Author's Note: Wow has it been a long time. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (Happy Holidays to those who don't celebrate Christmas). I hope you guys have had a great holiday season! Anyone seen the new Sherlock episode, cause I'm freaking out right now - any theories?
Anyways Special Shoutout to those who reviewed you guys are hella awesome and you make me smile. Guest, Linorien, Mersan123, and Amelia Avelin.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
Ok on to the story!
The sun was still tucked behind the horizon, nothing but a dull grey gracing the sky. There was barely any light when Gwaine found Merlin's frail body. There was barely any light when Merlin's eyes glowed a bright gold.
Gwaine had found his body curled up, a long cape protecting him from the harsh weather.
The knight went to scream, shout for help, when he made eye contact with the boy and a brilliant gold burst from his eyes. Gwaine's voice died in his throat. He went to speak, to say anything, but nothing came.
Merlin moved a frail finger to his lips, indicating silence.
"I need help," a croaky whisper spoke, the noise foreign to the knight's ears, "Please Gwaine."
Gwaine nodded, still under Merlin's spell and unable to talk. He dropped to Merlin's side and pulled the cape from over his body. Blood stained his tunic, yet when he pulled Merlin's shirt up there was no broken skin. Still, at least two of Merlin's ribs were broken, and bruising kissed his torso.
"If I give you your voice back, promise not to shout." Merlin's weary voice brought Gwaine back to the present. He nodded in response. "Maelan."
A presence filled Gwaine, and yet even with his voice back he was speechless.
"Merlin-" you're hurt… where did all this blood come from … why are you out here … you have magic.
"I need help," Merlin said this as he grabbed a strange colored pendant around his neck. He nodded to a large tree a couple of yards away. "Take me over there." Without question Gwaine helped his friend up and over to the tree. The moment the frail boy touched the tree, the pendant began to glow and the cut on his forehead began to seal up. A small yelp came from him as he was shot back, Gwaine catching his fall. Merlin chuckled slightly, "thanks." His voice already sounded much fuller.
Leaves began to fall from the tree, yellows and browns.
"You have magic."
Merlin shifted uncomfortable, taking a step away from Gwaine.
"Let me explain-"
"I won't tell the others."
Merlin's expression changed, now confused as he stared at his friend.
"But-"
"I never thought magic was bad Merlin, just people, if you aren't ready to tell the others then I cannot tell them for you."
A bright smile fell onto Merlin's hollowed face.
"You do have to answer me one thing," Merlin nodded, "How did you get out here, and how are you standing, when I checked earlier your torso was completely bruised and swollen."
Merlin looked down at the pendant around his neck.
"I was injured protecting Arthur -"
"He knows?"
Merlin shook his head, "That's why I had this cape,' he directed to the cloak crumpled up on the floor. "And I tried to get away, but My head was hurt pretty bad and I collapsed out here, then this pendant, it saved me started healing me." He wrapped his hand around it, " I'm still not fully healed," to show this he pulled up his shirt to show that two of his ribs were slightly disoriented out and his skin was still purple. "Gaius can do the rest, It was too much power from the tree, even for me to handle."
"It healed you.''
"The magic from the Earth healed me, the pendant channeled this power."
Gwaine nodded in understanding.
"We should head back now, they'll come looking for us."
"We found the princess a while back, he said he lost you in the wood, we then spread out to find you."
Merlin bent down to pick up the cape, he held the soft fabric in his hands, turning it over.
"I need to hide this, Arthur can't see I have it."
Gwaine reacted quickly, turning towards the tree and taking the cloak from his friend. Gwaine reached up and placed it in a small hole carved out from the tree. He traced his hands over a black mark in the shape of Merlin's hand.
"The tree's marked from your magic, I'll come back and get it before we leave tomorrow."
Merlin took the pendent from his neck and placed it inside the tree as well.
Now a small smile crept onto his face, "Thank you."
They began their walk back, initially in silence.
"How long?"
Merlin looked at his friend confused.
"How long since what?"
"Since you've had magic."
A chuckle fell from Merlin's lips.
"I was born with magic Gwaine, my mother had to chase floating objects around our house."
"Then why come to Camelot?"
"My mother couldn't have me stay in the town, people were getting suspicious and if they ever found out-" Merlin shrugged, "My mother sent me to her uncle, Gaius, said that he would protect me and get me a steady job."
"And you've lived there ever since." Merlin nodded.
"I wasn't supposed to work under Arthur, in fact when I got the job we hated each other." Merlin smiled, remembering their first meeting. "I saved his life and as a reward, Uther gave me the job as his servant."
