Merlin trailed away from the knights, not really caring. Besides, Arthur only needed him in case he got a boo boo. He wasn't really important to the knights. It was either trail behind and get shouted at, or follow them like a little lost puppy and have several types of blood knocked out of him.
Merlin loitered. He had seen a clearing a few hundred feet back. In just the right place to see Camelot from a distance but also perfect enough to be covered from any danger.
He rode back and got off his horse, tying it a little away from him as to not get spooked.
It was an incredible little place. Merlin sat down, gathering some twigs. He raised his hand and whispered an incantation. His eyes flared up. One of the twigs snapped as if someone had stepped on it and a fire was lit. Merlin stared at it impressed with how the other branches had caught fire so quickly. Begrudgingly he got up and began hunting for more.
The autumn leaves on the floor lay across each other in different shades. He picked a few up and held them flat in his hand. Though there was no wind, they began to rise and spin gracefully. Spinning in a funnel gradually getting smaller until it reached Merlin's palm. He held out his arm, letting the leaves spin around it.
A noise alerted him. He stopped, the leaves hitting the ground. He looked wildly to see where the noise had come from.
Behind a few trees a few men had stopped and were talking in hushed tones. Merlin dropped to his stomach hiding under the roots of a mahogany.
"Where is it?" One of them asked.
"Safe, with Ortho."
"We can't trust him." Spoke up a third one.
"In our line of business, who can you trust?" Asked the first.
The men laughed bitterly. "Right, meet here tonight."
"Aye, a'right."
Merlin shifted one eighth of his body. Something under him snapped. The men went silent. Then there was the unmistakeable sound of a sword been drawn from its scabbard. They began moving out nearer and neared to Merlin. So close that she could count blood stains on the man's boot.
"Here we go!" One of them grabbed Merlin by the shirt collar and pulled him up. He threw the boy to the feet of the other men.
"Look what we have here." The first said. "A spy."
"No..." Merlin argued. "Not a spy, never. Too stupid to be a spy."
"Then what are you doing all the way out here?" Asked the third.
"Me? I'm just collecting herbs."
"One o' those magic folk?" The second said.
"No!" Merlin held up his hands. "No! I work for the King's physician!"
"You work in Camelot?"
"And for the prince," Merlin said.
"Well then, the prince doesn't need someone so stupid. So I guess, we'd be doing him a favour." The second raised his sword and thrust it into Merlin's back. Merlin gasped as the steel blade hit him.
"Oi!" Shouted a voice.
Merlin began to fade into the black. The men scattered. Arthur's face came into focus.
"You stupid idiot!" He shouted.
"Tell me something I don't know." Merlin murmured.
...
Morgana opened the door to Gaius's quarters, her hand clutched around a green vial.
"Ah, my lady." Gaius said. "What can I do for you this morning?"
Morgana's hand trembled. "My... My dreams are getting worse."
"Ah," Gaius took her hands and let her sit down. "Tell me about them."
"No, you would think I am mad." She laughed nervously.
"I only wish to help. Perhaps unearthing the true meaning of your dreams will help." He said kindly.
Morgana took a deep breath. "I... I'm in Uther's court. He's trying someone for being involved in magic. Only I know something that he doesn't. And my mind is screaming to say something; that the man being tried is innocent of all the crimes put to him. But I don't say a word and he is executed immediately because Uther cannot risk him getting out."
"Who is it that is being tried?" Gaius asked.
Morgana looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "It's Merlin," She whispered.
Gaius took a step back. "Merlin?"
"I know! It can't happen. What would Merlin do with magic?" She laughed again and wiped her face. "He has been nothing but kind to the King and his court. But this dream. It's so vivid I almost believe that it could be true." Morgana looked away. "Gaius, tell me it won't happen."
"The future is always unclear. Certainly those who practised the old religion used dreams as prophesies. But I highly doubt that this is nothing to be worried about." Gaius prised the vial from her hand then went to his cupboard.
"I'm scared, Gaius," She said.
"It's understandable." Gaius said.
"Gaius!" The door flung open. Arthur stood with a few of his knights in his arms was Merlin covered in blood.
"Arthur," Gaius saw his friend. "What happened?"
Arthur laid Merlin on the bed. "Stabbed by some thieves." He explained.
Gaius peeled back Merlin's shirt. "He shall be okay. Morgana, can you come back to me later?"
Morgana nodded, staring at Merlin. "Is he going to be alright?" She asked.
"He will be fine," Gaius replied. "Leave now."