Hello All! Chapter Six! I have finally surpassed the 10,000 word land marker yaaay! So possible cursing and violence though I don't think there will be violence in this chapter, but I never know because I have a tendency to have no idea what will happen in a chapter until I'm writing it that its a bit short XD Anyway I do hope you enjoy and encourage you strongly to review because they make me happy.

Chapter Six – The Merits of Chewing like a Camel

We sat in that field for what seemed like hours though it was hard to tell, because I had forgotten my watch at home yesterday, or rather in fifteen hundred years I will forget my watch at home. I was getting kind of uncomfortable in the position that I was in, but I was hesitant to shift around. Chancing a look at my ankle I started to feel nauseas it had swollen up to the size of a softball, and turned shades of purple and red. My legs itched for me to stretch or roll over, but I knew that if I did it would only hurt worse.

Clarisse had laid down and talked to me for a while. Though I guess I had grown boring, or maybe it was just because I was quiet she thought that I didn't want any company. Either way she was off with Byrd, and I was rather alone. River had wandered over at one point as well as a few other horses, curiously lipping had my face and sniffing me. River had staid next to me longer nosing me every once in a while, though eventually he wandered off in search of better grass as well.

Giving up on staying awake I started dozing off. I never really fell asleep though, I would get so close, and then accidently shift around sending a fresh jolt of pain through me. After waking up several times to my nervous system screaming, it was a relief to open my eyes to the prince of Camelot and his trusty man servant.

"We're going to need to get her to Gauis." Merlin stated, crouched over my broken ankle.

"Do you think she can ride on her own?" Arthur asked.

"I'm right here you know." I muttered, my words came out in a croaky voice that was just barely intelligible.

"You're awake." Merlin grinned, shuffling sideways to get closer to my face. The movement was a bit crab like, making me giggle a bit.

"Well can you?" Arthur questioned.

"I –" I started, but was cut off by Merlin.

"She shouldn't, riding will cause her pain. I don't think she should have to control a horse with that kind of distraction."

"I-" Once again, I was cut off this time it was Arthur. My eye twitched in annoyance.

"What do you suggest? Have her share a horse with someone?"

"Ye-" Merlin didn't get to finish his sentence, this time I cut him off.

"No!" they both turned and looked at me, and I felt myself start to get shy, swallowing I spoke "I-I'm riding River."

"Allright then, we'll have someone ride him, and you can sit behind." Arthur said in a this business is done manner.

"No. I'm the only one who rides him." Arthur started to look a bit exasperated.

"All right then you can sit on River, and we'll pony him along with Merlin's horse."

"Fine." I muttered crossly, it was better than riding with someone, but I didn't like it.

"But if you fall you can't ride on your own." Merlin said as he stood, and Arthur ordered him to go find his horse for him. The prince stood, and leaned over grabbing me at the waist lifting me up as gently as possible though I still let out a hiss of pain. Gingerly he carried me over to river, and hoisted me up into the saddle. I couldn't hold back a yelp as my ankle jostled on River's saddle.

"Th-thankyou Milord." It isn't exactly every day that a prince carries you, especially not for me. I'm not good at talking to boys much less getting picked up by them… in any sort of sense.

"You're Welcome." He said kindly, taking a hold of River's reins near his bit, and brought me to Merlin who had Arthur's and his own horse. Soon everyone had located their horses and mounted up, and River was tied to Merlin's saddle. We set off going slowly so that my ankle wouldn't get jostled about… which it still was, though I guess not as badly as it could have been. I felt bad that I was slowing everyone down if it weren't for me they could be in Camelot within a couple hours.

