Hello my dears. I would like thank MindForgedMan, Meri Ley (Guest), Guardian of the Inheritance, AndreKl, OechsnerC, mersan123 and Gingeraffealene for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, it is again set in season 3, episode 12 'The Coming of Arthur, Part 1'. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Aled was a proud solider. He had raised through the ranks of Cenred's army from foot solider to being given the role of leading his own patrol along the border with Camelot. He served his king well, and made sure to keep his ear to the ground and listen to all gossip that could well benefit his king. Therefore when he heard rumours of the prince of Camelot sneaking through Cenred's lands, he of course changed his patrols route to see if the rumours were true. That was how he came upon the three men walking through the forest, back towards the border that would give them safety. He could not let that happen. Prince Arthur would be a valuable captive, one that would give him the acclaim he knew he deserved for his service. With that in mind he ordered his men into an ambush, and all he had to do was sit and wait for them to fall into his trap. And then, oh then Prince Arthur of Camelot would be his prize to present to his king. Oh yes, he would receive the reward that would be his due for this service.
Merlin walked with Arthur and Gwaine, the cup held in the bag on his shoulder. He was trying to keep up with the pace the prince was setting, but it was hard. A point which was confirmed when he tripped over a protruding tree root and the cup shot out of the bag falling silently on the ground in front of him.
"Merlin, you really are an idiot." Arthur sighed as he watched his friend stumble and the cup go flying. He didn't even hesitate to pick it up, knowing that they didn't want anyone else to see the treasure they now carried, nor give anyone else a chance to snatch it from them.
"Well, maybe you should carry it then." Merlin huffed pulling the bag from his shoulder. It wasn't his fault he'd fallen over that root. Having the cup so close made him feel funny, though he wasn't sure if it was because of the deep magic it held, or the memory of the last time he'd seen it, when he'd killed Nimueh to restore the balance and give back Gaius' life. He knew just what pain this cup could cause and he would much prefer not to be anywhere near it if given the option. Not that he was, of course, prince prat made sure of that.
"Fine. It would be better if I did, I at least will not throw it on the ground." Arthur replied grabbing the bag from him and stuffing the cup back inside before slinging it across his own chest.
"Please, that cup has seen a lot worse than a bit of earth." Merlin scoffed, but he couldn't help but feel relieved to not be carrying it even more, even if Iseldir had told it was his now to protect. And hey if Arthur was carrying it then at least that meant both the things he was supposed to protect were in the same place. That would make his life easier, surely.
"You know, I have to ask, when did you two get married?" Gwaine asked with a smirk as he interrupted the bickering. His smirk turned into a full blown laugh at the look of horror that crossed both the others men's faces at his words. On that was perfect.
"About the same time you quit drinking." Merlin responded once he'd recovered from the words Gwaine had said.
"Hey, that's not funny." Gwaine replied with fake affront, though he did smile at his friend.
Merlin had just opened his mouth to make a response when Arthur stopped and ordered, "Quiet."
"What is it?" Merlin asked as soon as he said that, instantly going on alert, even of his words did get an exasperated look from Arthur. Well he needed to know what they would be fighting now didn't he?
Arthur for his part refrained from answering Merlin, after all he was the one who'd wanted silence. He hoped the two with him would notice what he had. That the forest was too quiet.
Gwaine opened his mouth to say just that when suddenly soldiers burst through the undergrown around them. Oh this was not good.
"Run!" Arthur yelled before taking off in the direction of the border, though he knew it wouldn't save him. It wasn't like he had men waiting on the other side. All he knew what that he needed to get away from the soldiers bearing down on them, needed to get the cup to safety.
Merlin for his part went sideways when he saw the men coming towards them, his automatic reaction was to find a way to protect Arthur from the shadows rather than follow his exact path. He realised his mistake as soon as he'd made it. Arthur knew of his magic, he wouldn't have a problem with him using it to defend them both. Not to mention the prince had the cup. He needed to get to him now. Needed to protect those things that were under his care, his friend and the cup that could be turned into a weapon that could destroy them all.
Arthur was running his only thought to get away, but then he felt pain radiating out of his leg. He tried to push through it, knowing he didn't have time to be wounded, but even as he tried to do so he stumbled as he felt that he was no longer able to command his body to do as it was told. And that was the last thought he had in his head as his eyes rolled backwards and he fell gracefully down. And as he fell the cup flew from the protection of bag it was carried in, flying through the air and over the ridge Arthur had been unknowingly heading towards.
Merlin had changed his course as soon as he could, running towards Arthur, but he was still too far away to divert the crossbow bolt that caught him in the leg, but he had gained enough ground to send the man who had been perusing him flying. He reached Arthur and looked down at him, only to see the bag that was supposed to hold the cup was once more empty. A horrible feeling settled in his stomach as he looked around, hoping it had just rolled out. But he could not see it anywhere. He took one more look at Arthur before moving away from him towards the place he'd seen the solider go flying. He needed to find the cup. He couldn't let it fall into anyone else's hands, especially not Cenred's. But as he looked over the ridge he saw his worse fears confirmed. There was the solider he'd sent flying and he was awake, lying next to the cup. Oh no.
