So hello all :) Its me again :) Faster update then last time XD
I love you all for keeping with me even though I abandoned this fic for months, but I'm back now XD And I appreciate your reviews, follows and favourites, and I will attempt to write all of your ideas (eventually) :P.
Arthur is King in this :) Alive Lance an Elyan and Good Mordred.
Here's the prompt, thanks Aaronna:
Creatures of the earth care for each other. That is why when a direwolf finds a nearly dead Merlin in the woods, it keeps him warm and safe until a patrol finds them.
Anyways chapter 7 y'all! :) Whooop whoop chicken soup ;)
DISCLAIMER: MERLIN IS NOT OWNED BY ME, BUT SOMEDAY MY FELLOW FANFICTIONERS I SHALL HAVE MERLIN...MWHAHAHA!...I..I MEAN MERLIN BELONG TO THE BBC...
Merlin POV:
Mud squelched beneath my boots, the soft soil moist from the rainfall which came down upon Camelot this morn, the mud dark in colour moulding around my boots as I walked.
The birds sang from the looming trees, echoing down the old forest, an answering call echoing back as they talk to each other in their strange but beautiful language.
I look up, the sky now clear of the grey clouds which plagued the earth's atmosphere, the suns warm rays now cascading down onto the dense forest floor.
I had found myself once more, hunting down herbs for Gaius with only a list and a basket to assist me.
I had been roaming the forest for hours, arriving at the forest at noon, and now, the sky had started to darken, red and oranges merging with the blues of the sky as the sun started to set in the distance.
I scurry around a clearing, knowing the herb I was searching for grew there, determined to arrive back in Camelot before the moon replaced the sun and blackness surrounded me.
If only I had concentrated on my surroundings, I might have heard the distant snap of a twig, the sound of a loading crossbow even the sound of a spell, which the wind carried towards my ears.
But I was to indulged in my task, too far into my own thoughts to even comprehend the danger I was in.
The nearly silent click of a crossbow being fired, usually would have alerted me of trouble but even that, I did not notice.
It was only until I heard the whiz of a arrow flying towards me, impossibly fast, was when my brain snapped into action and I swirl around, coming face to face with the unstoppable arrow as it hit my tender flesh.
I was sent flying backwards, hitting a ageing tree in my path to the ground as pain flooded my senses.
I crumble to the cold forest bed, dazed in agony as my brain struggled to figure out what was happening.
I move slightly, a flash of pure agony hitting me as fire like burning spread around my lower abdomen.
I look down, tears blurring my vision, to where the endless aching radiated mercilessly from.
My eyes grew wide in despair as they land on an arrow sticking halfway into my skin.
Precious red liquid seeped from the hole the arrow had embedded itself into, nestling its way through layers of flesh, tearing brutally into my stomach.
I let out a whimper of pain as my hand brushed over tender skin, coming back covered in red sticky blood.
I hear footsteps nearing me and my head snaps up, eyes on the owner, my body shaking in exhaustion the small task of lifting my head impossibly hard.
Dark brown, sadistic looking eyes met mine, his mouth growing into a smirk as he bends down to my height and I attempt to scramble backwards, to escape the man who put me in so much pain, but I had no energy to go far, blood loss draining my body of colour as well as energy.
"I expected much more of you, Emrys" The man sneers, his yellowed teeth showing as he spoke.
"I expected a strong sorcerer not a scrawny coward" He growls and before I could utter a spell or anything really, his hand had reached out and in a flash had wrapped is way around the arrow and yanked it out.
I scream out, the sound making my throat throb, as pain over took my body my mind going black as agony wept from the now gaping wound which leaked blood faster than ever, a never ending stream of crimson pooling underneath me, soaking the floor with blood.
"Go..bye..E..rys" Was all my brain processed before it blanked, sunk into a whirlpool of darkness as unconsciousness wrapped me inside its arms, taking me away from the pain I was in, away from the land of the living.
My eyes open, heavily drooping as slumber already called me back into its grasp, as my drowsy orbs stare into the grey eyes of an animal. I reach out desperately for help, wanting to rid myself of the pure agony my body was in, the rough skin of my worn hands met warm fur before my energy seeped from me and my head hit the floor as I fall once more unconscious.
