Fire Light (Merlin FanFic)

Part 3- The squirrel whisperer

Part 3

“Is everyone alright?” Leon called as the last of the men vanished into the distance. He looked around but there was no sign of his friends. Suddenly he heard a rustling in the trees’. He raised his sword and began to creep towards the sound; he reached out a hand to remove the foliage when suddenly it moved aside. Leon jumped and swung his sword forward missing Percival by an inch. “Wow careful.” Percival said staring at the sword, “You could hurt someone with that thing.” Leon smiled and put his sword back in its sheath. “Where are the others?” Leon asked. Percival opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by a shout from Elyon. “I think you just got your answer.” Percival said and they set off towards the sound.

They found Elyon in a clearing next to an unconscious Arthur. “What happened?” Leon said as he knelt down by their king. “His shoulder, the wounds pretty deep.” Elyon said. Leon looked at the large gash in Arthur’s should and sighed. “Where’s Merlin?” Leon asked, “Maybe he can help.”

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him.” Elyon said.

“Where’s Gwaine?” Percival asked.

“Look for mead and you’ll find him.” Leon said to preoccupied with their king to worry where Gwane had got to, ‘he is probably talking to squirrels somewhere’ Leon thought to himself. “No really, where have Gwaine and Merlin gone?” Percival asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s get Arthur back to Mia first then we will look for them.” Leon said and he and Percival lifted Arthur off the ground and back to the horses.

Morgana stood at the entrance to the castle of Alodora. She smiled as the small fluffy creature clambered onto her shoulder. Then she saw her men dragging two figures towards her. “Thank you Izar. Your work is much appreciated.” Morgana said to the squirrel.

“Wow, and on top of everything else she’s a squirrel whisperer.” Gwaine said as he and Merlin were shoved to the floor at Morgana’s feet.

“Ah Sir knight, it’s been too long.” Morgana said walking up to Gwaine standing right in front of him blocking his view of the castle.

“Hasn’t it just. I see you have made some new friends.” Gwaine said staring back at Morgana with almost an amused look. Morgana smiled slyly before turning to Merlin.

“Same goes for you; I haven’t seen you in a long time. How is my dear brother? Treating you well I hope.” Morgana said to Merlin.

“It is no concern of yours.” Merlin told her. Morgana smiled.

“Well it will be, soon enough your little king will come looking for you and I will be waiting. Take then to the dungeons!” Morgana ordered and Gwaine and Merlin were dragged away.

"Well it's nice to see we get five star treatment." Gwaine said as they were locked in a cell. "Indeed." Merlin replied looking around the dark dingy room. "Might as well make ourselves at home." Gwaine said sitting down by a wall.

"Sssh." Merlin said suddenly.

"What?" Gwaine asked.

"Listen." Merlin told him. Faintly they could hear the sound of a girl crying. "Hello?" Merlin called through the cell door. The crying stopped and there was the sound of chains dragging over the stone floor. Then a young girl with burning red hair appeared at the door to the opposite cell. "Hello?" She said quietly. Gwaine suddenly got to his feet as he heard her voice. "Scarlett?" he said as he went over to the door.

"Yes, that's me. Oh, Gwaine?  What are you doing here? Mia will have a fit if she sees you." Scarlett said.

"I have already seen her; I have bruises to prove it. No she sent us to rescue you." Gwaine said. "Oh, so how's being locked in a cell rescuing me?" She asked.

“Ah, yes it didn't quite go to plan. Gwaine said.

"I see." Scarlett said a faint smile on her face. "Still I'm glad you’re here, it's so lonely down here in the dark."

"Oh believe me you won't be saying that after an hour or so of Gwaine's chattering." Merlin said. Scarlett grinned. "I don't know what you mean!" Gwaine said defiantly.

"You almost drove Elyon insane when Morgana last had you locked up!" Merlin said.

"I was trying to keep our spirits up." Gwaine said.

"I think shutting up of once might have done a better job." Merlin mumbled and received a friendly punch. "Rude!" Gwaine said but smiled. "Now we need to get out of here." Gwaine said, "We could try calling that squirrel and getting it to steal the keys." Gwaine began.

"God We better find a way out soon, I don't know how much of this I can stand." Merlin mumbled.

“Will he be alright?” Leon asked as Mia tended to the wound on Arthur’s shoulder.

“Yes but he won’t be able to go out from a few days. Right now he just needs to rest.”

“Thank you.” Percival said. “As soon as Arthur is fit again we will set off from the castle of Alodora I promise.” Mia smiled and nodded.

“Any news on Gwaine and Merlin?” Mia asked.

“No, we will look for them in the morning they can’t have got far.” Leon said trying to hide the anxiousness in his voice.

"Gwaine?" Merlin said and Gwaine awoke with a start.

"Merlin!"

"Sorry I didn't realise you were asleep. Although it was strangely quite come to think of it." Merlin said and Gwaine groaned.

"Well I was asleep and I was having a great dream to. I was in a tavern that had as much free drinks and food as you could hold and loads of beautiful barmaids. I had drunk a load of mead and was on my 5th apple pie and second barmaid, the first turned into a squirrel with a moustache. Then I was just about to win a load of money in a game when you woke me up!" Gwaine said. Merlin looked at him for a moment before laughing. Gwaine looked irritated for a few seconds more but soon began to laugh too. Suddenly the door at the end of the corridor opened and Morgana swept through. "What do you want?" Merlin asked harshly.

"I merely wanted to see you were comfortable. And I was bored and need something to entertain me." Morgana said her eyes flickering in Gwaine's direction.

"Don't even think about it! I have fought for you before and have no intention of doing so again." Gwaine said.

"Oh I see. Well it's you or Merlin. You decide." Morgana said a wicked smile on her lips. Gwaine looked from Merlin to Morgana before sighing and stepping forward. "Gwaine no!" Merlin said.

"I thought you wanted shot of me? Well this is your chance." Gwaine said with a grin. The cell door opened and Gwaine was pulled out. "Don't worry, he'll be fine." Morgana said with an evil grin as she closed the cell door.

Arthur groaned as he woke with the midmorning sun beating down on him through the window. He couldn’t remember where he was or what he was doing there. “Merlin!” He called but his voice was hoarse and weak. When no Merlin came Arthur decided to get up but as he moved into a sitting position his shoulder cried out in agony and his vision span. He looked down at his bare chest and noticed the bandages over his right shoulder. At that moment the door opened and a young woman with fiery red hair entered with a tray of food. “Oh you’re awake, good. You need to rest though.” She said as she set the tray down. “Do you remember anything?” She asked. Arthur looked puzzled for a moment then the pieces of memory joined together and he almost jumped out of bed. “What am I doing here? We must set off from the castle of Alodora at once! Ow!” He said as his shoulder protested again. “Later, not now. Rest now and I will tell your knights you’re ok.” Mia said as she left the room. Arthur lay back on the bed and winced at the sharp pain in his shoulder. Something was wrong, he could feel it. But what? What had happened?

“I really thought we were past this.” Gwaine said to Morgana as he was thrown into the middle of a group of spectators. “Oh Gwaine, whatever gave you that idea?” Morgana said smiling wickedly.

“Not such a big turn out as last time, I guess it’s just not such a big spectator sport as it used to be.” Gwaine said. Morgana smiled and undid the chains binding Gwaine’s hands. “Now you know how this works, one man lives, one man dies.” Morgana said. “Good luck” She said as she turned to her chair to watch the show.