Here is my christmas present for my readers. hope you enjoy though it's kind of short. i'll finish this part in the next chapter. Happy Holidays!
"Merlin, why are we out here?" Arthur asked as they stalked among the trees. They'd left the horses in a small clearing with their gear while they walked about in circles.
"Because…I…had a feeling, that we would be needed here."
"What, you mean like a vision like Morgana has?" He asked, turning to look at the brunette next to him.
"Not exactly, I only got a glimpse of this place and then that was it, but the feeling made it seem like it was urgent that we come here." He pulled a branch aside. "I just don't know what we're looking for though."
"Well‒" Merlin held up a hand, head tilted as he listened to something in the distance. "What?" Arthur asked when he turned to look at him.
"Someone's coming." Arthur nodded and they both went into action, moving towards a tree each and crouching down, using it as cover as they waited for whoever was coming to get there.
They didn't have long as the sound of two pairs of running feet came closer. Arthur glanced up as two cloaked figures staggered into the little clearing they were in. One was short, clearly a child, the other an adult.
The taller of the two tripped and fell heavily, his breath coming out in great puffs as he tried to catch his breath. "Please you must get up." The child, a young boy by the sound of his voice, cried softly, tugging at his arm.
"I…I can't. This wound…is too grievous. It saps my strength even as we speak. You must go, run, away from here. They will find us soon."
The boy tugged on his arm, the motion causing the hood of his cloak to fall. Arthur stared in shock at what he saw. Ebony locks, pale skin and bright blue eyes; he looked like a miniature copy of Merlin. He looked like him in all ways…even down to the pointed ears.
There was the snap of a twig and Arthur and the other two jerked around to see what it was. Merlin was standing up, hands held up to show that they were empty as he took a step forward.
There was an indrawn breath and then the man was bowing as much as he could. "Emrys." He said softly, pulling his own hood back. The man would have looked average anywhere if not for the sloping points to his ears, longer than Merlin's or the child's. His hair, a long dusty brown and skin tanned from long exposure to the sun. Eyes a muddy brown with streaks of amber slashing through them.
"Who are you?" He asked, coming forward to crouch in front of the Druid, the boy hiding behind the man in fright at the stranger.
"Alicar. I knew your mother very well when I was younger." Arthur, realizing that it might be better if he made his appearance now, stood and stepped out from his hiding space. Both turned at the movement and the child shrank back, clearly frightened. "He's‒" Alicar began.
"The Human Ambassador. He will not harm either of you. Now tell me, what has happened?" He demanded drawing Alicar's gaze back to him.
"We…we were leaving our old home, on our way to our new one. It had become too risky to live on the forest's edge with bands of humans attacking." He paused to catch his breath. "They caught us out in the open, unprepared. We made a run for it, hoping to make it to Camelot where you were living to ask for an escort. They caught up a few miles back and I was able to hold them off for a few minutes, but one of them caught me off guard. I was able to freeze them long enough to let us escape, but they will be here soon. You must take him and flee, please. I don't know if they will listen to the prince." By the end he was panting harshly, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, evidence of the seriousness of his wounds.
He watched Merlin's hands clinch into fists then his eyes flashed golden. Arthur could feel as the shield went up, all outside noise dimming and the air heating to keep the cool autumn breeze from giving them a chill.
"There, they will not be able to find us." Alicar seemed to deflate at the statement, all strength leaving him at Merlin's words. "I need to heal you, Alicar."
"Emrys, it is too late for me. Already I can feel the pull of Avalon as she calls to me to rest before my next life. Please, before I go, I must beg a favor off of you."
"Speak." Merlin said softly, face composed, though Arthur could make out the tension in his body as the man died slowly before him.
"Please look after Mordred. He is all alone in this world now, and I fear that the reason they chose us specifically is because of him."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because, Emrys, he is a Halfling. Born of a Human mother and Druid father. He will never be accepted in Avlin, but I hope, that maybe, he might be accepted enough in Camelot to allow him to live there. Please Emrys."
"We will both look after him." Arthur stated loudly, stepping closer to look down at the dying man.
"Thank you, Ambassador. I can rest easily now, knowing he is safe."
"Alicar, do you have any family who would wish to give their farewell?" Merlin asked softly.
He shook his head. "My mother and father died in the wars between the two races and I had no sibling, nor did I have any partner or children of my own. I, like him, am alone." He said sadly.
"Then I will act as your guide to Avalon. Goodbye Alicar. May blessings and peaceful times grace your next life in hopes of a higher place next time." He intoned softly, leaning down to brush soft lips to the Druid's eyelids. As he pulled back, they remained closed and slowly, his chest fell and did not rise again, his heart beating its last.
They all jumped, the somber moment shattered, as loud voices issued nearby. A group of men walked by, voices raised in anger as they realized they had lost what they had sought. The trio remained silent, watching them walk on a ways and then turn around and start back when they found no obvious trail to follow.
Some minutes went by before they stirred, letting out a sigh of relief when their voices faded away. Merlin turned to Mordred. "You are safe now. We need to get back to Camelot, but you are safe." He turned to Arthur. "Will you help me carry him? I would like to give him a proper burial." Arthur nodded and stepped closer as Merlin wrapped the man's cloak tighter around his body.
With a grunt, Arthur lifted the somewhat heavy man from the ground and started off towards the horses, leaving Merlin alone to talk with the Druid. It would take Merlin a few minutes to get the boy to trust them enough to follow.
Merlin crouched in front of the pale boy, eyeing him. "Mordred." The boy hesitated, but finally looked up to look at him. "You're safe now." He looked into his blue eyes, specks of purple shining in them.
'I'm afraid.' Even his mental voice shook in fear.
"There is nothing to fear. Arthur and I will protect you. As will Lancelot, my bodyguard and Morgana, Arthur's half-sister. I'm sure Uther and Ygraine will protect you as well. Those men will not be able to hurt you." He held out his hand. 'Do you trust me?'
His hand shook a little, but as it touched Merlin's palm, he calmed some, small hand clutching at Merlin's larger. Slowly, he nodded. "Good. Come, we need to get going."
Merlin led him out of the clearing towards the horses. Mordred jumped as a shadow detached itself from the base of a large oak, but Merlin just nodded as Lancelot came forward. "Mordred, this is Lancelot. Lancelot, Mordred." The darker male nodded towards the Halfling.
"Merlin, I would really like to get going today." Arthur's voice called out through the trees, making the Druid roll his eyes.
"Prat." He muttered, but continued walking to where Arthur stood with the horses. Alicar was slung over the back of Arthur's horse, covered by the cloak. Mounting his horse, Lancelot lifted Mordred onto the horse in front of Merlin. He wrapped an arm around the child, following Arthur as they set off at an even pace, keeping it slow.
As they neared the city, Merlin lifted Mordred's hood, keeping him hidden for the time being. No one looked their way as the horses made their way through the city, used to their coming and going. Merlin glanced around for a moment, then spurred his horse to catch up with Arthur. Now they had to tell Uther and Ygraine of the most recent developments.