Disclaimer: Same as always…
Last chapter everyone! I hope you like it. I know this story wasn't as popular as my previous one but I liked writing it anyway. Though I had less inspiration.
Enjoy and see you soon.
Percival keeps holding on to Merlin while the others get the camp ready. Elyan is gone to search firewood again, Gwaine is getting his bedroll for Merlin to lie on while Lancelot takes the bag with medical supplies. Arthur and Leon scan the forest around them to make sure they weren't followed. As soon as everything is ready and Elyan has made a fire, Percival carefully lays the young servant down on the bedroll. The boy groans as the movement aggravates his wounds and his eyes flutter open.
"Merlin," Lancelot says, trying to get his friend's attention." I'm going to clean those wounds and patch you up, alright?"
The raven haired boy nods and grits his teeth, but from the second the loyal knight touches him he hisses in pain.
"I'm sorry." the man apologizes.
Arthur walks over to the duo and takes Merlin's hand without thinking.
"It's going to be alright." the royal says with a comforting tone. "Just hold on to me."
Merlin turns his gaze to his King and forces a small smile on his lips.
Lancelot goes on, cleaning the stab wound. He grimaces at the sight of the torn flesh but it is Gwaine who lets out a growl.
"If he wasn't dead already, I would kill that bastard!" he shouts angry.
Merlin flinches at the word but it goes unnoticed.
"Ronald's dead?" he asks through gritted teeth.
"Yes" Arthur answers. "He won't harm you ever again."
"You'll have to sit up for a while so I can bind that wound." Lancelot says with a sigh.
He doesn't really want his friend to move but there's no other choice. They help him get up and the fair knight binds the stab wound securely. After that, they help him lay down again so the man can clean the carvings in the boy's chest. As he carefully washes away the dried blood it becomes clear that the cuts aren't randomly placed. Soft gasps and another low growl escapes the men's lips for on their friend's torso stands an angry, red word. 'BASTARD'…
"What is it?" Merlin asks carefully as he tries to read all the different emotions showing on his friend's faces.
They all look at each other, not really sure if they should tell him.
"Nothing" Arthur says eventually and he nods at Lancelot who goes on cleaning the wounds.
The young warlock isn't fooled though and narrows his eyes at his King.
"What?" he asks, a demanding tone in his voice.
No one answers, Lancelot concentrates on his work while the others avoid to look at him.
"Tell me." the raven haired man says again.
"He…, Ronald, I mean…" the royal starts.
"He carved a word in your chest." Lancelot says quietly.
"What word?" Merlin asks, not sure if he wants to know it.
"Bastard" the loyal knight answers with a sigh.
Merlin bites back the tears he feels burning in his eyes. Of all the scars he had… The boy closes his eyes tightly, trying to focus on something else. He can feel Arthur giving his hand a comforting squeeze and so he focuses on the warmth that his King is giving him. After a little while, they help him sit up again so Lancelot can bind the cuts.
Arthur walks over to his horse and takes his spare shirt out of his bag, happy that his servant always packs fresh clothes, no matter where they are going. He gets back to his friends and holds out the shirt.
"Here," he says, "let me help you."
"Sire, I can't…" the boy starts.
"Shut up Merlin" the King interrupts him and he helps him into the shirt.
"Food is ready." Percival suddenly says.
No one had noticed how the muscular knight had started cooking but now that he mentioned food, they can all smell it. They settle themselves down while the friendly giant distributes the bowls with stew. Everyone starts to eat immediately. None of them had eaten much the last few days so they were hungry, to say the least. Merlin stares at his food and draws circles in it with his spoon but doesn't eat. He knows he should eat, it had been two days since his last meal. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. His stomach was hurting due to the lack of nourishment and the thought about the meat in his bowl only makes nauseous. He puts the bowl away and lays himself down, closing his eyes.
"Merlin, mate, you have to eat something." Gwaine says softly but he doesn't get a response.
"Let him sleep." Lancelot says. "He'll need it for the ride back."
Merlin can hear the knights talking to each other but he doesn't listen to what they are saying. His thoughts are going over the events of the last days and he slowly drifts away.
Merlin's dream brings him back to that room. Ronald is grinning at him as he toys with the dagger in his hands. His grin becomes wider as he plants the blade in his side. The boy wants to scream but no sound passes his lips. The vision fades and Merlin looks around to see where he is. It's dark around him, a little bit of moonlight is streaming through a window, high above him. The door to his cell opens. Merlin expects to see his captor coming inside but to his surprise, it is Arthur. The servant wants to say something but before he can do as much, the King starts to speak.
