Yes, yes, I know. I've been busy and updates are unusually slow. Trying to get ready for that trip so bare with me. "Growing Secrets" chapter 20 still needs some polish so until I can get around to get in the right mood and do that, here's something "in-between"; yet again. Feedback/reviews are much appreciated (they make me happeh and keep me writing :3) Hope you like it and.. let me know what you think~

Enjoy~

.*.

The man peered back towards the group he was with to check if he was still unnoticed as he made his way further into the bushes. The hunting party had stopped for a rest, so the middle-aged man took the opportunity to go and relieve himself.

He headed towards a thicket when something moved and the next minute a dark haired tall man stepped out from behind a tree, then yelped upon spotting him.

"Bloody hell, Garreth! You scared me!"

"Speak for yerself!" – the older man said with a hiss in his voice and he continued to walk passed his mate, fiddling with his belt.

"What are you doing?" – the other one asked; a fairly pointless question he realized as soon as he said it.

"What does it look like I'm doing? We've been hunting all day. I'm sure, even her majesty has business at times. Do ya mind?!"

The dark-haired held his hands up in defense and let out a sigh and was about to turn away, when he made a serious face and instead he took a few steps forward.

"What now.." – Garreth started rather irked at him, but he got shushed.

"Look.." – and he pointed somewhere behind him, so he had no choice but to turn around while the tall one stepped closer.

"I don't see nuthin'.." – he said with a grunt, but kept his voice low.

"Over there.." – he pointed again and through the bushes they could see some movement.

"Victor, I swear, ya got the eyes of an eagle.. " – Garreth whispered. – "Ya suppose it's a deer? Or a boar?"

"Whatever it is, it better be edible.." – the other man replied and quickly but quietly set and lifted his crossbow to aim.

There was something moving about in the bushes just below them in the small valley. Victor stood still waiting to get a clearer shot as the movement was heading towards a clearing. It was moving fast and carelessly, somewhat getting closer to them, but still far enough not to notice them. The man was following it in aim, his finger close to pulling the weapon's trigger.

Then the prey stumbled out in the open and both men stood in awe. It wasn't a boar or a deer it was a young man making his way ahead. He walked a bit awkwardly holding his right arm to his chest and somewhat limping, looking behind him repeatedly and they could see it from a distance that half his face was covered with blood.

"Have you seen something?" – came a voice from behind and they both jolted around to find a woman sitting on a horse looking at them.

Garreth realized he was still holding onto his trousers and quickly turned around to tie his belt while Victor took a step forward.

"My Queen, we thought we saw something, but it turned out to be a man." – said the man and pointed in the direction. The middle-aged woman looked ahead and she too spotted the man. She looked on with furrowed brows for a second while someone else came next to her on horse, looking at the same direction.

"Isn't that Arthur's fool? The boy Merlin?" - the woman then asked.

"What is he doing all the way out here? Its pretty far from Camelot.." – the man standing next to her with his horse added wondering.

"He's in trouble.." – the queen said once noticing other figures breaking out from the bushes in pursuit of the injured man. - "Get them! Save the boy!" – she shouted, and her men rushed down the slope heading towards the pursuers.

Queen Annis watched on with slight worry, but then she saw something that completely got her by surprise.

The king's fool turned around and raised his hand, then shouted words she couldn't make out and the mercenaries flew back in the air quite the distance, some hitting the ground, some falling against the trees.

Then he wobbled a bit on his feet, visibly panting and turned to keep running.

At that point the queen's men reached the clearing and running passed the boy they hurried towards the mercenaries that were now gathering themselves and ready to attack again.

