Wrap Your Arms Around Me (merdred)

22. Rescue

I'm pretty sure this song is Christian pop but I really like it so 😂

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        MORDRED COERCED HIS HORSE to move faster through the winding forest, pushing them both to their limits. The sun had fallen since their departure and the only light guiding them through the woods was the torch in his hand. Kara was right behind him on her own horse, coming up to meet him every so often to tell him where to turn next. They'd been on the same path for what felt like hours and Mordred was beginning to think they were going in circles.

He could feel his horse struggling for a deep breath, each stride becoming weaker than that last. But he needed to find Merlin, his love, before he lost him forever.

"Mordred, please slow down. If we have any chance of finding them, we'll need to save our strength. Maybe we should stop and rest until morning. We'll be more successful when the sun is back up," Gwaine shouted from behind.

Mordred heaved a small sigh, slowing his horse down to look Gwaine in the eye. "We can't just give up."

"We're not giving up, we're being smart about this. What would Arthur say? He'd want us to plan ahead, rest up and start fresh in the morning. We'll be one step ahead of her if we bring our best selves, right?" Gwaine tried, earning another sigh from Mordred.

He stopped the horse altogether, turning around to face the knights that were now stopped behind him. He watched Gwen as she brought her horse over to him with a smile on her face. "I know you want to save the man you love but barging on in without a plan is suicide. Merlin's stronger than he looks. I'm sure he'll be fine for one night. We'll leave as soon as we see the first light, I promise," she practically begged him.

Mordred nodded in agreement, realising how right they all were.

The ragtag team of knights, queens and traitors found a small clearing in the forest near a body of water. They stepped off their horses and tied them to the tree while Percival refilled their waters and Gwaine started on dinner. Gwen had packed copious amounts of food, she'd learned the ins and outs of the kitchens as a servant after all, and Mordred started the fire for the pot.

Forgetting all about his wound, Mordred struck the steel across the flint, hurting his shoulder in the process. He winced in pain, feeling the blood trickle down from the wound.

"You should head back. You're no use if your shoulder will hold you back from--"

"Gwaine, I'm not leaving until we find them," Mordred cut him off, sending him a death stare. He sighed and grabbed a bandage from one of the bags to rewrap his wound. Gwaine simply shook his head at him, walking away.

The cold spring night made Mordred wrap himself in the blanket of his bedroll early while he sipped on the soup Gwaine made, which wasn't half as good as what Merlin could do. The amount of talent that the man had still surprised him.

The link in their minds felt far away and almost non-existent. Normally, Mordred could feel where he was and how he was feeling, but his mind felt empty instead. He began to worry that it meant Merlin might be in more danger than he originally thought. He quickly finished his bowl of soup, deciding that he'd turn in early for bed, hoping that morning would come sooner that way.

Mordred laid down in his bedroll and peered up at the stars in the night sky. He knew that somewhere, Merlin was under the same sky. He closed his eyes tightly, wishing upon one of the lights that he would find his warlock.

___________________

They left at first light the next morning and not a moment later. Kara's memory was beginning to get foggy, missing pieces here and there. So far, it'd been enough to get them close, but Mordred feared that the rest of their journey would have to be a guessing game.