Normal POV:
A the sorcerer, evil and vindictive, strode his way towards Emrys, kneeling by his side sneering tauntingly at the wounded man, ripping the arrow from the warlocks body, a creature crept towards him, bent low as the hunter became the hunted.
The creature was wondering the forest merely minutes before, searching for food as she felt the powerful aura, a cry for help rippling through the forest in magical waves. Her pure white head snapping up, her grey eyes searching before powerful paws took off, eating at the dirt below as she ran towards the incredibly strong magic.
She wines as she felt a wave of pain flow through her, the agony the sorcerer was feeling flowing through his magic as its pleads for help.
She makes herself run faster, her large paws leaving a trail of destruction as they scramble to fasten her speed.
She surges over a fallen tree, making it look like she was simply stepping over a twig as she lands gracefully on the other side.
Her pace slows as the magical aura grows incredibly stronger, making her stalk forwards her eyes peeping through the bushes as she watches the most powerful man to walk the earth scramble to get away from the man who lumbered over him, the boy barely an adult, looking like a fearful child as pain radiates off him.
The large animal growls lowly, a need to protect the boy taking over her as the man makes him cry out in pain as he yanks the arrow from his flesh, throwing it carelessly to the floor as he laughs in joy, as if bringing pain to the young man gave him pleasure.
The animal couldn't hold in the rage she felt and she pounced from her hiding space, howling loudly as she hurtles her body towards the man, tackling the scum to the floor.
She snaps her teeth, her long white canines flashing dangerously as she desperately wants to end the life of the man below her.
"A Direwolf...Impossible" The man utters, thinking the magical wolves long gone.
But he does not get to speak another word as her white teeth sink into his neck, ripping his flesh, his eyes growing wide as his life ends, blood spurting from his ripped artery as his body grows cold.
The direwolf climbs off the man's limp body, rushing to the now unconscious warlock, whimpering as she sees the blood pooling below him, his face crunched in pain.
She wines, her nose nudging his still hand, trying desperately to wake him as she leans her head on his shoulder, curling into his uninjured side to keep him warm as he shivered due to bloodless.
She feels his body twitch as his eye flutter open, the action of moving his eyes seeming hard as they flutter heavily.
The direwolf wines as his eyes meet hers, eagerly shoving her head into his cold hands as he reaches out nuzzling into him hoping to give him the comfort he craved before he fell back into slumber and she makes a noise of protest, falling into his side once more as she realised he would not wake any time soon.
She curled around his body, fluffy tail wrapping around his abdomen, pressing down slightly on the wound her fur soaking up his blood as it starts to slow, but never stopped.
Her head rested on his chest, the feeling of his beating heart still thumping weakly but surely below her jaw, comforting as she settles herself, ready to protect the young man.
Her ears prick forwards at any noise her snowy head rising at any sound, alert instantly ready for any threat.
Seconds merged into Minutes, minutes turning to hours as darkness started to overtake the blue skies, but still the wolf stayed, protecting Emrys.
It was as she settled back into Emrys, letting her warmth radiate into him, was when she heard distant voices, the shimmering orange blaze of torches shining through the trees.
Her unusual icy grey eyes, straining to look further into the distance, catching the glint of metal armour and flowing red capes.
The wolf even though an animal, could sense the men as no threat, recognising them as the help Emrys much needed.
So she nudges the unconscious man in a bid to wake him, but he did not even twitch in reaction.
The wolf makes a noise of distress, before making up her mind, heaving her body from Emrys, looking towards the young man once more before taking off, towards the men on horseback.
Arthur's POV:
I, Gwaine, Percival and Leon rode through the forest, my eyes sharp as I look worryingly for my dark haired manservant.
It had been at least two hours since Gaius had bursting into my chambers, rushing out words, gushing out his concern over Merlin as he had yet to return.
He told me how he had sent Merlin out at noon in order to collect much needed herbs, how he should have been back hours before.
It didn't take much conniving on Gaius's side to make me go search for the man who had become my younger brother, in fact I had called for the three knights, saddled four horses and set out into the forest in less than fifteen minutes.
And so, here I was, searching in hast for my younger sibling, begging to the gods Merlin was lost not hurt and incapable to walk his way home.
We were in the second hour of searching and my stomach was turning with nerves and fear, every hour which passed by making me more and more concerned for Merlin's well being.
The horses walked calmly as our eyes searched between the trees, looking for any sign of the neckerchief wearing servant.
