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The scent of betrayal is sharp and stings the King of Camelot’s nostrils as he and his men hunt.
The dog’s strain against their leashes as their handlers are dragged by their feet through the mud and rain, shouting orders as they pick up on Merlin’s trail, thanks to his fallen handkerchief that lay by their feet a few leads back.
The horses cry out as the lanterns held by the knights trick the beholder into making every shadow an enemy, following just as fast.
The blinding rain does not deter the knights of Camelot as they follow their King, hunting the traitor. The only knight unaccounted for is Sir Gwaine. Who, in the time of Merlin’s betrayal to his King by sorcery, was nowhere to be seen.
Merlin pants as he is ushered through the forest by Gwaine, tethered together by tightly gripped hands.
“Almost there.”
Merlin hiccups, tearful. “I shouldn’t have told him, I knew this would happen, I knew it!”
“Merlin, you saved his life, he’s just…angry.” Gwaine grunts out as he helps Merlin over a fallen tree that blocks the path, they then continue their hurried escape. “He cares for you too much to kill you but this, he has to act in this way, it was too public for him to do anything else. He’s stuck.”
“Gwaine, please just go.”
“Some horses will be able to make the jump but not all, that gives us a higher chance of getting you across the boarder, to Ealdor.”
Merlin swallows. “I cannot endanger my Mother, not again.”
“You don’t have a choice, Merlin. I am not leaving you alone in this world.”
Merlin feels his throat close up, hot tears fall down his icy cheeks. “Gwaine.”
“You know what? You’re right…I’ll just have to come with you then!” He says cheerfully, looking back and flashing a dazzling smile at the warlock.
“Why did you help me?”
“I am your knight in shining armor, is it not obvious?”
Merlin can’t help but choke out a laugh.
“That’s it, we’re almost there.” Gwaine pants out, not letting go of his hand for a second. “Just a little further, keep running.”
Why did he always sound so sure of himself, so sure that everything was going to be fine even though the odds were stacked against them? It gave him a sense of cautious comfort.
“Once we reach Ealdor, I’ll make us tea and we can sleep by the fire, how does that sound?”
Merlin laughs. “How do you know we have tea?”
Gwaine shrugs. “From what I’ve heard, since you killed the raider’s leader…Ealdor has grown and improved.”
“It has.” Merlin smiles, skidding now and then against the mud. He hears horses crying in the distance. “Arthur should not be pushing them like this, he’s still injured.”
“You told me once, that Arthur won’t quit even if his head was hanging on by a thread.”
Merlin grumbles. “Don’t remind me.”
Gwaine laughs against the crashing thunder and Merlin joins him.
Arthur curses as he reaches the boarder, he pulls on his horses reigns, glaring into the night. He opens his mouth to say something but his rage threatens to burst out too many things, things that he is not ready to say. So, the only thing he can do is turn away and head back to Camelot. “I will not have war with Lot over this.” He hisses to Leon, who remains silent.
Hour’s later, in the peaceful breeze and dewed grass, Sir Gwaine and Merlin arrive in Ealdor, exhausted and soaked to the bone.
Merlin shivers under the cloak Gwaine had leant him.
“She’s probably asleep, best to see her in the morning.”
“You will freeze to death by then.” Gwaine warns calmly as they stand by the front door of a cottage.
“The horses, we will sleep on the hay.” Merlin explains. “I have done it before.”
“Dry and with a full belly maybe.” Gwaine says and knocks quickly, Merlin curses.
They hear shuffling inside before a hesitant creak is heard as a latch unclips and the door opens slowly. “Yes?”
“Mother, it’s good to see you, I’m afraid Arthur knows now and I am a traitor to the crown.” He forces himself to smile bitterly.
“Oh, my boy…my boy, please come inside.” The door flings open, two arms reach out against the dark and a woman pulls Merlin in, holding him tight. Beautiful, sad eyes bore into Gwaine’s.
“I have not seen you before, who are you?” Hunith demands.
Gwaine flashes her a charming smile. “I am Merlin’s knight, no more and no less.”
Hunith pulls away, tearing off the cloak from his son’s trembling shoulders. “You are soaked, both of you inside, now.” She says sternly, ushering them in.
Gwaine and Merlin strip as Hunith pours hot water into two bowls. She provides a scrub and cloth with a used bar of charcoal soap and goes back to sleep.
Gwaine merrily scrubs himself down. “What a lovely fire.”
Merlin snickers like a child. “Indeed.”
“I forgot to ask your Mother for tea.”
“We can ask tomorrow morning.” Merlin smiles fondly, scrubbing the dirt away, then working the warm, soapy cloth along his cold skin and turns to face Gwaine. “Let me help.”
Gwaine pauses and hands him the cloth and Merlin gets to work cleaning his back. “You are covered in dirt.” He scolds, it feels so familiar, too familiar and he swallows a lump in his throat as he works the dirt off of his knight.
Gwaine bends his head down, allowing Merlin better access. “I’m sorry.” He says simply. Merlin knows what he means and knows he doesn’t have to say anything. He finishes cleaning the man and hands the cloth back.
Gwaine momentarily holds his hand before taking the cloth from it, dipping it into the water and works to clean his boots, his clothes already in the dirty laundry pile along with Merlin’s.
As they dry themselves, Merlin throws on his old pair of clothes and tosses Gwaine clothes too big for him, once his Father’s. Gwaine wordlessly changes into them before hugging Merlin close. “Better.”
Merlin hugs back. “You’re warm.”
“That I am, thanks to your Mother, she is a saint.”
“That she is.” Merlin buries his face against Gwaine’s neck.
Gwaine kisses his head. “It’s going to be okay, I know it might not seem like it now but…Arthur is a good man, you showed me that, we just need to trust him.”
“You’re a good man, Gwaine.” Merlin sighs. “I should rest, my thoughts are too dim to reason with.”
Gwaine pulls Merlin down with him as the lie on a makeshift bed, they curl up against one another, limbs tangled, breaths mingling.
“Rest.” Gwaine hushes, kissing Merlin softly.
Merlin hiccups. “I will, it’s just…it’s hard to…my mind won’t stop racing.”
“Close your eyes.”
Merlin does so.
Gwaine pulls him closer, kissing him tenderly. “You are safe here.”
Merlin frowns.
“I love you, you know this but I have to say it again, I love you.” Gwaine hushes, kissing him again.
Merlin’s shoulders relax. “I love you too.” He whispers back against Gwaine’s lips.
Gwaine rubs his back. “I will take care of you both now, I am your knight after all.”
Merlin hugs him close.
“Rest, Merlin…tomorrow is a new day.”
Merlin feels himself slip and all he knows is warmth and love.