Sitting with Igraine and Morgause eating s'more cake.
Morgause "I can't believe you killed me off at the beginning of the story"
Igraine "hey at least your in the story"
Me "Morgause how do you know your not the person in the hood, and Igraine you died before the show's time line even began"
Morgause perks up "am I the person in the hood"
Me "maybe, maybe not"
Igraine "I was in the show, I may have been some sort of ghost called by this self serving blonde here, but I was there"
Me "yeah but not during the time line that this story is an alternate Universe to"
Morgause turns to Igraine "I helped your son get to meet you, how is that self serving"
Igraine crosses her arms and give Morgause a dirty look "you were trying to get Arthur to kill his father"
Morgause and Igraine start to bicker.
Me "uh Morgause? Igraine?" sigh turn to reader's while the two blonde's argue. "you know the drill I don't own Merlin".
{ ^^} {^^} {^^} {^^}
The tall man disguised as a Cornwall guard made his way toward the wagon that held the cage with Prince Arthur in it. The person that guarded it sat on the back ledge and observed the men in the camp. Percival wondered why the man never took his hood down, no one had seen his face. Gwaine wondered if it was even a he, perhaps if the mysterious hooded person was a she he could distract her with his charm while the others snuck the princess Arthur out. Lancelot and Elyan shot down the idea.
Lancelot dressed as a Cornwall guard made a small show of tending one of the fires while watching the men around him. He caught sight of King Odin sitting in his tent, the man was drinking something and raising his goblet as if toasting something. Probably his capture of Arthur Lancelot figured. The would be knight stood and walked to the edge of the camp.
"oy, where do you think your going?" one of the Cornwall men asked
Lancelot turned to the man, from his clothes he figured the man to be one of the higher ranking guards.
"I was going to collect some more fire wood, sir" Lancelot told him.
The man put his hands on his hips and took a step closer.
"what? You're just going to go off into the woods on your own"
Lancelot tried to think of something, the plan was for him to sneak out of the camp. What was he suppose to do if this guy made one of the Cornwall men go with him.
"I'll go with him sir"
Lancelot and the Cornwall guard turned to see Elyan stand up from the log he was sitting on near one of the camp fires. The guard cock an eye brow at the man, then shrugged and gestured for them to go.
"all right but be back in fifteen minute, and remember if you get lost and aren't back by the time we pack up and head out in the morning we ain't waiting for you"
"yes sir" Lancelot and Elyan said in unison.
The two men turned and made their way out of the camp Elyan caught Gwaine's eye as they were leaving, giving him a pointed look. He turned his head to the cage that held Arthur then turned back to Gwaine, Elyan cocked his head to indicate the back of the cage and flashed five fingers to indicate five minutes before disappearing into the woods.
Gwaine stretched as he pushed off of the tree he was leaning on and walked over to Percival. He leaned down and picked up the pouch of water that sat on the log beside his tall friend, He took a drink and leaned down again to put it back.
"four minute" Gwaine told him quietly before straightening and stepping away.
Percival glanced up from sharpening his sword or at least the sword of the man that owned the uniform he was wearing. He had almost felt bad about knocking the man out and leaving him tide up in his under garments, in the back of the tavern he had been getting drunk in in the last town they had stopped at before leaving Escetir lands. Percival glanced at the wagon that held his friend and watched as a couple of Cornwall men poked at the covering loudly mocked the prince. Almost guilty, almost.
{ ^ ^ } { ^ ^ } { ^ ^ }
Arthur sat on the far side of the cage from where he could hear the hustle and bustle of the camp. The cages covering moved indicating something was poking at it. Probably the Arthur wouldn't be surprised if they were drunk men trying to goad him. Arthur smiled to him self, these people had never met Morgana or Merlin or even Gwaine. The prince of Camelot had been goaded by the best. Speaking of Gwaine, where the heck were Gwaine, Elyan and Lancelot.
Arthur was confident that they would rescue him if he didn't manage to escape on his own, which he totally could if he got the chance, but this was taking a little to long for his comfort.
The two men that were trying to goad him were called away, one of the them gave the cage one last smack before Arthur could see their shadows move away. The Prince looked down at the plate of uneaten food that had been given to him. He knew he should eat but he was sure they were putting something in his food, oh not poison. Odin was determined that Arthur would die on Cornwall lands. However something had made Arthur unable to keep his eyes open the last few nights while they were traveling through Nemeth and Deorham.
