Frozen Merlin won! So, this is for those who voted and thank you to Leahelisabeth for the prompt. Poison is coming up next, but this one is getting a part two before that happens. So, yeah, part 2 is coming soon.
So, thanks to everyone who reviewed and alerted and favorited. Those who voted for poison, I'm sorry for not doing your choice first, but as I stated above poison will be written.
Thanks for reading, I don't own anyone, and leave me a comment if you can.
Bye!
Merlin could sense the magic in the air. It wasn't strong, nor was it particularly dangerous, but he felt the connection, the familiar pull as he wandered the area, seeking out kindling. A ways away, he could hear Arthur and the knights laughing, their muffled voices following Merlin's every move.
Stooping to pick up another branch, Merlin suddenly felt something darker surround him. He slowly straightened up, listening hard as he dropped his sticks. He felt his magic spark to life, leaving his fingertips tingling. He looked around, eyes darting from one surface to the next, looking for the threat. His blue eyes snapped to his friends, but they hadn't seemed to sense any changes.
Slowly, Merlin backed away from the clearing, heading back towards his friends, still looking around. About midway there, he felt something slice across the back of his neck. Hissing, he placed his hand on the wound, his fingertips coming away sticky. He brought his hand to his eyes, looking at the blue substance coating his fingers, mixing with his blood.
"What the hell?" he whispered just as the blue stuff evaporated into his skin, leaving his blood behind. He reeled back, eyes wide, studying his fingers closely. When the liquid didn't reappear, Merlin wiped his blood on his breeches and slowly stooped to pick up the sticks. His eyes made one, final sweep of the area before he headed back to his friends.
"What took you so long?" Arthur asked the moment Merlin joined the knights.
"I, uh, nothing," Merlin responded softly, dropping the sticks to the ground. Ignoring the wary look Arthur threw him, Merlin turned his attention to the fire, trying to get it lit.
"What on earth happened to your neck?" He felt fingers settle on the wound, but Merlin tensed up and shied away from Arthur.
"I'm fine," he insisted returning to the fire. "Don't worry about it." He was very much aware of the knights exchanging skeptical and worried looks, but he pretended he didn't see them.
Once he got the fire going, Merlin stepped away from the flame to go get his bag. He tried to ignore the shiver that went down his spine, but it didn't stop him from pulling his jacket tighter around him. He kept his eyes peeled for anymore strange anomalies, or whatever had attacked him, but the magic had returned to its normal, non-threatening vibe. In fact, had Merlin's neck not been stinging he would have believed that nothing had attacked him at all.
He grabbed his bag, very much aware of a bazillion or so goose pimples erupting all over his body when his jacket's sleeve rode up his arm. Another shudder went through him, his hands shaking slightly. He clenched his bag tightly with his right hand, his left hand curling into a tight fist, and he willed his hands to still.
Merlin gave up after a few seconds, very much aware of Arthur calling his name, and buried his left hand in his pocket, clutching his bag even tighter as he carried it back to the fire. He sat next to the flame, the slowly building heat making him mildly warmer but not enough to fight off the shivers starting to wrack his body.
He pressed on, knowing he had to make dinner otherwise he wouldn't hear the end of it from the others, but it became increasingly harder as his hands began to shake more and more violently. He dropped his stirring spoon twice, spilled chopped carrots all over the ground, and managed to knick himself with his cutting knife.
When Gwaine noticed Merlin's bleeding fingers, the knight gently took the knife from him and softly asked, "Are you okay, mate?"
"Fine," Merlin lied trying to keep his teeth from chattering. He was just so cold, but that didn't make any sense; it was the middle of the summer. He thought back to whatever attacked him, his trembling hand automatically going to his still stinging neck. He wrenched his hand away, the wound ice cold.
"Merlin, why's your neck blue?" Gwaine's fingers rested on the back of the warlock's neck. He pulled his hand away just as Merlin had, eyeing the younger man worriedly. Leaning forward, he breathed, "What happened to you?"
Merlin
Through chattering teeth, Merlin explained what had happened. Arthur immediately called him an idiot while he crouched down next to the younger man, checking the wound out again. Leon offered Merlin his cloak plus a blanket, while Gwaine attended to the stew.
