The eternal suffering

DIR (4): The unspoken sentence

The boat followed the siren slowly. Leon's headache had lessened, but somehow, his urge to vomit grew even worse than before.
The knight had the distinct feeling that it wasn't the siren's fault that he got paler and paler.
Not that Leon was worried much about his own well being.
He wasn't scared of dying. Never was. What he was scared of was suffering. And he felt like destiny had decided he would have to suffer endlessly.

The ship came to halt at an opening inside what looked like a mountain. This must be the cave that the expedition before them had found.
The opening was shallow and their boats were definitely too big to get through.

"Sir Leon, what are your orders?", Sir Elyan shouted from the steering wheel, while the rest of the crew made sure the ship would be bound to the shore safely.

"Ready the side boats. Gwaine, Lancelot, Elyan and I will explore the cave. The rest of you, stay here.
If we're not back before nightfall, you have permission to send help to Camelot."

Leon heaved himself up. Lancelot, who must have noticed his condition, helped him over deck and get inside the boat.

Elyan and Gwaine followed soon after. They wore softer, more suitable clothes for the travel, but they had their chain mail close to them, just in case.
At this point, Freya's head popped up before them, causing Gwaine and Lancelot to jump. Elyan grabbed his sword. Neither of them had known they had been following her.

"Don't attack her, she lead us here.", Leon stopped them with a wave of his hand, which he sooner rather than later had to hold up in front of his mouth.
Not that there was anything for him to puke out anymore. He must have lost a few pounds during the entire boat ride.
The other three exchanged a look.

Freya smiled. "There is nothing to be afraid of. We are all friends of Merlin.", Freya smiled gratefully at Leon, who looked at her in surprise.
He hadn't expected her to talk to them. Let alone to mention Merlin as the reason for her help.

"Merlin?", Lancelot asked curiously and leaned over edge of their boat. "You know him?"
"I knew that boy had it in him.", Gwaine grinned and winked at her. Then suddenly he grew uncertain and his grin turned into a frown. "If you hurt him, I will murder you.", he growled, while Leon rolled his eyes at Gwaine's indecision how to treat her.
Elyan just watched them all. He stayed silent. He observed.

"Don't worry. Merlin is safe. I would never hurt him. Arthur and Merlin are already on their way to Senvilla. It's a town on Drakonier.
You must know that the entrance to the island is closed for non dragon kin. If you have their favor, the gate will let you pass.

But beware, the villagers do not take lightly to Uther's men. I'm asking you, leave your weapons here, do not appear as a threat to them. Then they might listen to you."

"That seems like a trap.", Elyan commented warily. What else was he supposed to think? Invading the enemy territory unarmed? That sounded like madness.

"He is right. Why would we trust you?", Gwaine agreed.

Freya tilted her head with a smile. "That is not the question. The question is, why would I trust you? As you seek war with the dragons? The dragons are allies of mine. I have no intention to betray them. Helping you, endangers the peace we have.", she said and she obviously had a point.

Three of the men exchanged glances. Leon could barely move his head, so he only flickered his eyes to them.
"I owe Merlin. And I trust that you will help him achieve peace with the dragons.", she finally said and held her head high. "Do not make me regret this."
She was about to leave, when Gwaine suddenly held her by the arm. Her eyes seemed to hiss at him, as he did.