A/N: Hello everyone, the third chapter of this story. So a lot of things will happen in this chapter. Will Merlin's plan work or will it fail? I'm also really excited for this new season of Merlin, the first episode was really great. This is also a rather long chapter, so enjoy.
I will say in front that I'm sorry if the characters of Robin Hood are OOC, it has been a while since I saw the series. The same goes for my grammar, I'm not English so sorry for any mistakes I have made.
xxx
'So you both remember the plan?' Merlin asked. Both Marian and Little John looked at him and nodded in response.
'But I still don't understand how you plan on getting into the dungeons, it's heavily guarded.' Marian commented, it was not the first time she had pointed that to him. He just told her that he had a plan for that. He was sure that he was able to get into the dungeons with his magic, but he didn't want to tell them his secret.
'It will be fine, just make sure that you're ready to open the gates when I get them out.' It was the last he said to them, before pulling the hood of his cape over his head. He stepped out of the alley that they had been hiding in and walked towards the mean entrance. He felt Little John's and Marian's eyes pierce in his back, but didn't look back. He laughed to himself, they didn't believe he was able to get the others out of the dungeons, he himself would have thought the same if it wasn't for him having magic.
He pulled a little bottle out of his pocket. The guards were expecting one of the merry man to try and free Robin, but not an old man by the name of Dragoon. He poured the liquid down his throat and immediately he felt his skin ache. He was sure that his cape was able to hide his transformation, but still it felt scary to do magic in the open.
When he was sure that the transformation was complete he walked to the doors, stopping in front of the guards. 'What do you want, old man?'
He gave the two men a smile. 'I'm here to see my granddaughter, she forget her lunch, she is one of the maids.'
The two guards looked at each other and the older one narrowed his eyes. 'Fine, but don't take too long.'
Merlin's smile grew wider and he patted the man on the shoulder. 'Thank you young man, you're very kind.' He walked past them and opened the door. He stood in the hallway and looked around. He tried to remember what Marian had told him, he had to go to the right and then walked forward till he came across stairs going down. So he started to walk, his right leg half limping after him, how he hated these old bones.
He smiled at everyone he passed, but after the third person he started to frown. The people just looked so unhappy, unlike the servants in Camelot. Arthur was most of the times a good master for them and they enjoyed their work, but these people just seemed scared by everything they did.
When he looked forward again he froze, the man walking towards him was no one else then Gisborne. The larger man stopped in front of him and narrowed his eyes. 'What are you doing here?'
Merlin couldn't help but flinch under that cold look, before saying. 'Ehmm... my granddaughter forgot her lunch and I'm bringing it to her.'
'And where does she work?' Gisborne asked him, clearly not convinced by the story.
The warlock's eyes widened. '... The kitchens...' He remembered what Marian had told him, if he saw the kitchens then he was to far. 'Yes, the kitchens, she had told me that they were further down the hall.' He pointed past the man.
'Fine.' He hissed at him. 'But don't take too long.' The man wanted to walk past him, but stopped and turned around. 'Do I know you from somewhere?'
Merlin stiffened, had Gisborne recognized him even when he was as old as this? 'No, not as far as I know, sir.' He bowed, trying to get the attention away from his face.
'Go, quickly!'
Merlin nodded and walked further, trying to get away from Gisborne as fast as possible. He looked once back seeing that Gisborne was also walking further and he slowed down his pace. When he finally saw the stairs he stopped and smiled, it would all depends on this moment.
He slowly walked down, trying to make as little sound as possible. When he was at the bottom of the stairs he stopped for a closed door and let his magic search the room behind the door. There were two more guards, guarding the entrance to the dungeons.
He spoke soft words of sleep and could feel the guards fall asleep. He smiled, while opening the door and walking inside, before he searched through their cloths, for the key to open the door. Eventually he held an old rusty key in his hands, but before he opened the door he searched for the other bottle in his bag and poured the liquid in his mouth. He felt his old body change back in his younger self.
He took a quick look at the walls and saw the weapons of his friends leaning against it. Merlin smiled, at least they didn't had to search for those anymore.
He opened the door to the dungeons and let his magic search for his friends. Relief filled his mind when he recognized Robin and his friends, but besides them there was also someone else in the room, a wicked soul. His heart skipped a beat when he heard a soft pain filled scream, he was sure it was from Robin's.
