Thank you for reading. I really hope that you are enjoying the story and will enjoy this new chapter. I am feeling a like better about writing the action now, but still not very happy with it. I really hope that its not off putting. I'm optimistic that things will get back on track soon and I might get back to updating once a week soon. The aim is still to finish the story by the end of the year. To do that I need to update more than twice a week. At the moment that is all I can manage, hopefully when the writing is a like easier that will increase.
Also thanks for the comment on the last chapter about breaks in the chapter when the the location of the story changes. I had used the breaks in the past , but haven't in a while and forgot to add them in the last chapter, where they would have been helpful. I'm sorry about that. It's to late now, but I have added them to the last chapter so that future readers will more easily follow the flow of the story.
Everyone's heads turned sharply towards the doors that had been thrown open all most at the exact moment. This spontaneous moment would have been very funny under any other less tense circumstances .
A young sandy blond haired knight rushed in, his dark eyes wide, his breath hard to catch. Showing not a hint of humour on his face at having witnessed the synchronicity that was just displayed.
"Fire...There's a fire..."
That was all that he was able to get out, but it was enough. Everyone ran towards the wide open door. Not quit believing what they were hearing. Needing to see it for themselves to really believe it was true. The saxons would not have started a fire to try and trap them. That was to low even for them. Not to mention reckless and basically suicidal. There was no way that they could control the fire, stop it from spreading to far and killing them as well. Fire was a dangerous and unpredictable weapon. The saxons did have a reputation for ruthlessness, but not of stupidity.
All of these thoughts, trying to rationalise what he had been told run through Arthur's head as he run with everyone else towards the wide open doors. It did not take him long smell the unquestionable acrid smell of burning, to then see the truth of the frightened knights words for himself. No rationalising was going change what he saw with his own eyes.
A large wall of fire surrounded the barn on all sides. It was almost as high as the trees. Making it impossible to see what was beyond the flames.
Feeling Gwen slip her hand into his and grip tightly Arthur tried to steady his breathing and try and calm his mind. He had to remain calm. He could already feel the eyes on him. Waiting for him to lead them, to get them out of this. He had no idea how he was going to do that. The weight of that and the weight of the smoke pressed down on him. Gwen's hand in his the only thing keeping him from sinking down under it.
Merlin stood a little to the side of the king and queen. Now that the initial shock of the situation was beginning to wear off he too like Arthur was trying to think of a way out of this. Unlike Arthur he didn't have the pressure of all other eyes being on him while he tried to think. The weight that weighed down the king did not trouble him. A quick glance towards the sky revealed, to his relief that there where clouds in the sky. Not grey or threating, but he could work with what he had. As subtly as he could manage he slowly began to take tentative steps backwards. Back inside the darkness of the barn, where the flash of gold in his eyes wouldn't be noticed.
Just as he stepped behind the last person he had too to be hidden from view, a sound, a gasp came from his right. Turing towards the sound like everyone else he watched as two figures appeared first in silhouette through the fire. Then they astonishingly seemed to be growing closer. Eventually they were clearly viable in the fire burning around them. They didn't seem to be affected by the fire at all. The heat nor the bright light seemed to bother them. They continued to walk forward at a steady pace. The flames did not touch them or move out of their path. The seemed to walk right through.
Slowly it became clear that the figures were Morgana and Mordred. This made everyone relax a little. Now what they were seeing made sense, it was magic.
As they had drawn closer to the barn and stood on top of a small hill Morgana and the others could look down at the barn and see a group of four saxons drawing towards it as well. Luke dismounted his horse first and raised his arms. A fire burst to life before the group blocking their path. It had been the first thing that came to mind and he was starting to realise that it was not the best idea. More years than he could remember had passed since he had been away from the isle of Avalon. The same amount of years since he had had the opportunity to use his magic in such a way. He got a little excited and was a little showy.
The saxons retreated at first, but as the fire did not grow they began to cautiously move around it. They where only able to take only a few steps forwards before the fire grew rapidly. Spreading out before them and upward. Spread out to encircle, protect the barn.
