Chapter 4

The clearing was the perfect place to face the griffin but it also left nowhere to find cover. The said monstrosity was already on the ground attacking the two idiots, while they tried to dodge and parry along the way. He needed to strike now, while the griffin was unaware. Use this chance for the other would not arise.

He felt his fingers tingle as he focused his energy on fire and struck it out towards the griffin. It was to no avail because at the last moment he took off the ground with a powerful blast from his wings, shaking the earth beneath them.

Gwaine was sweating having taken most of griffin's abuse while Arthur tried to slash him earlier. It was not going to be easy, but now that their hotheadedness put them in this place there was no way out. Either the griffin gets tired or they tire and become his next meal.

He really didn't want to be on anyone's plate. Merlin felt the fatigue slowly creep in. He used a lot of his energy there, maybe too much. He cursed under his breath because the griffin bated him and he fell for it. Still, it was an odd griffin he had never seen them grow this big. The span of his wings was enormous.

"A royal griffin Gwaine. This is going to be a life and death battle."

Arthur finally spoke and confirmed what Merlin already thought. Gwaine wiped the sweat from his brow and watched carefully as the royal griffin started his descend, claws sharp ad ready for them.

"Be prepared to dodge and roll out of his way or he will crush you under its weight."

Arthur spoke with calmness Merlin just didn't feel so when the beast came down, Arthur and Gwaine dodged it in the nick of time while Merlin more like fell flat on his face and rolled off at the impact. He was not graceful. While he took a moment to gather his baring, Arthur was already up, a look of a monster slayer in his eyes as he came at the beast.

His sword cut along its back and another pierced wail came from the beast as it suddenly turned and tossed Arthur right in the path of oncoming Gwaine. This one, in mid motion tossed the man right up and Arthur was sprinting back in no time. To confuse the creature Gwaine tossed a couple of blades at him so while his attention wasn't on them he made a precise cut to its wings disabling it to fly off again.

The good thing was that now he couldn't harm them from the air. The bad was that he was very close to them already and also his speed which he used to spin his wings quickly while he did the damage. They slashed like a blade.

"Duck!"

Merlin wasn't sure who shouted it but was mighty grateful when he heard the sound above his head of the wind whistling as the wings cut it. Still in the next moment he used his energy to push the griffin away as far as he could. With satisfaction he heard the beast slam into a tree. The moment didn't pass as both Arthur and Gwaine roared towards it ready to deal some damage.

Their swords worked quickly but the beast in its desperate attempt to escape lunged at them until it was standing over them while the two struggled under the weight and the claws that dug into the flesh. The painful cries echoed and Merlin knew he had to hurry.

He ran towards it while taking out the blade, he muttered a spell as the blade glowed blue as toxin started to pour from its tip. His other hand outstretched towards the beast as it held her down in a paralyzed state. He felt his energy drain quickly, the sweat form and his eyes blur.

"Not yet!"

He yelled to no one in particular as he aimed the blade and tossed it at the beast.

Remember Merlin, always during the exhale throw the blade. Align your body with it and do not doubt.

As he held his breath he watched as the blade imbedded itself in the beast's forehead. The fierce cry echoed in the vast space and the beast staggered back and away from them, Merlin rushing to help his friends. He still held out his hand but just as he reached them his energy left him and he fell to his knees right next to them.

In its rage beast lunged at him, the poison and the spell not taking effect soon enough.

Am I going to die here?

"Morgana..."

The whisper escaped him and suddenly he was shoved aside.

"Move idiot!"

The beast was surprised by the sudden rise of Arthur and before she could move away he swung his sword right across its neck. The sickening crack followed by its body falling and then its head landed right in front of Merlin.

He could only watch as Arthur strained to stand, his armor bloodstained, his breath shallow but the grip on his sword firm. Unyielding. He saw Gwaine stand up, battered and bruised but in a much better state than Arthur.

Arthur met Merlin's gaze and let out a chuckle.

"Always have to be the drama queen, eh Merlin."

Merlin only took a deep breath and a slow chuckle escaped him. Neither man had moved from their positions. Arthur turned serious and Merlin knew that he saw him give up when so far he has though him differently. He must be disappointed, Merlin mused. As usual he was wrong.

