A/N: Thank you SnidgetHex, 29Pieces, GuestM, Buckhunter, Guest, and pallysAramisRios for reviewing! Merlin's very astute and he totally ships them. *g* Also, yes, we have not seen the last of Sklaar.

Chapter 7

Merlin paused in the monotonous motion of sanding down a wooden plank to wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his sleeve. He stretched his spine, feeling several vertebrae pop as they released the tension from being bowed over for a prolonged period of time. At least he was used to this kind of labor, having spent hours bent over Arthur's armor cleaning and polishing. He just didn't usually do it outside under a beating sun.

He glanced at Lancelot, working on his own plank, and frowned when he noticed the knight's motions were on the slower side. His forward and downward scraping of the wood was precise and rhythmic, but his gaze was distant, his attention clearly elsewhere.

"You missed a spot."

"Hm." Lancelot blinked and turned toward him. "What?"

Merlin smirked. "Thinking about a certain chieftain's daughter?"

Lancelot actually blushed at that and ducked his gaze, which made Merlin grin like an idiot.

"I take it you had a nice time last night," he went on. It'd been late when Lancelot finally got back, and Merlin had had to cover for him with Arthur, saying Lily had come by to drop something off and Lancelot had wanted to walk her back to her village, make sure she got there safely since it was after dark.

Not that there was anything wrong with the two of them spending time together, or the fact that Lily was planning to show Lancelot some magic. If it wasn't for that last bit, Merlin might not have obfuscated the nature of their rendezvous.

Lancelot's expression softened with memory. "I did."

Merlin could not stop beaming. He'd spent years watching his friend stand on the sidelines so Gwen could be with Arthur, never opening himself up to the possibility of love again. And even though everything else about their situation here was pretty bad, Merlin was glad for a bit of silver lining.

"I'm happy for you," he said sincerely.

Lancelot's mien suddenly turned morose and he shook his head. "Don't be. It's not like there can be anything between us."

Merlin frowned.

"We'll be leaving once the ship is repaired and we've gotten the flower for Gwen," Lancelot continued. "An entire sea will be between us then."

Oh. Right. Merlin's good mood took a dip at that. There was also the fact that Lily's father still hadn't agreed to share the dóreaastrum with them. Merlin was beginning to suspect Kieran was dragging it out on purpose and that he had no intention of ever giving it to them. And he had no idea what they'd do then.

Merlin and Lancelot fell back into their work after that, until Arthur came by, clearly in a foul disposition. Again.

"I'm going up to the village," he announced.

No doubt to ask Kieran about the star lily. Merlin shared a grim look with Lancelot before setting his tool down and going with Arthur. Neither of them spoke on the trek up to the village, and Merlin silently hoped Arthur would remain civil once they arrived.

They received many wordless looks as they strode into the village; Arthur's quest and the tension it was causing was no secret among them. And while no one was openly hostile, Merlin got the distinct feeling these people did not approve of Arthur. If only they hadn't gotten off on the wrong foot.

If only Arthur had kept his mistrust of magic hidden.

"King Arthur," Kieran greeted neutrally. "Merlin."

Merlin nodded back while Arthur plowed right into it.

"Have you made a decision about the flower?"

"As I have told you before, this is a delicate matter. I am entrusted with protecting the sanctity of the star lily. Failure to do so could open my clan to ramifications from the rest of the island."

"I don't see how anyone else would have to know," Arthur replied tersely.

Kieran shook his head. "Your impatience is not doing you any credit, King Arthur."

"Forgive me for worrying that the other half of my soul could very well die while we stand around debating merit!"

"Your vessel is not yet seaworthy," Kieran kindly reminded him. "Receiving the flower now will not change that."

Arthur worked his jaw, trying to rein in his composure. After another tense moment, he pivoted sharply and stormed off.

Merlin sighed and cast a remorseful look at Kieran before turning to follow. Things did not look like they'd be getting better.

"Merlin!"

He stopped at the sound of Lily calling his name. Arthur was already out of sight down the path, and Merlin figured he could use some time alone to stew, so he hung back as Lily made her way over to him. He thought she might want to talk about Lancelot, but what she said instead caught him by surprise.

"Merlin," she began seriously. "I wanted you to know that if you wished to stay here when your friends sail, you would be welcome."

