Sorry this chapter came late! I've been really sick and have had some issues with school – but I'm back now! So anyways, I hope you enjoy and it would be spectacularly wonderful if you could review! I shall have chapter 12 up tonight or early tomorrow (to make up for not updating in two days). Bye for now! ;)
It was beautiful, really, truly beautiful. The large pond sparkling under the suns reflection, its stillness only disturbed when one of the small boys of the village jumped in to catch a frog. The high trees rattled in the cool summer breeze and the birds perched up high upon their branches sung sweat melodies. Each little home was decorated with flowers on every windowsill and vines climbing up every wall. Bellwood – such a peaceful village, so tranquil and lovely; the knights wished they could stay forever.
Elyan was coming back from helping Althea pick herbs and saw Percival giving a small little girl with long orange hair a ride on his shoulders, and one of his strong arms was outstretched and two twin brothers were hanging on him like he was a tree. Leon was helping hoe the gardens but had to stop when he erupted in laughter at the sight of Percival. Elyan walked over to him, still holding a bag of mishap flowers, roots, and weeds Althea told him to pick.
"Who knew such a big guy could be such a – what's the proper word – a teddy bear!" Leon was still chuckling.
"He did have siblings of his own once. He must have been quite the good brother, don't you think?" Elyan smiled. Percival was being practically swarmed with the few children of the village at this point. They were all laughing and having a great time with the large knight, and he was having just as good of a time.
"Perhaps he'll have children of his own some-day and he'll have that much fun with them." Leon imagined it, and another grin was plastered onto his face.
"You've got a son of your own – what's it like?" Elyan asked sincerely.
"The best thing in the world! However, being a knight I tend to be away a fare amount of time. But, when I am home, he makes me smile like nothing else…" Leon paused as if caught in a memory, "I only wished his mother were here to see him grow. He's becoming a bright young man."
"It was during the Dorocha attack, correct? She was attacked while we were away?" Elyan looks into Leon's sad eyes, they may not be brothers by blood, but the knights were family and it pained to see each other hurt or upset.
"It was indeed…" Leon looked over to Percival again, the large knight smiling and laughing along with the kids, and then he turned back to Elyan with new and mischievous grin, "What about you? Have you ever thought about settling down, finding a woman of your own."
Elyan let out a quick laugh, "I fear that won't be anytime soon, my friend. There were a few girls here-and-there while growing up, but none of them were 'the one'…"
"Elyan! I wanted to ask, do you want to see the Gully Springs? It's a lovely waterfall not to far from here, and I thought – if you wanted to, that is – I could show you!" Althea ran from her small house which the knights had been staying in for the past three days. She had her long hair in her usual two braids and her brand new sea-foam green dress on, that the one of the kind, older woman of the village had made for her. Her smile was bright and beautiful; her happy energy emanating from her like it was an extremely contagious disease.
"Of course! I would love to see it, especially with you." Elyan smiled.
"Fantastic, I'll go prepare a basket with some treats in it, yes?"
"Sounds great, I'll be over in just a moment." He told her, and she walked back toward her humble abode, taking off her dirtied apron on the way.
"I think you may have finally found, 'the one', you were talking about!" Leon teased. Elyan punched him lightly, on his good arm, and walked away to meet Althea. However, he couldn't help but wonder if, just maybe, Leon was right.
"Leon! I talked to John, and he tells me there is an easy route through the forest to a road that can lead us to Camelot. Has Althea mentioned when we may be well enough to travel?" Percival came running over, the little girl still on his shoulders, his giant hands tightly fastened around her little ones so she wouldn't have a chance at falling.
"I don' want you to leave, Percy!" The girl cried.
"I must, Jenna, I need to protect the people of Camelot." Percival explained.
"Will you come an' visit?" Jenna asked with her chin now rested on top of the knight's head.
"I'll sure try; I wouldn't want you to miss me too much. Ha-Ha, now, go and play with your friends, I have to talk with Sir Leon, here." Percival took her off his shoulders and she waved goodbye while running to catch up with some of the other girls. He then turned to a smiling Leon.
"I'm surprised we're leaving at all, you and Elyan have definitely taking a liking to the people here, especially Elyan," Leon pointed to where their fellow knight was now walking away with Althea, "And I haven't heard you talk that much and be happy about it in a long time – makes me wonder if you want to leave at all."