"You will not die Merlin. Not on my watch. You get that?"

Merlin only nodded.

"Good."

With that he fell unconscious.

Merlin staged to him as Gwaine came to his aid. He pulled out an elixir from his pouch and opened Arthur's mouth and made him drink it. Next, he let his magic do the healing. He couldn't do much but at least give him a feeling of numbness. He felt his vision blur but he shook it off.

"You okay mate? You're not in much better shape then-" Gwaine said pointing at the blond lying on the ground.

Merlin only shrugged and said to Gwaine, "He's going to be fine. A days rest and he'll be good as new. Now who's the drama queen Arthur?"

Gwaine suddenly rose and swore as he watched the mess around them. They could probably get a pretty good price on the royal griffins head. He looked at Gwaine and he looked more upset then he did when he fought the damn thing.

"What's wrong Gwaine?"

He turned to Merlin and scratched his head.

"He killed it. I lost the bet."

Really? That was what mattered here. He was close to passing out while Gwaine here worried about the bet. The world really wasn't fair. He heard Gwaine rant something and obviously express his displeasure at losing the bet.

"...why couldn't you have killed him Merlin? I mean you could've died but not let Arthur kill it. The griffin would've died from the magic sapping at him but no, Arthur had to be the one to chop his damn head. Now when I say it wasn't him, how would he believe, I wouldn't believe me..."

He went on and on. Merlin tried to focus and explain to him that he actually did kill it but was too exhausted by the powerful spell he did to save their sorry asses from the said griffin. His world was spinning and in the next moment he greeted blackness.

Two great warriors lying unconscious exhausted from the fight while Gwaine stood over them and couldn't help but scoff at his misfortune. He will have to make camp, carry the two sleeping princesses and on top of it all he has lost the bet.

"Drama queens."

With that he went to work.

-oo-

Merlin woke up to the grey skies and a bad taste in his mouth. He really hated when that happened. The magical exhaustion was something that he couldn't avoid. He had worked to minimize the impact as much as he could since the early age. It presented a problem for him outside ideal circumstances. It was easy or easier when he was in his element, concentration and meditation there to help him. He quickly found out that in practice it wasn't so easy.

In the heat of the moment he was lucky to just manage to keep his head on his shoulders most of the time. Usually he would grow frustrated but like they say give me an experienced warrior, not a great one. It mattered, because now he was much better and found that his control was getting to the point where he didn't have to constantly think about it. Small victories.

He looked around and noticed that Arthur was leaning against the tree while he was sitting by the fire. He seemed lost in though and Merlin doubted he wanted to join in on that conversation. Instead he turned to see Gwaine was coming from the forest carrying wood for the fire. When he finished stacking it, he saw that Merlin was up and came towards him.

"I see the sleeping beauty is finally awake."

Merlin could only snort at his comment. Trust Gwaine to never take anything seriously. He saw some bruises on his face but he didn't seem to mind it so Merlin decided that he was okay. Gwaine sat next to him and followed Merlin's gaze which resided on the flames.

"The other one is brooding, didn't even follow up on the reward. How he is able to make me feel bad for him after he won the bet is beyond me."

Merlin knew what he meant. In general Arthur was all around good guy, but on the battlefield as much as he liked to make fun of him he was a machine. The problem was that no matter how many times he drew the sword there was this small period afterwards that just left him in this state of, not sadness, but more like reminiscing over the past and that past was rarely good. And Merlin himself still wasn't familiar with it all.

Arthur was tight lipped when it came to revealing if you don't include alcohol in it.

"Yes he likes to worry about things that are out of his reach. He needs some time probably."

Gwaine hummed in agreement but he knew that it was more than that, still neither wanted to breach that topic.

"What about you Merlin? You seemed quite the sorcerer out there."

Merlin ran a hand over his face and just laughed at the ridiculousness of the comment. He still remembered how he was tripping over himself before Morgana decided that she couldn't see him as a rag for cleaning floors any longer.

