"Merlin, we need to talk."
Merlin, having just woken up, was still groggy from his decent time asleep, comfortable in the knowledge that his friends would help protect him of need be. That they trusted him, as long as they were unaware of what was happening and of who Merlin truly was behind the goofy smile and foolish actions.
"Wha-?" His voice, rough and hoarse from his sleep, broke midway through the word, Gwaine almost immediately moving forward from where he'd been sitting with a water-skin filled with water from the creek down the way, in hand. Merlin smiled as he was handed the water-skin, taking a few gulps of water. He almost immediately felt better and quickly shocked into full awareness as the almost ice cold water rushed down his throat, wetting his tongue and throat.
Merlin swallowed audibly, handing the water-skin back to Gwaine before swiping at his mouth and asking again,
"What?"
Merlin looked at the men that sat around him, his friends; his family. Gwaine looked nervous but protective, quickly resting a hand on Merlin's shoulder, proper and obvious in his stance. Percival, he sat silently but sat with a look of understanding and caring, ultimate kindness and love. Leon, sat beside Arthur, a look similar to Percival's, kindness and love, friendship. Elyan, the same. Arthur, he was a little harder to read. A hint of betrayal, almost, sadness but love and trust, almost violent was the trust in Arthur's eyes.
Merlin swallowed again and asked, inhaling deeply as he did,
"Guys.. What's going on? Has something happened?"
Arthur sighed, looking at the other men and then to Merlin, his best friend, his Merlin.
"Merlin, we know."
Merlin's head jerked up, looking at each man, eyes looking frantically from face to face. Eyes meeting eyes; Gwaine, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine, Leon, Arthur. Merlin's eyes continued to widen as his breath turned sharper and sharper, nearly hyperventilating, before nothing. Merlin's head fell, chin to his chest, shoulders shaking. Gwaine reached forward, about to grab Merlin's shoulder when the words were spoken, nearly an inaudible whisper. Merlin spoke, his voice sharp and hitting, but barely above a whisper. Barely a whisper, and it nearly knocked the men to their backs with the force of the words.
"When's the execution?"
IM SORRY ABOUT THE LATE UPDATES I HATE ME TOO. MORE COMING SOON, IM SORRY