Chapter ten! Hope you like it – Please review!
Birds… That's all Merlin could hear. Everything was dark and silent; everything except the birds. He listened to their songs, their conversations. Each chirp was music to the warlock's ears. Most likely because when you're confined to a world of pitch black, the more you can hear, the more comfort you feel. Birds. That's what Merlin heard.
Then suddenly he could feel. It was an up and down motion, bumpy, and not all that comfortable. It was like riding a horse – that's it! – He was riding a horse. However, it wasn't the usual way you ride a horse; no this way was strange, awkward if anything. He felt pressure on his stomach. 'Am I lying down?' Merlin thought. Then he realized he was bent, hanging, his legs were dangling at one end while his head wobbled freely at the other. It was if he was a towel hung over a rack, but of course, in this case, he was the towel and the horse was the rack. Oh. He understood now. He had been thrown over a horse – too weak, no wait, he wasn't even conscious enough to ride the horse on his own.
Then his sight began to come back. The darkness slowly subsided and was switched with a bright light. It just stayed there for what seemed like forever, it didn't seem to want to go away, but it hurt. The light was just so bright, it hurt. Merlin tried blinking a few times, and slowly the light began to fade. He saw the ground, rocks and grass, more dirt than anything else, and he was moving. Oh, how could he so soon forget, he was on a horse, and the horse was moving. However, he had no idea as to where he was going. This frightened Merlin a bit and he tried to move, but an agonizing pain shot threw his body and it made him stop. It burned, it hurt like hell, and he just wanted it to go away. The pain was too much so Merlin let his eyes shut and he drowned himself in unconsciousness.
The next time the warlock woke, he felt much more comfortable. He was lying down, but not over a horse. He was on his back, and something soft was rolled and placed under his head. He could feel movement still, but it was much more soothing and not as restless. When he tried opening his eyes again it took far less time for the bright light to fade and Merlin was met with the lovely sight of the sky. It was bright blue and white fluffy clouds were drifting in the wind. He turned his head – it was soar, but he managed it – and saw Gwain sitting next to him, leaning his back up against the sides of whatever they were in, and the knight was sleeping, and soundly by the looks of it. Merlin reached out his hand and shook Gwain's leg with what little strength he had, and the knight awoke with a start and glanced around in every direction before his eyes fell on the warlock. A smile grew on the drunkard knight's face.
"Back to the land of the living I see. It took you long enough, my friend, I was beginning to worry." Even though Gwain's voice was light and seemingly care free, Merlin could tell his friend was distraught and worried.
Merlin tried to sit up but was faced with that now familiar pain and groaned before falling back. Gwain face turned from being happy to being concerned and he reached over to the servant and helped prop him up so he was in a sitting position. Every movement, no matter how gentle, made Merlin's body erupt in another wave of hurt.
"H-how… I-Is… Y-y-your… ar-arm…" Merlin asked through gritted teeth.
Arthur let out a laugh, though Merlin had no idea where the king was, "even in all the pain you're in, your still a selfless, caring idiot."
The young warlock turned his head around just enough to see Arthur sitting up front of what seemed like a small carriage, or cart, and was holding on to the horses reins. 'Oh great, Arthur is acting as the bloody coach.' Merlin thought sarcastically. "Y-you-you're s-still…. Th-the… b-big-biggest p-prat…. E-ever, I s-see…" Merlin responded. Gwain grinned and Arthur let out a sigh.
"Do you ever shut up? Even when you're mortally wounded you still have the biggest mouth in Camelot." Arthur was trying with all his might to make everything seem normal, but when he said the word 'wounded' he voice faltered a bit and both Merlin and Gwain caught it. Then Arthur continued, "ah – but alas – we aren't in Camelot! Therefore, that must mean Merlin has the largest mouth in all of Albion." Secretly, Arthur had missed his servants talking and stupid remarks these past few days. In fact, the silence made the king worry about Merlin even more.
"C-clot-p-po-pole…" Merlin tried to smile but the pain was too much.
Gwain put his hand on the young warlock's shoulder and squeezed it lightly, "you should probably lay down again, mate. You don't want to strain yourself."
