Nimueh shook her head, the scene unfolding in her mind.
"Balinor" she said.
"What? Where?" demanded Uther. Nimueh suddenly cried out.
"He destroyed it. He destroyed the leaf" she said. Uther slumped back, tears in his eyes. "Merlin" she suddenly cried out.
"what about him?" asked Morgana, Uther looking at her as she took his hand.
"He feels lost. The rage inside him…." Nimueh said. Suddenly she winced.
"Nimueh?" asked Vivienne, looking at her.
"Serket's. Balinor has them surrounded with Serket's!" she yelled. As if in reply, Arthur began to gasp, as if having trouble breathing. Nimueh looked over to him, then at Uther.
"I can't help both of them" she said. Uther looked at her. It was his choice. Help Arthur or Merlin. A choice he found he could not ever make.
Merlin quickly untied Lancelot and Leon, the two men, standing with the prince, it was a hopeless cause. Serket's were large, mean and deadly. All it would take was one sting, and that was it. The unicorns whinnied where they were tied up, ignored for the moment by the Serket's.
"Sire, if you see an opening take it" said Leon looking at Merlin. The Serkets were close now, claws snapping open and shut, open and shut, stingers waving above their heads.
"And go where?" asked Merlin. He was right of course, there were maybe twenty, thirty of the creatures advancing on them. Leon and Lancelot looked at him. He smiled at them and nodded, taking hold of Leon's spare sword. The three men looked at each other, then with a nod they roared as they ran forwards, taking the battle to the Serkets.
"Try and get close to them!" Merlin shouted, an old lesson from Gaius of all people popping into his head. Serket's were dangerous creatures, but they relied on their claws and stingers to do their work. Get between those however and it was a different matter. Then they would just be ugly. The two knights took his advice and did what they could, three Serket's falling as swords embedded into their faces. The men turned and rushed forwards again to the next load, Leon found himself pressed up against a tree, but knocked away a wicked claw, even as he dropped, rolling to avoid its stinger. He ended up under the beast, thrusting his sword up with a roar, slicing it downwards. He rolled out from under it as it collapsed forwards dead, turning to see Lancelot dispatching the next one along. Merlin doing the same further away.
"Six down" Lancelot said, Leon however was suddenly rushing forwards. Merlin's Serket lay dead and he was turned away, but Leon screamed out as behind Merlin another one rose up. Merlin turned to face it, raising his sword but it was too late, Merlin felt the stinger puncture his shoulder, the venom entering his body. He wavered there for a few seconds, then collapsed.
Nimueh turned her attention to Arthur suddenly as tears streamed down her face.
"Merlin help Merlin!" Vivienne cried out.
"He's been stung. Its too late" Nimueh replied sadly. Vivienne let out a scream, punching Uther's chest, even as he began to sob. Morgana sank to the floor, eyes wide, her father kneeling next to her. Uther let out a roar of rage.
His fault. It had been his fault.
Lancelot and Leon both roared as Merlin fell to the ground, the Serket that had stung him standing over him. The men both roared and charged at it, hacking at it until it fell away, badly wounded, to collapse a few feet away. Behind them however they could hear the other Serket's approaching. The men dropped their swords as the stingers raised, and closed their eyes. A moment later there was a loud noise and the Serket's began to scream. The men opened their eyes, the see the creatures fleeing, the ones nearest to them were burning on the floor.
"Well don't just stand there!" yelled a voice from the trees. They turned seeing a man, not much older than themselves untying the Unicorns.
"Bring him!" he yelled. The two men looked at each other and picked up Merlin. The man began to lead the way back through the woods, the Unicorn Merlin had been riding, huffing at the two men. Gently they eased Merlin onto its back, and it trotted off after the man. Leon and Lancelot quickly retrieved their weapons, and the sword Merlin had been using and ran after the man.
He led them a short way through the forest to a small hut, opening the door and going inside. Leon and Lancelot looked at it and the man reappeared.
"Well don't just stand there, bring him in!" he yelled. The two knights removed Merlin from the Unicorn's back and gently carried him into the hut. The man was looking over several bottles, examining them.
"Nope" he muttered throwing it over his shoulder. He selected another bottle, examining it, this one going over his shoulder as well. He looked around some more then his eyes lit up.