"You betrayed me! You lied to me all these years!"
"Arthur, I…"
"Silence sorcerer! You! Of all people! I trusted you!"
"You can trust me!"
"I find you guilty of treason. For that you shall burn at the stake." The King's eyes are stone cold as he turns his back on his servant.
"Arthur!" Merlin screams.
"Arthur!" the raven haired boy screams.
Within a second, the royal is at his side.
"It's alright, Merlin. I'm here. It was only a dream." he says soothingly.
He wants to lay a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder but the boy scrambles back.
"I'm sorry, Arthur." he says, fear clear in his eyes.
"We're not going to hurt you" the royal says softly, not really understanding why his servant is reacting that way.
"I know…" the boy whispers, calming down again.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lancelot asks.
Merlin seems to think about this for a second but then he nods.
"He gave me a… potion of some sort."
"What kind of potion?" the loyal knight asks softly.
"I don't know. But it made me see things. And hear…"
"What things did you see?" Gwaine asks when his friend falls silent.
"You… All of you." he answers as he looks at his friends. "I know it were only illusions. But it seemed so real…"
They all stay quiet as they remember how the young servant had reacted to them when they found him.
"Whatever you saw or heard back there, it wasn't real." Arthur says when he sees how uncertain Merlin looks, like he's contemplating if there was any truth hiding behind those visions.
The secret warlock nods and gives them a small smile. "I know. You would never behave like that."
'Behave like what?' the King almost asked but he swallowed his words, not wanting to make his friend relive that moment.
"We should start riding back to Camelot." Leon announces. "We still have a few hours of light left."
"Do you think you are strong enough to ride?" Lancelot asks the raven haired man.
He gets a nod in return and they help him up. Elyan packs the stuff they used while Percival extinguishes the fire. After a few steps, Merlin starts to sway dangerously. It's only because Gwaine is holding him up that he doesn't fall to the ground.
"You'll ride with me." Arthur says with a tone in his voice that doesn't allow argument.
Knowing the bumbling idiot though he can see that he wants to argue about it anyway.
"Shut up, Merlin."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to." Arthur says dryly, making the young man roll his eyes.
The King gets on his horse and both Gwaine and Lancelot help the servant sit in front of his master.
"Let's go!" the royal orders. "I want to get back to Camelot as fast as possible."
They ride off immediately, Arthur up front, holding his friend securely in the saddle. After a while he can feel Merlin's head resting against his shoulder as the boy has fallen asleep.
They only stop when nighttime is slowly settling in, the sudden darkness making them unable to go any further. The knights make camp like they have been doing for the last few days, their jobs the same again. Elyan, firewood. Gwaine and Lancelot, bedrolls. Leon, building a fireplace. Percival, cooking and Arthur is attending to Merlin, making sure he's comfortable. This time, they get some food into the stubborn servant before they let him rest.
"We should be back in Camelot tomorrow, before sundown." the King announces. "Get some rest, I'll be taking first watch."
Everyone nods in agreement, placing themselves on their bedrolls.
"Good night, sire." they say almost in unison.
"Good night." the royal answers as he sits himself on a fallen log from where he can keep an eye on the camp and its surroundings, but mostly on his young friend who has drifted off to sleep a while ago.
The night goes on in peace but they say the darkest hour is just before the dawn, it must be true. Gwaine is on watch when a noise coming from the camp is drawing his attention. As he looks at his friends he can see how Merlin is fighting with the cape that's used as a blanket. The servant is moaning in his sleep, shaking his head and moving some more. As the sturdy knight comes closer he can see the sweat pearling on the boy's brow. He carefully places a hand on the man's forehead but pulls away again as he feels the heat radiating from the small body. Not really knowing what to do he wakes Lancelot.
"What's going on?" the sleepy knight asks confused.
"Merlin. I think he has a fever." Gwaine answers, worry clear in his voice.
The loyal knight is up in a second, takes his water skin and a rips a rag from his tunic, soaking it with the cold water. He places it on Merlin's head in an attempt to cool him down.
"Get the fire burning." he orders, his loud voice waking the others.
"What are you two doing?" Elyan asks sleepy.
"Merlin has a fever. I think his wounds might be infected." Lancelot explains.
Arthur is next to them within the second, taking his knight's place who starts to remove the bandages around the servant's torso.
"You were right," Leon says, "that does look infected."
"Now what?" Gwaine asks.
"I can only clean the wounds and bandage them again. We have to get him back to Gaius as quickly as possible."
"Get ready." Arthur orders without hesitation. "We'll leave as soon as it gets light."
They all nod and start to break up camp already while Lancelot tends to Merlin's wounds.
