THE FOREST OF NEMIA
Dawn broke and the sun shone in the sky.
Gwaine and Percival were stretched out by the fire snoring, and Guinevere was still curled in a ball by the tree, her cloak spread over her as well as Arthur's one.
He wanted her to be comfortable.
Merlin was sat against a tree, his saddle pack acting as a pillow, covered in a blanket.
Arthur walked over to him, unscrewing his flask.
"Merlin." He said.
The servant continued to snore.
Arthur stood over him and started to pour the contents of his flask over his friends head.
Immediately Merlin started to splutter and shake, becoming awake instantly.
"Oh what is that?" He cried, "What is happening?"
Arthur screwed the lid back on his flask and walked the short distance to attach I to his saddle pack.
Merlin pushed himself to sit upright, stretching as he did so.
"How long was I asleep?" The young warlock tilted his neck against a stiff ache in the side of it.
"Long enough." Arthur commented, eyes focused on what he was doing.
Merlin watched him carefully after his eyes flitted to look at Gwen's sleeping form a short distance away.
"Did you get some rest?" He asked.
Arthur didn't look at him, "I couldn't sleep."
Merlin let out a breath and sat upright, peering at his friend and king.
"I have never seen you in this mood." He commented.
"What mood?"
"Brooding… deep… thoughtful.. it doesn't suit you…"
"Shut up merlin." Arthur muttered, yanking on one of the buckles on his saddle, before doing the same to Guinevere's horse beside him.
"I have never seen you this way about anyone." Merlin continued.
Arthur glanced at him defensively before he went back to the task in hand.
"What are you talking about?"
"Gwen." Merlin said matter of factly.
Arthur stiffened.
Merlin peered at him, "What has got you so possessive all of a sudden, we all know you care but…"
"What I care about, is not wasting any more time." Arthur stated coldly before turning to march back up the hill.
Percival had stirred and was pushing himself upright.
Arthur walked past him and Gwaine to his wife.
He crouched down beside her lightly.
"Guinevere."
Gwen's head tilted where she was still sleeping curled on the floor by the tree.
She was snuggled under Arthur's heavy woollen crimson cape, only her face visible.
Her eyes fluttered and she squirmed, yawning as her eyes opened.
She could feel a hand stroking her cheek and she looked to see Arthur knelt beside her, his bag from his horse under her head as a kind of pillow.
"Guinevere wake up, love." He told her gently, his voice a deep murmur in his throat.
She mumbled something in coherent and pushed herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes, leaning back against the tree heavily.
He chuckled and lifted the cloak from around her and folded it, stuffing it in his bag.
She rubbed her eyes, "Did I sleep late?"
"No, look." He chuckled, gesturing with a nod of his head towards the area where the logs and fire were. The embers still glowed and smoke was rising from it, like steam in the cold wind.
She looked to see Merlin stood, gathering up their belongings and muttering, and that Percival was kicking Gwaine awake rather forcefully.
She bit her lip to stop a smile as she watched Percival rinse his mouth out with water, before spitting it in a grumbling Gwaine's face.
The other knight sat up instantly and voiced his complaints.
Percival kicked him, "Up."
She laughed slightly and looked at her husband, who reached to caress her cheek gently with his thumb.
He lent forwards to kiss her softly and she smiled at him when they pulled apart.
"Good morning." She whispered.
He smiled, "Good morning."
THE FOREST OF NEMIA
Gerard was awoken by a stiff kick in his side.
"Up." The sharp female voice commanded.
His eyes flew open and he scrambled off of the cold ground to see Mordred stood holding the reigns of a magnificent black stallion.
He knew it belonged to the lady morgana.
She sneered at him as he glanced around the glade to see his men packing up their few belongings and the loot they had previously acquired before attaching it to their horses.
He glanced at the lady Morgana who sneered a smile.
"It is time." She grinned sickeningly, "Arthur and his gang won't know what hit them, if your men are as good as you say they are…"
"They are my lady." He nodded.
"Good." She sneered and stepped closer to him.
Her eyes flashed gold and Gerard felt as though he was being strangled by her hand even though it was nowhere near her throat and was at her side.
He gasped and struggled.
"Because if they aren't and so much as one of Arthur's travelling party makes it out alive I will hold you responsible."
She blinked and all the air returned to Gerard's lungs.
He gasped and spluttered.
She sneered down at him, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes my lady." He croaked.
"Good." She turned and cast her eyes over the mounted gang of bandits.
"Let's go." She cried and swept up onto her stallion, as Mordred mounted his own.