Ok, people FINALLY the next chapter! I know, I know! I am sorry about not up-dating sooner! It's just that I've been REALLY busy or REALLY tired, mostly the second one. I hope you don't hate me too bad :'s

But, yeah. Here it is, finally. It's kinda way shorter than I wanted to make it, but I am just so tired and my mind went blank. That's a big part on why I haven't up-dated faster, my mind goes blank when I sit down to write. I Wrote out a timeline and everthing, but still....

Anyways, enough pointless ramblings.

On with the chapter!

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chp.11 'Mead'

- Merlin

I ran after Arthur into the throng of the screaming crowd, but a large man was in my way. I couldn't push past him and he ended up smacking me into a pile of barrels they went rolling in every direction. After I managed to pull myself out of them with great difficulty, I pushed through the crowd frantically, but the impacted bodies wouldn't let me past. "MOVE!" I bellowed to myself, but the people seem to be spilling in front and around me from every side making it impossible to move more than a centimetre in any direction.

For crying out loud MOVE! I screamed in my head as a fat women pushed herself into the only small space I could see. I ended up just magicking a space between group of irritable looking old women who spluttered in annoyance at getting pushed apart by some mysterious strong gust of wind. As I squeezed past and I saw to my horror Arthur and Lancelot facing a tall man holding a handfull of bright green flames. He had black hair to his shoulders and a pointed beard.

The man was also laughing and throwing the emerald flames at Arthur and Lancelot who dodged them. I raised a hand to do magic when I was knocked over by a screaming women. I pulled myself to my feet with difficulty as more people ran and nearly stood on me, one did stand on my fingers. I finally managed to pull myself to my feet and saw Arthur lunge at the Sorcerer with his sword. "NO!" I screamed raising my hand. Lancelot tried to pull him back the second I saw it.

The Sorcerer said something in a strange tongue that I knew to be magic, thick red smoke seem to billow from his upturned fist and hit Arthur square in the chest, who was rigid for a fraction of a second before collapsing. My heart seemed to implode as I screamed out an incantation the second Lancelot thrust his sword into the Sorcerers side. My spell blasted the Sorcerer off his feet and he screamed in pain. Just as I thought he was going to hit the brick wall he twisted unnaturally in mid-air and vanished into purple fire. The crowd screamed.

I was stunned, it all happened too quickly. It took me too long to move my feet. Lancelot was already rolling Arthur onto his back. My stomach dropped and I found my legs, which a second ago were cramped and stiff, now were as wobbly as jelly. I ran to Arthur and dropped to my knees. Arthur's eyes were half closed and lifeless. "Arthur? Arthur!" I was saying. I didn't even notice the hot tears until a drop fell into Arthur's face. I wiped my eyes quickly. Lancelot suddenly grabbed me by the arm and pulled me away from Arthur. I tried to cling to his lifeless body but Lancelot was too strong.

King Uther suddenly hit me out of the way. "Arthur!" He roared dropping to his knees. Gaius was there a second later. He examined Arthur and looked troubled. Uther got to his feet and turned around in a circle glaring at everyone in the watching crowd, his eyes seemed to be blaming every one of them. His eyes stopped on I and Lancelot. "You!" He bellowed pointing at me, "tell me what happened to Arthur, NOW!" He demanded. I opened my mouth but no sound came out.

Lancelot then spoke for me, "Please my Lord, there was a Sorcerer.." - "GRHH!" Uther growled throwing himself back to his knees beside Arthur. Lancelot gave me a sidewards glance, I didn't know what it meant and I wiped my nose loudly on my sleeve. "Maybe I should go and fetch Gaius, my Lord" I suggested thickly. Uther ignored me, and lifted Arthur off the ground and into his arms. "Magic is a plague upon this earth! The Sorcerer that did this to my son, and anyone who practices magic will be destroyed" Uther said in a fierce voice.

I followed Uther, carrying Arthur back up to the castle. When we reached the stairs, Gaius came shuffling out to meet Uther. "My Lord, I have heard." Gaius said in a worried voice. Uther carried Arthur up to Arthur's room instead of down in Gaius' chambers. I followed behind, no one seemed to be paying me much attention.

