Chapter Four

Recovery

Merlin looked at the man who held one of the weapons these men had been using against his people. There was anger in his eyes, even from this distance Merlin could see it and when his finger moved a loud noise occurred. Instinctively his eyes went gold and time slowed, showing him exactly what was coming towards him. A small tiny piece of metal, it was going so fast that even though Merlin had slowed down time, he didn't have long to move out of the way. However he watched as it got closer. Each man turning to look at him to see if it hit.

He took a moment to look at Arthur who stood at the front, his hair wiping across his forehead as he turned to look at Merlin, pure worry covering his features. Merlin wouldn't be fooled though. Not again. Arthur was here for one reason and it certainly wasn't to get to know the natives, it was to kill them if they got in his way. No questions asked. Lifting his hand he said, "Belúcan." The piece of metal stopped midair and time started to flow like normal.

"How did he do that?" One of the men yelled as Merlin studied the piece of metal. How could such a tiny thing cause so much harm? Four of his people had died because of something like this. Many of his people were injured from trying to avoid this. If only he hadn't been talking to his Grandfather about Arthur, he would have been back so much sooner, could have stopped this fight from happening with one simple spell. His magic could have saved lives.

Lifting his gaze to meet the man responsible, Merlin wrapped his hand around the piece of metal and slowly walked forward. Each step the only sound that was made in the area as no one dared attack him again. Even the shooter was being quiet. The one thing that pleased him was that Arthur actually looked scared. Let him be scared. Let him realise that he had no idea who he was facing. That at any moment Merlin could flick his hand and have him lying dead on the ground.

When he was stood right in front of Arthur he reached out with his free hand and grasped Arthur's, bringing it between them. "If you, or any of your men, come near my people again-" Merlin turned Arthur's hand so it was palm up and dropped the piece of metal in it "-I will kill you all." Arthur didn't even respond as he looked down at his hand and then back at Merlin, "You are not welcome here."

"Merlin-" Arthur's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Say another word and it'll be your last. Nothing, and I mean nothing, you can say will change what's happened here today. Your people have murdered mine. I see none of your people lying dead on the ground. Blood has been spilt that wasn't necessary. I suggest you leave. Now."

Leaving Arthur standing there, Merlin turned on the spot and walked away. He wouldn't warn them again. He needed to get back to his tribe now, they would need him now more than ever and no longer would he be able to hide how powerful he was. If people needed healing, he would do it, no matter the cost. Slipping into the forest, he avoided the trees and tried to walk as quickly as possible without falling over.

As he neared the camp he saw Will at the top, looking out for him in the distance and Merlin smiled. It was nice to see a friendly face. Merlin was about to call out, tell Will that he was nearly there, when someone grabbed him from behind and pinned him against a huge tree. Looking at his capture, he glared when he saw it was Arthur and went to yell except a hand covered his mouth. "Don't yell or scream, just listen. Please, Merlin, let me explain."

He moved his hand away a little so Merlin could speak. "I told you that I would kill your people if you came near my people. Don't think that excluded you. Let me go."

"Just hear me out. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, it was instinct, I came out of my leader's tent to find our people fighting, I just … reacted."

"Your instinct cost my tribe four people. Whatever-" Merlin waved his hand between them "-this was, it ends now. Go home, wherever that is and never come back. This land is ours and all you bring is pain and suffering. There are children now without a Father, I have to go back and heal those your people have injured. Why the hell should I listen to you?"

"Let me come help you. I know how to deal with injuries from my weapons, a lot more than you, I could give advice on how to treat the wounds." Arthur suggested and Merlin realised that he'd dropped his hand from his mouth to rest on the tree next to his head.

"It's too late for that. I will heal them my way."

"Yeah, that's what I don't understand. How do you-"

"Just stop talking!" Merlin demanded and pushed Arthur away with one shove that he hadn't been expecting, "Go away! Leave! I don't ever want to see you again!"