It took a few seconds for Morgana and Mordred to see that it was not a real fire. That would have used to much magic to create and control. Magic could not fully control a real fire. The fire had a Nature of its own. As almost everything in the world did. Magic could lead, guide but not control anything that had a mind, nature of its own. That is was not real did not diminish the feat that Luke was carrying out. He was choosing not to waste more power or energy than he needed to. His hand still held out before him he turned to his queen, giving her a silent reassurance that he could maintain the illusion while they reached the others. She didn't like leaving him here unprotected when his focus was taken up with something else. If he was found by the saxons she was worried that give the choice he would choice to maintain the illusion in favour of protecting himself. Morgana did not know him well, but she knew he was loyal and brave. A dangerous compensation in anyone.
Sensing her hesitation Mordred stepped forward and placed and gentle but firm hand on her back, pushing her forward. She didn't fight him, nor did she allow herself to be lead passively. Turning back to pulled her sword from the saddle of her horse. Patting it gently she turned back to the illusion of a circle of fire. With their weapons she and Mordred left their ally and horses and walked towards the barn
Quickly Arthur and Gwen moved forward to meet the new arrivals after their dramatic entrance. In rushed words, as few as were needed Morgana explained what was going on. That they needn't be afraid of the fire. Even so they all made their way back into the barn. Grateful that they once again had a little time to think over their next move. All they were disheartened to learn that they would not have further aid from the druids, that they were now in greater need of.
Just as Arthur and Gwen reached the middle of the barn and stopped, turning to face Morgana and Mordred who had followed closest behind them, a commotion grew back by the large door.
Leon whose normally warm face had been slowly growing paler since they had all started to make their way back to the barn. It had taken him a while to notice. Right up until they reached the barn and had a minute to catch their breath. When he first noticed it had just been a slight stinging on the back of his left leg. As it refused to go away and seemed to be getting worse, he twisted his head around and looked down. The back of his leg from his knee all the way down to his ankle was red, the higher up, closer to his knee the darker, dryer it was. It took a few seconds for him to understand what he was seeing. He couldn't pin point the moment when it could have happened. He didn't remember either of the two saxons that he had clashed swords with being able to land a real hit to the back of his leg. He couldn't deny that that was in fact what had happened as he looked down at the evidence. All of the running they had all just done must have cause it to bleed more, maybe even widened the cut, that had to be why there was so much blood. It was probably just a really small cut that he had caused to bleed more than normal.
Despite this rational he was still a little worried. When he was about steel himself to roll up the back of his trousers to get a real look, when the door burst open and they learned about the fire. His was the only head that didn't move in sync with everyone else when his fellow knight burst in. He moved forward with everyone else, trying to put the injury from his mind. Which was made harder by the fact he know limped slightly. Not wanting to open the wound further. His head was beginning to spin a little more now. From the loss of all that blood most likely. There was a strange rushing sound in his ear as well. That made it hard to understand what everyone was saying. The heat and the smell of smoke weren't doing much to help either. As Mordred and Morgana came into view he allowed himself to fall back against the wooden wall of the barn. Close his eyes and take in deep steady breathes to help ground himself. It did little to help.
As everyone around him a few seconds later moved to entre the barn again and find out what Mordred and Morgana had to tell them, he pushed himself off the wall to move with them. His head suddenly began to spin even more. All of the noise around him suddenly dropped away so all he could hear was his own heartbeat. He tried to take a step forward on unsteady legs but they gave out under him as he finally fainted from the blood lose and the adrenaline surge wore off.
Gwaine who was standing a little behind Leon, had noticed how pale he looked and was about to say something when the only slightly taller knight sunk to his knees. He was just able to half catch him before his head hit the ground.
"Leon..." He questioned as he tried to get a better hold on the unconscious knight.
He got no response, not that he really expected one, but it would have been reassuring. Lancelot appeared by their side suddenly and took a hold of Leon's other arm. He was quickly coming round now, but the told him not to try and move himself or speak till the could lay him down. Together they carried him into the barn. The other knights moving out of their way. Moving as quickly as they could towards the nearest makeshift bed that Gwen and Gaius had set up, they tried not to drop Leon. Who did as they instructed and didn't try and move himself. Which made their task easier, but it all so worried them. None of them would sit back and do nothing like this if they could help it.