Uther laid Arthur, unconscious down onto his large bed. Uther looked furious, "It was a Sorcerer Gaius, my only son has been cursed!" He thundered. Gaius looked grave as he examined Arthur, he opened one of his eyelids and felt his fever and the inside of his wrist. Gaius expression became graver. "Did anyone witness this attack?" Gaius asked straightening up. "Yes, I did and about half of Camelot" I said in a still thick voice. Uther shot me a suspicious look, I looked down to avoid his penetrating stare.

Gaius spoke, "did you then see what this Sorcerer did? What kind of magic he may have used? Arthur's symptoms are curious to me, he seems to only be merely sleeping, but his heart rate is quite high." Gaius said. I thought back and tried to remember, it had happened all so quickly, "it was... The Sorcerer, he used some kind of smoke, he turned his hand and a thick red smoke sprang from his fist and hit Arthur. The Sorcerer also used a lot of enchanted fire, he disappeared in a puff of purple smoke" I was saying.

Gaius' expression went from confused to blank. Uther was watching him closely, Gaius turned back and examined Arthur some more, "I don't know what this means, I will need to have some research my Lord" Gaius said. It was obvious to me that Gaius knew more than he was letting on. Uther didn't seem to notice anything.

Gaius sighed heavily before addressing the King, "Arthur doesn't seem in any immediate danger, some kind of enchanted sleep it appears. There isn't much I am able to do at the present, but I will throw myself in researching anything that will revive him my Lord" Gaius bowed to the King. Uther didn't seem comforted. "Very well, but I give you no more than two days Gaius" Uther said. Gaius looked troubled but bowed again, "I will do my best" he said before shuffling out of the room, I followed.

Once we were back down in our living space I said, "You know something that your not telling Uther." Gaius collapsed into a chair and looked up at me through tired eyes, "yes, when you mentioned the fire and the red smoke. Arthur's symptoms are indeed minor at this moment, he is like I said to the King, in an enchanted sleep. But this is old magic, from the old religion. Fire Sorcerer's use a very small branch of magic, not many, even in the old days practiced it. It is a very imprecise branch of magic, but immensely powerful. For Arthur, he may be in no danger at the precise moment, but if tonight is a moonless night he very well will be" Gaius said looking more tired than ever.

I didn't understand, "What do you mean, Gaius? What does it mean for Arthur if tonight is a moonless night?" I said feeling my heart thump unevenly. Gaius looked more troubled and spoke in a low voice, "If tonight is a moonless night, it will mean that the curse has indeed taken affect. If it is not, Arthur will wake in seven nights time, perfectly fine. Like I said it's an imprecise branch of magic, it doesn't always take affect." Gaius seemed to be beating about the bush.

I swallowed hard before asking, "What will happen if tonight is a moonless night?" My voice sounded weird, like it wasn't my own. Gaius said in a grave voice, "if tonight is a moonless night it will mean there will be seven moonless nights and at midnight on the last moonless night. Have the curse has not been broken by that time, Arthur will fall into a irreversible sleep, with have no chance of ever waking." Even as Gaius said those words, I knew without a doubt that tonight would be a moonless night. It was my luck, everyone I cared for, loved, will be taken away from me. I was cursed.

I tried to push those thoughts from my mind, maybe tonight won't be moonless, maybe at the end of those seven nights Arthur will wake perfectly fine? Ha, yeah right. "Is there a way to break the curse then? Even if tonight is moonless, if I am able to break the curse before those seven nights are up, will Arthur be fine?" I asked. Gaius nodded slowly, "yes, if the curse is broken Arthur will wake. But I'm afraid that it will be almost impossible to find a cure in forty years, let alone four days. The curse was made by the old religion's magic, and it is the old religions magic that has any chance of breaking it." Gaius said morosely.

I didn't want to believe Gaius, I ran into my room and fell onto my stomach reaching under my bed and pulling out my magic book. There has to be something in here to wake someone from am enchanted sleep. I scanned through the book on the floor for hours. I didn't even eat my cheese and bread supper Gaius had brought me some time ago. I didn't even realise that it has gotten dark outside as I'd had my curtains pulled across the window throwing myself into an already artificial night.

Gaius knocked on my door, "come in" I said in a distracted voice. Gaius shuffled in, I glanced up from my book and the look on Gaius' face made my stomach drop to the floor. Gaius face was etched in a look of ancient sadness. "It is a moonless night" was all he said.

