merlin:knightwizardprince6

Part 6

Gaius leant over and checked Merlin's wound. "You stupid boy. It doesn't matter how many times I tell you not to get yourself stabbed or sliced or mauled you always find a way. You're lucky I haven't told your mother yet." He turned his head and called to the other side of his chamber.  Tristain was sitting on the steps up to Merlin's room polishing his sword distractedly. "Sir Tristain could you please put that away. I am in no mood to see any sharp swords right now" Tristain looked up coming out of his daze,
"Sorry Gaius, is there anything I can help you with?" Gaius sighed and looked down as he removed the last of the bandages. "You could fetch me those fresh bandages."
Tristain did as he was told coming across the room to Merlin's side. "He protected my sister when she came." Gaius continued his work. "Because of him, she was saved from the curse that plagued her. She asked me to protect him. I failed I'm sorry" Gaius smiled.
"He is not gone yet. Did you know he once was severely poisoned on the verge of death? Yet still managed to conjure magic to aid Arthur in his search for the cure?" Tristain smiled. He was now surer than ever that his sister had been right. Merlin and Arthur needed each other. To achieve their full potential. He was also sure that he needed to be there to ensure they both survived long enough. He was about to tell Gaius about his sisters warning when Gwen entered with fresh water from the well.
"How is he? Has there been any change?" she took a cloth dipped it in the cool water and placed it on Merlin's forehead. She looked across at Tristain.  "Forgive me M'lord I did not realise you were here. Is there" Tristain got up from his chair.
"Not at all Gwen. It is I who should apologise; a true gentleman would let the lady sit."
Gwen smiled "sir I am no lady" Tristain waited up till she was seated to speak. "You are not a lady, yet.  You were more than a maid to the lady Morganna, you were her confidante, friend and sister. With Merlin, with Merlin being allowed to live free, I think we are in the eve of great change. You have a dignity about you that is unwavering. It is what made Merlin your friend and Arthur love you." He began walking out the room satisfied Merlin was properly looked after. He turned round and bowed to Gwen. "Farewell Milady." He nodded to Gaius and left.
"Gwen was staring at Gaius, hoping to see his reaction to Tristan's statement that Arthur loved her. Instead all she saw was the back of his head, bobbing up and down. And then laughter. "Gaius? Why are you laughing?" Gaius just about managed to point at Gwen then towards the castle then back to Gwen between his laughter. Gwen was about to ask him to clarify when merlin's weak voice was heard. "You Arthur, bad at secrets. Uthur doesn't know though" then silence. Gwen and Gaius both ran over to Merlin's side he looked worse rather than better but his eyes were partly open and his mouth was tiring to smile.
Gaius started checking Merlin's vital signs, wile Gwen tried to keep Merlin conscious. Merlin swatted the fussing hands away. When he next spoke it was more determined. "Gaius I can heal myself, I just need something to take the strain. Find me a plant or take me to a tree." Gwen looked questioningly at her friend. "Arthur's mother died so that he would be born. A life for life. It is the same with this. If I am to heal myself, I need to be away from others and near something that can die and be reborn." Gaius started to tell Merlin that he was in no state to be moved but Gwen took merlin's arm and draped him around her shoulder.
"Merlin I'm going to take you into the woods but please let a knight accompany you. Healing yourself will be useless if you get mauled by a boar or wilderin!"
Merlin nodded getting weaker by the second. Gwen and Gaius carried him out of the chambers.
Tristain was just approaching Arthur when he felt a slamming pain in his head. He fell against the wall. As he did this Arthur ran forward. One look at tristain's face told him everything he needed. "Tristain Merlin needs you. Go! I must go and talk to father. If he has killed the last dragon lord Camelot is truly doomed." He swung his cape round his shoulder and stormed down the corridor. Tristain walked to the window and jumped out.
Gwen heard something over head and looked up in time to see Tristain do a flip of the wall and land crouching in front of her and Gaius. He took Merlin from then cradling the warlock in his arms, and walked out into the Forrest. Gwen looked at Gaius.  "Arthur and I may not be good at keeping our secret. I just hope Tristain hides his secret better"
Gaius didn't need to ask. He had seen the kindness and gentleness in tristain's expression.  

