Warriors of Camelot

Chapter 11: The Secret Journey

Arthur's sharp eyes scanned the area, searching for something- anything- which could offer a means of escape. As the ominous shadows closed in on the brave trio, he caught sight of a dark opening in the castle wall. It was situated just to the right of their current position. 

"Quick!" 

Arthur grabbed Morgana's hand and dragged her down  the passageway, with Merlin hot on his heels. 

Now that they were out of harm's way, Morgana and Arthur paused to catch their breath.  Merlin peered cautiously out of the hole which separated their  escape route from the main passage. He was just in time to catch sight of two huge guards, armed with shiny spears. They were staring first one way and then another, as though they were searching for something.  Merlin quickly pulled his head back into the passage. In this situation, it wouldn't be wise to interfere with their business. 

Without warning, the footsteps came to an abrupt halt. 

"Who goes there?" bellowed a deep voice. 

No-one dared to utter a sound.  Merlin just stood there, with his back pressed against the wall, panting for breath. He felt Morgana pressing a quivering hand into his own. Arthur just stared at the archway, feeling uncharacteristically hesitant . Should he confront the guards and risk giving themselves away- or stay here and risk humiliation, if they were discovered?

The answer was handed to Arthur on a plate.  Out of the darkness, came the same, deep note yet again. All three heads instantly turned in the direction from which it had been heard. 

"Which way do we go now?" Morgana pondered. 

"It seems to be coming from down there," Arthur remarked, pointing further down the narrow passageway. 

Merlin shuddered as he suddenly realised just where exactly in the castle they currently were. This passage had only one destination: the castle dungeons...

Morgana gave Merlin's hand a comforting squeeze, just as though she was reading his mind, and forced a smile. 

"Why would the noise be coming from down there?" she wondered aloud. 

"No idea," Arthur replied with a causal shrug. Before anyone could stop him, the Prince of Camelot was striding onwards into the darkness. 

 Merlin and Morgana faltered only for a moment, before hurrying after him. Somehow, this passage seemed even darker than the last one, but no-one could say how this was possible, for both tunnels were lit by dim, flickering torches which were dotted here and there along the smooth walls. 

Without warning, Arthur stopped short and held out a hand, signalling for his companions to do the same.  Sensing that danger was close at hand, Morgana and Merlin silently pressed themselves into the wall, behind their leader. 

Just ahead of them, the tunnel opened out into a small room.  In its centre stood a small table, with four guards seated around it. Obviously, they were enjoying a break from their duties, but perhaps they were enjoying themselves a little too much, given the fact that they were laughing loud enough to wake the dead. 

Arthur pierced his lips. "If my father finds out what they're up to..."

Merlin suppressed a grin. Arthur couldn't talk, given how his knights behaved at the best of times!

"Question is..." he heard Arthur mutter. "...how do we get past them?"

Before anyone could answer him, the noise ripped through the tunnel again. Only this time, it was accompanied by a strong breeze, which blew out all but three candles in sight. 

Arthur and Morgana exchanged raised eyebrows. If magic was nearby, then it must be very powerful magic indeed.

"Hey!" exclaimed a voice from out of the darkness. "What's going on?"

The three friends stopped in their tracks. For a moment, no-one dared to move or even speak. 

Grinning to himself, Merlin lifted carefully a glowing torch out of its alcove. Clutching it in both hands, he nodded towards the gaping mouth of the tunnel. As far as Merlin could tell, that was there only way forward- past the guards and into the unknown...

Throwing Morgana a blank look, Arthur silently obliged. As they passed the wall, both grabbed their own torch. Soundlessly, in case even the slightest bit of movement should ruin the success of their mission, they crept around the table and across the room. 

The flickering candlelight cast spooky shadows around the trio. Given how dark the room currently was, even the smallest amount of light was enough to rouse suspicion.

"Stop!" ordered a firm voice. 

Instantly, Morgana stopped dead,  just as though she'd been struck by lighting. Seconds later, Arthur halted beside her. Both stared as a ferocious-looking shape appeared on the wall behind them. 

Merlin scanned the area. Eventually, his torch lit up a dark entrance in the wall, only yards ahead of the little group's current position. Where it led to, Merlin couldn't say, but it seemed to provide their only means of escape, other than retracing their steps back into the castle.

Having made his plan clear to his companions, Merlin was all ready to make his bid for freedom- until someone grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the shadowy tunnel. 

Merlin was prepared to garble some kind of senseless explanation to his captor- but all of sudden he recognised their face. Relief rushed over him like a cool shower on a scorching summer's day.  It was only Morgana.

"Merlin-" she whispered nervously. "Did you hear that?"

Merlin  couldn't reply. As it was if he'd frozen to the spot, there and then. The sound of footsteps could  be heard again, only this time they were echoing from an unidentified location. 

Arthur stole a quick glance over his shoulder. Much to his relief, the guards were still fumbling about the dark. Without the light of torches to guide them, they could be there for some time. 

But, if they hadn't make the footsteps, then who- or what- was that was responsible for them? Who else could be down here at this time of night? An escaping prisoner, perhaps?

Whoever- or whatever- it was, one thing was for certain. They were heading this way...