A/N: I need someone here to kick me for over-perfectionism. It's getting in the way of the loads of BAMFness coming up for this and subsequent chapters. That is all.
The little group hurried along the corridors of the citadel. Gwaine was the first to find his voice. "You're not serious about trying to use magic? What exactly have you and Gaius been cooking up the past few days?!"
"It really is the only way to stop this, Gwaine," growled Arthur. "I'm as hesitant as the next person, but we don't have much choice. Besides, there's a lot more at stake that I don't have time to explain right now." I really wish I did…I promise to, when I can… They emerged into the courtyard, where Gaius, the servants, and three horses waited. "Let's just say I consider the risk worth it."
He nervously patted the neck of his horse. With all the refugees milling around the courtyard, the tension was palpable. Camelot's future depended on the possibility that he and Gaius would succeed against a powerful, angry spirit, wielding magic they knew almost nothing about. Oh, and that was assuming they got past the reincarnated immortal army first.
Gwen hugged Arthur fiercely. "Please be careful. We need you to come back. I need you to."
"You know I want to promise that I will," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her and planting a soft kiss to her forehead. "Gaius and I will do everything in our power, and we'll bring Merlin back. In the meantime, you be careful as well. Take care of the people until we can get through. I know you can do it."
"We need to go, Sire," Gaius pressed from atop his horse. The staff from under Merlin's bed was wrapped and tied to his saddle bag.
"Make sure the battlement forces are ready," Arthur called to Leon. "Our best chance at a clean exit is under cover fire. Protect Gwen while I'm gone."
"Of course, Sire," replied the senior knight.
A single shout parted the crowds to make way for the three horses. They passed through to the upper streets at a good clip, the mass of people thinning the farther they got from the keep. Arthur felt his heart quickly take up all the space in his chest, knowing what they were about to face. Far above, the first volley from the defenses shot out toward the enemy.
He nodded to Gaius. "Let's go. Try to stay between me and the wall until we reach the trees. I'll take as much of the brunt as I can."
They slipped through the side gate. The nearest soldiers were about twenty paces away, and as Arthur feared, they quickly honed in on his presence. Only the steady rain of bolts from crossbows gave him and Gaius, who was leading the extra horse, any distance on the apparitions. And still one or two got close enough to strike. Morgana's efforts must give them unnatural speed. They shouldn't be able to match a running horse! The whizz of a blade narrowly missed his left hip; Arthur struck out behind him, to be rewarded with a solid impact and a yelp.
But now was not a time to focus on fighting back. Their mission was based on evasion, hopefully drawing on Merlin as little as possible. There was no sign of the little glowing dragon that usually appeared at these times. The absence worried Arthur.
Immortal soldiers still trailed behind them as they hit the tree line. Distracting as the cover fire was, mere bolts would not fell them. The sight was rather disturbing, actually, like being chased by living curse dolls. A sudden wave of fear crashed over Arthur—if those men breached the wall somehow, Camelot would be decimated. Even if this mission succeeded, what kind of city would await them upon return?
Don't lose focus! Merlin's presence burst into Arthur's thoughts, so unexpected he checked his horse's gait. The surprise might very well have saved his life. The soldiers had fallen behind, but the Questing Beast now crashed into their path, right where Arthur would have been if his horse were still at a gallop. Arthur felt, rather than saw, the ghostly form of his friend swoop around his shoulders. The dragon was barely visible, struggling to stay in the air, as it rushed the angry Questing Beast.
"Merlin!"
But the ghostly creature ignored Arthur. It wobbled around the Beast's head like a large fly, driving the foe into a frustrated rage…and off the path. Gaius was the first to recognize the opportunity, spurring his horses forward. Arthur followed only when he realized the exposed position the old physician was going into. "Hey! You're supposed to stay behind me for defense, remember?"
"We don't have time to always worry about that," Gaius chided him. "Merlin's doing what he can to give us a chance. Don't waste it!"
Arthur knew Gaius was right. That didn't completely assuage his concern, however. Merlin was fading, rapidly. Arthur didn't like being in yet another situation where the wayward servant was so reckless with his own life. The last time they were in this situation, he lost. They were trying to help him, dammit!
The roars of the Questing Beast dissipated into the thick of the trees as they pressed on. Arthur could still feel Merlin's presence shudder with exertion, which put him on edge. Morgana knew what they were up to. She was going to throw everything possible at them. And poor Merlin was going to pay all the more for it.
The forest took on an eerie silence. No birds, no wind, no signs to betray the approach of an enemy. Arthur scanned every inch of visible space without pause. He was not going to breathe a sigh of relief for the quiet, knowing Morgana waited for such a moment so she could pounce. Come on, I won't be caught off guard. Just pull your tricks already! He could imagine his half-sister's cruel laugh, how she enjoyed toying with him like this. They continued on, their surroundings taking on the premature twilight of the woods.
A huge, shrieking mass knocked Arthur clear out of his saddle. Streaks of pain raked his already injured forearm, quickly followed by his jarring connection with the ground. Powerful wingbeats buffeted him with air and forest debris. He dimly recalled his long-ago encounter with the real griffin.
Gaius bellowed words Arthur couldn't understand even if he was thinking clearly. He was already preoccupied with coaxing oxygen into his stunned lungs. His horse skittered around, close to stomping its fallen rider.
Before he could get up, an almighty cry and a wave of power rushed over Arthur. Merlin's magic, he recognized by now, blasted the griffin into shards of light. And the presence behind it quickly weakened to a mere flutter against Arthur's chest. Hang in there, Merlin.
The path was reduced to grey-green light, horses' squeals, and heavy human breathing. Gaius dismounted and hurried over to Arthur. "Sire! Are you alright?"
"I'll live. Get me up, we're wasting time."
"We should do something about your arm—"
"Just wrap it, Gaius. I can manage the rest until we get through with this." He accepted the physician's hand to get him to his feet. Between the two of them, they pulled Arthur's ruined sleeve together with a thick piece of linen bandage. After checking that his horse was unharmed, they set off again. "How far do we have to go?"
"At this rate? A couple hours still. Let us hope not every attack will be this involved," puffed Gaius.
Arthur very much doubted they would have such luck. This had to be only the beginning. The closer they got to their destination, the more desperate Morgana would become. He made ready his sword before they resumed pace. Again Merlin had gone silent. This fact only served to spur Arthur on. He had lost Merlin once. He would not abandon his friend to eternal enslavement in the spirit world.