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Arthur wasn't going to let on he suspected something was going on. He had turned a blind eye in the past when it came to other people's intimate escapades- but they had this electrifying way about them, not going too far to say chemistry – that would be implying something was a foot.
"Morgana, I think you have enough flowers to sink a ship- let's get moving." Arthur ordered across the verge, she had straightened, staring off into space clutching handfuls of the same type of flower. The young prince had been amused by Morgana's persistence with collecting, especially since Merlin had impressed her with his floral find. In fact she had asked him over and over again to fetch more- to which he would reply 'As you wish,' and he would frog march there and back and grudgingly hand her more flowers. Arthur had assumed this was a prank or joke where you get a servant so irritable he would have to retaliate – something he was quite fond of doing himself, but as the afternoon wallowed on, the task lost its hilarity and this irked him. What were they exactly doing?
"Surely that isn't the last of them?" Morgana pivoted on the spot, seeking more peonies.
Merlin with his hands on his hips surveyed the nearby area. "Yes...we have picked every last ruddy peony within 50 yards of here...let the species live on." Arthur had already mounted his horse hoping they would follow suit. "Unless you wanted to kill them all." The boy's tone hitched considerably, their entire party knew he was being condescending.
"Onwards to the burial grounds...a mere 100 yards from here." Arthur inputted while driving his horse forward, however the warlock and witch continued with their staring contest. "Now this is getting tiresome!"
Merlin broke his gaze and returned a clueless look to his master."What?"
"You two...what has gone on? Did you give her gruel for breakfast...what gives?"
Merlin hoped Morgana would give a reasonable or plausible explanation- he hadn't done anything- well nothing he could control. He felt her brush past him. "Nothing is wrong...I'm sure Merlin has his reasons, whatever they might be, perhaps your own attitude has rubbed off on him?" She queried, sensing the boy in question storm off to collect her horse, she smirked. "So feisty isn't he...he might have to walk the rest of the way to calm himself."
Arthur thought this was a good idea. Merlin was relieved he was facing the other way- his face burned with embarrassment- he assumed she had felt the prod of his interest. Well not interest, fear and nervousness can cause erections. Morgana must not approve of men's intentions- he had none, the only reason he could think of ever doing 'that', would be to teach a valuable lesson. What hell would she give him if she had such knowledge- tease, torment, or report him for improper conduct, she could even accuse him of indecently assaulting her, it would be his word against hers. He gulped as he handed her the reigns. She regarded him casually, which was a relief.
"You are to walk."
"Well it's only up the hill." He commented nudging past her before she mounted.
Their group gathered and rode up the hill, Merlin didn't want to jog after them- it would look too feeble, so he swaggered up. When he had crossed a border of rocks he saw the others circling the grave stone, Morgana already on her knees. It irked him how a girl so cunning and two-faced could look so mournful and vulnerable, though surrounded by all these burly men even he must look like a mouse.
Arthur had kneeled beside her, a caring hand hugging her velvet clad shoulder. It was nice, though the obliviousness of Arthur and Morgana's betrayal made it seem less so. He wished to squash between them, and avoid the horror and heartbreak that was inevitable. He kept to a safe distance until he was required, he was asked to fetch a water skin and douse the head stone with it to clean it. Since he was close at hand he was able to help Morgana up as well. Even when he handed back the water skin it took a moment to realise he was still clasping her hand- like a King escorting a Queen. She thankfully retracted her hand and met up with Arthur by a great oak. "You look troubled Arthur, is there something wrong?"
"Just concern yourself with the memorial, I'll let you know if we have trouble, I'm standing guard- you proceed with your ritual." Arthur answered aristocratically as if addressing a fellow knight, he caught Merlin staring at them from a distance curiously. "Merlin."
Merlin rushed into him. "Yes Sire?" Arthur had to take a step back so Merlin wasn't standing on his boots.
"You're like a dog today Merlin, too eager to please, stand down."
"Sire?" Merlin wasn't quite familiar with that instruction, it wasn't like he was a knight.
"Be your normal chirpy self and accommodate Morgana, she's either moping, giving you funny looks, or checking up on me." He flexed his gloves and marched up the marsh to patrol. Merlin wasn't entirely sure if Arthur was venting out his suspicions or just highly anxious- he had a heavy plod about his step. Merlin retraced his own steps expecting to find Morgana tending to the grave, but she had seated herself on the trunk of the great oak, waiting expectantly. He sighed and dragged his feet to her.
