For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Two

I was awake the next morning at the break of dawn. Stella’s eyes were closed, but her tail was twitching, so I knew that she too was awake.

I stood, stretching out my back. The muscles popped in a few places. “Morning,” I whispered. I scratched Stella under her chin. She licked and chewed contentedly.

I looked over to where the other two travelers were just starting to stir. “I don’t think we’re very welcome,” I told my companion. Stella stomped her foot. She gave me an ironic No, really? look.

“Still talking to your horse?” Arthur asked. He was only a stone’s throw away now. It surprised me that I hadn’t heard him coming.

“Yes,” I replied. “I prefer speaking with creatures closer to my own intelligence lever over those… not so close.”

Arthur scowled. “I just came to tell you that we’ll be leaving soon.”

I nodded. “Okay.” He cast a dirty look at Stella before walking away.

Do you think he suspects anything?

Stella’s voice inside my head made me jump. She’d been silent since we met the other two travelers.

No,

I answered. He’s just being wary. Stella didn’t reply directly, but she did she did nod slightly.

Back on the trail, we rode in a single file line with Arthur in front and Merlin bringing up the rear. I felt Merlin’s eyes boring into my back. He was watching me as though I was a prisoner trying to escape. No one said a word.

We stopped for a mid-day meal at the outskirts of Camelot. I ate nothing because I had nothing to eat. For the past week I’d eaten only scavenged berries and nuts, but I hadn’t gathered any today. Though the two others had plenty, they offered me nothing.

I stifled a sigh. I wasn’t sure what had changed since the day before, but now even Merlin was mistrustful of me.

“Let’s get going,” Arthur said, beginning to clean up. Merlin began silently helping him.

I waited patiently until they were both mounted to open my mouth.

“This is goodbye,” I said diplomatically.

“You’re not coming with us into town?” Merlin’s voice was filled mostly with suspicion, but there was a hint of disappointment.

I shook my head. “No. I have a few things to… take care of.”

Arthur scanned my face with his eyes. I didn’t know what he was looking for, but it was clear he did not find it. “We’ll see you around, then.”

I nodded curtly.

Merlin met my eyes. He tried to tell me something, but I couldn’t catch it. “Goodbye,” he said out loud.

I watched to two riders disappear before turning to Stella. “This is goodbye for us too,” I murmured. I slipped the single bag off her back.

For now

, she replied. We will see each other again.

“I do not doubt that.” I patted her neck. “Goodbye, Stella.” I shouldered my pack and started down the hill in the direction Arthur and Merlin had disappeared. It wouldn’t be an exceptionally long walk, but it would be long enough for me to sort out my thoughts. I would get to town square before dark.

While I walked, my feet making a muffled crunch on the wet leaves, I wondered about Camelot. I never quite understood my own decision to journey there. It felt right, though, in some strange way.