A pool and secrets
Chapter Six
Arthur was travelling down a dark path when he heard a moan come from up ahead. He was confused, he thought he was alone on this journey. Determined he picked up his pace trying to find the source of the sound he heard. After a few more steps he heard the moaning sound again, only this time it sounded like somebody had moaned his name. Determined now he picked up his pace; almost running to see who could be making such noise. He stopped; he had come to a fork in the road. Noises came from both directions. One the moaning he had heard the whole time he had travelled down the dark path and the other noise was the faint cry of a baby. He decided to go down the path that led to the moaning as that sound had plagued him the whole time he had been walking down the path. As he travelled down the path the moaning was getting louder and he was positive that every now and then the person would moan his name. Arthur came to a bend in the path and as he came around the bend he saw himself and another person in the throes of passion. It was dark so he could not make out who he was making love to; although he could tell that the person had black hair. "Oh Arthur. Harder." Arthur moved closer to the couple. As Arthur moved closer he could make out the pale legs of the person he was bedding. 'Ah Arthur! Arthur!'
"Arthur!" The king bolted awake sitting up in bed. As he was bolting up he hit his head against something hard.
"Ow!" He looked over and spotted Merlin holding his hand against his forehead with his eyes closed. "What are you doing?!" He yelled.
"Well it's pretty obvious that I was waking you up." Scoffed Merlin. "You have a meeting in half an hour with the knights. I have prepared your breakfast, it is on the table. Is there anything else that you need doing, Sire?" Merlin said as he headed for the door.
Arthur stood up from the bed and watched his servant leave. "You are well prepared today Merlin. Are you sick?" he asked.
Merlin paused and rolled his eyes at the king. "No I am not sick. I was awake early this morning is all."
The king stared at the young wizard, trying to see deep within his eyes. "You seem different lately Merlin. Are you sure that there is nothing wrong? It has been ever since we got back from the horrible trip to emerald two weeks ago."
"I'm fine." Merlin said. "Why? Are you worried about me?"
"No. I'm merely worried that I will have to replace a servant soon if it is serious." Arthur said with a shrug of the shoulders. "Now, while I am in the meeting with the knights I want you to make sure that my armour is polished by the time I am finished, just in case I have to leave somewhere." Arthur walked over to the table and started to eat his breakfast.
"But I usually attend the meeting with you." Merlin said as he walked over to Arthur's bed to make it.
"Yes, well I want you to polish my armour. It's not like you have any input in the meeting. This way you are being useful instead of distracting one of the knights. Again." Arthur said as he pointed his spoon at his servant.
"What are you talking about? Since when have I distracted one of your knights?" Merlin asked.
"Just last week, at the last meeting, both you and Gwaine were late to the meeting. What were you doing anyway for you to both be late?"
"Gwaine was teaching me how to use a bow and arrow, and we lost track of time. He said that I should know how to defend myself with a weapon in case the need should ever arise."
"Really? You? Use a bow and arrow? Why didn't you ask me to teach you? I could have done it." Arthur said perturbed. He stood from the table and went over to the divider to change out of his night clothes.
"I honestly have never thought of it before, but Gwaine asked me if I wanted to and I realised that it is a good idea. I never know when I might need to put the knowledge into practise. Besides I think I'm getting quite good at it; well Gwaine said I am." Merlin said with a proud smile.
"You good at shooting an arrow? That I would pay to see." Arthur laughed missing the smile fade off Merlins face.
"Well maybe you should!" Yelled Merlin. "Sorry I should not have yelled. Is there anything that you wish me to do, my lord?" Merlin asked.
Arthur came around the partition and stared at his servant. "No that is all." Merlin bowed and left the room not looking at his king. 'I've never heard him yell at me like that before; maybe I went too far. I wish I had thought of teaching him. Gwaine is right Merlin should have some knowledge of using a weapon. Why was he so happy talking about spending time with Gwaine. Maybe Gwen was right? Why do I care? Because I think of Merlin as a friend and I don't want him getting hurt. I mean Gwaine is a known womaniser. I hope he doesn't get hurt.' Arthur left his bedroom to attend the meeting with the knights.
