Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Six: The truth about Hilda.
As dusk beings to settle over the land, Arthur watches as the knights set up camp for the night. Mithian and Hilda were sat together close to the fire one of the knights had started and even from this distance Arthur could see the fear on Mithian's face. Merlin and Gaius on the other hand were nowhere in sight.
Sighing Arthur made himself as comfortable as he could on the hard ground and almost jumped back to his feet as a pile of wood landed on the ground in front of him, before bursting into flames and sending a wave of warmth through him.
"Gods, Merlin!" Arthur glares up at his friend.
"Sorry." Merlin replies, not sounding the slightest bit sorry as he grins at Arthur.
Merlin quietly sat down beside Arthur and held out his hands warming them as the fire burned brightly in front of them. Looking past the flames Merlin watches Hilda. There was something about her that was so familiar, but he just couldn't work out what he was and to make it worse he knew he should have worked it out long before now.
The answer was right in front of him, he just couldn't seem to see it.
"Arthur?" Merlin suddenly questions. "Are you sure this is the right thing to be doing?"
Arthur looks at Merlin before sighing again. "This is about you're funny feeling again, isn't it?"
"Something like that." Merlin answers without looking away from Hilda.
"Have you been talking to Guinevere?" Arthur asks.
"No." Merlin replies in surprise turning to look at Arthur. "Why do you ask? Did she have doubts about you rescuing Rodor?"
For a moment Arthur doesn't answer he just watched the wood burn in the fire and Merlin knows his guess was correct. Gwen didn't think this was a good idea either.
"Odin is a plague on this land." Arthur finally answers. "I can't just stand by and let him murder Mithian's father as he murdered my own."
"I know what he did." Merlin responds slowly, knowing anything to do with Odin was a sore spot for Arthur and mentioning Odin around Arthur was like poking a bear with a stick. "God knows, I understand why you hate him. But to risk so much for one small act of revenge... Is it really worth it?"
"Tell me Merlin, if you were me. If you were in my shoes, would you do any different?" Arthur challenges Merlin.
Merlin stares at Arthur and thinks back to his own father's death. He had killed the soldier who had run his father throw without even thinking. But he was a king now and he hadn't been then. Could he endanger the druids in such a way, so he could simply get revenge?
"Probably…" Merlin mutters.
Arthur sent him a shape look.
"Not." Merlin adds quickly, when he catches slight of the look Arthur had sent his way.
Merlin turns back to watching Hilda just in time to see her get to her feet and head towards the woods. Merlin quickly gets to his feet and begins to follow her, ignoring Arthur questioning gaze. Hilda makes it half way across the camp when she suddenly doubles over in pain with a cry.
"Gaius!" Merlin calls in alarm, as he hurries over to Hilda.
"It's alright." Gaius tries to calm Hilda as he appears beside Merlin. "Just breathe in. That's it."
"I'm fine." Hilda tries to wave Gaius off as she straightens up.
"Of course." Gaius replies, not moving away. He had dealt with stubborn patients before, Merlin often being one of them. "Let us be sure all the same."
"It's really not necessary." Hilda tries again.
"Hilda," Arthur answers from where he and the knights were watching. "If you're unwell you must let Gaius help you."
"Well," Hilda answers with a forced smile. "If you insist."
Gaius quickly checked Hilda over, looking for any wounds or signs of illness which could have caused her the sudden pain, but he couldn't find any.
"Well, there are no obvious problems that I can find." Gaius informs her. "You're in excellent health, Hilda."
"Thank you, Gaius." Hilda answers before hurrying away.
"Better shape than me at any rate." Gaius mutters. "Merlin, it's amazing. Her blood. It flows with the strength and vigor of someone half her age."
Merlin frowns. "How is that possible?"
"I'm not entirely sure." Gaius answers. "All I know is she's better preserved than anyone her age has any right to be."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The following morning, Mithian quickly glances round the camp looking for Merlin. She spots him kneeling on the ground as he helps Gaius pack away his things. By the looks of it the two of them were also checking the medical supplies, as she could see small glass bottles reflecting the morning light.
"Going somewhere?" Hilda asks, grabbing her arm as she tries to leave the camp.
Mithian pulls her arm free of Hilda's grip, knowing she wouldn't do anything out in the open. "I need to wash."
