An eventful, penultimate chapter, enjoy!
Arthur didn't realize he had dozed off on the raft, but he awakened to the sun beating down upon them. Thankfully, the river spray kept them both cool.
"Merlin?" Arthur groaned, sitting up slowly, minding his arm.
"Afternoon," his servant replied, staring at the horizon.
"Where are we?"
"I don't know," Merlin sighed, "Just hoping this path leads us back to Camelot."
"It should. Father always told me, even when I was a boy, that if I were lost in the woods that I should follow the river home."
They were silent for a while, just listening to the sound of the waves.
"How's your arm?" Merlin asked, "I applied more poultice while you slept."
"Better," he responded, "I can manage the pain, though I believe your poultice has fended off the infection. I no longer feel feverish."
"Good," Merlin nodded, relieved, "we'll get you to Gaius and he'll heal you right up."
They sat in silence again.
"It's rather peaceful," Merlin commented, observing the nature.
"Yes," Arthur nodded, "if one good thing came out of this hunting expedition is that this view is exceptional."
"The one good thing?"
"Merlin, you can't seriously think that anything else has been good these last few days."
"I would disagree."
"What?!"
"I'd say I have learned a lot about myself throughout this experience. And a lot about you as well."
"Enlighten me."
"Arthur, you're prized possession is your sword arm. It's a symbol of your strength and power and future rite as King of Camelot. But look! You've injured it yet you've still managed to thwart the Black Knight at every turn. I believe that is a feat worthy of praise."
Arthur dwelled on the thought for a moment before speaking, "I will say that you haven't been your complete bumbling self throughout this expedition."
"Oh, really? And how much did it pain you to say that?" Merlin laughed.
"Don't push your luck," Arthur smiled, "regardless, Merlin, you've proven yourself a rather brave, resourceful warrior."
"Thank you, Arthur."
The kind sentiment didn't last for long, as Arthur's eyes widened in excitement, "Look!"
Merlin's head turned towards the horizon, "Finally! We've reached Camelot!"
Both Merlin and Arthur hooted and cheered as their long, arduous journey was coming to an end. They'd finally be able to treat Arthur's injured arm, Gaius would help Merlin get his magic back, and return to normal life.
Just a bit longer, Merlin, he thought to himself, you're almost home.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Here!" Percival called the trailing knights, "Come quick!"
The others ushered around him as they observed a small clearing on the river shore. After trekking for another few hours, the knights had finally caught ground. They had been able to make the distance much faster than Merlin carrying an injured Arthur and being forced to stop and rest often. The four knights were fully well, energized, and determined. They had scaled the side of the waterfall that Merlin and Arthur hurtled down, and they had followed the side of river for miles.
They were all sweating and panting, but all still had their determination pushing them forward.
"What's this?" Leon asked, "Pieces of driftwood and vine?"
In fact, they had stumbled upon the site that Merlin and Arthur created their raft.
"Do you think they were here?" Gwaine inquired.
"It's our only lead," Elyan nodded, "and this river leads back to Camelot."
"I believe they're using the river as their navigator back to the kingdom," Percival said, "without a compass or knowledge of their location, this is the easiest path to use to return."
"Then that's good news," Gwaine spoke, "they're on the right track."
Leon's face darkened, "That could mean they're also leading something back to Camelot."
None of them spoke for a moment, allowing the thought to sink in.
"Then let us follow," Elyan sighed, all of them starting their trek again.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Here!" Merlin paddled with his hands to the shore. Arthur tried helping him by padding with his one good hand. They slowly directed themselves to the shore.
Arthur was laughing with relief, "We're here! I know this forest!"
"We're close to Camelot," Merlin's smile was from ear to ear.
"Come on," Arthur felt reinvigorated. They left their raft at the shore and resumed their walking. Arthur slung his arm over Merlin's shoulder as they hobbled along. Both were dirty, exhausted, and panting, but felt a new light in their eyes as home was nearby.
Camelot's steeples towered over the trees in the distance.
"I imagine it's only a few miles away-"
THUD!
Merlin crumpled to the floor. Pain erupted in his skull.
Arthur stumbled when Merlin lost his balance, but managed to gain his footing.
He turned around, eyes filled with horror, as a towering black figure glowered down at them.
It was the Black Knight, but he seemed inhuman. He was eight feet tall, his muscles were bulging his obsidian armor apart, his sword was raised, he was dripping wet, and blood dripped from beneath his armor at the wound Merlin inflicted.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouted, running to protect him.
With a swat of his hand, the Black Knight collided with Arthur. The Prince went flying across the ground. His chest stung painfully, but he breathed heavily, trying to ignore the flaring pain in his abdomen.
The Black Knight towered over Merlin, who was trying to crawl away. He was still bleary and dazed, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead.
Arthur knew his sword arm was useless, but he needed to think of something fast. He saw a fallen branch beside him. He heaved it up with his good arm and threw it, colliding with the point of the sword so it jerked away from Merlin's body and stuck into the dirt beside him to the hilt.
"Merlin, run!" Arthur called again. Thankfully, his servant had found his footing and was starting to make an escape.
The Black Knight roared, full of rage, and removed his sword from the dirt. Merlin ran to Arthur's side, both of them tearing through the trees at a sprint. The chase was not over yet.
"I thought we'd lost him!" Arthur shouted, "How did he find us!?"
"He must have followed us!" Merlin's eyes were filled with panic, "We must have led him straight to Camelot!"
"He cannot reach Camelot! If he does, he'd tear us apart! That thing is a monster, it's not human!"
"It must be the darts! He's injected himself with all kinds of magical enhancement potions!"
"Then how do we stop him!? He must have a weakness!"