He sneaked closer to the cell where he knew Robin was held. He heard the strange man speak. 'Tell me where the others are, otherwise you will be in even more pain.'
'I will never tell you!' He heard Robin growl and right after that he heard the merry men back those words up. But then their voice sounded scared and he knew that he had to do something. He looked around and saw a metal goblet standing on a table, his eyes glowed gold and the goblet was thrown towards the man. He looked as the goblet hit the man's head and he fell to the ground, lying limp on the cold stone floor.
He rushed to Robin and the others and saw Robin bound to a chair, while the others were behind him in the cell. The brunette stared stunned at him and he reached for him, starting to untie the ropes that held him. He stopped when he heard Much say. 'Don't you dare touch him!' The other man had probably not recognized him with the hood over his head.
Merlin sighed and pushed the hood of his head, while loosening the last knot. 'Calm down, it's me!'
'Merlin?!' The man replied shocked and the warlock walked to the unconscious man and searched for the key to the cell, while Robin stood stunned up. Merlin found the key and opened the cell door.
'We have to be quick.'
Arthur nodded and they ran towards the stairs again. 'Where is Little John?'
Merlin looked at him. 'He and Marian are at the gates, they will hold them open for us.'
'Marian is also here?' Robin looked stunned at him. 'What will we do now?'
The warlock rubbed his head. 'Just run.' He pointed to the wall in front of the stairs. 'Your weapons are there!' The quickly grabbed their weapons and ran up the stairs. Merlin first turning his head around the corner to make sure no one was there. 'No one, let's go.'
Merlin narrowed his eyes while running towards the large hall, they hadn't seen anyone else, not even a servant. They opened the large doors to the outside. It was then that Merlin's instincts kicked in, he looked to the walls, seeing archers standing on top of them. He let out a warning shout, but was too late, the first arrows where shot at them.
The raven reached for his magic, creating a wall around them, the arrows bounced off and Merlin shouted. 'Run.' They didn't even need that instruction and they ran further, before the archers could shoot again at them.
The sound of hooves could be heard behind them, Merlin looked once back and stared at the guards riding towards them. He looked forward again, seeing Little John and Marian opening the gates, Merlin sighed in relief, at least that part of the plan went right.
He saw how Marian's eyes lit up. 'You're okay!'
'Yes, but now we have to leave. They're right behind us!'
All of them ran through the gates towards the woods, closely followed by the guards. Robin looked nervously back at the men that followed them. 'Separate!' He shouted and his men did what he asked them.
He felt Robin grab his hand and the brunette pulled him with him. They ran through the woods, hearing the guards still following them.
'Oh Robin, why don't you stop to play with me for a moment?' He heard the voice of Gisborne shout to them.
'Quickly up here!' Robin shouted, pulling Merlin up a rather steep hill, one that the horses couldn't climb.
Gisborne himself had also noticed what their plan was and shouted in panic. 'Don't let them escape!'
Robin and Merlin were almost at the top, when Merlin screamed in pain and he fell to the ground. He felt something pierce his shoulder and he slowly reached for it, his eyes growing wide when he felt an arrow pierced in his flesh, warm liquid dripping out of the wound.
A shocked Robin turned around, looking at him. The brunette glanced once at their pursuers, before grabbing the raven's uninjured arm and dragging him away. 'Come on, we have to get away!'
Merlin nodded and half dragged himself after Robin. At least they would be able to get away from them.
He didn't know how long they had been running, but it felt like hours, the pain in his shoulder screaming to stop and rest, but he knew if he did that then Gisborne would be able to find them.
After running for miles Robin finally stopped and turned to Merlin. 'I think we're far enough... Let me see your shoulder.'
Merlin let himself sink down to the ground while letting out a sigh of relief. Robin kneeled down next to him and carefully ripped his shirt off. Robin grimaced seeing the wound, before grabbing the shaft of the arrow in his hand. 'This is going to hurt.'
The warlock gulped, but nodded. 'Just let it be over.' Robin gave him a quick nod, before placing his other hand on his shoulder and Merlin braced himself. The raven tried to muffle his pain filled voice while Robin pulled the arrow out, but he made much more noise then he wanted to. The brunette threw the arrow away and pushed the fabric of Merlin's ripped shirt against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
Merlin couldn't help feel sick, putting his hand on his mouth. 'You okay?' Robin asked worried. '... Can you do something with your magic?'
The raven blinked once. '... I can try.'
