"Ah, looks like we have a visitor." my ex-guide said, smiling at the giant arachnid crawling towards me.
For the love of Camelot! I thought, fear causing adrenaline to curse through my body. The spider was getting closer and trying to slide away with only my hands gripping the outcropping of rock isn't easy. Is this thing hissing at me?! I thought incredulously.
I watched the beastly spider come closer as I tried to think of a way to get out of this predicament. I gripped the rocks even harder as I let go with one hand, desperately reaching for my sword with the other. Hoping that I could hold on long enough the kill the eight-legged monstrosity I swung my sword at it. It kept back stepping making sure it didn't get within my reach.
I was actually kind of glad, somewhere in the back of my mind, that the woman who was playing a hand in my death was still around. With my torch gone, I would never be able to see this spider. I saw it prepare to take a leap towards me. I knew this was my chance. As it leapt at my head I took a huge swing at it, knocking it down into the dark abyss below me.
While I quickly and silently cheered myself for killing the beast I heard the woman speak behind me. "Very good." She said, as I grabbed for the rock again. I threw my sword onto the rocks above me. "He won't be the last. I think I'll let his friends finish you off, Arthur Pendragon. It's not your destiny to die by my hand." With that eloquent speech she turned and stalked out of the cavern.
I internally scoffed at her words. Though I didn't take the time to really worry about them. I wanted answers. "Who are you?" I yelled at her retreating form. Knowing she wasn't going to answer me, I turned my mind to my current problem. Which was getting up and not falling into the blackness below to join that spider.
It was bloody dark in this cave, without any torches. I could barely see the rock I was clinging to for dear life. Suddenly I saw this ball of blueish light rise up from below me. "Come on then!" I challenged, "What are you waiting for? Finish me off!" I watched as the glowing ball hovered around my head, never drifting too far from me.
The light gave me the incentive I needed. I gathered what strength I had left and hoisted myself onto the rocky ledge above me. I looked around me after I had positioned myself. Grabbing my sword I quickly sheathed it, looking for a way out of this hell of a cave.
The light was slowly drifting about my head still. I watched it for a second, until I saw it's light land on the Mortaeus Flowers. I took a step towards them as I heard another high pitched hiss. It was coming from below me. The light barely reached down that far, but I could see another spider ascending, coming towards me.
Ah, bullocks! Did I say one? I meant many, many more. Fear started to run through me again. It made my heart nearly beat out of my throat, I panted as my lungs begged for more air which was getting harder and harder to take in, and my veins were being flooded with a rush of adrenaline once more.
I looked up, knowing what I had to do. I started to climb the rock wall, glad that I was used to climbing things from my youth, when Morgana and I used to play outside. I scaled the wall with relative ease, constantly looking for hand holds.
I had reached level with the Mortaeus Flower. It was nearly within my grasp. I couldn't get any closer to it, for there were no hand holds near the plant itself. Which was totally predicable, why make something easy for me now?
I strained my reach hoping that I could get it if I just tried harder. I made the mistake of looking down, however. Because I could see even more spiders crawling up the wall to get to me. I didn't have time to make an exact count, but if I were to estimate I would say at least a hundred were making their way slowly but surely to me.
Panic nearly seizing me to take control, I made a last ditch stretch, trying desperately to grab the flowers before it was too late. Hoping I would get them before I had to leave them behind or forfeit my own life.
Luck seemed to be with me this time, because I was able to grab a hold of one of the flowers, ripping it away from it's brethren. I stuffed it into the pouch I had attached to my belt. I looked down once more, which only served to stoke the fire that was my fear. The large spiders were even closer to me now.
I started to make a frantic attempt to climb more up the wall. I couldn't get a hold of anything though. I kept slipping after I thought I had a sure grip. After ever failed attempt I would look back down to try to see the spiders' progress. To my increasing horror, they seemed to be going quicker, at least to my panic filled mind.
I savagely ripped my gloves off my hands with my teeth. I spit them out behind me, not caring where they would land. The light seemed to be staying with me. Guiding a way up and out of this dreadful cave. With it's dim light I was able to map out my progress, making sure I stayed ahead of the spiders that were hot on my trail.
I couldn't help myself from looking down every few seconds to see how close the spiders were getting. My heart nearly beat out of my chest when I saw how close they were. They were only about 10 to 15 feet below me now, and getting closer. I tried to stay calm, focusing on my climbing or I would fall into the inky blackness below me.
I knew I was nearing an opening when I could smell fresh air. I paused for one second, looking ahead of me, as I watched my little ball of light rush out of a hole in the ceiling. It revealed a view of the starry night sky. I looked below me one last time, watching the spiders climb after me before I rushed towards the hole.
I heaved myself out of the opening, sweat dripping down my face. I turned quickly, facing where I just came from. I quickly took my sword from it's sheath and looked around for a second, to make sure I was truly alone. After determining that I was indeed safe for now, I ran off to where I left my horse.
