Re: Answers (4/4)minuialeth75December 13 2011, 20:04:47 UTC
Gwaine gingerly put Merlin back on the ground. He deliberately unclasped his red cloak and threw it on the ground, his face an odd mix of animosity and disappointment. "Then I'm no longer a Knight of Camelot. I can't possibly obey that order and uphold the knight's code."
Ignoring any reaction that might come from his king, he proceeded to lift Merlin in his arms again, and started toward the horses.
Beyond reasoning, acting on pure instinct, Arthur blocked his path, sword in hand. That's when he got his first good look at Merlin's state. His limp body looked lifeless in Gwaine's arms and he was horribly pale. Blood - too much of it - was congealing in his hair and face, making the skin look even whiter. Gwaine had carefully positioned Merlin's head on his shoulder so it wouldn't roll as he walked, to not worsen the injury. If it hadn't been for all the blood, Merlin could have looked like an innocent sleeping child. Arthur was suddenly hit by an overwhelming feeling of utter wrongness. Before he could grasp his thoughts' direction, he found himself thinking that a battle wound looked terribly wrong on Merlin, that Merlin shouldn't look so… fragile. Merlin wasn't supposed… Wasn't supposed to what? To fight? Why was he thinking that? Merlin was a sorcerer. He could kill him with just a spell. Then why had he just saved him? Why hadn't he let the bandits kill him while he defended his own life with his magic? Why had he jumped in front of the Dorocha to save him? Why had he drunk from the chalice that was destined for him, knowing it was poisoned? He was a sorcerer, wasn't he supposed to want him dead? Was he as stupid as he pretended to be? Arthur had a brief flash of Merlin's goofy grin. The contrast of that cheerful memory with the now bloody and lifeless-looking man was so violent Arthur unconsciously loosened the hold on his sword handle.
He realized he would never have his questions answered if Merlin died. He would never know why he had come to Camelot where magic was banned, why he had remained his servant, why he had saved his life numerous times, as he was starting to suspect. If Merlin died, he would be left to wonder for the rest of his life. And that's the only reason why he was going to ride back to Camelot as fast as he could and let him into Gaius' care.
Arthur sheathed his sword. Gwaine hadn't moved so only mere moments must have passed. The knight's stance relaxed. He couldn't have defended himself and Merlin against Arthur if he had decided to attack them.
"I'll get the horse for Merlin," he said to the knight. He found he liked the look Gwaine was shooting him now much better than the previous one. He almost jogged to the trees where the horses were tethered. When he came back, Gwaine made for handing him his unconscious servant to mount the horse. "No. I'll be the one riding with Merlin," Arthur corrected him.
A few moments later, Gwaine was helping him securing Merlin at the front of the horse, between his arms, his bloodied head on his shoulder. He wished he had cleaned the wound a bit, so it looked less ghastly. He found himself checking every second if the young man was still breathing. He wasn't worried. He wanted answers. All the handling, as cautious as it had been, must have made Merlin regain consciousness because his eyes opened as far as slits. Apparently it was enough for him to see because his eyes alighted on Arthur's face. "I'm sorry," was all he managed to say before fainting. Arthur chose to ignore the feelings those words had triggered to check the pulse at Merlin's neck. Still there. Still alive.
"Sire, we should go." Gwaine, wearing the Pendragon read cloak again, took the lead on his horse.
Camelot wasn't far away. They would make it in time.
Re: Answers (4/4)minuialeth75December 18 2011, 21:27:56 UTC
It's not on the menu right now, especially as I've begun to write something else (still for "Merlin") but I've been toying with the idea of writing a bit more :o) /shameless self-promotion/I've also posted another short fic on my LJ.
Re: Answers (4/4)helva2260December 19 2011, 20:23:54 UTC
Brilliant - I love the way that Arthur's so unsure and almost dizzy with conflicting emotions in the shock of the moment and Gwaine isn't. Hopefully once Merlin's recovered enough to talk and Arthur's had enough time to start to think things through rather than just react, the actual explanations will go a little more smoothly.
