Just Outside The Main Gate, Saturday Morning

[bitchprince]

Much like the previous day, Saturday found Arthur venturing back down to the barricade. It was early, the sunlight was yet shallow and leaning towards overcast, and only the first warbles of birds became evident as he slogged at the thing.

At least it had remained intact overnight. He was in full armor yet again, with shamelessly modded Merlin at his side. He'd stayed quiet opposite the boy most of the time, barring talk of strategy. The magic was something that'd have to be discussed again if they managed to survive this whole mess.

He climbed up so he could take a quick survey of the town. Watching the still forms lumber about, he felt a chill settling in his bones. There was only one word he could use to describe it.

"Bugger," he muttered, succinctly, and ran a hand through his hair. Sometimes, he had a knack for brevity.

[[ open post, second verse same as the first ]]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And you're going to end up face down in the dirt," Merlin shot back. "I don't have the strength to drag you back to the dorms, you know."

[bitchprince]

"Merlin, you don't have the strength to lift a twig," he pointed out, "Don't worry, I'm not falling into any dirt." Such a girl.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin just raised an eyebrow at that. "I'd find a way."

[bitchprince]

"Keep dreaming, Merlin."

He blew out a breath of air. Didn't... like the odds. How familiar.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin bumped him with his shoulder. "We will win the day," He promised. "You have my word."

[bitchprince]

Merlin got no snappy replies, merely a sigh and a, "Get me some water." He really was starting to tire, but he'd just take an hour or two when things quieted.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Only if you take a rest."

[bitchprince]

"I'll take a rest when we're finished," he said, imperiously, "Merlin."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"We won't be finished any time soon, my lord."

[bitchprince]

"Then you should hurry up and get me that water before I keel over," Arthur pointed out. He wasn't budging.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps you should sit down if you feel faint," Merlin replied, waving an hand toward a nearby rock. "Wouldn't do for you to swoon before a battle."

[bitchprince]

Oh, was he really choosing now to be completely and utterly impudent and useless?

"Yes, Merlin," he said, "Since I've got hordes of the undead crawling up the rear, and half the castle's population is simply aching to go out and get themselves killed, it is an utterly smashing idea to take a nap right now. Too bad we can't all have your work ethic."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And you're utter shite to us all if you're too tired to move," Merlin snapped back. "I have a better chance at holding them off than you do."

[bitchprince]

"I am not tired."

Not that tired, anyway.

"Now do your job."

...Since it was still provisionally a job.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"The one you already sacked me from?" Merlin replied, maybe letting some of that frustration over Francine and the being told not to come back to Camelot.

[bitchprince]

"Merlin. This isn't the time." Please. He just had to keep going until they settled this one.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Then sit the bloody hell down and rest. I'm not incompetent and I won't let them get here before you're up."

Because, really, it was just that simple.

[bitchprince]

"I'm not going to lie down while these people are putting their lives on the line," he snapped. "Now shut up."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"No! No one else is going to die here."

[bitchprince]

"Oh, what are you going to do?" he asked, "Storm in there fingers blazing and magic them to death? You don't even know how, you complete and utter idiot."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I will figure it out," Merlin replied, eyes flashing gold. "I always have with you."

[bitchprince]

He'd never seen that before. He stared.

"...What just happened?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked behind himself for any invasion of the undead and found... nothing. "What?"

[bitchprince]

Arthur wasn't quite done staring at his eyes with a kind of weird fascination.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Looking back to that was... a bit odd. "Arthur, are you alright?"