights emerged from the forest surrounding them.

Gwaine was the last to come out of the brush. "Breakfast isn't ready yet? It's almost noon!" He cried out, greatly disheartened by the news. They had been out in the wilderness for four days already, and with no fresh supply of ale, Gwaine's only comfort for his stomach was food. Arthur nodded approvingly at Gwaine. "That's what I've been saying! Merlin doesn't seem to get it."

Merlin sighed and continued watching over his sausages, pleased with the spicy aroma wafting from them. "Seasonings have to be added and given the proper time to meld with the meat before the taste can be perfected."

"Taste shmaste. Meat is food and food is what I need right now." Gwaine countered as he darted around Merlin's hunched form and snagged a sausage. The sausage landed on the forest floor a moment later.

"Ack!"

Merlin smirked slightly as Gwaine dropped the sizzling meat and flexed his burning fingers. He said nonchalantly, "I should warn you, it's a bit hot." Leon, Percival, Elyan, and Lancelot all chuckled and took their seats, willing to wait patiently for the food.

Arthur shook his head and turned to Leon. "Did you find the tracks?" Leon pursed his lips and heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry, the rainstorm the other night washed away the tracks... we couldn't find a single trace of the druids. It looks like the hunt is at it's end." No one noticed Merlin's slight change in demeanor at the word "hunt". His eyes were downcast and his lips pursed for a split second.

The druids they were chasing had been discovered in the lower towns of Camelot, receiving supplies and trying to sell some of their own things. They barely escaped (a certain warlock might have pushed over a cart or two and tripped a few unsuspecting soldiers to aid in their flight), and Merlin hoped that it would end there. He hadn't counted on Uther ordering for a manhunt to ensue immediately, nor did he expect that Arthur, eager to please his on-and-off catatonic father, to assist in tracking the druids down. Of course, that meant that Merlin was to accompany him, and Leon would have to come along to look after the prince, and Gwaine had somehow gotten into the mix with Percival at his heels, which left Lancelot and Elyan to either stay at Camelot by themselves, or tag along as well. Needless to say, they chose the latter.

Merlin wished that they could just let the druids go and head back home to Camelot where the cooks could deal with Arthur's eating habits. He thought that the rainstorm would have been enough to stop Arthur, but the prince was set on seeing this through. Merlin guessed that it was because Uther had asked for it directly, but didn't prod. Morgana's treachery had shaken both the king and the prince, and Merlin figured that they should work through it by themselves before offering any counsel.

Merlin's thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tap on the back. He turned to Lancelot, who nodded toward the sausages. "If you zone out like that for any longer they'll turn into ash." Merlin quickly pulled the burning food from the fire, glad that Lancelot had seen it and not Arthur. "Breakfast!" He called out to the clearing.

"About time!" Arthur said, exasperated. Gwaine looked equally pleased and actually waited until Merlin placed the hot food into the bowl before indulging. Elyan smiled as he got his share. "I see why you wanted us to wait. This is delicious." Merlin smiled back at him and finished the food-line with Arthur. Arthur didn't move after he got his sausage. Merlin set a pained smile on his face. "Is something wrong?" "It's burnt." Merlin shook his head. "Nooo, that's just... part of the seasoning." Arthur shifted on his feet, glowering. "Elyan didn't get a burnt one, Merlin." Merlin also shifted his feet. "Would you like the sausage Gwaine had?" He motioned to the abandoned sausage on the ground.

Arthur shook his head slowly. "No, but I think you wouldn't mind it." He grabbed Merlin's dish (Merlin had learnt to prepare his food beforehand after spending some time with the gluttons), and walked away. "Hey!" Merlin yelled. "Give it back."

"Are you ordering the future king of Camelot, Merlin?" Arthur turned around, a grin on his face. "I doubt that you have that kind of power." Merlin shared a look with Lancelot, both thinking the same thing. Arthur wouldn't stand a chance if Merlin showed him the "kind of power" he had. "You're right," Merlin said absently. Arthur donned a smug face and turned back around. He tripped shortly after, a root appearing almost out of nowhere in his path. Lancelot hid a grin and went to help the prince up. Merlin didn't bother hiding his, smiling radiantly as he grabbed his stolen breakfast, which had mysteriously landed upright, and took a bite before going over to Arthur. The prince was brushing the debris off his tunic.

"Are you alright, sire?" Merlin asked cheerfully. Arthur just stared at him darkly, trying to find a way to blame Merlin for his slip. Gwaine was chuckling as he ate and Elyan was wondering if he should help or laugh like Gwaine, half-way up from his sitting position in dilemma. Leon, having also come to the prince's aid, was standing beside Lancelot and looking around for anymore assassin-roots. Arthur stopped cleaning his shirt and looked down at his breakfast, which hadn't been as lucky as Merlin's.

He pointed at the scattered remains of the sausage, staring at Merlin. "Look what you did!" Merlin feigned shock. "What do you mean? I didn't trip you!"

"You..." Arthur stopped pointing his finger at the food and directed it at Merlin. "...distracted me!" He said in triumph.

"I don't think that it's fair to blame Merlin, my lord. You did steal his food." Arthur silently agreed with Leon, but didn't let it show. He stopped pointing accusingly at Merlin and bent down to pick up the now soiled food. As Arthur bent down, Merlin got a chill over his body, and one moment later an arrow flew through the space Arthur's head had just been. The arrow imbedded itself in the trunk behind them.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled. The prince stayed hunched, and snapped his head forward, where the arrow had been shot from. The knights were on their feet and drew their swords, surrounding Arthur as human shields. Arthur raised himself up, and drew his own sword while pushing past them. "It came from over there!" He shouted, and tried to charge into the woods. A dozen different hands held him back.

"Sire, wait!"

