A/N: I don't own Merlin. That was the luck of the BBC.
Sorry for the slight delay, I've had quite a busy week that left no time for writing and editing. This chapter speeds through a lot of elements, because I have a rough idea of what I want to happen in the next chapters, and I needed to get there by the end of this one. It's taken me a while to write as I had four different sections that needed linking, and it needed to flow as well.
I can tell you that one person so far has guessed the title correctly, and some of you are so close!
Arthur and the knights spent the rest of their time in Redferran alternating between keeping Merlin company, planning their journey back to Camelot, and catching up on much needed food and sleep. Merlin was looking slightly better, his fever had decreased somewhat, though he was still white as a sheet, the infection had not fully gone away and as best as he tried to hide it, the pain remedy had been wearing off and he was beginning to fully feel the effects of his time spent with Drin now he was more alert. Petch had offered to make more for Merlin straightaway, using the last of the ingredients in his cupboards, but he'd declined, opting to take as large a dose a possible when they set off for Camelot. Something told him that a day's ride was not going to be pleasant.
The group had stayed in Redferran all day and through to the next morning, indebted to the support of the villagers. Even though they were not ruled by Arthur, they'd willingly offered up their homes to the outsiders; making up spare beds and being sure to provide them with food as if they were their own family. They'd had their shirts mended by some of the women, as most of them had been missing large portions, used to make Merlin's makeshift bandages.
Katherine's husband had given Merlin a fresh shirt, which had been far too large, hanging loosely off of his thin frame. He'd accepted it with gratitude, though he was lamenting the loss of his beloved tunic, jacket and neckerchief in Drin's tower. He'd also been patched up to the best of Petch's abilities, and informed that he'd probably need stitches when he arrived in Camelot, though Merlin was more than certain that Gaius would go over him three or four times to make sure he would be completely healed.
It was barely dawn when Petch had taken Arthur outside to discuss travel arrangements, the sky that familiar blend of colours that signified the beginning of the day, and Arthur couldn't believe that only one night had passed since Merlin's latest scare.
"I imagine you'll be needing some horses for your journey home. We've got none, but there's a large farm that'll be able to spare some down the road." Petch signalled to a boy no more than eight to come over. "Jonathan, I've got a deal for you."
"Yes, Mr Petch?" He asked politely.
"If you go down to Grotesby and ask Mr Howard at the big farm if he could bring five horses for me, I'll give you a penny and I won't tell your mother I saw you playing in that barn instead of completing those chores of yours." Jonathan nodded keenly and ran off behind the houses.
"That's good of you, but I don't have-" Arthur started, but once more Petch waved him off, his hospitality shining through.
"I'm calling in a favour. John Howard was passing through the village on his way home from one of the nearby cities when he was struck with a terrible fever. I helped him through it, even though, like you, he had little money on him. He told me if I ever needed a favour, he was the man to call, and I'm not going to be around for much longer, so it seems like a good time to call it in."
"Thank you Petch. Honestly. I don't what we would've done without you." Arthur gave him a sincere smile.
"Just take care of him, ok? He's a good lad, and I can see how much he means to you, to all of you. Don't let the beliefs your father held ruin your friendship."
"I won't. But I'm worried I've already ruined it myself." The king grimaced, feeling ever so foolish for doubting Merlin and his motives.
"Then you'll make up for it. I believe in you Arthur." Petch smiled, a fatherly warmness unfamiliar to Arthur emanating from him.
"If there's anything me or my knights or Camelot can do for you, don't ever hesitate to let us know."
"That's a very kind offer, your majesty." Petch smiled. "I'll be sure contact you, god forbid I should ever need to."
"Mr Petch! They're here!" Jonathan bounded up to the physician, pointing at the men leading a number of horses into the village.
"Well I made a promise, didn't I?" Petch deliberately rummaged in his pocket for a few moments, before pulling out a worn penny, which he handed to the boy, who took it eagerly but still politely.