Once Leon was laying down Arthur, who had quickly moved to their side helped to roll Leon onto his side so Gaius could get a look at the back of his leg and the wound. The lighting wasn't great but it was enough to tell that it was not a long wound as Leon expected and that the running, the strain that that had caused was the reason for most of the blood loss, all good signs. The wound unfortunately was in a very award location. Difficult to get at to clean and close the wound properly. There was also a very good chance that it would open again. Epically give the strain that the knights but on their bodies. A less active person would struggle to not tear open the wound simply going about their day without some care. Worse than that however was how deep the wound seemed to be.
Gwen was handing a bandage to him before had a chance for his concern to show on his face. Quickly hr tightly wrapped the wound, hoping to stem the bleeding further. The queen was not as knowledgeable as Gaius, but she knew enough to know that much blood from a narrow cut such as Leon's was not normal. He was hiding it, but she could tell the old was was worried too. Looking up she saw Merlin telling everyone to move back and give Leon some space to breath and those that could a chance to work to help him.
His blue eyes were wide open now as he was rolled back onto his back, but he still said nothing. Elyan stood by his head and patted his shoulder and said words of reassurance as he too moved away. His sister stayed by Leon's side as she now replaced his larger hand with hers in the same comforting gesture. He wanted to tell her that he was alright. Just needed the wound bandaged up and to lay down for a while, but he couldn't get the words out. Turning away from her he caught Morgana's gaze as she move over to join the king, queen and physician around the wounded knight.
She had stayed back, not wanting to get in the way. Gaius had dealt with many wounds over the years, he could deal with this too without the aid of magic. As she was glancing over as she and Mordred tried to answer the many questions that they were being asked she caught the scared eyes of Leon.
They had never been close. Knowing each other since they were young they had always seemed to be in opposition to each other. They never agreed. This had only gotten worse as they got older. Worse still as Morgana's magic was reveled. Despite this, sympathy for the injured and scared young man tugged at her heart. Looking to Gaius to get a better idea of the situation it was clear he looked to be worried too. Feeling her eyes on him most likely he turned to face her. Asking silently for her to join them.
As she reached them Arthur helped Leon turn onto his side again so she take a look at the wound. Reaching out she gentle touched the bandage that was now stained red. It was just as she expected. The wound was short but deep. Most likely caused by a stab rather than a slash. She also felt sure that most of the bleeding was caused by his having run numerous miles with the open wound. Like Gwen she knew far less than Gaius but she felt sure that the wound was deep enough that it had cut the main artery carrying blood through his leg. It could only be a nick, a tare or there would have been far more blood and she doubted Leon would have made it back here. Still it was a serious injury that needed to be treated quickly.
Focusing her magic more directly, with her eyes shut she could picture inside of the injured leg and tentatively began to repair the arity that she now knew for certain had in fact been nicked just a little. This didn't take long, but there was still the muscles and tendons that needed to be woven back together. This would take longer to fix fully with magic, longer still naturally. She was sure that Leon would want to be back on his feet and able to fight with his brothers in the battle to come. Slowly she took her hand away and opened her eyes, as Leon turned over onto his back again.
"The worst is healed." She looked at Leon as she spoke, seeing his whole body visibly relax as she spoke.
"Thank you." He said genuinely. Which coming from him visibly touched her.
Looking to Arthur now too she carried on. "I can close it with magic or Gaius can stich it and it will heal on its own." Leon nodded, but Morgana was sure he was only half listening to her now. "That will take time."
The knights eyes widened now. "Will I be able to fight."
"Yes, but not today or any other day for a while."
Both Leon and Arthur looked like they were about to speak so she carried on quickly. "I can heal it fully with magic, but that will take time."
"Time we may not have." Arthur said as held back the frustration that was growing.
"We have enough now." Gwen interjected. Her husband turned to her not understanding what she was saying. "We have cover now, the fire."
