A/N: Alright! Lots of Followers and Favorites, a few loyal reviews. I love it! Okay so I now do requests for one-shots or short ficlets any pairing request for Merlin or Sherlock. OK OKAY! Here we go!
Disclaimer: I own Nothing!
Chapter 4: The Journey begins, and illness strikes
Merlin snuck the horses, with all the provisions and blankets they could carry, out the hidden messengers gate in the lower town. He only had to use his magic to distract two patrols, then he was safely outside the castle walls. Arthur had told him to meet him and the others at the great willow by the fresh water pond just inside the darkling woods, not that he knew who the others were. though he suspected Sirs Leon and Gwaine as the two most likely candidates, leaving only the third a mystery. Stifling a yawn, Merlin led the horses to the willow, he was the first one to arrive at the meeting place, and that made his brow furrow in concern.
He was always late, so how was it he managed to beat everyone here? -Strange- he thought wearily, suddenly the rustling of leaves caught his attention and he tilted his head, using his magic to help him focus on hearing alone, he caught the sound of approaching footsteps -Someone's coming- Merlin tensed, readying a defensive spell just in case it was bandits and not one of his companions. Gwaine burst through the bushes on his left, panting under the weight of his pack. "Merlin." he purred winking in the young mans direction as he lowered his pack to the ground at the base of the big tree.
Merlin smiled at Gwaine fondly, the kissing was nice but he doubted anything serious would happen between him and Gwaine. -But...- He thought as Gwaine swooped him into a warm embrace, kissing him deeply. -It'll be fun while it lasts.- A polite cough interrupted them and Merlin wriggled out Gwaine's arms so he could face the newcomers, Sir Leon stood just to the left of the willow, Elyan smirked at Merlin from his lord's side. Behind them stood Arthur a peculiar pained look on his face.
Merlin wasn't the only one to see the expression on the prince's face, Gwaine saw it to and his lips pulled down into a slight frown. -Can't be- He thought, if he didn't know better he'd have said the look on Arthur's face was one of heartbreak. -But surely if the prince had feelings for Merlin all this time...- Gwaine shook the disturbing thoughts from his head as they wordlessly mounted up, they were all tired having gotten little to no sleep. They headed out as the watery dawn light trickled through the trees, Arthur and Gwaine riding side by side in the front, Merlin and Elyan rode together in the center and Leon took up the rear.
They traveled until late in the afternoon , Merlin handing out bread and cheese from his saddle bag around noon. He and Elyan were all but asleep in their saddles by the time the prince decided to stop for the night, He sent Gwaine a head to find them a good spot to camp, and the Knight returned several minutes later and led them to a clearing by a small fresh water creek. Merlin felt like his body was made of lead as he slid gracelessly from his horse, if not for Arthur catching him by the elbow his would have ended up face first in the dirt. He smiled tiredly at the prince murmuring a thank you before turning to unload the prince's bedroll and the cooking supplies he'd brought with them.
Arthur watched Merlin with concern, the young man was swaying on his feet with exhaustion as he lay out the bedroll Arthur would be using, the prince also noticed that Merlin had failed to bring himself a bedroll and his lips thinned. Gwaine came to stand by the prince. "Something isn't right," He said for Arthur's ears only, indicating Elyan, who was also swaying dangerously on his feet as he lay out his and Leon's bedrolls. "With either of them." Leon added coming up on the prince's other side. Arthur nodded. "Right, all we can do I keep our eyes on them, and ease their burdens as much as possible." Gwaine snickered softly, the others looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"With out them noticing." He pointed out, Leon snorted, and Arthur winced. "Good point." they chorused, their servants were of the particularly pig-headed variety after all. While they'd been planning the other men, exhausted or not had set up camp, taken care of the horses, got a fire going and started on supper... Well Merlin started on supper, it was the unvoiced agreement during all hunting trips or patrols they'd gone on that Merlin was the cook, he was incredibly talented at it and this journey would be no different.