"Thank you sir." The boy's grin was so full of mischief it reminded Arthur of Merlin when he'd first arrived at Camelot.
"Petch." A bearded man, presumedly Mr Howard, led a group of farm workers, each one of them leading a horse, a large grin coating his face.
"John." Petch countered, shaking the man's hand. "I'm grateful you could be of assistance."
"I have to admit, I am curious as what you intend to do with five horses." He stopped once he had clapped eyes on Arthur, the king now beginning to feel uncomfortable with the fact people looked at him like he had three heads.
"John Howard, let me introduce you to King Arthur of Camelot." Petch moved to side, acquainting the two men.
"Your majesty?" John gaped, adjusting his shirt and straightening his hat.
"Thank you ever so much for this, we've found ourselves notably short of transportation." Arthur nodded, assessing the horses as the men tied them to posts on the outskirts of the village.
"What brings you so far from Camelot?" He enquired bemusedly.
"An unfortunate run in with our friend Drin." Petch sighed. "He's at it again John. Angling for Arthur's throne, no less."
"That fool. He dreams of rule, yet I doubt he'd know the first thing about presiding over a kingdom." John shook his head, rubbing at his eyes. "The horses are for you and your men?"
"They are. We've been away from Camelot far too long, and are eager to return home. Are they ready to ride?"
"Yes they should be, I'm sure they're fit enough to undertake a day's ride to Camelot."
"Then I believe we should leave while it's still early. Leon?" Arthur called out to his knight, who was currently finishing a bowl of porridge outside with the woman whose house he'd been staying in. "Can you fetch everyone?" Leon replied with an affirmation, making sure to eat every last spoonful inside his bowl. He then headed inside the house that Gwaine was sleeping in, realising he'd be the hardest to wake, having spent most of his time with Merlin, despite the protests of the other knights. It was something they knew of old - a tired Gwaine was not a happy Gwaine.
"I'll go get Merlin." Arthur left Petch and John to catch up, heading inside the physician's house.
Merlin was sat up on his bed, sipping some kind of concoction out of a wooden cup. He greeted Arthur was a smile, before grimacing once more.
"Pain medication, tastes absolutely awful. Why can't any of these ever taste like strawberries?"
"Then how would physicians get their kicks?" Arthur smiled. "Petch organised some horses for us, are you ready to go?" His smile dropped to a frown when he noticed how tense Merlin still was, not to mention pale and sluggish in his movements.
"As I'll ever be. Give me a hand?" Arthur helped him off the bed, then tightened his grip as Merlin wobbled, his legs still pretty unstable.
Arthur shot him a look, a very pointed 'I told you so', and Merlin returned his look with one that said 'I'm fine'. Arthur relented and let Merlin walk alone, staying closer to him than normal should his legs give out. Merlin was determined to walk outside Petch's house without Arthur's assistance, despite the fact he was wincing as the movement was tugging on his bandaged wounds, and prayed Petch's remedy would kick in soon.
Leon, Elyan, Percival and a very grumpy looking Gwaine were gathered by Petch and the horses, making light conversation about the clear skies, followed by mumblings of 'too bloody early' from a certain dark haired knight.
Gwaine made to help Merlin, but Arthur met his eyes, giving him a slight shake of his head. He knew Merlin hated being treated as if he were an invalid, and as much as the warlock needed help, Arthur would let him do as much as he could on his own.
"Everyone ready?" Arthur noted the supplies they were now carrying with them, namely full flasks of water and packs with small offerings of various foodstuffs. With luck they'd reach Camelot by nightfall, and have no need to make another camp.
"I think so sire. The horses are ready, all that's needed now is to set off." Leon affirmed, having double checked everything in his usual efficiency.
"There's only five horses." Merlin counted aloud, unaware of why there was no steed for him.
"Yes, one for everyone except you. You're not riding alone." Merlin started to protest, but Arthur simply held his hand up. "You're not riding alone Merlin, end of discussion." The last thing the King needed was for Merlin to fall from a horse and make himself worse.
