Arthur pushed the pace they were taking. They did have a lot of ground to cover, and Cenred probably had enough of a start on them. None of the knights addressed Merlin, although they looked as if they wanted to, but not in anger. They all looked worried, sending glances back to him as he followed at the rear of the group. All four of them seemed to want to drop back a little, but in the end, their main loyalty was to Arthur.
It was hard for them, they had been together as a tight-knit group for months. Merlin was one of them and all of them understood why Merlin hadn't really been able to find a way to tell Arthur what he knew. Who would really believe it? Who would want to? Arthur most definitely didn't, yet despite his anger, he hadn't really disbelieved what Merlin had told him. Merlin didn't always tell people the full story, but he never spoke a direct lie.
Gwaine stayed at the back with Merlin. He had no clash of loyalties to concern himself with. Merlin was his friend; it was why he had stayed with them. No one had really asked him, he had just tagged along, and he had helped them enough to be accepted. But he wasn't sworn to Arthur, and Camelot, Merlin could take priority for him, so he did. Gwaine stayed with him, seeing the hurt and regret on Merlin's face, and a developing bruise.
"He shouldn't have hit you," Gwaine said. Merlin shrugged.
"I don't think you can be that surprised by it. I knew I couldn't tell him, I know I should have, but his entire life has been pulled apart. The one person he thought would be caring about his father through all this is doing no such thing. No one would ever see it."
"Does anyone at Camelot know the truth?" Gwaine said.
"Gaius does."
"He'll be able to help Uther."
"There is a limit to what he can do, Gwaine. I just hope he's all right, I hope all of them are."
"You know he's all right, I was talking to that merchant who had visited Camelot, he'd gone to Gaius for treatment, and he was fine."
"That was weeks ago, and before an immortal army was about to descend on the castle, anything could happen to him. This is all my fault."
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration," Gwaine said. Merlin shook his head.
"Maybe not, I betrayed Morgana, I killed her. That could have been all Morgause needed to really turn her, that and a year together."
"From what I've heard, Morgana wasn't always Uther's biggest fan, and if she has magical ability it would be easy for her to hate Uther, a lot of people with magic do just through fear. You are the only one that doesn't."
Merlin frowned. "Sometimes I do, and he's a hypocrite, he told Gaius, he begged Gaius, to use magic to save her, and yet he kills anyone else who uses even the smallest of spells. Even now he doesn't even begin to understand why other people use what they can."
Gwaine didn't reply and they slowed as Arthur stopped. They had left the horses and were moving on foot through the forest. It was sometimes quicker, and quieter to do so. If they needed to move in the kingdom they often did so that way, having found several useful places to leave the beasts, and even more places to store supplies and equipment. It was one good thing about having a leader obsessed with hunting, patrolling and generally never staying still. Arthur knew practically every inch of the kingdom, and the outlying areas that surrounded it.
The pair moved forward, coming closer into the group and Arthur scanned the area, the others were glancing round, Jonas nudged Arthur and nodded towards a nearby coppice. Arthur nodded and started indicating, sending them out in pairs. Jonas and Rupert left, Robert and Gareth right and Gwaine and Merlin forward. Merlin blinked and stared almost pleadingly at Arthur. Being all business, Arthur didn't respond. Gwaine put a hand on Merlin's shoulder and guided him away, drawing his sword as they moved forward and ducked down to take cover.
A moment later someone came jogging through the trees, hot on their trail and by the speed they were moving trying to catch up. They crouched and paused, looking at the tracks and assessing the way they had separated. As he looked up he froze. Arthur moved up behind him, stepping on a twig before jamming the point of his sword between Lancelot's shoulder blades.
He raised his hands and slowly got to his feet.
"Has anyone ever told you that sneaking up on people is rude," Arthur said.
"I could say the same to you," Lancelot said. "And I wasn't sneaking, I was actually trying to get your attention to try and find you."
Arthur didn't get a chance to answer. Merlin broke cover, he had a clear enough view to realise who it was. Gwaine was hot on his heels, confused, but staying determinedly at Merlin's side. Jonas and Gareth also recognised Lancelot and came out of cover. Lancelot carefully stepped forward, and glanced behind at Arthur, who put up his sword and Lancelot dropped his hands.
