So here is the new chapter. There is one more chapter and then an epilogue. Hope you enjoyed this and keep watch for the sequel to this. Enjoy!
The forest echoed with an unnatural silence, making Merlin's skin itch and his magic jumpy. Something was here; he could taste a hint of magic in the air, something corrosive and violent, death. It made him shiver and keep his magic close to the surface, ready for anything.
Something made a noise ahead and he jumped, his nerves and stomach knotted. "Relax, Merlin. It's probably more scared of us." Arthur joked, trying to ease his jumpiness. Something crashed and snapped nearby and then it was upon them. It was huge, body scaled and looking like it was a jigsaw puzzle of too many different animals to be real.
He felt his eyes widen and then Arthur was turning, seeing the huge beast in front of them. He reacted on instinct, catching the prince's hand and tugging, pulling him away from the creature, forcing him to drop the spear in his hand to run faster.
The knights around them followed their example, taking flight as the thing followed behind them, crashing through the underbrush and snapping low hanging limbs off of trees as it growled, enraged that its prey was getting away.
He didn't see what it was, but one minute he was next to Arthur, the next he was on the ground, breath knocked out of him from his landing as the other's kept going. He turned onto his back, staring up in fright as the thing loomed near, heart pounding in his chest. He didn't need to know what it was to know that one bit from those huge jaws would mean certain death.
He jumped as Arthur and one of his knights grabbed him, hauling him back up onto his feet. "Run, Merlin!" Arthur yelled into his ear, pulling him out of his daze. They were off, feet flying, kicking up dirt and leaves as Lancelot took up the knights hold on him, he and Arthur keeping him from falling again.
They ran for nearly a mile before slowing. Everything was quiet again. "Anyone missing?" Arthur gasped out as he fought to catch his breath.
Merlin looked around and realized with dread that one was missing. "Sir Bedivere." He said softly just as the thing gave a huge roar and a man in the distance let out a blood curdling yell of pain and fear…then silence.
"It is called the Questing Beast. It is an Omen. A beast that signals a time of great strife is soon to be upon us, but also it can mean great change." Gaius said aloud, reading from the bestiary in his hands. "The last one ever seen was fifteen years ago, when you first made the treaty with the Druids."
"Whatever it is, it is killing my people and it must be stopped. Arthur, you will gather the guard and ride out at once. I want this thing dead." Arthur bowed to his father.
"It will be seen to." The prince answered, following his father out.
"This is bad, Merlin. The questing beast…"
"I know Gaius." He said softly, face drawn as he recalled what exactly the questing beast was capable of. "The last one sighted here was also sighted in Avlin. It killed many of our best warriors before we could stop its rampage. I know what this beast is capable of." His only Druid friend, a disciple of the Temple of Avalon, Will lost his father to the beast. Afterwards, he had gone to live with his mother and they hadn't seen him since. It wasn't too long after that that the bullying started and then Arthur had appeared.
"Then you understand that this could be a suicide mission that Arthur is on?" He asked him.
"Yes, but he will not be alone. I will go with him, protect him at whatever the cost." Lancelot stood behind him, a firm hand on his shoulder, giving his support. They would both protect the prince.
"Merlin…"
"No, Arthur. You know as well as I do that you can't kill this thing on your own. Lance and I are coming with you and that is final." Merlin glared at him with burning blue eyes that flashed gold whenever the light struck them.
Arthur sighed, but squared his shoulders. "Fine. Lancelot, watch over him." The darker Druid just bowed his head. Nodding, he turned back to face those he had gathered. "You have heard what has happened. A beast walks this kingdom leaving nothing but death behind in its wake. I have gathered you because you are the best this kingdom has to offer. The bravest, mightiest, noblest of us all and it is by our swords that this beast will be brought down. We fight for the citizens of Camelot so that they may walk under the sun without fear. We fight for Camelot herself and for the bright future we have so painstakingly forged these long years. For the love of Camelot!"
"The love of Camelot!" They echoed back, their voices raised in a shout. They mounted quickly, setting out at a fast pace that ate away at the leagues until soon they stood in front of the beast lair. Noise echoed from its shadowy depths, making the horses shy in terror.
"Merlin." Arthur softly, away from the other. The Druid looked up from where he knelt adjusting the laces o his boots. "Please be careful."
"You as well." Before the others noticed them, Arthur bent down, pressing their lips together quickly before straightening from his bent posture.
No one spoke above a whisper as they advanced. Torches lit, they crept through the cave until the tunnel split into three. Arthur motioned silently, splitting the nine of them into groups of three. Merlin and Lancelot remained with the prince as the other set off deeper into the cave system.
They took the tunnel on the far right. Snuffing out the torch he carried, he cast a silent spell and a globe of soft blue light appeared, more steady then the torch and casting less shadows. Nodding in thanks, Arthur advanced, the two following.
A few minutes later, they stumbled into a larger cave, this one littered in bones, human and animal alike. Arthur advanced further, Merlin keeping to the wall, looking for anything that might tell him something.
They all jumped as a growl rumbled through the room, turning just as the beast advanced into the cave, looming over them. Arthur wasted no time, charging forward and taking the thing by surprise briefly. His blade struck, but left no make as it jumped away, hissing.
Merlin didn't need the look from Lance to know what needed to be done. The word rolled off his tongue easily, jumping to the blades in Arthur and Lancelot's hands, making them shine unnaturally blue as the magic reinforced their ability to pierce the creature of magic.
Arthur charged again, nicking the thing on the leg, blood seeping out. It roared in pain, striking out at the prince. Merlin was too slow to react as the blonde went flying to land on a pile of bones, the questing beast following with a pounce.
As it bore down on him, something clicked inside his head. Screaming in rage and fear, his magic reared, yanking the sword from Lancelot's hands. It hovered momentarily and then in a flash of silver, buried itself into the beast spine. It gave a horrible wail and then burst apart in an explosion of magic and flash.
Ignoring everything else, he rushed forward, skidding to a halt on his knees as he peered down at the prince. "It didn't bite you. You're alright." He was babbling and tugging at his armor to see damage there was. He pulled at his pauldron, pushing the metal armor off his shoulder. His hand brushed against chainmail and came back crimson with blood. Paling visibly, he tugged at the chainmail and gambeson exposing his shoulder. There, seeping blood against his tanned shoulder was a perfect puncture mark of the Questing Beast's fang.