Thoughts by the camp fire

The knights and Arthur reached a good clearing big enough for their horses to graze and they could see if they were about to be ambushed. As the sun set over the hills, Percival and Elyan started it cook up dinner which gave everyone a rest and really think about what they were doing. Arthur sat next to Gwaine on a log that was next to the comforting fire. Leon tended to the horses.

'I don't even know why I'm here' Arthur thought sourly. 'He betrayed me just like Morgana and my uncle. Just because Gaius says that Merlin was born with magic doesn't mean he needs to use it. Why not let it fade away over time he's had years for it to do that, his whole life in fact, if Gaius speaks the truth. We have been through everything together. He has seen the dangers of magic yet he still practices the evil art of sorcery.'

"Argh." Arthur moaned. Everyone turned to him thinking he might say something but it was all silent.

Until...

"Gwaine!" Arthur snapped making everyone of the knights jump at the sound of his voice. Gwaine turned his head to his king and have him a nod.

"How can you trust Merlin. Your the one that came up with the idea to go get him and bring him back to 'save' Camelot!" Arthur yelled

"Arthur, Merlin has been your manservant for many years. Am I correct? Gwaine asked which Arthur and the rest of the knights nodded in agreement wondering where Gwaine was going with this. "I've been thinking he has access to Gaius' chamber which contain poison which he could just put on your food on slip it into your wine and kill you. Or he could use magic to kill you while your back was turned." Gwaine continued.

As Gwaine spoke it got Arthur thinking 'maybe he's right but maybe he isn't. He could of been trying to build up our friendship so I would trust him.'

Gwaine was listing every time Merlin had saved Arthur from battles to poisoned goblets to bandits. As Gwaine was talking about the stories that obviously Leon, he or Merlin had told on pervious hunting trips when everyone exchanged stories around the camp fire. Arthur began to realise that if Merlin was evil then he would be dead but he wasn't...well obviously. It was then that Arthur knew he had to find Merlin and bring him home even if he had to get in his knees and beg for him to come home and save Camelot.

Leon was brushing Elyan's horse trying to get his mind off of everything but it only made his mind wonder further. He was asking questions like 'Why am I going to find a sorcerer that could kill us? Because he is your friend and he won't kill you he never has tried.' His mind would answer.

He got his mind to go blank by only thinking of every brush stroke on the horse's side and the leaves rustling in the breeze. When Arthur shouted "Argh." Which made his head spin round at break neck speed in surprise of his king voice which he had not heard for many was disappointed that Arthur didn't say anything so he got back to grooming the horses.

"Gwaine." Well that got Leon's attention. He turned his head to see if Gwaine had done anything but he only saw Gwaine sitting on the log next to Arthur staring at him with curiosity.

"How can you trust Merlin. Your the one that came up with the idea to go get him and bring him back to 'save' Camelot!" Arthur yelled. Leon was surprise at how many words Arthur had used and the anger that was in his voice.

"Arthur, Merlin has been your manservant for many years. Am I correct? Gwaine asked which Leon, Arthur and the rest of the knights nodded in agreement wondering where Gwaine was going with this. "I've been thinking he has access to Gaius' chamber which contain poison which he could just put on your food on slip it into your wine and kill you. Or he could use magic to kill you while your back was turned." Gwaine continued. 'He does have a point' Leon thought getting very happy that Gwaine was smarter than he looked and that he wasn't looking at Merlin's magic as an evil but he was thinking of his many times Merlin COULD of killed Arthur but didn't.

Then Gwaine started listing all the stories that he had enjoyed from previous camping trips focusing on Merlin's role in every single one. And that's how when Leon truly believed that Merlin was going to help them and he would help him in every way that he could.

Percival may not talk much but he thought about every action before him did them, that's why he is here finding Merlin because he and Merlin were good friends and he has never tried to kill him or and of his fellow knights and wouldn't even think about trying to kill Arthur they were just too closer friends for him ever to kill him.

He listened closely to Gwaine's conversion with Arthur becoming even more sure that he won't rest until Merlin is found and he is living in the castle like normal well as close to normal as possible. Percival drifted off to the conversion he had with the round table focusing on the comment Gwaine had said about the man at the tavern who made Gwaine's drink never run dry.

He was quickly snapped out of it when a drop of chicken soup land onto his hand, burning it. He stirred it up hoping that he hadn't over cooked the chicken and served it in to the bowls that were laying on the forest floor. It was all silent now as Percival got up and gave a plate to everyone then finally getting his own.

'How does Merlin do this plus the horses I will never know.' Percival thought as his stomach growled echoing off of the cliff face that was situated behind him.

Elyan was as angry as Arthur he may not of known Merlin as well as the others but he was extremely annoyed by the fact that Merlin had magic the very thing that killed his father. He was thinking about the goofy manservant that couldn't walk without tripping over something even air. Elyan just couldn't put the two together magic and Merlin they just didn't fit like a jigsaw puzzle or a too small ring.

But like everyone but Percival and Gwaine he was moved by Gwaine's speech and was seeing from a different point of view which opened Eylan's eyes and made him realise that just because Merlin has magic doesn't mean that we should forget about every thing he has done for us and not done in the killing case.

All the knights slept soundly knowing that they were doing the right thing and Melrin was going to help them and come back home to live his days in the safety of the palace after a big long chat about his magic.

Merlin woke to someone shaking him, he groaned and sat up. Once his vision had cleared he saw a young boy perhaps of eight staring at him with worry. 'Why is he worried.' Merlin thought but that's when it hit him this was the eldest son of a women he helped during he brith of her fourth son. Merlin jumped up knowing that something was probably wrong with the newly born child.

The little boy didn't need to speak to tell Merlin that it was urgent. It was in the little boy's eyes they were filled with tears, worry and hopelessness. Merlin quickly tacked up Apollo grabbed the reins and ran outside and up the hill with the young boy following him. Merlin picked up the boy from under the armpits and hoisted him up onto the saddle once the boy was settled Merlin climbed up behind him and he galloped off to the house.

The wind was whipping against their faces and water was splashing them as Apollo ran through the river surrounding the village. The cantered up to the house and came to a quick stop. Dismounting from Apollo then grabbing the boy they ran into the house to only be greeted by a family surrounding a bed. Merlin pushed his way through the people the see the mother sick with a cold but had worked up a fever.

She had given birth very recently and with the cold and fever her life was in the balance. Merlin grabbed the bucket of water and cloth and placed it on her sweaty forehead. Merlin ran outside and grabbed a few herbs from Apollo's saddle pack that would help and ran back inside.

He crushed the herbs into a thick orange paste which looked very similar to the troll potion he had to drink those many years ago. He knew if he didn't put an enchantment on the paste the mother would die so that's what he did. The whispered a few selected words that he had remembered from Gaius' magic book he had finished readying some time ago. He put the herbs down the women's throat and suddenly he breathing slowed and the heart rate came back to normal.

"She should be fine now." Merlin said to the family. He received many thanks and hand shakes even a few hugs from the younger children. Once he had finished being congratulated he mounted Apollo and trotted out of the village.

He slowed to a walk and stopped at the river they had ridden over just a few minutes ago to get a drink for both parties. While Apollo slurped up the cool liquid Merlin cupped his hands together and drank. Once they were both happy they rode to the hill on their cave and Merlin laid down while Apollo munched on the grass.

A few hours later Merlin and Apollo went inside to the cave and went to sleep. Only to be woken up by a shout of his name by a person who he thought he would never hear from again.

Sorry that it is shorter than the other chapters but I had writers block. PLEASE review.