Chapter Text
Chapter 18 [Woodland Trail, Six Leagues from Camelot—Three Hours Later]
Merlin slipped through the dusk-lit woods. His heart pounded away in his chest. Akin to Squirrel, his eyes darted this way and that. The brush hid him from Cawdorian sentries. He crept where he could. In other spots, he rushed from tree to tree. His occasional spells distracted the Cawdorians. At such times, he headed for the next hiding place.
Laughter and carousing could be heard ahead.
Guess I found them. Merlin crept up through the brush. He squatted low and watched the developing scene in front of himself. His eyes spied better than a dozen Cawdorian knights in that encampment. Two fires lit the area. Some knights sharpened weapons. Others browned dinner. A dark-haired man mountain waved a chicken leg in the air. His victim, a knight clad in an emerald surcoat, glared at him. He struggled with the ropes tying his hands behind his back.
“Patience!” Meleagant’s teeth tore off a piece of chicken. He barely chewed it and swallowed it whole. “Your King and Queen will be here soon enough! We will have a useful discussion.”
Kay scoffed. “And if it is not useful? Will you deal with us as you did the knights? You’d talked of sparing them!”
“I changed my mind.” Meleagant yanked Kay’s hair back. He glared right into the Prince’s eyes. “You better hope you do not outlive your usefulness to me, Boy.” He pulled the hair again to emphasize his point. “I do not care about you. Your sister would be useful after she’s been trained. BAH!” He let go of Kay’s hair. “Remember that well, Prince.” He stalked off toward the center of the camp.
Now what do I do? Merlin chastised himself. There are a dozen of them and one of me. Wish I could make a fog appear or something.
One day, Emrys, you will be able to. Until then, you will need some assistance, a female voice advised in his mind.
Who are you? Merlin looked all around himself. vHow am I hearing her in my mind?
Telepathy. I am a friend. We do not have time for introductions now, the Voice clarified. Cover your face. Trust me.
Cover my…? Merlin’s eyes narrowed toward the camp.
Fog crept out of the woods. Fires flared. Bluish smoke arose from the flames. Knights stiffened. Their hands numbed. They slumped onto the ground. Kay leaned forward on his ropes. Sleep overtook each and every one of them.
“Cover my face. Good thing.” Merlin tied his neckerchief around his nose and mouth. Who or what is that? Arthur’s going to love a magical being around here! He skirted the camp’s edges. He grabbed a knife from a sleeping knight. Then he cut through Kay’s bonds. I’ll never get Prince Kay out of the woods by myself! Too bad about those knights though. I….
Fog and mist enveloped Merlin and Kay. Chill numbed Merlin’s skin. Humidity dampened his hair. Cloying mists obscured the camp and everything else. “Now what?”
You need help, do you not? I am helping you, Emrys. We will meet soon enough, the Voice told him. You will be close to Camelot.
Close to…? Merlin noted the mists thinning out around himself. The air warmed once more. Breezes dried his hair and skin. His eyes cleared. His ears heard the horse’s whinnying. Disbelief took in everything around himself.
Camelot’s walls and towers loomed just over the trees. Dusk hung on by the barest of ebbs. Luna and stars above showed in the darkening backdrop overhead. The horse neighed at his side.
“Yeah. I got it. I do not know what happened either.” Merlin dragged Kay up to the horse. “I just hope Morgana is not too sore about me saving you or helping to save you, Your Highness.” His eyes glowed.
Kay floated up onto the horse. He settled onto the front of the saddle.
“Yeah. You are welcome.” Merlin’s eyes rolled. Wonder if he is another Prince Prat like Arthur? He climbed up into the saddle behind Kay. He held onto Kay with one hand and used the reins with the other. He glanced back toward the forest. No pursuit yet. Guess that is a good thing? He rode toward the city and across the drawbridge. He galloped through the Lower Town and back up the cobbled way toward the Upper Town. He pulled up in front of the hitching post. “Hello! I need help!”
Two knights rushed down the stairs. They sized up Merlin and Kay on the missing horse.
“HEY! You are that missing servant! They have been looking all over for you!” The knight on the right glared at Merlin. “Where have you been?”
“Finding Prince Kay.” Merlin bowed in the saddle to the two knights. “Can you help me please? I have to get him upstairs to the Physician’s Chambers. Sir Horace, thank you.”
Horace raised an eyebrow at Merlin. Still, he noted the bow. “Mortimer, we can let the King and Lady Morgana deal with him later. Bigger priority is Prince Kay. We can get him up there and see to his needs.” He helped Merlin to ease Kay to the cobbles. “You get the horse. Normally, I’d let the servant here do that. Still, he is Gaius’ apprentice.” He motioned toward Kay’s feet. “Get his feet. We will carry him in between us. Then we will let Lady Morgana know.” He picked up Kay’s shoulders. With Merlin’s help, he carried Kay into the Citadel and toward the chambers.
Merlin frowned. I help and I will probably end up back in the stocks. Great! Worry ate at him. Prince Kay was safe. Nemeth had one less thing to worry about. Still, Uther’s wrath, Morgana’s lectures and Gwen’s worrying all pressed on his mind. Gaius would chime in with his two pence as well. The mystery voice perplexed him as well.
Duty did have its price. He just hoped he could bear the cost…