Merlin managed to let out a small chuckle – not that he found his friends worrying about him funny, it was just new to him. However, it soon turned into another coughing fit, and before they knew it, blood was trickling out of the corner of Merlin's mouth. Gwain helped him to lay back down before wiping away the crimson liquid. With the amount of blood the servant had lost, and was still losing, they were surprised Merlin was still hanging on. Though, even the knight knew, without help, his raven haired friend was sure to die soon… Even if it didn't seem possible that he could.
Previously...
Merlin drifted off into darkness once again.
Arthur's hand was still clasped around his servant's, he didn't dare let go in fear Merlin might just slip away. Gwain was still wiping the blood off Merlin's cheek.
"We need to get moving again. We'll head out tomorrow at dawn." Arthur stated, finally letting go of Merlin's limp hand.
"The movement will be rough on Merlin, if anything it might kill him! He doesn't have the strength." Gwain was close to shouting. He pulled the warlock up further onto his lap and checked the wound again. So much blood…
"We don't have a choice! If we stay here any longer and don't find help, he'll die all the same." The king let out a long sigh, he was tired and worried for his friend, and everything just felt hopeless.
The next morning they hesitantly prepared to take leave. Gwain re-bandaged Merlin's wound with the cloth they found and filled his water skin at the small stream nearby. Arthur packed the few things they had in the make-shift pouch Gwain made and then busied himself by washing the fabric they had just removed from Merlin's shoulder. They didn't have much cloth left so they figured they would wash out what blood they could and then save the poor excuse for bandages for later on.
Finally it was time to go. Gwain took hold of their things – not that there were that many – while Arthur slowly, and very carefully, picked Merlin up.
It didn't take long for the king to begin to get tired. Gwain wanted to offer to take Merlin for a while, but he knew his burnt arm wouldn't have it. So the knight had to watch painfully as Arthur struggled walking through the forest with a limp servant in his arms.
'AAAH' a loud scream cut through the air and the king and knight turned their attention to its source.
They picked up speed and went to where they heard the cry. In the distance they could see a small group of three men beating a defenseless man and a woman crying out for them to stop. Arthur carefully set down Merlin and drew his sword, Gwain followed, and they ran out to be met with a quick and easy battle. Those men were no match for the knights of Camelot.
The woman ran to the man and engulfed him in a hug. He had a bloody lip and a black eye but for the most part was unharmed.
"Is there anyway we can repay you?" The woman looked up to them, still hugging what was most likely her husband.
"We need help. Our friend is badly wounded and we have no means of transportation or any idea where we are." Gwain informed them.
"Go get your friend. Place him on that horse and follow us. Our home is not too far from here." The man said kindly. Arthur ran back to where he left Merlin and brought him out. A small gasp escaped the woman's mouth at the sight of how badly the warlock was injured. They placed him over the horse and began following the kind couple.
"What are your names?" Arthur asked.
"I'm Samuel, and this is my wife Celia." Samuel responded, and then asked, "Are you knights of Camelot?"
"I am a knight, however this fellow," Gwain looked to Arthur, "Is the king of Camelot himself."
The couple stopped dead in their tracks and turned to bow. Arthur merely shook his head and told them to continue.
"No need to be so formal, you are showing us great kindness." The king told them.
Finally they found themselves at a small huddle and two girls – one under the age of ten at least and the other a teenager – ran from the house and hugged their parents. The teen quickly fret over her fathers injuries before noticing their guests.
"Rose, this is King Arthur of Camelot and one of his knights. They need our help." Celia told her daughter.
Soon enough they were inside and Merlin was rested comfortably on a large bed with clean, proper bandages wrapped around his shoulder. Rose was sitting at his side cooling the warlock's forehead with a wet cloth. Arthur and Gwain were seated at a table explaining what misfortunate events occurred in the Ebony forest and how they came to be in such a state, all the while gobbling down some soup and bread. They stayed the night, and slept on the floor near the fire. Merlin stayed in the bed so Samuel and Celia share their daughter's beds.
The next morning the kind family gave them a wooden cart to latch onto their horse for Merlin to ride in. They supplied Arthur and Gwain with enough food for the trip and bid them farewell.
"I shall repay your kindness when possible. Thank you for your generosity." Arthur then rode off, leading the horse down a trail through the woods. Gwain was seated in the back watching over Merlin with worried eyes. They were headed home, but how much longer did the servant have?
Again, I feel this isn't the best chapter. I guess it's cause I'm not feeling well, but who knows! Thanks for reading and please review! Bye, for now! :3