A/N: Hi everyone. So the next chapter for this story. And I kind of have to make a confession, a few chapters ago I was planning on making this the last chapter, but I got a bit inspired so I decided to do more (don't expect a load of them).
This chapter will also be rather dark, but I think that people would have been expecting that. And I'm curious how many people are expecting the end of this chapter...
So for now, please enjoy.
xxx
'The boy goes first.'
It where simple words, but for Merlin it meant his death sentence. He felt a strong push in his back and stumbled a few feet before strong arms let him even further forward.
The warlock stared shocked forward, before turning his head and smiling once more at his queen. Gwen's face was filled with tears, her eyes blood red as she tried to get out of the guard's grip.
He turned back as they walked towards the sheriff, his eyes showing a pure wicked joy as the warlock came closer and closer. He was stopped before the sheriff and the man said with an amused voice. 'It's time to get the punishment that you deserve for helping the outlaw Robin Hood.'
Merlin glared at him. 'The only criminal here is you!' He hissed.
The sheriff's eyebrow twitched. 'And you will be death.' He turned to the guards. 'Do it.'
Merlin was dragged forward, but his eyes never left the man's face. 'I won't let you kill my queen!' He shouted as his eyes shot quickly to Gwen, how he wanted to protect her. 'I will not allow it!'
The sheriff laughed. 'As if you have a choice!'
But he didn't listen to the man anymore he looked up at the sky and shouted, wanting to let his magic out, to not feel so empty inside. His words were strong and dragged far through the sky, the people in the crowd feared it, some of them ran, some of them just shivered at the sound.
'F-finish it.' The sheriff shouted, fear clearly spread through his voice.
He was pushed again and his eyes shifted for a moment to the robe hanging in front of him before turning back to the sheriff, he knew there was desperation in his own blue eyes, but he couldn't give up... maybe, just maybe this would all turn out fine. He just couldn't think clearly anymore, he was just too tired.
But at that moment there was a loud shout in crowd and before Merlin even realised what was happening the guard next to him sank to the ground. Death eyes staring at him as the raven looked down to see what had happened.
His head snapped around as he heard Gwen scream. He struggled out of the other stunned guard's arms and ran towards his queen, not knowing if it was friend of foe standing by her.
As he half stumbled towards them two strong arms wrapped themselves around the warlock, he let out a panicked shout as he tried to struggle out of the stranger's grip.
'C-calm down, it's me!' A familiar voice said into his ear and Merlin immediately stopped and gasped. The arms turned him around and he stared straight into Gwaine's warm brown eyes. He felt tears appearing in his eyes from both relief and tiredness as he felt safe in those strong arms. 'You look terrible.' His friend told him with a small smile on his face.
Merlin let out a soft laugh. 'T-thanks...' Then his mind shifted back to his queen. 'Gwen-.'
'It's fine, they're Percival, Robin and sir Robert.'
The raven let out a relieved breath as he saw the others protecting Gwen, but at the same instant he screamed in surprise as he saw metal coming towards them. Gwaine's eyes grew wide as he saw what was happening and he dragged the raven with him to the ground, out of the sword's reach.
Both of them hit the ground, the raven groaned as he felt a sharp pain spread through his head. He lay motionless on the ground for a moment as he was not able to get up and took fast deep breaths Gwaine next to him already jumped up, standing between Merlin and the danger.
But at the same time that he sat up he heard Gwaine shout in pain. His head snapped around and he saw the brunette fall to the ground. The raven jumped up and reached for his friend, he let out a sigh of relief as the man had only a minor wound on his arm.
In the corner of his eyes he saw the sheriff coming once more to them, without any other thoughts he picked the knight's sword up and blocked the hit coming towards him. As the two swords made contact he felt a sharp pain spread through his arms and again with another hit and again...
By the forth hit the sword was slashed out of his hands and landed on the wooden stage, he stared stunned at his hands for a moment before the sheriff grabbed him by the throat. The raven gasped as his own hands tried to stop the sheriff, but he could feel his strength slowly seeping away, both from the shortest of air and the bracelet.
The wicked man pulled him to his chest and he felt the sharp side of the blade against his throat. 'Enough!' The sheriff shouted. 'Stop or the boy will die!' With those words all the others turned around, looking with horror in their eyes at them.
'No!' Gwen screamed while Percival ran towards Gwaine, pulling the groaning knight to his feet.
'Let him go, if you want me, then you can have me, but you have to let the others go!' Robin shouted as he took a step closer.
The blade was pressed harder against his neck and he felt his own warm blood tripling down. 'Don't you dare come any closer. Lay down your weapons!' With that said the others looked at each other before laying down their weapons.