A silence fell between them again.
"Why haven't you told anyone?"
Merlin looked up, a sad smile on his face. "I was scared, I'm still not sure how anyone will react. My entire life I've had to run from who I really am, fearful of the consequences. It's strange to me that I'm even having this conversation with you."
"You know you can always trust me, mate, right?" Merlin nodded.
The rest of the trip was filled with silence, nothing but the leaves crunching beneath their feet.
The sun was now peeking over the horizon, kissing the sky with deep purples and bright pinks.
"They'll find him," Elyan reassured, "Merlin always turns up."
As Arthur went to reply, two men came stumbling into them.
"Merlin!" Arthur shot up, before wincing at the pain in his side, "Where have you been?"
Gwaine opened his mouth but Merlin was the first to speak.
"I was following you, you had gone mad searching for something, when I lost you a blond woman approached me. She figured out pretty quickly that I was travelling with you and knocked me unconscious."
Gwaine nodded, "I found him on the floor back a couple hundred meters."
"You're bleeding?" The king looked at Merlin's bloodied shirt.
"I'm fine," Merlin tried to chuckle, quickly changing the topic, "Did you worry about me?"
The King instantly took a step back, "Of course not Merlin," this caused Merlin to smile.
"Where are the others?" This was Gwaine, cutting into the conversation.
"Leon stayed back at the camp, Mordred and Percival are out searching for this idiot, I told them if they didn't find him before night to meet back by the camp."
"They should be back any minute now," Elyan said nodding to the sky.
They walked back to the camp together, nothing but small talk between the four.
Leon was sitting on a log feeding twigs to the fire. When he noticed the knights and Merlin walk in he stood up.
"I'm fine Leon," Merlin said before finding a seat against a tree.
"Any signs of the other two?" This was the king, Leon shook his head as a response. "Merlin, if you're really okay you're coming on a walk with me." The king turned to his friend, a sly smile on his face. Merlin stood up, trying not to look too much in pain.
"Sire is that the best-"
"We won't be long, just searching for the other two."
Merlin gave Gwaine an uneasy look before going with the king.
Arthur didn't say anything for a while, he just walked leading Merlin. When they got far enough away from the camp Arthur quickly turned facing his servant.
"Emrys visited me," His spoke quickly.
"When?" Merlin tried his best to show some kind of feeling, "Did you see his face?"
"He saved me from the blond witch you were attacked by," Arthur brushed his hand through his hair pacing, " and No he was wearing a cloak, I couldn't see under it."
Merlin let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"He had a necklace one."
"A necklace?" Merlin questioned, unsure of what to say.
"Yes- it was green and glowing." The king pursed his lips, his eyes opening wide, "Like an emerald."
"He was using an emerald?" Merlin was not utterly confused by the king's awakening.
"I'm not sure if he was using it, but he was definitely wearing it." Arthur turned to look at Merlin, "If I find the possessor if this pendant, I can find Emrys and talk to him, try to understand him." The king looked at the floor, "He saved me, a sorcerer," The King
A couple of moments passed of silence, "They'll be waiting for us." The King snapped up to Merlin.
"He's one of them you know." Merlin looked up.
"Do you have any idea who?"
The king shook his head, "It has to be."
Merlin nodded, turning to head back to the camp.
Elyan was the only one awake when they returned, the rest of the knights tried to get as much shut eye as they could. The king nodded to Elyan before going to his designated section and falling asleep, Merlin did the same.
It was early when the King heard motion, way too early for them to start getting ready. The sky was still pitch black, a small crescent moon didn't illuminate much light. Arthur saw a man's figure stand, creeping off away from the camp. Arthur instantly got to his feet, following the figure.
Arthur followed him for a while, through the labyrinth of trees, until he stopped at a clearing. Arthur ducked behind a tree, peeking his head out just enough to see the man. The man reached into the hole in the tree across from Arthur, pulling out a dark cloak. When he reached back in a green pendant came out with his hand. The gem glowed, outlining Gwaine's face.
Arthur instantly ducked behind the tree, hearing his knight rush past him.
Don't you love how ignorant Arthur is?! I'm actually going to try to update soon this time, maybe I will actually be able to do it?
Anyways thanks for reading! I would really appreciate it if you favorited/followed or reviewed.
If anyone wants to talk pm me, I love meeting people. (This includes discussing Sherlock theories because I am always up for that)
Anyways, Thank You guys so so much! -Olivia