"Don't rush!"

Merlin was pushed back by the knights who were trying their best to protect Arthur. They didn't need to be told what would happen if Uther found out that Arthur had been injured on their watch. Merlin strode toward and ripped out the arrow in the tree. His stomach dropped as he recognized druid markings on the shaft. Were they the same druids that they had been chasing? The chill from earlier suddenly made sense. "They have dark magic." He whispered to himself. He turned back to Arthur, who had stopped fighting the knights, but still stood in front of them. "Show yourself!" Arthur demanded. "Arthur, wait!" Merlin stepped forward.

"Merlin, stay back!" Arthur commanded him. He addressed the knights in a quieter voice. "Go around from all sides. We're sitting ducks in this clearing." He gave them some hand signals that Merlin couldn't even start to understand, and then they disappeared into the forest. Arthur pointed at Merlin and waved for him to come along. Merlin ran over to Arthur. "Arthur, they have magic!" He hissed. Arthur stopped in his tracks. "How do you know this?" Merlin showed him the arrow. "Druids." Arthur's expression changed, and Merlin knew that he had only motivated his master further. "Come on." Arthur set off into the woods as the knights set off in the opposite directions. The parties came back after a prolonged time, no one finding anything substantial. Even Merlin hadn't found anything useful after searching out farther than normal eyes could see. The mysterious bowman, or men, had vanished.

Arthur showed the rest of them the druid markings and had them break down the make-shift camp, prepared to keep moving. They headed in the direction that the arrow had originated from since the trail they had been following was completely wasted from the rainstorm two days ago. They had nothing else to go on. No footprints or broken branches. Just the direction the arrow had come from.

Merlin struggled to stay awake on his horse as they rode into the night. Arthur wasn't going to stop soon, even if he couldn't see two feet in front of him in the darkness. That was how they managed to get lost and lose their supply horse when they tripped into a gorge. After that mishap, Arthur finally admitted defeat and let his knights and servant rest. It wasn't the best sleep, seeing as how their blankets had been on the supply horse. Other things they were missing were a pots and food.

"I'll take that burnt sausage, now." Gwaine grumbled the next day. Elyan agreed with him, snacking on some berries they had found earlier. "At least we still have our horses." Percival shrugged, although he hated the lack of proper food as much as anyone else. Arthur kept firm and determined, not willing to be put down by a couple inconveniences. He found that it wasn't necessary for him to complain, though. The knights behind him were doing enough of that without his help. What worried him was Merlin. He was being oddly silent, staring out into the forest and his expression glazed over. Arthur shrugged it off. He was probably just missing Gaius and the feeling of a night in a real bed. Arthur straightened himself on his horse. Merlin would just have to get used to it, as would the knights. This mission had been given by his father, and he had to see it completed, no matter how long it took or how many horses they lost.

Merlin gazed into the forest, trying to touch minds with any near druids. The problem was that there were none. None at all. Not even a faint whisper of their presence was revealed to Merlin. Merlin found this strange and a bit unnerving. The forest felt empty. They hadn't even found any animals passing by, but Merlin blamed that on the knights that made as much noise as a dragon, during a thunderstorm, while the earth was being split in two. Merlin shook off the empty feeling of the forest and continued to ride. They once again rode into nightfall, but this time Arthur had them get off their mounts and lead the horses by foot. Merlin was glad to know that he wasn't the only one that was saddlesore and just wanted to rest, but no one argued Arthur.

Merlin admitted that the druids they were looking for had in fact targeted Arthur's life, and for that he could no longer grant them the grace he wanted to previously. Arthur had to be protected from any adversary, and the close call from yesterday only strengthened that resolution in Merlin's heart. He didn't pay attention to the look Arthur gave him when he subconsciously walked nearer to him, completely consumed with the need to protect Arthur better.

"Afraid of the dark, Merlin?" Arthur joked.

Merlin gave him half a smile, his eyes betraying the thoughts in his head.

Arthur continued to stare. "What's wrong?" Merlin shook his head. "Nothing, sire. Like you said, I can't stand the dark." Arthur nodded, unconvinced but not having the energy to pursue the topic. For that, Merlin was grateful. A wind broke through the trees and buffeted the party. Merlin felt a chill run down his spine, and blamed the gust. He started to worry when the chill stayed with him long after the breeze had vanished. "Arthur." He shivered. He couldn't feel any druid presence. No one had contacted his mind. Yet this was the same feeling he had before, when the arrow had come. Merlin set his jaw and stopped, his horse bumping into him with a whinny. The horse's disturbance got Arthur's attention and he also stopped, looking back at Merlin. "Is everything all right? We're not stopping yet, not until we've-"

In an instant the chill in Merlin's body sharpened with such an intensity that he gasped and jerked forward, launching toward Arthur, who was still speaking, oblivious to the danger around. Merlin crashed into Arthur and sent him sprawling to the ground just as he heard the faint twang of a crossbow.

"Merlin! What are you-" Arthur cried out at his servant's erratic behavior, but stopped short as the words hung in his mouth. Merlin slumped forward onto his knees, his face a mixture of shock and fear as he looked at Arthur. He collapsed further, his face hitting the dirt. Even though it was dark, Arthur still made out the druid markings on the arrow as it stemmed out of Merlin's back.


I hope that I did well! I'd appreciate any and all suggestions, comments, criticisms, etc.

Was it boring?

Did I drawl on too long?

Did I do the characters justice?

I have no idea ._.

I'm hoping for a whopper of a story out of this. I hope you enjoyed! (It feels like a slow start to me, but I really felt like taking my time with the first chapter and get into the mood. Understand? No? Okay.)

Next update will be May 1st (I will be doing monthly updates until my workload gets better... IF it gets better, I should say.)