Chapter 6
Merlin and Arthur sat in silence for a few minutes before Arthur asked "Merlin did you know that five of my knights sympathize with vampires and don't think like my father does?" Merlin looked at Arthur surprised "No I did not. Why would they though?" "Because all of them have lost family to my father and the family they lost were vampires who never killed anyone. They tried to hid them but my father found them each time and killed them. My newest knight Perceval his sister was turned almost a year ago but my father's closing in we don't know what to do. I still don't know what to do." Arthur explained "We'll figures something out Arthur." Merlin paused then looked at the body of the man that still lay were Arthur had finished him off it was still a half hour before sunrise and he had to get rid of that body.
"Arthur I want you to stay here I'll be back soon I am just getting rid of the body so that no one will find it. I'll be back as soon as I can, please under any circumstances do not leave this cave until I come back I don't want to take any chances." Merlin said in a pleading voice Arthur nodded saying promising he would stay in the cave. Reassured Merlin grabbed the body and left, he ran through the trees till he came to a lake close by and threw the body in watching it sink until it was out of sight. Just as Merlin was about to head back to the cave, his vampire hearing picked up the sound of men talking and horses grazing close by them. "It is too early for patrols to be out yet, best be safe and check it out." Merlin thought to himself as he climbed up a tall tree and used the network of branches get right above to where he heard the men without being seen so he could gather information on why they were out here.
Once he saw them he knew they were knights of Camelot one of them a blond started to speak again "We have all lost family to Uther, and we knew Arthur fell in love with a vampire, he told us he had. He had also told us what he planned to do before he disappeared. I just hope that if he did go through with it ,the vampire he rescued and fell in love with keeps him safe. I just wish we could find either Arthur or that vampire just so we know he's alright. Arthur knows that none of us would hand him or the vampire he loves over to his father no matter what. I just wish we could find them. I mean that's why we are all out here, that is why we all volunteered for this because if anyone else found them they would kill them on sight. I am just so worried about Arthur and by extension that vampire he loves." then a man with shoulder length black hair spoke up "Leon we all are worried and we all know that we won't find them unless them want to be found. We all love Arthur like a brother but we are going to have to head back in two days whether we find him or not so we can worry all we want but it is not going to change anything." Leon sighed "Your right Lancelot unless that vampire shows up and leads us to Arthur were out of luck." then the group fell silent again.
"So these are the knights Arthur told me about. They could help us because Arthur will have to go back to Camelot soon or his father will start another man hunt. They might be able to help me keep Arthur safe." Merlin thought to himself a plan forming in his head then he called out to them "What if I could help for you are searching for Arthur and I and I could use your help." The jumped up hands on their swords but they did not draw them the man named Leon looked around not seeing where the voice had come from then said "If you are the one that Arthur told us about then you have nothing to fear from us please show yourself. None of us will harm you we all know about you anyway." Merlin sighed then jumped off the branch he was on landing on lightly on his feet without a sound a few feet away from Leon and the others. Leon gasps as he saw Merlin saying "I know you my brother described you to me many times. He said you were the youngest out of the five of you who could walk in the sun. You and him were the only ones left when he was killed by Uther. You're the one Arthur fell in love with." Leon looked close to tears as he stepped closer to Merlin taking him in Merlin felt his breath hitch in his throat as he said "Your Bran's brother the one he left to see on occasion to see. He told me much about you. I am so sorry I saw him die through that cell window I was hoping you weren't there but I realize now that you were. I am so sorry I know we both mourned for him and he would be proud of you I know that." "Why didn't you hide or run both of you?" Leon asked Merlin knew this would not be easy to hear "We had been running and hiding for almost six months each time though Uther found us. The last time before Bran was executed Uther knew we would run so before he routed us out he surrounded us the was no way out. Bran tried to protect me but Uther knew of your relation to him and told Bran that if he did not come quietly you would pay the price. Bran could not let anything happen to you and neither could I because I knew that you meant everything to him, we both did. So we came quietly knowing that if we did you would not be harmed