"Merlin!" Lancelot smiled brightly in greeting and hugged Merlin hard as they gathered together. As they pulled back Lancelot frowned at Merlin's bruised face. "What happened to you?"
"Now and again Arthur does prove that he's Uther's son," Gwaine snarled. Arthur's face hardened.
"Stop it!" Merlin ordered, more to Gwaine than Arthur but both of them looked surprised at the authority in Merlin's voice. "Just, stop it!" he added, a little less assertively, but wanting to get the point across.
"All right, let's not argue, what are you doing here?" Jonas asked the newcomer.
Lancelot shrugged. "There have been so many rumours throughout the kingdoms, I presume some of the stories are true." He glanced from Merlin to Arthur and back again. Both of them shrugged.
"Probably, most might be exaggerated by now," Arthur said.
"Some of the other kings had been trying to force Uther to name another heir, some of them have even been pushing suitors for Morgana, as she's his ward," Lancelot paused as everyone looked uncomfortable, then he carried on. "Camelot's power base is holding but most of the vultures are now circling."
"And what, you thought you'd come and join our merry band," Jonas asked. Lancelot frowned.
"No, I was worried about Gwen, I sent her a message, I met with her four weeks ago, she asked me to try and find you."
Arthur looked furious but composed himself after a few seconds. "Is she all right?"
"She's fine, she's worried about you, all of you, and Uther. He seems strong enough but she says he looks like someone whose world is crumbling around him. And it seems like it's going to get worse. Cenred is moving on him."
"We know, we need to get there," Arthur said.
"It's good you're here," Merlin said, feeling very pleased to see Lancelot, another person on their side could only be a good thing. "Are you all right?"
Lancelot smiled, putting a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "I'm well," he said, before turning and looking around at the group. "But I'm afraid your friend Olwen is not."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
They rushed to the cave, the pace becoming even more punishing. The knights had clustered in on Lancelot, demanding answers. Arthur however had just insisted on getting to the cave where Lancelot and his friend Percival had taken Olwen on finding him in the forest. Lancelot gave them directions and all the knights knew exactly where he meant.
"I presume the armour was your doing," Lancelot said to Merlin as they ran. Merlin nodded, panting heavily as they rushed. He was trying to keep his pack from jerking around too much and also trying to think of what he might have to help the knight. Arthur's head swivelled.
"You knew about Merlin?"
"Yes, of course."
"And you didn't tell anyone," Arthur snapped.
"Merlin's a friend, why would I?"
Arthur frowned, his mood in no way improving. Gwaine slapped a brief hand on Lancelot's shoulder, and they dropped to single file as they dipped down through the gorge and jumped the stream to reach the entrance of the cave. Both Lancelot and Gwaine paused to let Merlin through ahead of them, of the same mind to keep him safely central in the group. They both paused and looked at each other, debating who should follow.
"After you," Gwaine said with a grin. Lancelot grinned back and ran down. Gwaine scanned the forest before heading down after him.
Merlin ran in behind the other knights, who had gathered around a pale and sweating Olwen. He was laid on the floor, under blankets that had been donated by Lancelot and Percival. As they group burst in Percival had pulled back, giving them room and he shuffled over to Lancelot as he appeared.
"How is he?" Lancelot murmured to him. Percival shrugged.
"I don't know a lot about it."
"He doesn't look good," Gwaine murmured. The knights were all of the same opinion as they gathered around him. Jonas put a hand onto Olwen's forehead, he felt cold, but he was damp with sweat. Arthur crouched down close to his head.
"What happened?" he asked gently.
"I was on patrol," Olwen said, smiling as he looked around at them, despite the pain he was obviously in. "And we were attacked. All of us fought back but nothing killed them. I cut one in the neck and nothing, he just stood there. We couldn't stop them, we just ran."
As he said that he looked apologetically at Arthur. Arthur smiled and brushed Olwen's hair back off his forehead, where a few strands had stuck.
"There was probably nothing you could do."
"I could," Olwen said, wincing as Merlin lifted the blanket to look at the wounds. There was a bandage around Olwen's torso which was slick with blood. Robert took a sharp breath but that was all the reaction he gave. Instead he turned to the three men lingering back a little.
"We need some more firewood, and some water."
"And if you can find some fern leaves, and willow bark and a big cobweb if you can keep it intact," Merlin added. Gwaine nodded, and Percival and Lancelot followed him out to get what was needed. None of the knights were about to leave. They hadn't seen Olwen for months, and he was in an incredibly sorry state.
"I was with Leon when they attacked," Olwen said, his voice faint but he seemed determined to say what he wanted to say. "I told him the truth, that I knew I could find you, and that I knew about Merlin as well. I said I would get your help."
Arthur smiled, running his fingers through Olwen drenched hair. "Well done, we were on our way anyway. What happened?"
"Leon and I separated." Olwen paused and hissed with pain as Merlin lifted the bandage and looked at the wound. It was sticky, blood weeping from the hole in Olwen's side. Merlin kept his eyes on it, determined to give nothing away to the man who he knew was seriously injured.
"Not good is it?" Olwen said, trying to smile again, then he coughed, his entire body jerking with the action, the cough started to sound wet and Olwen struggled to breath. Merlin looked up at Arthur and Jonas.
"Lift him up a little, it will make it easier for him."
They both obeyed, and Merlin yanked the scarf from around his neck and let Olwen cough into it, wiping his mouth when he had finished. Robert helped Olwen sip some water and none of them commented on the pink flecks of spittle that remained at the corners of his mouth. Merlin concentrated on the wound, not that there was much he could do. He pressed a clean bandage to it and used some water to wipe away the dried blood that had spread out across Olwen's skin.
"Leon said he would return to the castle, he'd tell Uther, and I would go for you. Some of them chased me, there were just too many. I only got away because of Lancelot and Percival. Lancelot said he would look for you. He was trying to find you anyway."
"Well, he did," Arthur said. Olwen looked up at him, his face pale, his blond hair dark with sweat and his grey eyes looking very unfocussed.
"You have to go, you have to get to Camelot. Don't worry about me."
Arthur frowned. "Don't be daft, we aren't going to leave you like this."
"I'm not stupid, it might take a while but I know the wound is fatal. I think they shot me in the leg as well, but all things considered, it's not much to worry about. I've done my part, you need to go."
"I'll stay with him," Merlin said, looking up at the three men came running back. Percival was last, very carefully holding a huge cobweb in both hands. Merlin reached to take it, holding it carefully and then folding it over the hole. Then he carefully packed the leaves around it.
"Robert, bandage that," Arthur said, he moved away from Olwen and lifted Merlin up by the arm, the knights shifted around, filling the gaps that Arthur and Merlin made. Gwaine, Lancelot and Percival stayed a little separate, close to the clustered group but enough away to give them some distance. Arthur dragged Merlin to the far side of the cave.
"Arthur," Merlin started.
"We don't have time for that now, Merlin," Arthur said, reading Merlin's tone. "You can't stay, we'll need you in Camelot. Robert can stay, so can Gareth. We'll need to be a small group to get in. You, me, Gwaine and Jonas. Four of us will be discreet enough. The rest can keep scouting, if the army is seen, then people may try and run. If we can get them clear, we will do."
Merlin nodded.
"Okay,"
"Is there any instruction you can give them to help Olwen?"
Merlin shook his head. "No more than they already know. I'm not an expert. Gaius treated someone with a wound like that, but I don't know that kind of stuff, we need Gaius."
"I think a lot of people are going to need Gaius soon," Arthur said.
"He can only do one at a time; even so, I may find something in his books if he's… if we can't find him."
Arthur nodded. "And we need to find Gwen."
"I don't think Morgana will hurt her," Merlin said, meeting Arthur's steady gaze. Arthur didn't comment on that.
"We'll track up through the lower town, coming in from the west, we'll go to Gwen's house first and then circle to the north entrance, that will bring us close to Gaius, and then we get to my father."
"All right."
