Mama Merlin
Summary: Mother: bringing up (a child) with care and affection. Because the knights are useless without Merlin. (One-shot)
Note: Kindly, ignore my grammar issues.
"I want Merlin," Gwaine said for the tenth time that day.
"Gwaine," Arthur said also the tenth time that day.
"But I do," Gwaine whined. "I want Merlin. I miss Merlin. Where's my best friend when you need him?"
"Currently sick," Elyan said.
Which was true. Merlin had gotten terribly sick after helping Gaius with the sick in the lower town. Arthur will never admit to the fact that he panicked when he woke up with George waiting for him. Never.
"I know, but why did we have to go on a hunting trip when he's sick," Gwaine said.
Which was also true. Arthur thought that the hunting trip would take his worry of his sick friend. Not that he would ever admit that he called a servant a friend.
"It was the King idea," Lancelot said with a frown.
"Well done, Princess," Gwaine mocked. "Now, look at us. Best Camelot knights walking on the edge of a mountain.
Which was also true. It turned out that Merlin was some sort of luck charm because they never got this bad into trouble before.
"I don't like heights," Mordred said his face turning green.
Percival slipped and started to fall, but Leon caught him. Only problem was Leon wasn't strong enough and ended up falling with the knight. Lancelot caught them both barely holding onto the knights and almost slipping himself.
Gwaine tossed Arthur a frown.
"Princess."
"Yes, Gwaine."
"If we die here my ghost is telling Merlin that it was your idea."
Good news they got Percival and Leon to safety and by luck the group of knights got off the edge of the mountain without any problem. Only to end up in quick sand three hours later.
"I want Merlin," Gwaine said as he was slowly sinking to his doom. "We never get into any trouble like this when Merlin here. And, if he was here, he would've thought of something by now and saved us."
"That's true," Mordred said. Quickly closing his mouth before he ended up swallowing quick sand.
"And, he would've told us stories."
"Merlin doesn't tell us stories," Arthur said.
"He does sometimes before we go to bed."
Lancelot being the only knight with any brains pulled out rope from his side bag.
"You're making him sound like a mother Gwaine."
"He sort of is," Leon said.
Lancelot held onto the rope as he tossed the rope to the nearest tree branch. The rope tied around the wood. Lancelot made sure it was tight enough to help them out of the quick sand.
"He tells great bed time stories," Elyan said.
"And, he makes great food," Mordred said.
Percival noticed that Mordred was nearly sinking to his doom and pulled the young knight head up so he didn't die first. Mordred patted the bigger knight on the shoulder despite slowly sinking in quick sand, again.
"His cooking really is the best," Elyan said.
"And, he tucks me in at night," Gwaine gave Arthur a frown. "You don't tuck us in at night."
"I'm King."
Lancelot was slowly pulling himself out of the quick sand.
"So. It isn't Merlin job to tuck me in either, but he does. And, he fixes any cuts we get. You did nothing about my boo boo."
"It wasn't even going to leave a scar. It didn't even bleed," Arthur said.
"It still hurt," Gwaine said.
Lancelot wasn't sinking anymore, but safety on the ground. Mordred was very much drowning in quick sand until Percival pulled him up again allowing the young knight to breathe air and not sand.
"And, you did nothing."
"You're a grown man."
"Merlin would've made it better and he would've told me everything will be alright."
Lancelot heled out his hand as Mordred went to grab it. The young knight was no longer in the sand, but on land. Mordred like the land, the land was good. Quick sand bad.
"You're cooking awful to," Gwaine said.
"I'm King," Arthur said. "I shouldn't have to be the one cocking if you didn't get your cape burnt."
"We all know the capes are a hazard, Princesses."
Leon nodded his head. Percival was a bit worried that Elyan whole body was in quick sand and the only sign that the knight was alive was the small little bubbles busting from the sand. Telling the bigger knight that the Queen brother was still alive. In panic, Percival pulled Elyan out of the sand and Lancelot got the knight onto solid ground. Good ground.
"Gwaine they are a sign of Camelot pride."
"Will you hurt mine when you told me to get over my boo boo."
Lancelot helped Leon out of the quick sand.
"Fine we won't leave Camelot without Merlin than."
Lancelot helped Percival onto the ground.
"Good," Gwaine said. "Because he brings good luck."