"Well it was a long way. Still, couldn't do much this time I'm afraid. It takes more than simple rest to get my magic in order I'm afraid, but I'll be fine soon."

Gwaine only slapped his shoulder and said, "Well hang in there mate. Soon you may even be good with a sword, not bad use of your dagger there. Interesting little thing you have. The way you generated magic into it. I won't tell if you won't Merlin."

The moment he said that Merlin suppressed an involuntary flinch. He only nodded while a rather sour smile stretched on his face.

"I remember Arthur saying something about someone who could do it all. A sword in one hand while spells were thrown from the other. Hard to imagine I must say."

The bitter feeling came like a wave and just swept over him. Not only did he know someone like that. He loved someone like that. She was, for the lack of a better expression, otherworldly. But that was something he wanted to keep for himself because Arthur obviously didn't say anything so neither would he.

"I can't say I remember a person with those traits. Must have slipped by." he said briefly.

Gwaine only laughed at his answer.

"I think that Arthur was being a lying bastard. He probably wanted me to think he had this awesome group of people around him and then at some point he let it all go voluntarily. Really- who would believe that?"

Merlin didn't know what to say to that. Answering in any other way but confirming his opinion would lead to questions that neither he nor Arthur wanted.

"I just know that Arthur never says things without any weight to it. What you make of it is your own decision. Me, I would like to keep mine for myself."

He knew that he came a bit cross but this was a part of the past that was hard for him to face on his own, let alone to share. He remembered him and Arthur stepping around in an awkward fashion. That's why when Arthur was in one of his "darker" moods he tended to say nothing and let him be for a while. It was a silent agreement between them.

Before Gwaine could say anything more Arthur was up and moving towards them.

"Get ready, we're going."

Merlin didn't question it, immediately moving towards his horse. Gwaine on the other hand…

"Really? No hey people let's talk about it or Gwaine how would you feel about- Maybe even a head nod a bit earlier, just so I can prepare that something is coming, but no. Arthur just marches like the king himself and we these loyal peasants who must obey. The horror!"

Merlin watched with a smile from his horse as the two of them bickered. He could see that they went through a lot together. Arthur didn't say much about a time when he was on his own, but that didn't surprise him. He also didn't like to share much about his time on the road because he felt that those were the stories reserved for the person he always shared everything with.

No Merlin. I do not want to hear again the story how you woke up in a pigsty! Arthur, don't encourage him. Heavens you two drive me crazy.

Arthur pulled his horse and Merlin went to follow, while Gwaine was running alongside his horse as he was pulling on his gauntlets and leather cape.

"You guys are being ridicules. Wait up."

As he heard Gwaine huffing and puffing behind him, he took a moment to ask Arthur a question.

"So, where to now? You think it wise for us to march these horses straight to Camelot to see if the rumors are true?"

Arthur only glanced his ways before looking ahead.

"Maybe not, before that we should bring the trophy to the nearest village, get some coin for our troubles."

Merlin saw the reluctance in him but didn't comment. Maybe he was also afraid to face the truth. Like Merlin was.

"It will be nice to eat something other than rats and flowers."

Arthur smiled at his comment.

"You Merlin with that scrawny build of yours could be a plant yourself."

Merlin pulled his horse into a light gallop to go alongside Arthur.

"I wasn't saying that because of me. You don't look as plump anymore. Lost a few ponds?"

He pulled the horse into a sprint just before shouting towards him.

"No more fighting fit."

As the horse ran like an arrow he heard Arthur from behind as he shouted towards him.

"You say that to my face Merlin you hear me! Get back hear you rascal! I will skin you."

Soon he was chasing after him. These moments were what Merlin treasured most and he hoped that in spite of where the fate may lead them that is something that will never change.

All the while Gwaine was behind them, hand through one sleeve, barley holding onto the side of the horse as he chased after them

"Guys! This isn't fair. If I fall and break my neck I am coming for you to pummel you into the ground."

And so they went on, oblivious to the dangers ahead of them. Merlin just hoped they were strong enough to get through it. That his mind had steeled enough to substitute a lack of a sharp sword edge in his hand. His magic will have to be enough. It had to be, for all of theirs sakes.