Leon took a seat with his back against the tree stump Elyan had settled on, his eyes were unfocused and he was trembling slightly and working hard at hiding it from his companions. Gwaine and Arthur settled on either side of Merlin on he fallen tree he was using as a place to sit, he to was trembling slightly. The three men exchanged worried looks, something definitely wasn't right here. Merlin had placed the metal bowls and spoons close to his feet, and only had to reach that far to dish up the food when it was done. He gave the prince a larger helping then everyone else and didn't take any himself.
Both Gwaine and Leon frowned, but said nothing. Gwaine just sighed and wrapped his arm around Merlin, letting the sleepy man nuzzle into his side while he ate. Elyan looked better for having eaten his dinner, his eyes were more focused and the trembling had ceased he looked only looked incredibly tired now, as though it had been weeks since he'd slept, rather then just one night. "I'll do the dishes" Leon announced, taking Elyan's empty bowl from him. He leaned down and whispered something in Elyan's hears the made him blush, then headed to the river with their bowls.
Elyan said his goodnight the others and made his way to his bedroll, he was sleep before his head hit the pack that was his pillow. Arthur ate a little under half of his stew, then nudged Merlin's knee with his own silently offering him the bowl giving him a 'I order you' look when the Merlin looked about to turn it down. Merlin gave in with a sigh, sitting up to take the bowl. Gwaine blinked at the almost... domestic scene. "Huh..." he muttered, drawing a curious look from Merlin to which he just smiled and shook his head.
Merlin was nearly asleep by the time he finished eating as soon as he was done, Gwaine snagged the bowl out of his hand taking it and the empty cooking pot down to the river where Leon waited with the little wire brush they had for scrubbing. Merlin stubbornly shook the sleepiness away, forcing himself to rise and begin re-packing the cooking supplies. Arthur rose as well, but didn't offer to help , that would tip his hand to early, he simply kept himself within arms reach.
He waited until his stubborn servant began to sway dangerously, nearly asleep on his feet only then did he do what he'd been wanted to do from the moment he realised his manservant was ill, he took the two steps needed to reach Merlin's side, swinging him up in his arms bridal style. "Hey!" Merlin gasped, his hands clutching at Arthur's shoulders in surprise. "Shut up, Merlin." He muttered his voice strained, having Merlin in his arms felt so right and yet he knew it was wrong of him to feel that way, after all his friend was courting him and he was a servant...
He shook the thoughts from his head as he deposited the semi-conscious Merlin in his bedroll, tucking the blanket around him gently. His actions didn't go unnoticed by his two knights. Together Gwaine and Leon had finished the dishes and had made their way back to the fire, they two men shared a look of raised eyebrows at their prince's odd behaviour. Leon shrugged and offered the prince a water-skin as he approached them. -Damn- Gwaine thought his lips turned down in a slight frown. -He does have feelings for Merlin.-
"Sire, where will you sleep?" Leon thought to ask as he rose to his feet "I'll take first watch tonight, better safe then sorry." The prince replied gruffly, Leon shrugged "Wake me for the second shift then." He said heading off to bed leaving Gwaine and Arthur alone by the fire. Gwaine moved so he was across the fire from Arthur and stared at the prince steadily until the blonde met het his eyes. "Gwaine." Arthur said and there was resignation in his voice, he was having a hard time hiding his feelings from himself, he ought to have known keeping it hidden from his closest friend would be impossible.
"You never told me." Gwaine accused, fighting to keep his voice even and finding it difficult, "I didn't..." Arthur's eyes flicked away, in the direction of his sleeping servant. "It wasn't until this morning I figured it out." he admitted, voice horse. "I won't... get in your way, my friend." He added blue eyes suddenly meeting Gwaine's steadily. "I swear, I will not act on my feelings so long as you continue to court him." Gwaine shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face "Arthur." He smirked widely a sudden sparkle in his brown eyes. "We've had one dinner, we never spoke of being exclusive and it is common for people to have more then one suitor at a time."
Arthur's blinked at Gwaine, "Well... yeah but you've been trying to court him for so long..." Gwaine chuckled, "Yes, and I'll marry the boy if he picks me, but it's only fair to give him the choice. You have feelings for him yes?" At the prince's weary nod he continued. "fight for him Arthur, if he chooses you so be it, it won't change my friendship with him or you. I will always be your most loyal friend." he clasped Arthur's shoulder as he made his way past. "May the best man win, sire" He bid the prince goodnight and crawled into his bedroll. Arthur sat thinking about his friends words long into the night, his eyes never leaving sleeping form of his manservant.
About a mile from the Prince's camp two darkly dressed women on horse back made their way quietly through the woods. Lady Morgana and her maid servant Gwenivere had ridden out of Camelot only an hour after the prince and his knights, being careful to keep a safe distance behind so as not to be spotted. After saying goodbye to Arthur Morgana had gone straight to her room and dressed in the dark coloured breeches and tunic she'd had Gwen make for her last year, then carefully snuck out of the palace making her way to her maidservant's house in the lower town.
When Gwen heard what she had to say and that her brother was going on the journey as well, she had agreed to help the her lady sneak out of Camelot, on the condition she accompanied her on he quest. They waited until the men had left, and then made their own arrangements. Morgana was rather surprised at Gwen's bravery, and told her so when they made camp for the night. "You didn't need to come Gwen." She offered as the girl made a simple herb stew for their dinner. "Yes, My lady... I did." Gwen replied with a smile. "Elyan is all I have left, all of the men who have taken this burden on their shoulders are my friends. I have as much reason to go as you do."
Morgana smiled, the girl had a point then she frowned her face suddenly serious. "Gwen... I must tell you something, promise me you won't tell anyone." She'd thought about it all day and she knew she could trust Gwen with her secrete, if she could trust anyone at all it would be the women who'd given herself up to bandits to protect her. "Those dreams I have, their not just nightmares. Gwen, things I've seen in my dreams, well they often come to pass." She hesitated and then added in a small voice. "I have magic Gwen." Silence rained in the small clearing where they'd made camp, and Morgana began to fear the worst.
Gwen moved to sit beside her lady, wrapping her arms around Morgana tightly. "And so you want to be there to stop whatever it is you've seen, I won't tell Milady. I swear on my fathers grave, it stays between us" Morgana felt tears sting her eyes, it was as if saying the words, and hearing the acceptance and fierce loyalty in Gwen's words had lifted a great weight from her shoulders, She wasn't alone anymore. Gwen was the only true friend she'd ever had, and she was glad the gods had seen fit to bring them together. "Thank you my friend." she said sniffling in a unladylike manner making her friend giggle. "Thank you for trusting me with such an important secrete My lady." With that they doused their fire and huddled together under a blanket for warmth, muttering their goodnights to one another.
During the night Merlin's magic fought a hard battle with the unknown illness in his bloodstream, by dawn it had won out over the darkness and when he woke an hour later he was nearly at full strength. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes wondering how and why he'd gotten into Arthur's bedroll. -Arthur!- He thought and he shot to his knees eyes frantically searching for the prince, seeing the blonde head poking out of a nest of blankets not far from his side he let out a loud sigh of relief. -Safe.-
He shook his head at his own stupidity, -'course he's safe,- his magic would have alerted him if that hadn't been the case. "Morning," A voice penetrated his thoughts. He looked to his left to find Gwaine awake and already making breakfast. "Gwaine?" He arched a brow at the Knight in silent question to which the man just shrugged. "Here." Gwaine dished up a large bowl of porridge, sprinkling cinnamon on top he handed it to Merlin. "Oh, I'm not-" He started to protest, only to be interrupted "Eat." Arthur's sleepy voice commanded from behind him, with a sigh he took the bowl and sat, No use starting a fight this early in the day after all.
Arthur stumbled sleepily over to the fire, sitting heavily on the fallen tree that served as their bench beside Merlin. Sighing tiredly he dropped his head on his servants shoulder, blue eyes sliding shut. Merlin paused with a spoon full of porridge halfway to his mouth, eyed the dozing prince out of the corner of his eye for a moment, then with a mental shrug took his first bite of breakfast. Gwaine bit his lip to keep from chuckling at the bewildered look Merlin shot his way. Gwaine dished up a large helping of porridge for the prince and had to nudge him into wakefulness before giving him the bowl.
Arthur took it with a grunt of thanks, devouring it in a matter of minutes before settling back against Merlin's shoulder and closing his eyes again. Leon was the next to join them at the fire, devouring his own bowl standing by the fire, then he collected a bowl for Elyan and went to wake him. Elyan looked much better for the nights rest if not a bit pale, when he joined them at the fire. Merlin handed out tea, carefully adding a few dried sorrel leaves to his and Elyan's to help them fight of the fever that was trying to take hold of them.
By the time they had all eaten the Prince had woken from his catnap on Merlin's shoulder, so they packed up camp and started on their way. By nightfall they'd made ,it to the end of the darkling woods, they now had to cross the maiden plains to reach the Queens pass, the smallest pah leading north through the spire mountains. They debated continuing on through the night, but Elyan's symptoms had begun to return with a vengeance and he could barely stay on his horse. Arthur wasn't feeling so well himself, he was dizzy and weak as though he hadn't slept in months, though he hid it well
Merlin's magic had finally conquered what ever illness his body had contracted, but since he didn't know what it was he had no way of curing Elyan, and he had a terrible feeling Arthur was coming down with it as well. If the looks Gwaine and Leon were exchanging were anything to go by, they'd noticed it to. Arthur's face was pale his eyes slightly unfocused, though he acted as though everything was fine, Merlin could see the fever trying to take hold of him even as he gave orders for camp to be made.
By dinner Merlin was seriously concerned for Arthur and the others, Elyan had curled up against a tree trunk a blanket wrapped tightly around his shivering form and was deeply asleep, his breathing laboured. Leon and Gwaine had begun to develop the symptoms as well, their illness seemed to be advancing slower then Elyan and Arthur's had and despite the symptoms they had gone hunting for a rabbit or pheasant to add some meat to their palate, leaving Merlin and Arthur alone but for the sleeping Elyan.
"Merlin." Arthur called from his spot by the fire, Merlin paused halfway through unpacking the things he'd need to make supper. "Yes... Sire?" He said looking over his shoulder at the feverish prince in concern, he was mildly surprised the prince was still conscious, never mind coherent enough to speak. "Come over here," Arthur said patting the ground next to him. "A moment." Merlin replied and finished collecting his things, grabbing his medicine bag, he could at least brew some feverfew, or sorrel leaves to help his companions fight off their fevers.
Carefully unloading his things near the fire Merlin took a seat at the prince's side. Arthur; who was watching him with eyes bright with fever... and something else he couldn't place. "What is it?" He asked fidgeting under the intense gaze. "I just wanted you near me." Arthur replied dreamily, leaning against Merlin's side heavily trapping his left arm. Arthur's eyes slipped closed and his breathing evened out as he fell asleep. Merlin blinked rapidly, -Must have been the fever talking- He thought absently, carefully freeing his trapped arm and slipping it around the prince's waist -Arthur would never have said something like that otherwise-
He arranged the prince into a more comfortable position against his side, glad he'd placed everything he needed to prepare the medicinal teas with in arms reach. Leon arrived back first, with two plump rabbits in hand. "Gwaine noticed smoke from a campfire just half a mile to the south of us, he went to investigate." Leon explained as he skinned his catch for Merlin to cook, if he thought it odd that his prince was curled up against his servant he kept it to himself. "I think I'll just rest for a bit." He muttered handing off the skinned rabbits to Merlin. "I'll wake you when dinner is ready then." Merlin replied.
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