A/N:

I shall only say sorry once this time even though I feel like typing it about twenty times again. However, because I know I have been severely lax in my updating you get two chapters for the price of one!

Enjoy!

Ilandrae

Disclaimer: I still have no ownership over Merlin whatsoever

CHAPTER 8 – A TERRIBLE TALE

Camelot Throne Room

A Terrible Tale

The throne room of Camelot:

"No," Merlin whispered as he felt the cold hand of dread clutch his heart. Staring at the glowing sphere in Mel's outstretched hand his eyes then slowly made their way to Mel's green gaze filled with fear, desperation and the unshed tears she was holding at bay.

"No!" Merlin roared and lurched to his feet. He strode to Mel and grasped her wrist leading her back out the doors.

"Tell me what happened," he said gruffly as he walked as fast as he could without dragging Mel, flashes of the village in ruins and newfound friends dead on the ground running through his mind. He felt the girl shaking in his grip, from fear or exhaustion he couldn't tell.

"Merlin," Percival called from behind him, "what's going on?" hurried footsteps followed them but he did not slow his breakneck pace.

"What happened Mel, tell me" Merlin ordered as Percival, Leon, and Gwen caught up.

She started to babble, an obvious tremor in her voice "Afteryoulefttheballsstartedglowingandandthenthebandits-"

Merlin, realising that his angry walk was probably scaring her more, stopped and turned her to face him.

The others, who were still hurrying behind, almost ran into him the stop had been so sudden. Kneeling in front Mel he held her shoulders, "Take a deep breath," he said gently doing his best to mask his own fear and anger with a façade of calm kindness. She obeyed and Merlin prompted once more "Now start again…slower."

She started again and though there was still a tremor in her voice it was stronger, surer.

"About two hours after you left, dad was cleaning up the tavern after the night and just as we finished we saw that the balls were glowing, the ones that you said would warn us if someone was trying to harm the village?"

Merin nodded in understanding, trying not to let the fear that was making his heart pound show on his face.

"Dad went to warn everyone but as we were going from house to house." She hesitated no doubt remembering the dreadful moment. "They came" it was barely a whisper

"Who came Mel," Merlin said gently though he already knew.

"The bandits… the ones that you chased out of town the first two years you came." The girl started to talk faster and faster until the words just seemed to tumble out of her mouth.

"Dad told me to run, to do as you said and come for help. So, I ran. back to the tavern. The men… they tried to grab me, but I just kept going." She looked at him, bottom lip trembling and horror in her eyes. "What they were doing Emrys… the things I saw… it was awful. Sam the tanner… he's dead…his wife too. I saw them taking little Sin away… she was screaming and screaming but I just kept going. The baker, the new seamstress, Old Mr and Mrs Hale, they're all dead. I saw it all… Just as I got the tavern one of them grabbed me." She showed them her wrist with a great purple bruised from where the man had gripped her. "I struggled and tried to escape but he just laughed." Her next sentence was said in a grim tone "Then he screamed when I stabbed him in the thigh. With the knife you gave me for my birthday last year"

Merlin could almost feel the judging stare that Gwen was giving him.

"He let go and I ran to the back got on the pony and rode here. I didn't stop. Then the guards said you were here, and they tried to stop me but… we need you Emrys! They're so angry about you chasing them out two years ago, there's twice as many of them and Denarag is twice as cruel. I heard them say that they're going to kill everyone, one by one and the way they were talking… they won't be quick deaths…"

Merlin had heard enough, more than enough.

"Stay here Mel, Gwen will care-"

"NO!" Mel yelled "I'm coming too. It's my home!"

Merlin sighed; he'd known her well enough to know that there was no changing her mind "Fine-"

"Merlin" Leon admonished "You can't take a little girl into a battle"

"You try and stop her" Merlin said knowing that he couldn't

"And I think you'll find I can handle myself knight" she somehow managed to turn the title into an insult and even Merlin was a little impressed. Leon looked at her again, just seeming to notice the sheathed knife at her waist, about a hand and a half long, hilt stained in dried blood.

"Merlin smiled grimly "Trust me Leon, she can. I trained her myself" for some reason the statement didn't reassure the knight as Merlin thought it would. Then he realised that the last time they really knew each other the thought of Merlin training anyone would have been terrifying. And not in a good way.

Shrugging off the stray thought, and in stark contrast to the current situation, he couldn't help a little smile creeping into his voice as he said "Hey Mel, want to ride a real horse?"

Similarly, despite the grim situation, Mel's eyes lit up "A real horse? You think I'm ready?"

"Well you think you're ready by the way you sneak in a ride of Bay when you think I'm not looking" she looked to her feet, abashed, but Merlin powered on taking off down the corridor once more "No time for that now. Gwen I'm taking a horse. I'll pay for it later"

Not waiting for the answer, they headed for the stables, Merlin nearly dragging Mel behind him.

The stable boy took one look at Merlin's furious face and hurriedly found somewhere else to be.

Merlin glanced around, seeking for a suitable mount for Mel, but then saw the girl approaching a stall and staring its occupant in wonder.

