A/N: so, another chapter for you. I found it really hard to write this chapter, i just had a writer's breakdown and couldn't think at all, also it is too short (i know) but the others will be longer. But i really wanted to get this chapter up so i could move on to the start of the whump next chapter, and maybe some more from "Death".Thank you for following and favouriting! Please review because it would really help me (even if it is just pointing out bad grammar!) Enjoy!
Chapter 2
It was about an hour before sunrise and none of the castle's staff were up yet. Apart from Merlin that is, who was dazedly making his way towards the king's chambers. He yawned widely as he approached the wooden door, which he opened with his shoulder, trying not to spill Arthur's breakfast that was on a tray clutched tightly in his hands.
Depositing the tray on the table, Merlin made his way to open the curtains, which made no difference to the light of the room as the sun hadn't risen yet and the world outside was coloured a dark blue. Instead, Merlin called to the sleeping lump on the bed, "Wake up, Arthur!"
There was nothing but a grumble in response. Gwen was visiting a nobleman somewhere, so he didn't have to worry about accidentally rousing the Queen at such an ungodly hour. So, Merlin continued his morning chores excessively loudly in an attempt to wake the sleepy king. He lit candles and laid out Arthur's clothes and chainmail.
By this time the king was beginning to wake up properly and began dressing himself in said garments. It was unusually quiet as Arthur ate his breakfast, at the same time as viewing a map of Maedore and the surrounding land. But soon enough, the silence was broken by the raven-haired man.
"Why is it that we are going to Maedore?" asked Merlin.
"Because, Merlin," Arthur rolled his eyes, "it has been destroyed and we need to find out where the attackers are and what their planning next."
"I know that," it was Merlin's turn to roll his eyes, "what I don't know is why you are going. And why you are only taking four knights. Isn't it a bit dangerous?"
"Well… I am king and Maedore is I my kingdom, it is my duty to protect the village and its occupants, which I have already failed at. The least I can do is stop the attackers doing it again." the king replied, looking a little ashamed of himself.
"Ok, I understand. But why only take a few knights, these people could be dangerous."
"Because we aren't going to engage in combat. We are simply going to assess the damage, pay respect to the fallen, and try and track down whoever it was who did it." Arthur let out an audible sigh before continuing, "even if we do run into them, there are only around twenty of them, I'm deliberately taking my best knights Merlin, we will all be perfectly fine."
Merlin didn't respond. The warlock had a bad feeling about this trip.
It was a bright and sunny morning, but it was bitterly cold. Frost made the ground hard and the air crisp. A thin fog was settled over the forest, only disturbed when a group of men on horses rode through it.
The king of Camelot lead Sirs Leon, Gwaine, Percival and Elyan through the forest, his manservant following lazily behind.
Merlin was miserable. He was exhausted after a late night and early morning, he had already had almost two hours of Gwaine's mindless chatter and his bad feeling had done nothing but grow since they left the castle.
However, the group could finally see the village of Maedore through the trees and were eager to reach their destination.
They halted upon reaching the treeline, looking down a small incline upon what must have once been the peaceful village of Maedore. The scene before them was an absolute mess. Whole houses had been burnt down, leaving only about half of them still standing. Waggons and barrels had been tipped over in the roads and farm animals roamed loose.
"Spread out, look for any survivors." instructed Arthur.
The knights rode down the slope and dismounted before splitting off to search the ruined village.
"Merlin, with me." The two followed their fellows.
Merlin's bad feeling increased tenfold. He could feel dread and worry clawing at his insides. He and Arthur headed towards the centre of the village, straw that was strewn on the ground crunched under their feet.
The pair made their way to a burned building. The roof was half caved in but the walls were still standing. Upon looking into the house, Merlin's heart began pounding hard. The bodies of a man and a small girl were protruding from under the collapsed roof. Their bodies had been burnt almost beyond recognition; there was no point checking if they were dead.
They found many familiar scenarios all around the village, houses fallen down from fire damage and bodies lying all around. Soon they all gathered in the centre of the dilapidated village, all looking pale and haunted.
"Alright," Arthur began, regally, "it's clear there are no survivors here. We will begin searching for their murderers, did anyone see any tracks?"
"To the east, there were prints leading to the forest," Percival informed them.
"That's where we will start then-" he was cut off by shouting from the top of the small hill they had been stood on before. All their heads turned and they saw a group of angry looking men (indeed around twenty), all running down the slope towards them.
"Sire, do we run?" called Leon.
"We fight!" Arthur shouted, pushing Merlin behind him.
