leashy_bebes | fic: (Follow Me) I'll Lead You Home (1/2)

Title: (Follow Me) I'll Lead You Home (1/2)
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG
Summary: Far from the others, without horses, as the sun is setting, Merlin gets bitten by a mysterious creature. Hurt-comfort for the lovely

lolafeist
Word Count: ~1000
Disclaimer: Not mine, not real, no profit, blah blah blah.

The beast comes from nowhere, dropping from the trees with a shriek. It's the size of a large dog with huge wings like a bat's, and mad red eyes. And teeth. Sharp, sharp teeth that sink into Merlin's shoulder before Arthur can even draw his sword. The creature screams again and takes flight, ungainly body lumbering as it rises unsteadily into the air. Arthur makes to chase after it, but then he hears a heavy thud and when he turns back, Merlin is face down in the dirt.

Irritated and concerned, Arthur hurries back to him and crouches down. There is blood, large rips in Merlin's shirt and jacket, and when Arthur turns Merlin onto his back he's pale and gasping, eyes distant like he's afraid of something Arthur can't see. They've no horses with them and it's getting dark. Arthur thinks they've strayed a long way from the knights. He tugs Merlin's chin around to look him in the eyes.

"Just a bite," he promises. "On your feet and back to the others, we'll have you right in no time."

"Can't – " Merlin says through gritted teeth.

Arthur pulls off Merlin's neckerchief and wipes away some of the blood. "It's not even that deep," he scoffs, but he's a little worried when Merlin doesn't complain about the desecration of his favourite accessory.

"I think – that thing – it was magic."

"Oh, and how would you know?" Arthur demands.

Merlin laughs and laughs, except it soon takes on a horrible harsh rattle, and Arthur pinches hard at the soft skin between two of his fingers. The laughter turns into ow, ow and Arthur tries not to feel guilty.

"Merlin," he says sharply. "Look at me. You're going to get up, and we're going to walk. It isn't far." It's at least three miles.

"You're – such a liar."

"You can't speak to me like that," Arthur reminds him. "Now, on your feet."

Merlin mutters something uncharitable but he lets Arthur pull him upright. His knees buckle and his face thuds against Arthur's chest. Arthur is faced with the sight of his injured shoulder and he has to admit it looks bad. The bite itself isn't deep, he wasn't wrong about that, but the skin around it looks red and hot, like it's somehow already infected. Though he doubts it'll do any good, Arthur pulls a waterskin out of the pack Merlin's carrying and upends it over the wound. Merlin arches against him, hissing a breath in through his teeth, fingers scrabbling weakly.

"Prat," he gasps, like he would if Arthur had thrown an entire pale of icy water in his face. But his eyes look a little more lucid and he doesn't stagger again while Arthur pulls Merlin's uninjured arm across his own shoulders, taking most of his weight. They set off at a slow, doddering pace and Arthur can hear Merlin's ragged breathing loud over the sounds of the forest. He feels fever-hot where he's pressed against Arthur and Arthur can feel the sweat soaking through his clothes.

They walk and walk, but Merlin's so weak they don't get far at all until Arthur's essentially just dragging him along, his feet tangling underneath him. Arthur doesn't even have it in him to be annoyed, because Merlin looks pallid and his skin has an unhealthy waxy tone to it. Arthur stops for a second, leans against a tree and curls his free arm around Merlin's waist to balance him. He tries desperately to think, distracted by the way Merlin is breathing against his neck, every exhale a ragged whimper of pain. Merlin's little more than skin and bone and Arthur knows he could lift him relatively easily. His height would make him difficult to carry but more importantly it will be fully dark soon, and blundering about in the dark with Merlin's weight to pull him off balance is a sure way to get himself injured too.

Merlin shudders against him, grits out, "Co-old," and Arthur makes up his mind. He settles Merlin as best as he can on the ground and lights a fire, building it recklessly high. The knights are bound to wonder where they are soon, and a fire this size can't help but attract attention. When he turns back from the blaze, Merlin has listed a little to the left and his chin is on his chest. For a heart-stopping moment Arthur can't tell what's the flickering of shadows and what's breathing.

Arthur recognises the cold feeling in his chest as fear and he kneels next to Merlin, running his hand roughly up and down Merlin's uninjured arm. He doesn't know what to do. Merlin's eyelashes flutter against his cheeks and he looks up at Arthur. His eyes are glassy and wide and already the pain is etched onto his face like it will never leave.

But it will, Arthur promises himself. Because the knights will be here soon, and Arthur will set Merlin on the horse in front of him and ride like hell for Camelot. Gaius will put things right. Merlin casts his gaze to where Arthur's hand as paused on his arm and then lifts it to look in his face. It seems as though it costs him a great effort.

"I need to tell you," Merlin starts. "It's important, I should have told you – "

"Don't you dare," Arthur says, making his voice whip-sharp to hide the tremor. Probably a little more rough than he needs to be, he drags Merlin closer to the fire and sits behind him, bracing him, arms around his waist. "Do not even think about making your tear-soaked farewell speech, do you understand me? I forbid it."

Merlin's head tips back onto Arthur's shoulder and his lips quirk in a shadow of a smile. "Yes, Sire."

Arthur has to close his eyes tight. His back is cold, his front hot from the flames and from Merlin's sickly warmth. He doesn't think he's ever been so afraid. Merlin shivers again and his hand covers Arthur's where it's resting on his stomach.

"Nice," he murmurs on a gust of breath.

This time Arthur presses his face into Merlin's hair and if there's a kiss in there somewhere, who is to know?

"It's okay," Arthur swears, fingers curling around Merlin's. "They'll find us, they will." He doesn't even know whether Merlin can even hear him anymore, but he keeps making promise after promise until he sees the pinprick light of torches coming through the trees.

I expect my 3 million boners in the post soon.

~~I will fix this post when it's not half three in the morning.~~ Fixed!

Part 2