Mordred tripped over a rock and landed back into the quick sand. The knights we're very worried, expect for Gwaine and Arthur who hadn't noticed.
"My servant does not bring good luck."
The knights helped Mordred back to the land and Percival made sure the young knight was far away from the quick sand. Patting Mordred on the head like one would for a good dog.
"He does."
"He does not."
Lancelot helped Gwaine out of the quick sand.
"He does."
"Does not."
Lancelot than helped Arthur out of the quick sand.
"He does!" Gwaine said.
"He does not."
Arthur tripped over the same rock Mordred had and ended up back in the quick sand head first. The knights winched, wondering how they will tell Merlin about this. Gwen would understand, but Merlin was more of an obstacle than Gwen. More scary too than Gwen.
"He does," Gwaine said. Not caring about the King falling into the quick sand.
The knight's sans Gwaine helped the King out pulling the King of Camelot by his legs just to get him out.
"He does not," Arthur said stubbornly. Splitting sand out of his mouth.
The knights signed in relief.
Mordred tossed the rock far, far, far, far away. Stupid evil rock.
The knights kept walking.
"How does Merlin bring good luck?" Arthur asked.
Arthur and Gwaine kept arguing.
"We got attack by bandits. They scared of the horses that's why we're walking back to Camelot instead of riding," Gwaine reminded Arthur.
It started to rain.
Mordred wanted to return back to his chambers. He started crying. Percival comforted him.
"If Merlin was here branches would fall on the bandits."
Leon almost got zapped by lighting. Elyan pushed him away from it.
"Branches don't fall on bandits Gwaine."
Lancelot slipped over a puddle.
"They do," Gwaine said.
"They didn't today."
"That's because Merlin isn't with us."
Leon helped Lancelot back up to his feet.
A branch almost killed Percival, but Mordred saved him.
"I highly doubt Merlin has anything to do with fallen branches."
The knights kept walking. Before they found a cave. Lancelot tried to start a fire.
"Merlin is also very good at lighting fires," Gwaine said. "It takes us hours to set ours up."
Lancelot was still trying.
Percival carefully placed another log on the fire.
"He can even do it when the wood wet."
The fire started. The knights we're so proud than Leon walked by and the fire died.
Mordred started crying again.
"I miss Merlin," Arthur said eventually.
"Yeah, me too," Gwaine said.
The knights all nodded their head staring at the very much dead camp fire. If Merlin was here, they would be warm, fed, gotten a bed time story and still had their horses.
When the rain stopped the knights kept walking.
"I think we're lost," Mordred said.
"Now, what?" Percival asked.
They heard something coming from the west. It sounded like horses. With their swords out the others grouped together and waited for the attack. Only to see Merlin walking out of the bushes.
"Merlin," Gwaine said.
"I thought you we're sick," Arthur said.
"That was a week ago," Merlin said. "You've been missing for a week."
Arthur noticed that Merlin wasn't alone, but brought at least half of Camelot army with him. The horses dug their hooves into the ground as the knights stood around them.
"Merls," Gwaine said. "I missed you."
Gwaine took Merlin in for a hug almost choking him to death.
"Can't breathe."
"Sorry," Gwaine said letting him go.
"Arthur," Gwen said. Hopping of her horse and racing to her King.
"Gwen why are you here?"
"You've been gone for a week. I was worried and when Merlin decided to look for you, I wanted to come along."
"You took half of Camelot knights just to find us?" Lancelot asked.
"Of course," Gwen said. "We didn't know what happened to you and Merlin said he knew where to find you. Arthur you should listen to his feelings more often. They're the reason why we found you in the first place."
Arthur watched as Merlin was taken in for hugs by the knights of round table. He heard Leon chuckled and Mordred bowed his head. Despite Merlin given the young knight a caution glance he could see the delight in his eyes nevertheless.
"Next time don't go without Merlin," Gwen said. "I've made it a law."
"Gwen don't be ridiculous."
"But I'm not. The council had all agreed to it. There is now a law that say Camelot King and the knights of the round table must not leave the Kingdom ground without Merlin. He brings good luck."
Arthur was about to protest, but he was just happy to be found. The royal couple shared a kiss before Arthur went off to take Merlin in for a hug. Both King and servant smiling, happy knowing that everything would be okay.