A/N: Okay so it feels like it's been weeks since my last update, even though I know it's only been a few days. Still I had a hard time with this chapter. I was having major writer's block issues as I'm sure many of you can relate to. Either way here it is and I hope that it's not too terrible ;)
Chapter 10
Previously
Arthur and Merlin looked at the door when a guard burst in saying that a patrol had been attacked. Arthur cursed under his breath and whispered "Morgana" Arthur looked up at the guards and told him to make sure all the knights were ready. Morgana was coming.
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Arthur looked at Merlin "Merlin I've got to-I'll just be-I'll be right-I have to-" Arthur got increasingly frustrated as he continued to try to convey why he had to leave Merlin.
Merlin smiled "Arthur" Arthur looked up and Merlin with his eyes sad that he couldn't continue to talk with Merlin and be with him, but Arthur could see that Merlin understood. "Go. I'll be right here when you return. Obviously I'm not going anywhere." Merlin tried to reassure Arthur but he was also making a joke as he gestured to his injured body.
Arthur nodded in agreement and smiled sadly before darting out of the room and towards the council.
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Everyone in the city was in disarray. They had heard of the patrol being attacked and since that was a day ago, and they were only just now getting this information, they had no idea when Morgana would be upon them. The stress of the city was visible from the castle, and it took its toll on Arthur and the council members. Arthur was worried for his people and he was worried for the city. They had little time to prepare and Arthur didn't know things would work out. Morgana had come at least close to defeating Camelot every time she had attacked, and a few times she had nearly taken the citadel. Arthur knew that since he didn't know where she was now, or how many men she had with her, he felt useless. He felt as though he could do nothing but wait for her to attack.
"Sire?" Leon put a hand on Arthur's shoulder. The concern in his voice and eyes was visible and it brought comfort to Arthur. "You've done all you can. She took the patrol by surprise and it didn't seem as though she had been planning anything. You had no way of knowing..."
Arthur shook his head "I should have known. I should have known when we escaped her in the forest that she would come back after us. She has had the advantage Leon. We don't know much about where she is, we don't know anything about her men, or how many men she has with her, or at her 'fortress', whereas she has even lived in Camelot before. She knows these walls like the back of her hand, and she knows many ways into Camelot that I'm sure I have never known. She grew up here and so did I, but I never tried to escape. She didn't want to be here at first, Leon. She didn't want to be here so she would try to escape. Father would find her out in the forest and nobody would know how she got there. She could teleport into this room right now and I would have no warning. She has the upper hand and it hate it. I hate being in the dark." Arthur sighed. "But I suppose you're right. There's nothing more I can do now. I just hope that what we've done is enough."
Leon gave a reassuring squeeze on Arthur's shoulder "It will be, sire. It will be."
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Arthur was afraid. Although he wouldn't admit it to a single living soul, he was afraid. Arthur knew that Morgana would strike, but he was no fool. She would wait, bide her time until Arthur grew lenient or made a mistake somewhere. The patrol attack was just a warning. He knew she would never attack while they were ready. Arthur was still very afraid though. Despite having a very vague idea of when she would attack, Arthur was afraid because he didn't know. He was guessing, and this was never reliable. He had to know for the people, so they could be ready, so they could be prepared.
This wasn't the only reason Arthur was nervous. He was nervous because this was what happened when they got captured. Arthur couldn't protect the one person with him. He couldn't protect the one person who was loyal to him above everyone else. Arthur couldn't protect Merlin. They same was true, even here in Camelot. Arthur knew that Merlin would be safe as long as Morgana didn't come to Camelot, but that was inevitable. Arthur knew it would happen; it was just a matter of time. Arthur was nervous that Merlin still hadn't recovered. He knew it would take a long time for him to recover physically and mentally. Arthur also knew that if Merlin didn't trust Arthur to protect him, he would refuse his protection and Merlin could end up hurt or worse. Arthur couldn't bear to see his friend dead because of a mistake he made. Merlin was beginning to trust him again, but he had said so himself; it wouldn't happen overnight. Arthur was nervous and everyone could feel it. He, and everyone else in the kingdom, was constantly looking over their shoulders and making sure they were on their toes and prepared for anything. They didn't want to be caught unawares.
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Merlin was nervous. He could tell Arthur was nervous, and this made Merlin nervous. Merlin had asked Arthur not to keep any secrets about Morgana and any plans she had made, from Merlin, but Merlin also knew that nobody had any idea when or where she would attack. Well, they pretty much knew she would attack the city, but they couldn't be sure where she would come from or when. Everyone was nervous because it was like being ambushed by bandits. You almost never saw them coming, or if you did, it was too late. Arthur had told Merlin that he thought Morgana would wait a week or two to attack, but Merlin knew Arthur was hiding something from him. He knew he was telling him everything he knew about Morgana's plans or any inklings he had, but there was something else that Arthur wasn't telling Merlin. Merlin could see how nervous he was, because every time he would come to visit, he would pace, back and forth and it almost drove Merlin crazy. Merlin understood that he was king and all, but there was nothing more he could do. He prepared his knights to the best of his abilities and he made other preparations for a siege. Merlin could only assume he was worried about the people and the devastation that Morgana would bring upon the city. Merlin had no idea that most of Arthur's anxiety was because of Merlin and his current condition.
Merlin was improving physically, but Gaius had said that there was a chance that he would never be able to have full function of his right arm again. He was hopeful but there was a very small chance that Merlin would fully recover. Gaius had said it was a miracle that Merlin had survived the stab wound, until he explained Morgana and the healing spells involved. Still, Gaius had a hard time convincing himself that Merlin shouldn't have died. He had an especially difficult time convincing the king that Merlin should have survived. Gaius had to bring up some medical terms that the kind obviously didn't know the meaning of and that had nothing to do with Merlin's condition whatsoever, to make it even slightly believable. Long story short, Merlin was lucky to be alive. Gaius wasn't sure that with Morgana coming, if Merlin could handle that mentally. Morgana had tortured him, and Gaius didn't know how this would affect him initially. Initially Merlin was a bit scared and angry, but those emotions were temporary. Merlin had calmness about him, it seemed and Gaius didn't know if this was a façade or if it was real. He didn't know what to believe. Merlin had gotten so good at hiding things over the course of his entire life that even his best friends didn't know his biggest secrets, so keeping his emotions from people was pretty easy comparatively.
Merlin was only calm because he wanted people to stop worrying about him. Arthur still didn't know about his magic so whenever he was alone or at least alone with Gaius, he could attempt some healing spells. Gaius said that they were working, but they were only speeding up the healing process right now. It was too early to say what affect it might have later. Gaius didn't know if Merlin could heal himself fully or not. Healing was never Merlin's strong suit, but he would need it to be in the days coming. In more ways than one.
A/N: So how was it? Not too bad I hope. I hope the ending wasn't too blunt, but I felt like that chapter just needed to end and I could clear up a few more things in the next chapter and add some new things as well. So tell me what you thought, any suggestions and any comments. Thanks so much for reading. I've already got chapter 11 started so that should be up sometime in the next few days. Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting. It means a lot and I'm glad to see you all are liking it.