Hey guys! Here is chapter 11, I hope you enjoy it :)
Four scarlet clad knights came blundering back into the clearing, hurried footsteps slipping on the undergrowth. They were all empty handed with a mixture of graveness and irritation plastered across their flushed faces, which suddenly morphed to astonishment at seeing Merlin sitting upright, looking much more like his usual self.
Gwaine strode merrily over, beaming from ear to ear and smacked his friend lightly on the shoulder "you're looking much more human old friend!".
Merlin grinned up at the knight "I feel it too" he said, the raspy voice long gone and replaced with his usual chirpy tones. Arthur shot a questioning look at Percival, silently asking what had happened, the large knight mirrored his confused features and glanced back at the warlock perched on the grass.
"He improved the circulation" he blurted, feeling moderately stupid at his own words as he gestured to Rowan, who was trying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible.
Arthur frowned, gaze shooting rapidly between his servant, the strange green eyed man and his largest knight. "Improved the circulation?" he repeated slowly, sending a questioning glance to Merlin, the warlock shrugged as the prince scrutinized him, hurriedly trying to come up with a feasible explanation but his brain seemed to have lost the ability to string a believable sentence together.
At this, all eye lines found their way to Rowan who shifted slightly, clenching his hands beneath his dirty sleeves "the art of healing is full of surprises" he said nervously with a slightly hysterical laugh, his feet refusing to stand stationary beneath him.
Merlin hurriedly pushed himself up to a standing position, regretting the sudden movement as his vision temporarily blacked out and he swayed dangerously. A strong hand halted his choppy, ocean like movements and he turned to gratefully smile at Elyan who had steadied him. "I've seen this before, with Gaius" he said with as much authority and confidence as he could muster "when someone is on the brink of death the body, on occasion, fights back, utilising all of its resources, often the patient ends up in a coma like state but occasionally they recover, almost like a miracle, but it happens".
Rowan nodded at the warlock's words, a little too enthusiastically "yes, it is possible for that to happen, as I said, very surprising art" Merlin shot him a warning look, and the captive man quickly stopped speaking, his mouth pursing into a thin white line.
Arthur narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the emerald eyed man, seemingly convinced something was amiss. After an awkward silence the prince cleared his throat "well we couldn't find either one of the herbs you described, not even a scrap of anything even remotely similar, I'm starting to think that there really was no remedy" he paused again watching the edgy man practically shrink beneath his steely gaze.
Merlin held his breath for what felt like a lifetime before the regent once again spoke and he released it in relief "however, Merlin is well again and that's all that matters, now we need to get moving". He turned to his knights "gather together everything we have, we make for Camelot immediately".
At his words, a flurry of action erupted as the knights frantically gathered up their sparse supplies and prepared themselves for the trek ahead. Even during the frenzied collecting and preparations the knights seemed to spare time to quickly give Merlin an affectionate hair ruffle or slap on the shoulder as they bustled around.
"It's good to have you back Merlin" Leon chimed, grinning heartily at the servant,
"we thought we'd lost you there Merlin" Elyan piped up as he laid a hand on the warlock's shoulder, Merlin returned his warm smile with a grin of his own.
Percival jogged over as he sheathed his sword "I don't know what he did, but it sure is good to see you up and about Merlin" he said, placing a large but gentle hand on the servant's shoulder.
Merlin felt a hand ruffling his dark hair before landing enthusiastically on his other shoulder as Gwaine's sincere smile popped into view "first rounds on me" he said winking cheekily at his friend before following his comrades to the edge of the clearing.
Arthur approached his servant, concealing his relief behind his usual steely, regent like mask "I'm glad to see you've thought better of lazing around and decided to rejoin us" he said smirking slightly.
Merlin returned his grin, knowing that this was Arthur's way of saying "I'm glad you're Ok" in so many words.
"Well" Merlin said, folding his arms with an exaggerated sigh "I had to get up sooner or later or who would look after your princely backside" Arthur chuckled at the servant's words pulling him into an awkward one armed embrace before turning to follow his men.
"Arthur" Merlin called, all previous humour erased from his tone. He had been unsure of what to say to his friend about what had happened back in the crystal cave, he had been feverishly frightened and confused and had seen no other option at the time. He was unsure if any of his friends had heard the ancient call claw its way up his throat, Arthur had been directly beside him after all.
The prince turned to look at his servant, frowning slightly at the tension and nervousness in his friend's posture. Merlin took a deep breath "back in the cave" he said exhaling heavily "what I said, I-" he broke off as Arthur raised a hand to silence him, fixing him with a sympathetic look in his azure eyes.
"It's Ok Merlin. I understand" he said quietly.
Merlin faltered, open and closing his mouth like a fish out of water as he stared wide eyed at the prince, panic and shock halting his anxious fidgeting.
"you do?" he finally choked out, unsure if his legs were going to fold beneath him again or carry him sprinting into the wilderness.
