Protecting the Prince
Author: Gilli_ann
Title: Protecting the Prince
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Merlin and Arthur are attacked in the night, but the strange attacker mysteriously disappears
Word Count: 500
Prompt: Reveal
A/N: Canon compatible
"Reveal yourselves!" Arthur shouted, sword at the ready, straining to see what might be hiding in the surrounding forest's night shadows.
The quest had been going well. The two of them had settled comfortably for the night. With a blazing campfire going, dried meat and cheese, a flask of ale, and most of all; with Merlin at his side, Arthur had felt happy and relaxed. But of course, some strange fire-hurling smoke-smelling entity, possibly Druids or bandits, had to ruin the idyll.
They'd experienced a few frantic minutes of bursts of fire among the trees, loud booms, their horses screaming in panic, everything suddenly confusing and chaotic.
All was quiet now, but Arthur could smell acrid smoke. And where had Merlin gotten to? Had the fool run off to be captured - or worse - by their mysterious assailants? Arthur's heart beat faster at this unwelcome thought.
"Show yourselves!" he called again, and then, even louder; "Merlin!"
There was rustling behind him, and the noise of a twig breaking. Arthur whirled around to face whatever was approaching, and was rewarded with the sight of Merlin stumbling towards him. There were streaks of mud and soot on his clothes and face, and his hair was unusually dishevelled. For one eerie moment, the light from the campfire made his eyes seem to glow.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, making sure to sound particularly exasperated to hide his relief. "What on earth have you been up to? Where did you go, you idiot?"
Merlin was panting as if he'd run miles. "I... thought it best to hide," he wheezed. "But then I stumbled and fell into some sort of shallow muddy hole... and then I stayed there."
"Did you see anything? Anything that explains the strange lights and booming sounds?"
"No. I mean yes! There was a sound of something moving in the forest, but it was leaving. The noises got fainter, and then they were gone. I didn't see anything. Too dark. Probably some sort of weird magical beast that we scared up with our fire?"
"Huh." Arthur looked around, straining to hear or see any signs of danger. But the forest was quiet and dark. A gentle breeze moved among the trees and made the leaves rustle. The horses had gone quiet. Far away, an owl hooted. Finally, he nodded. "The danger does seem to have passed."
Merlin smiled, and tried to scrub mud off his cheek with an equally muddy sleeve. "I'm tired."
"How many times have I told you to stay at my side when danger looms?" Arthur admonished him. "When you run off like a scared rabbit, I can't protect you."
"I'm sorry, Arthur. I'll do better."
"You know I worry when you're defenseless and on your own."
"Yes, Arthur," Merlin said with suspicious meekness. "I'll stay by your side next time."
"Good." Arthur sheathed his sword and yawned. "Let's hope there is no next time. This was enough excitement for a while. And one day, your luck might run out."
Title: Protecting the Prince
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Merlin and Arthur are attacked in the night, but the strange attacker mysteriously disappears
Word Count: 500
Prompt: Reveal
A/N: Canon compatible
"Reveal yourselves!" Arthur shouted, sword at the ready, straining to see what might be hiding in the surrounding forest's night shadows.
The quest had been going well. The two of them had settled comfortably for the night. With a blazing campfire going, dried meat and cheese, a flask of ale, and most of all; with Merlin at his side, Arthur had felt happy and relaxed. But of course, some strange fire-hurling smoke-smelling entity, possibly Druids or bandits, had to ruin the idyll.
They'd experienced a few frantic minutes of bursts of fire among the trees, loud booms, their horses screaming in panic, everything suddenly confusing and chaotic.
All was quiet now, but Arthur could smell acrid smoke. And where had Merlin gotten to? Had the fool run off to be captured - or worse - by their mysterious assailants? Arthur's heart beat faster at this unwelcome thought.
"Show yourselves!" he called again, and then, even louder; "Merlin!"
There was rustling behind him, and the noise of a twig breaking. Arthur whirled around to face whatever was approaching, and was rewarded with the sight of Merlin stumbling towards him. There were streaks of mud and soot on his clothes and face, and his hair was unusually dishevelled. For one eerie moment, the light from the campfire made his eyes seem to glow.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, making sure to sound particularly exasperated to hide his relief. "What on earth have you been up to? Where did you go, you idiot?"
Merlin was panting as if he'd run miles. "I... thought it best to hide," he wheezed. "But then I stumbled and fell into some sort of shallow muddy hole... and then I stayed there."
"Did you see anything? Anything that explains the strange lights and booming sounds?"
"No. I mean yes! There was a sound of something moving in the forest, but it was leaving. The noises got fainter, and then they were gone. I didn't see anything. Too dark. Probably some sort of weird magical beast that we scared up with our fire?"
"Huh." Arthur looked around, straining to hear or see any signs of danger. But the forest was quiet and dark. A gentle breeze moved among the trees and made the leaves rustle. The horses had gone quiet. Far away, an owl hooted. Finally, he nodded. "The danger does seem to have passed."
Merlin smiled, and tried to scrub mud off his cheek with an equally muddy sleeve. "I'm tired."
"How many times have I told you to stay at my side when danger looms?" Arthur admonished him. "When you run off like a scared rabbit, I can't protect you."
"I'm sorry, Arthur. I'll do better."
"You know I worry when you're defenseless and on your own."
"Yes, Arthur," Merlin said with suspicious meekness. "I'll stay by your side next time."
"Good." Arthur sheathed his sword and yawned. "Let's hope there is no next time. This was enough excitement for a while. And one day, your luck might run out."