Calm Before the Storm

Chapter Twenty-Nine

29. Unwanted Addition

Magdelena, Merlin, and Gwen were attending to the ill people in the building set for the sick people. Magdelena was stumped, wishing she had her powers, she would know what was ailing then as soon as she was in their presence, "I barely feel a pulse," she whispers sadly to the two other in the room. 

John enters the room looking at Magdelena, "How are they?"

Magdelena looks at him her eyes sad and slightly ashamed, "I'm afraid the treatments have had no effect."

"You mean they're dying."

"They were dying before I had my hands here," she says rather hotly staring at him with a slight furrow of her brows, "I'm sorry." She turns back toward the patients staring at the forlornly, "There's something at work here that I don't understand."

"Are you suggesting sorcery?"

"That is possible, yes."

"I feared as much," John says staring at her, "The other night, when I found Aldref, I felt a...a presence. An evil in the air."

"We need to get back to Gaius. Only he can explain this," Magdelena says, Gwen and Merlin go off to collect the knights so they may head out as quickly as they could, "I am sorry John, I wish I could be of more help." 

"You traveled all the way here from Camelot," John says staring at her, "We owe you a great deal."

"Not until these people are healed."

Magdelena goes out of the ward, Gilthunder was heading her way she smiles petting his snout before climing up onto him. She waited until the others joined her, before they all rode out rushing toward Camelot. Leon brings them to a stop when she notices a campfire, "Dismount and muzzle your horses. Not a sound, any of you."

Dismounting they creep closer showing the many men around the camp, "Bandits," Merlin whispers.

Elyan nods, "Looks like it."

"We'll skirt their camp. With any luck, we'll reach the plain unnoticed."

"Over there," Gwaine motions towards the camp bring to the attention a girl with her hands tied that the bandits were jostling around.

Drawing his sword Gwaine takes off toward the camp the others following suit. Many of the bandits were killed while the others fleed. Percival calls out, as they walk toward his call the find him cradling the now unconscious girl.

"Looks like we're too late."

Magdelena bends down doing a small check on the girl, "No, she's--" her sentence is cut off by the girl screaming tyring to get away from Magdelena who looks at her rather confused by such the reaction.

"Hey. Hey. Hey, it's all right. It's all right," Percival tries to calm her down while Gwen bends down next to them. Percival calms the girl down finally, "We're knights of Camelot. You're safe now. You're safe."

"Here," Gwen reaches to untie the rope from around her arms as the girl squirms, "My name's Gwen. What's yours?"

"Lamia. My name is Lamia," the girl speaks in a softer tone then excpected, Magdelena begins to gather the medical supplies she would need to help care for the girl.

"What happened to you, Lamia?"

"I was travelling home and the bandits took me," her voice breaks and she begins to sob pushing herself closer to Percival.

"Your hands. Did they do this to you?" Merlin asks while Magdelena reaches to apply some salve to her wrists but she recoils away from the girl. Magdelena looks at her with a curious glance, she turns as a hand was placed on her shoulder and she sees Leon.

"Are you strong enough to ride?" Leon asks the girl who just looks up at him, "Then let's get out of here. Before they return."

Percival carries her to where they had left their horse, Gilthunder began to freak out at the sight of the girl. Magdelena raced forward grabbing his face to calm him down, "I know there is something off about her but I need you to behave so we can figure it out," she whispers into her horses ear as she rubs his neck, "Can you do that?"

'That is an evil creature,' Gilthunder spat, Magdelena was unsure the last time she had heard him grow angry from something, 'We must stop her. I will do my part.' 

Magdelena helps set up the area for them to prepare for a meal. Percival had pushed Merlin away from himself and Lamia when they were all dismounting. Merlin had made some dinner for the entire camp and Gwen took some over toward the girl, "Would you--" Lamia flinches away from the offered food bowl, "I'll just put it here." Gwen places it on a nearby rock and walks back to where Merlin and Magdelena were sitting, "She still won't eat. No appetite at all. Poor girl."

"Pack your bags. We ride east with the rising sun," Leon speaks to the camp making Magdelena furrow her eyes in confusion.

"Wait...east?" Merlin asks just as confused as she was, "Camelot lies west of here."

"Lamia has asked that we take her home," Elyan answers making Magdelena turn to glare at the girl.

"No, we need to get Gaius."

"Gaius can wait," Gwaine tells Merlin.

"We were sent to help the people of Longstead," Merlin says sounding determined, "Their lives depend on us."

"You dare to question our judgment?" Leon snaps harshly at Merlin, "You are not a knight! You're not even a physician! You're nothing but a servant! Come on."

"Please! Listen! Merlin's right, we have to get back to-- !"

"Stay out of this, Gwen. It's none of your business," Eylan says.

They paused once more, now heading east the opposite direction of Camelot. Magdelena did her best to watch Lamia but the other knights seemed keen on fighting each other. Leon was heading toward the girl only for Gwaine to step in his way.

"Why don't you watch what you're doing?"

"Why don't you watch your damn tongue?" Gwaine snapped at the other knight.

"You'd do well to learn some manners."

"Nothing I can learn from you, Leon," Gwaine shoves Leon back.

"We'll see about that," Leon shoves Gwaine, Magdelena watching in fear.

"Enough! What's got into you?" Merlin snaps at the two knights.

Leon rams his chest into Gwaine as he walks past him causing Gwaine to draw his sword. Leon does likewise and they begin to fight. The other nights rush to pull the two apart, Magdelena stands when she sees the blood coming from Leon's chainmail.

"Great!" She snaps at them all with a harsh glare

"I'll get the medicine bag," Gwen says rushing toward the horses to grab the bag from Gilthunder. Magdelena leads Leon away from Gwaine, sitting him down as she begins to tend to the wound. 

Gwen hands her the bag and quickly Magdelena bandages him up, "This is what you get for acting a fool," she hisses under her breath closing the medicine bag and leaving him to sit there with Lancelot close by in case he feels the need to attack again.