Arthur nodded, bowing his head and stepping so he was directly in front of the warlock "there's nothing wrong with being scared" he said fixing a strong hand on Merlin's shoulder "we were all afraid in there, it is nothing to be ashamed of" Merlin simply gaped at his friend, all words failing him.
Arthur gave the servant's shoulder what he hoped was a comforting squeeze before turning and heading back towards the knights "come on, we've got a city to save" he called over his shoulder.
Merlin stood gawking after the prince, as relief washed dizzyingly from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, he couldn't quite believe his luck, Arthur thought his spluttered words in their prison had been out of fear. Well, truth be told they had been, but a completely different kind of fear from what his friends had experienced and what Arthur believed Merlin had been confronted with.
Merlin allowed himself a small smile, feeling a mixture of amazement and disbelief at how he had managed to keep his secret hidden after everything that had transpired in the past hours, well hidden from everyone except Rowan.
Speaking of which, the timid man was sandwiched between Gwaine and Elyan, it seemed the knights were still taking no chances with the emerald eyed man.
"Right, let's move out" Arthur called and Merlin hurried to catch up to his friends as they all began the strenuous journey towards their home, each man saddled with a mixture of fear and apprehension about what they would discover.
Merlin caught up behind Leon and as he began trekking through the shrubbery, he began thinking of Gaius. He fiercely hoped his guardian was unharmed, his mentor was old, and certainly creaked a lot more than he probably did in his youth but Merlin knew the weathered man was intensely determined and could be a match for a man of any age. He grinned quietly to himself as he thought of the ear lashing he would receive for being gone for longer than usual and when he finally got to recount this terrible tale to the old physician.
Leading the group, Arthur was caught in musings of his own as thoughts of his father shifted to ones of Gwenivere. He felt an uncomfortable, apprehensive twist in his stomach as the image of her delicate face filled his mind and he repeatedly commanded his brain to stop creating horrific scenarios of what could have happened to her. She was determined, strong willed and a warrior in her own right and Arthur knew she could hold her own, but he had asked her to watch his father in his absence, and it seemed this Seskel was after his father's blood, what would he do to a mere serving girl who stood in his way?
Arthur quickened his pace, crashing through the greenery, hacking at low hanging branches and thorns with much more force than was necessary. The men behind him had to jog slightly to keep up with their prince as he surged purposefully forwards, each scrambling step bringing them closer to the chaos that had become of Camelot.
Back in the destruction of the city the great throne room had been temporarily transformed into a safety point and an infirmary. Injured men, women and children filled every open space on the floor and hurried bodies darted from one to the other attempting to comfort and alleviate pain.
"Gwen, hand me those bandages, quickly" Gaius commanded, holding out a lined hand, the other putting pressure firmly over a wound in a shocked stable boy's thigh. The flustered serving girl grabbed a pile of white linen and handed it quickly to the physician.
"What can I do?" she asked frantically, "talk to him, try and calm him down" Gaius murmured, not looking up as he skilfully began wrapping the boy's leg.
Gwen dropped down beside the young boy's shoulders, the lad couldn't have been more than fourteen and he was trembling, small hands fisting in his brown shirt, white knuckled in fear. Gwen began gently stroking the frightened boy's blonde hair, uttering soothing words of comfort and calmly shushing like a mother would do to a frightened child.
The boy eventually started to calm down, his hands releasing their death hold on his clothes and his breathing eased to a gentler rate. Gwen looked quickly up at the old man who nodded approvingly at the serving girl, a warm smile temporarily brightening the tension in his weathered face.
Once the young boy had been stabilised and was resting Gwen straightened, wiping the sleeve of her usually spot less dress across her clammy forehead as another crash rocked the castle, generating a new ripple of screams and yells which carried swiftly throughout the room. A turbulent commotion could be heard outside of the large doors at the rear of the room, echoing down the corridor, rapidly growing louder in intensity.
The serving girl stared wide eyed at the physician "they're inside the castle walls" she whispered, fright causing her voice to tremble.
Gaius nodded gravely "we must seal the doors, protect everyone in here" Gwen bobbed her head in agreement, looking distantly at the grand oak doors, face suddenly hardening. "Seal the doors after me, I'm going to help protect the king".
Gaius' wise eyes popped open in shock as he scrutinized the young girl "Gwenivere no" he said sternly, taking hold of her arm in a gnarled hand.
"Gaius I must" she cried, determination wavering slightly to reveal the fear gushing beneath "I promised Arthur I would watch his father whilst he was away, if anything happens to the king and I could have stopped it, I will never forgive myself"
Gaius regarded the serving girl with sadness in his old eyes "and if something happens to you neither I, nor Arthur will be able to forgive ourselves" he said softly.
Gwen smiled gently at the old man, placing a hand over his wrinkled one "I have to try" she said quietly and with that she spun and headed for the foreboding corridor.
"Lock the doors Gaius!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Gaius watched helplessly as the young girl sprinted for the doors "Gwen!" he called, however his shout was in vain and fell upon deaf ears as her long dark hair and purple dress whipped around the corner and out of sight.
There is chapter 11 :) I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading! Chapter 12 coming soon!