I quickly found my horse, untying it from the tree it was attached to. I hopped on it, nudging her sides to make her gallop faster. My body sagged against my mares neck, adrenaline finally leaving my system. I have never felt so drained in my life. A full day of training with the knights never made me feel this exhausted. I was spent, both physically, emotionally, and mentally. I didn't have time to rest however. I would get a few good hours of the sleep I so desperately needed on the trek back home, but not enough to cure me of the exhaustion caused by my hardships.
I directed my horse out of the forest and made sure she was heading in the direction of home before I let myself close my eyes and have my much needed rest. My muscles ached from all the climbing and a riding saddle is anything but comfortable, but I found myself drifting off very quickly.
I dreamed of Merlin. He was lying in a cot, covered in a blanket. Gauis was leaning over him, applying a wet towel to his brow. How I wished I could be the one to take care of him. It was my fault, after all that he was in this position. What I wouldn't do for us to be switched.
I could hear Merlin moaning about something. I knew it was just moans and groans of an ill man, but they had a very unknightly affect on me. I heard him moan my name, which sent shivers down my spine in a not unpleasant manner... ah, who was I kidding, it was bloody hot hearing it.
"Nngh, Arthur," Merlin moaned louder this time, squiring a bit in his sleep induced by the poison. "Move, Arthur! Faster!"
Oh, bloody hell! If that wasn't the sexiest thing I've heard in my over twenty years of life. I felt myself getting hard at just the mere sound of Merlin moaning my name. I didn't think much of it in my dream, as I walked closer to Merlin. Gauis seemed to disappear and I couldn't seem to bring myself to care. I hovered closer to Merlin, kneeling down next to his bed side as he wiggled and moaned in his cot. Even though it was affecting me, I couldn't help but feel a bit bad for him. He was obviously in pain, his brow was covered in sweat and most of his moans sounded pain induced.
I leaned over him, pressing a chaste kiss to his forehead while grabbing his hand. "Don't worry, Merlin." I told him giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm hear for you now. I'll make sure you getting better soon."
I saw Merlin lick his lips. Even when he was sleeping, that simple act was highly arousing. I couldn't help myself as I leaned forward, his breath ghosting over my face as I brought mine a few inches from his own.
Just as I felt my lips touch his, which sent fire down my spine and caused sparks to go off behind my eyelids, I jerked awake. I nearly fell off my horse in the process. Bugger! I thought to myself. This isn't good. I had woken up with a nearly painful hard on, sweat dripping down my now sore back. I was still sagging onto my horse. I quickly sat up, rubbing sleep from my eyes.
Riding a horse is hard enough in full armor, but it's even harder when that armor is made even more uncomfortable by a stiffness very much south. My thoughts rushed around my mind as I tried to think of a way to get rid of it. In the end imagining Morgana and my father together did the trick. Disgusted at my own thoughts I let my mind wander as I pushed my horse even faster, knowing I was getting closer to Camelot.
My mind drifted to my dream. It had started out innocent enough. I mean, Merlin was ill right now, so I was just dreaming about the current situation. But that does not explain why I was so affect by Merlin's moaning, or why I had felt compelled to kiss Merlin in my dream.
I had dreamt of Merlin before, normally in the platonic sense though. I never gave much thought to kissing Merlin. His lips did seem rather inviting though. They looked soft to the touch... No! I scolded myself sternly, now is not the time to consider my deeper feelings for Merlin. Even if they were becoming sort of obvious. It's not like I wouldn't disobey my father and risk my life for just anyone. Merlin was special, and it wasn't because he was my only true friend. It had to be something more.
Being so engrossed in my thoughts I didn't notice I had reached Camelot until I heard my horses hooves scraping against the stone covered streets. I straightened in my saddle, trying to look like the prince I was as I neared the Castle.
I faintly heard someone announce my arrival when I came closer to the drawbridge. Five guards walked towards me, blocking my way. "What are you doing? Let me pass." I demanded the man who looked like he was in charge.
"I'm sorry, sire." He said, while drawing his sword. "But you are under arrest, by order of the King." He seemed almost apologetic about this.
I stared at him, my disbelief clear on my face. That bastard! How dare he have them arrest his own son! I didn't give them any fight though. My body still weak from what I had just went though. I walked with them in silence to the dungeons. I was familiar with them, having to go down there often enough because it was my princely duties, but I had never been down there for disobedience.
I walked into the cell, turning around when I heard them lock the door behind me. All I could do now was wait for father to come and see me. Hopefully I would be able to talk him into getting the plant to Merlin. If he refused I hoped that someone would come in his place, otherwise Merlin was sure to die.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I don't have a good excuse for it either. I don't know when I'll get the next up, I'm going on vacation soon. But I'll get it up as soon as I can. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed, I liked writing this chapter. Special thanks to Cleopatra's Snake and Andrina Sparda for their wonderful reviews. It's what keeps me writing. This one is for you two. I hope you enjoy :)
