1/14
Merlin
From the Ashes.
Previously….
At the battlefield, everyone, Krillik and defenders alike fell to their knees as the ground began to rumble, great cracks appearing in the earth, several people from both sides falling into them screaming. A moment later another tremor issued below them, Arthur looked over at the castle, seeing cracks tearing up the walls.
"no…" he whispered, even as a Krillik launched towards him, to be intercepted by Leon. A third and fourth tremor hit then, and part of the town began to collapse in, people screaming.
"Run!" yelled Arthur as another tremor shook the ground, the turret that held his chambers crumbling inwards even as the roof collapsed.
"And thus endith Camelot" stated Morrigan with a laugh
Arthur stood and looked at the devastation, the remains of what had once been his home. Now simple ruins.
"Sire?" asked Gwaine softly, Elyan at his side. Arthur looked at them.
"No longer" Arthur replied. And it was true, Morrigan's title had come to pass. She truly had been the destroyer of Camelot
And on a little hill near the castle, Rory, Freya, Arthur and Gwaine each held a torch, Gaius's holding Balinor fondly, the Baby Dragon standing next to them watching, Elyan comforting Gwen. Slowly the four stepped forwards, all of them crying. Gwaine setting fire to the Pyre that held Percival, Rory the one that held Thomas, Arthur the one that held Leon and Freya the one that held Merlin. Slowly they stepped back as the flames took, blinking away tears. Watching the ashes blow into the night.
"We done it my friends" muttered Arthur, watching the embers fade in the darkness.
"No Arthur Pendragon, this is far from over" promised Morgana as she watched from the shadows.
"Far… from over" she added.
One year later…..
The sounds of hammering filled the courtyard, wood being sawn. He smelt the fires burning as metal was molded. Slowly Arthur walked across the courtyard, Gwen with him, looking up as the rebuilding of Camelot continued. A new Throne room was ready, as was an audience chamber. In the newly built tower could be found Arthur and Gwen's chambers. The past year had gone quickly, a sense of hope filling the land like never before. That the peace had come at such a high cost, that was something Arthur wasn't ready to face, not yet. Perhaps not ever.
"Arthur?" asked Gwen softly as they walked towards the castle doors. "Are you okay?" she asked. He looked at her, then nodded his head slowly.
"I'm fine" he assured her with a smile, it did not touch his eyes however. But then they hadn't, not since… No.. he was not going there.
"Honestly" he emphasized. Gwen looked at him a moment longer, then nodded.
"Kyle, keep your guard up" said Elyan, watching the younger man practicing against Rory. Rory demonstrated what Elyan meant and Kyle copied the stance as best her could.
"good, now when Rory thrusts at you, you need to parry the blow, use your momentum against her" Elyan instructed him. Kyle did so, successfully, Elyan nodding in satisfaction.
"Okay, reset positions, I want you to go through the manoeuvre again" Elyan said.
"Yes sir" Kyle replied with a nod, causing Rory to smile. It was nice to see, Rory so rarely smiled, and Kyle was the only person who had managed to break right through the defences she had built up. Kyle thrust his sword Forwards, and Rory stepped back, moving her own sword forwards, which Kyle deftly deflected, before moving his own weapon forward.
"Excellent" said Elyan with a grin. Kyle smiled at the praise, then nodded, remember where he was.
"Thank you, but my shield still feels too low" Kyle said. Elyan nodded at him.
"Okay, raise the shield, not too high, yes about there" Elyan said as Kyle followed the instructions. "now, try the same manoeuvre, keep the shield at that height" Elyan stated. Kyle nodded and then began the manoeuvre again, this time however, when he parried Rory's sword, she brought it around under the shield, knocking his legs from under him, he hit the ground with a grunt and looked up at Elyan and Rory.
"Shield positioning is important, but remember the situation you are in. Against a larger opponent yes, you would have the shield raised slightly, but against one of similar height, you give them an advantage at your undefended legs" he stated. Kyle got up from the ground and nodded.
"I never knew there was so much to being a knight" he admitted. Elyan raised an eyebrow at him.
