Ealdor
Teleporting felt weird. It felt like they were being pulled apart and being put back together again. Merlin leant on his knees as they landed. His stomach lurched and he was sure he was going to be sick. He looks up to see where they were. His face dropped. He had hoped to be in Ealdor but they were just on top of the hill that led into Essetir.
He turned to his friends. "Come on, we need to get moving."
Morgana went to take a step forward when Arthur sprung up and pinned Merlin to a tree.
"It was magic. That was magic. You have magic."
"Arthur now is not the time." Merlin said, trying to get out of his grip.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run you through."
Merlin stopped struggling and he was sure Morgana was about to hit him. "Because I have just save your royal backside and if we don't run, your pretty little head with soon be rotting on a spike above the gates." He paused for a moment, trying to think of something else that would snap him out of this daze. "Plus you don't have anything to run me through. Please can we get moving?"
The sound of a horn made Arthur turn to look at Essetir. He knew that sound because he had blown the horn many times. Two long blasts meant that prisoners had escaped. He let Merlin go and started to run. Merlin sighed before grabbing Morgana's hand and followed Arthur.
"Head towards Ealdor." Merlin shouted.
Soon they heard the howls of the hounds and the horses braying, Merlin knew that they had to find a quicker way or run a hell of a lot faster. His magic reacted to his need and he saw a shorter path. It would be more off road than this path and be difficult to navigate but he didn't want to see what Morgause had planned for him if they went back to Essetir. He pushed on and caught up with Arthur.
"Down here." He said, starting to dart through the trees.
"I am sure this would be slower." Arthur said angrily.
"The trees are too close together. They won't be able to get the horses through." Merlin argued. "It is a more direct route. You will see."
"Why couldn't we have been taken further?" Morgana asked.
Merlin turned to look back at her. "I wish that as well. I had hoped that we would have been taken straight to Ealdor. To be honest, it was the first time I had done the spell so I am quite glad that we went as far as we did."
"You mean to say that we could have been in Ealdor." Arthur shouted at him.
Merlin rolled his eyes. He wished that Arthur would just listen sometimes. He had just said that. "Yes, I realise now that I should have probably practised it but I didn't want to make Morgause suspicious. Other than that hiccup, everything is going to plan so far."
They keep ahead of the knights and ran into Ealdor, straight to Merlin's old home.
"Mother?" He shouted.
Hunith came out of the house and gave them a cup each. "I had hoped to see you earlier."
Merlin glugged down the water. "Sorry, spell went a little wrong." He panted.
He had felt fine all the time he was run but he was feeling exhausted now. He legs felt like jelly and he was sure that he wouldn't be able to take another step. He leant against the door frame.
He watched Arthur and Morgana tuck into the bread roll they were given but he was sure he couldn't eat. He'd had a meal before getting them, they were denied theirs.
"How have they taken it?" She whispered.
"Morgana took it quite well considering. I got a slap but I deserved that. She listen and then made her own decision. You can tell that she is no longer on Morgause's side." He explained.
"And Arthur?"
"Not very well. If we weren't so close to Essetir, I swear we could be arguing over it now. He said 'Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run you through'. I swear if he did have a weapon then he would have. He was so angry mother."
"And when you get back to Camelot, you can explain to him properly. This could be the start of something new." She handed him a backpack. "It's just a few supplies just in case your knights aren't there. You still have far to go until you are in Camelot."
He nodded. "We should get going. We are cutting it very fine and we are on foot while they have horses." He turned to Arthur and Morgana and could see that they were in not better state than he was. "Ready?"
"Wait a second. Hunith, you don't have a knife I could quickly borrow?"
Hunith nodded before getting it. Morgana cut into her dress, about two inches from the floor. After she had made it, she ripped the fabric, so it came off.
"I really like this dress but I cannot run any further holding it up or with it around my ankles."
Merlin didn't argue with her. Both he and Arthur had trousers on and he must admit that he could never want to try and run in a dress. Not that he ever would.
"Come on, they will be here soon." Merlin said.
Not long after they heard the hooves and the dogs growling. They were after their blood and Merlin was starting to believe that even if there were Camelot's men at the border, that they would cross it. They had been a valuable asset to them. Having the Prince of Camelot and Uther's ward in their grasp would have been a game changer. Uther probably would have paid handsomely for their release.
"Move!" Arthur shouted and Merlin didn't need telling a second time.
As they ran through the village, the candles quickly went out and the whole place was filled with darkness.
"Please say that you know another short cut."
Merlin pushed hard to be in front. "Follow me."