so Bran gave his life so you would live. I was ready to do the same but Arthur rescued me and this is where we ended up. If I had been there in that courtyard I would have killed Uther right then because I loved Bran as a brother as well." Leon nodded and said "I am glad that you are still alive Uther said you died in the cells there was a pile of ash in there right were the sun hit. Smart move making Uther think you were dead." Leon paused remembering why they were all out here "Is Arthur alright did he go through with it or is he dead?" Merlin smiled reassuringly "Arthur's fine he did go through with it. I tried to deter him from doing this but he was set on it but he is fine. But he has to return to Camelot soon or father will start another man hunt and innocent people will die. He can also walk in the sun just like I can. You could help us greatly by keeping me informed on anything that might be suspicious or if anyone is getting close to finding out about Arthur of myself that way I can erase it from their minds. You would all be a great help to me in keeping him safe." Merlin paused then said "Arthur told me a little while ago that your friend Perceval has a sister who turned a year ago who is in danger. I can help if one you can get a message to Perceval to meet me in a clearing to east of here Arthur told you that was where he was going to find me the night he left. If you can get him and his sister to meet me there I can get her to somewhere safe there is a coven not to far from here I have to go there anyway because some of the elders are there and Arthur will be coming with me. If Perceval and whoever brings the message to him was to come with me they will not be harmed for they will under my protection so no one will come near them. I am very respected amongst my kind for a few reasons one is because I am stronger than any of them I can take them all down without a problem. There is also a law that any human under a vampires protection is not to be harmed. After we take care of a few things I will come back here with Arthur, Perceval, and whoever took the message. Then we all will head back to Camelot." That is when Lancelot jumped in "I will take the message but why would you be coming back to Camelot Uther would kill you on sight?" Merlin chuckled "No he would not even recognize me. I know how his mind works once he thinks a vampire is dead he completely forgets everything about them. He won't notice anything different about Arthur either because he thinks his son would never do anything like this." Merlin paused then asked "Have any of you noticed have vampire attacks on the city have nearly stopped and only a few have attacked in the last three months? Do you know why that is?" All of them said they had noticed but did not know why "It is because of Arthur. I told the elders what he did for me how he had the sense his mother had that would tell him whether or not a vampire wanted to hurt him. I told them everything. They think that Arthur may be the one that was foretold about a thousand of years ago by vampire seer, the one that would stop the bloodshed and bring about a time of peace between vampires and humans they are only guessing though. As for me I know he is the one because I have a gift that was intensified when I was turned. When I was human I was able to see who people were I could tell what wanted I knew their fears and doubts but only if I was close to the person. When I was turned the gift intensified now all I need a scent of a person, or to hear them, or see them and I know everything about them from past, present, and everything they are destined to do though not how they will do it. Arthur is the turning point in this war and I was always destined to protect him and be there for him that is another reason I am so respected among my kind is because of my role in all this. That is why the attacks have almost stopped. The only ones who still attack are those of my kind who do not believe in this or who are too angry at Uther to let go and let this take its course." Leon said "We understand and will help in any way we can but I have a question or two if you will answer them." Merlin nodded to tell Leon to go on "My first question kind of leads into the second one, how is it that few of you can walk in the sun while most Vampires can't?" Merlin let out a barking laugh as he said "That is a question I do not hear often, The reason a few of us can is because only those who are pure of heart before they are turned will be given that gift. To be pure of heart means that you will do what is right no matter the cost to yourself without want for recognition or reward, that you would sacrifice your own life for someone else to live no matter who or what they are. It also means that you kind and compassionate but also know when force is needed to help someone else. Arthur is like that so he was given the gift to be able to walk in the sun, I was also like that before I was turned as were my brothers. Truthfully by using my gift I can see that all of you are pure of heart and if any of you were turned into a vampire whether by choice or force all of you would also be able to walk