Chapter 2
Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm sorry for the late update. I've been busy with driving classes that I hadn't managed to steal some time to update as I actually made a pledge to myself to update new chapter after two days of posting the previous chapter. For that I deeply apologise.
And I would love to thank everyone who reviewed, followed and favourited this story. You guys are cool! Truth to be told I don't expect to have any respond for this story, so your acceptance to this story is highly appreciated. Thank you so much.
Now on with the new chapter!
Previously...
Twigs snap.
The horses start to whimper.
Merlin glances towards the way his friends have headed and realises that he has been left behind.
Expecting the worse, he turns slowly.
Nothing. There is no one. Nor anything.
He lets out the breath that he has not even aware that he has been holding.
The boy stands right there for a while, trying to confirm the absence of anyone there. He could have sworn that he has heard the twigs snapping behind him then.
Quite satisfied that he is indeed alone, he turns towards the way the others have gone.
He still have that uneasiness inside him, but he pushes it away as he rushes to catch up with the others. After walking for a while and tripping thrice, he finds them already succeeded in killing a buck and are struggling to lift the carcass off the ground.
Arthur looks at him for a while before saying, "Where were you, Merlin?" The boy in question seems to not listening and keeps looking around.
"Merlin?" Arthur tries again.
Just at the second call that Merlin pays attention. "What?"
"I said, where were you? What's wrong with you, Merlin? You are restless all the time. Gods, I shouldn't have brought you along. Listen, I'm warning you, if you make any noise that can chase the prey away, like you always do, I'll throw you in the stocks for a month."
The knights, though are craving to listen to them, especially Gwaine, understand their needs of privacy. So they stand a bit further, and pretend not to be listening.
Merlin hesitates before saying, "Arthur, I think- " He stops. The blonde man just stares at him. He pats Merlin on the shoulder and smiles. "Come on, Merlin. You need to have some fun. That's why we left Camelot today."
"I think we are being followed." Merlin blurts out. "I can feel it. Arthur, we need to get back to Camelot."
Arthur taps Merlin's head, touching and ruffling the black hair. "Is it your funny feeling again? Don't be such a girl, Merlin. We're on a two-day huntig trip and this is just a few hours of it. I've been crazy this whole week, you knew this, and this is the only time that I can clear up my mind. Besides, it's Guinevere's birthday. I want to catch something for her. And you, don't you feel like enjoying yourself too?"
The younger man nods. "But-" Arthur shakes his head. "Have fun, Merlin! Surely you've seen what we've been through this week? Just two days, Merlin. Come on."
With that, the servant relents. "Alright. We go home tomorrow." The king punches Merlin gently on the shoulder and beams. "Now we get going."
He then shouts to the knights, "We go the other way."
Merlin sighs. Looks like I have to protect his royal backside again. He moves to join Arthur but glances behind him first, in search of the earlier signs of being followed.
There is none.
/break/
Gwaine rubs two stones to ignite a spark while Elyan and Percival just return with arms laden of firewoods. Glancing sideways, he watches Merlin- his friend- who is busy unpacking pots and other cooking utensils to prepare dinner with the two pheasants Arthur and Leon have managed to catch shortly before they stop to make camp.
He notices that Merlin seems not to be at ease today. Sometimes he does not understand the boy, why is he so loyal to Arthur? Or why is he so damn selfless? If he does feel under the weather, he should have gone back to Camelot. But instead, Merlin tags along. He knows of the reason. Merlin wants to protect Arthur.
And Arthur. Oh, the princess( though he is king now ). He is so freaking ungrateful of Merlin's unwavering loyalty towards him and keeps on being a prat by treating the boy lesser than he deserved.
Gwaine is broken from his reverie by the sound of the fire flickering on the dry wood. Merlin is sitting next to him ( he didn't realise when ), peeling a potato to be cooked in the stew he is preparing.
Noticing that the boy has stopped his work and is staring at him, Gwaine asks, "What?"
Merlin shrugs, " You don't look alright." He says.
The knight shakes his head. " I'm fine. How about you? You still have those bad feelings?"
" No." Merlin mutters, almost inaudible
but Gwaine, being used to eavesdrop stories told with quiet voices in taverns, manages to catch the word.
/break/
Silence fills the air as all of them gather around the crackling fire, patiently waiting for the food to be ready.
The knights have just finished the dinner and are chattering away. Gwaine is telling one of his awesome ( or so he claimed ) tavern stories to Elyan and Percival who seem to be listening. Arthur and Leon, though not seem to be paying attention, join in the laughter.
" Really, Gwaine? You managed to persuade a noblewoman to accompany you for a drink at The Rising Sun? And what kind of lady goes to the tavern? "
Arthur asks, all the while trying to stifle his chuckles.
" Well, you can say.. the ones who is smart enough to think I'm attractive?" Gwaine answers.
All of them laugh.
Their laughter dies when suddenly Merlin comes rushing towards them. His face pale with fear. In his arms are the already- washed pot and bowls.
Gwaine absently wonders how Merlin manages to carry all of them together, all in the same time running. He then quickly shooes the thoughts away. Not now.
Elyan is the first to stand up to help the still- panting boy to put away the utensils.
Before anyone can speak, Merlin tells them.
" There's someone by the river, watching us. I heard them approaching just now. Arthur, we have to leave for Camelot at once. This place is not safe!"
The boy is pale. Totally pale.
To be continued...