"She just reminds me of my little sister… and this place in general, reminds me of my old village. If we didn't have special duties to Camelot, I would want to stay, I can't deny it."
"However, Arthur, and Camelot, comes first. We know that. It is beautiful here though, enough to make me wish we could stay a little longer." Leon looked to the ground, thinking, and then back up at Percival, "Althea told me we should be alright to travel by tomorrow."
It was time the knights found their way back home to the walls of Camelot. Their king needed them there, if he was even there himself. Elyan still worried that Arthur, Merlin, and Gwain hadn't gotten away, and that the king was dead or at the hands of merciless bandits. All they could do was hope.
Gwain was holding up Merlin, letting the scrawny servant lean onto his chest. Arthur was laying down the animal fur, given to them by Samuel, onto the stone cold ground of the cave they were in. They set Merlin carefully down upon the poor excuse for a bed and covered him with the remaining blankets. It was a cold night, and the fires warmth wasn't enough all on its own.
Even with the medicine Celia had given them, as well as the clean bandages and supplies, Merlin's life was still drawing thin. The wound had been infected, and even with the kind families help, there wasn't much they could do for it. Adding on to Arthur and Gwain's constant struggles, they had found themselves once again lost. Neither of them had been in this part of the borders before; they would be surprised if they were even in Camelot's territory at this point. So with no idea as to how to get back home, Merlin's life was in the balance. It had been four days now – since Bayard's bandits attacked them by surprise in the Ebony Forest. Four, long and tedious days of traveling and trying to make it home.
Arthur was slowly spinning a skinned rabbit over the fire – one he had tracked and killed with exceptional skill. All the while, Gwain was sitting, back up against the rock walls of the cave, at the same time complaining about the fact that he hadn't been to a tavern in over four days.
Suddenly a pain filled groan came from the limp manservant whose face was contorted in agony. Gwain rushed to Merlin's side instantly and lifted his head enough so the warlock could drink some water.
"Drink up, mate. You look like you could use some refreshments." Gwain put on a smile as he usually did, while helping Merlin gulp down the cool water. Then the knight gently placed the servants head back down and set the water skin aside as to attend to the awful wound which had been causing so much trouble.
Using steady hands, Gwain unraveled the bandages which had been stained red with what little blood Merlin had left in his body to spare. The deep gash on his shoulder cut right through the flesh, tearing it apart and slicing through the muscle. The sides of the wound were crusted with dried blood and a greenish-yellow puss that was due to the infection. Arthur came over with a wet cloth and handed it to the knight, who quickly, but gently, began dabbing it at the laceration to clean what he could. During which, Merlin's eyes were continuously opening and closing for short amounts of time.
"I-I-I'm… s-so-sorr-sorry…." Merlin whispered his voice raspy and full of hurt.
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Merlin… Just get better…" Arthur was trying his best not to break down. It was clear as day that his servant – no, his best friend – didn't have long if they couldn't find proper help soon. Even through all the teasing, and constant insults, Merlin was always there, always smiling that goofy grin and offering help when it was needed. Arthur also knew that deep down, Merlin held a knowledge that shined brightly on every bad situation, and he was always there to make things better. So now, Merlin was saying sorry, even though he had nothing to apologize for. He had his bad moments, but Arthur knew Merlin wasn't the one who should be saying such things.
Gwain was on the brink of lashing out. His best friend was dying, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. Merlin had brought Gwain to Camelot – had given him a bigger and better reason to live – and now the servant whom changed his life was growing colder by every short moment that passed by.
"D-don-don't… g-get… a b-boo-boot… l-li-licker…" Merlin smiled a small, tiny smile, but just enough for them to see, before his head lolled to the side and his eyes shut again – but this time they didn't reopen.
Gwain stopped cleaning the wound and picked Merlin up in to his arms and held him close, murmuring little things like: "Not now," and "You stay with us, Merlin!". The warlock's blood was already getting onto the knights tunic, but he didn't care. Merlin was still breathing, but only just. He had mere seconds left.
"You can't die… You have to wake up! You have to open your eyes, Merlin! That's an order!" Arthur was blinking back tears; this couldn't be the end, Merlin always made it out okay.
"I can help," Said a deep voice from the entrance of the cave, "I can save him."
They turned to see an older man standing at the mouth of their shelter, the mark of the druids tattooed onto his arm. Gwain and Arthur suddenly had new hopes.
