The Poison of Life - Merlin

Chapter One

I sit at my table thinking. I have the day off, and I can't think of a single thing to do. I begin to ask Merlin what he thinks, when I realize he isn't in the room. I frown. He's never this late.

I decide to see what he's up to and leave my chambers after dressing myself. I quickly arrive at Gaius' chambers and knock on the door to receive no response. "Gaius?" I ask, slowly opening the door. "Merlin?"

I walk in after a long silence. I see Gaius knocked out on the floor, blood dripping from his forehead.

"Gaius?" I ask franticly, shaking him gently. His eyes flutter and I sigh in relief, lifting him up to place him on the patients' bed.

I tend to his forehead to the best of my ability, dabbing a cloth soaked with water on the wound carefully. Soon, the physician wakes up, looking worried. "Where's Merlin?" is the first thing he says.

"I don't know, I came looking for him and found you," I furrow my brows. "What happened?"

"Someone barged in and knocked me out, that's all I remember," Gaius answers.

"Do you know of anyone who might want to hurt Merlin?"

"No..." he seems to think of someone but brushes it off. "No."

I sigh. "I'd better go look for him, then. Will you be alright?"

My old friend nods, distracted. "Yes, I'll be fine. Thank you, sire."

I pat him on the shoulder before leaving the chambers.

I run my hands through my hair, frustrated. I've searched everywhere in the castle, I don't know where else he could be!

"Sire?" I turn to see Leon and the rest of the knights.

"What is it?" I ask, trying to sound calm but failing.

The knights all exchange glances. "We've noticed something's wrong, can we help?"

I exhale deeply. "Merlin is missing. I've searched everywhere,"

"We could search for him," Gwaine suggests. "Ride in the forest, maybe he went for a long walk."

I think for a moment and nod. "Get the horses ready," they bow and walk towards the stables, leaving me alone.

Where could he be? And who attacked Gaius?

We ride into the forest, the knights joking around and laughing while I stay quiet, deeply worried about Merlin. I call his name a few times every once in a while, to no response.

"Did you say someone attacked Gaius?" Percival asks after a while of riding around.

"Yes, he was knocked out before he could do anything."

"Maybe the person who hurt him took Merlin," he suggests.

"Who would do that?"

"Morgana, maybe," Leon says. "She's hurt him before,"

I sigh. "Even if it was Morgana, we have no idea where they could be."

Suddenly, we hear yelling from a distance. Everyone silences themselves, and a few moments later we hear another scream.

"Was that..." Gwaine asks, eyes wide.

I start riding off at a run. "Merlin!" I shout, heading towards where we heard him scream.

My knights follow, all of us determined to find him. We arrive at a small hut hidden deep in the woods. I hold my hand up to motion for them to stop their horses and be quiet.

Another scream comes from the hut, sounding awful. My heart starts pounding, but I don't show my nervousness as I slowly walk up to the door, my friends following.

I count to three before whipping the door open, revealing Morgana torturing Merlin, who's hands are tied to the ceiling.

She turns around swiftly, anger sparking in her eyes when she sees us. The witch quickly recites a spell and vanishes before we can react.

I shake it off and rush over to Merlin, who's barely conscious. He has several deep gashes in his abdomen, bleeding heavily.

"Merlin, stay awake," I instruct, voice shaky as I untie him, causing him to fall on the floor. I hold him up and, with the help of Percival, I get him onto a horse, trying not to hurt his wounds too badly.

"Arthur," he whispers weakly.

"You're going to be fine, Merlin," I say sternly and he keeps quiet.

I ride off as quickly as I can without hurting my servant any more, breathing hard. He won't die, Gaius will help him as always. It's not his time yet.

At least, I hope.