He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain in his shoulder and let his magic flow from him, filling the air around him. His eyes turned golden and he concentrated on his shoulder, speaking soft words. He felt Robin pull his hand and the cloth away from his shoulder.
When he was finished he sighed in relieve, while reaching for his wound, feeling that the wound had disappeared, leaving a thin scare in it place. He smiled and turned to Robin, who starred with wide big eyes at him. Merlin blinked in confusion at him. 'Is something wrong?'
Robin blinked at him, eyes shining, before opening his mouth. 'That was incredible!'
'What was?' He stared confused at the other, while rubbing his shoulder.
'Your magic... the feeling when you used it, was just incredible...' Merlin's mouth formed the word 'Oh', he must have used to much magic.
Merlin frowned, Robin found his magic good, incredible even. He hadn't toughed that someone would say something like that, he gave a soft smile. 'Ehmm... thank you.' He rubbed his naked arms. 'Can we go back... it's cold without a shirt.'
Robin smiled, but stood up and helped Merlin up. 'Let's go back... and thank you for saving us.'
xxx
Robin and Merlin returned to the camp, making quite an uproar under the others that were already there. Seems that most of them thought that the two of them were captured or killed by Gisborne.
Merlin quickly put on another shirt after washing the remaining blood off his body. Robin watched him, making sure he was really alright. He turned back to the others, relieved that everyone had been able to get away safe. Merlin joined them again, sitting down around the campfire.
'I have to go before my father misses me.' Marian said, while giving them a warm smile, she had probably waited for Robin and Merlin to return before leaving. She stood up and walked away, waving them goodbye.
Robin returned looking at the fire with a smile on his face. Before Much asked curious. 'How didn't those arrows hit us, I mean there was no way they couldn't have hit us... it was like magic!'
Robin stiffened and he looked at Merlin, the boy looked shocked in front of him, eyes wide open. 'Ehmm... Merlin?' The raven looked shocked at him, his eyes telling him that he didn't want to tell the truth.
The brunette sighed, he knew that Merlin was afraid to tell the truth, but he knew that the others would accept him like he had done, this wasn't Camelot. So he placed his hands in his side. 'You should tell them the truth.'
'Which truth?' Will asked and they all looked at the raven.
'Ehmm...'
Robin sighed, they had the right to know the truth. 'It was Merlin who protected us against the arrows, he has magic.' They all stared at Merlin and Robin couldn't help feel pity for the boy when he saw him flinch under their looks. Merlin wanted to jump up, but Robin stopped him. 'He's really good at it and he even healed Gemma.'
They all stared at him, before a big smile spread over Much face. 'That's awesome! Show me!'
Robin saw how Merlin blinked in surprise, before a relieved smile appeared on his face. A glance towards the others told him that they also accepted the young warlock. 'Come on show us something.' Will backed Much up.
Merlin nervously stood up and placed his hands in front of him, closing his eyes. Robin looked surprised when the fire turned a bright blue, before seconds later turning purple and green. After that the merry men asked for even more and Merlin gave it them.
Robin just looked, he maybe had known Merlin for a short time, but he already understood what a kind and tender man he was and Robin liked him. He saw how relieved the raven was that he finally was accepted for who he was.
It was later that evening that Robin took Merlin apart for a moment. 'See, it was better to talk to them.'
Merlin grinned. 'Yeah, you were right. I had never imagined that people could accept me for who I truly am... but I guess this land is just totally different for Camelot.'
Robin frowned. 'You're afraid that your friends back home don't accept you for who you are?' Merlin bit his lip, but nodded. 'Why do you think that they won't accept it?'
The raven looked down before saying. 'They had bad experiences with magic, I fear that if I tell them that I also have the magic that had hurt them they won't accept me.' He let out a sigh. 'You can even say that my best friend's parents have been killed with magic and he keps saying that he hates it.'
Robin narrowed his eyes, that was indeed a tough one. 'Then you should talk with him about it, if he's really your friend then he would accept you.'
'I guess so... others have also told me that, but I guess that I'm just to afraid to do it... it's why I went on this journey, too escape from that secret.'
He patted the warlock on the shoulder, while giving him a smile. 'You don't have to worry, but remember that you can't keep living a lie.' He stood up. 'You can always come to me if you need someone to talk to.'
'Thank you.' Merlin replied and Robin gave him a nod, before walking off.
