Chapter Text
Merlin tossed and turned feverishly on the bed, drenched in sweat. “No, Arthur!” he croaked. “Leave now… while… safe.” His brow furrowed, and he cried out as if in pain.
Floating over his hand, the light blue ball of magic glowed brighter.
How odd, Gaius thought. “Merlin,” he said, ”you are a wonder.” After a moment, he draped a blanket once more over the magic whirling in Merlin’s hand. It wouldn’t do to let Gwen notice that.
~\*/~
Prince Arthur adjusted his grip on the rock, intending to follow the large ball of light. He wasn’t sure why the sorceress would have sent him something to light his way, especially when she wanted him dead. Was the ball perhaps from a different sorcerer? But what sort of magical person would want to keep him alive, especially with all his father had done to purge the land from magic?
With a grunt, he shifted his weight onto his other foot and pulled himself within reach of the next ledge. He would have to think about it later. For now, he concentrated on taking the next step toward safety.
The spiders chirped happily as he approached them.
When at last Arthur reached the top of the cave, he stepped into an open meadow. The ball of what Arthur was convinced had to be magic had followed him the whole way. It now floated beside and slightly in front of him, seemingly waiting for the moment he wanted to continue. He supposed that the magic would not lead him astray. It had been reliable so far.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Tucked away nice and safe in a pouch attached to his belt was the Mortaeus flower. The strange witch was gone. Now if he could just get that flower back to Merlin in enough time…
~\*/~
From her vantage point behind the trees, a sorceress smirked. Now was her chance! Nimueh may have failed to eliminate the prince, but she wouldn’t!
With a wave of her hand and a whispered spell, she conjured a monstrous beast. It flapped its mighty wings and turned toward her in search of a command. “Go and destroy Arthur Pendragon,” she ordered. As the chimera left, her mouth twisted into a cruel grin.
Her duty to the Old Religion was done. No high priestess would have to worry about the Pendragon line after this!
But she couldn’t stay and watch. The idea of leaving her chimera alone did not bother at all, for she knew of nothing strong enough to defeat it. Once her hood was in place, she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
~\*/~
The blue ball of light whirled with gold flecks. Arthur got the notion that something was wrong. A second later, he whipped around at the sound of a growl coming from behind him. His hand flew instinctively to his sword.
A hideous creature stalked out from the woods. Twin horns, thick and twisted, pointed toward the sky. Its muscular form was evident, despite the shaggy fur covering its chest. Sharp claws extended from bird-like feet as the beast let out another roar. Its dark eyes glittered in the sunlight. Large pointy wings, reminiscent of a dragon, and a nimble, pointed tail completed the image.
Arthur drew his sword and tried to stab it. His sword merely bounced off its chest. What?! His blue eyes widened. He barely had time to take a breath before the monster slashed at him.
Razor-sharp claws ripped through the prince’s pant leg. At the stinging sensation, Arthur realized with a start that he had been injured. He grit his teeth and tightened his grasp on the sword.
Taking advantage of his distraction, the beast bit him on the arm.
Arthur’s chainmail was no match for the teeth that sank into his arm, piercing the metal. Involuntarily, he cried out in pain. His wounded leg, which had thankfully begun to feel numb, began to buckle beneath him. This was a fact, he realized absently, that should be more concerning. Still, he pushed that thought to the back of his mind. He could deal with that later, when the world had stopped spinning. He staggered backward somewhat. White-hot pain shot through his leg despite the growing numbness.
Arthur’s arm still clenched in its teeth, the beast threw back its head and tossed him a great height into the air.
For a second, he was almost weightless, a dizzying feeling that made his head throb. Then he began to fall. The sky flew past Arthur in a blur of color. He closed his eyes and braced himself for what would surely be an awful landing. Hitting the ground jolted his injured leg and arm, sending waves of pain radiating through his whole body. He moaned. So much for the numbness. Warm blood seeped from his wounds.
After a moment, his mind sluggishly recalled that there was a threat nearby. When he opened his eyes, he thought he saw three identical creatures looming over him. He blinked, and the three images merged into one practically smirking beast.
~\*/~
“Poison, Arthur!” Merlin’s eyelids fluttered. “Poison…”
Gwen lifted a rag from her bowl of cold water. The fever’s getting worse. Her heart hurt for her friend. If only she could take away his pain. While Merlin continued muttering in his delirium, Gwen mopped his sweaty brow. “Please hurry, Arthur…”
At Arthur’s name, Merlin tossed his head and moaned, “Arm, leg… poisoned, Arthur! Be careful!”
~\*/~
The creature screeched and grabbed Arthur’s injured arm in its claws once more. Unfazed by his involuntary howl of pain, it began to flap its hideous wings, carrying Arthur even further into the air.
He closed his eyes, the movement making his dizziness worsen. His arm and leg pulsed almost in time with each other, and he could feel himself growing weaker by the moment.
Then the monster let go of his arm.
The ground rushed up to meet him. If possible, he seemed to fall faster than before. His head made contact with a sharp rock. Searing pain ripped through his head, and he knew no more.
~\*/~
Merlin jolted in his bed. “No, no, no… This can’t—Arthur!”
“Merlin? Merlin?!” Gwen stood. She swirled around, saying, “Gaius, something’s wrong with Merlin!”
The physician hurried into the room, holding herbs in his hand. “I—” He shook his head and gently grabbed Gwen’s arms. “I need you to go and get me some more cold water.”
She shook her head. “But Merlin! I can’t leave him alone. What if he—?”
“He won’t, not if I can help it. Please, go get it for me. I have a feeling he’s going to need it.” Gaius grabbed the bowl and put it in her hands.
With one last glance at her ill friend, Gwen hurried off, sniffling. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. As she turned a corner, she ran into Lady Morgana.
The king’s ward chewed on her lip. “Gwen, I was hoping to find you. How is Merlin doing?” Morgana’s tone showed her worry.
Gwen shook her head. “He’s… not doing well. I—We’re not sure…”
Morgana’s light green eyes seemed unnaturally wet. Her gaze fell to the floor. “Oh.” She cleared her throat. “As you can imagine, Uther is not happy Arthur defied him to get the flower. I heard he’s even sent his guard to watch for Arthur’s return. I don’t doubt that they’ll put him in the dungeon when he returns.” She looked at her maidservant, a flash of determination in her eyes. “I want to help too. We’ll have to find a way for Arthur to make it back safely. You take care of Merlin. I’ll see to the guards.” She held Gwen’s hand. “We have to believe he’ll make it.”
Gwen smiled through her tears. “Yes, m’lady. We must.”
~\*/~
“Merlin, I hope you know what you’re doing…” It had not escaped Gaius’ notice that the ball of condensed magic in Merlin’s hand had grown exponentially and continued its swelling. As it increased in size, the light within it brightened as well. Soon, a whooshing sound could be heard as the magic swirled faster and faster. “Please… come back to us, my boy. We need you.” When he received no response, the old man sighed, “What on earth will I tell your mother…?”
Unsurprisingly, Merlin seemed not to hear. He merely shifted restlessly and murmured words in the language of the Old Religion, some of them Gaius had never heard before.
~\*/~
Arthur lay on the ground, motionless. Blood pooled around him, rapidly flowing from his head wound. The cuts and bruises on his face stood out against the unnatural pallor of his face as his life began to fade. He could not see the chimera flying above him, nor could he hear its growling. He was unaware when the creature slashed at his chest and bit his foot.
As it flew high, he moved not a muscle, except to breathe. It swooped into a dive, ready for the kill.
~\*/~
Merlin let out a strangled cry of pain that practically shook the room.
The magic ball exploded.