Gaius drained the venom from the head of the snake into a glass vail as Arthur watched.
"I'll get started preparing the antidote." Gaius told him.
"Thank you." Arthur replied, unable to meet Gaius' eye. He wouldn't blame the physician if he told him to get out. He shouldn't have made Merlin and Arrietty go out there alone. He should have given Gaius the chance to go with them like they had planned, or gone with them himself…
"They'll be alright." Gaius told him, assuring himself as much as he was assuring Arthur, "Merlin's more capable then he may seem."
"I'm starting to see that." Arthur replied, "Now, if you don't mind, I have to go—do the one thing I can to help."
Walking back to his he pulled up his mattress, and took out the rosery. Hitting his knees, he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "Dear Saint Christopher, protect them, Arrietty and Merlin, in their travels…."
Meanwhile, Merlin, still clutching the sword he had used to decapitate the snake, walked through the woods with Arrietty at his side. Arrietty had her knife out now and they had the map between them.
"Alright, according to your map, this is the quickest route, from Camelot back to the Colony." Merlin was saying, putting his finger on the trail and making sure Arrietty could see her lips.
Arrietty nodded in agreement.
"Where did you get this thing anyway?" Merlin asked.
"Borrowed it from a friend." Arrietty answered.
"And by borrowed you mean steal. "Merlin guessed.
"No, borrowed." Arrietty insisted, "I'll get it back to her before she even notices it's gone."
That was when Merlin heard a rustling sound. Putting hand in front of Arrietty to stop her, he looked around in saw some of the trees rustling. Gripping his hand tight around the sword, Merlin prepared for a fight, only for the ruling to stop. The pair waited a few minutes and when nothing happened, they took off again..
They went off like that for hours, walking through the woods, only sometimes talking. Occasionally there was more rustling, but nothing even came of it.
Then the sun started to set.
"I'm going to try to see if I can make a torch." Merin told Arrietty trying to cut off a tree branch.
Arrietty pulled out her lighter. "Will this help?" She asked, opening it to demonstrate.
Merlin grinned. "Yeah, that will help."
Arrietty handed him the lighter and he began to light it when suddenly he could feel large hands pulling him into the bushes before he even had time to react.
"Merlin!" Arrietty cried, before a giant, thick, gray, clawed hand covered her mouth, pulling her into the bushes as well.
Meanwhile, back in Camelot, Gaius had given Sir Ewen the antidote and was tending to him when he woke up.
"Welcome back." Gaius greeted him, glad it had worked.
The first words that came out of Ewen's mouth were, "There was a snake on his shield. It came alive."
"You're weak." Gaius informed him, "The snake's venom is still in your system."
"I must warn Arthur." Ewen insisted.
"Arthur already knows." Gaius assured him, "And the shield is no longer in Camelot."
"What does that mean?" Ewan asked.
Gaius decided that his best option was to go with the most sanitized version of the truth he could think of. "Valiant had traveling companion that didn't realize what he was up to. When she found out, she took it upon herself to take the shield and get as far away from Camelot as possible, but not before delivering a head of one the snakes to me."
"That sounds like a very brave girl." Ewen praised.
"Brave or fool hardy, I'm not sure." Gaius replied.
Little did either of them know, Valiant was at the door, listening. When he heard what Gaius said he saw red. That little tart. He seethed to himself, after everything I did for her. Then he took off for the stables.
Meanwhile, Merlin and Arrietty were being carried off by creatures they couldn't quite make out, all they could tell was that they were big, deeper and deeper into the forest they tried to fight back, their captors had the advantage. Suddenly Arrietty was thrown over the should of one creature, Merlin the over the shoulder of another.
Still pounding and clawing at their captors they were carried deeper and deeper into the forest, moonlight, the only light getting to through the trees. Finally, they came to a cave. Walking inside, the creatures deposited them on the floor. They tried to get up and run for it only to be seized again, this time one of the creature's taking ropes of some sort and tying them together, pinning their arms to their sides.
Finally, as the creatures started the fire, the able to get a good look at them; they were larger, over six feet tall, and bulky, covered in hard-looking with molten gray skin, completely bald. In their mouths were nothing but sharp, jagged fangs. Suddenly Merlin remembered what Arthur said about ogres.
This wasn't good.