It was then, as the sky had started to darken into blackness, was when I spot a blurry white outline in the corner of my eyes.
I, before I could even turn my head towards the movement, had found my self on the floor, being wiped off my horse by a powerful body, landing with a thud onto the floor, the heavy body knocking the wind from my body as it landed on my upper body.
My eyes snap onto whatever tackled me off my horse my heart skipping a beat as I met a mouth full of sharp teeth, coated with red which I assumed was blood.
"Arthur? Art- Oh my god" I hear Gwaine gasp and I dare taking my eyes from the huge wolf for a second to look towards him.
His face had drained of colour, his eyes wide as his eyes gazed upon the giant white wolf which rested on my body.
His words alarmed both Leon and Percival and soon they had jumped from their trusty steeds and unsheathed their swords.
Gwaine scrambled to do the same, swinging himself from his horse joining the other two knights as they stalked towards me.
But it seemed we needn't have worried as the wolf jumped from my chest before lunging towards me, nudging into me with its head.
It wined loudly, rutting its wet nose against my side as if telling me 'get the hell up'.
I cautiously get to my feet, my eyes never leaving the anxious wolf.
The wolf was giant, reaching over my hips, the evidence of blood staining her marvellous white fur, which was as pure as snow.
It moved quickly behind me, her head butting into my back making me walk forwards before it ran in front of me, sprinting forwards a few meters before looking back over its shoulder, barking at me to get a move on.
"I think she wants us to follow her" I hear Leon say and I nod as the wolf runs back to me, grabbing my cloak in its sharp fangs and pulling on it, its brute strength dragging me along.
I take a step forwards looking into the wolfs eyes, its grey orbs telling me to follow.
The small steps I take forwards encourages the wolf and it lets go of my cloak and runs off one more this time not looking back, as if she trusted me to follow so I took off after her.
We were running for about five minutes, I could just see the wolfs white coat in the distance as it ran faster to its destination.
I see her stop distantly, howling loudly as if saying 'hurry' before she turned again, running with such speed which I could only make out as desperateness as if she wanted to get back to something urgently.
I make my legs fasten their pace as she starts to disappear into the forest, something inside me telling me I needed to follow the wolf.
I see a clearing coming up ahead, the tell tale signs of the dense plants and trees parting into a circle like shape alerting me it was indeed a clearing.
I emerge from the trees and into the clearing, my blue eyes looking around for any signs of the white wolf.
"Merlin!" I hear Gwaine cry out and my eyes are instantly on him, following his eyes to where merlin lay.
The dark haired man lay on the green grass below almost lifelessly, his face pale, eyes shut and red covering his stomach.
The white wolf lay at his side, its head laying on merlin's barely rising chest, whining and whimpering as it looked, pleading for my help, nudging into Merlin's colourless cheeks almost as if trying to wake him.
My legs were moving before my brain processed what they were doing, sprinting to my manservant's side.
"Merlin" I gasp falling to my knees my shaking hands tailing his body, looking for where the blood was coming from, finding it beneath the wolfs fluffy tail.
My eyes meet the wolfs once more, asking permission to move its tail and as if reading my mind it removes its tail from Merlins stomach.
Once it was moved my eyes fell upon the bleeding hole in Merlin's stomach.
It was deep and skin all around the wound was ripped and red, soaked in red liquid as it seeps from its owners body, soaking into the mud below.
I see Gwaine drop down next to me as I place my hands down on Merlin's wound, sounds of pain coming from the younger man as i did so.
The wolf wails in distress as it licks Merlin's cheek burying its head into the wounded man's neck, as it crawl further onto his chest and my brain finally figures it out.
Merlin was shaking like a leaf, blood loss making his body shake in exhaustion, the days heat turning into the crispness of might making him shiver, making his body cold.
The wolf seemed to understand this as it wrapped itself tighter around Merlin using its body heat to keep him warm, and my heart melts slightly at the sight. Slightly mind you, only slightly.
My eyes fall on Leon as I push further down on the wound, wanting desperately to stop the bleeding, watching as he reaches down to the wolf, stroking its soft fur as if taking comfort from the giant creature.
"Where's Percy?" I hear Gwaine ask Leon as he took off his cloak, ripping it into long strips and handing them to me.
