Chapter Five

Arthur wasn't pleased to leave Merlin behind with Inalira. He felt like a coward leaving them there defenseless. The fact that Merlin had hit his mark when he shot that tree was most likely simple dumb luck. Things would be a lot different if he were faced with an enemy or some beast bearing down on them. That thought alone nearly caused the prince to turn around and head back, but he also knew that if his presence prevented the druids from helping Inalira's husband the man would surely die. As Arthur rode north, his mind wandered over all of the disturbing concepts that had come to light over the course of the trip. He had been riding for nearly an hour when he came across a good spot to set up camp. There was a high glade open to the sky near a meadow stretching out as the land sloped down to the tree-line.

The site was quite beautiful and calming, but Arthur didn't see it for it's aesthetic properties. The glade was at a higher elevation than that of the surrounding land, giving a clear line of sight in all directions. He was able to see back the way he had come for at least a mile; a direction he kept a close eye on as he set up camp in the late afternoon sunshine.

As he worked, the sight of Inalira's frightened eyes kept assaulting his consciousness. The girl was terrified of him. That disturbed the young prince to his core. He did not want to be someone who invoked fear in his people. The bruises on Merlin's arms and body also came to mind with an alarming frequency. He understood where they had come from, but it bothered him immensely that they had occurred in the first place. How many innocent people had been harmed by the guards? Granted, Merlin's injuries were minor and he never complained about them, but Arthur's mind couldn't help picturing those same bruises on Inalira and it caused his blood to boil. There were far too many injustices in his kingdom and he needed to begin taking steps to put an end to them. He knew that as prince he could do very little to effect change in his father's laws or policies, but perhaps using subtile techniques he could begin to make small changes. Assuming of course that he could actually figure out a way to be subtile, for according to Morgana he was about as subtile as a stone.

By the time sun was nearly below the distant horizon, Merlin appeared on his mare slowly making his way toward Arthur and camp. As the young man rode up, Arthur threw his hands up in the air, his worry and frustrations spilling over. "What took so long? Did the druids show up? Is Inalira alright? Will they help Jacob?"

Merlin threw his leg over his horse and dropped to the ground seeming entirely too casual for Arthur's mood. "Relax, Arthur. Yes, the druids showed up after a couple of hours and yes they did take Jacob back to their settlement. Inalira is fine."

Arthur crossed his arms over his chest and stared hard at Merlin for a few minutes as the young man unloaded his pack pulling out his sleeping roll. Merlin was the worst liar Arthur had ever met and he could tell instantly that Merlin was not telling him everything that had happened when the young man tried to avoid direct eye contact. "Is that all?" Arthur asked, with a suspicious tone to his voice.

Merlin turned his head toward Arthur, his face unreadable. "Yeah, what else should have happened?"

"You tell me, Merlin. I get the feeling that you're not telling me something."

Merlin sighed and took his roll over to the fire and laid it out. "What is the problem, Arthur? The druids came and helped Inalira. What more is there to be concerned about?"

Arthur tapped his foot impatiently until Merlin looked up at him. "They asked where you were. They knew that you had been there and were wary because of that."

Arthur approached Merlin and sat down across from him at the fire. "How did they know that I had been there? You said it took a couple of hours for them to show up."

Merlin had the look of an animal caught unawares by a hunter. "How should I know! They're druids, they just knew. Arthur, try and see things from their perspective. The last time you and your men came into this forest they were slaughtered." Arthur started to object but Merlin cut him off. "I know you were acting on the orders of the King, Arthur, but try and see it from their point of view. They associate you and the knights of Camelot with the death of their people. How could they not?"

Arthur stood up and stomped away from the fire. "They kidnapped Morgana! What did they expect was going to happen?" before Merlin could form any kind of answer to that question Arthur continued as he picked up a a rock and threw it with vicious force into the woods. "I am Arthur Pendragon, but I'm not judged by who I am; I'm judged by the actions of my father!" Arthur spun around facing Merlin. "The worst part is, I can't do anything about it, not yet. I could never change my father's perceptions about magic and those who use it. I am the Crown Prince, but I am powerless to help my people and I hate it!"

Merlin stared at Arthur as he stood there panting slightly while powerful emotions waged war inside the young prince's heart. There were so many things that Arthur didn't know that he should know. He couldn't tell him that the druids knew that Arthur had been there because they recognized him as Emrys. He couldn't tell Arthur about Morgana and the fact that the druids didn't kidnap her, he should know that there are good people who possessed magic, people like himself. He should know that magic is used almost every day within Camelot to keep him safe and see him ascend the throne, but even now Merlin couldn't bring himself to divulge these secrets no matter how much his heart ached to do so. If Arthur knew all of these things he would still be faced with the same problem. Uther was the King as well as Arthur's father. By telling Arthur all that he should know it would put him in the position of either having to turn Merlin and Morgana over to Uther or be complicit in treason. That was not a position Merlin was willing to put Arthur in unless it was absolutely necessary.

