Profound Bond

Chapter 5- false hopes

Then, as if by magic, Gill reared backwards and dropped his sword. He clutched his wrist and yelled out. Bella didn't understand. She looked at his hand. The skin on it was red and blistering.

It was the perfect distraction. Bella released the arrow she had been holding. It pierced straight into Gill's abdomen. He cried out and fell to the ground. Arthur ran up to him, pressing the tip of his sword right against his neck.

"What is your purpose in these woods? Where are you from?" Arthur asked Gill. The man lay there gritting his teeth and hissing in pain. "Answer me!" Arthur demanded.

"Anir's kingdom!" Gill yelled, "We came from Anir's kingdom."

"Anir..." Arthur muttered. He then moved the sword away from Gill's neck and pointed away from Camelot."Get out of these woods," he then commanded to Gill, "And pray we never meet again."

Gill scrambled across the ground until he finally managed to get up. He ran like a house on fire. Arthur kept an eye on him as he ran, making sure he was out of sight before he looked elsewhere.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Arthur asked Bella concernedly, just as Gill disappeared from his sight.

"He didn't hurt me, I'm alright," said Bella. Arthur gave her one last check over with his eyes, just to make sure she was okay.

"Thank goodness. Let's get back to Camelot," Arthur said, placing his hand on her back and leading her towards her horse.

"Why would two men come here all the way from Anir's kingdom?" a voice asked. Arthur snapped his head around, only to realise it was Merlin who had spoken. Merlin stood a few yards away, right beside a tree. Arthur sighed.

"They were thieves, Merlin," said Arthur as he helped Bella onto her horse. "Camelot is a kingdom full of many riches. It's not hard to guess what their motives were."

"But there are plenty of kingdoms with many riches that are closer to Anir's," Merlin argued, "Why Camelot?"

"Who knows, Merlin?" Arthur said, now preparing to mount his own horse, "Maybe they were visiting friends."

Once Arthur and Merlin were on their horses, the group rode off in the direction of the castle.

"Anir's kingdom is a very long way away," Merlin said as they rode, "Almost a three-day's ride."

"Give it a rest, Merlin," Arthur groaned.

"You're afraid, Arthur," Merlin said, "Those bandits shouldn't have been there and you know it. You're worried and too afraid to admit it."

"I'm worried?" Arthur asked incredulously, "Me? Worried?"

"I can see it in your eyes," Merlin stated, "You're scared."

"Says the one who hid behind a tree the whole time Bella and I were fighting..." Arthur said.

"I did not!" Merlin screeched.

"You can't lie to me, Merlin," Arthur said, "I know you too well."

"I was not hiding behind a tree!"

"What were you doing, then?" questioned Arthur.

"I was... Well, I... Errr..." stammered Merlin.

"See?" Arthur, "I told you, Merlin. I know you too well."

Merlin didn't reply. He began to fidget with the reins of his horse and kept his gaze fixed on the field that lay before them.

Minutes later, Bella, Arthur and Merlin arrived in the courtyard. It was only then, when all three of them had hopped off of their horses, that Merlin realised Bella had not spoken the whole journey home.