Author:
ajsrandomTitle: Surprise!
Rating: G
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Merlin and Arthur receive a couple of surprises while coming home from a quest.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 270
Prompt: 621, Withdrawal
Author's Notes: A slightly crack-y departure from my serial fic. :)
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Merlin and Arthur were riding home from a routine quest. They’d faced many perils in the form of monsters who were, of course, backed by Morgana. While Merlin pondered what it would be like to quest without Morgana’s involvement, a horde of bandits jumped out of the surrounding brush with a mighty yell.
“What the . . .?” Merlin said.
“No talk, fight,” Arthur replied. He began slashing at the nearest foe, turning his back on Merlin.
Merlin began his usual tripping and dropping tree branches on heads, but the bandits just didn’t quit. They kept getting back up with what looked like superhuman strength. Merlin had had enough. Morgana had obviously interfered again. He uttered a few words and raised his hand to the sky, which clouded over rapidly. Lightning struck every bandit, and they all immediately fell.
“That should do it,” said Merlin, brushing off his hands. He turned to find Arthur staring at him, open-mouthed.
“You can do that?” Arthur asked.
“Yes?”
“Why haven’t you done it before?"
“Umm, I thought my life would be in danger.”
Arthur shook his head. “That’s what my father thought. I am not him.”
“I know, but . . .” Merlin looked around at the bandits, who were slowly waking. “Perhaps a strategic withdrawal would be in order. We can talk about the other thing later, if we’re still alive.”
“Agreed.”
They jumped on their horses and got the heck out of there before the bandits could rally. Fortunately, they made it back to Camelot in one piece. Merlin knew that sooner or later they’d have that talk about his magic.