Camelot

Two - The King's Son

*** Authors Note ***

This novel is thoroughly based off the 2008 BBC series 'Merlin', I do not own all of the characters or the basic storyline. Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions below. Thank you and enjoy.

Two – The King's Son

MY KNIGHT LET out a raspy breath that shook his whole body. The valley was eerily silent, with the only sounds around me being the rattling of my knight's body and the sound of my own armour hitting against itself as I shook with tears.

"Leith, please," I sobbed, tears still streaming down my face. "You can't die."

I pressed my cheek to his forehead, feeling just how cold and clammy he'd become. He took another breath, his body becoming more still with each breath. It was almost as though each breath he took, the more of his life drained out of him. It was only a matter of time before he was gone. With Leith gone, I would have lost everything in the space of a few hours. I would be lost.

"Please," I begged, shaking his shoulders. "You have to stay with me. I cannot do this alone!"

I looked down at his almost lifeless body. The armour he was dressed in, once a striking silver was now coated in a deep red. His life had all but drained out in front of my eyes, all because of a single arrow that was meant for me. He was a lost cause.

His breathing continued to slow, telling me that his life would be over in a matter of moments. As his breaths became slower, mine became quicker and a weak shake in my bones became violent. The shock of what had happened to me today had finally caught up to me. My shaking body disrupted Leith's all but still one, forcing yet more blood from his wound. I was not sure how that was possible at this point. He'd lost so much.

I moved his body as carefully I could back to the ground, his limp form acting as a dead weight as I tried to manoeuvre him. There was no way I could get him on a horse on my own and even if I somehow managed that, he would certainly be dead before we could reach anyone. If he wasn't, I was also convinced that no physician could save him at this point in time.

It was with that thought that my senses came crashing back to me, forcing aside the shock and feeling of being numb that had taken over my body. If anyone was going to save Leith, it was going to be me.

Healing spells weren't something that I was very familiar with. There were only a few I could perform well, and they were usually for the healing of small cuts or grazes, not life-threatening arrow wounds like the one Leith had sustained. Perhaps if I called fourth enough magic, the spell would be successful, and Leith would live. Perhaps I could heal him just enough to deliver him safely to a physician in Camelot, who could heal him more traditional means and experienced hands. All I knew was that I had to at least try.

I moved around to his side, staring down at the ugly arrow that was threatening to end his life. I kneeled down beside him, searching the empty valley around me for any ounce of magic I could draw upon. Slowly, but surely it came to me just as it had before, and it filled me with the strength I so desperately sought. I took a deep breath and pulled the arrow from Leith's chest.

More blood immediately gushed from the ugly arrow wound, all but draining the precious supply that was still giving Leith life. I quickly pushed my hands to the wound, knowing that it was entirely detrimental at this point for Leith to lose anymore blood. Slowly, but surely, I brought an incantation to mind.

"Ƥurhhæle dolgbenn!" I cast.

Leith did not stir, and the blood remained flowing. The spell had failed.