In the corner one of them was sharpening a rough-looking knife on a rock. This gave them some time, but also made it clear what the ogre's intentions were. Arrietty kicked and struggled, so did Merlin, but he also tried to reach the ropes. Maybe he could find a weak spot?
Suddenly he remembered something he had heard once about ogres: That they were stupid and easily frightened. If he could just make some sort of diversion somehow. Remembering of the spells he had read in the magic book, he began muttering under his breath, somewhat glad Arrietty was facing the other direction. Even with the colony's precarious situation, he still wanted to keep it secret, even to her.
Suddenly, the fire the ogres were starting exploded into a roaring, violent flame. The frightened ogres ran, the one sharpening the knife dropping it. Unfortunately, they left Merlin and Arrietty and he had underestimated the intensity of the spell.
Merlin began to edge his way towards the knife. Arrietty, catching on, copied the movement, trying to push and help him along. Somehow, they got to the knife and somehow Merlin managed to wrap his fingers around, aiming it upward. Sawing through the ropes especially in that position was a slow process, and the flames started to get closer. Arrietty started to panic, struggling and whimpering. It wasn't that Merlin wasn't panicking, but she was only making his job harder. He reached out with his hand that wasn't trying to cut, and grabbed her, trying to do anything that would make her stay still.
Finely they got the ropes off, but the flames had almost engulfed the cave now. Pasted it against the wall, they crawled until they got out of the cave and started to run.
Adrenaline really pumping now they rushed through the woods, everything way too bright now. Just his luck, he used a spell to save their lives and it starts a forest fire. Coming to large lake, Arrietty got an idea. Running ahead, she lept into it.
What the—Merlin thought, but jumped into it with her.
By some miracle, the fire didn't spread much dying out within a few hours, and they were able to get out of the water, but they were still hopelessly lost, and without any their supplies. The map, the weapons, the food, all of it.
"Stay close." Merlin told Arrietty, keeping a firm hand around her wrist before realizing not only could she not hear him she couldn't see him or have any hope of her seeing his lips either.
"Oh, this is going to be long night." Merlin murmured to himself.
That was when someone began call out, "Hello? Hello?"
Merlin paused a minute, weighing his option. He had no way of knowing if that person would help them or hurt them, or if that person was just as lost as they were. However, they couldn't just keep wondering aimlessly.
He started following the voice.
Eventfully, after coming through both the parts of the forests that had been burned away by the fire, and the parts that remained untouched, to a trail, when a girl in a plain brown dress holding a candle, her eyes going wide as they burst through.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Merlin told her, "I'm Merlin, this is my friend Arrietty, to make a long story short we got lost in the forest. When we heard you, I hopped we could find our way back."
"I'm Katherine." The girl answered, "I live nearby. I thought I heard something and when I came to look and I found all this on the ground. "She gestured to satchel, with a map, a knife, a lighter, and a shield spilled out on the ground.
"That's ours. "Merlin told her, as Arrietty ran out and began to pick everything up. "I guess we're right back from where we started from." Well, not entirely, he supposed. They were several miles from Camelot now.
"Well, you're welcome to stay the night with me." Katherine offered.
"Sorry, but we can't." Merlin replied. "We need to keep going."
"But it's the middle of the night." Katherine reasoned, "You're soaking wet just…a few hours won't hurt."
Merlin looked around and realized she might have point. "Alright." He agreed, "But we're leaving first thing in the morning."
Katherine's house was cozily-small two-room cabin with a third room created by a cloth curtain. "There are two extras beds back there." She told them pointing to the curtain.
"You live here all by yourself?" Merlin asked.
"Well, ever since my parents died." Katherine replied, "Sickness."
"I'm sorry for your loss." Arrietty told her soberly.
"Me, too." Merlin agreed with her.
Katherine paused a moment, then said, "Well, then, best get on. If you want to leave first thing in the morning you should get to sleep fairly quickly."
"Again, thank you." Merlin said, pulling the curtain back.
"It's no trouble." Katherine insisted, before going back to her own room.
Later that night, once she was certain her "guests" were asleep, Katherine crept back into the room—holding a large dagger. Pulling back the curtain she carefully sleuthed her way to the bed Merlin was in.