"Do I need to remind you what fate awaits your father should you try anything foolish?" Hilda hisses, her eyes flashing with anger.
"I need to wash." Mithian repeats, holding Hilda's gaze. "That's all."
Hilda stares at Mithian for a moment more.
"Don't be long." She finally growls, before walking away.
Arthur stood thinking in the shade of a tree as he watched the camp before him. He'd never admit it, but he was thinking over Merlin's warning. Merlin had been right countless times in the past, was he really doing the right thing?
On the other side of the camp Leon catches sight of him and quickly walks over to him.
"Sire!" Leon calls out as he approaches.
Arthur looks up. "Have the outriders returned?"
"They have, sire." Leo replies. "They report large numbers of Odin's men just beyond the border."
"They're looking for Rodor." Arthur concludes.
"Sire we have but few." Leon informs Arthur. "If we are seen there is no escape. Wouldn't it be wise to remain here?"
"Out of the question." Arthur answers. "Time is a luxury we don't have."
"We have good cover here." Leon points out. "With any luck the patrols will pass us by soon enough and-"
"Press on for Nemeth." Arthur cuts Leon off. "Make ready to depart."
"Yes, sire." Leon answers with a bow of his head.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Merlin quickly began packing up this things. Leon had given the order that they'd be moving out within the hour. But all Merlin could think about was what Gaius had informed him about the night before. How was it that Hilda's body seemed so young?
At first Merlin though it was possible she was using an ageing spell, but that wasn't possible. Merlin didn't have fond memories of using ageing spells, they aged the body and not just in appearance. His body had truly been the age he appeared not the age he had been naturally. So going on that theory Hilda couldn't be using any aging spells he knew of.
A shadows suddenly fell over Merlin casing him to start slightly and look up.
"Princess?" Merlin asks, as he looks up at her.
"Good morning Merlin." Mithian replies with a slight smile.
Merlin smiles in return. "Can I help you with something?"
"I hope so." Mithian answers. "I need this refilling, please."
"No need." Glancing at Mithian offered water skin, before picking up his own. "Uh, here, you can have mine."
"I'd prefer my own." Mithian shakes her head and Merlin caught an undercurrent of something akin to desperation in her voice. "If you don't mind."
"Not at all." Merlin answers getting to his feet and taking the offered water skin.
Mithian body seemed to relax with relief. "Thank you."
Merlin quickly heads down to the river, carrying on Mithian's water skin and unknown to him Hilda was watching him from the trees. He quickly knelt frown at the waters edge and began filling Mithian's water skin.
A bird suddenly taking flight off in the trees catches Merlin's attention and he looks up. Only to do a double take as he notices some writing on a rock not far from him 'Morgana' was carved into the stone.
Merlin's first instinct was to run back to camp and warn Arthur. But Merlin knew this was Mithian's doing and he suddenly realised exactly who Hilda was. Slowly Merlin finished filling Mithian's water skin and got to his feet, pretending to be none the wiser to the warning Mithian had left.
If Hilda really was Morgana, he'd need to be careful. Morgana had no doubt been keeping an eye on Mithian and would no about her warning. If she even suspected he knew about the warning, there was no telling what she'd do.
But at the same time, he had to warn Arthur. He'd already warned Arthur that they could be walking into a trap and if he could warn Arthur, then it was possible casualties could be avoided. Turning Merlin began walking back to the camp, keeping his pace slow and steady, mimicking the speed he had walked to the river at.
"Merlin!" Arthur voices bellows from the camp.
Merlin smiles slightly. He now had a reason to run without causing suspicion. Picking up his pace, Merlin breaks into a run, only to be thrown sideways. He crashes into the ground and his head hits the base of a tree, cutting the side of his forehead.
Slowly he rolls on his back and watches as Morgana, still in the form of Hilda, approaches him. Merlin tries to move, but a wave of dizziness hits him and he blinks rapidly until the world around him stops spinning. What was it Gaius was always telling him about head injuries?
Hilda stops in front of him and a wicked smiles spreads across her face.
"Gesweorc, hine beclyppe!" Morgana chants, rising her hand.
A sudden invisible force wraps itself around Merlin's neck and Merlin struggles, but his movements were sluggish from his head injury. After a few more minutes of struggling, Merlin passes out.
"MERLIN!" Arthur bellows again.
"Over here!" Hilda calls. "He's here!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.