Possibilities ran through Merlin's head. His magic was no help. He could call upon the dragon, but that would expose himself and he also would not be able to. His dragonlord abilities were one in the same with his magic. We didn't have the power within him because his magic was still subdued. He needed to think practically again. They'd tried injuring him, they'd tried tricking him, they'd tried distancing themselves from him by jumping off a cliff, but this monster was a mercenary. He was adamant upon catching his prey, and they had no chance while he was still in this form.
"His chink in the armor!" Merlin had an idea formulating, "I managed to incapacitate him when I used a dart that disarmed him! If I can create another serum that can reverse all the effects and we inject him in the chink, then we can get him back to human form!"
"Then it will be two against one, the odds will be even!" Arthur nodded, "And he's injured, we will have the advantage!"
"He keeps the potions in the knapsack at his belt! You distract him, and I'll retrieve it!" Merlin gave Arthur his sword.
Arthur warily grabbed the hilt in his weaker hand. He didn't look scornfully at his dominant, sword-fighting hand. It was now or never, he would have to perform without it.
"Right," the moment of doubt on his face disappeared, "I will distract him. You create the potion."
They heard a strong roar behind them. Both of them raced back into the trees, towards the Black Knight.
Merlin felt his fear disappear. Arthur stood just as fearless beside him. They would take on this monster together, like always. Immediately, the Black Knight faced them, towering over the two like a giant. A wimpy servant and an injured knight, yet both looked as fearsome as ever. They went in opposite directions. Merlin dove to the right, Arthur to the left, as the Black Knight hacked his sword down towards them. Arthur deflected the strike with his own sword. His weaker hand was not as strong, but he was a skilled fighter who could still hold his own in a duel.
Merlin, meanwhile, needed to find a way to get the pouch from his belt. Arthur was parrying and dodging, rolling, and turning. Thankfully, the Black Knight's body was betraying him slightly. He was not used to this large, clumsy, towering form. Arthur struck his helmet. The obsidian headpiece dented, revealing crazed, maniac eyes filled with unthinkable rage and determination.
With his back turned and Arthur managing to fight for himself, Merlin ran and jumped atop the Black Knight's back. He wrapped his arms around the mercenary's neck. It didn't do much in incapacitating him, as his armor protected him, but Merlin used him as leverage to reach an arm down to grab the pouch.
When the knight felt Merlin on his back, he turned wildly. His sword was flailing, trying to reach backwards and hit Merlin. Merlin needed to duck a few times to avoid the blade. Finally, he managed to grab a handful of the pouch's cloth and he revealed himself. As he crashed to the floor, the fabric of the knapsack ripped, falling with him.
Before the Black Knight could focus on Merlin, Arthur threw stones at his helmet to irritate him.
"After me, you coward! I'm the real knight!"
The Black Knight growled with rage, turning his full attention on Arthur.
Merlin opened up the potion bag and was sifting through the sack, trying to find the correct one. When he found the sedating potion, he smelled them. This time, he had to find one to reverse the effects and there was no specific odor to them. He needed one quick. There was some in all colors and shades. He recalled the purple one being the sedative, so he removed that one. From the chink in the armor, Merlin recalled the Black Knight's neck veins bulging with black fluid. It looked like a poisonous toxin was pumping through him. Finally, Merlin saw one clear potion. It looked like water, but it was locked and sealed tight. There were ancient symbols on the side of the glass. He didn't know how to explain it, it seemed ...clean.
It might not be the one, but he had to try something.
Merlin managed to steal a glance at Arthur. He was sweating, his sword only half raised, as his arm shook with exhaustion. He's eyes looked unfocused and bleary. The Black Knight raised his sword again, knocking it against Arthur's.
The impact was so strong, it sent Arthur flying into the forest. He collided with a tree trunk painfully before falling to the ground.
Merlin quickly poured the contents of the white potion in the dart capsule. He closed the cap tightly, as the Black Knight raised his sword high above a fallen Arthur. The Prince was unconscious against the ground.
"NO!" Merlin shouted, sprinting towards the knight. He jumped from a rock, sailing high in the air, as he clung onto the Black Knight's back and stuck the dart into the chink of the armor. The dart pierced the mercenary's neck, the contents injected into his bloodstream.
With a piercing howl, the Black Knight reached back, gripping Merlin's shirt collar. Merlin tried to dig his nails into the armor, to keep from being pulled off, but the enhanced knight was stronger. He held Merlin in front of him, like a trapped bird, and laughed.
Merlin's heart fell. The potion didn't work. He was trapped, tired, and spent. There was no way he could protect Arthur.
"You fool!" the Knight spat, "Now that your precious Arthur is finished, I will rule Camelot. The great kingdom will be mine, and your Prince's destiny will be crushed."
"Who are you?" Merlin stammered, "Who do you work for?"
"My lord is powerful and will be very pleased with my work. Think upon it, sorcerer, and you will understand my master's identity," he smiled, "but for now, you will perish by my sword."
Merlin closed his eyes. Now was his time. He never had the chance to say goodbye to Gaius, to Gwen, to his mother, to Arthur….
You have done well, Merlin, he thought to himself, even without your magic, you tried your hardest.
The Black Knight raised his sword.
An agonizing shout pierced the air. Merlin opened his eyes to see the Black Knight's features contorted with pain.
"What...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!"
In his blinding rage, the Black Knight threw Merlin roughly to the dirt. His head hit the ground hard, his world turning in circles. Black dots spotted his vision. He saw the assassin, gripping his dented helmet in pain, buckling over.
Arthur was unconscious beside him, and Merlin felt it creeping upon him too. His eyes slid closed, just sounds reaching his ears.
Last thing he heard were shouts and calls, swords clashing, yells of pain, and soft hushed voices.
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