Hours were ticking by and the light of the sun was gradually fading. The girls would have to stop for the night soon, not that Medea particularly minded, her whole body was aching with fatigue and she could do with the rest, but it did mean another day without food.
"Don't worry, I know we're going in the right direction" Morgana reassured her from in front. "We hadn't gone very far out from Camelot when we were ambushed, so we must be close." She continued.
"Where were you going before you were ambushed?" Medea asked, perhaps conversation would distract her from her growling stomach. Morgana paused and glanced around at her with sorrowful eyes and Medea immediately regretted her question.
"I was on a pilgrimage... to my father's grave" Morgana whispered, her words barely audible, but Medea had heard them, and guilt was washing through her like a rainfall.
"I'm so sorry" Medea said lamely, she couldn't think of any other words to comfort the woman, that simple gesture would have to do. Morgana shook her head lightly, her companions attempt at cheering her up putting a small smile on her lips. The two women's attention, however, was quickly snapped back to reality as the sound of snapped branches and falling footsteps began echoing all around them. Medea quickly grabbed her bow and knocked an arrow, stepping forward to stand by Morgana's side protectively. By the sound of it, there wasn't just one person approaching them, but a group, perhaps it was more of the bandits that were chasing Morgana earlier, Medea thought. Morgana was unarmed, and Medea only had her bow, she would have to try and quickly take down as many of them as possible and hope it gave them enough time to run to safety. A group of men suddenly burst into the clearing. Three of them were wearing matching light armor which made Medea think they must guards of some kind. One of the men wore absolutely no armor at all, his only layers of protection being a worn brown jacket and a blue neck scarf, but it was the man in the center that caught Medea's attention. He was extremely handsome, standing tall in full chain mail and his golden hair was shining in the fading sunlight. Medea hesitated, her grip on the bow loosening ever so slightly. She didn't know why she was so taken aback by this man, he seemed more familiar to her than threatening until she realized that he had a crossbow, and he was aiming it directly at her. Yet, the golden-haired man looked just as taken aback as Medea felt, he too had hesitated and his eyes were locked on Medea with an expression that looked like shock. Medea took her chance. In one swift movement she nocked an arrow and aimed it at the one place the man was not protected with armor; his head.
"STOP!" Morgan cried, stepping in front of Medea, effectively blocking both her and the mans weapons. "She's a friend" Morgana continued, talking to the man with the crossbow. It took Medea a moment to realize that Morgana was referring to her. She must know him Medea though to herself. She lowered her bow slightly but did not take the arrow out of the notch. The man also lowered his crossbow, his gaze fixed on Morgana as a look of relief washed over his features.
"Morgana..." He breathed
"Arthur...Thank Gods" She smiled back at him.
"Where's Gwen?" The man wearing the neck scarf piped up. Medea looked at him properly now, he had jet black hair and kind blue eyes. Morgana's smile faded and she regretfully shook her head, tears glistening in her green eyes. So Gwen must be her maid... Medea thought. The black haired man said no more but Medea could see his eyes were swimming with worry and sadness over this news. She felt bad for him. Arthur gave his friend a sympathetic look.
"Come" he said, "we have to get back to Camelot..." He took Morgana's hand and tried to pull her back in the direction the group had come from but Morgana snatched her hand back and laced it on Medea's arm.
"This is Medea... she saved my life" Morgana began, glancing at the woman beside her " and she'll be coming back to Camelot with us" She declared with all the authority of a queen and with that walked off in the direction Arthur had tried to take her, the three guards following closely behind. Arthur's eyes fell upon Medea again, there was something about her that Arthur couldn't quite put his finger on. He knew they'd never met before, he'd definitely remember a girl as beautiful as her, but there was something undeniably familiar about the woman.
"So... it's Arthur is it?" Medea's voice pulled Arthur away from his thoughts.
"Ah... Yes..." Arthur said lamely with a tense nod. "And this is my servant, Merlin" Arthur continued, gesturing behind him to the black-haired man, who was staring back at his friend with a small, knowing smirk on his lips. Merlin looked over at Medea and gave her a warm smile.
"I'm Medea" She introduced herself, returning Merlin's smile.
"Well Medea, I guess we'll be bringing you back to Camelot" Arthur said before turning away and walking off after Morgana.
"Here" Merlin said, holding out his arm for Medea to take "You must be tired, let me help" He finished with a timid smile. Medea was overwhelmed with gratitude as she took Merlin's arm and he lead her in the direction of the others. It's not like she couldn't walk by herself but she was exhausted and the extra support definitely helped. The fact that this man, a stranger, had thought about this and offered her help surprised Medea. "Don't worry, the horses aren't far" he reassured her.
"Thank you, Merlin" Medea replied. If everyone in Camelot were like Morgana and Merlin, Medea knew she was going to like it there.