Arthur was reluctant to rely on the cover they now had, not knowing how long they could count on it. After a pause he turned to Morgana and asked her the question he and everyone else had wanted to since she and Mordred arrived.
"Not indefinitely, but a good while. Luke is highly skilled and powerful." She added the later information wanting to offer sure reassurance.
Merlin had been listening from a slight distance, but now that an idea had come to him he spoke up and moved to join the group. "Could he move the fire, have it spread."
It took everyone apart from Morgana and Gaius a few seconds to understand what it was Merlin was suggesting. Morgana answered that Luke could move the fire, make it look like it was spreading. It would take a great deal of power and focus, but it was possible. She most likely would have to help him to create an illusion that large and responsive.
"He could use it to manipulate the saxons back to the cove." Arthur stated what everyone else was thinking. "If we move out in front of the fire in the way Elynn suggested we could make sure they are all funnelled back where they came from." He didn't need to say what would come after that.
There was a lot that could go wrong. The plan was not perfect or fool prof, but it was the best that they had right now and it stood a good chance of working. The largest problem that they had right now was that the saxons where to spread out. This would solve that problem. It would give them back the advantage of knowing the battlefield better then their enemy. Having no alternative and trusting those that had had come up with the different parts of the strategy the king gave the word to move forward with the plan.
Merlin preempting what Arthur would say to him next he said that he felt he should stay here, at least until Morgana had healed Leon fully. Then he could see where he was best needed. Here watching over Gwen and Gaius or helping Morgana reach Luke where she could help create the illusion. This was what he felt he should do, where he would be most usefully. He understood how much of a strain using magic like that would be. They would need all the help they could get. He also felt that he should stay here. He didn't quit understand why, he felt that way, but the thought of leaving Gwen and Gaius alone made him feel guilty. Mostly he assumed because of how much he wanted to go with Morgana. That he would have to lie to Gwen about why he was abandoning. Arthur thanked him as he patter his shoulder and moved to to his men what their next move was going to be.
As the knights and druids made to leave Arthur moved towards his sister, pulling her arm gently he guided her to a quiet corner. He then surprised her by thanking her and pulling her into a hug. It took Morgana a few second to understand exactly what he was thanking her for. She was sure that Gwen had not told him about the baby or anyone else for that matter. On some level he must know though as the father. He spent more time with her than anyone else. Hugging back she told him she promised that she would make sure their were safe.
The king then spoke with his wife, trying to not show how scared they were. He kissed her check and she lightly kissed his lips.
Finally he spoke with Merlin just before he left the barn after everyone else. "Take care of them."
"I promise." He affirmed as he placed a hand on his king and friends shoulder.
Arthur returned the gesture briefly, patting Merlin's shoulder rapidly as he avoided looking him in the eye. For fear of showing any emotion.
With the barn now mostly empty those left started to go about their jobs. Merlin got more bandages as Gaius cleaned the wound. Leon rolled on to his side, taking in deep breaths as he began to steady his mind and calm down knowing that this should be over with soon. Morgana pulled a chair to the side of the makeshift bed. Also taking in deep breaths as she too cleared her mind so she could focus on the task at hand. Gwen went to get a drink of water and an apple for Leon.
A sharp shooting pain like a hot needle going right though her abdomen causing her to almost dross the metal cup of water.
"Are you all right." Merlin asked suddenly now standing next to her.
Gwen nodded, as she took in a deep breath and let the pain pass. Merlin didn't look convinced, but didn't have the chance to say anything as she swiftly walked away from him and back to the others. She was keeping something from him and it made him worry. He caught Morgana's gaze as he watched Gwen walk away. She seemed to be concerned for Gwen as well. That was a little reassuring and a little frightening.
Once again thank you for reading. Hope that you liked it. Any help that you can give about writing action would be greatly appreciated.
I did the most basic research (Google attires in legs) into Leon's injury, So I have no idea how much they would have known about arteries back then. I doubt it, but I was referring to the popliteal artery here so that it would make more sense to anyone that knows about medicine and biology.
As always any comments, feedback or ideas that you have are very welcome.