Sighing I looked around; Clarisse rode next to Arthur as always flirting, the soldiers rode in columns behind us, and Merlin was just a tad bit ahead of me. His eyes were trained on the road, there didn't seem to be much of a point to be so focused, we weren't even trotting. We had been riding for almost an hour now, and I hadn't said a word to anyone. Despite my shyness I'm not anti-social, and I was starting to get rather lonely. I glanced at Merlin again, I had done this before…. All I had to do was open my mouth and say something. The awkward silence could go away, and everything would be nice and awkward in a different way. I opened my mouth to speak, and then closed it. What would I say? Would I ask him a question or a statement? A question I decided, and opened my mouth, and then closing it again. What would I ask him about? Camelot that seemed like a good conversation starter. Once again I found my mouth flopping open and closed. What if it was a stupid question, or something everyone should know, or I accidently gave away I was from the future and was burned at the stake?

"Right now, you kind of look like a fish… a dying fish…." I looked up quickly; Merlin was staring at me one eyebrow raised, and his lips forming an amused smirk. I turned crimson; my already faltering resolve to start up a conversation vanished. "Are you all right?"

"Y-y-yeah… I was just…. Uhmm…. Trying to see what it's like… to chew like a camel." My tone rose just a bit at the end, making it seem more like a question than a statement. Oh God, he probably doesn't even know what a camel is.

"All right then…" he blinked a few times, brow furrowing.

"I-it's just that camels have a-a very interesting way of chewing…. They umm a move their mouths kind of go like, like… this!" I demonstrated my best imitation of a camel chewing, my jaw moving awkwardly side to side. "It's… umm a very e-effective way to chew the tough desert vegetation." Everyone was staring at me now, I could almost hear Clarisse's groan as I babbled about the differences between the methods of chewing implied by camels and horses.

"Ally, look out." Merlin cut me off, ducking down. Why would he do something like that? I wondered… and then it hit me… it was a branch. I suddenly found myself no longer in the saddle, but on the ground. And it hurt like a fucking bitch. Tears welled in my eyes, and I fought not to scream. Instead I started cursing not quite a scream, but in a very loud voice. I didn't want to cry in front of any of them, so I let myself curl into the fetal position, not exactly a way to be seen that makes you feel proud, but at least they couldn't see my face. Merlin had dismounted and crouched next to me, "Are you all right?" he asked hand resting on my shoulder.

"What do you God damned, fucking think?" I yelled, and could hear Clarisse giggle in the background.

"I'll take that as a no…" After a few minutes the pain faded, and Merlin helped me sit up.

"Could you help me onto my horse?" I muttered.

"No, but I'll help you onto mine." He said standing me up one hand firmly around my arm; whether to keep me from trying to get back on River or to hold me up I'm not sure.

"I don't want to." I complained, sounding a lot like a fussy child.

"Too bad." He said putting me in the saddle with a grunt. He was of smaller stature than Arthur, and it took a bit more effort. I crossed my arms, and glared at his horses withers. He swung up behind me and took the reins. I couldn't help but blush and a not unpleasant tingle started in my stomach. There were only inches between my back and his chest, and his arms came around my sides so that he could hold the reins. His thigh against mine, hip against hip. I stiffened as I felt his breath tickle the back of my neck. I looked over at Clarisse who was stifling giggles; she must've known just how uncomfortable I was. It's not that I didn't find him cute, it's just that was not something I was at all used too. I think that the fact that he was cute actually made it worse. The majority of the ride was spent sitting straight as a board, muscles clenched tightly, if I leaned back I would be resting against him, forward and my hips would be pushed into his which would be even more awkward. Somewhere along the way though, as I was fighting to keep contact I started blinking more. Then I was yawning, and fighting to keep my eyes open, and then I was finally asleep.

"Ally… Ally."

"Mom… go away." I muttered

"Ally… we're here, you need to wake up now." Wait a second… that is not my mom. I opened my eyes slowly, a gorgeous view of forests, and meadows, came into view. What was most striking was the gorgeous stone castle and the city sprawling out from it. I was leaning back against something firm, but comfy. Where was I again? I looked up to see Merlin smiling at me; I was leaning back on his chest. Damn it I thought as I started blushing again. "Welcome to Camelot."