I was in denial by morning, as I was in Arthur's room using every spell in my book with even the slightest chance of working. The sun was now filtering weakly through the lace curtains. There was nothing, it was useless. Nothing had worked, nothing even had shown the slight chance or working. Made no improvement. Nothing. Arthur simply lay there motionless and very much asleep. Even with his and mine impending doom on the horizon, I couldn't help thinking that at least Arthur looked peaceful, he wasn't suffering. I suppose an endless slumber wouldn't be too bad. What was I thinking? It was terrible! Arthur rather be dead than spend forever being a burden on a bed.

I slouched back down to mine and Gaius' room. I walked past Gaius and slammed my door behind me. It was hopeless, Arthur was as good as dead. I didn't notice immediately that someone was sitting on my bed until they stood up. "Merlin! What has happened? Will Arthur be ok...?" Lancelot's voice trailed off from the look on my face. I wanted to cry, or something. But I was just dead inside, hopeless cold had replaced all other emotions. "I wish... I wish.. I almost wish the Dragon was still here, he would know what to do. He always knew what to do" I was saying.

Lancelot looked confused, "Dragon? What Dragon?" He said in a voice that seemed to question my sanity almost. I collapsed down onto my bed and spoke in a dead voice, "the Great Dragon, Uther had imprisoned the last Dragon on earth down in the dungeons, I used to go to him to seek his advise and help. But then I unwittingly set him free and he almost destroyed all of Camelot in his rage. I nearly killed him, but I didn't. I have know idea where he could even remotely be now, besides, even if I found him, he wouldn't help. He hates Uther and probably be thrilled if Arthur was good as dead" I said.

I felt the bed sag as Lancelot sat on the end. "A Dragon ay? I did hear... I mean I thought it was just a rumour, but I heard on my travels recently a rumour that someone called the Druids had been made an alliance with a Dragon.." - "What!" I said sitting up so fast I kicked Lancelot off the bed.

"Well, that's what I heard. I mean Merlin, I don't know how true it is." Lancelot said pulling himself up from the floor, I jumped off the bed hitting into him making him collapse back onto the floor. "Gaius, I just thought of something. I know this is going to be a long shot, and I mean impossible. But do you think that the Druids will know something that could wake Arthur and break the curse?" I said, grasping at straws. I knew full well that the Druids hated me by now and they sure hated the King and Arthur. But maybe if the Dragon was there, he might know something. After all, I spared his life, he owed me.

Gaius looked startled, "Well, maybe. It is possible I suppose... But Merlin, I do not think it wise to get any hope concerning the Druids" Gaius said seriously. "I know, Gaius. I know that my chances are one to nothing. But it's the only thing we have. Even if they don't help, at least we tried. Because either way, if I go or not, Arthur is lost. I just can't sit around here and watch every hour tick away, I have to try something." I said. I knew it was in vein. I knew I was stabbing myself in the foot for ever even having the desire to hope in thinking that the Druids or the Dragon will ever help me with this.

Gaius gave me a pitying look before sighing heavily, "well I suppose, if you must. By all mean go to them and try. I will say this now Merlin, I have no faith in this plan. But I agree with you, that Arthur is pretty much doomed either way. I am sorry, I truly am" Gaius said grasping my shoulder. I shrugged it off and ran back into my room grabbing anything at random and stuffing it into a bag. I had no idea where the Druids were, or even if the Dragon was even with them. My plan was getting even less realistic by the second, but I continued packing anyway.

Lancelot was watching me from the doorway, "Merlin, I shall come with you. After all, this is my fault. None of this would have happened if I had never come here and braught this pain and danger apon you and Arthur" Lancelot said ashamed. I felt a twinge of anger towards Lancelot, it was true. It was all Lancelot's fault. But then again, something sometime or another would have happened and something else would have put Arthur in life threatening peril. So I couldn't blame Lancelot too much. I was just cursed this way, and so it seemed was Arthur. Or maybe my curse just involved around bad things happening to Arthur to torture me, because Arthur had lived a long enough life with nothing too bad happening to him before I can along to complicate his existence.

After I finished packing I turned to Lancelot. "In these rumours that you heard, did anyone ever mention as to where the Druids whereabouts are or anything?" I said. Lancelot thought about it for a moment before saying slowly. "Well, most of the rumours it seemed to have come from the far east, over the mountains. That's all I know." Lancelot seemed unsure of his information. I nodded and looked around the room for anything useful I may have missed.

