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Chapter 11

More of the bridge fell into the river as Arthur grabbed for the woman with one hand and held onto a crossbar with the other. He struggled to hold on as he took more and more of her weight. Gwaine, closest of the knights, raced over and edged down far enough to reach the woman. He grabbed her arm, taking part of the pressure off the prince. Percival hurried to help while Elyan swam out to rescue the woman's husband.

On the opposite bank, Merlin had ridden into the sorcerer's range of vision. "Pelham!" he yelled, desperate to divert the man's attention from Arthur.

Curious, the man turned his head and looked Merlin over carefully, seeing no threat. "My name is Tinsley," he said. "Who the hell are you?"

"Merlin."

"Oh, yes," he said, enjoying himself, "Arthur's idiot servant."

"Tell me," Merlin asked, conversationally, "how did the basilisk get into the prince's chambers?"

"I will answer that if you first answer a question for me. Who killed the creature?"

"I did," the warlock replied.

Tinsley started to laugh then stopped at something in Merlin's face.

"And my question?"

"A man named Stiles put it there," Tinsley answered, distractedly, his mind trying to puzzle out if the young man could possibly be telling the truth. He took too long to work it out.

Merlin raised his hand, palm outward. The warlock's eyes flashed gold, and the sorcerer flew backwards off his horse. The terrified animal reared and plunged then galloped off in a panic. Merlin turned his horse around then pelted back to rejoin Lancelot, hoping no one had seen him but the knight.

Someone else had. Cedric had ridden onto the scene in time to see Arthur's servant kill the sorcerer. He had no time to think about it. He leaped off his horse and hurried to help Gwaine pull the woman to safety. The knight and the woman ended up sprawled on the ground, a light rain falling on their faces.

There was a loud crack and a splintering sound as the rest of the bridge broke apart, and boards and railing plunged into the swirling river below. Percival tried to brace himself as he took Arthur's full weight. Cedric hurried to assist, and the two of them pulled the prince to safety.

Sir Leon had climbed back up the embankment and stood looking down at Arthur as he sat with his head down and his arms encircling his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Are you all right, Sire?"

The prince nodded."Yeah." His voice was nearly inaudible.

After watching the prince for a few moments, Cedric looked toward the woods where Merlin had vanished a short time earlier. He shook his head. The most dangerous man in Camelot and Arthur had him fetching his breakfast and walking his dogs.

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Later that afternoon, a frightened Stiles hastily packed his bags. Arthur had returned unharmed and Tinsley was dead. He was desperately hoping no one knew of his involvement, but he wasn't taking any chances. He hurried down a corridor only to see the prince's servant walking toward him. Merlin, wasn't it? He relaxed; the boy was harmless. There was another man who moved up beside the servant. Stiles had no idea who he was.

"Allow me." Cedric shoved Merlin to the side and out of the way. The knife he flicked spiraled end over end down the corridor and buried itself hilt deep into Stiles' heart. The spy fell to the floor.

A few moments later, Arthur and Sir Leon were surveying the scene. After a quick glance down at the dead man, Arthur looked Merlin over. His servant seemed unharmed. Cedric pulled his knife free of the man's body and wiped it on his clothing.

"I'll have this cleaned up, Sire," Leon said. To Cedric: "I suggest you make yourself scarce."

The man nodded and left.

A few days later

Merlin finished eating breakfast and got up to rinse off his plate.

"Merlin, a new horse was purchased for your use," Gaius said. "I was asked to give you the message."

"Thanks, Gaius," the warlock said, looking pleased. "I'm surprised Arthur found the time to get it. He's been so busy."

"It's - not from Arthur."

Merlin looked at him curiously. "Who's it from then?"

"That's not for me to say."

A short time later, Merlin was standing in the stable yard looking at a chestnut brown horse with a cream colored mane and tail. He delicately stroked its velvet nose in wonder. The horse was beautiful. He saw a stable boy standing nearby watching him. "What's his name?"

The boy shrugged. "Whatever you decide on."

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Two weeks later, Merlin was astride his horse, Orion, as he, Arthur, and the knights rode around fallen stone and mortar and through the mountain pass.

The End