She marked him. He didn’t understand. There were so many things he didn’t understand and he wanted nothing more than to ask who on earth that shadowmancer was, who on earth his savior was, and so much more, but he knew better. Now was not the time. A frown tugged at his lips as her staff rolled from her grasp. Quickly, he caught it in his own and laid it across the ground in front of her. She was so weak, energy so drained that she was unable to find the strength even to curl her fingers around her staff. She spoke of a ‘they’, of somebody who would hunt him, spoke of dragons, of their masters. He was reminded of The Great Purge and of Arthur’s father, but Uther Pendragon was dead and gone. Merlin had not been alive during The Great Purge, but this still seemed so different from everything he had read and been told about those horrific days. She apologized and slowly, absently, he shook his head. ”No, no… This wasn’t you, it…” He trailed off. He didn’t know what all of this was, but he could not blame her. He would not blame her, not in the state she was in.
Suddenly, her companion let out a low growl and Merlin was pulled from his thoughts just in time to watch Sarah’s consciousness leave her. Her body fell the rest of the way to the ground and Merlin pulled his lips to a fine line. He had nearly moved forward to catch her, but the presence of the wolf held him back and he remained still. He wondered whether or not their connection was anything like the connection she had with that man. Either way, Merlin was sure that he owed her his life, and this creature — this wolf who had jumped into that darkness, risked his own life for the safety of a complete stranger Merlin truly was forever in their debt.
The wolf approached Merlin with a whine that could break a man’s heart and then took hold of the sleeve of his jacket. ”Hey…” he murmured under his breath, but he did not resist. He allowed himself to be pulled nearer to the woman, he gaze falling upon her still form once more. ”It’s alright. It’s alright, I’m going to help her, but…” He trailed off, looking around. He did not want to stay here. Her words suggested more, after all. He knew where he could take her, though — a familiar hovel, once home to Morgana. It had been long since abandoned and would be safe, at least for awhile.
Merlin eyed the wolf for a moment and then smiled faintly, taking her staff and tucking it under his arm. ”She’s going to be just fine,” he assured him as he reached down to slip his arms beneath her form, slowly and carefully lifting her into his arms. And without another moment of hesitation, he’d started walking.
The journey felt longer than it was and Merlin was so thankful for how well he knew the woods. Every once in awhile, he would peer back to the wolf, see how he was doing. He had not forgotten his wound, after all. Eventually, though, the abandoned hovel came into view and Merlin wasted no time at all in pushing the door open, taking a moment to leave room for his new companion to enter, and then entering, himself. He looked around for a moment before spotting the bed across the room and approaching, laying her gently across it.
It was no surprise that the wolf was uneasy, for not only had he suffered wounds, but his mistress would have easily been worst off if it had not been for the kindness of this man. The lupine’s once lustrous fur, glistened in the light a scarlet that rivaled that of Sarah’s hair. With Merlin trying to comfort him, he could only reply with a lengthy whine as if his lacerations were severe. The sound, however, was meant to relay worry for the woman that was now under Merlin’s care.
He heard the groan come her dried lips when Sarah was collected from the ground. Her body had grown heavy, a burden for Merlin to now carry. But, despite how exasperated she had become, the maiden still tried to hold on to a shred of consciousness that was fast at slipping from her grasp. The ground started to move under her feet, feet that dragged underneath her. The movement was dizzying, but no sound of complaint fell to listening ears, for she simply closed her eyes to allow the darkness to take over.
Each breath gave promise that she would be all right, no matter how much she trembled in the gentle hold that the Dragonlord now had her in. Disheveled, coils of scarlet, fell over her features like a veil, even daring to stick to her slick flesh. Aunduin remained near Merlin’s side, staring up at him as if expecting something miraculous to take place, words that would simply make her abrasions vanish from continuing marring her once pristine skin.
But nothing came, except the next best thing. With the stranger leading him, Aunduin came up to an abandoned shelter and he did not hesitate to look around for any signs of potential inhabitants. Alas, it seemed no other soul was here but the three of them, and for now, that was all he needed to set his nerves at ease.
In they went with Aunduin padding languidly before them both; though her companion was injured, it meant not that he was helpless. He limped somewhat throughout this journey to seek safety, but vigor was shining bright in his eyes even now as he watched Merlin ease Sarah down – he had forgotten his own afflictions. He was attentive in taking in all the intricate details of their temporary lodging. There were cobwebs hanging on every corner and dust had collected on nearly every surface. Slowly, pointed ears rotated about hearing the creaking from the floorboards underneath Merlin’s feet. He turned to the one she called Emrys, and bowed his head in gratitude.
With the mistress out of commission, he was left with no alternative but to remain at the side of Merlin and keep him company. The wolf had settled down, finally growing tired himself, at the man’s feet. The adrenaline had subsided already and the wounds, though not major, were taking their toll. He had not rested for a few days, perhaps now, he would find needed rest under the care of another. Another who his mistress harbored no ill-will toward.
Merlin was right, she would be all right, especially since her body had unquestionably needed to simply come to a halt. The constant motion, the nights where sleep eluded her, and the lack of provisions, had left her vulnerable. It was unfortunate, yet a blessing, that she had come across one who would show her compassion – that this person was the very same figure she wished not to chance upon.
And so, here she laid on the bed, at rest. But it lasted for a short while, for her body twitched and trembled from the dreams that assaulted her. Lashes fought to remain shut and not allow light to filter through while the woman started to awaken. Darkness had not engulfed her at last, for she still breathed, she was still alive and no longer sinking into the mud. Her chest rose and slowly fell as parted lips allowed air to fill her lungs, but it rendered her throat dry.
There was a small moment of panic, for she came to realize she was not outside, not laying in the frigid forest ground-cover. Her frantic thoughts matched the motion of her eyes, for she started to look around and even went against her aching body when sitting up and shuffling her legs on the bed. “Where.. where..,” the croaked voice came out and she could barely believe it was hers. She barely could finish her sentence before trying to swallow and moisten her parched throat.
goldeneyesofcamelot-archive reblogged this from maidenofsummons and added: She was an impossible woman, impossible in the very best of ways. Merlin had never come across somebody as kind as she...
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fiery-spirit reblogged this from goldeneyesofcamelot-archive and added: Aunduin snarled viciously at the male before him, even began to circle him when he drew close enough. The threatening...