Hiya! Was watching the "Labyrinth of Gedref" (1x11) again and started thinking...hey...what if...
So, the first few lines of dialogue follow the beginning of the episode. I do not own that dialogue. I do not own Merlin (sniffle). Enjoy, guys! Have a holiday coming up so not sure when I will post yet, but hope to do so soon!
Chapter 1
It had been three days, and the Camelot hunting party did not have much to show for it. Prince Arthur led the men through the woods.
The crack of a branch alerted them to another presence in the clearing ahead. Arthur motioned for the men to circle the clearing.
"Merlin!" Arthur whispered, waving him over. Merlin hurried forward.
"What is it?" the servant asked warily, eyes darting back and forth.
"I don't know," Arthur murmured thoughtfully. "We'll surround it. I want you to go in there, flush it out."
Merlin gaped at him. "You want me to go in there?" he hissed. "You just said you don't know what it is, it could be dangerous!"
Arthur grinned. "Let's hope so." He patted Merlin on the back. "Now, go."
Grumbling to himself, Merlin edged cautiously into the clearing, keeping his eyes peeled. Spying a heavy looking branch on the ground, he grabbed it. Maybe he could use it as a weapon.
In the distance, he could see a figure looming in the blackness of the woods. He crept closer, holding his breath. Light streamed down from the empty spaces between the branches, illuminating the mysterious figure.
Merlin's heart skipped a beat. A unicorn. It was a unicorn.
Merlin didn't dare breathe, for fear of startling it. He gazed at the magnificent creature in awe. The unicorn snorted. Merlin chuckled. Then he tensed, remembering he wasn't alone.
"Go!" he whispered urgently, waving the unicorn away. "Go!" The unicorn let out a soft whinny, but didn't move.
"Please go," he pleaded. He swallowed the lump in his throat, ignored the wetness in his eyes. "They're gonna kill you, please go!"
The unicorn watched him calmly. Merlin looked around frantically, trying to find a way out. He spotted Arthur perched in an oak tree, aiming his bow. The creature was directly in his cross-hairs.
"Arthur, no!" he shouted desperately. But the crossbow had already fired.
Before he realized what he was doing, Merlin leapt in front of the creature. With a sickening thwack, the heavy bolt found its target.
Arthur watched in horror as Merlin sank to the ground, the crossbow quarrel sticking out of his chest.