With the foul mood of the prince over all of this, Merlin wondered if he should mention Inalira's words as he left. After only a moment's thought he spoke up. "Inalira asked me to thank you for your help. She said she would be forever in your debt."

Arthur sighed deeply and came back sitting down cross-legged by the fire. The silence between them was becoming awkward so Arthur picked up a small pebble and tossed it at Merlin.

"You were supposed to set up camp you know!" The smile that turned up the corners of Arthur's mouth was a relief to Merlin.

"Funny how that worked out isn't it?" he said, with a grin.

That comment earned him another pebble tossed in his direction, but at least Arthur seemed to be moving past his irritated mood. Merlin rummaged through the bags and pulled out some supplies for dinner. It wasn't as nice as the fresh rabbit had been the previous evening, but that wasn't a problem for either of the young men who both seemed to be occupied with their own inner thoughts.

Arthur had been so quite that Merlin felt the need to try and make him feel better about things. "Arthur, you do realize that none of this isn't your fault."

Arthur's gaze slid from the night sky over to Merlin. "What isn't my fault?"

"I know that Inalira's fear is bothering you. It isn't your fault. I explained to her that she had nothing to fear from you. I said the same thing to the druids. You're right; it isn't fair that you are judged by the actions of someone else, but that is the reality you face every day. No one should be judged by the actions of others. Everyone should have the right to be judged by their own actions...even a royal prat like you." he added with a smirk.

Arthur was close enough to reach out and lightly punch Merlin in the arm.

"Ow!"

Arthur looked at Merlin for a moment then dropped his head. "Sorry, I forgot about the bruises."

Merlin just shook his head. He didn't want Arthur to feel this way. "Don't worry about it. They don't really hurt anyway. Arthur, I know that you will be a great King someday, and even though some people may fear the laws where magic is concerned I also believe that the people of this kingdom feel the same way about you as I do. You are well loved. When you lay dying of the bite from the Questing Beast the people all mourned. They came to the castle and held a vigil outside the walls praying for your recovery."

Arthur stared at Merlin with his mouth hanging open. "They did? I never knew that."

"It's true. It won't be easy to change the perceptions that have been put in place over the last twenty years but it isn't impossible. I have every confidence that you will right the wrongs you see, and bring true peace and happiness to this kingdom."

Arthur didn't sleep well as a myriad of issues rocketed around in his mind. This trip had become emotionally complicated for the young prince and he didn't like it. This was supposed to be a simple excursion; some time away from the castle and the city so Merlin could have some down time and maybe even open up about what had been upsetting him so much lately. That part of the plan had worked brilliantly, for Merlin had indeed opened up to him. What Arthur hadn't bargained for were the revelations that he seemed to be getting around every corner. He felt completely out of touch with his people and his kingdom regardless of what Merlin had said to him.

Long after Merlin had gone to sleep Arthur remained awake thinking and staring up into the starlit sky. He didn't remember falling asleep and as the bright morning sun spread across his face with it's warm rays he rolled to his side and slowly opened his eyes. There was a small fire in the fire-pit with a hot cup of tea sitting close by along with a parchment filled with dried meat, bread and cheese. Arthur looked around and didn't see Merlin in the camp and wondered how he had managed to have a hot cup ready for him before he even woke up.

The young prince sat up and stretched then got up to go into the forest edge to relieve himself before returning to the small fire to eat the breakfast that Merlin had left out for him. It was earlier than he had woken the day before, but still well past sunrise. Arthur was glad for the tea as the morning air had a decided nip to it. Once he had finished eating he stood up and looked around, wondering where Merlin had gotten to.

He walked toward the open field and saw Merlin off in the distance not far from the edge of the forrest on the north side of the meadow. He was sitting down on a short stump and much to Arthur's utter surprise a young doe was standing not four feet from the young man. Merlin held out his hand and as Arthur watched, the deer raised her head and lowered it again as if trying to decide what to do. Merlin simply held out his hand and waited. Arthur wanted to laugh at the scene before him. He couldn't believe that Merlin actually thought that a wild deer would approach a human being, but as the thought ran through his mind he was shocked to see the doe do just exactly that.

The deer slowly approached the young man who had a look on his face of pure wonder. It was like looking through the eyes of a child and Arthur found that he was holding his breath waiting to see what would happen next. The doe nosed his outstretched hand as if looking for food then came close enough that Merlin was able to gently stroke her neck.

