Arthur's Bane pt.2
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
"Arthur, pull your sword out. Merlin, you need to calm down and lie back. Try to get some rest." Balinor ordered sternly. The boys did as they were told. When Arthur pulled the sword out of Merlin's leg, Merlin held back a scream. He whimpered instead. A few minutes later Balinor was still trying to stop the bleeding. Merlin's eyes were closing the more blood he lost. He start to slip into unconsciousness.
"How is he?" Arthur questioned sadly.
"Not good. He's losing too much blood. He's losing consciousness. Try to keep him talking. He's going to be very weak." Balinor sighed sadly. Arthur put his hand on Merlin's right shoulder.
"Hey, Merlin, you need to stay awake. Come on talk to me."
"My thigh hurts so much. The pain is so hard to bare." Merlin panted breathlessly.
"I'm so sorry. I should have taken my sword off my belt so you wouldn't get hurt."
"It…it's o…..ok. I…I'll be fi….ne. I ju….st ne….ed t….to sl…..ee…..p."
"No, don't fall asleep, Merlin. That's an order."
"Wh….at wi….ll y…yo…..you do ki…ll m…me. I mi…ght d…di…die any…"
Then Merlin passed out. Arthur tried to wake him up but Merlin remained asleep.
"He passed out." Arthur informed sadly.
"I know. I stopped the bleeding. The wound was very deep. It almost went out through the back of his leg. He'll have to rest a lot tomorrow. He'll be weak and in pain. I'll try to treat it but he needs to go to Camelot. His leg might get infected." Balinor quietly explained. "I'll watch him for a while. His other wound might be infected. If it is then we must go to Camelot."
"Ok."
Balinor took a piece of cloth and bandaged Merlin's thigh. Then in the morning as they were walking Merlin kept collapsing.
"It hurts to walk. I can't keep this up for much longer." Merlin panted painfully. Balinor helped Merlin get up and start walking again.
"We're almost there." Arthur sighed.
"Can I at least rest for a few minutes?"
"Fine."
Balinor helped Merlin sit down on the ground. Then Balinor looked at Merlin's wound which had bleed through the bandage. Balinor looked at it and poked the wound to see how bad it was. Merlin whimpered and moaned almost the whole time.
"Does it hurt?" Balinor asked concernedly.
"Yes. It hurts a lot." Merlin groaned breathlessly.
"I'm almost done. Then I need to look at the other wound."
"Ok. Just be careful."
"I will."
Balinor bandaged the wound and look at the other one. When Balinor saw it he put his hand on Merlin's forehead. Then pulled away upset.
"You have a fever. The wound from your left ribs to right shoulder is infected. How do you feel?" Balinor sighed sadly.
"Weak but I'm ok. I really just want to sleep. It hurts to breath." Merlin answered calmly.
"I know but we have to keep going."
"Ok."
Balinor went over to Arthur and sighed. He looked at Merlin who was resting on the floor with his eyes closed.
"His wounds are getting infected. If we don't start going to Camelot now he'll get too sick and might die. He has a fever and it's getting worse. He's freezing out here and his fever's making it worse." Balinor explained sternly.
"I know but we have to go to Ismere. He knows that and will try to be strong." Arthur answered.
"I know." Balinor sighed as he looked over at Merlin. "But too much stress will kill him. He's lucky that the sword didn't hit any many arteries or things like that. I don't want him to get hurt and sick. This cold is really bad for him especially in that state he's in."
"We're only several hours away from Ismere. Then we'll be going home."
"Father, I need to sleep." Merlin breathlessly informed.
Balinor went over to Merlin who was close to passing out. Balinor put his hand on Merlin's forehead and found it burning hot.
TBC
