Not Even Magic

Off the Path

Two days after my recovery I still can't get the dream out of my head. This is pure madness! Merlin can't have magic, he just can't. But there is something about him that I cannot quite put my finger on.
"Serena?" I am ripped from my thoughts as my brother calls to me from outside my chambers. I nod to Gwen and she pulls open the oak door, revealing the prince in casual riding gear. I pull my riding boots on to complete my own ensemble of tight leggings and a slightly loose satin blouse. I then walk away from the window I was previously looking out of to greet him properly.
"Brother." I smile at him an he grins back before a loud crashing sound comes from the corridor Arthur was just standing in. My hand snaps to where my sword hangs off my belt but the retreats quickly when I poke my head around the door. Merlin is on the floor trying to pick up various food items and put them back into the many leather packs he had dropped. Arthur bursts out laughing behind me and I struggle to stifle my own giggles. I compose myself and crouch opposite him, stopping several apples that had rolled away from the frantic man.
"Serena, leave him to clean up his own mess, after all, it is his job." Arthur half shouts to me, Merlin, still looking around at the scattered bread rolls and fruit, then pulls a very unimpressed face.
"Unlike you Arthur, I am not an arrogant ass and actually respect the people that deserve it. Especially those who put up with you on a daily basis." He shuts up for good and I shoot Merlin a cheeky grin. Before too long we finish filling all of the packs and pick them up, ready to take them down to the horses. I carry three like it is the most normal thing in the world, a princess helping a servant, leaving Merlin with the other three and Arthur looking even angrier. When we reach the courtyard of the citadel, I turn to Arthur ready to apologise. He storms right past me and jumps on his horse, galloping off and not even asking if we need any help loading up the horses.
"Oh he'll come round soon enough, he always does." Merlin nods in agreement and we walk to our horses, taking only seconds.
"As good as I am at navigating, we may need to follow Arthur quickly. We are going further out than I have been allowed before, that's all." Merlin offers to help me up, which I consider for a second seeing as it would be quite nice, but I refuse politely, mounting my black mare gracefully. Merlin follows suit soon after and rides up to fall into a trot beside me. We exit the city, partaking in small talk as we go along familiar paths.
"I have only just realised Merlin, I know next to nothing about you." He turns to me, puzzled.
"I make it my business to get to know the people I spend time with. You know, it's helpful when making a new friend." He looks down at his hands, holding the reigns loosely.
"I was born in Ealdor, a small village on Camelot's borders. My mother raised me as my father left us before I was born." He smiles at me, which makes me blush and become bashful. How does his smile make him look ten times as handsome? Those blue eyes that catch the speckled sunlight in the best way and that mop of jet black hair that is so perfectly ruffled and soft looking... And I am staring, look down or change the subject Serena!!
"There is something you aren't telling me, isn't there?" He shifts ever so slightly on his saddle and he looks slightly nervous.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He then smirks and I look around us. I notice the surroundings are nothing I can remember, we must have strayed from the path accidentally.
"Merlin, we might have a little problem." He looks at me slightly concerned and I breathe in deeply.
"We may be lost and without our so called guide because my idiot of a brother is a royal pain in the ass." Merlin laughs and dismounts his horse, I look at him strangely but he looks far through the trees. He stands there for a couple of seconds, stumbles backwards and turns to me.
"That way. But we have to be careful, this forest is infested with bandits." He points to the left of where we were originally heading. He mounts up again and we set off in a new direction.
"How do you know which way to go?" I ask him, curious at his navigational skills.
"I have an amazing sense of smell, that's how." I laugh at his random answer and his straight face. He soon joins in my laughter until I become deadly still. Silence, not even a bird. I give Merlin an alert gaze which he seems to understand and nods back to me, studying the foliage around us. I swiftly grab my sword from the sheath draped on the back of my horse just as five bandits emerge from the bushes and surround us. I hold my sword up, in front of my face but with some distance, ready to attack if necessary. I turn back to Merlin and motion for him to stay where he is. Instead, he dismounts his horse and stands behind me. One, rather filthy looking man steps forwards and examines us.
"Well, what do we have here then?" His eyes drift from Merlin to me, his eyes lingering on my figure a little too long.
"If you want to keep your head, you will let us leave." I speak authoritatively, knowing I could easily defeat him. He starts laughing and the rest of the bandits join in soon.
"You couldn't use that sword m'lady, you don't even know which end is pointy!"
"I will gladly show you which end is pointy." I snap at him and spin the sword in my hand switching from a defensive stance to an attacking one. I smirk at him and motion for him to bring it. He quickly advances upon me and tries to knock my blade aside, I push against his sword with more force and he stumbles backwards. When he turns back to me to attack again, his throat meets my sword and he freezes.
"She bares to royal crest of the Pendragon house Stevan." Another bandit shouts from behind us and their leader moves backwards, away from my blade ten bows mockingly to me.
"My lady. Men! We are in the presence of a princess, where are your manners?" I hear muffles behind me and turn to see Merlin tossed over a bandits shoulder, being taken away. I walk up behind him and press my sword to his lower back.
"Put him down or I swear I will run you through." The bandit stops in front of me and looks back, past me to 'Stevan' who just waves slightly. The burly bandit then drops a rather dazed Merlin that then gets to his feet. I send him a look of concern and he nods back showing he is alright.
The leader then runs at me, the three others charging at both me and Merlin. I grab the sword from Merlins horse and toss it to him, hoping he has learnt something from Arthur. Their leader reaches me first and swings for the left side of my torso, my silver blade collides with his rusting iron one. I move to the left, him falling slightly to my right, I then bring the hilt of my sword down with as much force as I can, knocking him to the ground. Another one soon follows him, I crouch slightly and bring myself and the sword up just enough to catch him and push him over the top of me. I run over the two bodies to get to Merlin who had actually managed to knock two bandits unconscious.
"No offense, but how in hell did you do that?" Merlin answers with a slightly startled expression almost saying he didn't know himself. He sits in exhaustion and pushes his sword into the dirt beside him.
"We have to get to the path and find my broth-" My breathing stops momentarily until my instincts kick in, I bring my sword up and swing it around to the hobbling leader. He falls with substantial injuries and I pull the sword from my back. Merlin is completely oblivious to this thankfully so I nudge him with my knee and follow behind him slowly as we walk to Merlins horse as mine has run off in fright. He gets on first and pulls me up to sit behind him. As I loose blood, I start leaning more forward until I am fully resting on Merlins back. Unable to keep my balance any longer, I slip off the back of the horse and onto the dirt path we had been traveling along.
"Princess?!" Merlin shouts, dismounting his horse an rushing over to me.
"Merlin, I asked you to call me Serena." I smile, hoping to ease his worries slightly. His face full of concern he checks me for injuries, when he turns me over I see his face turn sad and even more concerned at my blood soaked blouse. He jumps up and runs to grab the pack off his horse, opening it on the way over. Pulling out the water-skin, he pours some of the water over my wound, receiving a loud scream from me. The water burns against my punctured flesh.
"I'm just cleaning it okay? Why didn't you tell me Serena?" He runs out of water to disinfect my wound with.
"I didn't want to cause a fuss." He looks at me in astonishment.
"You were stabbed! You are allowed to make a fuss if you are potentially fatally injured." I laugh again and this time he laughs along with me. His laugh is amazing, so happy and goofy.
"Next time I will let you know Merlin."

