Third chapter! Enjoy! :)
Chapter Three: Shield
The knights watched the young woman sleeping and talked quietly. Merlin knelt at her side, gently wiping sweat from her brow. He had told them the fever was normal after such a wound as her body was fighting to keep away infection and help her heal.
"She has magic sire," Leon frowned and watched the young woman, not taking his had from his sword hilt.
"She saved our lives and hasn't used magic once while she's been with us," Lancelot said slowly. "She's obviously close with Merlin, he cares about her and she was willing to sacrifice herself for him. She knew that while the Cailleach may not kill her we would have questions and could end up killing her for just being here and having magic but she was willing to take that chance." Lancelot looked at the others around him. "I've travelled through places where magic is legal and to be honest have never seen it as purely evil. It's no different than a word really. It can be used for good or evil. Yes," Lancelot nodded as Leon opened his mouth, "it can corrupt but it doesn't always. Power of any kind can corrupt," the knight shifted and made a choice. "I don't know about the rest of you but I for one know Merlin would never place us in danger. He trusts her. That would normally be enough for me but her willingness to sacrifice herself for a friend, to tell us the truth about herself," the knight straightened, "She's earned my trust and respect." The knight walked over to speak with Merlin for a moment before gathering the water bags ad heading for the stream.
"Do you think she enchanted them?" Elyan whispered but Gwaine answered.
"Nope," the knight bit down on an apple and made his choice. "If Merlin and Lance trust her I say we give her a chance." The knight met their surprised faces, "He's right. I've seen magic used for good, to heal and such. I mean what about the druids? They don't bother us," he turned his gaze on Leon, "They even saved your life regardless of the fact that you could kill them all since they have magic. I may not fully trust her like Merlin and Lancelot but they don't appear to be enchanted. Besides," he shrugged, "Lancelot is right. She could have just told us nothing about herself but instead she told us the truth regardless of the risks. She not only hasn't hurt anyone but saved us all," Gwaine finished his apple and started to walk away. "I say bring her to Camelot and give her a chance to heal and then maybe see if you can learn anything from her. Besides Shadow-walkers are feared and respected," he grinned recklessly, "having one on our side against Morgana could be helpful!" He walked over and plopped himself down on his heels to speak with Merlin. The other knights watched and while Gwaine was tense he nodded respectfully towards the woman before walking away. He still kept a close eye on her but didn't seem threatening.
"Sire," Leon said softly, "What should we do? Magic is illegal," the first knight frowned, "But while she admits to having magic she has yet to use it."
"Let me think," the prince frowned and went to sit alone and watch. Gwaine and Lancelot were staying close, though Arthur suspected Gwaine was as much there to protect Merlin as he was to show his support. Leon and Elyan watched her with concern and a small amount of hostility. Between Morgana's attacks, his father's teachings and Elyan's father's death he wasn't surprised. Lancelot seemed to trust the young woman as fully as Merlin did which didn't surprise the prince. Gwaine had made his stance clear and while he was watchful he didn't seem unreceptive towards her, only cautious. The prince turned his gaze to the largest of the knights. The silent giant Percival was watching everyone with a thoughtful look. He slowly stood and walked over to her horse but didn't try to touch the beast. The knight merely stood there and waited, after a moment the horse stepped closer and seemed to sniff the man before allowing himself to be patted. Arthur frowned in confusion until Percival opened one of the saddlebags and pulled out a folded square of cloth. He opened it nodded to himself and then replaced it carefully before walking over to where Merlin and the young woman sat. Lancelot and Gwaine watched carefully but weren't close enough to hear what was said. Whatever it was Percival said seemed to surprise Merlin who jerked slightly and looked at Sabirah in shock. It seemed he had asked a question because she nodded in answer, she a few words that they couldn't quite make out and Percival seemed satisfied. He stood and to the shock of everyone around he gave the young woman a respectful bow before walking over to sit alone. Arthur frowned and walked over to where his manservant was tending Sabirah.
"Seriously?" Merlin asked in surprise and she shrugged.
"What can I do for you?" Those eyes were calm and held no trace of aggression towards Camelot's prince but the blonde man could see the pain and exhaustion that lurked in their depths.
"Percival seems to know you," Arthur started cautiously and was surprised that the others had gathered while he studied her, since it was the knight himself who answered.
"She saved my life," Percival said softly. "When a group bandits destroyed my village and killed my family I almost died but a group of three in black armour showed up. They killed all the bandits and saved the few of us who survived. Only a handful of us survived but they led us to a group of druids who took care of us and helped treat our wounds. Then as if they were ghosts the three just vanished." Everyone turned to Sabirah who sighed.
"One of our first missions without supervision," Sabirah said softly. "Those bandits where killing far too many not because they had to but because they enjoyed it. They needed to be stopped," she shrugged. "We were only sorry we didn't make it in time to save the rest," she leaned her head back with a wince when Arthur sat next to her and bumped her hand with his knee and Merlin frowned.
"Sabirah," Merlin spoke slowly, "is your hand injured?"
"It is fine," she said calmly but wouldn't meet his eyes.
Lancelot stepped forward with a frown, "That's the hand you used the other night." The knights focused but Lancelot ignored them, "The spell you used to destroy the Dorocha."
"I thought only light was useful against them," Gwaine frowned and Merlin sucked in a sharp breath. Without a word he carefully took her left hand in his lap and removed the armour and gloves to reveal a severe burn wrapped around her fingers, hand and up to her wrist.
"Sabirah," Merlin sighed and took out a jar from his medicine bag to carefully spread some kind of paste on the wound. "You used a light spell didn't you?" She nodded while staring at the sky sadly, "You can't do that and you know it." The scolding was gentle but firm and for the first time Sabirah chuckled.
