Chapter 6 [Somewhere Else….]

Dark Overcast blotted out Sol and sky above. Strong winds whistled through Trees' canopies. Branches swayed. Leaves broke away and blew across forested stretches. Storm's fury blew Downpour's torrent sideways. Chill's ice froze across the forest's floor and hillside.

And that's not to say what was going on said hill's cave….

A hooded figure crawled into a miniscule opening. (Pardon, Reader, said expanse qualified more as 'large recess' than small cave.) Rain dripped against the opening. It will have to do.

We take what is provided, Child. Now, bring the boy in. Warm him with a fire.

The figure shook its hooded head. It dragged a soaked Merlin under cover. The things I do! Boy is more trouble than he is worth! She set him down in the most secure spot. Vibes strummed sensitivity. Now who?

Will crawled in as fast as he could manage. "Wet it is!" He rubbed his hands together. Breath blew on them trying to warm them. "MERLIN?" He rushed to his friend's side. "What did you do now? You just HAD TO help Pendragon again? Did you not?" He threw his hands up in the air.

Sarcastic snort spurted from under her hood. "You obviously do not know him! That is what Merlin does! Get the wood piled. Then I can start the fire."

Will shook his head. "With what? I see no torch!" Despite Resentment's and Reservations' protestations in his mind, he found dry tinder and small wood pieces in the corner. "These are dry?"

"The goddess wishes for them to be here." Her eyes narrowed under the hood. "Is everyone in that hopeless hamlet as brain addled as you, Boy? He needs warmth! DO IT NOW!" She pointed at the woodpile.

"I KNOW THAT!" Will narrowed his eyes. "I was Merlin's best friend growing up! I DIED FOR HIM!" He grabbed at pieces of wood. "Here is a good place." He piled tinder and small branches in an secure area.

"Better." Canary flashed under the hood. Teine!

Smoke and then flames spurted from wooden pile. Heat pressed against Chill's conditions. Steam billowed and dissipated above Merlin's prone form. Will's clothes dried in similar fashion.

"Thank you for that at least." Will set two more sticks onto the fire. "You have magic?"

"Obviously." Her fingers pressed down on his left shoulder and collar bone. "Slàn leat!"

Glow swept across Merlin. Scar faded and disappeared from his left shoulder. Groans whispered past his lips. Fingers dug into dirt underneath them. Spasms tensed and quaked him for several heartbeats. Breaths rasped and spurted in short bursts. Then, he slumped back onto the ground again. His eyes slitted open. "Wh…What?"

Her fingers touched his forehead. "Your fever is down. Another spell brought Reyna's work to a better point, Merlin. You cannot help but get into trouble? Can you?" Snide snigger lilted from under the hood.

His eyes blinked back into focus. "That voice! I…I know it!" He efforted his head to the right. "Can't be! Will?"

"Yeah. You just cannot stay out of trouble. You serve Pendragon and the nobles. You have to hide your magic? You heard him after the battle. Right?" A frown twisted Will's face. "Well. Just stay down and heal. Bloody rot! If I knew where your Mum was, I'd bring her! She'd make you heal and stay put!"

"I can heal him." She looked over his wound. "I have to admit that he does know you, Merlin."

"Will and I…grew up together." Merlin tried to get up. Pain stabbed through his chest. He slumped back.

"Will you just stay down?" Will narrowed his eyes. "You are just about dead!"

"You…are. She is. I…must be." Merlin glared at the rock overhead. Regrets and Denial pressed in on him. "So…much I have to do. Camelot. Arthur…I…" He squinted at her. "Bet you are enjoying this."

"Me? You got in my way!" Wry cough puffed from her lips. Nimue tugged her hood off. Infuriating smirk baited him. "Nay. You tried to kill me. You almost did it. The lightning was impressive." Her eyes rolled. "I underestimated you."

"I'd…do it again. You tried…to kill Gaius." Merlin narrowed his eyes. Argument formulated within his head. "You…tried to kill…Arthur. You…tried to poison me."

She shook her head. "You are so infuriating!" Exasperation pushed another impatient sigh from her. "Oh very well! Once again…you took the rabbit's foot. The curse went to your mother. You offered yourself in her place. Gaius offered himself in your place." A sniff escaped her nose. "You are as bad as Uther. You cannot accept the consequences of anything!"

Will rolled his eyes. "Lady, are you a priestess?" He jumped to his feet. "Pardon! I!"

"Will, stop. She…"

"Well! Well! There is hope for you yet, William." Sauciness sparked in her eyes. "He shows respect. What happened to you, Merlin?"

"What happened to me? Maybe I do not like the fact you tried to destroy the kingdom! Or hurt my friends?" Merlin rebutted. Anger reddened his face.

"Maybe, Merlin, you use your magic for the wrong things! You use your magic for someone who would destroy you! ARTHUR PENDRAGON DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!" Will threw his hands up in the air. "WILL YOU GET THAT THROUGH THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS? I HEARD HIM AFTER MY FUNERAL! HE HATES YOUR MAGIC!"