Lancelot and I were headed off and a huge journey with the tiniest hope of it ever working, and not really having the faintest idea where we were even going. Great chances of success, I think not. We had six days and half a night to get there, convince them to help, and then get back in time to save Arthur. Didn't think the chances were very good, not at all. But it was damned if I was going to sit around and watch Arthur be doomed into an eternity of endless sleep. Better wandering around with the hope of saving him, than nothing at all.

Gaius didn't think much of my pitiful plan, and even though Lancelot had insisted on accompanying me on this pointless journey that would no doubt leave me heart-broken, he didn't voice any of his doubts to me. Even though I could feel them radiating off him in tsunami waves. I knew my plan wasn't going to work, but I was going to try my hardest to save Arthur. Because if I didn't, if I failed... There aren't even words to describe how I would feel. Arthur was my destiny, my life, my everything. If he was taken away from me, what will I have left? I'd might as well just jump off the highest tower of the castle. Be less painful. Less frightening to me that the prospect of losing Arthur forever.

After about many hours of riding and the sun was fast dissapearing behind the mountains and the first stars began to make their appearance and the indigo sky, Lancelot suggested we make camp for the night. I didn't agree, we had no time for rest. But Lancelot was already dismounting from his horse and pulling out some rations. I groaned heavily before stiffly getting off my own horse. I knew Lancelot was probably right, it would be dangerous to travel in the night.

But as I looked up at the ever darkening sky I felt as if part of me was disappearing with the light. A feeling the intensified as I refused to eat the bread and cheese Lancelot was offering me. It was a moonless night. The second in two days. I half hoped that last night's was just a coincidents, how desperately I clung to any hope. But two new moons after one another was extremely rare, if not unheard of.

Lancelot's voice broke the silence. "Merlin, I know that you are worried for Arthur. But there is nothing that we can do right at this seconds, we are doing the very best we can. I advise you to take some comfort in that, it will make it easier."

I didn't like Lancelot telling me to take comfort in just sitting around and wasting what little time we had in trivial things such as eating and sleeping. I stared up at the night sky almost wishing the moon to suddenly appear, maybe it was hiding behind the clouds, but the clouds were too thin and wispy to conceal the moon. Maybe it was being obscured by that large group of trees. But the night was unnaturally dark, the light from the stars, even though there was billions of them, didn't give off much light without the moon.

I didn't think I would have any sleep that night, but I must have dozed off. I was still dreaming about Arthur saying my name over and over again when I suddenly jerked out of my sleep and saw that it was Lancelot nudging me awake, and that it was his voice trying to wake me that somehow made it into my dream. I sat up hastily giving myself a head rush, I was slightly disorientated, I think I was still half a sleep. Light was flooding the small camp in which we spent the night, the light was weak as the sun was still behind the horizon and hadn't risen completely yet. It must be early.

Lancelot grasped my shoulder, "Merlin, are you ok?" He asked in a little over worried voice than the circumstance needed I thought. "I'm fine, you just.. Startled me." I said slowly. "What time is it?" I asked in a brisker voice as Lancelot was still giving me a funny look. Too penatrating. Lancelot let out a gust of air before saying. "Not long after the daybreak, maybe half an hour. I think it's around seven or so." I nodded. Not too bad, we still had the whole day ahead of us.

I was trying to untie the impossible knot from where we'd tethered the horses when Lancelot handed me an apple, I shook my head. I didn't want food, not when Arthur needed me. I'd eat again when I knew he was safe. "Merlin, you have to eat something. If we are going to be traveling like this you need to keep your energy up, and no offence I don't think you could last a day or so more without food, you are already thin as a twig." Lancelot said dryly eyeing my thin frame.

I frowned at him. "Lancelot I don't need your molly coddling, I'm fine. I may be 'thin as a twig' " I quoted him. "But, despite what you may think, I can last a while on no, or little food. I've gone long stretches in my life on very thin to no rations back home in my village Ealdor." I said feeling irritable. Lancelot gave me another one of his annoying looks as I managed to mount my horse in one go, something I'd never managed to do before. I felt a twinge of pride which was extinguished almost immediately as I realised that Arthur wasn't around to see. Arthur was always exasperated with my terrible record of times it took me get on my horse.

When the sun was almost setting after another long day of absolutely nothing. I was beginning to feel that all of this was completely useless. That's when a small village loomed in the distance, my heart rose. "Lancelot do you think anyone there might know of the whereabouts of the Druids, or at least a rumour or anything?" I asked in a croaky voice. Neither of us had spoken since this morning. Lancelot didn't say anything for a long moment, it got on my nerves. Finally Lancelot said, "Maybe." In an infuriating way. "Well, do you think it's worth it if we ask around or something just in case someone has heard anything?" I said almost sarcastically.