"Ahh, there it is" he said picking it up. He moved over to Merlin and uncorked the bottle, pouring some into Merlin's mouth.
"There. That should stop the poison" he said. Then he looked at Leon and Lancelot.
"Will he survive?" asked Leon.
"He'll be fine in a few minutes" the man assured him.
"look, not that we're not grateful for the save, but who are you?" asked Lancelot.
"Me? Have you never heard of Gwaine the great!" he said. The men shook their heads. Gwaine huffed and turned away.
"Have you been drinking?" asked Leon.
"Drinking? Me? I live alone in the woods which are infested with all manner of beasts! I neither have the time nor inclination to drink" Gwaine replied.
"Well its just that.. your breath reeks of alcohol" said Leon. Gwaine narrowed his eyes, breathed into his hand and sniffed.
"Ok, one.. this morning" he admitted.
"Are you a sorcerer?" asked Lancelot, looking around. Gwaine rolled his eyes.
"That would be a fair assumption of my situation in life yes" he said as if addressing a child. On the bed Merlin began to moan. The two knights moved to him and knelt down.
"Let him breath for crying out loud!" said Gwaine.
Nimueh suddenly looked up from where she was tending to Arthur, a laugh escaping her.
"I fail to see what is so humorous" snapped Gaius.
"Sorry, but its Merlin" she said. Uther looked over from where he was holding his sobbing wife, Morgana looking up at her as well.
"He's alive" she said.
"how?" asked Uther, as he gripped Vivienne's hand.
"An old friend" Nimueh replied, turning back to tend Arthur.
The two knights moved away, as Merlin slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
"Well the afterlife sucks" he muttered. There was a loud tut and a man he'd never seen before stepped into view.
"you're not dying young prince, not while I have any say in the matter at least" he said. "Now. What brings you all the way out here?" he asked sitting down. Merlin shut his eyes.
"Arthur. My brother he was poisoned" Merlin said softly. "I need the Morteaus flower leaf so we could make an antidote" he said. Then he began to cry. Gwaine looked at the other knights.
"Balinor, the one who set the Serkets on us, he crushed the leaf" Leon explained softly. Gwaine nodded in understanding.
"Now now young prince, there's still hope" he said. Merlin looked at him.
"I lost the leaf, don't you understand?" he nearly yelled. Gwaine smiled and stood, walking over to his little workbench.
"Good thing I have these then isn't it" he said holding up a pouch filled with the leaves. Merlin sat up, wincing at the pain in his shoulder, before he quickly wiped his tears.
"A sorcerer is never without" Gwaine said breaking into a smile, before he put them into a small holdall. "Well, I think we've delayed here enough as it is" he suddenly said, picking up his pouch.
"Where are you going?" asked Lancelot.
"Is he always this annoying?" asked Gwaine looking at Merlin and Leon, while pointing at Lancelot.
"Usually, this is a good day" Leon said.
"I'm moving to hell" Gwaine muttered walking out. "come on come on" Gwaine shouted back. The three men looked at each other.
"I guess there's four of us going back" said Merlin, standing shakily. Leon stepping forwards to support him.
"Merlin is safe" Nimueh said, smiling. Around the room she felt the smiles breaking out, before she turned back to tending Arthur. He was sweating, his breath ragged, and he gripped the bed sheets tightly.
"Hold on my prince" she said, stroking his hair fondly. The touch seemed to sooth Arthur somewhat, he his breathing became less ragged. Across the room the door opened and a young serving maid entered the room carrying a large tray loaded with food. She put it down on the table and bowed.
"thank you Gwen" said Vivienne. The young maid smiled, and looked at Arthur.
"If I might ask, how is he? The staff are all worried" she said softly.
"He is resting, but he is still with us" Nimueh told her. Gwen smiled again and bowed, turning to move away.
"Guinevere" Uther called. Gwen turned back.
"My lord?" she asked.
"Tell the staff that we thank them for their concern" Uther said. Gwen smiled and bowed before turning away again, before she left the room. Vivienne stood and picked up some food, passing it to Morgana.
"thank you" Morgana said as she took it. Vivienne turned back, Glorious moving beside her.
