I lost track of time after a while. The horse, I knew, was from the castle stables. I knew her first instinct would be to head there. Breathing became more difficult the longer I rode. Sweat plastered pieces of hair to my forehead, I slumped forward in the saddle, gripping the reigns in a vice grip just to be able to stay on.
After what felt like forever, I reached the bank of a river. I was close to Camelot. The river marked just a short ride outside of the city. The snow had all melted, flooding the river banks. The current moved swiftly, threatening to sweep away anything that dared to enter the waters. Usually, it wasn't deep at all. But it was safe to say that it was now well over my head.
"Stay where you are!", orders a gruff voice behind me.
Not again! Not after everything.
I look over my shoulder, seeing a small band of soldiers racing toward me through the trees. I couldn't tell how many, but it was more than I'd ever fought at once. I had still had the sword, strapped to the saddle. But I wasn't used to it. It was longer, heavier, and had a strange curve to the end of the blade. I couldn't use it and fight well enough to hold my ground. I'd only get myself killed. Besides, I couldn't defend myself against that many. My chances of getting back were less than slim if I tried to stay fight.
I really didn't have a choice now. I had to escape, less Arthur die and Camelot be entirely over run. I refused to be captured again. Not to mention Arthur could already be dead. I just had to hope he wasn't being his noble idiot self.
I pushed my mount forward into the water, biting my lip in frustration. She went in reluctantly, pawing her way forward nervously. The water soon swelled around my ankles and eventually soaked me all the way to my thighs. I shivered, clinging to the neck of my horse while pulling my cloak tighter around me, trying to keep warm. The men were getting closer, shouting at me. But I payed them no attention, determined to reach the other side before they reached me.
My horse, however, had other plans. She stubbornly started backing up, refusing to go any deeper despite my urging. Halfway across, the water had soaked me to my knees. I tried to keep my horse under control, but her terror drowned out all of my leadership. I didn't have the skill or strength to regain control. Spinning in circles, she fought me, trying to return to the shore. She reared, and I was too weak to hold on.
My fingers lost their grip on the reigns, I tumbled into the icy water. Stunned by the cold at first, I couldn't move. The current tugged me along, keeping me from getting to the surface. I regained my sense and struggled against it, thrashing around violently. Finally, I was able to get my head above the water for a moment. I gasp for air, even though it feet as if I was inhaling thousands needles.
"Your Majesty!", someone screamed. I didn't have the time to find out who it was before I was sucked under again.
While I could swim, I never been never very strong. These horrendous skirts weighed me down. The current tossed me about like a rag doll, pressing down on me with tremendous force. I couldn't see a thing, I couldn't breath. My lungs burned as water filled them up. My consciousness faded, until there was nothing but darkness and the numb of cold.
I expected to be dead. Not to wake up warm and sprawled across a couch, my legs were tangled up in a fuzzy blanket. Groggily, I sat up.
My braid was falling out all over the place, so I decided to take it out. My fingers clumsily tried to undo the knot in the cord until I realized it wasn't a cord at all. It was a rubber hair tie. I stared at it uncomprehendingly, trying to grasp how I had something so... so not something that could be found in Camelot.
"Sarah, are you awake yet?", calls a voice that instantly made me want to cry. "You forgot to unload the dishwasher after you got home from school. You know I don't ask that much of you. If you could just do your chores-"
She didn't get to finish that sentence. As soon as she began speaking, I had launched off of the couch and into the kitchen, throwing my arms around my mothers neck.
I didn't care how I got here, and I didn't care why. I was home. And not my home in England. I was in the place I grew up, A small suburban home in Indiana with a leaky roof. But right now it felt like heaven on earth.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?", She asks, pulling back to wipe away a tear I didn't realize I'd shed.
"It's just so good to see you.", I practically sobbed.
"Oh, honey.", she says, hugging me back. "I was only at the grocery store for an hour."
"Right.", I say pulling away, attempting to gather my emotions.
She presses the back of her hand to my forehead. "Are you feeling alright? You're acting weird. Maybe you should go lie down a while longer."
"No, mom. I'm fine."
She stares at me skeptically. "You're sure? No upset stomach? Headache?"
"No, I'm okay, promise."
"You're sure? No broken bones?", she adds jestingly.
Broken bones.
My hand flew went to my side. There wasn't any pain. no matter how hard I pressed. There was no way my ribs had healed up that quickly. And my scars were all completely gone. As if they had never happened. I was even dressed in jeans and a flannel button down shirt. Something that should be so normal, an everyday outfit for me back then, now felt entirely foreign.
"I'm okay.", I say, but I didn't even convince myself. There was something off about all of this.
She smiles, returning to the bags of groceries sitting on the counter. "I'm making chili for dinner tonight. Your favorite. I thought we'd celebrate a little since your Dad is coming home tonight. I know that you've missed him."
No, that wasn't right. Dad was in Camelot. He wouldn't be coming home tonight.
"Sarah? You're awfully pale. I'll put some tea on for you. That'll pluck you right up. Is mint alright?"
I stared crying again. Mostly because I'd missed her so much. Her obsessive way of looking after me, as over protective as she was. Her kind smile and overly happy attitude. I'd never known someone so optimistic as my mother. And I cried because I knew this wouldn't last. I couldn't stay here. No matter how much I wanted to.
"I'm sorry, Mom.", I say, biting my lip. Part of me wished this was real. That I could be safe, and not have to worry about psycho's and men with swords trying to kill me. That I could stay here and let my mom take care of me.
