Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin (there would be a 6th season or spinoff series if I did. ;)
Duraina stared down her opponent, slowly circling him as he did the same to her. She could see right through him as her opponent held his sword with pride. A man of tall statured as he stared down at his seemingly weak prey. A small girl in comparison to him and he was confident this little brawl would be just that- little and easy. Duraina had similar ideas. She could instantly see the weakness to her opponent, he was blindly confident in his strength. Typical. She wasn't professionally skilled with a sword, but a year of fights for her life and a little quick-wit aided her to stand longer than most girls in her current situation. So this was it- the one-hundredth fight to win for her freedom from slavery. Not like she expected his "royal highness" tokeep the bargain- but if her plan worked, Duraina wouldn't need him to.
Whistles and slander cat calls ranged around the room and Duraina frowned as she turned to look at the swine that put her there. Sitting on his pretend throne, he grinned maliciously at her before slowly clapping in amusement. Algar, the bounty hunter.
Suddenly, Duraina heard the swish of iron and suck in her breath as her instincts blocked her attacker's strike. It started. The clang of metal echoed as the men watching cheered louder. Duraina's arm ached from blocking such a powerful blow, quickly pushing her opponent away as she staggered back. The man strikes again but this time Duraina was ready. Blocking the second swing from her right, Duraina let the sword slide to the hilt before she sidestepped away on her left. This opened an easy strike in pushing the man away and into the circle of spectators. Duraina gave a small smile to herself, keeping focus though as the large man roar in irritation. He charged like a bull, striking first at Duraina's head (easily blocked) before striking again by swinging at her mid-section. Duraina jumped back and blocked the man's third strike. A quickness of attacking he had that she didn't expect, yet Duraina continue to hold her own in the fight.
Knowing she'll only have mere seconds for her plan to work, Duraina switch to a more offensive attack. Normally she would simply take her opponent's offense and use it against him, but a year in this rubbish, swine hole was far too long.
The room was the largest she been in and was lit with torches along the walls. Several pillars that held the room's infrastructure were also ablaze with torches. The early morning draft couldn't stiffer the contained heat of so many bodies in one room. Dozens of men were huddled like the swine they are around the two opponents, and Duraina hoped she'd be able to barrel through with her plan. Directly above their heads were raggedy nets, hanging low from years of worn, and Duraina only needed a spark to clear for an escape. Swinging her sword high and downward, Duraina slashed a cut on the man's arm while also cutting the nets above for loose ends. As the man growled and "swore she would die at his hand for such a wound", Duraina charged. Using her momentum and speed for a greater force, Duraina slammed against the unbalanced man and pushed him supine. Seconds seemed to slow as Duraina rushed to grab the torch of flames from the closest pillar, the jeers of the crowd of men seemed distant before it all came rushing forward in her mind. Then she jumped to the nettings and set fire to the room.
Cries and howlers were heard as the men scattered from the rapid, growing flames. Duraina took the sword, and her chance with the chaos, and ran. She slammed against any of the men in her way and would slice at their arms. The light from the rising sun blinded Duraina as she rushed out, but it meant freedom. She could hear Algar's screams of fury and couldn't help but grinned. Finally, after a year as a slave under a bounty hunter's grip, she was free. She didn't know what would happen now, however it was clear she never wanted to step foot in that foul place again. Running towards the rising sun, Duraina looked back as she heard the cries of charging men.
**Well this should be fun. **
Duraina learned to lived by one philosophy- you're only in trouble once you get caught. She would not get caught twice.
Duraina ran, leaped, and scrambled through the forest. Few arrows would zoom past her, striking the trees surrounding her and all she could do was run. Duraina hoped to be able to make it to the Valley of the Fallen Kings- hoped to hide till the hounds would give up in disappointment- but that was still least another two miles if her calculations were even accurate.
**Keep running, don't look back.**
Duraina yelped as she tripped on a tree root. Gasping in irritation, her foot throbbing as pain shot up her leg; Duraina quickly scrambled back to her feet and continued to hobble as fast as she could. Yet, her foot screamed for her to stop, slowing Duraina as she was forced to limp.