Merlin felt a tear roll down his cheek, it was his fault they lost.
'Bind them.' The sheriff ordered his men and Gwen, Robin and the knights were forced on their knees. Their hands bound behind their backs, frightened looks on their faces.
The sheriff wore a wicked smile on his face, he knew he had won... and soon he would be rid of Robin Hood and those irritating brats.
The sharp blade was still pressed against his throat and he saw how the man's knuckles turned white. '... Now we can proceed again with the executions.' The others yelled it disbelieve, but Merlin knew there was nothing they could do now.
xxx
Robin yelled, after all they had been through he wouldn't let Merlin be killed like that, but he just didn't know what to do now.
He stared helplessly as the guards placed a rope around Merlin's neck, he heard the others scream around him, but his mind was fixated on his new friend.
But as the sheriff stood on the point of giving the signal to kill him a large shadow darkened the sky, everybody froze in shock and they tilted their heads upwards. Robin gapped at the sight above him, his eyes widened themselves and he heard Gwen gasp next to him.
A loud roar filled the sky and sharp claws came towards them.
xxx
Merlin's mind cleared a bit as he heard the loud roar fill the sky. A roar he immediately recognized, as he had heard that voice many times before. Sharp claws digged themselves into the wooden stage and shattered it. Both his friends as the enemies where thrown off and Merlin quickly closed his eyes to protect them from the shattered wood.
Pieces of wood pierced themselves into his flesh and he let out a soft groan as he felt the pain. His eyes shot open as he felt something large move besides him. He blinked as his vision was still blurry before he stared deep in a large dark eye. A small grin spread over his face.
'Are you okay?' He heard Kilgharrah ask him in a more concerned voice than he had ever imagined the dragon could have.
'I am fine.' He answered in a small voice. At the same time he felt one of the large dragon's claws cut his ropes and he slowly sat up and looked around.
The clearing was filled with dust and he heard some of the other people groan. He felt a sharp pain go through his wrist and he starred at the bracelet around his arm. 'Can you do something about this?'
The dragon leaned forward as he looked at him. 'I may, but I need time... We first need to get you out of here.'
'I'm not going without my friends.' He hissed to the dragon.
The dragon glared at him, at least he thought that the creature was glaring, but eventually gave him a nod. 'As you wish.'
He threw an arm around Kilgharrah's snout and he was helped up. Others started to also stand up again and he smiled as he saw a rather shocked queen standing upright. He half ran, half walked towards her. 'Gwen?'
She turned shocked towards him and embraced the raven. 'Merlin... I was so scarred!' The queen smiled at him through her tears. 'The others...' Her voice fell silent as she stared behind him. 'T... t-the dragon...' She whispered in a terrified voice.
He gave her a tired smile. 'It's fine Gwen... he's my friend.' He couldn't take much more, he was just too tired. 'We have to go.'
As she gave him a nod both Robin and Gwaine appeared from beneath the rubble and stumbled towards them. Both of them eyed Gwen and Merlin before their eyes shifted towards the dragon, but as they saw that the others weren't in panic and as the creature had saved them before they let it rest.
Robin placed Merlin's arm around his neck, taking most of the boy's weight as he saw that the warlock could faint any moment now. Gwaine on the other hand placed his hands on both Gwen's and Merlin's shoulder. 'Are the two of you alright?' They gave him both an confirming nod and the knight glanced once back at the dragon. 'And he?'
'Friend.' Merlin whispered as he felt his eyes growing heavier.
'If you say so.' He answered nervously.
As Gwaine had said those words the dragon started to move. He walked the remaining distance, which wasn't much since his legs were that of a large dragon, towards them. 'I will get all of you out of here, but you need to hurry and get your friends, the guards are getting up.'
Robin's and Gwaine's eyes widened, first because they were standing in front of a talking dragon and second because it seemed that they hadn't realised that they stood in enemy territory, at least not since the dragon appeared and Gwaine hurried to find Percival and sir Robert.
As the knights searched for their friends they saw several guards appearing between the rubble, walking around rather confused, but they didn't give them much attention as they probably feared the dragon.
A few minutes later the knight returned with Percival not far behind him. The larger knight had a wound on his head and red liquid slowly dribbled down his face. He looked rather stunned, but further he seemed fine. Gwaine looked with a sad expression at his queen. 'I can't find sir Robert.' Another tear ran over her cheek, but she gave him a nod that she understood.
They quickly, and rather nervously, climbed on the dragon's back and as the warlock was pulled against Robin's chest everything went black.
