Thank you all for your patience! Here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Merlin was sure the beating of his heart was so loud that the Black Knight would easily be able to find him. His sore knuckles gripped the arrow sheath tightly as he dared move. The powerless sorcerer carefully inched across the grass in a crawl. He was praying that he not step on a stray twig or crispy leaf. The Black Knight was close and with deadly aim. One wrong move and he would be caught.
Merlin managed to make his way towards a thick bush, savoring the leafy cover its foliage provided. He remained silent, listening.
Footsteps padded over the soft grass. Merlin had oiled and cleaned armor for so long that he easily recognized the creaking of the Black Knight's own armor. His adversary was just a few feet away. Merlin sunk lower to the ground to avoid being seen.
He held his breath and closed his eyes tight. His arrow was ready, in case he needed to defend himself.
"I know you're here, sorcerer," a chilling voice called to the trees, "I will find you."
He could think of a thousand spells to help at this moment, but his magic was useless.
The Black Knight chuckled darkly, "I'm sure you're finding your adjustment to mortality rather difficult, yes?"
Merlin remained silent, frozen.
"Now, I'm sure you're wondering where your precious Prince is?" the mercenary continued, "I'd be happy to tell you if you reveal yourself to me."
If he showed himself then he would surely be captured, but could he risk not knowing Arthur's location? Every moment gone from Arthur was another moment at risk of him not finding him.
Pull yourself together, Merlin! he scolded himself. He had protected Arthur from beasts and sorcerers of all types, he could do it once more. He could defeat the Black Knight, powerless or not.
Merlin reached forward and grabbed a handful of pebbles. He gripped a few between his fingers and threw them across the clearing. They clattered in the opposite direction of him. That caught the Black Knight's attention, attracting him to the sound. The sound which he thought was a clumsy servant but was Merlin's rocky diversion.
This was his chance. Merlin dashed from his hiding spot. He sprinted through the trees as fast as his legs could carry him, arrow in hand.
It wasn't until his lungs were heaving breaths that he dared stop. Merlin slowed, looking around him frantically to make sure he was safe.
Next task: Find Arthur.
He had managed to thwart the Black Knight powerless and with a parlor trick. That wasn't going to work again, he needed to formulate a concrete plan to save the Prince. It was the middle of the night and exhaustion was pulling at him, but he wouldn't dare risk sleeping with the stealthy mercenary patrolling the forest.
Merlin looked to the sky, finding the North star. Camelot was Northern territory. When he got Arthur, he would follow the star to the river. Arthur was injured, they would be traveling slow. That meant that when he found the Prince they would travel via water. The river would erase their tracks, making it harder for the mercenary to find them on their way.
The problem was finding him. There was no way the Black Knight could have taken Arthur anywhere far if he was still searching the forest for him. That gave Merlin a small window to find Arthur before the mercenary decided to take him away to some unknown location.
Merlin ventured back in the direction he ran from. He was ready and alert, weapon in hand. He would take two steps, stop, listen, then continue. Finally, he reached their original clearing. Merlin stood at the edge of the treeline, silent. He was searching for something.
Then, he saw it.
At the edge on the other side, there was a small rustle of a bush. Merlin's eyes widened when he saw him. Black armor blended perfectly in the shadows of the night, but he was there. What he was about to execute was dangerous, but it was all he could do.
Now that he knew the Black Knight was there, he needed to take the next step. Merlin started to create movement in the on his end of the clearing. He ran perpendicular to the opening, still partly shrouded by the thick brush.
The darts started flying.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Fast as lightning, the Black Knight reacted. If Merlin wasn't expecting them, then the darts would've easily met their targets. The mercenary charged from the trees. This was Merlin's chance. He reached and grabbed a stray dart that missed its mark. He stuck it into the cloth of his shirt, just enough so the needle didn't prick his skin with the residual sedative. Then, he crashed to the ground. Merlin sprawled on the floor, face down, and closed his eyes just as the Black Knight came bounding to his location.
The mercenary smiled devilishly from behind his obsidian armor.
"Amateur," he spat, speaking to a seemingly unconscious Merlin.
Merlin bit his tongue. This was his only chance. Now that it appeared that he was struck by the Black Knight's darts, the mercenary would surely take him to Arthur's location. Merlin would find the Prince and they'd make their escape as soon as opportunity allowed.