Merlin woke up from a dream to find himself propped up against a tree. Tristain was leaning against a neighbouring tree. Watching Merlin. "M'lord! You must leave its not safe!" Merlin tried to get up but Tristan laid a firm hand on the young sorcerers shoulder, this was enough to stop Merlin. "It's Tristain my name. I am not your lord. I just happen to be a knight. I know woodlands better than most. Hedge knights are called such for a reason M'lord, Merlin" Tristain looked to see if the young man had noticed his slipup he decided to keep talking.  "I know that this tree is resilient and stands a good chance of survival, if you place your pain and hurt on it. I also know that I can stand over there at a safe distance and still see you if you need protecting."
"how do you know, how do you know the tree won't break into a million pieces and stab me in the head, how do you know what 'a safe distance' is how do you know some boars not going to randomly come and kill me how do you" merlin's rant was cut off by Tristain planting a gentle kiss on his lips. When he pulled away from Merlin he saw the confusion on the other mans face.  "Anyone ever told you, you talk too much? No? Well you do. Now I'll be over there. Do your magic thing."
Tristain walked over to a tree 100meters from Merlin and sat at its base. He could see Merlin muttering something, then the tree and Merlin started glowing, Tristain felt a burning at his side and noticed his blade was reacting to the high levels of magic around it. He traced a pattern across the scabbard and muttered an incantation his sister had once taught him. The weapon stopped glowing. "You really are a most curious object." He muttered to himself. He looked up and noticed the leaves on the lower branches start to wither. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he were to get too close.
Merlin was focusing in his wound and the blood lost. His head was in agony from the pain but he kept his focus. He'd never been so glad about finding the healing/transfer incantation in that book. "Lend me your strength, borrow my woe." He kept repeating inside his head. He knew the spell was for healing for minor cuts and severe bruising but instinct told him he could do it. He had after all performed a variation of it on Sir Leon.
"Stay focused" he told himself annoyed that he had let his mind wonder. Shaken by his lack of resolve he placed more effort into reducing the wound.
Tristain had been sitting in the same place for five hours when the sun began to set. He drew a dried sprig of grass from his pocket and struck it against his scabbard. The fire was instant. His travels and time in the woods had taught him what lit well, and more importantly what lit fast. He had set up a ring of small fires with Merlin at the centre. He hadn't lit them all but had laid dried roots and moss that would light fast but not for long. He decided that would be enough to distract anything coming for Merlin as long as he kept an eye on the fires. He removed one of his throwing knifes and started on carving something. The tree Merlin lay against had mostly withered by now and the ones around I were showing the first signs. He dreaded to think how much damage uthurs blade had done. And was reminded of what the lady in the lake, what his former sister had said.
"Uthur is a wise king not with out mercy and there is much you could learn forms him, but he can't be altered, he detests magic, sees it as evil and that causes his Normal clarity to be fogged. Do not judge a man by his weakness. Judge by his strength and those he trusts." His sister had always been smart. This is why what happened to her. The curse was such a cruel fate. He  had taken her sage advice, he had observed that Uthur trusted very few people but those he trusted such as Sir Leon. Were good, solid, honourable people.  He noticed Merlin shift. But the young sorcerer settled again.
Merlin was starting to feel the pain leave and the wound seal up. However these things are never comfortable. At least he assumed they weren't this was after all the first time he'd had a sword pierce his lung and cause major blood loss. He shifted to get a less awkward position and settled back into his trance. As he shifted position he noticed he hadn't been attacked by any beasts so either Tristain was doing as he had said he would or the young hedge knight had been wrong and there was no danger.



When morning came Tristain carefully put out the fires and looked up to see how much damage had been caused by Merlin's healing. Twelve trees had been reduced to deadwood a further 18 were in a withered state but still alive. Merlin by the looks of it was completely healed. The young man was asleep but breathing steadily. Tristain walked towards him and sat himself down next to Merlin and waited.
Merlin stirred from his stupor to find Tristain sitting with his back to him carving something. "um wur ou doin?" Tristain turned round to face him Merlin tried speech again "what you doing are, wait. What are you doing. Yes let's stick with" Tristain lent across and kissed Merlin on the cheek, Merlin shut up. "you know you really must stop doing that" Tristain laughed held up his hand which had a carved wooden dagger in it.
"it's a dagger, and I find it's the easiest way to stop you yammering. You yammer, twitter, bumble and babble. A lot. Did you know that." Merlin just stared at Tristain "ooho! The kissing. I find the kissing is the easiest way to stop you talking. Not the uh the dagger." Merlin just continued to stare "though you can uh you can talk any time you want to now, now you had a…" Merlin lent across and kissed Tristain fore head. This time it was Tristain who was left speechless.
"ah yes. I see what you mean about halting speech, and I don't mind the kissing it would just be nice to have a little warning. Also. Considering I just got stabbed for being magic I think it's a little soon to be stabbed for kissing other men. So no kissing" Tristain handed Merlin the newly carved dagger and stood up "right well then we best get back to Camelot." Merlin tried to stand up wobbled on his feet and fell over again.
Tristain picked him up placed him on his back and stared walking towards Camelot. "I can walk" "no you can't" "I can walk" "ok stand up take a step" Merlin did as suggested and fell face first in the mud. "I can walk he says. Pah. So are you going to be a good little warlock?" Merlin  looked up at Tristain and beamed the hugest smile "you realise that's a contradiction in terms? Warlock means 'oath breaker'  so if I say I'm going to be a good little warlock I'm, am I covered in mud?" Tristain laughed at Merlin's tangent and proceeded to remove his tunic shirt from under his armoured chest plate. Merlin removed his top pausing to notice the fait scar that was the only hint he had recently had a sword piercing all the way through his torso. He then put Tristan's top on and held out his hands "I'm ready for my lift now Mr Tristain of the forest sir"