Door 13: Frozen Pond

It was the perfect day for a hunt.

The sky was bright blue without a single cloud in sight, the air cold and crisp, the winds still. There was a thin layer of fresh snow on the forest ground, ideal for tracking game without slowing down their horses or the beaters. What was more, the hunting party consisted of all the Round Table knights and not a single annoying or loathsome courtier.

As it was, not even Merlin's insistent moping and grousing could ruin Arthur's mood today. The servant was walking with the beaters, keeping Arthur's favourite hound Cavall on the leash while scowling and muttering to himself, not bothering to make it a secret how much he detested hunting.

"Oh, do cheer up, Merlin," Arthur called out when he rode past, throwing his servant a bright grin. "Everyone's having a splendid time, except for you."

"Everyone must have had their brains frozen over, then, to enjoy traipsing through an icy forest and killing animals for sport," Merlin retorted, without a single ounce of respect.

The beaters – Algar and Elton – snickered, long used to Merlin's and Arthur's unusual dynamic, which only worked to improve Arthur's mood. No need to keep face with a crowd like this, no protocol to adhere to to appease some stuffy lord or visiting knight.

Gods, but he loved being out on a hunt!

As the morning sun rose higher and they advanced into the forest, Gwaine soon found some promising tracks between the bushes, which they were swift to follow. A half hour later, Cavall started pointing, having scented their quarry. The deer – a stag, Arthur was hoping – had to be nearby.

They had slowed their horses to a walk now, carefully swivelling their heads as they rode on, on the look-out for their prey and ready to start the chase as soon as they spotted the game.

But the deer remained yet out of sight, even as the trees thinned before them, the forest opening into a massive clearing with a large pond at its centre. It was surrounded on all sides by tall reeds and looked to be frozen over completely, the fresh snow glittering prettily on the surface.

"There," said Elyan, pointing to the opposite side of the pond. "A deer."

Arthur squinted against the blinding light reflecting off the snow, smiling when he spotted a vague fleck of brown in the distance. "You're right," he replied, impressed by Elyan's good sight. "That's our quarry."

The sound of a Cavall barking distracted Arthur just a moment later.

"No, Cavall!" Merlin exclaimed. "Stop that! No!"

Arthur turned his head just in time to see Cavall break away from Merlin, who fell back onto the snowy ground with a yelp, the leash slipping through his fingers. The hound was off in an instant, running right into the reeds and then across the ice, making straight towards the deer on the other side.

Arthur swore. "Merlin, you complete idiot!"

"I'm sorry!" said Merlin, blinking up at him from the ground. "He just started pulling so hard, I couldn't hold him!"

The other knights were already spurring on their horses, knowing they would have to start chasing now or lose the deer, which would surely be spooked by Cavall yapping and zipping at it from the pond.

With another curse on his lips, Arthur followed them, leaving Merlin and the beaters to make after their party on foot. But half-way around the pond, he could see that the deer had already taken off. It disappeared into the forest long before the hunting party made it to the other side, fleeing right into the part of the woods Arthur knew to be full of underbrush, too thick for their horses.

"We lost it," said Percival, when they had all pulled their mounts to a halt by the shore.

"We could have chased it around the pond if we had timed it right," Leon added regretfully. "Or herded it towards the rocks in the west."

"A right pity," sighed Elyan. "I think it was a young stag."

"You can all thank Merlin for that," Arthur growled, just as the very same arrived with Algar and Elton, all three panting in the cold air. "You're utterly useless," Arthur went on, now glaring at Merlin directly. "Seriously, is there anything you're capable of doing right? You can't even hold onto a leash!"

"He surprised me," Merlin replied, still catching his breath. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't do it on purpose, I swear!"

"Don't worry about it," said Lancelot, throwing Merlin an encouraging smile. "It happens."

"We can always track down some pheasants or hares on our way back," Gwaine added good-naturedly.

