Chapter 2: Friends of Camelot

Merlin's P.O.V

I ran through the forest, ahead of my sire. What ever made that scream, it was in danger and it was certainly not an animal. "Merlin, wait up!" Arthur hissed. I slowed to a walk until Arthur came to face me. "Why are you running?" He asked. Here we go, question time. "Because someone might be in danger." I replied, watching the spaces behind Arthur. "Merlin, what are the chances of someone being this deep in the woods?" Arthur asked, lifting an eyebrow up in annoyance. "Likey, it's the woods." I said contently. Arthur rolled his eyes. "Come on, back to the castle. There's nothing here." The Prince decided. The prat began to walk away, but I was determined to find out what it was. I stood my ground, debating whether or not I should stay or carry on in my direction, or obey my Prince. "Now Merlin." He groaned. I sighed and began to follow him.

I heard a twig snap in the forest, before I heard another quiet scream. "Arthur." I pleaded. Arthur withdrew his sword and turned around. He sighed.
"Come on then, but as soon as we get back, you're cleaning the throne room." I smiled, it was worth it. There was another scream, followed by someone shouting. Arthur motioned for me to follow. Sword at the ready, he walked quickly towards the scream.
_

Arthur's P.O.V

I have never seen Merlin so serious before. Of course, I wasn't going to make him clean the throne room if someone was in trouble, but I'll keep quiet any way. I could sense we were getting closer. I could hear two people at least. One was shouting, and the other, well, I'm not quite sure.

Soon we came across a very small clearing. Everything was clearer now. There was someone in trouble. "It will teach you to not do it again, wont it?" A man screamed. Merlin and I crouched in the trees, listening at first. Merlin peered through the bushes and gasped.
"Oh my gosh, It's just a girl." Merlin cried in a whisper. I could see the glare in his eyes, staring at the man. I shushed him, but I felt the same way. I watched as the man cornered the girl a tree, pressing his bear-like hand against her throat. I heard her begin to cough and gasp for air. "Arthur..." Merlin pleaded again. I nodded and stepped into the clearing, Merlin following close behind. "Good Afternoon." I smirked. The hand against the girl stayed firm, but the man turned to look. "And why would the Prince of Camelot be here?" The man smirked. _

Cleo's P.O.V

The hand against my throat hurt me so much. I had screamed enough now. I clutched the hand and tried to push it away, but it only made it get tighter. "Good Afternoon." Someone called. I tried to get a look, but I couldn't because of my guardian, John. John turned to look but kept his hand closed against my throat.
"And why would the Prince of Camelot be here?" John asked, a hint of evil pleasure in his voice. So I was in Camelot!
"I've come for the kid." I felt slightly offended my the word 'kid'. The hand closed tighter, and I could feel my head going lighter. "What would you want with her?" John asked. "She's not for sale anyway." Suddenly, the hand was removed from my throat. Instead, I was dragged around to face the two new men.

I saw the sword held by a man in armour, and immediatley I felt my eyes go wide with fear. I wasn't going to go with him. I whimpered as the knife pressed against my neck. "Remember, scream and it hurts." He laughed. I nodded and tears began to form in my eyes. I saw the young boy, the one with the neckerchief, staring at me. I mouthed 'please' to him. The arm around my neck tightened and I was shaken violently. "NO!" John screamed in my ear. Right now, I wanted this over. I wanted to be in the skies with my mother. I felt the tears begin to roll and the blade began to cut into my neck.

I screamed.