"Arthur is right." He said on approach, she graced him with an undesirable look. "You are moping, unlike your slimy smirk."
She mentally burned him. "I wish the guards could hear you abuse me, they would fight for my honour." She narrowed her eyes when he seated himself next to her. "I didn't give you permission to sit." He was halfway up before she could blink and she seized the baggiest part of his clothing to yank him back down. "And I did not excuse you either." He had landed with a bump which forced a scowl from him.
"You make yourself so inconspicuous...people aren't that blind to your intentions." He managed, though there was an odd jitter in his legs.
"And I'm not numb to your intentions either."
He felt suddenly both hot and cold."What do you mean?" Growing nervous he shifted further up the trunk, quickly running out of room. She laughed heartily making his face twitch.
"Look at you all embarrassed again, how sweet." Her gloved hand skimmed his face. "No matter what you think of me...one thing will always give you away." Well she was giving something away, how can she be delighted? - No good can come from this!
"You don't know anything." He tried, giving her an empty stare- hopefully the cold will take care of his blush. "You are delusional." Okay, this was whimsical- calling her crazy because he couldn't control his perversion.
"Ha, you make me laugh, you jest with me, you have an odd way of flirting."
"I am not flirting!" Several men looked over and made their approach. No no no...Do not want!
He winced as one began to speak to Morgana. "Is he bothering you my lady?" This was it. When he sensed her turn to him he stared very hopelessly at something behind everyone to calm him – it was the grave stone- he hoped Mr Gorlois didn't mind sharing.
"No he isn't, I was just teasing him and he retaliated." The men sneered at him. "He's making it a habit." Something flicked his ear and he hardly moved.
"If that continues we might have to take him back in shackles, can't have insubordination." It was Morgana's call- he didn't have the right to say anything- apparently.
"Though that would please me, we can't restrain a harmless rabbit for the bandits, he's all arms and legs anyway you would use up all of your chain." He heard a chorus of laughter, his ears were wagging at the noise. He felt like he had been stripped naked and was being bargained for. Oh when would the torment end? Never...these were the worst days.
"-What's so amusing? You should be watching...get a move on men." Arthur had taken his precious time descending the hill to disrupt the abuse. But he couldn't hold that against the prince. "Merlin I said talk to Morgana not entertain the whole damn party."
Merlin kicked stones and dirt when he got back to real work; scouting around for clues. He was very conscious that Morgana knew something, well didn't she always? Gwen was still in a coma- because of her he gathered. He took out his prize from earlier, it was something worth putting on a chain and presenting to a lady. Gwen was a lucky girl, he bounced it off his palm feeling a little giddy, and slipped it safely back into his pocket.
The men were padding around the area, he kept himself alone and in good view of Arthur. Morgana had milled by the grave for several moments before reaching for something in her belt. He psyched himself, digging his nails into his palms as Morgana's movements on her person became more discreet. Finally she pulled out a small water skin, he relaxed, she was just thirsty. Though the speed she drank was very questionable and he crossed the grass, she shoved her water skin back in her skirts. "Yes?"
"What was that?" Believing he was going to get into another tussle with her.
"You have good eyes, what do you think I was doing?" She said firmly wiping her mouth.
"Your water skin appears to have shrunk."
"Your eyes have failed you, don't talk silly – you seek deception, you are waiting for me to do something wrong!" Now she was raising her voice on purpose, he probably was jumping to conclusions, but he couldn't walk away, could he? "I have a smaller water skin in case of emergencies – report me." She pushed out her chest, an action which could have caused a lot of damage...to his breeches, but luckily his concern for Arthur's safety had blocked signals from his brain. That's right Morgana take a good look at me...Nothing! She backed down. "Must we fight like this, we could just go back to being good friends?"
If someone had overheard that- they would have seriously got the wrong idea.
He hissed for her to quit her damsel in distress display. "Friends don't torment and attempt to kill."
"Arthur does the same." She looked in the prince's direction standing not too far away. "Why not tell him off for being teazy and horrible, he makes you squirm more than I do." She added slyly, having the advantage to see him awkwardly stare out at his master. "Better yet... I'll tell him." He froze, she was halfway there when he finally ran after her. "Arthur!" Oh shit shit shit.
