Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Arthur stood at the edge of the Forest of the Fallen kings for he didn't know how long, he didn't like the idea of leaving one of his men behind. They knew very little about what monsters lived in the forest they had to enter, nor did they know for sure they wouldn't come out and attack the horses. To get back home as fast as they could with the cure, they needed the horses so there was no way Arthur would risk the animal's safety as well.
While Arthur was debating what to do, the other knights got their camp set up and the horses feed and watered. Once they had finished and got the campfire going, the sun started to set making their job to find the cure even harder. No one in the group voiced their concerns to Arthur, instead, they sat by the fire and waited for their king.
After pondering his thoughts for what seemed like hours, Arthur slowly made his way to the camp with all eyes fixed on him. "I admit I was hoping that there was somewhere safe we could leave the horses, while we went into the Forest of Silence." Arthur paused as he getting ready to tell them what they were going to do, while he didn't like what he was about to say the young king knew it was the only way. "Gawine you will stay here and protect the horses and keep them calm, Percival and Maverick will accompany me into the forest at dawn to get the cure."
Gawine was about to object to the plan, but thinking better of it he decided not to say anything and to keep his mouth shut. Even though he didn't like the idea of their king going into a dangerous forest with only one knight and a sorcerer that might turn on him at any moment. Arthur had always been cautious about people who used magic, but Gawine was still worried about the safety of their king. Though Gawine knew that he should take some comfort that Percival could be with them, he just wished that he didn't have to stay behind.
After thinking about it more Gawine realized that without the horses, it would take them even longer to return to Camelot and more people could die during that time. Inside of Gawine's head, he was cursing that no one ever thought of building a safe place for horses near the forest. At the same time, he thought it was also very odd, but he figures that there weren't many who were brave enough to adventure into such a dangerous-looking forest.
Arthur thought more about it and realized that he had no choice, but to let his order stand and have the group split up. With everything now planned out they started to make camp for the night, Gawine started to gather firewood while the others hunted for something for their dinner. It took an hour for them before all of them could sit down and enjoy their dinner together, though they all were very quiet no one dared speak. During that time Arthur's eyes never left the forest, he kept an eye out for anything that showed that there was something living in the deadly woods ahead of them.
The silence was soon broken by a loud screeching noise, coming from deep inside of the forest of silence. Hearing the noise caused all the knights including Arthur to jump up, from where they were sitting and pull out their swords. However, they all turned their heads towards Maverick to see how calm he was acting, since they didn't see anything coming after them. Seeing that there was no danger everyone put their swords away and went back to eating their dinner but in the back of their heads, they were all staying on alert.
Once all the food was eaten Percival and Gawine worked together to clean up the dishes, while they were working on the dishes Percival spoke in a low tone. "Man this will be better if we had Merlin doing this, that guy really knows how to get these dishes clean without much effort." As soon as everyone heard Pervical say that, they stopped what they were doing and stared at him understanding how he was feeling
They all were wishing that Merlin was with them to find the cure that would save all those who were still alive and sick from the curse that was placed on the kingdom. "Don't worry we will get him back," Gwaine told his friend as he did his best to try and mask what he was truly feeling which was dread that when they did get him back Merlin won't be the same. There was no way of them knowing what kind of horror their friend was going through under Morgana's roof.
"Gwaine is right." Arthur took in a sharp intake of air, doing his best to keep himself calm, at least while he was in front of his man. Once he was sure that he had calmed himself down enough, he spoke again in a stern yet low tone of voice. "I know it's hard but we need to focus on our mission here, once this is done and all of Camelot is safe then we will go get Merlin."
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, though most of them felt very uneasy about it and would have felt better if they had sent someone to get Merlin. The knights already knew that sending even one man to get their friend would be mad, Morgana was very powerful and would kill anyone they sent. None of the knights would feel any better until Merlin was back with them, watching Arthur knock his manservant on his butt.
Once everyone was settled down everyone went to bed except for Gwaine, who offered to take the first watch while the others got some sleep. Other than the sound of the loud screeching coming from deep, inside The forest of Silence a sound that would cause any man to get a chill down his spine. Gwaine, however being a knight did his best to not pay attention to the noise, instead, he kept an eye out for any danger. Luckily after hearing that screeching was the last thing Gwaine heard, after that the rest of his watch was very quiet and uneventful.