"No need to serve me, I can get my own lunch" he said with a grin. Vivienne looked at him and smiled as she shook her head.
"I wasn't" she replied, turning away and approaching Nimueh. The sorcerer looked up at her and took the food gratefully. Uther stood to move next to Glorious.
"Thank you for staying with us my friend" Uther said to him softly. Glorious put his hand on Uther's shoulder.
"You were there for me when my Beloved Ygraine passed on, I would never leave you like this" he replied. Morgana and Vivienne watching the exchange silently, but both smiling.
"Why do I have to have him?" asked Lancelot again, aware of Gwaine's hands holding onto him as the group rode back towards Camelot.
"Because he's too large and he's injured" Gwaine said pointing at Leon and Merlin. Leon blinked and looked at him.
"Are you saying I'm fat?" he asked, taken aback.
"No not at all. Well maybe a little chubby" he admitted. Merlin chuckled from his own Unicorn as he listened to the exchange. Leon made a humph noise and turned away from Gwaine, suddenly aloof to the conversation.
"Gwaine, can I ask you a question?" asked Merlin.
"I'd would point out you just did, but go on" Gwaine replied.
"If you had the leaves all this time, why did Nimueh say we had to go to the cave?"
"Ahh, well you see, Nimueh and I go back a long way, raising the dead, having a party, that sort of thing" he said. Merlin frowned at him.
"I'm serious Gwaine, why?" Merlin asked again.
"Because until I saved you, she probably thought I was dead. The last time she saw me was surrounded by Oden's men. I told her to get away, and she did. I myself did manage to escape obviously, but only by masking my presence to his hunters, which meant I had to mask myself from her as well" he admitted.
"Hunters?" asked Lancelot.
"Big slobbering beasts, can sniff out magic like a dog can a bone. Horrible things" he said.
"okay" Merlin replied, nodding. The group fell into silence then, and after a while Merlin felt his shoulder was strong enough to bring the Unicorns to a gallop. As before they moved fast, devouring the land with their speed.
"at this rate we'll be at Camelot within half a day" said Leon.
"thank god" muttered Lancelot.
"I heard that" Gwaine grumbled.
The group arrived back in Camelot just as the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. People gawking at them as the Unicorns galloped past them in the streets. Gwaine handed Merlin the leaves, and Merlin took them, running up into the castle.
Uther looked up as the door opened and Merlin, battered, bloody and covered in dirt, but wonderfully alive rushed into the room. He stood, embracing his son, kissing the top of his head.
"Thank god.. thank god" he breathed. Merlin smiled up at him, even as he handed the leaves to Nimueh. She took them, standing, even as Merlin embraced his mother. Finally he turned to Morgana.
"Well, I'm back" he said with a grin. Morgana rushed forwards, kissing him with a passion.
"I never doubted it" she said as she pulled away, the two falling into a quiet embrace. Merlin looked over at Glorious who stepped forwards holding out his hand. Merlin took it and shook it softly, before the big man pulled him into his own embrace.
"Well done my boy" Glorious said. Merlin smiled and nodded at him, before he re-joined Morgana, the group watching as Nimueh prepared the antidote. Slowly she turned to Arthur and knelt down by him, cupping the bowl to his lips and pouring the green concoction into his mouth. Arthur swallowed it and she gently held out her hand.
"Corforurarus" she said softly, her eyes glowing. A moment later Arthur gasped, then fell still. Uther stepped forwards, concerned.
"What's happened?" he demanded.
"You must give it a moment my liege" Nimueh said. A second later Arthur took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"For the record that stuff tastes like sh-" he began, cut off as Uther pulled him into an embrace.
"I thought I'd lost you" he whispered.
"Well, you didn't" Arthur assured him, looking around, his gaze fell on Merlin who slowly stepped forwards.
"I hear I have you to thank for my recovery" Arthur said. Merlin shrugged.
"You'd have done the same for me" he replied. Arthur slowly smiled and nodded. Suddenly the brothers embraced, something they never did.
"Thank you" Arthur whispered to him. Merlin pulled away, wiping his eye.
"you must rest for a little longer" Nimueh said to Arthur as she slowly stood, Merlin helping her.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned. Nimueh smiled at him.
"I expanded a lot of magic between the pair of you, I'll be fine with rest" she assured him.