"Would you have preferred I let the Dorocha kill me?" She raised an eyebrow and Merlin sighed and shook his head while he finished rubbing the ointment into her hand. The sun had begun to set by then and while the others were growing tired she almost seemed to perk up a bit.
"Can't you use magic to heal yourself?" Arthur asked while Merlin went to make some stew for dinner.
Sabirah shook her head, "No. Each team has a single member who has some skill with healing. In my team that was Raizen. I can't use healing magic at all," she held up her burned hand, "it has a similar effect. For some reason my body rejects the use of light and healing magic." She sat up fully and carefully pulled her glove and armour back on. Standing slowly she stretched careful to be mindful of her stitches.
"Should you be standing?" Lancelot frowned and she just stared into the shadows outside the campfire's range.
"Perhaps not," she answered and instantly a dagger was in her hands and flying across the clearing and into the shadows. There was a cry of pain and the sound of a body falling but she was moving before the knights were, "However I don't like being spied upon." A moment later she returned dragging a man by the collar of his shirt, her dagger in his left thigh.
"Nice throw," Arthur said appreciatively while watching her carefully. It was clear that her magic wasn't the only thing that was dangerous about her. She nodded in acceptance of the compliment while tossing the man at the prince's feet.
"A sorcerer," she moved so that she was between the knights, Merlin and the man on the ground, "I advise you to keep your distance. My guess is he's is one of her men." Merlin frowned but stayed close to Arthur while watching the man. "May I?" She cocked her head at Arthur while gesturing at the sorcerer and the prince nodded that she may interrogate the man. He wondered what kind of tactics she would use and was curious as to her methods but the prince had noted that she hadn't merely placed herself between the man and Merlin but between the sorcerer and all the knights. It seemed that while she wasn't as trusting and fond of them as she was of Merlin she was willing to protect them. It interested Arthur that someone with magic would protect him of all people and he intended to ask her about it later, for now he watched and listened. She knelt down and calmly removed her blade in a swift movement, cleaned it calmly and replaced it in the sheath on her left thigh. "Why were you watching us?" The question was calm but the sorcerer jutted out his chin in response. "Oh honestly," she rolled her eyes and knelt down to look the man in the eyes, "you are a sorcerer yes?" He nodded after giving the knights a hateful look. "Stop that," she stated to their surprise, "Now focus." His eyes flicked back to her in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
The sorcerer smirked, "You think you can stop me?" He grinned, "I was sent to see if Emrys saved them by my mistress but since he isn't here I can end this now!" He thrust out a hand towards them and barked out a spell but while the knights dropped Merlin just stood there calmly. He didn't move of even flinch as the spell struck some sort of barrier around them. The air swirled in shades of midnight blue.
"That," Sabirah's voice was soft but deadly calm, "Was rude."
The knights looked at Merlin in surprise, "You really thought she didn't think of that?" He grinned and folded his arms while they turned their attention back to the pair on the ground.
"Traitor," the sorcerer ground out, "You are a traitor to your kind!"
"Traitor?" She cocked her head, "that is where you are wrong. I am loyal and faithful to Emrys and the Once and Future King not some pretender to the throne. The traitor here is not me but you," the knights frowned while the sorcerer glared at her. "Now I suggest you return to your mistress and tell her Emrys now has backup. Not only id Camelot now under the protection of the most powerful warlock to walk the earth but it now has the protection and loyalty of a Wraith." The sorcerer paled at her words but scrambled to his feet and limped quickly away. "That should keep the witch away for a time," Sabirah said mildly.
"What was all that?" Arthur frowned in confusion.
"Did you honestly think that you managed to defeat all those magical attacks with swords alone? That you killed a dragon with a spear? Come now Arthur Pendragon," she lifted an eyebrow, "You're not foolish."
"Merlin said I killed the dragon," Arthur glared at his now pale manservant.
Sabirah chuckled, "first of all a dragon can only be killed by a Dragonlord. Secondly you stabbed it on the left," she met their eyes, "Most don't realise it but a dragon's heart is on the right. You did stab the area where a heart normally would be and the dragon did fly away so I'm sure it appeared that you had dealt it a mortal blow. How was Merlin to know otherwise?" Lancelot fought back a grin as she covered without lying for the warlock. "Now," she said calmly while lowering herself back down to the ground, "I'm going to get some rest. I suggest you do the same."
"Wait! What was all that about a warlock protecting Camelot and," Arthur started but she opened one eye and cut him off.
"Just what I said. Camelot has had a protector for years regardless of your father's hatred and pain. You knights protect your home and loved ones with your swords. Emrys uses his magic to protect you all," she answered sleepily. "While the method may change the intent does not. Now rest," she closed her eye, "You may ask me more questions in the morning."
"If you go to Camelot Uther will kill you," Merlin said calmly while handing out bowls of stew. The knights and prince looked at the Manservant in surprise but the answer surprise them even more.
"He is welcome to try," Sabirah's voice was firm but weak as she slipped into sleep. Leon and Elyan decided to stay up the whole night and watch to make sure she didn't escape or harm them. Merlin and Lancelot slept on either side of her while the rest of the knights and the prince slept on the other side of the fire, though Percival and Gwaine slept midway between the two groups. Leon kept watch as they all fell asleep and found his eyes drawn to the strange young woman who he watched carefully throughout the night.
This chapter didn't turn out quite how I wanted but it was close. Things should start to get a little more interesting in the next few chapters as they head back to Camelot and arrive at the city. Let's see how things go! Don't forget to review!