"He went to get the horses, we need to get Merlin back to Camelot and fast, his wound his still bleeding and by the looks of the dried blood around him its happened at least two hours ago, its a miracle he still lives" Leon answers, his voice breaking slightly as if he had just realised his little brother was slowly and painfully dying.
"Oh.. Merlin" I whisper, thinking of how he had lay here alone and bleeding, wounded gravely for hours.
"What happened, little brother?" I murmur thinking no one had heard me until the wolf's head snapped up, as it made a noise before rising to its feet and running over to a body which lay on the floor.
How I had not seen the body before, I do not know.
The wolf growled lowly at the still body, before nudging the crossbow which still located in the dead man's hand.
The giant animal then ran close to my side, picking up a arrow between its teeth before trotting over to Leon and dropping it on his lap, whining as it settled back into Merlin's side its head on his chest as her eyes rest on the gaping wound.
"Your a clever girl" Gwaine praises as he dares to lay his hand on her head, ruffling the fur there.
"More than just a clever girl Gwaine, a fearless one. Look at that man's wounds, they were afflicted by her, she protected Merlin. Killed a coward in his name. And I can bet you she only left him to get us. I don't know why, but she protected Merlin and knew we would help. She's more than a clever girl, she's like Merlin's guardian angel" Leon corrects.
It was then I understood, the wolf, for some reason chose to protect Merlin, chose to keep him warm, chose to get help, she was the sole reason my younger brother breathed.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, finding it hard not to sob a thanks to the gods for they had blessed Merlin with a protector and saved me from such heartache.
For if Merlin had died scared and alone, half of I too would have died, my heart couldn't cope with any more losses especially the loss of one of the most important people in my life, my little brother.
Sure, I would never admit it, but the boy who had came crashing into my life, nestling his way unexpectedly into my heart, had changed me forever, from the spoilt prattish Prince to the King I was today.
He had been there, a steady figure, the little, (rather annoying) brother I always craved growing up, a person to fall back on when life got to hard, for nearly a decade.
My heart would have crumbled if he was so suddenly was ripped from me and I would never truely recover from such loss, sure I had the other Knight, my other brothers, I had Guinevere my Queen even Gaius my second father, but none of them would make up for the loss of my younger sibling who had been with me through thick and thin, the main reason I knew most of the people I held close to my heart.
No without him I would cease to work.
But luckily, and to my utter relief Merlin still breathed and his heart still beat.
I was bought out of my thought when I hear multiple foot steps, I turn to find Percival entering the clearing with him out horses.
"Thank god" I hear Gwaine mutter as he passes the rest of what remained of his cloak to me and I press it down on the wound, taking off my cloak and tying it around his stomach, wrapping it as tightly as I dared as it caused him to cry out in pain.
"Arthur, we need to get moving" I hear Gwaine say and I nod in answer.
"Percival, bring him to me" I say as I walk to my horse, jumping on and reaching out for Merlin.
Percival cautiously picked the smaller man from the floor, muttering 'good girl' under his breath at the wolf who followed him over to my horse as he places Merlin in my arms, before striding to his own horse and swinging on.
I kick my horse into a walk, utterly surprised to find the wolf trotting to my side, walking along me as she looked up towards the injured Merlin.
I didn't question the wolf, knowing she just like I wanted Merlin safe and so I let her run along my side as I set off into a canter towards Camelot.
It took us considerately less time to get to Camelot than it took setting off in search of Merlin and to my joy, the familiar grey walls of my Castle comes into view.
We clatter through the gates, Camelotian people jumping out of the way as we rushed in, some falling backwards in fear as they spotted the giant wolf.
We arrive in front of the Castle doors in record time, a stable boy taking the reins of my horse as I jump off taking Merlin gently with me.
I look around seeing a crowd gathering, most of their faces worried and shocked as they watch me carry the bleeding Merlin away.
Merlin was popular with the people of Camelot, both noble and peasants alike, he smiled at everyone he passed, helped the poor. I even found him once (when he was supposed to be cleaning the stables), sat on the grass a crowd of children around him, looking at him in awe as he told them a story. Once he had finished, the children begged for anther and Merlin, bless him gave in and it was as he finished his third story, was when mothers came back for their children, thanking Merlin as they left for taking their children off of them for half an hour or so to go to the market, or complete some chores. I watched on, marvelled at how Merlin brushed off their thanks saying he enjoyed their companies.