Aled was beside himself with glee. He'd taken down the great Arthur Pendragon. Running towards his prize he bent down to grab him, but before he could touch the downed man he found himself flying through the air, hitting the tree behind him and rolling so he followed the cups decent down the ridge into the shallow gully below. He blinked three times as his mind processed his new position. Looking up at the ridge above him he saw a face appear over it. It was one of the men with the prince. It was then his eyes caught the lights reflection on the metal cup not more than two steps in front of him. He had sent it fly from the prince as he'd brought him down, but had thought nothing of it. Arthur Pendragon had been his prize, but he now knew that was impossible. He knew magic when he saw it, or felt it was in this case. But the cup, as he could see it now was, had been in Pendragons possession. Surely that would gain him something from his king. With that thought he jumped up, grabbed the cup and ran. He needed to return this to Cenred as soon as possible and inform him of what happened here, and as he did a small smile appeared on his face. All his crossbow bolts were laced with poison and only he had the antidote. Prince Arthur Pendragon of Camelot was as good as dead. Yes he was sure this news would please his king greatly.
Merlin watched as the solider stood, grabbed the cup and ran. There was nothing he could do, it was all happening too quickly. He wanted to follow, wanted the cup back, but the sound of Gwaine calling his name pulled him back. He couldn't. He had to look after Arthur first.
Gwaine had ran, though it had been in the opposite direction to Arthur and Merlin, a fact he hadn't realised straight away and as such had caused him to curse colourfully before finding a way around the patrol that had ambushed them. He didn't know how they had known they were there, but right then he didn't care. All he cared about was finding Merlin and Arthur, making sure they were all right. In fact he was so intent on finding his companions that he almost stepped on the unconscious body of Arthur. It took his a second a register he'd been shot by a crossbow bolt in the leg, but he couldn't see how that had rendered him unconscious. Therefore he did the only thing he could think of. He called out the name for the only one who might have an idea of how to save Arthur.
"Merlin." He shouted, and not a second later the man in question arrived. "He's been shot, and is unconscious." He continued when he saw him, having already moved to apply pressure around the wound in Arthur's leg.
Merlin took a cursory look at Arthur's wound. He didn't like the look of it, nor where it was situated in the back of his thigh, but he knew he had to do something.
"We need to get the bolt out." He said, already moving to grab the bandages he'd packed in the bag on his back.
"We need to get out of here." Gwaine replied looking around them even if he didn't move from his position applying pressure to Arthur's wound.
"If it stays in and we move him, it could cause more harm. Hold him down." Merlin responded having grabbed what he needed and kneeling down at Arthur's side.
Gwaine didn't argue that the prince was unconscious and as such holding him down would no doubt be pointless. Instead he moved to do as Merlin asked. He was the one that lived with a physician after all, Merlin knew better than him what to do.
Merlin pulled the bolt out in one go before quickly wrapping the bandages around the wound. He was worried about how Arthur hadn't even stirred when he did it. That did not bode well. But he didn't have time to worry about it then. Gwaine was right, they needed to move, now. Therefore tying the bandages tightly he bent down and grabbed Arthur's arm, Gwaine grabbing the other, and together they carried the prince away from the site danger.
Aled stood in the presence of his king, holding the cup out to him as he recounted his story.
"And you are sure Prince Arthur is dead?" the lady at Cenred's side asked, with a look of almost horror in her eyes, but why she would be worried about such a thing Aled could not work out.
"Yes, my lady. The bolt I shot him with was poisoned. No one can survive that without the antidote. This cup was in his possession. I bring it as a tribute." He replied bowing his head. He did not know who she was but his king seemed inclined to let her talk and as such he would give her answers and respect.
"The cup must be important." Cenred agreed gesturing for Aled to bring it to him so he could study the treasure Arthur Pendragon carried with him as he ventured into his lands.
"yes." Morgause whispered, but she was not paying attention. She was instead staring off in the direction of Camelot. Oh goddess, no, I have failed you. The knowledge that Arthur pendragon was dead… she could not believe that she had failed the goddess so completely. She knew now that her role should have been protecting Arthur, protecting the hope for her people, but she had not done that. And now it was too late to start. Arthur Pendragon was dead and with it the hope she had felt at hearing of her sister's vision. But all was not lost. Magic could still once more be free in Camelot. There was still one more hope for her people. With that thought she turned back towards the men in front of her to see Cenred holding the magical artefact she had once searched so hard for. It seemed she would be putting it to the use she had originally intended it after all.
"The cup of life can give us the advantage we need to take Camelot." She said with renewed steel in her voice. She may have failed the goddess, but she would not fail magic. She would see her people free, no matter what the cost. I am sorry sister, she thought though she knew Morgana would not hear her words. But she knew she had to say it, because she knew the cost to come was one Morgana would not want to pay. But they had no choice now. This was the only path left to them. With that resolve she took the cup from Cenred's hands, and holding it in hers she made her plans for the end of Uther's tyrannical rein. Planned the end of the killing and the hate, and the start of a new age, a golden age where all would be free once more. An age where her sister sat on the throne of Camelot.