"Never assume my friend, unless certain always go with the reason that the other person has the high ground" he said.
"But doesn't that defeat the purpose of training?" asked Kyle. Rory however shook her head.
"No, because as unknown as they are to you, the same is true for them" she said. Kyle nodded in understanding, then readied his weapon again.
"Okay, back to basic stance, run through it several times, each time quicker until you have the hang of it" Elyan said. Kyle nodded and began again.
The small, rundown hovel was situated in the middle of the densest part of the forest, no patrol ever came near to the place, simply because save for very few people, no one knew of it. Morgana of course, knew of it, and its occupier, a young man with a thin face and dark eyes. He was painfully thin, almost like a scarecrow. But he was no scarecrow, and he watched through narrowed eyes as she approached up the pebble strewn path, chickens running amok on what little grass there was.
"Alistor" she greeted him with a reserved bow. He returned it, and then opened the door to his hut for her to enter. She did so, gazing around as the dusty bottles and jars that filled the shelves, some labelled, most not.
"You have the payment of course?" he asked her as he closed the door, holding out a thin reedy hand. She nodded and produced a purse full of coins, placing it in his hand. He took it and then judged the weight, before nodding.
"I will do what ask Morgana, but it will take several days to get results" he told her as if addressing a child.
"I have waited a year, seven more days is nothing" she said. He inclined his head.
"I also required a Terazine crystal for the ritual" he said.
"You said nothing of that when we struck the bargain" she hissed.
"Nevertheless if you require my help then I require a Terazine Crystal" he replied sharply, then he held out the bag containing the money. "Unless of course, you have changed your mind" he added. Morgana looked at the purse then at Alistor, before shaking her head.
"Of, you shall have your crystal" she said. Alistor took the purse back and nodded.
"As I knew you would" he said.
"Return to me in seven days, with the crystal and other essentials" he said. "Then we can begin" he said, turning away, dismissing her. Morgana stared at the back of his head for a few moments then left the hovel.
Arthur and Gwen walked into his chambers, Arthur frowning.
"George?" he called out, looking around for his manservant. Balinor was standing in his crib, grinning.
"Ahem" said a voice in the room. Arthur looked up and saw George floating around the ceiling, looking annoyed as hell.
"What are you doing up there?" Arthur asked.
"It appears sire, that Balinor did not want his lunch today" George said. In the crib Balinor pointed at him.
"Borin" he said. Arthur chuckled.
"I see he's got to know you"
"So instead" George replied, ignoring the obvious insult, "he has decided to play 'lets float the weary manservant around the room. Again" he added. Arthur couldn't help it, bursting out laughing, at Georges oh so serious expression as he floated around.
"Sire, I really do not think this is a laughing matter" George stated, as Gwen walked in with Freya and Gaius, all of them laughing at George.
"I'm sorry George" Said Arthur through tears, and moving to Balinor, before he knelt down.
"Now Balinor, I know as much fun as it can be floating people-HEY!" Arthur shouted as he floated up to George. The manservant looked at him, crossing his arms.
"I take it sire shall be having his own lunch on the ceiling today" George said, even as below them Gwen, Freya and Gaius were doubled over.
"this isn't funny George" said Arthur, looking at him, even as his head continued to knock the ceiling.
"No, not when you're the one up here" George replied dryly. Below them Freya walked to the crib and knelt down.
"Balinor, please put them down now" she said softly. Balinor looked at her and then sighed, as with a yelp Arthur and George fell from the ceiling landing with a thud. Freya squinted her eyes closed.
"Gently" she added.
"Swory" Balinor replied.
"Will you get off me!" snapped Arthur as he pushed George off of him so he could stand, he looked at Freya and Gaius.
"Of course sire" said Gaius with a bow. "there is a messenger here from Karish, but the rumour is last of the Dark Dragon's there have been forced to flee" Gaius said.
"that is good news" agreed Arthur, smiling.
"Indeed, and apparently because of our initial aid, their queen has requested to open full diplomatic relations with us" said Freya. Arthur nodded.