Merlin turned around and around, clearly confused of the sudden rush of so many people; he had no idea where they came from. All wearing darkish clothes he didn't know who is who and on what side they are on in the chaos, but the ones that met him from head on were fighting the ones that were chasing him, so he figured he should just get away while he still can. Someone approached him and grabbed his arm. It wasn't a hostile approach, but Merlin felt too wary of everything and everyone; it made no difference at that point. A flash of gold and the man was flying off. He made a run for it, as best as his strength let him, wanting to go as far as possible before anyone notices him again, but as soon as he started moving something slammed into him from behind with sharp pain thundering though the back of his shoulder and he cried out in pain, then after two more clumsy steps he fell forward.

He saw a pair of feet approaching and he gathered all his strength and pushed himself up enough to send a spell towards the mercenary and throw him back. Then he staggered to his feet and turned around.

He only managed to acknowledge that someone swung something heavy against his head and things went from really dizzy to really dark and really fast, and he could only faintly register that hitting the ground hurt as well.

.*.

The queen stepped closer to the body on the ground as Garreth was already crouched down next to him.

"Is he alive?"

"Yes, my queen." – he replied not looking up, slowly turning him around, careful not to aggravate the wound on his shoulder that still had an arrow sticking out of it. The right side of his head was glistering with a new layer of red which gave his pale face a ghostly contrast.

Annis only needed to take one look.

"Get the horses! We are riding back!" – she gave her orders not even looking up from the bloodied manservant, and a few men jumped immediately to do as their queen asked. – "Get him ready." – he said to the warrior next to the boy and walked off.

Garreth nodded and took him in his cares. Shredding the boy's already torn shirt and wrapping a tight makeshift bandage around his forearm that was bleeding heavily. There was some cloth wrapped around it already, perhaps the boy tried to stop the bleeding himself, but it has long since soaked through.

He found it odd, that the young man was only wearing a shirt in this chilly weather, where he could see his own breath form a silvery vapor in the air; not to mention the fact that he was barefoot. Garreth suspected he must've escaped from somewhere, and just ran for his life. He continued with the bandaging. When he found the wraps on his arm tight enough he looked at the arrow and figured removing it will need cleaner methods, and more prompt action; and he just might bleed to death if the man were to pull it out there and then, so he instead grabbed the arrow with two hands and broke it, leaving just enough to be grabbed for the pulling. He noted to himself how the dark haired boy didn't even flinch at it, though surely that couldn't have been pleasant, unconscious or not; and he wondered if that was a good sign or that of a bad.

Some of the other men gathered around to look, as another one led Garreth's horse close to him, while he was finishing up bandaging the boy's head.

The cut was a nasty one, but again he didn't make a sound or a move, completely oblivious to the world around him.

.*.

Merlin was in far worse condition when they carried him into the physician's chambers. Fever visibly sat in and he was sweating and breathing in pants. The ride to the castle surely didn't help.

The two men carrying him gently set him down on the table in the small chamber.

"Enota.. do everything you can for him." – Annis said putting her hand on the other woman's arm as she came into the chamber in a rush.

"Who is this boy?" – the physician asked.

"His name is Merlin, and he is the manservant of King Arthur" – the Queen said, but then their attention was snatched towards the injured one as he let out a pained moan when Garreth touched his shoulder.

Enota was next to him in a blink of an eye, taking charge.

Annis stood around and watched, still surprised a bit about what she saw the young man do. Her thoughts wandered to Arthur and hoped with all her heart that he was alright. She was eager to find out from Merlin, however it didn't look like he is going to be talkative any time soon.

The queen turned and left.

The physician and the men worked efficiently. Cutting the ragged shirt off the boy, which revealed more bruises and scratches, one particularly large one on his left side, as if he'd fallen against a tree or a rock; but the main problems still were the head wound, the cut on his arm and the arrow wound on the back of his shoulder along with the growing fever; and the fact that he was starting to come to, which made it all the more difficult, as with all the commotion around him and he was clearly confused, in a lot of pain and frightened.

"No.. no…!... S-stay a-away.. from m-me…" – he whimpered at one point and did his best to get loose from the grips and hands that were holding him, but he was far too weak to actually succeed.

