To Gwaine's surprise, Merlin showed no signs of concussion—in fact, he seemed to be as fit as ever. He ran through the forests, his long legs (and lack of armor) keeping him ahead of Gwaine. They followed the tracks of the others, narrowly avoiding a small band of Odin's soldiers.
At last they reached the Tomb of King Loth. Crawling up a small ridge, Gwaine and Merlin peered down at Percival and Elyan and the rest of the knights, being herded away by Odin's men.
"We're too late," Gwaine said.
"Not if we even up the numbers."
"Sounds good to me."
"I'll go after Arthur," Merlin said, moving away.
A hand on his arm stopped him. "Good luck," Gwaine said. But he knew that Merlin would be fine: his magic was more than a match for anything Morgana was planning. And he himself had some plans for rescuing his comrades.
000
Leon struggled in the arms of Odin's men as Odin himself loomed over Arthur, his sword drawn.
"You kill me, and you'll have all of Camelot to answer to," Arthur said.
"Camelot is nothing without its king," Odin answered.
Despite the situation, Arthur laughed. "Then you don't know my wife," he rejoined. "She and my knights will hunt you, and they will find you. And they will not rest until they are done."
"I will deal with your queen soon enough," Odin responded. "But now, your time has come." He raised his sword. Leon struggled helplessly and Mithian hid her face in her father's shoulder.
But the blow never landed. There was a booming noise, and the entire chamber shook, dust and rock falling from the ceiling. In the resulting confusion, he and Arthur broke free, snatching up swords from their captors. Leon charged toward Odin's men. Behind him he heard Arthur exclaim, "Merlin?!"
"Hurry! This way!" Merlin's voice rang out over the sound of falling stone. Leon shoved Rodor and Mithian toward the exit, catching up another sword from the floor and dashing out the door as the ceiling came down over the burial chamber.
He handed the sword off to Rodor as they left the tomb, running back toward the border of Camelot. Rodor stumbled and nearly fell, and Leon caught his arm and supported him as they dashed uphill.
But more of Odin's men were coming when they reached the top. "This way!" Arthur shouted, pulling Mithian along with him.
There was a shout, and three men converged on them from different directions. Leon dispatched his opponent and looked around just in time to see Rodor deliver a killing blow to his own.
"Don't look so surprised," he said to Arthur. "I commanded an army in my time."
"And you will do so again," Arthur answered with a grin. Leon wondered if his optimism was misplaced. They had to get to safe ground, first.
It was proving difficult. Not only were they on foot, but Rodor, though still a capable swordsman, didn't have the endurance to run for so long. "Leave me," he said at last, leaning against a tree.
"That's not going to happen," Arthur argued. "You're the reason we're here!"
"Leave me. Save Mithian," Rodor insisted. Leon pulled Rodor's arm over his shoulder as Odin and his men reappeared in the distance.
"Follow the ridgeline," Arthur commanded Leon.
"What about you?" Rodor argued.
"We'll lead them the other way."
"No!" Mithian exclaimed.
"This is between me and Odin. You need no further pardons."
"Come on," Leon said, supporting Rodor toward the ridge. Mithian, with a backward glance at Arthur, followed.
Leon half expected Odin's men to split up and pursue them both, but it seemed Arthur was right: all Odin's attention was focused on the King of Camelot, and he would not rest until he had his revenge.
"Where are we heading?" Rodor asked breathlessly.
"The place we left the horses. Gaius should still be there," Leon answered.
"And when we reach it?" Mithian asked.
It was a good question. Arthur had gone into Nemeth to rescue Rodor and take him back to Camelot so that he could raise an army to reconquer his throne. From that perspective, the best thing for Leon to do would be to escort them back to Camelot and safety. On the other hand, his King and his comrades were fighting Odin's men, and could he leave them behind? If they waited too long at the campsite, Odin could catch up with them. If they didn't, they could leave Arthur in need of help.
But Odin had demonstrated that it was Arthur whose blood he desired. He would likely believe that Rodor would not be able to gather the troops he would need to take back Nemeth if Arthur were dead. And he was probably right.
"We are not Rodor's target," he finally replied. "We can wait for him at the campsite and hope that he and the other knights will reconvene there."
They arrived at the campsite without incident. Gaius met them eagerly, and Leon filled him in on what had happened. They had not been there long when they heard shouting in the distance. Odin's men had found them.
Leon's first thought was to hide, but the sight of the horses would give them away. And they had no time to get to the horses and ride for Camelot. The only thing he could do was to get his charges into the most defensible place possible.
"Over here!" he ordered, herding them back into a corner of the ruin and drawing his sword. Rodor came to stand beside him, his own sword at the ready. Leon had his doubts about Rodor's ability to fight in his condition, but it would be fruitless to argue—and Odin's men were nearly on them.
The place he had chosen was narrow enough that only two or three could approach them at a time. In his desperation, Leon attacked the first two with such vigor that they stumbled backward and regrouped before two more made an attack. Rodor fought at Leon's side, but his breath was soon coming in gasps, and Leon knew he couldn't hold out much longer. Just as he thought this, Rodor took a blow to the arm and fell backward. Leon stepped forward to defend him, taking down another soldier, when a blow to his side nearly knocked the air out of him. Stumbling, he swung at his attacker.
"RETREAT!" someone shouted. "RETREAT!"
The soldier confronting Leon hesitated for a moment, then turned and followed his companions out of the ruins. Leon turned, gasping, to make sure everyone was alright.
"Sir Leon! You're wounded," Gaius exclaimed.
He shook his head. "See to Rodor," he gasped.
Mithian was pressing a cloth to Rodor's arm. "It's just a flesh wound," she said calmly, though her face was white. "Why did they call a retreat?"
"LEON!" a familiar voice shouted. Leon, too out of breath to answer, climbed up out of the ruins to see Arthur and Merlin coming toward them as Odin's men disappeared in the direction of Nemeth.
"Leon!" Arthur said with a smile, and clapped him on the back. Leon winced. "Are you hurt."
Leon shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Let's have Gaius see to that 'nothing,'" Merlin said.
"Why did Odin's men retreat?" Leon asked as they rejoined the others.
"I've made peace with him," Arthur answered.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"You what?" Leon couldn't believe his ears.
"We fought one-on-one. I beat him, and persuaded him to make peace with me in exchange for his life. He agreed." He looked over at Rodor. "Nemeth will be returned to you. But first," he said, kneeling down to look at his arm, "I think we'll go back to Camelot to treat your wound properly."
TBC
AN: It's official. The hardest chapters to write are the ones that closely follow episodes. *shakes head* That was ridiculously difficult.
Please review!