"By all means" he said, as he went to walk out he suddenly turned to Balinor.
"And you, eat your lunch" he said. Balinor looked up at him.
"Yes Arter" he said simply, as George moved over to him. Arthur nodded and then with Gwen, Freya and Gaius in tow left the room. George looked at the child who looked at him.
"Don't want lunch. Borin" Balinor said, as George began to float up again.
"Balinor… put me down… Balinor! SIRE!" George yelled, but no one came in.
"This is going to be a long day" George said as his head thudded the ceiling gently. It was actually therapeutic in a way, suddenly the door opened and Freya looked in.
"Balinor!" she shouted. The child jumped and George fell with a thud.
"Yes. A very long day" he admitted.
The messenger from Karish had left, but Arthur was not happy. The news itself had been well received, but the other news, that Robert and Julia had not survived the final battle held heavy on Arthur.
"So Balinor has no mother or Father now" said Arthur sadly. Freya shook her head at him and stepped forwards.
"No sire, he has you and Gwen" Freya said softly. Beside her Gaius nodded.
"Indeed, sire" Gaius agreed. Arthur looked up at them and shook his head.
"I know nothing of rearing children" he said.
"Then we will help you" said Freya. "I will guide his magic as best I can" she said.
"and I will be here as always should you need help" Gaius added. Beside Arthur Gwen took his hand.
"It's what Merlin would have wanted" she said softly. Arthur took in a deep breath and then slowly nodded.
"I did promise Balinor would always have a home here" he admitted.
"And you already love him like your own, there is no denying" said Gaius. Arthur looked up and smiled softly.
"no. no there isn't" he agreed.
Seven Days Later…
The sky was overcast, and already it was spitting droplets of rain as Morgana entered Alistors hovel. And as promised, the thin man was waiting for her.
"You have the crystal?" he asked simply.
"I have it, I hope it was worth the trouble I went through to get it" she replied through clenched teeth. Alistor held out his hand and she passed it to him.
"You have no idea how important this is" he said to her as he turned away. Morgana following him. He moved to the back of the hut, suddenly holding up his hand.
"I must have no distractions while I work" he told her "You may watch, from here, but do nothing to interfere" he warned her. Morgana slowly nodded and satisfied he moved forwards, placing the crystal on a small alter in front of him. Slowly he knelt and then picking up a bowel filled with ash, he sliced open the palm of his hand.
"Solatice, thyn O Gretas" he begain, his eyes beginning to glow. Slowly he picked up a handful of ash, scattering to his left. Outside the hovel thunder boomed overhead, causing Morgana to jump even as rain began to patter on the roof.
"Solatice, thyn O seffus" he said, taking another handful of ash, scattering this batch in front of him. This time when the thunder rumbled, Morgana was sure she felt something else in the air.
In the forest, Anhora looked up at the storm, concerned.
"Something is amiss. Something is terribly wrong" he said. Gilli looking over at him, concerned.
"Shushh, its just a storm" Gwen soothed Balinor as the child cried hysterically in her arms, Arthur sitting with her, looking up as Freya ran in.
"What is it? What's wrong with him?" Arthur asked. "As soon as the storm started…"
"He can feel it. Arthur something bad is happening" she said. "Something is coming" she said.
"What is it?" asked Gwen holding Balinor tightly against her, as if to protect him from the storm that raged outside.
"I don't know" she said, as another crack of thunder issued fourth. She quietly knelt in front of Gwen.
"Balinor" she whispered gently. The child turned its frightened eyes on her, her heart breaking at the fear there. "Balinor, you can feel it?" she asked. The child nodded.
"Solatice thyn O Fryan!" Yelled Alistor, taking another handful of ash, putting this next to the pile in front of him, Morgana watching in wide eyed terror.
"Balinor, can you feel what it is coming back?" Freya asked.
"They're rong" he sniffed, screaming as another burst of thunder exploded over the castle, this one making them all jump.
"Its wrong, I know" Freya said gently. "But you know, you know what it is" she said.
