Defeating the Darkness (A Merlin Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

Hellooo. Another update is here, because I have been figuring out where I want this story to go. If you like it plz vote/comment so I know someone has actually been enjoying this, lol. Thanks for reading!

Characters belong to BBC 1's show Merlin, not me.

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Gaius opened the creaking door to his chambers and set the herbs he had been carrying down on the wooden table. Merlin was bent over his bed, stuffing things into a sack.

"Merlin?"

"Hello, Gaius."

"What are you doing?"

"Packing. They wouldn't listen to me."

"You mean Arthur and the knights?" Gaius stepped down into Merlin's doorway.

"Yeah, well, Arthur was being stubborn, as usual, and I told Gwaine what exactly is going on. Apparently Arthur had told everyone he was going to investigate a village attack."

Gaius grunted. "And I assume you're going to try and stop them?"

Merlin sighed. "From using the de industria petrum, yes. But not from defeating Morgana."

"What, you have a different strategy in mind?" Gaius raised his eyebrow.

"I'm using the rock myself. It's better for me to take the chance of dying than any one of them. Plus, I'm much more experienced in dealing with magic, maybe I can cut off the connection with the rock before it drains all my energy." Merlin tied off his sack and slung it over his shoulder.

Gaius sighed. "Very well. But be careful. And stay on guard at all times."

"Will do, Gaius."

Merlin gave the old man a quick hug and left the room.

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Merlin made his way over to the stables and looked around, but Arthur wasn't anywhere to be seen. He padded across the hay-covered dirt floor and opened the stall to an available horse. Once it was fed, groomed and saddled, Merlin tossed a few carrots into his pack and led the horse to the front of the castle.

"Merlin, there you are!" Arthur hopped of his horse. "How did I do?" He held his arms up and turned around in a circle, showing off his armor.

"Ah, very impressive, sire." Merlin grinned. "You didn't, by any chance, have another servant called in to dress you?"

Arthur snorted. "Of course not, Merlin. I did this totally, completely, on my own."

"I understand, sire. You are good at many things, but being a self-sufficient human being is not one of them. It's not something to be ashamed of," Merlin teased.

Arthur glared at Merlin. "Shut up."

Following the sound of trotting horse steps, Merlin looked to the left and saw Gwaine and Percival riding up from the stables. They waved at him, and he waved back.

"Oh, and Merlin, why did you tell Gwaine the plan? Now all the knights know what's going on."

"To try to convince them that the plan is too dangerous. Why did you lie to them?"

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter now. They're coming anyway." Arthur swung himself back onto his horse.

"Ready to depart, sire?" Leon called.

"Yes. We will pass through the eastern edge of the Darkling woods, then north towards the Northern Plains." Arthur ordered.

"Yes, sire." Leon led the knights past the castle gates, followed by Merlin and Arthur.

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The sun beat down violently on the back of Merlin's neck as he trotted behind Elyan and Leon, the rest of the knights and Arthur close behind.

"It's too sunny, shouldn't the treetops be denser by now?" Arthur yelled from behind Merlin.

"Oh, stop complaining, we're just on the edge of the woods, it's not as dense here," Merlin called back.

Arthur huffed. "You know, Merlin, you really should be more respectful towards your king."

"Of course, sire, your Royal Highness, Almighty King of Camelot, a million apologies, sire. A low servant such as I do not even have the right to bask in your presence, I am deeply gratified to be standing here--"

"Alright, I get it," Arthur grumbled.

The knights chuckled.

They continued riding.

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As dusk approached, the group still had a ways to go before they got out of the Darkling Woods. Trying to maximize the day's distance, they had only stopped once for a five minute rest.

"Alright, look out for a suitable area to set up camp for the night," Arthur ordered. "If we eat and rest soon, we should be able to get out of the woods by noon tomorrow."

"How about here, sire?" Percival had scouted out a reasonable sized clearing, well shrouded by bushes. A stream trickled 100 yards or so to the left.

"Perfect," Arthur remarked. The group slid off their horses and allowed them to drink from the stream.

"Merlin, go get some--" Arthur was cut off by a pained yell.

"Percival!" Gwaine roared. Merlin abandoned his horse and ran over to the two knights. Percival had fallen over and was sprawled out on the ground, an arrow penetrating his right thigh. Waving in the slight breeze, attached to the arrow, was a thin piece of paper with the words messily scrawled on: "LEAVE OR DIE."

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Whatcha think? I will die of happiness if you leave a comment telling me. byeee