"Fine. Who am I riding with?" Merlin sighed wearily.
"You can ride with me." Gwaine offered, and Merlin inwardly rolled his eyes. Now his journey was not only going to be physically painful, he'd have Gwaine's tales in his ear until they were home.
Everyone bar Arthur mounted their horses, Gwaine pulling Merlin up as gently as he could, though it still sent jolts of pain through the injured warlock's weakened muscles, protesting the action.
"Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I fear without you and your community's kindness, we would not be returning home as six." Arthur thanked Petch, gratitude teeming off him.
"You are welcome, your majesty." The physician gave a small bow. "Now off with you, or you'll not beat the night." Arthur mounted his horse, giving Petch one more smile, before leading his knights and faithful servant away from Redferran and finally towards Camelot.
The journey was slow at first, none wanting to set a pace that would further disrupt Merlin's injuries, until it was decided that they had to speed up, not wanting to spend yet another cold night in these confounded woods. Merlin had kept mostly silent, biting his lip every so often so as not to cry out, not wanting to further worry Arthur and the knights, though Gwaine knew something wasn't quite right as he could feel Merlin tense up every few moments. He'd tried to keep the boy distracted, telling him of the time he'd escaped from a small village like Redferran, after running up a bar bill so high it'd make the chancellor blush. However the mood was still odd, the ride so reminiscent of the one they undertook just before their capture.
"Sire, may I enquire as to something?" Leon pulled his horse up next to Arthur's, the two trailing at the end of the group, and he kept his voice low, unwilling for the rest of his knights to hear their conversation.
"Of course." Arthur nodded.
"What is to happen to Merlin when we return to Camelot?" Leon's tone was difficult to judge.
He'd been a knight for a long time, spending most of his servitude under Uther and the Purge. His views on magic had been so twisted in recent years he was unsure as to what to believe anymore. He'd been saved by druids, and the man closest to his king had been revealed to have very benevolent magic. However, he'd seen the evil that could come from spells and enchantments, and Leon also knew the law. Merlin's continued existence in Camelot would defy so many set laws from Arthur's father's days.
"I don't know Leon. I really don't know." Arthur sighed. "The only thing I can say is that I am going to protect him at all costs. I hope you do not hold this against me." He admitted, never wanting to appear weak, and worrying that one of his family's longest serving knights would deem him so for choosing to overlook his servant's abilities.
"Of course not sire. Whilst I will admit the adjustment has been rather… difficult, I can see the boy means you no ill, and I am willing to trust him." Leon nodded, lifting a weight from Arthur's chest. "If I may Arthur, I believe you are much more broadly-minded than your father ever was."
"I'm still a fool for ever doubting him Leon. Trust me on that."
"I also take it we are to keep our knowledge under wraps?" Leon stated the obvious, knowing full well what would happen if they didn't.
"Absolutely." Arthur nodded sternly. "If word gets out, it could cause a panic, and it'd only serve to put a target on Merlin's forehead."
The ride continued to pass in light chatter and fairly peaceful for the next couples of hours. That was until Percival, who'd been leading the group for some time, held up a hand, causing everyone to promptly stop. In the distance they could hear the unmistakable sound of voices and horses, headed straight towards them.
"This part of the woods, could be anyone." Elyan breathed.
The hooves were getting louder, the company fast approaching. Arthur leapt from his horse, sword in hand, ready to face whatever was coming their way. He turned his head to look at Gwaine, who was still clutching onto Merlin, ensuring the boy would not fall.
"Gwaine, whatever happens, you make sure that Merlin gets to safety, you hear?"
"Yes sire." Gwaine nodded, between them a mutual understanding and concern for Merlin.
Closer and closer, the sound of hooves and voices carrying through the mist, Arthur and his fellow knights stood protectively in front of Gwaine and Merlin, intending to take down any man who stood in their way.
We're getting close to the end! Only two more chapters left, eek!