Arthur, however, was not in the mood for small game. "No," he decided. "The day is long yet. We'll find some other tracks to follow." He looked around, frowning. "Where is Cavall?"

Everyone craned their necks until at last, Elyan spotted him. "There, out on the pond," he said.

Arthur locked his feet in the stirrups and pushed himself up to get a better look over the tall reeds. Sure enough, Elyan's eagle eyes were spot-on once more. Out on the ice, Cavall was sniffing at something, perhaps a dead bird. Algar immediately started whistling, with Elton shouting a string of commands, but Cavall didn't react, too busy inspecting whatever it was he had found.

"Merlin!" Arthur ordered at last. "Go and fetch him!"

Merlin threw the pond a dubious look. "Me?"

"Now!" Arthur added, more sharply.

Fortunately, Merlin knew better than to argue after ruining their hunt. With a sigh, he shrugged off the equipment he was carrying, handing it to Elton, then fought his way through the thick reeds, slowly making his way out onto the ice.

"We should try the eastern part of the forest," Leon suggested as they waited for Merlin to return. "There's less underbrush there. We shot a stag there, too, just last month."

"That'll take us further from Camelot, though," Lancelot weighed in.

"So? The weather is clear," Arthur argued. "We have plenty of time until we need to head back. I'm not leaving these woods without something to show for it."

A crashing sound made them all jump.

"What was that?" Gwaine asked, looking about.

"Sounded like a tree fell over," said Leon.

Lancelot, however, had gone wide-eyed, his gaze fixed on the pond. "Merlin!" he exclaimed. "I can't see him out there!"

"Me neither," said Elyan, squinting.

Lancelot threw Arthur a worried look. "Do you think…? The frost, it's been mild… The ice…"

Arthur's stomach dropped. Immediately, he turned his horse around and started riding along the shore of the pond, struggling to look over the reeds. But just like Lancelot and Elyan, he saw no trace of Merlin or Cavall.

"Merlin!" he called out. "Merlin! Where are you? Get back here!"

The knights and beaters followed suit. They split up into both directions to circle the pond, calling out Merlin's name as they looked out onto the ice, their voices merging into an eerie cacophony of echoes across the clearing.

Arthur rode on swiftly, Gwaine and Elyan right behind him. His fingers had gone tight on the reins, his eyes never leaving the pond. The reeds, curse them, were too thick and tall, obscuring his view as he tried to catch a glimpse of Merlin's red neckerchief. But as far as he could see, there was no one on the ice. He couldn't make out a hole, either, though the glare of the sun made it even more difficult to see.

Why did I send him out there? Arthur thought, his heart thumping. Why didn't I think to check the ice first?

But he had been angry with Merlin, for ruining what had shaped up to be a great hunt; too angry to consider that it had only been frosting for a week, that the ice might yet be too thin to hold a grown man, even if it could hold a dog.

Arthur wondered how deep the pond was. Deep enough to drown, certainly, especially in dark, icy waters.

The thought made bile rise in Arthur's throat. "Merlin!" he called out hoarsely. "Merlin!"

He could only hope the others had found him.

But when they had finally made it to the other side of the pond, rejoining with the second group, Arthur was met with worried expressions.

"No sight of him," said Lancelot, looking pale.

"He must have broken through the ice," Leon added grimly.

Arthur thought he might throw up. Swallowing, he looked out onto the ice again, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest.

If Merlin had really fallen through the ice… it had been several minutes since the crashing sound…

Abruptly, Arthur got off his horse. "I'm going out there," he said.

"Sire, no!" Leon intercepted at once. "You can't! If Merlin really did fall in—"

"I don't care," Arthur cut him off, his eyes fixed on the ice. "I sent him out there. I'll go get him back."

"It's too dangerous," said Elyan.

"I don't care!" Arthur snapped, swiftly removing the bow and quiver from his back before letting the sword drop from his belt, making himself as light as possible. His pulse was loud in his ears now, the blood sent rushing with every frantic pump of his heart.