The blade was moved away, but a stab of burning pain, flew into my body, depriving me of air. I felt the burn get worse, everytime the blade dragged down my arm, ending at my wrist. I watched the blood pool onto the green floor. _

Arthur's P.O.V

The girl screamed when the knife cut into her neck, letting the blood dribble out. The man went red in the face and stabbed her, dragging the blade down her right arm, ending the pain at the wrist. I don't think anyone, including myself has been through that sort of pain before. That was enough for me. I lurched forward and the girl started to tense rapidly at the sight of my sword. I put it away and punched the guy in the face. "Merlin, get the girl." I cried as I continued to beat the man. My servant ran towards the teenager, but she whimpered and backed away, clutching her arm. I continued to beat the man, until he fell over battered and bruised. I held him down by my boot.
"I'm going to let you walk away for the sake of the girl, but if you dare come near her again, I'll see you executed." I spat. He nodded grimly, before he stood up and walked off. "ARTHUR!" Merlin cried. I turned to see my manservant standing there. I ran up to him.
"Where is the girl?" I asked him.
"S-she took off." Merlin stammered. I sighed. "Come on, we'll have to follow her. She's in big danger." I said. The boy nodded and I followed him in the direction she went.

Soon, we stumbled across a lake. The water was running red, which panicked me greatly. Merlin ran forward, searching nearby bushes for the frightened girl. "She's not here, Sire." The boy reported. I shushed him, I could hear sobbing come from behind a rock, about 200 yards away.
"Look, take my chainmail, sword and my gloves. Go back to Camelot Let me talk to her." I explained. Merlin hesitated but agreed. I gave him my things and he walked off, after giving the rock one last look.

Once Merlin had gone, I turned to the rock, walking slowly towards it. I got to the boulder and noticed the girl, curled up against the side of it. The blood was all over her arm, and also her back. How come it was on her back too? What have they been doing to her?
"Hello?" I greeted myself. She jumped and began to tremble. "G-go a-away." She stuttered. I sat down next to her. She tensed so quickly, I had to move back. I sat infront of her, in the shallow water, not bothering how wet I would be. I wasn't sure about how I would help her, she was in such a state. "Please, I would like to help you." I sighed, "What's your name?" The girl lifted her head up, but not a lot. I still couldn't see her face. "C-Cleo." She whispered. I smiled and tried to get closer, but she was tensing too much. "Please? Cleo. I want to help you." I said, taking a grip of her hands. She pulled back, but I kept a firm grip. "L-leave m-me. D-don't hurt m-me." She trembled. "I wont. Now Cleo, would you like to come with me?" I asked. Cleo stiffened. I sighed and picked her up. She tensed, and stayed that way. I slowly walked away with her.
_

Cleo's P.O.V

Why do people have to interfere with my life? Why couldn't they have just left me alone? When he picked me up, he didn't launch me over his shoulder like I had expected. Instead, he kept me leaning on his chest, my blood stained arm, hanging down my side. "Come on, I have a horse a few minutes away from here." The man soothed. How come he knew me, yet I didn't know him?
"The sooner you get with your family, the better." I stiffened at his words. Did he mean go back with my guardian? I felt tears prick my eyes once more and my breathing started to come in short gasps. The man stopped and placed me on the floor. He kept me sitting up. He took my hand and placed it on his heart. "Feel my heart beating? Match it." I nodded and concentrated on my breathing.

Eventually after 9 minutes, I managed to regain control over my breathing. "Y' name?" I asked. I was tired, and my words were becoming slurred. The man smiled.
"Prince Arthur, just call me Arthur, yeah?" He smiled. I felt my face pale again. Royalty? Helping me?
"Keep your hand there, don't panic" The Prince chuckled. I nodded.
"Now, can you tell me why you've just had a panic attack?" "N-No-No-one." I said, still trying to catch my breath.
"No one?" I nodded. "How come?"
"M-Mother d..di..." I felt my voice tremble at the last word. "Okay, and your Dad?" I shrugged. "What do you mean?"
"H-He left." I said, my gaze drifting from his. "How old are you?"
"Fourteen." Arthur nodded and his face dropped, letting his emotions show. _

Merlin's P.O.V

I had been back to Camelot for about an hour now. I cleaned Arthur's armor and hung it neatly in his wardrobe. I ran to my room, my lonely room. Gaius left, to work in Ealdor with my Mother.

