AN: Here's the new chapter, on time for once. It's 2,071 words without the AN's (personal best!) so I'm pretty happy right now. Thanks for answering the question at the end of the last chapter. In the end, the Knights coming had five votes and just Merlin and Arthur had two, so I decided to have the Knights follow, except Leon. He's too shocked to move, so he's left behind. Thanks to Guest, Ladyliz2, FallingxThroughxTime, bubzchoc, Lya200, pieniewienie, NightsAnger, Juliana Bradagamba, Guest, Triple L, NerdGirlAlert, kittycat1810 and fletty for reviewing the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin
"If you're not out in 5 minutes, the guards will bring you back here to die."
Arthur was almost too shocked to move. Almost. So when Uther, (he technically can't call him his father anymore) nodded to an equally shocked Geoffery to start counting down, Arthur ran. The Knights of the Round Table, except Leon, who was shocked into a stand-still, quickly followed after him, and they were pursued by guards, who seemed to think that five minutes meant five seconds when it come to banishment. As he was passing through the doors, he looked back and saw Merlin stepping out of the shadows. Arthur was very annoyed that Merlin had directly disobeyed his orders, but he knew that Merlin wouldn't want him to face this alone. But still… that idiot is only going to get himself killed, trying to stop the guards and knights altogether and at once.
But then he saw something that makes him stop dead in his tracks. Merlin flashed his eyes and whispered, "Hleap on bæc." (Leap on your back) and watched the guards fly backwards.
Merlin pushed the Knights, who were still so stunned by everything that was happening, they stood stock still. Lancelot was the first to recover, then Gwaine and between the three of them, they managed to get Percival and Elyan following Arthur. Their training sessions paid off, and they were soon catching up with Arthur. Merlin took out a few more guards and then they were clear of the Throne Room.
Merlin stopped, stretched his arm out towards the door, and said "Bord, wiþ stende hie" (door, stand against them) and they watched as the door swung shut, closing off the guards.
One quick "Clyse" (close) later and they were running, everyone else still trapped in the throne room.
They were passing the Court Physicians chambers when Merlin called out.
"Wait a moment. I need to get something."
"Merlin, this is hardly time for personal belongings!" Arthur roared, thoroughly annoyed by how today was playing out. He had revealed himself to his manservant, only to find out he had the same secret. The he was arrested, accused of using magic, stripped of his title, disinherited and then banished from Camelot. So, he wasn't having a great day today.
But Merlin was already gone. He grabbed the bag that he came to Camelot with, and stuffed in an extra pair of clothes, his magic book, his Sidhe staff, the dragon carving his father made for him, his and Gaius' refilled waterskins, three loaves of bread, Gaius' physician's bag and two blankets.
He hoped Gaius wouldn't be too mad at him for stealing basically all his food, water, blankets and herbs, but he needed them. He took one last look around the rooms that had become his home, and then ran out to meet five knights who were staring at him incredulously.
"What? I thought we might need some food, water and medical supplies. We're clearly not coming back, since Arthur has been banished and we're going with him. I'd prefer to have some resources, just in case we need to stay in the forest for a week or two."
The Knights seemed to accept this, even though they found it strange that Merlin was holding a staff. But after everything that's happened today, nothing seemed strange. The saying 'expect the unexpected' flashed through their minds as they ran to the stables to saddle up their horses.
Merlin finished his first and then did Arthur's, much to Gwaine's indignation. They were just mounting when they heard the sound of armored shoes hitting stone ground. They knew what that meant. The guards had broken out and were coming.
"Go!" Arthur yelled, and they took off into the forest, just as the guards started pouring out of the castle and either chasing them on foot, or heading to the stables to mount a horse.
"What happened to five minutes?" Lancelot asked, disgusted at the actions of the guards.