We reach a small clearing where we decide to make camp as the sunlight is running out. Merlin gets off the horse first and I swing my leg over so I can slide off. Merlin puts his hands on my waist and lifts me off the horse, then lowers me onto the ground carefully. He ties the horse to a tree stump near to where we stopped and the comes back over to me. He helps me to get onto my feet and puts my arm around his neck. This reminds me of when I was hurt the last time and Merlin helped me. I stumble, unable to hold myself up, even with his help. He then sighs and crouches, putting one of his arms under my knees and picking me up. I had no idea he was so strong..? He puts me down, leaning me against a fallen log.
"Sorry for having to do that." I smile down at my lap.
"Don't apologise. Thank you Merlin." He blushes slightly and goes off to find some wood for the fire he said he's going to make.

With his back to me he lights the fire, strange. He then passes me two rolls of bread and an apple but he takes one roll from the pack for himself. I pass him the apple and half of a bread roll.
"You need to eat." He says pushing the brea and fruit back into my palms.
"So do you. Anyway, i'm not eating until you do." He gives me a guilty look and takes back the food taking a tiny bite of the apple. We finish eating and it the air around us has turned pitch black with only the dying fire to keep us out of the dark. Fatigue takes over and my eyelids start drooping. I shiver in the sudden cold breeze and Merlin takes off his jacket. He drapes it over my shoulders and I smile gratefully at him. I then rest my head on his shoulder and sleep takes me away.

a/n my gosh.... 2k words... These are getting longer.... I hope you are enjoying this... Remember to favourite and share if you like it and comment... Till the next updates treacle tarts...