A/N: Hi guys, this is my first story ever on FanFiction, so please review!
The first warning they had of the impending attack was when a startled bird flew shrieking in front of the Camelot hunting party. Then came the arrows, shooting at the King, his servant and his most trusted knights from all directions.
The arrows were not aimed at the King, nor were they aimed at manservant. They avoided the tall man with the tangled blonde hair and the blacksmith-turned-knight, and, for the most part, whizzed over heads or stuck into random trees. The only arrow to actually make contact with human flesh was currently protruding from the rogue knight with the long brown hair-to-die-for's leg.
The knights wheeled their horses together, making a rough circle around both Merlin and their king. Swords were drawn, orders were shouted and horses reared. For a moment the forest was silent, before a roar sounded and masses of armed men all bearing bandit-turned-ruler Lots crest surged forwards, surrounding the small group of 6.
"King Arthur! I have a proposition for you" cried the man himself, striding forwards. Upon seeing King Lot standing there smiling nastily, the stinking feeling in Arthur's stomach grew. "You see Arthur Pendragon, if there is one thing I love most, it is money. And just imagine how much ransom money I could get from the King of Camelot, his second in command and the Queens brother. So here is how it is going to work. The six of you are going to dismount, and hand over any weapons you have. And then you," Lot said, pointing a finger at Merlin, "are going to head back over to Camelot with a letter. Any questions?"
"You said you were going to ransom me, Sir Elyan and Sir Leon, while Merlin goes back to Camelot." Arthur said slowly.
"Quite right boy." Lot confirmed.
"So what is to happen to Sir Percival and Sir Gwaine?"
"Ah, I was hoping you would ask that. You see Arthur, I wouldn't get a lot of money ransoming two commoners now would I, even if they are dressed as knights. I did my research, and neither of these two have any family. Besides, asking for five ransoms is too much. The kingdom will gladly pay to see their king and second in command returned, and the Queen for her brother, but I doubt they will fork over even more for a peasant from what used to be Cenreds kingdom and a vagabond with a knack for trouble. So instead, I think I will use your two precious knights for entertainment.
You see, I know all about Lady Morganas little invasion barely 3 weeks ago, and I also know about a certain prisoner who proved to be great entertainment. But sadly this little spot of entertainment only happened a few times, so I plan to rectify that." The captured men all reacted violently to that news. They had all heard detailed accounts of their brothers suffering, and had all seen its damage first hand in Gwaine's limp, bruises and cuts, Elyan' unnatural paleness and new-found fear of snakes and Gauis's weak state. "No!" Arthur cried, desperate to regain some form of control over this situation. "Camelot will pay for their safe return just as much as they will for Sir Leon. Don't harm them!" the Once and Future King pleaded. "That may be true Pendragon, but I would get far more enjoyment out of watching a knight of Camelot bleed and hurt because I wished it so." Here Lot paused, smiling darkly, before signalling his guards. "Split them up."
The bandits collected the knights swords and indicated that Arthur, Leon and Elyan were to remain mounted while Merlin was to dismount and stand before Lot himself. Gwaine and Percival were pushed into a slave wagon, complete with metal bars and chains on the walls. Unfortunately the slave wagon was already occupied with a group of guards who seemed to a have a problem with commoners, knights of Camelot and Gwaine's attitude. The last thing Gwaine saw was Lot handing Merlin a letter and sending him towards Camelot, before one particularly large thug dealt Gwaine a crushing blow to the head and the world went black.
REVIEW!