"Five minutes means nothing to them. They get paid money if they catch whoever it is that's been banished before they leave the border. That's how we make sure they weren't letting anyone who came into the border off with a warning." Arthur replied, ashamed that he ever allowed such behavior to manifest into this barbaric wave of people trying to claim a reward.
They rode in silence for a while, before coming up to a secluded path that Merlin knew very well.
"Hey, down that path right there, is a large clearing that we can stop in, through that break in the trees."
Merlin pointed and Arthur turned his horse down said path. The Knights followed Arthur and soon only Merlin was left. He followed, but once he was going down the path he turned around. His eyes burned liquid gold as he whispered, "Andslyht" (blow) and the fallen leaves covered up their tracks*.Satisfied, Merlin turned around and followed to others down the path and into the clearing
Once everyone had tied their horses up, they were sitting in a circle, coming to grips with everything that has happened. Gwaine was the one who broke the silence.
"Ok, so, I'm a bit lost. What in the name of Albion happened back there?"
Everyone was curious about that too. Lancelot was worried about whether or not Merlin was seen using magic.
"Well, Arthur was accused of sorcery, disinherited, banished, we all made a mad dash to get out and now we're here." Lancelot deadpanned.
"What did Merlin pack?" Asked Percival.
Merlin was reluctant to let everyone see his magic book, but he figured that if his secret wasn't out by now, it would be soon enough. So he took the flap that keeps everything inside the pack and opened it. He then pulled out the things he packed, displaying them for all to see.
"So, we have two full waterskins, the clothes on our backs and one extra outfit, three loaves of bread, a book, two blankets, a physician's bag, five horses, a dragon figurine and a stick with a rock on top." Lancelot reported.
"And no mead! What were you thinking Merlin?" Gwaine said in mock frustration.
Elyan was confused. "I understand the food and water and those things, but how's a stick is going to help us?"
Arthur wasn't paying any attention to what they were saying. He had eyes only for the dragon carving. He knew who that was from and he knew the significance.
"Is that…?" Arthur trailed off, pointing to the dragon carving. Merlin nodded, sadly. Once again, Arthur felt only sadness at what his manser-friend had to endure over the years.
"Alright. We make camp for the night. It's getting late and this would be the perfect place to rest. We leave at first light, so everyone should be up before dawn breaks." Arthur ordered, cutting off all conversation
Everyone either forgot or didn't care that Arthur wasn't a Prince anymore and obeyed his orders. The Knights decided who would get a blanket tonight and worked out a sleep schedule between themselves, while Merlin pulled Arthur aside.
"Arthur. We need to talk to Kilgharrah. Find out what he knows about everything that's happening."
"Alright. When it's our turn to watch, we'll go see him. Do you know where he is?"
"Umm. Minor issue with that." Merlin avoided Arthur's eyes.
"What the issue?" Arthur's tone was dangerously low.
"Well, we usually meet at the very spot where the Knights are preparing to sleep right now."
"WHAT?!" Arthur whisper-shouted. Though it was probably more shouted because all the Knights turned their heads and looked at the ex-Prince and his ex-manservant.
"Not so loud! They'll hear."
"Well of course they will, clot-pole."
"That's my word"
"Yes, and it suits you perfectly. Now, what are we going to do? We need to talk to that dragon and we can't with all the Knights watching." Arthur said urgently,
"We could always just tell them." When Arthur stiffened he said. "If they are going to come with you into banishment, then I think it's fair that we have no secrets. Magic can really help us in this situation, we won't need flint to light a fire, we can just use magic. I think we should tell them."
Arthur contemplated Merlin's words. It does seem fair that the Knights know the truth, no doubt at least one of them suspects the ex-Prince. But would it be fair to Merlin to make him tell his secret. That's just stupid. He's the one who wants to tell them. It would make everything a lot easier on the future. Yeah, we should tell them.
"We'll tell them now. We can call the dragon and talk to him before we go to sleep. Then we'll decide out next move."