Merlin was out there… in the icy cold…

"What point is there if you fall in as well?" argued Leon. "We'll lose you both!"

"It's my fault he went out there," Arthur retorted, ridding himself of the last of his gear and making directly for the pond.

But as he stepped towards the reeds, Percival was suddenly blocking his path. He must have gotten off his horse without Arthur noticing it. "You can't go out there," he said, standing tall and wide, using his massive build to his advantage.

"Move, Sir Percival!" Arthur hissed.

They were wasting precious time! If Merlin really was in the water…

"I'll go," said Gwaine grimly, slipping off the saddle. "The others are right. You're the Prince, Arthur, you can't go out there."

"Yes, I'm the Prince! And Merlin is my servant, which makes him my responsibility," Arthur growled, still trying to push past Percival, but to no avail.

I need to get to Merlin, he thought. He fell in because of me!

"Percival!" he ordered at last, when the knight wouldn't budge. "Step aside, or I'll strip you of your knighthood!"

Unimpressed, Percival took a firm hold of Arthur's shoulders. "No," he said again.

Arthur let out a frustrated growl. Didn't they realise they were wasting time? Any second now, it might be too late, and Merlin lost forever to the pond!

"Unhand me!" he shouted, "I'm the Prince and I will be obeyed!"

"Lords," said a bright voice just then. "What's got him in such a fit all of a sudden?"

Arthur went slack in Percival's hold.

Merlin had stepped out of the thicket of reeds, carrying Cavall in his arms as if he were a young puppy and not a fully grown hunting dog, looking about with a bemused expression. "What's going on?" he added into the silence.

"Merlin!" Gwaine exclaimed, at last overcoming his stupor, and jumped forward in relief.

Merlin had just enough time to let go of Cavall before he was engulfed into a massive hug by Gwaine, soon mirrored by a relieved Lancelot and followed by a round of shoulder claps from Elyan and Leon as well as the beaters.

Percival, too, had let go of Arthur to welcome Merlin back, leaving Arthur to stand and stare dumbly at Merlin's confused face. His wildly thumping heart, it seemed, had yet to catch up with the fact that Merlin was alive and well and scratching at his neck as he realised he had worried them all.

"The crash?" he was saying. "Yes, I heard that. Must have been a tree, I think." He shrugged sheepishly. "I'm afraid I got lost in the reeds. Theyʼre like a forest." Grinning, he gestured at Arthur. "Luckily, this one shouted loudly enough to guide me back out." He paused. "What were you shouting about, anyway? You were being a right prat to Percival."

A sudden wave of heat prickled across Arthur's cheeks. "Nothing," he said quickly, crossing his arms and glaring at the knights and beaters for good measure, just daring them to say something that would earn them a week in the stocks, or a twoscore of lashes.

"Oh, he was being a massive prat," said Gwaine, brazenly ignoring Arthur's silent threats, as always. "Threw a right hissy fit, the princess, he was so upset."

The dungeons, Arthur thought. He'll rot in them.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Is he still angry about the deer and the dog?" He shook his head at Arthur. "I told you, I'm sorry."

"Must have been that, yes," said Gwaine and winked at Arthur.

Arthur sent him another glare, then turned to gather up his gear before swinging himself back into the saddle, ignoring the kind look he was getting from Lancelot as well as the knowing smiles from Leon and Elyan. "Stop your incessant chattering and get back onto your horses," he ordered. "It's going on noon already, and I'm not eating vegetable stew for dinner."

"Better do as His Royal Pratness says, everyone, before he has another fit," Merlin quipped, taking a hold of Cavallʼs leash as he flashed Arthur another teasing grin.

The sight of his smile, as endearing as it could be infuriating, made Arthur's throat grow tight.

Gods, but if Merlin had drowned in the pond…

But all he said was, "Merlin?"

Merlin threw him an innocent look. "Yes, sire?"

"Shut up."