He held his breath and stayed totally still as the Black Knight pulled the dart from Merlin's arm and threw it aside. He then tied a thick cord around the sorcerer's legs and began dragging him forward. Merlin was listlessly pulled by the length of rope on his way to Arthur.
The journey was short, but rough. The Black Knight wasn't gracious in his transportation method as Merlin was struck by roots, bushes, and rocks alike. His eyes were closed the whole time, not daring to peek at his surroundings. He stayed motionless and kept his breathing even to keep his unconscious facade intact.
Finally, the mercenary stopped. Merlin heard footsteps near him and a shuffling, but then they continued again. Even with his eyes closed, Merlin could feel their surroundings get darker. Sounds echoed. He gathered they had to be in some enclosed space, probably a nearby cave. That's where the Black Knight must have set up his camp. He was dragged a little further and his legs were unceremoniously dropped.
He heard the heavy clinking of the Black Knight's armor as he moved around the cave. He heard the shuffling of some items, then Merlin felt both his arms and legs being tied by the thick cord. When the mercenary was sure the sorcerer was secure he started for the mouth of the cave. He stepped into the night again, going to meet his master.
Merlin heard a heavy, grating sound as the cave was entirely engulfed by darkness. The Black Knight was covering the entrance with a boulder to prevent Merlin and Arthur from escaping. Covering all his bases.
When the boulder was in place, all was silent. Merlin was in complete darkness, but didn't allow himself to give up his ruse until he felt sure the Black Knight had gone. Then, he opened his eyes.
He would have summoned a spell to provide some ball of light if he had his powers, but now it was futile. Merlin felt around in the dark and found some dry grass. He grabbed two flat rocks and struck them together until the grass caught a few sparks and created a small flame. Finally, some light. As the small flame grew, Merlin's eyes adjusted in the cave.
"Arthur!" he shouted.
He saw the unconscious Prince lying at the edge of the cave. Merlin ran to him, examining. He was pale and covered in dirt, but alive. A breath of relief released from his chest. He didn't dare lift the armor that was covering the wound just yet. They needed to escape first, then he could properly care for the wound.
Alas, he was without his powers and he was facing an immense boulder blocking their only exit. He needed to create another plan, a way to get them out without alerting the Black Knight.
He left Arthur and kept examining the cave. The Black Knight's "camp" was meager and cold. There was a polishing wipe for the armor, a small leather sack, and a locked chest. The young sorcerer reached out to touch the chest, but immediately was met with a painful shock. He pulled his hand away quickly, unpleasantly surprised. Merlin decided to leave it unbothered for now as he rummaged through the leather sack. Inside, he found glass vials, needles, and strange liquids.
Success!
It was the Black Knight's supplies to create his darts. Merlin found the jackpot. He could prepare a dart, wait for their adversary to move the boulder and open the cave, and use it against their adversary. Then they could make their escape and be free, making haste to Camelot to treat Arthur.
Merlin set to work. He carefully examined the vials, trying to differentiate between the beakers by their colors and odors. When Merlin smelled the lavender colored potion, he felt a wave of exhaustion overcome him. It was almost enough to knock him out altogether. That had to be the sedating compound that he used against them. He carefully poured it into the dart chamber and screwed the needle on the top.
A loud, grating sound reached his ears.
The Black Knight had returned.
Merlin scrambled to the edge of the cave, by the mouth, hiding in the shadows. He had his hastily made dart ready in his hands. There was a chink in the armor in which he could pierce right along the collar.
With herculean strength the Black Knight shifted the boulder, allowing sunlight to stream inside the cave. Merlin kept hidden in the shadows, pressing his back against the rocky wall as the mercenary stepped inside.
With all his strength, Merlin plunged the dart through the armor's chink, and quickly ran to the opposite end of the cave.
The Black Knight growled with rage and crushed the dart in his hands. It was too late. The contents had been administered, it would only be a matter of time before he was incapacitated.
That didn't stop the mercenary. He reached for the sword in his belt and swung at Merlin, slicing a few pieces of his hair.
Merlin dodged and ran around the cave, waiting for the dart to take hold. Slowly but surely, it did. The Black Knight slowed and fell to its knees. He tumbled forward into the dirt, still. Merlin surged forward without hesitation. He ran to Arthur's side, throwing a hand over his shoulder. With a heave, he pulled the unconscious Prince up and started walking forward. Arthur's weight fell on him, but he pushed forward, leaving the Black Knight in the cave and hoping he could return with the injured Arthur to Camelot in time.
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