The Knights were watching Merlin and Arthur talking. They almost seemed to be arguing about something, but then they came to an agreement about whatever it was. They walked to where the Knights were watching. They watched the Knights, and the Knights watched them in a semi-awkward silence
"What was that about?" Elyan surprised everyone by breaking the silence first.
"Well-" Merlin started.
"You see-" Arthur interrupted.
"We need to tell you something." Merlin continued
"And it's really important." Arthur added
"And you'll likely want to kill us for hiding it." Merlin finished, shocking everyone except Lancelot.
Is he going to tell them? Has he already told Arthur? What's Arthur's part in this? Lancelot's head was filled with questions.
The other Knights were confused. Why would they want to kill Arthur or Merlin? What was so bad that they'd want to kill their leader and younger brother? What's going on?
"What's going on?" Percival asked the question on everyone's minds
"Yeah, why would we want to kill you?" Added Elyan.
"Whatever it is, you guys know you can tell us." Finished Gwaine.
Lancelot stayed silent
Arthur and Merlin shared a look. Then they say, in unison.
"We have magic."
The Knights are shocked. Gwaine was the first to recover.
"I knew it!"
"You knew?" Questioned Merlin and Arthur, in unison once again.
"About Merlin, yeah. I mean, flying plates? Subtle Merlin, subtle." Merlin had the grace to look sheepish. "But I had no idea about the Princess over here."
"I knew about Merlin. I've known since I met him. Arthur, on the other hand…" Said Lancelot.
"What do you mean 'since you met him'?" Arthur asked, accusation lacing his tone.
"Well, I didn't slay the Griffin, Merlin did. He made blue flames appear on the end of my lance and that killed the Griffin. Only he wouldn't take any credit for it, so I left to avoid taking credit for what someone else did. He didn't tell me, though. I was just more observant." Lancelot explained.
"Are you going to hand us over?" Arthur asked, with a touch of fear showing in his eyes.
"No, I've been to many places on my travels, and I know one thing. Magic isn't evil, the person who uses it decides what it needs to be used for." Gwaine replied, uncharacteristically solemn.
"No. Neither of you are evil. I don't think that anything could do that to the two of you. Gwaine's right. Magic is neutral. It's neither good nor evil." Elyan said
"I agree with Gwaine and Elyan." Said Percival, the man of few words.
"You already know why not." Said Lancelot.
"Thanks guys." Arthur said sincerely, with a genuine smile on his face.
"There's one more thing." Merlin said. "My father was Balinor, the Last Dragonlord. When he died, the power passed to me. So now I'm the last Dragonlord."
Merlin continued quickly, noticing that they were about to interrupt.
"I'm telling you this because of two things. One: We don't want to have any secrets with the people who have come into exile with us. Two: I need to call the Great Dragon, no, he's not dead, questions later, so that we can talk to him to plan our next move. Is that ok with you guys?"
Everyone seemed a bit nervous at the prospect of facing a dragon that could kill them all with one blow. Gwaine, as usual, was the first to break the tension with a joke.
"Well, night's getting on. Are we going to meet this giant, winged, fire-breathing lizard or not?" Gwaine asked.
"As long as Merlin's here to stop it from killing us." Lancelot joked.
"What could possibly go wrong?" asked Elyan, sarcastically.
"Sure, why not?" Said Percival.
Merlin took a deep breath and quite literally roared into the heavens.
"O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd hup anankes"
*Just imagine what Merlin did in to cover up their tracks in The Diamond of the Day Part 2. It's even the same spell.
AN: Whew! That took forever to write. A special thanks to Guest, FallingxThroughxTime, NightsAnger. fletty and Juliana Bradagamba for responding to the chant. The chant is Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! So congratulations if you got that right. I'm thinking about starting a new thing at the end of the chapters. It's called The Question of the Chapter and you have to answer it in your reviews. So here's the question of the chapter. What's your favourite quote/line from the Merlin series? See you in another life, ScruffydaDruid.
