"Merlin."
He was running. Through the woods, trees passing by him in a blur. Nothing made sense; he didn't know where he was. He was just going, away from whatever was chasing him. He heard metal clashing against metal behind him. It was so close, they were catching up.
"Merlin."
It was getting harder to keep going. He slowed his pace. He heard someone yell. His name, is that what he heard? He didn't turn around to see. He kept going, as fast as he could.
"Merlin!"
"What?" He tried to call out, but it only came out a whisper. He risked turning his head around to see who was calling his name. Bad mistake. He tripped; fell, onto the ground with a thud. He pressed his face to the dirt, trying to bury himself, trying to get away from the pain to come. He heard his chasers come up beside him. They were yelling…something. He couldn't understand. He heard a sword being drawn from its sheath. They laughed. He heard the sword swish through the air. He brought his head around to see his attackers. The last thing he saw was blonde hair and aredcape…
"Merlin!"
"No!" The young warlock shot up in his bed, eyes still closed and breathing heavily. He brought his hands to his face, making sure he was all there. Someone put a hand on his shoulder, making his eyes shoot open.
"Gaius!" Merlin shouted. He brought his covers up around his bare chest, feeling slightly embarrassed. "What're you doing?"
The old physician and mentor had a worried look on his face. He raised one eyebrow at the young boy, who was staring blankly at him. "I only came to wake you. The others are ready to leave, but I don't think…"
At these words Merlin shot out of bed. He ran around his room and began throwing stuff on his bed. He started rambling about not being up on time as he started to thrust his garments into a bag. "I can't believe I slept in. You were supposed to wake me Gaius!" Merlin stopped and put his hands on his head, trying to figure out what he was forgetting.
Gaius walked over to Merlin. "You seemed to be having a nightmare." He said, completely ignoring Merlin's comment.
"What?" Merlin asked, clueless to what he had said. He threw his pack over his shoulder and went over to his boots.
"A nightmare, Merlin." Gaius repeated. "You were mumbling something." Merlin started tying his laces as Gaius walked over to his dresser.
"Yeah, right." Merlin mumbled. "Nothing much." He stood up abruptly and went into the other room. As he began packing food, he called out to Gaius. "Do you think this quest is actually necessary? I mean, making an air to the thrown risk his life like this? You'd think they pick something easier to prove his loyalty." Without waiting for Gaius to answer, he strode across the room and to the door.
"Uh, Merlin?" Gaius called as he exited Merlin's room. The boy shot his head around. "Are you forgetting something?"
Merlin pulled his pack around and rummaged through it. When he didn't see anything missing, he looked up at the old man with a questioning look. "No, I don't think so."
Gaius smiled and nodded his head towards Merlin. Merlin stared blankly at him, and then looked down at his own body.
"Oh!" Merlin exclaimed. Gaius held up one of Merlin's shirts in his hand and threw it across the room. Merlin caught it in one hand and fit his way into it.
"Thanks." Merlin smiled. He opened the door and turned around. "Wish me luck."
Gaius only smiled and nodded. Merlin turned on his heel and left the room, slamming the door on his way out. Gaius chuckled as he went to his bed and laid back down.
"Merlin, where the hell have you been?" Arthur yelled at the struggling man servant. Merlin was making his way down the courtyard stairs as fast as he could, trying not to trip on them. The others were already mounted on their horses, ready to leave.
"Just waken up then?" Gwaine said as Merlin came up to his own horse. "I've been there before." He smiled. "Though, on different circumstances." Arthur looked over at him with a smirk. Merlin only nodded his head as he mounted his black mare. The horse neighed roughly to his unliking, making Merlin jump.
"He might as well have been drinking. Look at him." Arthur said. Merlin glared at him, his eyes dark around the edges.
"Not fully awake either." Lancelot said. He brought his horse up beside Merlin and eyed him with concern. "Is there something the matter?"
"No." Merlin cleared his throat, he sounded hoarse. "No, I'm fine. Just didn't wake in time."
"Don't make it a habit." Arthur said. "We've already lost half an hour waiting on you to get your lazy…"
"Okay!" Merlin almost shouted, but contained it a little. Everyone looked over at him with big eyes. "I mean, I won't." He shifted his eyes away from the three nobles staring at him. Arthur snorted.
"Tired." The prince mumbled. He kicked his horse, causing it to begin trotting. Gwaine followed suit with only one turn of his head.
Merlin watched them for a second. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"Ready then?" Lancelot said. Merlin looked over at him and nodded. They both gave their horses a nudge and followed the other two.
"Where's Percival?" Merlin asked after they left the castle's walls. They had slowed to a walk now.
"Family matters." Lancelot said. "His mother's on the sick bed." Merlin nodded, nothing else to say.
"So what's this questanyways?" Gwaine said in front of Merlin. He was beside Arthur, who hadn't said a word since they were in the courtyard. "And why take us?" He sounded smug.
Arthur brought his arm back, stretching it behind him. "It's a quest of dignity and honor," he said, turning to glare at Gwaine, "so don't make it sound like a joke." Gwaine lifted his eyebrows. "I'm supposed to show my loyalty to my father and his kingdom by taking on a challenge."
"Of what sorts?" Lancelot said. "You haven't told us anything but that we were going somewhere."
"And rightly so." Arthur said, turning his head to look at him. "I am not allowed to say. But the person on the quest is allowed four people to take. To help him. Hence while you lot are here."
"So nothing else, not even tell us where we're heading?" Gwaine asked with hope. He wasn't the kind that liked surprises.
"Nope." Arthur said.
Gwaine sighed. They were quiet for a moment, then Gwaine spoke again.
"Anyone know a song?"
"Gwaine, please." Arthur mumbled.
"It's so quiet." Gwaine moaned. "A bit of life wouldn't hurt." No one said anything. "Nothing? Well." Gwaine began to hum a song, then added the words, "Once on a hill top there lie a drunk man…"
"SHUT UP." All three men yelled at the same time, even Merlin. Gwaine slumped his shoulders and frowned.
"Grumpy, the whole lot of you."