"Merlin? Is that you?" Will's voice yelled from the top of the hill and Merlin pushed Arthur further down the hill, keeping him out of sight. "Merlin!"

"I'm coming!" Merlin yelled back and kept pushing Arthur away. "Don't try to find me. Don't try to contact me. I meant it when I said I'd kill you if you came near me and my people. Now, get out of here before someone sees you."

"Wait-"

"Scyte," Merlin hissed. Arthur flew through the air and out of his life.

Merlin took a deep breath as he laid his hand on yet another injured member of the tribe. He'd spent most of the day going around and giving the men a little extra boost to make the healing process go faster, he could do nothing more without wearing himself out. Many had told him that his help was needed and that without him, many of them would have died. Little did they know how much this was effecting him. Every time he healed a wound, he felt the pain the patient should be feeling and after healing so many, the pain was becoming unbearable.

"I think I need to go rest for a while," he told the members of the tribe around him and slipped from the main tent where most of the injured rested. His Father waited outside for him patiently but with a stern expression. "What do you want Father? I need to go lie down."

"How did you do it Merlin? Our toughest men couldn't stop those invaders from attacking, why could you? I left before I could even see what you did. Even now you do things that shouldn't be possible. How are you healing so many without showing any signs of tiredness? Most would struggle to heal one person, let alone half the tribe."

"Can we not do this right now?" Merlin brushed past him and winced as his Father grabbed him by the arm, his fingers digging into his skin to add to the pain he was already feeling.

"We will do this right now. If you're a threat to the tribe then I need to know about it."

"You think I'm a threat?" The pain was no longer from the grip but directly to his heart, "I have been healing those men for most of the day. I stopped the attack and I doubt they will try again. Would I have done all that if I meant this tribe harm? They are my family and friends, I wouldn't hurt them." How could his Father think that? Merlin had expected confusion about how he could do so much, hell he'd expected his Father to demand he do more, but never had he thought his Father would think this.

"I have seen many who have been corrupted by magic and if you have more than you've been letting on, it could change you. It would be better to know now so we can help you. Train you to control your gifts. Using it like this can't be helping."

"Let go."

"Excuse me?"

"Why does no one understand me when I say let go?" Merlin sighed and shoved his Father's hand away from his arm, taking a step away. "You can rest easy chief, my gifts are pretty much gone for now and I have no intention of using them so excessively again. Especially if this is the thanks I get." Deciding that his tent wasn't far enough away, Merlin left the camp and walked through the forest. Ignoring the fact the sun was setting and he'd be in darkness very soon. He just couldn't stay there knowing his Father saw him as a threat. After all he had done.

The further he got from the tribe, the faster he ran, his feet picking up speed as the ground dipped and he didn't bother to slow down at the bottom. Eventually he reached his favourite place of the forest. The small lake where a line of stones crossed near the edge to walk on. Merlin tried to ignore the fact this is where he'd first seen Arthur. All he wanted to do was forget everything. So as he stepped out onto the first stone, he let his peaceful surroundings calm his beating heart and moved forward across the stones like he had done so many times before. After all, this was one of his favourite places as a child as well.

Arthur sat in his tent and glared at the gun now placed on the table opposite. The camp had been very quiet since the attack and Ratcliffe had ordered the fence to be put back in place. He had simply said he was too tired and couldn't help. Now he just sat here. Thinking.

He could completely understand why Merlin had been so angry. Arthur would have been furious if any of his men had died because of Merlin and now he doubted the native would ever speak to him again. It terrified him when he thought about how much power Merlin had, that he could stop a bullet in midair without so much as breaking a sweat, Arthur just wondered what else he could do. The fact was, why hadn't the rest of his tribe done the same thing? Did they not possess the same gifts?