I knew Merlin used his time off to help the other servant with their chores, even to help the other knights, some he did not even know, to polish their armour or even tend to any injuries in training.
I had many reports from visiting nobility and members of my court on Merlin, how he helped with anything they asked, welcoming them with broad smiles and open arms (unless they where evil of course).
So I understood the peoples reaction to seeing the kind, warn hearted, cheerful servant so weak and still.
I run through the corridors of the Castle, never realising the hallways were so long until I desperately wanted to get to Gaius's chambers fast.
Finally. I think to myself as I kick the door to Gaius's chambers open, nearly giving the said physician a heart attack.
"Arthu- Oh my boy.." Gaius drawls off, before snapping in to action, swiping any papers of the wooden table.
"Quick! lay him here!" he rushed, and I run to his side placing the wounded man onto the table.
"Help me take his shirt off" Gaius says after he removes the temporary cloak made bandages from Merlin.
I grab the end of Merlin's once blue shirt while holding him up with one arm, peeling the shirt from his bloody skin slowly to avoid hurting him further but it seemed it did not work as he sill whimpered in his unconscious state.
"Good" Gaius comments as he walks away collecting herbs and equipment he needed.
It wasn't long after, Gaius told me to leave, the door I kicked open merely minutes before slaming in my face as Gaius wanted peace to work.
I feel my stomach churn in dread, scared that I would loose my little brother when I stood so close but yet couldn't be there, for him to die as I stood doing nothing.
My little brother was in so much pain but yet I could do nothing about it.
I feel something wet touch my hand and I look down, meeting the wolfs grey eyes once more as she whines at me before running to the door her head almost like she was trying to push the door open, her eyes asking me silently, begging for Merlin to be okay.
"It going to be okay, girl. Merlin's stronger than he looks, he'll live" I say, reassuringly myself more than the wolf.
She whimpers as Merlin's cry of pain echo's from Gaius's chambers, her body tense as her paws scrape against the physicians chambers door's, as desperate as I to get to Merlin.
"Lets go girl. Merlin's in safe hand's. You'll see" I tell her as I turn from the door, my body wanting instantly to forget walking away and bursting into Gaius's chamber and holding my little brother's hand as he cried in pain, at least then I could offer him comfort instead of doing nothing.
"ARTHUR!" I hear a voice shout and I knew instantly who its was.
Gwaine...I think to myself as I roll my eyes just as the said man hurtled around the corner nearly bumping into me.
"Princess.. Is Merlin..de-" He chocked on the last bit just as the others round the corner, Leon and Percival followed by Lancelot, Mordred and Elyan.
"No.. he..Gaius is treating him" I manage to say, my emotions all over the place as the day finally catches up on me.
I watch as Gwaine opens his mouth to reply but another voice interrupts him.
"oh my.." Mordred trails off, his eyes wide in awe as he looks somewhere behind me, I follow his eyes finding him staring a the giant wolf.
"Mordred..what?" I hear Leon ask.
"Its a direwolf. A creature of the Earth. They are as rare a dragons and Unicorns.. I..she is incredible...to see one is a great honour.." He trails off walking to the wolfs side, his hand reaching for the animal.
"She has bonded with Merlin, I can sense it" Mordred says his voice like a child seeing snow for the first time.
"Well on that note..Lets hit the tavern!" Gwaine announces and soon we where making our way to the Rising Sun, the direwolf trailing behind us.
It was a week later, as I sat by Merlin's bed the direwolf, which Gwaine had named Eirwen, at the foot of the bed, was when I feel Merlin's hand twitched in mine.
"Merlin?" I question and to my utter joy his eye lids flutter open revealing blue eyes.
"Ar...ur?" He question but before I could answer Eirwen had lunged for Merlin, curling herself into his side and licking his face, whining as she did as if saying 'Thank the gods'.
And so after she was finished making sure he was safe and sound, and had wrapped herself around the puzzled Merlin, she fell asleep, snoozing in comfort.
"Wha..?" Was all Merlin could manage before he was reclaimed by slumber and I chuckle to myself as I too let my head rest on the bed, closing my eyes at last.
He's safe. Was my last though before I joined them in blissful sleep.
Well that was chapter 7 :)
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Soo until next time ;)
-Leggomygreggo xx