I got to my room and started to preparing medicines and other things that Gaius had taught me before he left. I sighed, I missed that old man. He was like a Father to me. My real father however, was a Dragon Lord, but now, I am the last of my father's kind. I heard a knock at my door. I walked across and opened the door. Standing there was Sir Leon. "Hi." I bowed my respect. He nodded and smiled. "Where's Arthur? I saw you return without him, but with his armor." The knight said, a frown creasing on his face. I sighed and looked at him.
"I'll tell you on the way down to the court yard. I have something to explain to you first." The knight nodded, and I walked out, shutting the door after me.

"So what is it you need to explain to me?" The knight asked as we started our way down. "Arthur and I were out huntng, we ran into a girl, getting beat up by someone. Arthur, I think is bringing her back." I told him. I reached the steps and we stood waiting for Arthur.
"What do you mean, 'You think'." Sir Leon asked.
"Well, we had trouble getting her to realize she was safe with us." I sighed. The Knight nodded. I turned to face him. "When he comes, Arthur and I are going to be busy with the girl. I don't even know her name, she took off so fast, but can you do me a big favour?" I asked him. "Of course, I can only do anything, afterall, how many times have you helped myself?" The knight smirked. I nodded in thanks. "What is it?"
"Just sort out the horse for me?" I smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, I'll just take it to the stable boys, they'll be able to sort it from there." I nodded and turned my attention to fast aproaching hooves. I rushed down the steps, to reach the bay horse. Arthur stopped the horse. I held out my arms to take the girl, who appeared to be resting. "Let me help, Sire." I said. Arthur nodded and Sir Leon helped me ease the girl into my arms. "Thanks." I smiled. Arthur jumped off the horse and the Knight walked off with the horse.

I walked up the stairs with the girl, towards my room. "Where are you taking her?" the Prince asked. "To my chambers... so I can help her?" I said, turning around. The Prince hesitated and nodded.
"I'll help you." He said. "No, she's light, I can manage. Go clean yourself upm and rest. You've done a lot." I smiled. "Are you ordering me?" Arthur glared. "Yup." I smirked, turning to walk away.
"Just you wait until Cleo is back with her family." Arthur hissed. I chuckled and shook my head, but continued to walk towards the chambers. _

Cleo's P.O.V

I couldn't feel my right arm. What had happened to it? The sting before it went numb, it hurt so much. I stirred a little and kept my eyes shut. My mind was awake, but not me. What happened after the prince picked me up? I wasn't quite sure, but I can remember falling asleep at some point during the trip.

Something tickled my forehead, stroking it lightly. I didn't like this one tiny bit. Where was I? Who was with me? I panicked. I couldn't seem to open my eyes. I wanted to so bad, but there was nothing letting me. "Shh, it's fine." Someone soothed.

Finally, I forced my eyes to open. I blinked getting used to the light, and looking at the strange cielling. The hand stayed on my head, so I moved so they couldn't touch me. I heard them sigh. I looked to see a man, not the one that I met in the forest, but a different one, dressed in a brown trouses, blue top and a brown jacket. He also wore a red neckerchief.

"Relax, it's me, Merlin." He smiled. I didn't relax, I didn't know him one bit to be able to relax him. Someone knocked on a door quietly. "Come in." Merlin said softly. The door opened and someone seemed to tip toe in. "Hey Cleo, how are you feeling?" Arthur asked, sitting on the edge of my bed. He smiled at me, and I found myself panicking again. He remembered and edged away from me. "Why is she like that?" Merlin asked. "I think it's her family." The Prince said, not taking his eyes off me. "W-who are y-you?" I asked. I knew their names, but I wanted to know more, to gain their trust. "This is Merlin, and you know me, Arthur. You're in the Castle of Camelot. We're your friends." Arthur smiled. I didn't know what to make of that. Friends of Camelot, or not?