The Sorcerer's Secret (a Merlin story)

2

     Merlin wouldn't say he hated Arthur because that would be treason but he certainly didn't like Prince Arthur.
"Who gets up before the sun to hunt monsters in the forest?" Merlin complained as he stumbled around waking up Gawaine.
"Someone who takes orders from the king, that's who." Gawaine replied as he tossed the opposite direction trying to fall back asleep. "Now hush up!"
"I just don't understand why I have to go with!" Merlin complained.
"Because," Gawaine sat up. "You are the Princes servant, you go where he goes. Even if that means you are headed directly into the line of danger or waking up at 4 in the morning." Merlin groaned. "Oh and don't even think about using magic, you know how the king feels about magic." Gawaine had warned Merlin about not using his magic every day since he arrived at Camelot.
Don't use magic Merlin.
Magic is banned.
The king will have you burned at the stake.
Magic of any kind, even if you are helping someone will get you killed.
No Magic Merlin. No magic under any circumstances.

"Merlin!" Arthur screamed.
"That man's voice can shake the whole castle." Merlin threw on a jacket and grabbed his scarf, wrapping it tightly around his neck for warmth.
"Don't provoke the prince!" Gawaine said as he threw the covers over his head.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it." Merlin said with a smirk.

"Merlin!" Arthur barked. "Hurry up, I don't have all day." Three knights and four guards were going with Arthur on his hunt. Merlin puffed out a tired breath as he finished saddling up Arthurs horse.
"All done sire." Merlin said with a yawn.
"What was that? Are you tired already?" Arthur questioned.
"Yes actu-" Arthur threw his jug of water at Merlin soaking him. Merlin opened his mouth to cruse the Prince but held his tongue instead.
"Are you awake now?" Arthur laughed openly as his knight chuckled silently, already on their horses waiting to leave. Merlin puffed up his chest and put on a fake smile.
"Thank you sire, I'm quite refreshed now." Merlin lied as he fanned his shirt.
"Good, let's move out!" Arthur instructed and Merlin followed, hoping on his stead and begrudgingly following Arthur.

"Where did the villager say this beast was exactly?" Sir Lance asked as he slowed his stead to a gallop glancing around at the empty woods.
"Yeah, we have been riding for a while, I don't see any sign of-" Sir Calev began but Arthur held up a hand silencing them. He brought his finger to his mouth, shushing them. Merlin squinted around trying to find what Arthur saw but couldn't see anything unusual. Arthur jumped off his horse and pulled his sword out from his belt, aiming it ahead.
"Arthur," Merlin questioned as he jumped off. He didn't have armor, a shield, or a sword like the rest of the knights and Arthur, yet Merlin was suspected to be right at Arthurs heel in the middle of the danger. If he didn't have magic, Merlin would be terrified. But since he did have magic he was only slightly scared of the creature that lied in the woods, terrorizing the villagers in the lower village.
The knights followed stead, jumping off and circling, swords pointed. Merlin didn't know what to do with his hands. Was he supposed to punch the beast? Was he supposed to stay on his horse and ride away? This was his first hunt with Prince Arthur and he didn't know what was suspected of him. Celeste wasn't allowed on hunts but if she was, Celeste would be kind and tell Merlin what was expected of him, he knew that for sure but without her he felt like a bumbling fool. With hearts pounding, sweat dripping off their face as the rustling in the bushes grew louder. Merlin held his hands up ready to cast to a spell in protection if need be but what emerged was not what they expected.
"Rah!" Arthur began to charge at the bush before the beast revealed itself.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Merlin yelled and Arthur dropped his sword. The bunny that was hiding in the bush ran back into the woods more scared of the knights then they were of it. "I can't believe you almost killed a little cotton tail bunny!" Merlin exclaimed laughing.
"Shut up Merlin!" Arthur said slapping him upside the head.
"Arthur," Sir Lance said wearily.
"Not now, I have to make an example out of this fool." Arthur said backing Merlin into a tree.
"I think you should listen to him, Sire." Merlin said his eyes going to the knights. Their posture stiff, swords drawn, faces pale.
"Arthur!" Sir Calev said, fear coursing through him as he landed a blow at the beast getting Arthurs attention.
"Fall back!" Arthur declared. The beast was 8 feet tall when it took on its hind legs and roared at them. It was covered in a thick layer of fur that made it seem like a bear, but it had long pointy tusks like a mammal and razor sharp talons like a bird. The beast fell back down onto all fours, catching Sire Calev's arm, cutting through him. Calev screamed out in a pain as he lost hold of his sword, it clattered onto the ground. Arthur ran up swatting at the beast while pulling back Calev.
"It burns!" Calev declared clutching his arm.
"Fall back!" Arthur screamed over their panting breaths. "Find cover!" Arthur demanded. Arthur stabbed at the beast but his blade didn't seem to affect the beast. It only roared louder, advancing on them. The knights moved with swiftness as the beast seemed to turn away from them, leaving them alone.
"He's retreating?" Sir Leon questioned, peering around the tree while Merlin looked at Sir Calev's wound. Merlin took off his scarf and made a tunicate around Calev's arm. But he wasn't retreating, the beast had found the horses, a snack that was tied up and just waiting for him. The horses let out a nay, their hooves stomping vigorously.
"The horses," Merlin and Arthur said in unison. But when they got to where the horses were tied up they only found the broken bridle and snapped leather.
"He devoured them so quickly," Merlin remarked. He picked up a piece of the saddle, it was stained with blood.
"Dear Lord," Arthur whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. The beast was now nowhere in sight and the sun was already lowering in the sky. They would never make it back to Camelot before the sun went down, especially without their horses. "Let's start moving back towards Camelot. Find a clearing and set up camp for tonight. We will continue our search for the beast in the morning." Sir Lance Heaved Sir Calev up from the ground. Lance and Merlin guided Sir Calev, following Arthur as he wearily led the way back towards Camelot.
Once Arthur found a clearing that looked good he threw down his sword and instructed Merlin to gather fire wood, dress Calev's wound, and find some grains and fruits to make them supper with. Merlin rolled his eyes and didn't even back talk, or suggest Arthur do it he walked back into the woods and started gathering small sticks and logs for the fire.
"Hurry up, Merlin." Arthur called into the woods. "I'm starving!" The knights grumbled in agreement. Merlin dropped the logs down and moved to get food but Arthur stopped him. "Where do you think you're going?" Arthur accused.
"To find food." Merlin told him. "Like you asked."
"Make the fire first, its freezing and I don't want to become a popsicle!" Arthur barked, gesturing to the fallen logs. Merlin dropped to his knees and started tending to the logs.
"Firae." Merlin whispered, and a small spark grew into a large glowing flame within the wood.