"Sorry about what? What has gotten into you today?", she asks, pulling me into another hug, her face pinched in worry. "Is this about moving? We talked about this already. I thought this was all worked out"
I wished it was about that. Because I had responsibilities back in Camelot. I had people depending on me. I didn't want that. I never asked to have to bear the burdens of many, not only my own.
"I love you Mom.", I tell her, savoring what was probably the last moments I'd ever have with her. But the tighter I tried to hold on to her, the farther she slipped away from me.
"Breath." It's the word that pulls me back from my dream.
"Dammit, Sarah! I'm not letting you die! Breath!"
It was the pressure pumping on my chest that stirred me from unconsciousness. A coughing fit ensued, water spewing from my mouth. I shivered uncontrollably.
Once I stopped coughing, I opened my eyes. Merlin knelt over me, dressed as one of Raul's men. His hair was dripping wet, and his eyes shone with worry. A cut slashed across his forehead, sure to leave a scar. His expression bore the heaviness of a man who had been to Hell and back. I realized how different he was now, compared to to boy I'd meet all those months ago.
"You look terrible", I say, wiping some water out of my eyes.
"Speak for yourself.", he says, raising an eyebrow. I knew I must be a sight. Bedraggled, sopping wet hair, and my soggy dress and cloak clinging to my skin uncomfortably. The dress was incredibly gaudy and happened to look like Morgana owned it. In fact, it probably was hers. Not quite my usual look. "What's with the dress?"
"Not entirely important at the moment.", I say, and decide to change the subject. "Why are you all the way out here? Shouldn't you be with Arthur? "
He chuckles. "You should have guessed we were watching out for you. Did you think Arthur would leave you in there all by yourself? Or Luca for a matter of fact. Didn't you see Gwaine? He was supposed to contact you."
A lump formed in my throat. "Yes."
He half smiles at me, somewhat knowingly, and moves to help me to my feet. "Let's get you up then. We have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall."
Momentarily forgetting about my ribs, I let him pull me up. I yelped in pain, dropping back down to the ground before I had fully stood up to begin with. My vision goes hazy, and I squint to see what was going on. Merlin holds me against his chest and wrestles my hand away from where it clutched my side so he can examine it.
"Merlin, what's happening?!", says a new voice, a man's figure advances towards us. I barely notice the small group of men stationed a little ways from where I was crumpled on the ground.
"Get me my pack!", he shouts back. "Quickly!"
"Ow!", I whimper weakly into his chest as Merlin prods at a rib.
He frowns. "These haven't been set properly. You're bleeding internally. And you've obviously strained yourself far beyond what you should have."
"Couldn't be helped.", I mutter, managing a small smile. "There's a war going on."
He presses his lips into a tight line, leaning down to whisper in my ear. "It's bad. If I move you, it's possible a rib could puncture an organ. I can use magic, but it'll be painful."
I close my eyes tightly, as if it could block it all out. I knew what I needed to do. I knew it was more important. "Merlin, who is in your company?
"Sarah..."
"Please, Merlin."
He sighs, giving me a suspicious frown. "Celso, Tolan, Thayer, A few of Arthur's men, and Meliorn."
My eyes narrowed. "You brought Meliorn out here?"
"Yes. Although, technically, Meliorn brought me. I was sent as his supervision."
My frustration grew. There wasn't anything to do about it though. I grab Merlin's wrist and forced him to meet my gaze, I quickly spill Raul and Morgana's plan to overthrow Camelot's royal family. "You need to go protect Arthur. I'll be fine with the others. You need to leave me and go."
I could see the torn look on his face as he glanced in the direction of Camelot. "If I go, you could die."
"If you don't, Camelot will go to ruins. Morgana will be crowned queen, Arthur will be killed, and everything will have been for nothing. There are things more important than my life."
I know he was right, I had pushed myself to far. My breathing was becoming more labored, but I couldn't let Merlin see or he would never leave. Every minute he spent fussing over me was a minute lost for Camelot. For many lives. Raul wouldn't stop here. He would expand his power by taking other kingdoms.
"You must leave.", I say, managing a smile in an attempt to reassure him. But I could feel his uneasiness. And a strong sense of protectiveness. "The boys will take good care of me. Besides, I'm stronger than I look, you know."
With a sort of brotherly affection, he ruffles my hair and kisses my forehead. The moment his lips brushed my skin I felt his pain and dread for leaving me. "I'll be back for you. as soon as I can."
"I know.", I say, trying not to sound weak.
Before standing, he has Tolan and Thayer shift a blanket under me. Since it would be too risky to move me, we would camp here. They were all disguised as Raul's foot soldiers, so it wouldn't be hard to concoct a story as to why they were here, as long as I went unnoticed. Which was unlikely, but we had no alternative.
Merlin gave them thorough instructions on how to care for me, as well as having them memorize and repeat them back to him. Once he was satisfied, he came back over to me.
"Be careful.", I say sternly.
"Always.", he promises, and turns to mount his horse.
"Merlin!", I say, beckoning him to wait.
"Take it.", I say, drawing the dagger out from where I had hid it. I didn't know why, but I knew giving it to Merlin was the right choice. And if there was one person I could trust with it, Merlin was it. "Get Raul for me. Promise you will."
He takes it from me slowly, as if he could sense its importance. He simply stare at it for a moment before meeting my eyes.
"I promise."