One of the defiantly drunk men in the camp started to sing a popular long drinking song very loudly,Arthur almost thought the singer's voice sounded familiar. Soon Arthur could hear more men joining in, they were making quite a ruckus.
Arthur sighed and leaned against the side of the cage giving the plate of food a miss. He was hungry but damn it he needed to stay awake. Tonight would be his last chance to escape before they got to Cornwall and Odin made no secret that He would be put on quote unquote trial at the first royal strong hold they reached. Well at least if they were passed out drunk it would make it easier to escape the Cornwall men.
Arthur shot away from the side of the cage and turned to look at it annoyed when something poked him. Oh great now they were going around to the other side.
"Arthur" a voice whispered
Arthurs eyes bugged and he kneeled down closer to the side of the cage the voice came from. The covering was tide down so tight the person out side could not lift it up.
"Elyan is that you?" He asked in a whisper.
"yeah, Lance is here to" Elyan said
Lancelot peaked around the front of the wagon making sure Percival and Gwaine had the entire camp distracted with the impromptu to sing-a-long. Satisfied that everyone seem distracted he turned to the task at hand, Lancelot and Elyan each took out a hunting knife and started sawing at the bars of the cage under the edge of the covering.
"hurry up the song is almost done" Elyan said as he sawed faster.
"I'm moving as fast as I can Elyan" Lancelot said
"it's almost"
Lancelot froze in mid cut when he felt the tip of a blade on his back, He looked out of the corner of his eye to see Elyan had a sword at his throat.
"drop the knives and turn around slowly" a voice said from behind them.
Lancelot and Elyan turn to see the high ranking guard the had not wanted Lancelot to collect fire wood alone.
"I thought you two looked families" He said.
"you were in Escetir with Camelot's prince"
The singing of the really sounds like he's drunk guy came to an abrupt stop.
{ ^ ^ } { ^ ^ }
Leon watched Lady Morgana riding up ahead of him on the trail a look of deep thought on his face. He couldn't believe she had refused to be escorted back to Camelot. What was she thinking this was to dangerous a mission for a Lady to be on.
"it won't work" Merlin said from beside him.
"what won't work?" Leon asked
"what ever it is you're thinking of saying to try and convince her to let a knight take her to Camelot and not help rescue Arthur" Merlin told the knight "once she sets her mind to something there is little to no chance of talking her out of it."
"did you learn that while you were traveling with her this past year" Sir Galahad asked from behind them.
"I learned the first month I lived in Camelot" Merlin said over his shoulder.
"Sir Leon" Sir Belivair called from ahead of them.
"I think we found something"
The small group rode into what looked to be the remains of a camp. Merlin and the knights dismounted their horses, Sir Belivair moved to help Lady Morgana down but she was off her horse before he could get around his.
"My Lady you really should let one of us help you" Sir Belivair complained
Morgana turned her head and gave him a dirty look, She hated it when people assumed she was some delicate flower just because she was a noble. Sir Belivair's eyes bugged a little as he stepped back in shock at the look on her face.
"uh, I, I'm j-just going to uh " He stuttered
The knight was saved when Sir Leon and Merlin stepped up to them, Merlin obviously trying to fight a grin.
He gave the stuttering knight a sympathetic look.
"Belivair go help Galahad look for clues as to how old this camp is" Sir Leon told him.
"yes sir" Belivair said before walking quickly, not running he is a knight of Camelot he will not run from a dirty look, to help Galahad who was already hunched down looking over one of the extinguished fire pits.
"uh Morgana, it's probably not a good idea to traumatize the knights" Merlin said stepping up to stand beside her.
"they were here" Morgana said ignoring his comment.
"I can feel it, can you feel it?" Morgana looked at Merlin
Merlin glanced around and reached out with his powers scanning the area.
"yeah" He said
"I think so"
The warlock walked toward the far edge of the camp and squatted down to look at something on the ground.
"what is it" Sir Leon asked from behind him the knight having followed him.
"wagon ruts, something big and heavy was here for at least a night" Merlin said looking over his shoulder to see that Sir Belivair and Sir Galahad were both not looking.