"No… Its not" he said sniffing, even as tears rolled down his face. Arthur stood and poured a goblet of Water, turning back to the child, feeling hopeless.
"Solatice, thyn O Salaras!"Alistor screamed, pouring one last pile of ash to his right, looking upwards, his entire body ablaze as the entire hovel shook around him and the windows of the hovel smashed inwards. Morgana screamed, shielding herself from the glass.
"What is this!" she screamed.
"This is what you wanted!" Alistor yelled back at her as wind whipped around them, jars falling and smashing, "Solatice Thyn O salamor, ticen nor, calamas!, notch nev sint, calador zontsana, sist ka" he cried, the four piles of ash becoming mini tornados, that began to grow. Morgana watching horrified and transfixed all at once.
Several rumbles of thunder raged one after the other, Balinor screaming, even as Freya held his tiny hand. Rory had run in with Gaius, and now stood near Arthur who still held the goblet in shaking hands.
"Balinor, please.. what is it? What's happening? What's back?" Freya said forcefully.
"no… bad mens! Bad!" he screamed.
"Balinor.. what bad men, we must know!" yelled Freya.
"DADDY" Balinor screamed. The goblet fell from Arthur's hand clattering on the floor, Gaius staggering backwards, Rory helping him to sit. Freya fell back with a thud, even as outside the sudden storm dissipated.
The four tornados had vanished, leaving four, naked men kneeling on the floor before Alistor. Slowly he stood and turned to Morgana, gesturing her forwards. Slowly she moved forwards, terrified, ecstatic at the same time. Slowly she circled them, running her fingers along their bare backs. None of them had yet moved.
"You approve?" asked Alistor, watching her. Morgana slowly turned to him and smiled.
"Oh I do Alistor, indeed I do" she said.
"Command them" he said. Morgana stepped back and stood beside him.
"Stand" she ordered. Slowly the four men stood and Morgana clapped her hands together in triumph.
"Sir Leon, Sir Percival, Sir Thomas.. and Merlin" she muttered. "Oh you have no idea how much you are going to aid me" she whispered. The four men simply stared forwards.
"and they will do as I command?" she said looking at Alistor.
"They are your puppets" he assured her.
"Then the show, will soon begin" she said.
"You have the other essentials?" Alistor asked her at length. Morgana nodded.
"But of course" she said. "One minute" she added, turning and leaving the hovel. Outside she ran to her horse, and began to pull the clothing she had brought from its hold all. Suddenly there was a humongous crack of Thunder from overhead, her horse reared up, knocking her away, the chickens running all around them.
"Bad mens Arter. Bad mens" Balinor said softly, tears running down his face, before he buried his face into Gwen.
Alistor looked up at the crack of thunder, frowning.
"Now what was that all about?" he wondered aloud, then he looked back down and jumped. Merlin, Thomas, Percival and Leon were no longer looking ahead. Now they were looking at him.
Morgana had calmed the horse down enough to gather the last of the clothing, and had turned back to the hovel when she heard a scream of pain from inside. She jumped at the sound, and then slowly moved forwards, opening the door.
"Alistor?" she whispered, looking around. Slowly she entered the hut, and moved towards the room at the back.
"Alistor?" she called again, as she moved into the room, her eyes going wide and mouth gaping open, Alistor was still there, no longer in one piece.
"What…" she said, her eyes wide, dropping the clothing, into the blood pooling at her feet.
"We didn't need him" said Leon from where he stood looking at her.
"And if we didn't need him" said Percival stepping forwards from the shadows in front of her.
"Then we certainly do not…" Said Thomas appearing from the shadows beside her.
"Need you" said a voice behind her. Morgana slowly turned, Merlin looking at her disinterested.
Outside the Hovel, Morgana's horse reared up as she began to scream, screams that were hideously cut short.
"Merlin?" repeated Arthur for the fourth time. Freya nodded, as Gwen looked over from where she was putting the now sleeping Balinor into his crib. George, who had come rushing in after the loudest and last thunder strike, sitting next to it, alert and ready to defend the small child with his life. Gwen smiled at him, appreciating the sentiment.