He quirked his brow in confusion.

"You wouldn't have to hide," she went on. "You would be accepted, you and your magic."

Merlin's mouth moved soundlessly in shock. "Um, thank you for the offer, but my place is with Arthur."

"Why?"

He shrugged with a smile. "We're two sides of the same coin."

"You mean your prophecy," she said. "What about your happiness?"

"Lily, I appreciate your concern, but I am happy. Arthur is my best friend, and he needs me."

"Even if he doesn't know how much you truly do for him?" she pressed.

Merlin now wondered just what all she and Lancelot had talked about last night. "He knows enough for now. And maybe he'll never know, but it doesn't matter. I've pledged myself and my magic to him."

Lily looked frustrated by his adamance. "Well, if you change your mind, the invitation stands."

"Thank you. It is very kind to offer." Merlin was suddenly struck with a thought that was either intriguing or distressing. "Um, have you invited anyone else to stay?"

"No. Why, is there another in your party with hidden magic?"

"No. I meant, well, Lancelot."

Her cheeks instantly colored. "Why would I have asked him?"

"You two seem to have made a connection," Merlin ventured.

She shook her head. "A knight of Camelot has no reason to leave everything he knows behind and stay on this isle."

Merlin thought love was a reason, though at the same time, he didn't want to suggest his friend actually stay here where Merlin would never see him again. Maybe Lancelot was right; maybe he and Lily should stop before things went any further between them.

Another moment of awkward silence passed between them, and then she turned to leave.

"Lily," Merlin said, making her pause. "Is your father truly considering our request, or just leading Arthur on?"

Her brows knitted together. "He would not be so cruel, Merlin. But…" She hesitated.

"But you have an idea which side he will likely fall on," Merlin finished, heart sinking.

Lily's face grimaced with regret. "I will speak with him."

Merlin nodded. That was all any of them could do at this point: keep talking.

He finally left the village and headed back down to the beach. Arthur hadn't stopped to wait for him or come back looking, which was just as well. If he'd asked what Lily was speaking to him about, Merlin wouldn't have known what to say.

He was almost to the shore when an animalistic yowl rent the air, followed by tortured screams. Merlin's heart lurched into his throat, but it wasn't coming from the beach. He turned and sprinted into the woods toward the sounds, praying it wasn't Arthur who'd gone off into the forest to brood alone.

It wasn't. Merlin skidded to a stop as he came upon a hunting party from the village. Two men lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving, bright red blood splattered across the surrounding ferns. A third was trying to crawl away from a large black cat that slashed its claws down the man's back. He arched with an agonized scream. A fourth hunter lunged at the creature with his spear, but somehow the head glanced off the beast's hide, and it whirled on him with a growl. Fast as a cobra, it struck, plunging its fangs into the villager's leg and ripping a large chunk of flesh and sinew out. He went down in a spray of crimson.

Merlin threw his hand out and uttered a spell. The concussive force of power slammed into the feline and threw it into a tree. Several pine needles showered down, and the cat quickly leaped to its feet again. Blazing yellow eyes snapped toward Merlin. With a snarl, the cat charged.

Merlin jerked his gaze to the hunters' fallen weapons and summoned up his magic again to fling a spear at the creature. The weapon smashed into its face from the side, sending it tripping through the soil. Merlin scrambled out of the way. Fire, that was what he needed.

Drawing his shoulders back, Merlin cast another spell, sending a geyser of sparks and flames at the cat's flank. The tongues of fire washed over the beast like water, and with a pained yowl, it twisted away and fled into the woods.

Merlin remained standing there, hand outstretched, chest heaving from adrenaline and muscles taut in case the cat circled back around.

A rustling of branches had him whirling, but it was only Arthur and the rest of the knights barreling onto the scene, swords raised. They must have heard the animal's roars from the beach.

"Merlin!" Arthur swept his gaze around in horror, then looked back at his manservant. "What happened?"

"I think it was the cath palug," he replied, dropping his hand quickly before anyone commented on his posture. "I caught a glimpse of a large black cat running off."

He and Lancelot shared a knowing look before the knights spread out to check the wounded men. Lancelot knelt beside the one lying face down and waited a moment, then looked up and shook his head.

"These two are still alive!" Gwaine called from where he and Percival had crouched next to two of the other hunters.

