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Chapter Eleven

The three surviving goblins stared for a moment in horror at the small cat. They backed up hastily with loud guttural shrieks, tripping and shoving at each other to get out of there. They ran all the way to distant trees where they stopped and looked back in impotent rage and frustration at the unexpected development. Their prize, lying unconscious and bleeding on the ground, had been within their grasp.

The cat padded silently over to where the warlock lay and huddled against his body. She was hungry and on edge from the brewing tempest. This human needed to wake up and feed her.

Elsewhere

Justin did not have to ride all the way back to the citadel to find Arthur. The prince, Gwaine, and Lancelot were riding toward him.

"Merlin needs help, Sire," the artisan said, as soon as they got within hearing.

Now there's a shock, Arthur thought, sarcastically. "What happened?"

The artisan explained the situation. "I'll take you to him."

"We know where he is," Gwaine said, "It used to be a Roman temple, right?"

"I think so, yes."

Justin turned his horse and fell in beside them. No one told him he had to return to the castle.

Stone structure, exterior

A single rider rode into the little clearing around the ancient temple. The figure wore a light gray cape with the hood up. He glanced first at where the warlock lay with the small feline pressed against his body, then with a quick glance over his shoulder he saw a goblin watching him from a distant tree, the repugnant creature's body half-hidden by its trunk.

Pushing the hood back to reveal long honey-blonde hair and the ethereal beauty of an elf, the man knelt beside the two of them. "You've done well, little one," he said to the cat, reaching out to pet the top of her head.

"Emrys, you need to wake up. We need to get you out of here." He gently pushed some of the warlock's matted dark hair to the side to check on the boy's injury. "It's stopped bleeding," he said to himself.

Gabriel, was Merlin's first coherent thought. Well, that settled the question of whether or not the elves could track the horse. They could.

The warlock groaned and sat up with Gabriel's help. "It's unsafe for you here, Emrys." The elf got to his feet and stood motionless for a moment. The dark-haired young man could hear him call for Asterion in his mind.

Moments later, Gabriel was looking through the cream-colored stallion's saddle bags. "Do you have a cape, Emrys? I'm afraid we're going to get caught in the rain."

"Yes. Where are you taking me?"

"We're too far from the druids, but there are some large caves near here. Hopefully we can make it before the worst of the storm hits." He pulled the cape over Merlin's shoulders. "This should keep you dry."

The warlock mounted Asterion, and the elf handed him the cat. Merlin gave one last shuddering look at the goblins hidden among the trees.

Stone structure, later

Arthur arrived with his three companions to find Merlin gone. He walked around studying the disturbed earth, kicking at the occasional broken twig, Gwaine hunkered down nearby trying to read the foot prints. "Something went down here, Arthur," the knight said, uneasily.

They both looked up at a shout from Lancelot. "There's a dead goblin out here, Arthur. Looks like its neck is broken."

Neither the prince nor Gwaine was interested in a closer look. "Get back over here, Lance, and do not go off on your own," Arthur snapped. Worry over Merlin was making him feel sick. He didn't need to start worrying about anyone else right now.

Justin was looking around for the cat. He didn't see it. He even went inside the stone structure and stared at the wall. Nothing.

"Arthur," Gwaine said, excitedly, "I've found some horse tracks. Two horses. Whoever they are, they're headed in that direction." He pointed his arm. The other three gathered around to study the tracks.

"Probably looking for shelter in the caves," Arthur replied, with a glance at the skies. "Let's go."

Large caves, later

The caves were large enough that the elf had managed to get both horses inside. Merlin was sitting on the floor of the cave feeding the cat bits of venison. "Don't you have any fish, Gabriel? I think she wants some fish."

The elf smiled. "No, I don't. And you need to save some of that food for yourself."

They both looked up at the sound of approaching horses. There was a general commotion as the prince and his companions dismounted and led their horses into the caves. The prince looked from Merlin to Gabriel. "He's injured?" he asked the elf while the other three greeted their friend.

"A cut on his temple. He was unconscious when I found him," the elf replied.

"It seems I am indebted to you once again, Gabriel. How did you find him?"

"Through your horse, Arthur," Merlin interjected. "He was a gift from the elves."

The prince found that relief was making him feel weak in the knees. He slumped down beside his friend and leaned his head back against the wall of the cave as the full fury of the storm broke outside. "You're not planning on sticking that animal in my room, are you, Merlin?"

"No."

The End

a/n: This story was partly inspired by the Japanese fairy tale, "The Boy Who Drew Cats."

a/n: The title comes from Macbeth, act 4, scene 1: "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes."

a/n: Mariana, Justin, and Daegan are from "Rising Sun." Gabriel is from "Starfall." Derek was in both "Black Opal" and "Hostage to Fortune." Ouranos (Pegasus) is from "Mountain Pass," and the peregrine falcon has been in several of my stories.