Sleep was starting to get to Gwaine as his watch was slowly coming to an end, he was fighting to stay awake when he felt a hand being placed on his left shoulder. Gwaine turned around ready for an attack, before he could he realized that it was Maverick that was standing behind him. Giving the old warlock a quick scan, the first thing that he noticed was the stick in Maverick's hand.
"I'm sorry Sir Gwaine, I didn't mean to startle you." Maverick leaned on his stick as he spoke in a soft yet low tone of voice, low enough that only himself and Gwaine would hear them. He stood there for a moment before Maverick took another step towards Gwaine while being careful not to upset the Knight.
Even though Maverick was helping them find the cure and save Merlin, there was still part of Gwaine that didn't trust the old warlock. Until they got Merlin back, Gwaine was willing to play nice with the old man seeing how he offered to get their missing friend back. There was no way he was going to trust the old warlock, still not sure if he wasn't working with the person who had placed the curse on Camelot.
After gathering his thoughts in a calm voice, Gwaine spoke the warlock keeping his tone as calm and hiding the hint he was suspicious. "It's alright, I was just well….." Gwaine paused as he spoke, he wasn't sure if he should be telling the strange warlock what he was thinking of.
Before Gawine could think of a way out of changing the subject so as not to talk about his feelings, the warlock spoke in a low yet comforting voice. "Your thinking about your missing friend, arent you?" Gwaine sat there for a moment then slowly nodding his head, causing Maverick to let out a sigh as he looked at the knight. "He must be one amazing friend, for you all to go to such lengths to try and save him and the kingdom it means that he is someone close to your heart."
Gawine looked at Maverick shocked by his words, mostly because the old man somehow put everything he was feeling into many wise words. "Everything you said is true, Merlin is a great friend to us in some ways we knights view him like a little brother to whom we have to protect." A smile soon appeared on Gwaine's face as he spoke to the warlock in a low tone, doing his best not to let their chatting wake the other. "While at times we tease him and took him for granted, each and every one of us admires him for his loyalty towards Arthur and us Knights."
Maverick gave a warm smile towards Gawine before shifting his eye up towards the moon, then in an almost teasing yet warm voice, the old warlock said. "It seems like your relationship with Merlin is more like brothers instead of friends." His eyes didn't move as he took a long sigh, his voice started to have a hint of sadness as he continued to speak. "What you boys have with Merlin is a precious gift, pls heed an old man's advice and try to hold on to the bond you share with each other."
When Gawine heard the statement about them being more like brothers, the young knight wouldn't help but laugh a bit. Though it didn't last long when he noticed how sad the warlock's voice had become after he gave his advice. "I promise I will, I want to protect those I care about it's the reason why I wanted to become a knight in the first place." Gawine voice was determined as he spoke, everything he had told the old Warlock was true he was not going to lose those he saw as his brothers.
"Thank you, Sir. Gawine, now why don't you go and get some rest I will take over watch duty." Maverick gave the suggestion in a soft tone of voice, knowing the dangers that Arthur and his knights had to face he wanted to make sure that they were well-rested. Without saying a word Gawine gave his head a nod before getting up and laying down with the others, Once he saw that everyone was asleep, he took a deep breath in his heart he prayed that the good spirits protected the young king and his Knights. With that pray Maverick got him settled down on sightly damp grass, he watched over the young men protecting them from any harm and nightmares.
The next morning everyone got up early and had their breakfast before breaking camp, once they were ready everyone except Gawine headed out. Before they left Maverick stopped and faced Gaiwne before giving him a slight smile, then in a soft tone he informed the knight
"I placed a Protection spell around you and the horses, so you shouldn't have to be worried about anything attacking you while we are gone. As long as you stay inside the area with the ruins I placed on the ground, nothing from the forest can enter."
Hearing that gave Gawine a sense of relief, to everyone else they all seemed a bit shocked that the old warlock had done that for one of them. For Arthur, he was starting to see maybe his father was wrong about some of those who use magic, while he never will completely trust them. "Thank you, Maverick." Gawine replied in a normal yet grateful voice, and he was grateful that the warlock did that despite the fact no one in the group trusted him.
"Your welcome Gawine, I want to do all that I can to ensure that you boys make it home to your love ones in one piece." Arthur and the other knight looked at Maverick a bit shocked, that he would have done such a thing for people who didn't trust magic, While he wanted to ask why Arthur knew that they had not much time to stand around asking those kinds of questions. Everyone in the group waved goodbye to Gawine and they started towards the forest, but as they got halfway there they heard a woman's scream in the distance followed by a shriek.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone