CHAPTER TWO
Abduction
Crumpled on the cold wet earth on his right side, Merlin fought to stay conscious. The arrow embedded in his chest was excruciating, making it hard to breath, and he could feel the warmth of his own blood as it swelled from the wound and stained his clothing; but his fear was for Arthur's life, not his own.
He watched helplessly as several large men slowly encircled Camelot's young king. Despite his youth Arthur was a courageous warrior and brilliant swordsman, but even Merlin could see that he was clearly outmatched by the number and sheer towering size and brute strength of his foes, who apparently knew who he was.
Merlin's vision began to dim and he desperately fought to steady his fading senses so he could muster the strength to cast a spell powerful enough to help Arthur. "Dominaeum frobath abaesi…." he began to mutter, but quickly lost his concentration. His chest felt on fire and his senses kept reeling, making it impossible to focus long enough on the spell he was trying to conjure.
He cared not at that moment that Arthur would finally discover that he possessed the ability to wield magic. All Merlin knew was that he had to save his friend and Camelot's new king, whose life and future destiny had been entrusted into his care from the moment they'd met. But try as he might, Merlin could not conjure and hold the spell to ward off Arthur's attackers, and to his horror he could only watch as the men fully encircled his friend and closed in on him.
If things weren't bad enough, the sleeting snow began to intensify, pelting at all of them and adding to the surreal and deadly atmosphere of the scene.
Arthur fought bravely, spinning left and right, ducking, thrusting and parrying as he deflected or avoided their weapons. He even managed to wound two of them. But within minutes they'd gotten the advantage of him. His sword arm was slashed, making it easier for the red-bearded man to knock the youth's blade out of his hand. When that happened one of the other brigands moved up behind Arthur and raised his blade high, swinging it purposely downward toward the young man's fair head as if to slay him.
In his clouding mind Merlin screamed a silent, anguished NOOOO!
However, the man used the flat of his sword so that the blow was merely meant to stun the young man as it stuck his head. With a startled half cry Arthur staggered then slipped on the accumulating icy snow, falling onto all fours. Although dazed, he grasped his sword, which lay within reach, and desperately tried to get up; but before he could regain his footing the same brigand loomed over him and struck him across the side of the head, but with much more force than before, using the unyielding solid cross-guard of his sword hilt this time.
With an inarticulate sound Arthur pitched forward onto the frozen ground and lay still.
He had fallen facing Merlin, and even from that distance of several yards the young warlock could see bright crimson begin to stain Arthur's damp flaxen hair and rivulet slowly down his chalky, closed face, splotching the pristine white snow beneath where he lay.
He looked utterly lifeless, Merlin thought frantically. Had their attackers killed him after all?
That same possibility must have occurred to the men encircling Arthur's sprawled inert form as they stared down at him and at each other nervously.
"You bloody idiot!" barked the red-bearded leader, glaring at the man who'd struck Arthur down. "You may have hit him too hard! King Odin wanted him alive and relatively unharmed!"
"I…I'm sorry, my lord," the brigand stammered, "but he was putting up such a fight…and…and we were told to subdue the boy with whatever means necessary."
As he spoke, one of the other men knelt by Arthur, examining him. "He's still breathing, my lord," he pronounced, "but he has a deep scalp wound, and he might even be concussed."
The leader sighed heavily. "Well, there's naught we can do for any of that now." To the two men Arthur had managed to wound he said, "Bind your injuries. They'll be better tended to when we return to the Keep." To the man who had struck Arthur he directed, "Go with them to fetch the horses where we hid them." As all three nodded and turned away the leader said to his two remaining men, "When they return, pick up Pendragon and sling him over my saddle. I'll take him with me."
"My lord, what of the other boy, the servant?" one of the men asked, and red beard glanced over toward where Merlin had fallen, curled on his side with the arrow still embedded in his chest, his glazed blue eyes mere slits. The sleeting snow was beginning to cover his still form in an icy coating.
'He's of no consequence. We have the one we came for. Besides, he'll bleed out soon enough if he isn't already dead. In any case this accursed weather or the wolves shall finish him off."
Merlin felt a surge of hope. Arthur was still alive! But the red-bearded man had mentioned Odin, a ruthless rival king who had tried more than once to have Arthur assassinated—and now wounded and helpless he was going to be delivered into his enemy's hands without Merlin there to protect him.
The young warlock tried to bring forth another spell to prevent these dangerous men from leaving with their captive, but a surge of vertigo overtook him. And the last thing Merlin remembered seeing were two of the brigands lifting Arthur's bleeding and limp form before his own awareness faded.
Gaius heard an urgent rap on his chamber door, and looking up from the illustrated book of herbal remedies he'd been perusing, called out, "Yes? What is it?" To his surprise he saw the tall figure of Sir Leon enter, looking very grim-faced.
"Pardon this intrusion, Gaius," the sandy-haired knight apologized. "Lord Agravaine sent me to inquire if Merlin might know of the King's whereabouts?"
The elderly healer set the book aside and stood up, moving away from the table. "Are you saying you can't find Arthur?" he asked, frowning in consternation.
Sir Leon nodded. "No one has seen him in the palace all morning, and he is not in his chambers. My men made discreet inquiries in the town, but with little luck. They also checked the stables, but the King's horse is still there, and the stable master has not seen him. Would Merlin know…"
The physician shook his head. "Merlin isn't here, Sir Leon. I haven't seen him at all this morning. But he often rises before I do, and I assumed he was with Arthur."
The knight looked worried. "Actually, Gaius, no one recalls seeing Merlin going about his duties as usual, either. Nor did he go to the kitchens to fetch the King's breakfast. That's why we thought he might be with you for some reason, or at the very least you'd know where they both were. Lord Agravaine needs to find the King as there's a messenger who's come seeking an audience with him saying it is of vital importance."
Gaius walked over to him and patted him on the arm. "There's likely no cause for alarm. It's almost time for the noon meal, and I am sure Merlin will appear soon enough for that. Likely Arthur will have appeared by then as well since it seems he did not take time to break his fast this morning either. They may have gone to the vaults for some reason. Merlin made mention the other day that the King wanted to find the original plans of this castle, so they may also have gone to the library to search the records, and simply lost track of time as young people are wont to do. Have you checked either of those places?"
Sir Leon looked a little sheepish. "No," he admitted, shaking his head.
Gaius smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation and Arthur is safe somewhere deep within these walls."
