"We'll set camp here." I dismount my horse and fumble through my things making sure Merlin actually packed everything this time and to my surprise he did! "Merlin, could you go collect firewood?"
"Yeah, just give me a moment." I look over at him and he is already setting his things down for camp and I notice something strange as his shirt moves in the cold winter wind. "Arthur, are you sure we'll find anything out here? If I were an animal I would stay in my cozy little home or hole."
"Well you're not an animal you're a Merlin and Merlins apparently like to talk a lot."
"Ha, ha, ha...Alright that should be fine." He moved up and the wind moved his shirt again it was a strange looking marking on his side but I couldn't tell what it was from as he quickly moved his shirt down again. I watched to gauge his expression and he didn't seem embarrassed or like he was hiding something, so for now I'll leave it alone.
"Lance did you see that?" I turn my head to Gwaine who is now pointing at where Merlin was just standing.
"Apparently not, judging by the concerned look on your face."
"Merlin...he had markings on his side."
"Well, Arthur has been trying to train him maybe its a few training scars."
"It's definitely not that." Gwaine sat down on his bed roll as he stared off to where Merlin was collecting firewood. 'So I'm not the only one who saw that.'
"Maybe ask him when he gets back?"
"Right, I'll just ask him, 'Hey Merlin I was looking at your skin while the wind blew your shirt up, and I saw something peculiar. Please take your shirt off."
I could tell Lancelot was trying to hold in a laugh. "It could work."
"What could work?" We all turned to Merlin who was carrying an absence amount of wood.
"Nothing Merlin." Gwaine glared at Lancelot.
"Whatever you say." He set up the wood for the fire, and I sat down as I carefully watched him in case the wind blew his shirt up again.
The fire started and Gwaine sarcastically clapped. "I will never know how you always get it right within three tries Merlin. I can't start a fire to save my life."
"Just a natural talent I suppose." I could hear the pride in his voice and he knelt in front of me to take my boots off and place them by the fire.
He sat down on his own bed roll and started to prepare us dinner for the night with Percival's help, which I'm glad of, because Merlin kept burning every rabbit or boar we caught. This way at least he's learning. "Percival, what are we eating tonight?"
"Roasted rabbit stew." He smiled at me and the others. "I'm only helping Merlin skin it. Your taste buds are in his hands tonight."
I gave my best sarcastic sigh, "Well, looks like we're all going to starve." All of us laughed, even Merlin. It was a pleasant sound to hear considering he seemed to be upset about something for the past few days. "Merlin, are you sure you know what you're doing this time?"
"I think so, but it can't be any worse than when I walked in on you trying to figure out how to cook Gwen dinner."
My hand met my face to hide my embarrassment. "We swore to never speak of that again."
"No you asked me to. I never really gave you an answer. Besides, I think its sweet that you thought about it even though you didn't try."
"Just cook the damn rabbit, Merlin."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
After we ate we all settled down and our bellies ached with how full we were. "Merlin, you've definitely improved!" I heard Gwaine say as he held his stomach together with just his hand.
"I'd have to agree." I looked at Merlin and he smiled at me and Gwaine. "Thank you for the meal."
"I must have burnt my head while I was cooking. I could've sworn you thanked me."
"I don't know what you're talking about." I grinned at him and I could hear Lancelot groan in irritation.
"Oh, get a room you two!"
Somehow Merlin and I simultaneously answered, "No thank you!"
I turned around at the sound of something moving towards us. It might be just an animal but there's no harm in checking, and if it is an animal that means we have food for tomorrow!
The sound behind me got closer. 'That's not an animal. That's human and it sounds like a few of them.' "Merlin." I whisper to him and I notice the same noise is coming from the opposite direction. 'An ambush!'
The other people finally made themselves known and surrounded us with swords and bows in hand. However at least four of them had no weapons, yet had the same look of determination on their faces. "Hello, can we help you with something, gentlemen?" I heard Gwaine ask in his usual way before starting a fight.
"We've come to kidnap you all. Especially the king." They all moved at once and none of had our swords drawn yet. A man stepped forward and blew a strange dust in our faces and my vision went black.