"Are you sure it has to be tonight?" asked Merlin.
Gaius looked up from his table and nodded. "Yes, I'm certain of it, Merlin!" The physician responded, albeit a little impatiently. Merlin had been trying to get out of this errand for several minutes now and as much as he loved the boy, it was beginning to get on his nerves a little.
"Only, it's really raining hard out there." Merlin complained, gesturing to the window. "..and it's dark and.. "
"That's perfect!" Gaius explained. "It only blooms on such a night, full moon, dark and stormy."
Merlin sighed. "Of course it does." He grumbled, wondering how a plant, deep inside a cave, even knew what the weather was like outside, let alone that it was a full moon. Gaius gestured to the leech tank.
"Unless you'd rather clean that out?" Gaius bargained. "I did ask you to do it yesterday, you know." Merlin visibly shuddered and made a disgusted face, his eyes darted to the door and then back to Gaius.
"I'll get the horse." Merlin spoke hurriedly and headed toward the door.
"Merlin." Gaius stopped him. "You can't ride a horse at night, especially during a storm. I'm afraid you'll have to walk." Merlin was flabbergasted. Gaius moved to sit on his bed.
"Walk?!" Merlin sputtered. "But.. Gaius, that'll take me all night!"
"Well then." Gaius looked thoughtful and Merlin became hopeful that he'd not be sent out after all. "You'd better get moving!"
Merlin's jaw could have almost dropped right down to the floor.
"Please, Merlin." Gaius softened his tone. "It's important."
"Alright. I'm going." Merlin caved. "Don't wait up for.." Before he could even finish talking, Gaius was snoring loudly.
A few hours later, Merlin reached the cave he was looking for. He was soaking wet and very cold, at least this was something akin to shelter. He used his magic to light a torch and ventured inside, grumbling to himself loudly as he navigated the tunnels within.
"Go to the darkest chamber of the cave, Merlin. What does he mean by that anyway? They're all dark! Why didn't he just say the deepest one? Or the one farthest inside?" Merlin suddenly stopped moving and listened, closing his mouth quickly as he thought for sure he'd heard something.
He remained unmoving for what felt like an eternity, then he heard it again. That confirmed it..
"I, uh.. I'm not alone down here, am I?" Merlin spoke softly, beginning to take a step or two back toward the cave entrance.