"Do you know what it looked like?" Arthur asked curiously, his fingers warm against Merlin's icy skin. The younger man shook his head, trying and failing to keep his shivers at bay. Arthur sighed heavily, placing his free hand to his face. "Okay," he started slowly, lowering his hand, "we're going to get you back to Gaius. Perhaps he knows what did this."
"C-Camelot is s-still a d-day's ride a-away," Merlin stammered clutching Leon's blanket tighter to his shoulders but still unable to staunch off the cold. He felt Percival settle down next to him, the bigger man wrapping his arm around the younger man's shoulder. Elyan dropped down on Merlin's left, mimicking Percival's movements, and soon the warlock was cocooned between the two knights. He felt marginally warmer, but he doubted it'd last long.
"Merlin, you seem to be freezing to…" Arthur trailed off, no doubt unable to bring himself to say 'to death.' The king shook his head and said, "We can't waste time. We need to find out what is wrong with you so we can fix it."
"A-and w-w-we're not g-g-going to a-achieve t-t-that t-t-tonight," Merlin stammered burrowing deeper into his blanket, feeling Elyan and Percival shift closer to him. "W-we s-s-stopped to m-m-make c-camp, and w-w-we s-s-s…" Merlin's chattering teeth knocked together hard, cutting him off, and he felt for sure he had cracked a molar.
Arthur leaned forward, his eyes meeting Merlin's, and he sighed. "Fine," he said softly, looking away from his friend, "we'll stay for tonight. But you are staying near the fire, understood?"
"I-I-I d-d-doubt it'll d-do a-a-any g-good," Merlin muttered but still agreed, humoring Arthur. When another chill ran through him, he leaned into Percival, seeking any warmth he could get, wondering if he'd ever be warm again.
Merlin
After a questionable meal ('seriously, Gwaine, how did you manage to turn the stew gray'), Merlin found himself huddled against Gwaine and Leon, staring into the fire, shivering violently. He could hear Arthur and Elyan muttering back and forth, the latter volunteering to ride ahead, inform Gaius about what was going on.
"At the very least, Gaius may have a clue what's going on by the time you return," Elyan said softly.
"But what if whatever attacked Merlin attacks you, too," Arthur stated and Merlin could feel their eyes on him.
"I'll go with him," Leon stated next to Merlin. He stood up, Percival taking his place mere seconds later. "We'll leave before first light."
"Alright," Arthur agreed reluctantly, sighing, "but if either of you are attacked you come straight back here. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sire," the two knights said together.
Afterwards, things became a bit fuzzy to Merlin. His shivering was becoming worse, his skin felt as if it were made of pure ice, and he was finding it nearly impossible to keep his eyes open. His head drooped to the side, settling on Percival's shoulder, his eyes slipping closed.
He wasn't exactly sure when he fell asleep, but when he awoke he was freezing, his body quaking so violently he couldn't control his trembling, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him, a body flush against his back, a few more blankets covering his body. Gwaine lay in front of him, his forehead resting against the younger man's shoulder, and Merlin found it nearly impossible to move. He wasn't exactly complaining either, if he moved he was fairly certain he'd turn to ice.
He felt movement near his head, and he heard a familiar voice ask, "Merlin, are you awake?"
The younger man tried speaking, but his chattering teeth wouldn't allow any words to escape, so he nodded, moving his head so he could meet Arthur's blue eyes. The king gave him a sympathetic look before saying, "We're heading out in an hour. Will you be okay to travel?" Merlin wanted to nod, but he knew Arthur would call him on his lie, so he merely shrugged.
"We can always send for Gaius," Arthur whispered resting his hand on the side of Merlin's neck. He turned the younger man's head, ignoring his weak protests, and checked over his wound. The blond was quiet for far too long, but finally he released Merlin's head and shook Percival awake. Weight shifted from behind Merlin and he could hear hushed whispering before Percival stood, Arthur immediately taking his place.
"I'll be back with Gaius," Percival said softly, pulling his boots on. He then ran towards the horses, riding away mere moments later.
"W-w-what…?" Merlin stammered trying to turn his body.
"We're going to fix you, Merlin," Arthur said softly, resting his hand on his friend's shoulder, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're going to be fine." He sounded as if Merlin were about to die, and that left a horrible, sickening pit in the young warlock's stomach.