"The westfold tower has reported that a group of men are raiding villages in Ellador, my lord. They do not have enough men to set an ambush and are asking for help." Said Leon to the king.
"I see. Ellador is close to Emerald territory. Do they know if it is Alar and his group of men?" Arthur asked deep in thought.
"They do not say my lord. Only that it is a group of men who go raiding the villages. They seem to be keeping to a schedule that's why they wish to set an ambush." Leon said looking at the letter received.
"Hmm, okay we will head out just after noon. I would like to take a large group of men just in case they have underestimated the size of the group of men. Leon you should stay here and make sure that Camelot is looked after while I am gone." Arthur said looking at the map before him. "We should take the path of Aloch it will be the fastest route. The faster we get there the more time we have to prepare the ambush. The journey there should take no longer than a day but we should stop during the night to rest." Arthur said.
"Of course my lord." Bowed Leon. The other knights bowed their heads. Everybody stood and started to make their way to the exit to prepare for the journey.
It was just after noon and Merlin was in the stables, he had just finished getting his and Arthur's horses ready to leave for Ellador. He felt a hand land on his shoulder and he turned to look at who had done so. Merlin smiled as his eyes landed on the smiling face of his best friend. "Hello Gwaine. Are you ready to go to?" He asked.
"Yes I am. There is something that I wish to give you before we leave." Gwaine said sounding anxious.
"Oh, okay. What is it?" he asked hoping his friend was okay.
"Close your eyes. It's a surprise." Gwaine intrusted Merlin.
Smiling Merlin closed his eyes. He heard Gwaine's footsteps as he turned and left from where he had come from. Thirty seconds later He heard Gwaine walk back. "Okay you can open your eyes now." Merlin blinked his eyes open, only for them to bulge wide open when his eyes fell onto the present in Gwaine's hands. In one hand he held a bow and in the other a quiver of arrows. "You have done so well at our training over the last two weeks that I wanted to get you a present. I hope you like them." He was surprised when he suddenly had an excited Merlin holding him in a hug of death. "I take it you like them then?" He laughed.
"Like? I love them! But you did not have to get me a bow and arrow set Gwaine. This must have cost a fair bit." He said cautiously reaching out his hand to hold the bow."
"Nonsense. The maker is a friend of mine and he gave me a discount. Here why don't you take it and have a hold." He held out his hand holding the bow.
All of a sudden there was kissing noises and laughter coming from the door to the stable. Both men turned their heads to see Percival and Elyan laughing from the entrance to the stables. Gwaine glared at the two men. "Stop it." He said.
The two men raised their hands in mock surrender. "Settle down Gwaine. We meant nothing by it. We know you and Merlin are just friends." Said Percival. "Come on you two. The king wishes to leave." Both men turned and left the stable.
Merlin placed the quiver of arrows over his shoulder, followed by the bow. "Thank you so much Gwaine. You don't know how much this means to me. It's perfect." Merlin said smiling brighter than he had in a long, long time. Merlin grabbed his and Arthur's horse and headed out the stable to meet the king. He missed the glare that Arthur threw at his new present and the knight who had given it to him.
The group of men had travelled all day and were currently getting set up to rest for the night. Merlin was trying to light a fire with two stones but was having no luck. He looked around to see if anybody was looking. Once seeing that everybody was busy doing something and would not see him, he decided to use his magic. With a flash of his eyes the fire was lit. But something had felt weird when he used his magic. Like his magic was being pulled somewhere else. 'I wonder what that feeling could be. I have never felt it before. I hope I am not losing my magic. It is my fate to protect Arthur and I can't do that without magic. I will need to ask Gaius what it could been when we get back to Camelot.'
Merlin was startled when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. "Are you alright Merlin?" Asked Percival.
"I'm fine. I was just deep in thought is all. Nothing to worry about." He smiled at Percival and turned to get food ready for everybody.
A.N. Hope you enjoyed another chapter. I am receiving lovely reviews from people and it keeps me posting. Thank you. Anyway read and review.