The Indigo wolf

Chapter 5: Indigo

When they got to the nearby village, Arthur got off his (High... hehe) horse and went to ask about the wolf.

"Oh, you mean Indigo?" She asks him.

"You gave the wolf a name?" Arthur asks, surprised.

"Well, yes. We see him often enough." She says. Just then, a few children who were shrieking ran out from behind a house, 'Indigo' chasing them.

Arthur and his knights immediately draw their swords to defend the children when the wolf tackles one little girl and starts licking her. She starts to laugh as the knights plus Arthur all put their swords down.

"He is a very tame and intelligent wolf." The woman says as Indigo charges after the other children again. "Although he normally has potions or food with him for those who need it."

"How would a wolf know how to make that stuff?" Arthur asks. Gwain puts his sword away and starts walking towards Indigo, who stops to look at him. Indigo then pads over to Gwain the rest of the way, and lets himself get pet.

"We assume that he is the familiar to a healer. He seems to understand what we say we need and comes back with it. He loves the children, and they love him. He keeps them out of trouble too. He has also saved travelers by barking when Bandits are nearby." She says.

"Well, I guess that's a good thing. Maybe he will be able to help my knights and I find someone." Arthur says.

"I hope you find who you are looking for." The woman says, smiling.

"So do I." Arthur replies as she turns to walk away. When he turns around, Indigo has Gwain tackled and is licking his face, Gwain laughing. The other knights are also laughing at the two. Arthur smiles at the sight, amused as well.

Once Gwain gets freed, he stands up. "Can we keep him?" He asks Arthur. Arthur laughs.

"No. He is needed where he is needed. If Indigo wants to come with, he will." He says to Gwain. Gwain frowns at that, but nods.

One of the children then runs to Indigo and starts talking to him fast. They start leading him into the woods and Arthur follows, instructing the knights to stay behind. When the kids stop and point at a ravine, the wolf then jumps into it.

Merlin was letting Gwain pet him when Jack, one of the boys in the village, came to him saying he and his friend were playing in the woods when his friend, Evelyn, fell in a hole trap and isn't waking up. Merlin nods and lets Jack lead him to the trap

As soon as they reach it, Merling jumps in and nudges the little girl with his muzzle, and when she doesn't wake he starts to put her on his back, until he hears another person drops in, who then picks her up.

Merlin looks to see who it was and saw Arthur, holding little Evelyn in his arms. He then looks around for a way to get out. Merlin rolls his eyes at Arthur's stupidity in not thinking about that. Merlin does a quick spell that makes a rope appear in the pit. He then barks at the rope.

"Where did that come from?" Arthur asks as he grabs hold of it and climbs it, holding Evelyn with one arm. Arthur then walks towards the village, not thinking of the wolf still in the pit.

Merlin turns himself human and climbs the rope, quickly turning back into a wolf after getting to the top. On his way back to the village, he wondered what happened to Evelyn. It was a small fall, and even then she could've caught herself, what with her having control over the elements and wings to top it off.

As Arthur was carrying the little girl, he noticed there was something off about her, there being a bump in the oddest spots and not one where there needed to be. He shrugged to himself and kept going.

Indigo, after a few minutes, caught up with the two. Arthur had an idea when he saw how large the wolf was. He stopped and knelt down in front of the wolf. "You can understand me, right?" He asks Indigo. The wolf barks a yes.

"Can you bring your master here, so he can heal Evelyn?" He asks. Indigo whines slightly. A no then. "Then can you take her to him?" Arthur asks hopefully. The wolf barks excitedly, as in a definitely. Arthur sighs as he puts the girl on the wolfs body, and using his cloak (Which he took off) to strap her on. As soon as she was securely on, Indigo started running away. Arthur watched the pair go, and smiles sadly.

As he continues to walk to the village, he gets an Idea. Maybe the reason that the wolfs master can't come, is because he can't get around well. So Arthur decided to, once he gets his horse, follow Indigo, to both help the man and to ask about Merlin.

After telling his knights his plan, Arthur gets his horse and follows the trail to an old rundown castle. When he gets there, he puts his horse in the stables, next to a Black mare that was already there. 'Must be Indigos masters horse.' Arthur thinks.

Arthur walks inside the castle, being wary of where he steps. After walking around for awhile, he hears someone talking.

¨Thank you Indigo. Tell me, why don't you tell me your actual name?" He hears a little girl ask. Arthur figures that was Evelyn.

"Because, Eve, if you accidentally told a knight or the king, I would have to leave." A mans voice says. 'That voice sounds familiar...' Arthur says, walking towards the room that the voices were coming from. He looked in the room and saw- Merlin! He was making something on a table behind the one Evelyn was on.

Merlin turned and put a salve on Evelyn's leg, then enchanting a spell, causing his eyes to turn a molten gold. Once he was done, the salve turned a bright yellow and disappeared.

"There. How does it feel now?" He asks her.

"Much better. Now can you help my-" She starts.

"Merlin!" Arthur says, walking in. Merlin looks up at Arthur scared. "This is where you have been then?" Merlin walks backwards in fright.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just was healing Evelyn's leg." He says, looking around for something he could use to not hurt Arthur, but knock him unconscious. He sees a sleeping powder in the shelves and grabs it. "Please forgive me Arthur." He says, before thrusting a handful of the fine powder onto Arthur, effectively knocking him out for a good hour or two.

"Why did you knock out the king?" Evelyn asks Merlin.

"He would hurt me, Eve. Don't worry, he will be fine. He's just sleeping." Merlin assures her. She smiles. "Now, do you want to help me pack?" He asks.

"Sure. But why are you leaving?" Evelyn asks, picking up a bag and putting some of the jars filled with powder into it, wrapping each in a cloth.

"Arthur can't know where I am." He says sadly.

"Then I am coming with you." She says defiantly.

"No, Eve. Its too dangerous."

"Then teach me to fight. I wanna go." The 7, almost 8, year old says. Merlin sighs.

"Eve, I love you, but no. If and when all this dies down, I will come back and get you, okay?" Merlin says, hoping for a compromise.

"Fine. But, you better come visit me." She says.

"For sure." Merlin says, smiling. The next hour was filled with a rush of packing and getting things together. He put the most important things in his satchel and put the rest in his saddle bags.

"Can you make sure the king gets back to the village safely?" Merlin asks Evelyn. She nods.

"Of course, Merlin." She says, smiling. Merlin shakes his head, smiling as well. "Goodbye."

Merlin kisses the top of her head and smiles. "See you." He says before riding off.
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A/n
Guys. You are all amazing. As a present for me not updating in a month, and extra long chappie for y'all. And, FYI, I do read all the comments you leave. I love reading them. All of them. Not so sure why.... *shrugs* Eh, is fun. Anyway, love y'all.
BAI MERLINANS!