A/N: I started a short for the next prompt on the list yesterday, but driving home today I was struck with this idea... so here you go ^_~
(Potential Spoilers: If you like this one, I especially recommend LFB72's "The Pendulum of Redemption" as it is similar in theme)
In other news: The line breaks still aren't working properly. This gives me rage.
The blood from his head wound had run into one eye, obscuring his vision, and it was becoming nearly impossible to form coherent thoughts. This area of the forest looked familiar... not that he knew where his shaky legs were carrying him. I should probably see to that bite...
Well, the important thing was to find shelter before his pursuer recovered. He was getting close, that much he knew; these mossy steps would lead him to- oh. Oh.
Suddenly his 'any port in a storm' mentality seemed much less practical.
His attempt at a hasty retreat was foiled by moist stone as he slipped and tumbled down the short slope. A cry escaped before his second head trauma for the day sent him deep into unconsciousness.
...
She'd just started thinking about lunch when she heard the sounds of someone slipping on the stair. Morgana sighed. Does he have to fall every time? It was becoming quite tiresome. She briefly considered leaving, but the fool may actually have news of import seeing as he'd come during the day. Perhaps he'd even brought her some food. Maybe she should make that a standing order...
When there was no further noise and Agravaine failed to appear Morgana became impatient, growling softly as she stalked out the doorway.
"If you-"
The witch's tirade was cut off before it truly began when she spotted the bloody mess a short distance from her hovel. That was not her spy.
She approached with caution, knowing that where the servant was, the master often followed – though that may not be such a bad thing...
Merlin didn't even twitch, lying still as the dead. Is he dead? No, blood continued to stream from his injuries so his heart beat at the least.
Well, this was not what she had been expecting out of her afternoon.
She stared, completely at a loss. How had he even gotten these wounds? The cleft in his skull was ghastly, and his legs seemed to have been chewed on. The hand she could see was swollen at the wrist, and she wouldn't be surprised if there were more hurts hidden from view.
Should I just kill him?
Yes, she probably should. Though it felt a bit unsatisfactory, as if she would be showing mercy by doing so.
Just let him die, then.
Still, she wasn't too fond of having a corpse in front of her residence; he would have to go. But should she move him now, or after he passes? Dealing with the remains herself would be unsavory, not to mention inconvenient. Agravaine certainly couldn't be trusted to take care of it without managing to implicate himself – not that Arthur would be likely to notice anything untoward with Merlin out of the picture. A thrill ran through her at the thought.
No, better to take care of him now.
Once she got him back up the steps she could just use magic to blow him into an empty clearing or something and then hide her trail. She could even come back to watch Arthur or his knights make the discovery. A smirk lifted her lips as she bent to grasp Merlin's arm.
The contact caused a shock to run up her arm and she hastily snatched her hand back.
What was that?
Her magic seemed to be reaching for the servant now, and she felt herself all-but physically pulled closer. She had experienced this before in Merlin's presence, dismissing the sensation as – but surely she didn't have those feelings anymore... did she?
A hound barked nearby and, without conscious thought, Morgana dragged her enemy's body into her home and secured the door. Not that she needed to, particularly with the glamor concealing the hut from prying eyes. Pity it hadn't worked on Merlin since he'd been here before.
Recalling who it was in her arms, she dropped him on the dirt floor and sat at her table, staring at the human lump in consternation. This was a perfect opportunity, but she had nothing prepared! Possibly she could keep him alive until she decided what to do with him, but her previous effort in that arena had not gone well and she didn't fancy another visit from Emrys. Something about that invited further thought, but she forcibly put it from her mind.
She really should just kill him, or at least leave him to die, but after having saved the man on impulse she was finding it more difficult to ignore the part of her that still seemed to be drawn to him.
There was really only one thing she could think to do at this point.
...
The hunt for Morgana was resumed with increased zeal when Merlin – arm and legs bound with bandages made from his ruined shirt; bare chest showing extensive bruising – was found lying outside the gate when it was opened in the morning; a note tucked into the neckerchief wrapped around his head:
He shall wake on the morrow.
Take better care of him next time, brother.