The wind blew wildly around him as he trudged speedily up that damp hill, had he been not so distracted he would have sensed it earlier, everything slowed down after he heard a twig snap and the clunk of metal and wood. Something was whistling through the air and he did the first thing he could think of; he threw himself in the direction of the nobles at the top of the marsh. He landed on a heap of velvet and managed to grab a handful of chainmail and drag it down with him. He detected the arrow whistle over his head and Arthur grumbled beneath him. "Merlin!"
"An attack!" He managed to get out at the same time he heard the clang of swords on the grass below, Arthur stood while unsheathing his sword, a load of bandits were charging.
"Merlin, take Morgana across the stream and into the woods!-"
"-I'm not leaving you!" Merlin stooped hearing the constant whistle of arrows.
"Don't argue with me!"
Morgana had crawled out from under Merlin, he had nearly forgot she was under there. "I can fight alongside you!" Fondling under her skirts, Arthur snared her hand and bustled her to her feet.
"No, there are too many of them!"
"Then why would you have a better chance alone?" She protested, she gasped when a Bandit hurtled towards them with a massive axe. "Arthur!" Merlin felt the call of magic but luckily the prince had swung around at the attacker, detecting his approach- his sword clipped the unfair weapon- jarring it sideways giving him time to slay the wielder.
"Merlin...Morgana, GO!" It could not be refused. Merlin seized her 'ladyship's' hand and dragged her down the other side of the hill, while looking back at Arthur engaged in combat, he nearly tripped on the turf below as it suddenly became flat. The sound of two ragged breaths reminded him he was running for two- he picked up the pace, now grappling for Morgana's arm. Soon as he had passed the boarder of trees, he fleetingly checked for pursuers then looked further up for Arthur, luckily he was still active and swishing his sword about on that ruddy marsh. He bundled his companion into a nearby tree, and pressed his arm threateningly against her throat.
"Did you have anything to do with this?" He blew at her, she gasped wide eyed at him. She hesitated, he lost his patience and snarled. "TELL ME!"
Her eyes burned gold and mentally he thought 'forgot about that, and oh hell no!' He felt the lung crushing push and he was flying into an opposing tree, pain split through his head -he thought he was going to pass out. Morgana stood shakily above him, poised to run off. He dragged his head up on the verge of unconsciousness.
Morgana stared him down into the ground. "You won't give up will you- I wonder if Gwen and Arthur will see this side of you, impatient, untrusting, unforgiving...and violent." She breathed heavily, she looked lost with the backdrop of the trees. "By the way I am nothing to do with this...now who's delusional!" They heard a rumble of feet, Morgana spied the bandits gaining. "Get up!" She kicked at him and he rolled onto his front to push himself up. He took too long so she tugged him by the scruff of the neck deeper into the trees. "Speed up!" The canopy over head grew darker.
While at an exceptionally fast stagger- "I have just thumped my head by the way."
"Don't care...Run!" They could feel the encroaching danger and the sound of branches breaking, they drew cold and panicked breaths through unfit lungs. After several scratches and stumbles later they crashed into the very river they had watered the horses in. "Now what!"
Merlin swizzled round. "I think they have stopped..." He listened with his companion for the sound of silence, it was obvious no one was chasing them. "They must have given up, we have to get back to Arthur."
"They might have taken him." She said desperately to sway Merlin from racing back. "You're not even armed." It came out coyly, it wouldn't be just bravely that would make a man as meek as Merlin to run back into danger. "What will you do?"
"Arthur wouldn't give up on me, so I won't give up on him...I'll use my bare hands."
Morgana couldn't help looking up at the heavens and sighing dejectedly. "Okay, where to?..Back to the burial grounds to get our heads chopped off."
"You could use your magic...blast them off their feet, put it to good use." It had slipped out of his mouth, not too sure he was comfortable with encouraging her to inflict pain. He wanted the opposite of this - how it should have been. He bit his lip in thought. Morgana too had gone very hush, wishing him to take the floor – lay everything out. If what he had said to 'Gwen' was true- he should prove it. "If you want to restore my faith in you, now's the time."
She pulled her hood up and over her head in a sign of resignation."Fine, but what about my faith in you?" Merlin gazed right back on the cusp of apologizing. "Am I to be your human shield while you cower behind me?" Ouch.
He cracked his jaw. "I'll defend you anyway I can...I have ways..."
"Like what?..." Using her relaxed tone, she could tell just by looking at him shifting back into the water he wasn't going to say what she wanted to hear. "With words and fist."
Holding a manservant under the water till he choked on his words was a lot noisier and satisfying than she could have ever imagined.
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