Arthur couldn't help thinking that as soon as he thought he understood everything about his clumsy, bumbling servant the young man would surprise him. The scene before him was so unbelievable that Arthur could only stand and watch mystified at the purity of his friend. The thought of hunting this animal never even entered his mind as he looked on.

The peacefulness of the scene before him was instantly shattered when out of the forest to the west a crossbow's arrow shot through the field and impaled the deer through her neck. Merlin screamed in shock and pain as the arrow went through the deer and embedded itself in his forearm connecting them together. Arthur dropped the cup of tea he had been holding and shouted, "Merlin!"

He looked off to the west and saw the retreating back of the hunter who had shot the arrow. For a fleeting moment he thought to go after the man, but Merlin had obviously been hurt and that took precedence over apprehending the hunter.

Arthur ran as fast as he could to Merlin and the deer who bucked backward. Merlin was pulled forward being physically connected to the animal and he screamed again as he was dragged forward by the wounded animal. By the time Arthur reached them the deer had lost enough blood that she was staggering and fell forward as her front legs crumpled underneath her dragging Merlin down with her.

Arthur reached them and grabbed the end of the arrow sticking out of the deer and snapped the shaft quickly then grabbed Merlin and pulled him unceremoniously away from the deer. The broken shaft slipped through the neck of the deer as Arthur dragged Merlin away disconnecting the two. The wound in the deer's neck was bleeding, but Arthur's trained eye could tell that the major veins and arteries had somehow been missed. The deer managed to gain her front legs again and staggered off away from the men, but for some reason stopped about forty feet away with her head hanging low and breathing heavily.

Merlin looked up at Arthur with pain and shock in his eyes. "You shot me."

Arthur's attention was drawn away from the oddly behaving deer and back to Merlin. He was horrified that Merlin would think that he had done this. "No, Merlin, I didn't, it was someone else; now try to hold still while I look at this wound."

The arrow had gone through the middle of Merlin's forearm on the underside of it and the point was almost through the back of it, but not all the way. The point had missed both bones and went through between them. He hoped that the tendons had survived as well.

"Can you move your fingers, Merlin?" He asked, as he ripped the edge of his own shirt for a bandage.

Merlin did manage to wiggle his fingers slightly and Arthur knew what he needed to do. He took hold of Merlin's arm in one hand and the arrow shaft in the other. "Hold on, this is going to hurt a little." he said, as he once again snapped the shaft off closer to Merlin's arm.

Merlin hollered in pain and looked at Arthur accusingly. "A little?!"

Arthur actually had an apologetic look on his face which he was certain confused Merlin, but he knew that what he was about to do would hurt far more. "Merlin, listen to me. The only way to get the arrow head out is to push it all the way through."

Merlin paled visibly at that, and looked up with frightened eyes. "Can't you just leave it?" he asked, in a small terrified voice.

"You know I can't, but if I try to pull it out it will cause more damage inside your arm."

After a moment Merlin took a deep breath and nodded. Arthur didn't waste any time. He shoved the arrow through Merlin's arm from the shaft end and once the tip had come completely through the other side he reached around and grabbed the tip and yanked it out quickly.

Merlin tried hard not to scream in pain, and failed spectacularly. Arthur quickly wrapped the young man's arm tightly in the strip of cloth he had torn from his shirt as Merlin whimpered softly. Once the wound had been bandaged Arthur noticed that Merlin's breathing was labored and he remembered the deer. He glanced over at the animal who hadn't yet moved and saw that it too was having trouble breathing, and fear began to twist in his gut at the twin symptoms that were being displayed.

"Do you think you can stand up?" Arthur asked gently.

Merlin just nodded and raised a hand to accept Arthur's help in standing. Arthur was immediately concerned when Merlin didn't seem to have the strength to properly grip his hand, and judging by the frightened look on Merlin's face he shared Arthur's alarm. Once he was up and on his feet Merlin wobbled precariously for a moment and Arthur quickly wrapped his arm around the thin waist to steady the young man. Arthur knew that Merlin was not the most graceful person and often stumbled, but as they made their way slowly back toward camp and the horses, he staggered so dramatically that Arthur found himself practically carrying the smaller man.

Arthur glanced back at the deer and saw it was also staggering as it tried to move back into the forrest. Then suddenly as if in unison both Merlin and the deer's legs crumpled underneath them. That was when Arthur knew Merlin was in serious trouble. The arrow had been poisoned.

End Chapter Five

A/N - Thank you for all the reviews. I am still working on chapter seven and chapter six is in it's final beta session so hopefully it won't be too terribly long for the next update. Sorry about the cliffie - I do kind of love them though. :-)