"Nope. He just does not understand it. I will get him to do it." Merlin shook his head. "I stopped the Cawdorians and Mercians from winning. I saved Prince Kay from that big thug. Everyone…"

Will bowed his head. "Merlin." He smacked his hand against the wall. "OW! BLOODY HELL!" He shook his hand.

"Feel better now?" Sarcasm raised Merlin's eyebrow.

"NAY!" Will slapped Merlin's right arm. "That lady who tried to heal you! THEY THINK SHE'S YOU! They. Are. Going. To. Burn. Her. At. The. STAKE!"

"OW!" Merlin winced. "Burn…what?" He turned to her. "What?"

"Oh? You do not know?" Snigger spurted from her. "After your display, those fools were affected all right! But not to praise or to be grateful!" She sucked in a composing breath. "They wanted you! Lady Reyna hid you! Her husband worked with Uther, his rabid dog—Witch Hunter—and that brat Prince Kay! She rots in a prison cell. The stake is ready for her, Merlin! YOU EXPOSED HER! SHE'S DYING FOR YOU! AS WITH THAT MAID'S FATHER! AS ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME! AS HAPPENED TO YOUR FRIEND HERE! UTHER FORCED RODOR TO ALLOW IT!" She narrowed her eyes at Merlin. "Watch." Her hand waved in the air.

Mists formed into a portal. Images flashed across it….

"The coward tried to stab me in the back. Nothing more. Some churl took the blow." Kay shrugged off the event. "I'd have had words with Meleagant if Father had let me…."

"And this…."

Arthur smacked the desk. Impatience smoldered within him. Where is he? I TOLD HIM TO STAY OFF THE FIELD! He shook his head. "I will never get ready like this! I need him right now! Idiot… He just cannot do what he is told!"

"And this…"

"Do I…what?" Arthur narrowed his eyes. "I need to prepare for our meeting later! My servant decides to go somewhere! I told him not to!"

"And you always do what you are told?" Radegund shook her head. "Aye. I would want reasons as well. I too would want to know why one of my sisters defied an order. There are valid reasons. Merlin has one." She curled her lip at him. Irony played a game with them. He really has no idea! "He saved your rear baggage train." Necessity demanded the lie….

…well more like downplaying Truth's feat….

"Merlin? Saved the rear baggage…? HAH!" Harsh cough escaped from Arthur's mouth. "Pardon me. You do not know him, Milady."

Her fingers tapped Impatience's dance across the table to her left. "I realize you are distraught, Prince. Do not presume to make light of my observations. No man laughs at an Amazon much less a Queen! I know what I saw! It is not the first time I have seen Merlin fight on Camelot's behalf either!" She shook her head. "And yet you speak of him like this?"

Indignity frothed in his heart. Diplomacy clamped his mouth shut. "Lady, you do not see his clumsiness. Perhaps you'd get an answer for the taverns? Or going off to pick flowers and herbs instead of seeing to my needs around the household!" He pointed at the mess. "Look at this!"

"I am very well aware. Lower. Your. Voice. Now!" Disrespect frayed Patience to the breaking point. Anger's smolder sparked. Threat hissed even as Diplomacy attempted restraint. "I am trying to remember the need for diplomacy! Just know that I have sent several warriors to look for the missing. King Rodor has knights and his healer, Britomart, looking as well! Merlin is among those missing warriors! Aye. I said warrior. My best healer, Elena, accompanies them. Perhaps, upon her return, you might ask her of Merlin's true qualities? She regaled me with his feats. I saw for myself last season against raiders in my domains. I saw out there again!" Deep sigh punctuated her clarification. "Aye. He saved your rear baggage. Unlike the rest of you men, Merlin fought alongside my sisters and me! Willingly! He shed blood beside us! WILLINGLY! I lent him a shield." She reached back into the passage.

Nicked Up Shield, Cracked Shield, and Bloodied Neckerchief raised up in her hands.

"And then there is Uther's so-called *appreciation*…" She waved her hand again.

"Arthur, that boy is but a servant! It is a terrible shame that he got involved! Still, he defied orders to do so! You are not responsible for his recklessness! Forget about it! Rodor and she have search parties out. I would not waste our knights for a servant!" Uther turned his nose up. "We'll find someone to clean this up. Get dressed!" He stalked out and down the passage.

"My! My! Such ingratitude!" Pained sigh escaped her lips. "Oh, I believe you will have *quite the reception* when they do find you, Merlin. Even with Lady Reyna's and my healing spells, you will require rest. You should have lost your arm."

"Thank you, Lady! I have been TRYING TO TELL HIM THAT!" Will frowned. "Pendragon only wants someone to muck out his stables and wipe his arse! He is a typical noble!"

"True." She conceded that point. "Merlin, however, listens too much to Gaius. Well now, I think he will see a difference. It is time."

"Time? Time for what?" Merlin strained himself to try and sit up again.

"Time for you to go back of course!" Her hand flicked a saucy wave at him.

"Go back….?" A bright light dazzled Merlin. He felt himself moving even as he stayed still.

Everything shifted yet again it seemed….