"This one's not," Leon added grimly.

"They're seriously wounded," Percival put in.

Arthur nodded, the austere air of command swiftly replacing his earlier dourness. "The beach is closer; Elyan, Leon, go back and get something to fashion two litters with. Tarpaulin, our cloaks if necessary. Be careful, the creature could still be close by."

The two knights nodded and hurried off.

Merlin dropped down next to the wounded men to assess their injuries. Blood was spilling from multiple gashes along their legs and torsos, so much so that Merlin had a flash of doubt they would survive such a mauling.

He took hold of their already tattered garments and ripped several strips off to bind the wounds with. The best he could hope to accomplish right now was to staunch the bleeding until they could reach the village. Gwaine and Percival helped, as there was a lot to cover, while Arthur and Lancelot stood guard.

The two hunters were still breathing when Elyan and Leon returned with some sections of tarp to load them on, though neither one had regained consciousness. They had lost a lot of blood, and Merlin didn't think anything short of magic would be able to save them.

He wondered if Kieran would use the star lily on his own people.

They went as quickly as they could, bearing the wounded men back to their village. A cry of alarm went up when they arrived. Calla was the first to rush toward them.

"Lay them here," she barked, waving the knights over to the outdoor work tables as other villagers swiftly cleared the tops.

Lily sprinted over next and began barking out orders to people nearby to boil water and to grab a list of herbs she rattled off. Maybe they weren't going to use the miracle flower after all.

After depositing their loads, the knights quickly backed away to give the villagers space to work. Merlin watched tensely, wanting to jump in and offer assistance, but it seemed they knew what they were doing, everyone working with a synchronized, well-practiced efficiency that Merlin would only get in the way of.

Kieran came over, his expression grave as he watched his daughters fight to save these men's lives.

"They were attacked by a large black cat," Merlin told him.

He merely nodded.

"Does the cath palug usually come this close to the village?" Lancelot asked.

"Yes," Kieran replied with a defeated sigh. "Sometimes it culls the herd up on the highland, but it prefers the taste of human flesh." His eyes darkened as they remained fixed on his wounded hunters. "Each clan loses someone nearly every lunar cycle. My wife…she was slain by the beast several years ago."

They fell silent at that and watched the desperate life-saving efforts happening across the way. At one point, Calla left her patient to help Lily with hers, and someone folded the tarp flap up over the man's face.

"What if my knights and I hunt down this creature and slay it," Arthur suddenly spoke up. "In exchange for the star flower."

Kieran frowned. "The cath palug is extremely difficult to harm. Our own warriors are no bumbling oafs, and the creature can easily decimate them, as you well see."

Hm, Merlin wondered if the creature was somehow invulnerable to regular weapons, like a griffin. That would explain why the spears hadn't done much damage back in the forest.

"Arthur does have a blessed sword capable of killing magical creatures," he put in.

Arthur's gaze automatically dropped to Excalibur sheathed at his hip, a glint of hope lighting his eyes. "Do we have a deal?" he asked Kieran.

The chieftain pursed his mouth in reluctance. "I am not really at liberty to make such a bargain."

Arthur's expression was clearly fraught with desperation. "My men and I will go out and slay this beast," he promised. "All I ask in return for ridding your village of this plague is that you consider our need and how you can help us in turn." He didn't even wait for Kieran to either agree or disagree before pivoting on his heel and striding away.

Merlin exchanged a look with the other knights. Looked like they were going hunting.

They turned to follow their king when Lily came hurrying over and snagged Lancelot's elbow. Merlin paused as well.

"This is madness," she said lowly.

Lancelot folded his hand over hers. "We've slain many monsters in our time. And I would feel at ease when we leave knowing that foul creature won't be a threat to you and your people anymore."

Her lips pressed together in a tight line. "Be careful."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "I will."

With that, Lancelot turned and strode after the others. Merlin hesitated when Lily's gaze caught his.

"If it came down to it," she said quietly, "would you use your magic to protect them?"

"Of course," he replied. "I always do."

He knew what she meant was would he reveal his magic to save them? But he'd always found a way around that in the past, so he wasn't concerned now. Besides, he also thought she was worried about one knight in particular.

"I'll watch out for Lancelot," Merlin promised, then turned and hurried to catch up with his friends.