**Just my stupid luck**
Loud cheers echoed around her as the men caught up to her, surrounding her. There were about a dozen that chased her and Duraina could see the lust spark in their eyes as the swine of men held their weapons high above their prey. Duraina made a grim expression as she held her sword out in front of her- she would rather die fighting then return to that filthy hole.
The men all laughed as they inched closer, mockingly jumping at her, which gave way to Duraina flinching out of reflex. Surrounded on all sides, Duraina wearily glanced around for an opening. No such luck.
"Come on sweetie pie. You come quietly now and we won't hurt you- much."
Coaxed her opponent from earlier, apparently the current leader of the group. Duraina wearily took a small step back. A mistake as a man from behind grabbed her out-stretched arm, a suffocating python grip. Duraina cried out as she struggled against her attacker, holding her sword as tight as she could- with it being her only weapon- as the men burst into another chorus of laughter.
"Let me go!" Demanded Duraina as she quickly switched the sword to her free hand, slashing under her arm at her attacker's exposed chest.
Roaring in agony, the man let go of Duraina and fell to the ground on his knees while clutching his chest, whimpering. It was chaos instantly. Just as the leader was about to charge, the thundering and pounding of horse-hooves echoed throughout the forest and a cry of attack was heard from the ridge above. Duraina whipped her head up to see a cloud of red and silver as about eight men on multiple horses seeped down the hill. Men scattered everywhere and Duraina breathed a small sigh of relief.
Her first opponent still seem fixated on her though and soon was swinging his sword in defiance. Again, Duraina blocked his strike but staggered under the weight of impact. Her arm shook under the pressure and Duraina could smell the hot stench of ale from the man as he leaned against his sword towards her,
"Your shining knights can't save you Princess. You can't even save yourself."
The man spat as he shoved Durania to the ground, her sword cluttering to the side as she scraped her hands in the dirt. Striking down, the man sliced at Duraina's side and she couldn't help but shrieked from the stinging pain. Clutching her side, Duraina shuffled to grab her sword as the swine lifted his sword for another blow- enjoying the innocent shrieks of a damsel in distress. Just as he was about to give another bowl, a knight in shining armor, scarlet cape and a fluff of black hair ram into him. Duraina's eyes widen as she stared at the youthful knight.
She instantly frowned as she observed the man who just slammed her attacker away from her. No one could deny the charming looks he possessed of a cheeky grin and a playful spark in his dark eyes, surrounded by short waves of black, locks of hair and a short beard. What made Duraina frowned was the way he addressed her as he held out his hand to help,
"For a damsel in distress, who would've thought such beauty could wield such a deadly weapon."
Duraina crinkled her nose and swat the hand away,
"I'm a damsel. I'm in distress. But I think I can handle myself thank you very much."
"Ah don't be like that. Let me help you, you're injur-"
Durania cut the knight off, as he was clearly too distracted to see that the bull of a man had gotten up and was about the hit the knight from behind.
"Look out!"
Duraina didn't know what gave her the strength- didn't even know why she was even driven to save this cocky, annoyance of such an entitled knight in the first place, but instantly she shot up from her fallen position and came in between the two men. Blackness filled her mind, as the last thing she saw was the leather and mental hilt of a sword.
Duraina woke up groggily, instantly feeling the throbbing against her head and the stiff bandages wrapped around her middle. Duraina groaned as she slowly came back to conscience.
"So the Princess awakes for the world to see her beauty."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Duraina knew the voice was not one of Algar's, but her slow mind functioned a step behind. She instead reacted in panic from hearing the pet name. Duraina's eyes flew open and the instant she sat up, Duraina thoroughly regretted it. Her world became vertigo and Duraina's yelp of pain matched the screams from her stinging side. Instantly Duraina swayed as she huddled over herself, clutching her side as hands held her shoulders firmly, yet gently, to set her back down on the bed. Duraina flinched slightly from the hands, an instinct regrettably formed when not wielded with a sword.
"Whoa. It's okay. It's okay beautiful. You're safe."
"I would advise, Sir Gwaine, that we should leave her to rest for a bit. That cut on her side and the welt on her head were only the major injuries on this young lady. It does not include all the minor injuries and possibly mental suffering she has encountered."