Feeling the vibrations of Katherine walking, Arrietty woke up, slowly opened her eyes. Seeing her about to stab Merlin, she screamed causing Katherine to whirl around and come after her.
"No!" Merlin shouted, letting on Katherine and pinning her to the ground, the two began to struggle over the knife and Merlin somehow managed to stab her, if non-fatally. Getting to his feet, he grabbed Arrietty by the wrist and ran.
They ran out into the night, only to see something coming from the forest. "Not again!" Merlin demanded, jumping into the nearest thick of trees.
Katherine stumbled out, still holding the knife just as slightly seined pack of ogres bounded out of the forest. "No," She seethed, "Not after all this!" The she ran at the ogres, screaming the ogres simply picked her up and carried her away.
Merlin and Arrietty stayed in the trees for a while after that, each holding their breath. After nothing happened for about an hour or so. They stepped out. Starting to break again, Arrietty started crying. Merlin just too her, hugging her and letting her sob into his shirt.
After she had calmed down, they started back in the house. "You don't have to go back in if you don't want to." Merlin told Arrietty.
Thank you. Arrietty sighed, standing by the door.
Merlin stepped back inside, picking up the pack unable to help himself, he began to look around, hoping for any clue to find the truth of the murderous woman. The room made by the curtain was all it seemed to be, so the kitchen area. When he walked into the bed room, it looked like be the same thing, as all that was there was simple bed, covered with a blue and red quilt, then she noticed a glint under the bed.
Merlin leaned down and saw the glint belong to the hilt of an ornate sliver dagger. It was just one of many treasures under the bed. Necklaces, bralettes, clothes of silk and velvet, intricately carved boxes and boxes studded with jewels. There was also a green glass bottle.
Taking it out Merlin removed the topper and carefully sniff it. It rank of flowers and made him slightly lightheaded. He quickly recapped it.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on here now. Katherine lured unspecting travelers into her house, killed them, sometimes after drugging them, and kept whatever they had on them of value for herself. When she saw their satchel, she must've thought she had an easy score? Who know if that story she told about her family was true or not. Maybe she killed them herself, if they existed at all.
Leaving the room, he stepped outside. "Let's go." He told Arrietty, before walking away.
Meanwhile Ewen had told Uther, Arthur, and the rest of the royal court what had transpired.
"I cannot believe Valiant had to gall to use magic right under our noses!" Uther seethed, pacing the floor before turning to the guards, "I want him brought here at once!"
The guards ran off to the do the king's bidding, only one of them to come back fifteen minutes later and say, "Knight Valiant is nowhere to be found, sir."
"What?!" Uther shouted, still enraged.
"According to a stable boy he took his horse and left." The guard explained nervously.
"And he didn't think that was odd?!" Arthur exclaimed a thrill of panic stoling through him. Valiant must have found out that Arrietty had taken his shield somehow. He must be tracking her and Merlin. "My Lord, I believe I should go after him at once."
"Yes, take all the men you need you need with you." Uther agreed.
Arthur didn't take any men with him. He just saddled up his horse and rode off into the night.
They traveled for the rest of the night, into them morning, not even stopping to eat. They did that as they walked as well. Not only did they somehow manage to get back on track, they were pretty sure they further then they had anticipated at this point.
"We should probably be on the lookout." Arrietty told Merlin, "They don't usually but sometimes guards will be out this far."
Merlin turned to her. "Guards?" He repeated, "You mean like, from the colony?"
Arrietty nodded. "They started the portals back during the Conflict, and they still send them out in case of attack."
"The Conflict?" Merlin repeated.
"Between us and the other countries, Camelot mostly." Arrietty answered, "We had to call it something."
"I suppose, you're right." Merlin agreed, eying the shield, "We have to find something to do with this."
"Any ideas?" Arrietty asked.
"We could burry it." Merlin suggested.
"If we do that, can we wait until we get closer to the colony?" Arrietty requested, "I want to be able to check on it. Make sure it's where we left it."
"That's not a bad idea." Merlin conceded, as with that they continued on their way.
By mid-day, Arrietty brought up the subject again. "We need to get off trail for a moment, here. I know a spot where we can get rid of this." She said.
Merlin agreed and followed her until they came to a tree with a yellow ribbon tied around it. That was it hid him. "This is the place isn't it?" He asked, "The place where you and Arthur leave letters."
