Valiant (Merlin)

Chapter 6

Merlin was running with all his might across the citadel. He could hear the clang of the guard's armour coming closer behind. Still, he managed to keep a far enough distance from them through the lower town. He ran into the forest, quickly ducking behind a fallen down tree, holding his breath, just as the guards came in. They stood there, confused, looking around the empty forest, hearing no rustle of leaves or breathing to suggest him being there. Leon, the leader of the group of knights, called out, "He must have gone the other way. Let's head back, see if he turned around!" As soon as the guards were far enough away, Merlin released his breath and fell against the tree behind him.

His head was pounding, struggling to comprehend what had happened to him. In less than an hour, his whole life had flipped upside down. Now everyone knew he was a sorcerer. He hadn't been in Camelot for very long, but he had grown close to people: Gaius, Gwen, even the prat Prince Arthur. But now he was sure they would hate him for hiding the secret. And Gaius, he was probably in so much trouble, considering he was harbouring a sorcerer. Merlin had nowhere to go. Ealdor was quite far away, and he didn't just want to run from his problems.

He sat there for a while, considering his options, before making his decision. He would wait it out in the forest for a few days, until the panic had quietened down. Then he would sneak into Camelot and talk to Gaius and Arthur. He wasn't quite sure what he would do after that, but in the meantime, he set out looking for a river and some edible plants as, after all the reading, he didn't have time to eat and now he was starving.