"You alright?" Lancelot asked as he entered the tent. After the tents had been flattened by the logs which originally were the fence, they'd resorted to sharing tents until new ones could be set up the next day. Lancelot being one of his closest friends, it had been an easy decision who he'd share with. "You've been quite quiet since that man destroyed half our camp. Half the camp is pretty shaken up about it, I mean, did you see what he did? He merely looked at that bullet and it stopped. What kind of person can do that?"

A shrug was given in response and he pushed his hair back as he put his head in his hands, so many emotions going through him that it was beginning to make him feel sick.

"We've all been wondering why he gave you the bullet back. Ratcliffe was the one who shot it and yet he looked at you like it was all your fault. You weren't even there when it all started happening. It makes no sense …" Lancelot lay back on his bed and threw an apple into the air that he'd brought in with him. "If I didn't know any better, it was like he knew you."

Suddenly finding this place too confined, Arthur got to his feet and grabbed his jacket. "I'm going for a walk. Cover for me would you? I don't think I'll be back for a while."

"Sure thing … need any company?" Lancelot asked even though Arthur knew he didn't want to come out this late at night.

"No. I need some time alone, thanks though. I'll see you in the morning." Pushing open the tent door, he zipped it up to keep the heat in for Lancelot and then slipped from the camp. It was almost empty due to everyone having an early night. That battle had taken a lot out of his men. Ignoring the nagging feeling to go back, Arthur walked through the forest and towards the one place he knew was peaceful. Where he'd first met Merlin. At least there he could think and relax without his men watching him like a hawk.

It didn't take him long to get there and soon enough he was rounding the corner to take a look at the view, except he found he wasn't alone. He didn't have to see their face to know who it was. Merlin. Apparently he hadn't stayed with his tribe and instead had sought comfort from the still water, much like Arthur but for different reasons. Trying not to disturb him, Arthur walked to the edge of the water and sat down. Removing his shoes at the same time so he could dip his feet in the cold water.

Watching the man standing there on one of the stones, he saw that Merlin's eyes were closed and that somehow he looked paler than usual. He was pale enough as it was normally. Now he just looked ill. Arthur wanted to say something, ask if he was okay, but he knew the moment his presence was known, something bad would happen. Merlin would probably say another weird word and he'd find himself sprawled out on the ground. Dead.

However it was only a few moments later when Merlin was no longer standing, instead his body was tipping forwards and falling into the water. Arthur knew he hadn't intended to fall since he didn't brace himself to hit the water and without thinking about it, he dived into the water himself. Swimming across the small distance, Arthur reached around until his hand caught some material, he didn't hesitate to pull the material up and consequently the body that came with it.

Dragging Merlin to the water's edge, he somehow managed to push the unconscious man onto the ground and he pulled himself up easily. Not even noticing how cold the air now was as he cupped Merlin's face in his wet hands. "Merlin? Are you okay?" Arthur asked and patted one of his cheeks gently, "Wake up." He was just considering mouth to mouth when Merlin turned on his side and choked up the water he'd swallowed, Arthur's hand now rubbing against his back in the little support he could give. "Better?" Arthur said once Merlin had stopped spitting out water.

"Much," Merlin muttered and pushed his body from the ground in an attempt to sit. For some reason he couldn't quite manage it and Arthur held him by the shoulders to stop him from falling, Merlin's hands instantly grabbed his forearms to steady himself in return. "What are you doing here?"

"Nice night for a stroll," Arthur lied.

"What do you not understand about staying away from me?" Merlin tried to sound threatening but the way his body was shaking didn't really give off that effect.

"If I had stayed away you would be drowning right now. Besides, I don't take orders." A small laugh escaped Merlin's cold lips and he lifted his gaze to meet Arthur's, "What?"

"Nothing … just, I guess that's one thing we have in common."

"Who would have thought it. Now, want to tell me why you just fainted? You weren't injured earlier were you?" Arthur's eyes scanned his body for any injuries but saw none. "Tell me you're okay Merlin."

"I think I'm far from okay," Merlin admitted and his forehead collided with Arthur's chest. "So very far."