Merlin followed and as he spied the beautiful sorrel stallion inside, he smiled. His reddish-brown coat was bright and though he was small for a stallion Merlin could see a wicked gleam in his eyes, and gleam which Merlin thought he'd seen in Mel's own on more than one occasion.

"Now there" Merlin whispered "Is a steed worthy of a place in the royal stables" the stallion tossed his head as if in agreement.

"He's beautiful" Mel whispered unable to tear her eyes away

"Decision made then, let's get going, we are in a hurry"

He unbolted the stall to Mel's surprised "What? You can't mean-"

"You can't let a ten-year-old girl ride a fully grown palace horse Merlin" Leon interrupted, "She couldn't possibly do it!"

Before Merlin could reply with a retort of his own, Leon was faced with said 10-year old girl. Arms crossed she stared down the knight who was saddling his own horse "Who are you to say what I can and can't do!"

Leon paused, admittedly a little taken aback "It's just…"

"She's the one that rode past us when we went to see the sorc- er, I mean Merlin. She looked like she'd been born in the saddle"

Leon grumbled, unable to find another argument.

Merlin pulled the last strap tight on Mel's saddle "There you go Mel. Unless you want to ride with me for a bit so you can get some rest?"

"Oh no" was the answer "I want to ride"

"Well" Percival wandered over "You couldn't have picked a finer mount. He's faster than any war horse but all the young knights are put off by his smallness. But Firestreak will be perfect for you."

As the stallion neighed, tossing his head in anger Merlin scoffed, "No it's not"

Excuse me?" Percival took a step back

"That's not his name" Merlin took a moment to look into the horse's eyes "Animal's aren't given names but born with them. It's so ingrained in who they are, the name they are given is usually the name they already have. But this boy's name is not Firestreak. It's Comet."

Comet tossed his head finally someone figured it out!

Merlin smiled smugly at Percival "Close but not quite. No wonder he was grumpy, being called Firestreak for so long"

"I feel" Leon said as he and Percival started to lead their horses out "that this journey is going to be very different to the others we have been on"

Merlin then realised what Percival and Leon were doing.

"Why did you saddle your horses?"

"We're coming with you Merlin" Leon said

"Why?" Merlin asked as he assisted Mel into her saddle

"We can't just stand by when a village is attacked. We are knights of Camelot"

"Yes" Merlin said as he mounted his own horse, a large bay mare named for her coat "you're all tinheaded clotpoles. Try and keep up" and with that he rode out and through the town, realising how much time they had wasted.

He glanced back and saw Mel her face filled with pure joy as Comet raced beneath her. She sat perfectly and Merlin knew he wouldn't have to worry about her riding skills.

What he was worrying about, was the village he had called his home for the last four years. Those bandits were going to pay.

The Queen's Quarters

"Mother please!" Art begged. "All my life I've heard stories about Father, about Merlin! Even you said they were more like brothers!"

Art paced the Queens study while his mother sat at her desk staring forlornly out the window to the stables. Where no doubt Merlin and the knights were readying the horses.

Art's voice rose as he tried to get her to understand, hells to even look at him and see his distress, "Everyone thought he was dead and now he's back! Other than you he is probably the person who really knew Father best. Now he's leaving again and I haven't even gotten to talk to him yet!"

Merlin had stormed off with that village girl before Art could even say a word. Then his mother had only sent Leon and Percival after them, saying in no uncertain terms that they were to assist them in whatever they were doing and tell no one of their journey, before leading the suddenly very vocal Art to her study.

All Art could think about was Merlin, long thought dead and now suddenly back from the grave and going on another adventure. And no matter how much Art was pleading with his mother, she was not allowing him to go with them.

"Art I cannot allow you to go with them. You know that," The Queen still did not look at her son.

"But I've been on patrols with the knights, Sir Leon said my sword work is very advanced for my age and I am one of the best riders as well!" he couldn't even imagine just staying here while they went off "Besides Mother, I have other talents as you know. Merlin might be the only person in Camelot who would understand! Who can help!"

"I said no Arthur!" his mother said sternly still staring out that stupid window, "I cannot send you after them unprotected and I will not send a patrol after the sorcerer who just saved the entire city. We will need all the knights we can spare to rebuild what has been destroyed and that is final! Go! You have training!"

"FINE!" Art yelled storming from the room. His mind was whirling. He'd never intentionally disobeyed his mother, but he couldn't escape the feeling in the pit of his stomach. He just knew he had to go after Merlin. He had to find answers.

So, he ignored the path that would take him to the training grounds… he knew what he must do.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Gwen had gritted her teeth during the entire argument with Art. She hadn't been able to look at her son, who she knew to be furious, instead keeping her gaze glued to the stables her heart conflicted. She breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw the four horses ride out but still, she didn't remove her gaze. Would he do it?

She loved her son dearly and she couldn't officially give her permission for the crown prince to go riding off to who knows where. But she knew that it was what Art needed, she hoped he would listen to his heart.

So, she looked.

And only minutes after the four horses had ridden out, she saw a fifth. Its rider small and crouched low as he galloped out of the city. Gwen smiled.

A/N:

Don't forget there's another one too!

Thanks

I ;)