"Tell Robert anything you need him to know before we go, I'll give the rest their orders."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Merlin couldn't believe the devastation that Morgana had allowed the army to wreak on Camelot. Even if she hated Uther, it was her home, she had lived here for most of her life. No doubt she wanted Uther stopped, but Merlin couldn't understand why she would take out her hate on the rest of them.
"Hurry up, Merlin!"
"I can't find what I need, they've trashed almost everything and…."
They paused. Elyan looked around nervously. They had found him at Gwen's house and the news that Gwen was at the castle, which had already been claimed, had spurred Arthur on. Now they heard a sound coming from a nearby cupboard. One that Gaius never really used, the catch was too annoying and Merlin had nearly toppled the rickety old piece of furniture more than once trying to get it open.
Arthur lifted his sword and moved towards it, opening it with a yank and staring in surprise at what he found.
"Gaius, what are you doing in there?"
"Hiding, what does it look like?" Gaius said coming out, he looked around, being un-disappointed as he saw Merlin, who had rushed forward. Gaius threw his arms around Merlin's neck and hugged him tightly. Merlin hugged back.
"Gaius, you're all right!" Merlin said in delight.
"Oh my boy, I was so worried about you! Thank heavens you are all right," Gaius' voice deepened as it thickened with emotion. He could not have ever described the worry he had felt over Merlin's departure. Merlin pressed against him, hugging him back, proving to Gaius that his youthful charge was real and not a figment of his desperate worry. Although he almost might have been, Gaius thought.
"Not had a decent meal though, have you?" he added, prodding Merlin in the ribs.
"Hey!" Merlin snapped, swatting him away. Gaius frowned and taking Merlin's chin peered at his face.
"What happened to you?"
"It doesn't matter," Merlin said.
"Gaius!" Arthur interrupted the moment and Gaius turned to him. Arthur's eyes started with surprise as he was swept up into Gaius' arms and held tightly and the old man patted his back vigorously. In the end Arthur returned the hug, glancing at Merlin for help. Merlin didn't care, just for a few seconds he held onto the reassured feeling of knowing Gaius was okay. Uther had done nothing to him.
Eventually, Gaius pulled away, looking them both up and down.
"Olwen's been injured," Merlin rushed. "Stab wound to his side, it's weeping and I think its cut his lung. I don't know what to do. I got these, but the rest is…" He looked around at the trashed room. Gaius did the same and his eyes roved over things, Olwen's injury in his mind. He took the bag Merlin had picked up and looked in it.
"Right, I need… hold on…" Gaius trotted off across the room, looking through the mess.
"We need to find my father," Arthur said. He looked at Gwaine, Jonas and Elyan. "You three, wait for Gaius and get him out and get him to Olwen. Wait for us there."
"Are you sure? Shouldn't I come with you?" Jonas asked. Arthur shook his head.
"No, Merlin and I can do this."
Arthur turned and ran out of the door. Merlin glanced at Gaius before following him. Gaius turned and nodded at him. Merlin smiled before chasing after Arthur. They moved through the corridors, avoiding clusters of the guards, but they all seemed to be converging on the throne room. Arthur and Merlin took a flight of stairs up to the viewing gallery, crawling forward to peer through the railings.
They watched the scene unfold. At least Arthur could see his father was physically fine, even if he couldn't reach him. As much as he loved Uther even Arthur saw the folly of trying to get to him through an army of immortal men. Instead they watched and as they listened Merlin felt Arthur's hand touch his shoulder and his grip tightened in an unspoken apology for what had happened earlier.
It was never spoken out loud. None of them did that, but the small group were dependant on, and sometimes endured, each others company. Such a situation was not conducive to arguments or the awkwardness of apologies. They were often there, but they never dwelled on them. Merlin reached up and gripped Arthur's wrist tightly in acknowledgement, in acceptance and as forgiveness, not that Merlin thought there was much to forgive. Arthur acted as Merlin expected he would, and he didn't blame him for it. Arthur hadn't seen it coming, no one in Camelot had.
They held onto each other, shuffling closer, leaning forward as they watched Morgana, and as Uther was forced to bow to her.
"But she can't, why would she? Merlin, why would she?"
"I don't know," Merlin said. "I'm sorry, Arthur, I'm really sorry."