I don't know what to make of this one, but it does cover two prompts I was given so... enjoy?
This is for annap123 (I think... I can't seem to read my handwriting) and 1monster2. Both gave me these prompts a long time ago, and I am so sorry it took me forever to write them.
So, thanks to everyone who reviewed, alerted, and/or favorited last chapter. I am so glad you guys are still following this even though my updates are crazy sporadic. So, thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you can, and I don't own 'em.
Bye!
"What do these things look like again?" Leon asked standing in the middle of the lack, breeches rolled up just past his knees, peering into the water for the plant life he and Merlin were looking for.
"They're green," Merlin answered from behind Leon, "with a purple leaf and red stem. Look for frog spawn, they usually linger around it."
Leon nodded, wadding away from Merlin, still trying to keep an eye out for that plant. Over his shoulder, he curiously asked, "What's it used for?"
"A few things," Merlin answered plucking one from the water. He held it up for Leon to see, pointing to the purple leaf, "The leaves are good for pain remedy." He points to the stem, "And this is for a powerful sleeping draught." He then breaks the stem, a bluish liquid oozing from it, and finished, "And this is for the potion I have been trying to make."
"And which potion…?" Leon's words trail off into a grunt of pain, an arrow having embedded itself into his shoulder. "Bandits," the knight said, ushering Merlin towards shore. The warlock dropped the plant he's holding, readying his magic, peering into the trees for their attacker.
Merlin deflected two more arrows, sending them spiraling off into the forest, and the two men were able to get back to land. Leon waved off Merlin's help, scooping his sword up off the ground, and instinctually tried to push the warlock behind him.
"Show yourselves," the knight demanded raising his sword, his eyes darting back and forth, completely ignoring the pain radiating from his wounded shoulder.
Rustling sounded from their left, someone's let out a bird call, and soon the two men were surrounded. Before Merlin could let loose a spell, the man directly in front of he and Leon shot the knight with another arrow, right into his other shoulder, and he dropped his sword.
"Try any of that magic stuff, and the next one goes through his head," the man said and pointed his crossbow directly between Leon's eyes. "Where's your king?"
"Obviously not here," Merlin retorted and he felt someone jab him from behind, knocking him to his knees.
"Wanna try that again?" Crossbow said gesturing at Leon with his weapon. "Is he back at that fancy castle of his?" When neither Merlin nor Leon answered, Crossbow's eyes narrowed and he said, "I'll take that as a yes." He spared his men a single look, a cat-like grin crossing his face. "Gents, are you up for a visit to our capitol?"
Merlin
Merlin was shoved forward, his hands bound behind his back, nearly tripping over his feet. Leon walked in front of him, his hands tied similarly to Merlin's, the arrows still sticking out of his body, but he didn't make a noise, didn't complain, didn't say much of anything. Merlin, however, was not built from the same cloth as the knight.
"Arthur's men will not let you in the castle," he commented testing his bindings. "In fact, they'll be wondering why we're returning with more than just us."
"You'll tell them whatever I say," Crossbow replied with an easy shrug, his weapon slung over his left shoulder. "Otherwise I'll kill your knight friend." For good measure, he patted Leon on the shoulder, the knight barely keeping a flinch of pain at bay. "You wouldn't want that on your conscience would you?"
Ignoring the question, the answer was obvious (of course he doesn't want Leon to die), Merlin opted to ask, "How'd you know about my magic?"
"Everyone in Albion knows about the great Merlin," Crossbow answered readily, tossing a mocking smile over his shoulder. "I've yet to be impressed."
Merlin opened his mouth to respond, but he's shoved from behind again. This time, he allowed himself to fall, making it look like an accident. He heard a scoff from above, followed by several snickers, and then a pair of hands grabbed him to yank him to his feet. That's when he attacked, knowing he only had a small window before Crossbow retaliated.
He sent whoever had him backwards, right into two of his friends, knocking the trio to the ground. Using a simple burning spell, Merlin's binds fell from his wrist and he sprang to his feet, sending the fourth man into a tree with a bone crunching impact.
He readied another spell, turning towards Crossbow, but before he can release the spell, he watched as the man sent another arrow straight at Leon's head. Merlin didn't see the impact, but he heard it followed by a grunt of pain and the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the ground.
Rage wasn't new to Merlin, he'd felt it a time or two, but he'd never experienced anything like this. White, hot fury poured from him, consuming him, and everything became fuzzy. It felt like he was burning, and he couldn't make it stop; in a way he didn't want it to stop. This man killed his friend; he had to pay.
Merlin was going to make him pay.
Merlin
Leon struggled to get to his feet, barely sparing the dead bandit a single look before letting his eyes travel to Merlin. The warlock seemed to be glowing, a bright, red light surrounding him and hurting the knight's eyes. The knight shielded them from the eerie glow just as an inhuman scream erupted through the forest.
He whirled towards the noise just in time to see Crossbow turn into fine, white ash. It took a moment for Leon to realize Merlin had done that, had killed the man, and he turned back to the warlock. The glowing seemed to have gotten worse, almost consuming him, and Leon was almost afraid to approach his friend.
"Merlin," he called slowly moving towards the warlock. Carefully he reached out, trying not to be startled by the once blue eyes glowing an intense orange. "Merlin, it's okay," he said as his fingertips made contact with a too hot shoulder. "Merlin!"
Merlin blinked once, the orange flickering to blue for a moment, and he whispered, "Leon? You're alive?"
"Yeah," the knight answered with a relieved smile. "I moved before the arrow could hit me, it killed a bandit instead."
"Leon," Merlin murmured one, last time before his eyes rolled back into his head and his legs gave out on him. Quick thinking on Leon's part kept Merlin from collapsing to the ground, and the knight slowly lowered the unconscious warlock to the ground, watching as the red glow rapidly dissipated.
Leon had no idea what had happened, and truthfully it scared him a little. Just how powerful was his friend? What exactly was Merlin capable of? But, oddly enough, he didn't fear for his life; mostly he was scared for Merlin's safety. Who knew what those kind of spells could do to him. Cradling his friend to his chest, Leon thanked the gods he had the warlock on his side. He'd hate to see what the man would do to his actual enemies.
Also, to the anon reviewer who's not satisfied with this story anymore... What exactly do you want me to write? I've written like three talks, but I guess it's not enough. Leave me suggestions for what you want to see and I'll try to cover them.