in the sun. Most of my kind were not like that when they were turned they had something about them that stopped them from receiving that gift. I think I just answered you second question about if any of you were to be turned if you would be able to walk in the sun. I can tell by the look on you face that I did." All the knights laughed at the bit teasing even though it was true, they were liking this vampire a lot already and could see why Arthur fell in love with him. Leon smiled at Merlin "Well I think we are all glad of that. We will help you and Arthur in every way we can. Perceval will meet you with his sister and Lancelot tomorrow night at the clearing the rest of us will wait here for you all to return. But before you go would you mind giving us you name and allowing me to introduce the rest of us?" "My name is Merlin." Merlin replied with a light chuckle he like these knights and knew now why Arthur liked them so much "Well as you already know I am Leon, that man over there with the shoulder length black hair is Lancelot, then next to him is Elion he was the blacksmiths son but Arthur upgraded his status without his father finding out he is great fighter and loyal friend, and finally that fool sitting across from them with the stupid grin on his face is Gwaine, he tends to get drunk a lot and can annoying as hell but when it comes to fight or something serious he is one hell of a person to have on your side and he is also very loyal and protective to his friends." They all shared a laugh a Gwaine's expense because Gwaine started to rattle off about how he was the life of the party and they would all get bored without him. "Well it was nice to meet all of you and if there is anything you ever need of me whether it is just to talk or even if you even if any of you ever decide to become a vampire which I highly doubt will happen just come to me and I will do everything I can to help. I will you see you all in two days." They all said their goodbyes and Merlin sped away glad he would have some help.
When Merlin got back to the cave the sun be would be rising in about two minutes so he had been gone longer then he thought. Merlin went into the cave to find Arthur pacing and mumbling to himself when he heard Merlin come back into the cave and let him have it "Where have you been I thought you were just going to get rid of the body and come back. I was worried out of mind what the hell happened?" Arthur was a little peeved that Merlin had been gone so long making him worry but calmed down immediately at Merlin's explanation about how Merlin had chanced upon Arthur's friends and knights and the plans on how they would help them both once they returned to Camelot. Merlin also told him about the plans for tomorrow night to help Perceval and his sister and having to inform the elders that are in the coven close by about Arthur and his transformation.
By the time Merlin had finished Arthur was nodded his head in understanding "So we have two days before we head back. Will be I be ready by then I mean will I be able to not hurt anyone?" Merlin pulled Arthur into his embrace for a moment then pulled back to look into his eyes smiling "Arthur you won't hurt anyone before that time is up you will need to feed again but this time you will be taking my blood and once that had been done you will not feel the need for human blood but you feel the need for mine. The smell of human blood will still smell enticing don't get me wrong but it will not hold the same compulsion to have it as it did before so don't worry you won't hurt anyone unless you choose to. Everything will be just fine." Merlin place a chaste kiss on Arthur lips before pulling away and looking out the cave entrance then back to Arthur "Arthur I told you that you would be able to walk in the sun, It is sunrise and as a vampire you can see it with a clarity and beauty that you have never seen it with before. Would you like to? I warn you your first instinct will be to flinch away from sun but I be there with you no harm will come to you. Do you trust me? Would you like to see it?" Merlin reached out his hand to Arthur who hesitantly took it and let Merlin lead him outside for the first time since he was turned.
They stood in the clearing that surrounded the cave waiting then seconds later the sun started to peak over the horizon. The moment the sun light touched Arthur skin he first instinct was to hide but Merlin grip on his hand helped him remain calm as he watched the sun rise. Merlin was right without the weakness of humanity on his eyes Arthur could see all the colors and beauty of the sunrise like he never could before. Arthur looked over at Merlin grinning and it was like seeing Merlin for the first time. Arthur took in how the sun glinted of Merlin's skin in such a subtle that his human eyes had missed it before, how the sun reflected in his eyes in most beautiful way and shown of it white teeth as Merlin smiled at him. Arthur could not help but think that becoming a vampire was he what he had been meant to do. His human life was over but his eternity as a vampire had just begun and he could not be happier that he had Merlin to share it with.