chapter8

Merlin swan up to his three friends that had waited on the grass.

"Merlin! Merlin, did you practice the map?" Morgana asked.

Merlin nodded a bit. "But i'm still a little scared. I mean.. what if I still get lost? What if Arthurs not the only one that sees me? What if he is the only one that sees me, but decides he wants to kill me? What if he's not even at the castle anymore? I mean, he could've gone home al-"

"Merlin!"

The prince stopped and stared at Morgana.

"Just be careful. Remember your route and come back in time before the moon comes back."

Merlin gulped deeply and nodded. "I just wish I didn't have to do this alone."

Emily gasped in excitment. "You don't have to."

At the confused look of her friends, the bunny continued.

"Merlin, you would never hurt any of us, right?"

The swan shook his head. "Of course not."

"And you would never let anyone else hurt us, right?"

Morgana sighed. "Emily, where are you getting at?"

Emily turned and smiled. "One of us could go with him. He could carry us."

"What?" Morgana asked. "Are you crazy? Merlin may never hurt us on purpose, but whos to say we wont fall and break our necks?"

"I'll be careful." Merlin said.

"No, Merlin. Do you really want that on your shoulders?" Morgana protested.

"Merlin won't be alone." Nim said happily. "I'm sure he'd do the same for all of us."

"I would." Merlin said smiling.

"Who would be crazy enough to climb on the back of a swan?" Morgana asked.

Her three friends stopped talking and stared straight at her.

The bunnies eyes widen. She shook her head. "Oh no. No. No. No. I will not."

"Come on Morgana." Nim rubbed the bunnies ear. "Just look at that face. That innocent face of 'Merlin'. Our friend. Plus dont forget, he was your friend first." She quickly added.

Morgan turned and glared at Nim for a moment before turning back to Merlin. That said face, that cute face. That royal face. The bunny sighed and shook her head.

"Please Morgana?" Merlin begged.

The bunny sighed once more before smiling.

XOXOXOXO

Arthur was walking through the woods. His hand on his sword, which lay hanging at his side. He usaully didn't walk alone around the woods. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

The prince sighed and sat down at a log. He shook his head. What even brought him to these woods anyway?

He stared down at the ground for a moment before turning his head. The prince blinked as something caught his attention. He got up from the log and began walking once more until he reached it.

The lake, where he had found Merlin before he went missing.

Arthur looked around the place. The beautiful water was just as beautiful as it was that day that he had kissed Merlin here. Arthur looked around. But the lake seemed less beautiful when Merlin wasn't there.

Arthur blinked and squinted when he saw three tiny animals by the water. Then he saw the swan.

Arthurs brows narrowed as he saw the Black Swans mouth sligtly open towards one of the animals.

XOXOXOXO

"Ok, Morgana. I'm going to pick you up, then lift you to my back."

The bunny gulped then nodded. "O-ok."

Merlin lowered his head towards the bunny.

"HEY!"

All four friends heads turned to the side just in time to see a sword coming down.

Morgana fell backwards onto the other two bunnies.

Merlin screamed as the sword almost cut off his head. The swan backed up into the middle of the water where the sword couldn't reach. He turned back to his friends wide eyed and with the horrible thought that there was a hunter in their lake.

Until Merlins eyes fell on the young man.

"Arthur?"

The prince was looking straight at him. He swung his sword, put it back in his belt then turned to the bunnies.

Arthur kneeled on his knees. "Morgana?" He said as he reconized the white bunny. It didn't bite you did it?" He reached out, just to have the bunny quickly hop backwards. "Come on, you have to remember me. I was with Merlin that day."

Of course the bunny remembered but when Arthur tried to kill Merlin just now, Morganas trust was also killed.

The bunny hopped around the green grass till she reached the end ofd the lake and was back to Merlins side.

Arthurs brows narrowed. "Is she trying to get killed?"

XOXOXOXO

Morgana breathed heavily as she reached Merlin. "Are you sure thats the guy you want to marry?"

Merlin shook his head. "I dont know why he did that." He said, never taking his eyes of the prince. 'I know he likes to hunt, but... when we were young I got him to hunt only dangerous animals."

"Merlin?"

The swan turned back to the bunny.

"He reconized me, Merlin."

Merlins eyes widen. He turned back to Arthur who was now sitting on the grass. "What are we going to do? What if he leaves before the moon comes?"

Morgana shook her head. "We have to keep him here as long as possible."

"What if it doesn't work?" Merlin asked worriedly. Then his eyes widen and he gasped. "What if Cenred comes? He'll kill him."

Morgana shook her head. "Cenred doesn't come until after you turn human. If Arthur stays until then, it'll be ok."

Merlin sighed. "I hope so. Not only would I be stuck like this, but Arthur would be dead... I might have to take Cenreds offer."

Morganas brows narrowed. "Don't talk like that. Cenred wont win. I'll be sure of that. We all will."

Merlin smiled sadly. " I wish I was as sure as you are."

Now we're getting somewhere.
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