"Its alright, it's alright. You are safe." – Enota said, making her voice as calmest as she could, while picking up a cup from the small table behind her. – "Here, this will help with the pain. Drink." – she instructed and held it to Merlin's mouth to make him drink it. He resisted for a bit but eventually gave in and emptied the cup, only gagging on it once.

"That's it. Drink it all. Good boy.." – Enota encouraged him. – "You'll be alright.." – she said looking at him, while Merlin stared her for a moment or two, before his eyes closed slowly and he fell limp again against the two men's grip.

"He's out; time to take that arrow out too." - she said setting the cup down and watched as the two men layed his body down and turned him on his side, exposing the bloody piece of wood sticking out of his shoulder.

Tough times ahead, Enota thought, once taking in the damage done.

.*.

Annis walked up and down in the small chamber the next day.

Enota went to fetch some water and herbs from her supply room, while queen agreed to stay by the bedside of their 'guest'; however she was deep in thought and somewhat worried and started pacing in the small room, occasionally stopping to look out at the large window that showed towards the courtyard.

She was getting increasingly worried. She had sent out patrols in the direction Merlin came from but they came back empty-handed. She could only guess that Arthur was nearby, remembering that time he came to her tent with his offer and his servant followed him. That boy was always beside him, no armor, no weapon, no matter how dangerous the journey was, Merlin was practically Arthur's shadow. Queen Annis found herself smiling a little and looked at the still unconscious young man laying on the cot.

She walked around the table, that now had potions and recipe scrolls on it and sat down next to Merlin and for lack of anything better to do, and she just stared at the bed's occupant.

Merlin was breathing rather fussed and his face was still visibly sweaty. Enota tried her best to bring his fever down but she was fighting infection, fatigue and blood loss effects in the same time. These were still the crucial hours so all they could do was wait.

They rolled up a blanket and had it placed against his back so he could still be somewhat laying on his back, but not pressing the bandaged arrow wound. The sword-cut on his arm needed stitches and was now wrapped neatly in clean white bandages; as was his head, making him look like he was wearing a white bandana.

Queen Annis was a patient woman. She had to be; running a kingdom on her own since her husband's passing, and even from before that unfortunate event; but she still found the waiting irksome this time.

She had waited optimal moments in battles for the right tactics; while her men fought and many perished, but she had to wait and be patient; and she did. And now she was waiting for a wounded servant to wake up and she was finding it hard.

She let out a sigh and looked away from the young man's face, she's been scrutinizing for the passed couple of minutes.

The young warlock then stirred and Annis picked her head up again to see him move.

He furrowed is brow and slowly opened his eyes.

The world seemed incredibly out of focus and wobbling for Merlin so he decided to just close them again.

"..ohw.." – he lifted his hand to put on his head, it just hurt so much, but he couldn't figure out why. Then his hand touched the bandage and he paused for a second then opened his eyes again and let his vision slowly clear. Only then did he realize he wasn't alone.

The woman looked at him with a smile.

"Welcome back"

Merlin stared at her without saying anything, then he peered around and seemed to get more frightened, every now and again looking back at Annis.

"Its all right, you are safe here. None's going to harm you." – the queen said putting a hand on his arm. The boy flinched and looked at her still somewhat scared but eased up a little, his wary glance settling on the woman sitting next to him.

"W-what ..?"

"You were being chased by mercenaries and you got injured.." – she said – "But I must say, you put up quite the fight. Does Arthur know you have magic?"

The frightened look was more of an answer then she would need in words.

"I guess not.." – she said more to herself then to the young man. – "Where is Arthur, Merlin? Is he in trouble?"

Annis looked at him expectantly, but the young man just stared in horror and the woman figured it will be hard for her to keep her patience up if he will keep quiet any longer.

"Arthur..?" - the young warlock blinked at her. – "Merlin?.. Is that my name?.. Do you know me?"

And it was Queen Annis's turn to look surprised. That must have been some knock on the head..