Merlin crouched down in front of the Druid woman and helped her pick up the herbs that surrounded her feet.
"Thankyou, I…" she looked up and realised who he was, her face turning to an expression of respect, if not a little embarrassment. "Emrys, there is no need. I can manage…"
"Dawn, Right? You name?"
"I… Yes… But why?"
"My friend over there, Sir Bedivere, seems very taken with you. It could not hurt to talk… I know you had a happy conversation last time he was here…"
"I… Emrys I…"
"Please, It's Merlin…"
"Merlin… He is a good man. That I can see. Pure of heart, brave, loyal…"
"Yet you avoid him?"
"There are a lot of… differences between us."
"That should not stop you. Believe me, I've heard… well, seen stranger… Arthur was royalty, and Queen Guinevere? She was a servant." He paused, before continuing. "I do not intend to make you uncomfortable, but I can see that your avoidance of him causes him pain. As his friend, I could not let it continue without trying to talk to you."
Dawn looked at him, a mixture of emotions on her face, and nodded at him.
"Emrys." She said, respectfully, before turning and heading off towards the back of the cave.
Merlin did not complain about the use of the name. Something in her gaze had stopped him. Instead, he let it go, and head over to Arthur, who had joined Bedivere and Kaden.
At the hopeful expression on Bedivere's face, Merlin looked at him, helplessly, and shrugged. His friends face fell, and Merlin felt guilty, though he knew it wasn't his fault. Turning to Arthur, he told him of what had occurred to him a few moments before.
"Arthur… The Knights on patrol on the Northern Border of Camelot… They are long overdue a switchover. They have been out there for nigh on a month now. That's two weeks longer than an average patrol. If the druids decide to accept your offer, then it would be a decent time to have a switchover take place." Bedivere interrupted, agreeing with Merlin.
"The post is less than a day's ride from here. An update couldn't hurt. We haven't received a report in several days… And if you keep Peredur out there any longer, he will be worse than Gwaine when he gets back…"
Merlin grinned at this. After the young Knights actions in the battle against Morgana, Arthur had placed him in command of the small patrol group, eight strong, who were on rotation to patrol the Borders at the North of Camelot. He had been eager for the job, but he was bored easily, and they were going to hear hell about it when he got back… His musings were cut short by Arthur's voice.
"That's a good point. A report is overdue. If we left now, we could reach the outpost before nightfall. Then return in the morning… It would give the druid people time to think over my offer of protection…"
"All the same, I think that someone should stay here. " Merlin said, the shrugged at the questioning look, saying "We need someone to gather the details on the Brotherhood. Anything and everything. And to keep updated on the Druids progress. If one of us knows, it would take less time to explain." Kaden interrupted at this.
"I could stay. If anything truly important happens, I could telepathically link with you. I'm not strong enough to cover such a distance for a great deal of time, but a few seconds should be all I'll need."
Merlin looked at Arthur, who nodded, slowly.
"It's a good plan. All the same, I think that we need someone here to represent Camelot. It may help them realise how serious we are about the proposal. Bedivere?"
"I can stay Sire. It's not a problem. As Kay said, he can alert you about anything of importance. And I get the feeling that Peredur will be keen on Seeing Merlin again."
Kaden had raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but his face had split into a small smile. A nickname was considered a sign of acceptance amongst the Knights of Camelot. Arthur grinned at Bedivere's last words, then turned to see Merlin looking rather eager too. Since the battle, and in the week before Peredur had left, the two had become firm friends, and he knew Merlin would be looking forward to seeing him.
"So… It's settled?" He made it a question, and they three met him with nods. Then Merlin grinned.
"Arthur? You deal with the horses. I'll inform Aglain."
Arthur turned to him, incredulous.
"Did you just give me an order?"
"No Sire," His manservant replied, hiding his grin behind a mock-outraged face. "Why would I ever do such a thing? We all know that it's you who gives the orders around here."
"… Good."
"Now go and see to the horses." Before Arthur could react, Merlin had left, leaving Bedivere and Kaden hiding smirks at the indignant expression on Arthur, who was trying to hide his own smile.
Aglain had had no problem with their plan, and Arthur and Merlin had been on their way before the hour was out. Now, they had been riding for almost three hours. With about two hours still ahead of them, Arthur called for a rest, and Merlin was too tired to say no. Taking a drink from a water skin, Merlin allowed himself to relax for a moment, releasing the power he kept pent up inside him, and letting it soothe all of his ache and pains. Though he would never admit it, his recent wounds had taken a bigger toll on him that Gaius had realised. Coupled with the task of keeping the core of his power reined in, as Gaius was unsure of what it could do if truly let loose, it eventually added up. Flexing his muscles, Merlin opened his eyes and noticed Arthur looking at him, a concerned expression on his face.