Leon watched curiously as Merlin put his hand palm down over the wagon ruts, he took a sharp breath when the servants eyes flashed gold.
"what ever was here Prince Arthur was on it, along with four other's I can't tell who thou" Merlin said standing up and turning to walk back over to Morgana who had stayed with the horses.
"did you just use magic?" Sir Leon asked in low enough voice to not be heard by the other knight walking in step with him.
"yeah, didn't you tell be you were okay with my magic while we resting last night?" Merlin asked
"I am, but it's still illegal" Sir Leon said
"oh it's a ridiculous law, how is a person suppose to not use magic when they are born with it" Morgana said handing each of them back the reins to their horses. She glanced up at the sky for a second.
"what did you find?"
Merlin told her what he had found just as Sir Galahad and Sir Belivair, who stood back just a little, walked back to them. Morgana glanced up for again her face slowly falling into a frown.
"I'd say the camp is only about an hour old" Sir Galahad said
"and they were definitely Odin's men" Sir Belivair said.
"if we ride fast we should be able to catch up with them"
"we maybe to late if we don't hurry" Morgana said as she remounted her horse while looking up at the sky.
Merlin followed her gazed and saw what she was looking at. Storm clouds were rolling out across the sky, their eyes met both understanding what it meant. Merlin quickly mounted his horse as Sir Leon, Sir Belivair and Sir Galahad did.
"does any one have any idea how far it is till the nearest Fortress in Cornwall" Merlin asked
"well if we travel as far as I think we have through Deorham then the Border to Cornwall is about an hour and the nearest Fortress is about half an hour in." Sir Galahad said
"and they have an hour head start" Morgana said as she spurred her horse into a gallop.
Merlin and the knight's spurred their horses forward to catch up with the lady. Merlin and Leon because they had explained to him about her vision during their I know you have magic talk during the short rest they had taken, under stood why she was suddenly riding so fast. While Sir Galahad and Sir Belivair thought they understood but had no real idea.
Arthur and the others were pulled out of the wagon cage and dragged over to the centre of what looked to be a court yard, and made to kneel. The five men glanced around at their surrounding. It was a fortress of some sort, a bit run down and in need of repair. Odin stepped out in front of him and stood looking down on him. The person in the hood stood beside and to the back of him.
"Arthur Pendragon" Odin's voice boomed for everyone to hear
"you have been found guilty of the murder of the crown prince of Cornwall"
The two guards that stood on either side of him took a hold of each of his arms and pulled him up.
"you call that a trial" Gwain said struggling against the men that held him back.
"I'm not surprised" Arthur said glaring at Odin as he was man handled up to a block of wood "He decided my guilt along time ago"
One of the guards, one of Cenred's men Arthur noted pushed him down to kneel in front of the block of wood.
Odin waved his hand and the person in the hood stepped over and Odin's head guard passed the hooded person a long sword. Odin smiled down at Arthur.
Arthur glanced over at his friends, they all had three or more blades on them. The Prince couldn't help thinking that he wished Merlin was there. It was strange to him, before finding out how much Merlin had done for him and Camelot Arthur would have been glad that he wasn't.
"is Cenred not joining us?" Arthur asked
"you know Cenred tells me this one hates you almost as much as I do" Odin ignored Arthur question.
"So I am giving him the honour of Executing you"
The two guards on either side of the prince pushed his head down to lay on the block binding his hands that were tide together to a iron hoop on the ground. The rope was tide so short that his body was forced to stay on the block, his head hanging over the edge. Arthur pulled at the roped as hard as he could, He would not die like this without a fight. He feared what would happen to Lancelot, Elyan, Gwaine and Percival after. Would Odin kill them for trying to help him?
The hooded person said nothing as Odin stepped back and motioned for the person to step forward. The hooded person took a slow deep breath and raised the sword focusing on his target. He raised the sword up and in one motion he brought it down twisting it at the last moment to cut Arthur free of his binding , the hood falling down.
Arthur who had been pulling with his whole body fell back and looked up at the person in shock, this he had not expected.
"Mordred?"
{ ^ ^ }
Me "so thats the end of this chapter"
Morgause "I thought you said I was the hooded person"
Igraine "no, she said maybe"
Me "do not start arguing again. I will take away your mini Oreos"
Morgause and Igraine clutch their individual bags of mini Oreo's guardingly.