A little hour later they are all back on their horses. Arthur is holding his unconscious friend in front of him as they gallop through the woods. They have to stop a few times to make sure the warlock is alright and to give the horses a little rest but they don't lose much time.
They arrive at the castle late that afternoon.
"Someone, alert Gaius. Tell him to get everything ready. I'll follow with Merlin." Arthur says from the second they descent their horses. Lancelot rushes off immediately, followed by Percival. Leon goes to inform the court that their King has returned while Gwaine and Elyan make sure that the royal can pass through the halls with Merlin, without anyone holding them back.
When they arrive at the physician's chambers it is obvious that the old man has been informed about his ward's state. He is in full doctor mode, not showing any emotions.
"Lay him on the bed." the physician instructs. "What happened?"
"Ronald stabbed him. His wounds are infected and he has a fever." Arthur explains. "He hasn't woken up since early this morning."
Gaius nods and begins to examine his surrogate son. He starts to work immediately, treating the wounds carefully as to not give the boy extra pain. He makes an angry noise when he sees the word carves into the servant's chest but doesn't say a thing. It takes the old man an hour before he is ready.
"Will he be alright?" Gwaine asks concerned.
"He will make a full recovery." the old physician says.
They all sigh with relief, happy smiles covering their faces for the first time that day.
"You should all get some rest now." the doctor says while he looks at the men in his room. "You all look exhausted."
For a second it looks like they are going to argue but Gaius gives them all his famous brow so they nod in agreement and turn to go.
"Thank you." the old man says before they leave.
They turn around to look at the grey man and nod again.
"Everything for Merlin." Gwaine says with a smile.
"I'll come to check on him later." Arthur says softly and then they all leave the room.
It's only the next day when Merlin opens his eyes again. At first he is confused about where he is but he quickly recognizes his room. Looking around he finds a blonde haired man, sitting next to his bed, sleeping in a chair. He smiles fondly at his King and stays awake like that for a while before dozing off again.
When he opens his eyes later that they it isn't Arthur but Lancelot that's sitting next to him.
"Merlin!" the man exclaims. "Good to see you awake, my friend."
The servant smiles brightly. "Good to see you too."
"How do you feel?"
"Like death itself." the boy responds but he keeps on smiling.
Lancelot looks around the room for a second and checks the door before talking again.
"How come you didn't use your magic?" he asks quietly.
"I couldn't." the young warlock replies. "It's not that I didn't want to but the castle we were at, castle Neodrach, was neutral ground for magic users in the days of the old religion. Gaius told me once how a powerful spell makes sure that no one inside the castle can use magic."
"Ooh…" Lancelot says as realization dawns upon him. "Did he know about…"
"No." Merlin interrupts him before he can complete his question. "It was just my luck that we ended up there."
The knight nods and gives his friend a small smile. Just then, the door to the room flies open and the others come barging in.
"Mate! You're awake!" Gwaine shouts happily.
"Obviously" Merlin replies with a grin on his face.
"Good, now you can polish my armor again, it sure needs that after our little trip." Arthur says dryly but the emotions showing on his face are betraying him.
"Prat" the raven haired boy says with a chuckle.
"It's good to have you back." the blonde man tells his friend.
"It's good to be back." he answers with a smile. "Thank you all for not giving up on me."
"We would never give up on you, Merlin. You're our friend." the King confesses.
"The princess has spoken." Gwaine chuckles and they all laugh.
Everything would get back to normal in no time. Merlin knows he can count on his friends and no one, not even a stuck up bully, could take that away from him.
_
Okay so I know this chapter is a little shorter than the others again but still. I will post again but I don't know when yet since school is going to start and I won't have much time to write. :( Anyway, I'll be back!
Thank you to all those who reviewed, followed and favorite to this story. There weren't many of you but for me, every reader counts. I'm grateful for your support.
- Aaronna: Thank you for your review!
- f1gymnast: I'm happy to hear you loved the last chapter! I hope you like this one too. Thank you for your idea, I just had to make Merlin tell Lancelot about the castle. :)
- DarkRed101: Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the story. And thank you for the encouragement. ^^
- Chatterbox818: Thank you so much for your long review again. I simply love it and it makes me smile every time. :p I'm glad to hear you liked my idea for the castle. It was the most logical way I think to explain why Merlin wouldn't be able to use his magic, without the whole, Ronald know about it and restrains the magic, kinda thing. I also wanted to avoid a magic reveal, so there you have it. :)
I also corrected that name, thanks for pointing it out. :)
Hope to hear from you all when I'm posting my next fic!
Lots of love!