Duraina tried to slow her breathing as she attempted to comprehend everything. Her senses started to heighten and Duraina cautiously glanced around the room as it came into view. It was definitely bigger than any room she's ever been in- other than the mock courtroom where she had to fight. Multiple shelves and tables furnished the area with hundreds of glass bottles, herbs and a variety of handheld tools scattered on top. A small stairway in front of her led to a mini balcony that held an overload bookshelf with numberless, thick volumes of books stuffed in and on the shelf. Under the stairway were several steps leading to an adjoining bedroom and a cute, young man with messy black hair and large ears was sitting on the bottom step, giving a small grin as they made eye contact. Duraina took a deep, staggering breath before asking,
"Where am I? Who are you?"
An elderly man stepped forward, seeming to always have a stern look with one fixed raise eyebrow, and Duraina knew he was probably the one who treated her injuries.
"You were rescued Miss-"
"Duraina. Just Duraina." Duraina looked away as she quietly replied to the man's inquire. Out of the corner of her eye, Duraina could see the knight sitting beside her bed gave a cocky smile at the sound of her name. She knew she could be safe here, but wearily was suspicious of the jocular knight. She learned to never trust the title of nobility.
"Durania. Very well, the Knights of Camelot were on a patrol when they heard your struggles against those... men. You were very fortunate young lady; the amount of blood lost was stifling when Sir Gwaine-" The elder gave a small nod towards the man sitting beside the bedside. "-carried you in. I'm Gaius, the Court Physician of Camelot and this is my ward, Merlin."
The boy (Duraina thought of more due to his youthfulness than more of his age) sitting on the stairway gave a warm smile towards her. A small smile played at her lips in return as she saw the first cute, genuine smile in the past few years. Duraina felt herself flustered though, and her russet cheeks turning ruddy as she thought about her current situation. The kindness from Gaius and Merlin was beyond welcoming after countless months of imprisonment, but she had nothing. Nothing in her possession to repay Gaius. Not to mention she was now in debt to the Knights of Camelot as well.
The door to the room flew open and none other than Prince Arthur himself strode into the room, rolling his eyes in irritation as he called out,
"Merlin! What have I told you-"
Merlin quickly stood up from the sudden outburst, slightly bumping his head on the low ceiling of the stairway tunnel. Duraina giggled under her breath, finding Merlin quite funny and pretty cute. In that instant, Arthur took a step back as he noticed that the young lady that he helped rescue was awake. Duraina however, instantly shrank back as she turned around and saw the second man follow in behind Arthur. He was tall with broad facial features and a head full of greasy, black hair; his beady eyes widen as he noticed the young maiden as well, but out of surprised suspicion rather than relief for her health. Agravaine- the man Duraina hoped to never see again. Sir Gwaine curiously casted his eyes between Duraina and Agravaine, seeing her quick mood change to that of a frighten child.
"Oh. My apologies Gaius, I did not realize she was awake."
"Quite alright Sire. But as the Court Physician I would advise that Miss Duraina be left to rest in peace. Her injuries were quite severe, at the very least."
Arthur gave a quick nod in understanding,
"I understand Gaius. I'll come inquire on her later. Merlin. You're late." Arthur raised his eyebrow, folding his arms as he frowned at his clumsy servant; asking himself for the countless time why he even keeps such an inept lackey. Merlin hesitated, his lips pressed in a hard line of irritation as he debating over saying a snarky remark, before quickly walking towards Arthur, muttering,
"Sorry Sire."
Duraina kept her gaze on Agravaine, her body tense and shrinking back slowly, as Arthur lead the way out.
"Gwaine. Don't forget about training in an hour."
Arthur gave the final order as he strode out, Merlin and Agravaine following behind. Merlin glanced back at Duraina, waving goodbye and Duraina gave a small smile in return. However, she couldn't break her gaze from Agravaine. He stared back at her, a pretend, questioning look on his face. Duraina could see Agravaine's real thoughts of suspicion though as he closed the door behind him. Just at a glimpsed, she saw what she hoped wasn't real- an emerald jeweled, bronze amulet attached to Agravaine's belt loop.
A/N: First Merlin fanfic! Hope you have enjoyed the first chapter and will continue to read about Duraina! I always love to hear from readers about my writing and will take any reviews- positive or negative. Please review, favorite or follow the story if you liked this first chapter. I hope it was well-written enough to capture the greatness of this series. Thank you for reading!