Lancelot didn't speak for too long again before he finally answered, "I guess it couldn't hurt. But Merlin, I wouldn't get your hopes up." - "What hope?" I muttered under my breath as I clicked and kicked my horse faster. We entered the small village at a trot. We dismounted at a small tavern, "I think we should start here, most rumours get traveled around through taverns right?" I asked not really having any idea. Lancelot slid off his horse and just shrugged. I glowered at Lancelot, was he being deliberately indifferent and unhelpful just to annoy me?

I pushed open the door of the Tavern and entered. Warmth flooded over me from the biting evening breeze outside. Everyone looked up from their silver pitchers and what ever they were doing before we came in and stared at us. Not a good sign. I didn't think we were very much welcome. Lancelot walked over to the bar and ordered two pints. I didn't have time to complain, I couldn't take alcohol very well. But too late now. I sat down awkwardly at a table nearing the corner window. Not long after Lancelot came over quickly with two foamy pitchers of mead, one which he put in front of me.

I stared at it and thought, big enough? Didn't they come in a smaller size? I looked around, obviously not. I tentavily raised it to my lips and took a small sip. Burned my throat. I was caughing as I put it back down eyes streaming. Lancelot have me another odd look, but this time it was like he thought I was amusing. "It's strong!" I said in my defence in the same second Lancelot took a long swig, he must have found what I said highly amusing as he laughed and spilled a large amount down his shirt.

I felt my cheeks burn slightly and took another sip, this time I forced myself not to cough but I could still feel my eyes water. Lancelot tried to hide another laugh unsuccessfully. "Maybe we should be asking if anyone knows anything?" I said annoyed. Lancelot sighed and looked around the pub, a few people were eyeing us with distaste. "Maybe you should do it Lancelot, I mean, I don't have any experience with this kind of thing and I don't want to ruin our chances just in case someone does know something." I said seriously.

Lancelot looked at me for a second seeming to be thinking about something before nodded, "I agree, I think it would be wise for you to just stay here and let me ask. Don't make a spectical of yourself or anything. Just sit here and be inconspicuous ok?" Lancelot said. I nodded and watched as Lancelot moved over to talk to the guy at the bar.

I took another gulp of the mead, I could start to feel the effects of the alcohol already. The warmth in my legs was always the first place I felt it. After another few larger gulps I realised that maybe it wasn't so bad after all. I watched Lancelot talking to the barman now, he seemed to be having an intense conversation. I wish I could hear what they were saying, but they were speaking in voices too low to carry to where I was sitting. So I opted for drinking more of my mead.

I was surprised when I finished my whole pitcher. I didn't think I was feeling all that drunk as I watched Lancelot still talking. I sat there for a long moment before deciding to finish off Lancelot's forgotten drink. Which was actually a pretty bad idea. I knew I shouldn't have, I knew what I was like. But obviously I was an idiot.

I found myself stumbling over the bar where Lancelot was not talking to someone else. When I reached him I nearly tripped, I caught myself on the bar and laughed tipsy to myself, "Oops" I said. Lancelot stood up. "Can I have another?" I asked the barman. Lancelot grabbed my arm and whispered into my ear, "Merlin, you are intoxicated after one drink. I do not think you should be having any more" he said warningly. I shook his arm off, I was feeling less worried than I had in two days.

The barman handed me another pitcher or mead and I took a long hard swig. After I drained the last dregs of my fifth? Pitcher, or well I think it was my fifth, I stumbled and fell into some random fattish guy's lap. He yelled furious and pushed me roughly to the floor, I knew hitting the stone as hard as I did should have hurt, but I felt no pain.

I felt suddenly sick though, I crawled a few paces before managing to get back on my feet with the help of an extremely annoyed Lancelot. I pushed him away as I ran to the door, I flung it open and was violently sick in the gutter. I vomited a few more times.

That was the last thing I could remember...

...Until Morning...

Egh!

Alrightly, sorry it was sooooooooo short. I wanted more drunkin shinadigans, but yeah... Oh well. Sorry if it's kinda sucky. Well anyways, review if you like, it still makes me happy! THANK YOU again to all those who have givin me their lovely reviews, really, it means a lot to me!