"Then you must rest" Uther said. She nodded and with a bow, left the room. Alice following a moment later.
"I'll see she reaches her chambers" she said. Uther nodded at her and Alice followed Nimueh out.
"So what happened out there?" asked Arthur looking back over to his brother.
"Oh the usual, the Dragon, Serket's, really big Spiders, some rock climbing, oh and you have a gift from someone" Merlin said.
"What gift?" asked Arthur. Merlin patted his shoulder.
"You have a unicorn" he said.
"A what?" asked Arthur. Merlin began to laugh suddenly at his brother's expression.
"You'll see" he said finally, as he sat down. Gaius moved over to him a moment later.
"Well, We have a lot to celebrate" said Uther. Everyone looked at him. "There shall be a celebration-"
"NO!" everyone in the room practically shouted. Uther blinked, then sighed.
"Very well" he said.
"Nimueh said you got stung" Gaius said. Merlin nodded.
"Let's take a look at the wound" he said.
"It's fine Gaius" Merlin insisted. Gaius looked at him, with an expression that said if you don't I have your father order you Merlin sighed and pulled off his chainmail, wincing as he did so, before he removed his tunic. The wound on his shoulder was red, and considering the size of the stinger he'd been stabbed with, actually quite small.
"I see this was treated with Magic" said Gaius as he turned away to get some bandages. Merlin's only reply was a gentle snore, mirrored a moment later by Arthur's own snore. Slowly he looked up at Uther and the others.
"I think the best thing for both of them right now is sleep" he said. The group nodded and turned to leave, except Morgana.
"If I might stay, just for a little" she said. Gaius looked at her, then smiled.
"Of course" he agreed. Morgana smiled at him then moved over to sit next to Merlin, allowing his head to rest on her shoulder. She put her arm around him, stroking his hair gently.
Nimueh looked up as someone knocked at her door, slowly it opened and she smiled rushing forwards. Gwaine pulling her into an embrace.
"You have no idea how much I've missed you" she said softly.
"Nor I you" he replied.
Merlin awoke with a yawn, his neck was hurting, and it clicked when he moved it.
"Ow" he whispered, then smiled as he realised he was leaning on a sleeping Morgana, her arm wrapped around him.
"Touching, really" said Arthur from where he was facing them both, a silly smirk on his face.
"Feeling better?" asked Merlin.
"Thanks to you, yes" Arthur said. Merlin smiled at him.
"That's what family is for" he said. Arthur nodded and slowly sat up.
"Should you be doing that?" asked Merlin softly.
"I've been in this bed for nearly a week, I'm going to go stir crazy if I carry on looking at the ceiling" he replied.
"I think you should wait for Gaius" Merlin cautioned him. Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Fine, but only because I owe you one" he replied. Beside Merlin, Morgana shifted and slowly opened her eyes.
"Morning" said Merlin looking at her.
"Is it?" she replied.
"Well the suns up" Arthur said from the bed. "No idea what time it is though" he added. Morgana looked over at him and smiled.
"I'm glad to see you awake" she said.
"It's nice to be awake" he replied with a grin.
Uther, Vivienne and Glorious were sitting down the breakfast, aware of the smiles from the castle staff. It was amazing how much effect the two princes had on the kingdom, and how loved by the people they both were. At the end of the room, the doors opened and Morgana walked in, Merlin and Arthur both escorting her to the table.
Uther and the others smiling as the princes took their seats.
"Hungry?" asked Uther. Merlin and Arthur looked at him.
"Famished" they both said.
"So you failed again" Kilgharrah growled as he stood off to the side. Balinor shot him a dirty look, but remained silent.
"That boy does seem to have the luck of the old gods on his side" Hunith said.
"Sooner or later Luck runs out" Balinor grumbled.
"If it's Uther you want, why not just kill him?" asked Morgause.
"Because it is not enough to simply kill Uther, I want him broken, begging at my feet, a pitiful specimen of a man who has fallen as far as possible, only to be lowered that much more" he snarled.
"But if we cannot deal with his family yet then we shall target the next thing he most treasures" Balinor said. "If The House Pendragon refuses to fall then the house of Glorious will" he vowed. The two women and the Dragon watched as he walked away.