"Merlin? You okay?"
"Yeah, course… I'm me…" Merlin pasted a wide, innocent grin on his face, and Arthur rolled his eyes.
"And don't we all know it… Ready to move on?"
"Yup…" Merlin got to his feet, and mounted his horse, ignoring the expression that Arthur was giving him. He didn't need another lecture on what was good for him. He got enough of those from Gaius. They rode in a companionable silence for some time, before Arthur spoke up.
"Merlin? I've been thinking. The Knights need more training when it comes to Magic. Heck, so do I. They would have wiped the floor with us if you hadn't been there."
Merlin nodded, thinking it through.
"You're right. But we may not have a lot of time…"
"We can get started. But how exactly do we do that? I mean, we've practised dodging magic, but there isn't really much else… Is there?"
"Not really… But Maybe… I don't know. Let me think about it."
"Don't think too hard. You've hurt yourself quite a lot lately as it is…"
"Hey…!"
Their arrival at the outpost was greeted with hearty hugs and slaps on the back. The hug that Peredur had pulled Merlin into had had him struggling to breath, and He had had to join in the laughter as he saw how red his face was.
After Arthur had related everything that had happened, Peredur informed him that Sir Erec and Sir Owain had left two days ago with a report to Camelot. They must have missed them by about a day.
Night fell quickly over the outpost, and, as Arthur a down for the night, he couldn't help but notice that Merlin really looked tired. He hadn't noticed it before, but the wounds he had sustained recently must have been taking more out of him that he had been saying. Resolving to tell Gaius, and keep an eye on his friend, Arthur rolled over. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard stirring to his right, and saw Merlin getting to his feet. Leaving him a few seconds to get out of sight, Arthur rolled to his feet and followed. He had only to turn a corner to see Merlin sat on a small rock, his head resting against a tree.
"And what exactly are you doing out here?"
Merlin started, then threw him a sheepish grin.
"Tired but can't sleep. Ironic right?"
"Yup… But you really do look like you need a good night's rest. Seriously…"
"I slept well last night…"
"And have been getting worse all day." A suspicion formed in Arthurs head. "Merlin… How many different tonics and things have you been taking lately?"
At the young man's silence, Arthur had to pull back from cuffing him around the head.
"Merlin you idiot. How are you supposed to get any way better when you won't even let yourself heal?"
"Is that concern Arthur?"
"Damn right. Does Gaius know?"
"… No. But I think he suspects…"
"Well he'll know for sure soon."
"Arthur, you can't let him know. He'd never let me out of his sight…"
"Maybe that's a good thing. When we get back to Camelot, you are taking a day or two off. And you will not be leaving your room."
"Seriously? You are confining me to my room? I'm not a child…"
"Well you act like one sometimes…" Arthur muttered,
"What was that Sire?"
"Nothing at all. Now are you coming back inside? Or do I have to stay out here?"
"Sire?"
"Where the hell are you sleeping? Because I'm going to make sure you do."
"Wow, I don't believe I have ever seen such an outward display of concern for my wellbeing from you in… well, ever…"
"Merlin!"
"Fine. I'll come inside… Jeez."
As Merlin lay down again he felt himself smiling. He had some pretty damn good friends… even if they could be… be… stone-brains sometimes. As he felt himself falling to sleep, he couldn't drop the smile. Stone brains. Now that was new…
When Merlin woke in the morning, it was to an empty room. Yawning, he cleared his head and stepped outside. Right into mid-morning sunlight.
"Bout time you got up Merlin, we were ready to ride over an hour ago." Arthur was sat by the saddled horses, and the other knights were sat some distance away.
"You should have woken me…"
"Nah, you needed to sleep. Anyway, we've been discussing who should stay until we can get a new patrol out here.
"Well? Have you decided?"
"Sir Cador , Sir Breuner and Sir Daniel have decided to stay. We should be able to get a new group out here within a couple of days and they should be okay till then. As it is, I want to get back to Camelot. See what mess Gwaine's made of your whole 'Birthday celebration' thing."
Merlin groaned,
"He wouldn't do that… Right?"
"Come on Merlin, you know him as well as I do…"
"I swear… I'm going to… turn him into a toad… or turn anything he drinks to water… or something…"
"The water ideas quite good…" Peredur said, grinning as he walked over, "But being a toad may improve his looks…"
Arthur nodded, keeping his face serious,
"Indeed. It may be in the best interests of the kingdom to have Gwaine unable to get himself to the Tavern…"
Merlin shook his head, grinning at the thought of Gwaine being a toad, and moved around Arthur.
"So… Are we going or not?"