Arrietty nodded, and went to the base and started to dig. Merlin joined her. Slipping his hand into her bad, he pulled out the knife and actually craving out dirt.
Suddenly Merlin heard and Arrietty felt the vibrations of hoofbeats behind them. They turned around and saw to their horror, Valiant on his horse.
"There you are." Valiant seethed, getting off the horse. He looked manic, swinging his sword around, "After everything I did for you, seal from me?!"
"You used the shield to hurt that man." Arrietty countered, "We had to do something."
"You should've just left it alone!" Valiant shouted, "It's alright, thought. We can still fix this. Just give me the shield."
"No." Arrietty refused, shaking her head.
"Arrietty, you will do as you're told." Valiant insisted, "Now, GIVE IT TO ME!"
Arrietty just shook her head, hugging the shield to her chest.
Valiant responded by unceremoniously charging at the girl.
"No!" Merlin shouted, grabbing the shield and throwing it in front of them just as the sword the came down. Valiant stabbed at them again, but Merlin was able to block him, now trying to fend him off with the sword as well.
"You have no clue what you're doing boy." Valiant warned him.
"I'll take my chances." Merlin respond, blocking him again, turning back to look at the girl, "Arrietty run."
Arrietty didn't move. She didn't want to leave Merlin alone, but also, she was too scared to move.
"Run!" Merlin exclaimed again. That was when felt the sword hit. He didn't think it cut but it still knocked him over and Valiant went for the shield. Merlin wrapped his fingers together around it, not letting it. Soon they were both on the ground, struggling for the field. Not knowing what else to do, Arrietty jumped on Valliant's back, hitting him. Vaillant threw her off and pinned her to the ground, hands around her neck, cutting off her air.
"No!" Merlin cried out, trying to pull him off.
That when Arthur, who had found the some of the tracks and guessed where Arrietty might go, found them and saw what was going on. "Get the Hell off of her!" Arthur shouted, pulling Valiant off her and pointing a sword at him.
Valiant responded by taking his sword and knocking Arthur to the ground, steeping on his shield. He moved to strike, but Arthur caught him before he could. Valiant tried to pin him, but Arthur shoved him off. Soon the pair were evenly matched. "Merlin, take Arrietty and go." Arthur told him, "Don't stop until you get to the wall."
"But—" Merlin protested.
"Go!" Arthur shouted, "I'll deal with him."
Merlin took and until the forest. "Keep going." He told her, "I'm going back for your brother."
"No." Arrietty protested weakly, grabbing onto Merlin's arm, "Please." Suddenly she was too scared. She couldn't go on alone.
"Arrietty," Merlin told her, "You can do this. For Arthur. For your brother."
Arrietty let him, and turned around and ran.
"What is it with you and that girl, Pendragon?" Valiant challenged as the pair circle each other, "Why are you going to all this trouble for some cripple?"
Arthur saw red, lugging at Valiant screaming, "Nobody talks about my sister that way!" As he shouted, he hit the man so hard, he drew blood.
"Sister?" Valiant repeated, wiping the blood away, "I wasn't aware Uther Pendragon had any other children. Let me guess, illegitimate. Some roll in the hay had an unexpected surprise."
Arthur lost control again, hitting Valiant with such force he fell to the ground. He was about to go for the final blow when Valiant got up again.
That was when Merlin got back, hiding in the trees. There had to be something he could do. Some kind of spell…
Valiant somehow got the upper hand, cornering in Arthur against a tree, before a branch fell, hitting him.
Meanwhile Arrietty kept running through the trees, regretting her decision. She should have stayed.
She should do something. Maybe she could still get help…
Suddenly she bumped into something solid. Looking up, she saw a young woman, maybe a year older than Arthur, in a guard's uniform.
Arrietty? The guard signed, what are you doing out here?
Meanwhile, Arthur had taken advantage of Merlin's branch to get the up hand with Valliant.
That was when Merlin felt someone behind in. He whirled to see Arrietty had returned, except this time a…female guard? "What are you doing back here?" Merlin whispered, "Who's she?"
"I'm here to help." The girl assured them.
However, that was when Arthur ran Valiant through with his sword. When the fiend fell, he looked and saw a young woman standing there, a young woman recognized, and his heart plummeted.
"I never wanted you to see that." He breathed.