Also, "...perhaps Gaius was right, maybe that old sorcerer had not tried to kiss his father but had just..." Kiss? Well no wonder Uther had that sudden heart attack just when they thought he was doing better! I mean, we know it's Merlin and he's cute under all that beard, but all he saw was an immensely hairy elderly peasant puckering up and moving in for a snog... XD
Re: Answers (4/4)minuialeth75December 19 2011, 20:51:43 UTC
*facepalm* I have to blame myself for not re-reading as thoroughly as I should have. And also spending too much time laughing at my beta's typo and NOT correcting it in the end!!! Uther shouldn't have that heart attack, though. After all, he married a troll ;o)
Thanks for your comment. I was aiming for a shell shocked Arthur and I'm glad it came through.
Ignoring any reaction that might come from his king, he proceeded to lift Merlin in his arms again, and started toward the horses.
Beyond reasoning, acting on pure instinct, Arthur blocked his path, sword in hand. That's when he got his first good look at Merlin's state.
His limp body looked lifeless in Gwaine's arms and he was horribly pale. Blood - too much of it - was congealing in his hair and face, making the skin look even whiter.
Gwaine had carefully positioned Merlin's head on his shoulder so it wouldn't roll as he walked, to not worsen the injury. If it hadn't been for all the blood, Merlin could have looked like an innocent sleeping child.
Arthur was suddenly hit by an overwhelming feeling of utter wrongness. Before he could grasp his thoughts' direction, he found himself thinking that a battle wound looked terribly wrong on Merlin, that Merlin shouldn't look so… fragile.
Merlin wasn't supposed… Wasn't supposed to what? To fight? Why was he thinking that? Merlin was a sorcerer. He could kill him with just a spell.
Then why had he just saved him? Why hadn't he let the bandits kill him while he defended his own life with his magic?
Why had he jumped in front of the Dorocha to save him?
Why had he drunk from the chalice that was destined for him, knowing it was poisoned?
He was a sorcerer, wasn't he supposed to want him dead? Was he as stupid as he pretended to be?
Arthur had a brief flash of Merlin's goofy grin. The contrast of that cheerful memory with the now bloody and lifeless-looking man was so violent Arthur unconsciously loosened the hold on his sword handle.
He realized he would never have his questions answered if Merlin died. He would never know why he had come to Camelot where magic was banned, why he had remained his servant, why he had saved his life numerous times, as he was starting to suspect.
If Merlin died, he would be left to wonder for the rest of his life. And that's the only reason why he was going to ride back to Camelot as fast as he could and let him into Gaius' care.
Arthur sheathed his sword. Gwaine hadn't moved so only mere moments must have passed. The knight's stance relaxed. He couldn't have defended himself and Merlin against Arthur if he had decided to attack them.
"I'll get the horse for Merlin," he said to the knight. He found he liked the look Gwaine was shooting him now much better than the previous one.
He almost jogged to the trees where the horses were tethered.
When he came back, Gwaine made for handing him his unconscious servant to mount the horse.
"No. I'll be the one riding with Merlin," Arthur corrected him.
A few moments later, Gwaine was helping him securing Merlin at the front of the horse, between his arms, his bloodied head on his shoulder. He wished he had cleaned the wound a bit, so it looked less ghastly. He found himself checking every second if the young man was still breathing.
He wasn't worried. He wanted answers.
All the handling, as cautious as it had been, must have made Merlin regain consciousness because his eyes opened as far as slits. Apparently it was enough for him to see because his eyes alighted on Arthur's face.
"I'm sorry," was all he managed to say before fainting.
Arthur chose to ignore the feelings those words had triggered to check the pulse at Merlin's neck. Still there. Still alive.
"Sire, we should go." Gwaine, wearing the Pendragon read cloak again, took the lead on his horse.
Camelot wasn't far away. They would make it in time.
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You already know how much I love this fic, but I can never repeat it enough - I still get goosebumps during the moment! :)
And I fully take the blame for you-know-what ;)
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Would you please please please write the discussion that follows?
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/shameless self-promotion/I've also posted another short fic on my LJ.
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Also, "...perhaps Gaius was right, maybe that old sorcerer had not tried to kiss his father but had just..." Kiss? Well no wonder Uther had that sudden heart attack just when they thought he was doing better! I mean, we know it's Merlin and he's cute under all that beard, but all he saw was an immensely hairy elderly peasant puckering up and moving in for a snog... XD
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Uther shouldn't have that heart attack, though. After all, he married a troll ;o)
Thanks for your comment. I was aiming for a shell shocked Arthur and I'm glad it came through.
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