"But why would he say bad men?" asked Rory, utterly confused.
"I don't know, Merlin loves us more than he could ever say" Gwen said standing.
"no, I mean bad men" Rory emphasized. "Bad man, yes Merlin, bad men"
"There's more than one of them been brought back" said Freya understanding.
"Morgana, it has to be her" said Arthur with a snarl.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, we haven't heard from her in a year" Gwen cautioned. Arthur whirled on her.
"Face it Gwen, she was waiting for this moment. Camelot rebuilt?" he said.
"I'm afraid Arthur does have a point Gwen" said Freya slowly.
"But why Merlin? And why bad men? Is she controlling them?" asked Arthur, looking at Gaius.
"I would hate to even hazard a guess sire" he said slowly. "But there have been incidents in the past, many years ago where resurrections of people have gone wrong" he admitted.
"What do you mean?" asked Rory. Gaius turned to her, and cleared his throat.
"Resurrecting the dead is a very old power sire, going back before even the old religion. It is a dangerous art, even to one skilled. If they are unprepared, or do not have all the facts about those they are bringing back. Things can go very wrong" Gaius explained.
"But if this person was skilled enough to bring Merlin, Leon, Percival and Thomas back-" said Gwen, but Freya cut her off.
"Merlin's power. If he didn't take that into account…" she said, the room falling silent.
"Forgive me sire" said George finally, everyone looking at him, Arthur nodded, and George stood up. "But, how can it go wrong?" he asked.
"People come back… wrong. Twisted cruel versions of themselves" Gaius finally said.
"Which means what?" demanded Arthur.
"I hope to god we never find out, but if that is what has happened then we will know, gods help us, we will know" Gaius said softly.
"That's not an answer Gaius" Arthur said.
"Until we know more sire, that is the only answer I can give" Gaius replied.
"And Leon? Percival? Thomas? What of them?" asked Rory softly.
"I'm sorry Rory, but if they came back at the same time, then any taint will be upon them as well" he replied.
Merlin sat in the hovel with the others, running his finger through the blood on the table, Thomas sitting next to him, his feet on the table. Across from them Leon and Percival were busy dismembering a chicken, eating it. Merlin watching with no real interest, before he looked at the doorway where Morgana hung, battered, and bloody.
"I think we should thank her" he said, looking over at Thomas. He grunted and shrugged.
"I think we should kill her" said Leon as he tore into a bloody chicken leg, before reaching for another, Percival growling and pushing him away, the two fighting over the remains of the chicken, Thomas regarded them, laughing, then with a sigh, looked at Merlin.
"Strange, we come back with, mostly intact faculties, yet those two…" he muttered. Merlin shrugged.
"We died with magic in our bodies. Those two, just claws in theirs" he offered. Thomas nodded, then stamped his foot down startling the other two.
"Enough" he told them. "If your hungry go get another chicken, there's plenty out there" he said.
"And a horse" offered Merlin.
"Seems your guest is awake" said Thomas, pointing a boot over at Morgana. Merlin looked over and smiled as he stood up, walking over to her amiably.
"Now, I could take the gag off, but then I'm sure you'd do something stupid" he said. Morgana, eyes wide suddenly jolted.
"Oh, magic not working? Oh you poor woman" Merlin said mockingly. Then pointed down. Morgana looked down, seeing binding runes drawn around her in Alistors blood.
"Courtesy of your dead, departed sister" Merlin explained.
"she sends her regards by the way" Thomas called over, the others laughing as Merlin poked Morgana in the ribs, setting her swinging. Slowly he reached up and roughly pulled the gag from her mouth.
"Emrys please" she began, but Merlin held up a finger.
"na ha" he said wagging it at her. "First, you. See, we were all wondering what to do with you, kill you, let you go perhaps? So we thought we'd string you up instead" he said.
"This isn't you, none of you would ever act like this" she sneered. Merlin whirled around and put his face close to hers.
"WRONG!" he yelled at her. "We are EXACTLY what you made us" he said, then with a cruel sneer turned away from her, opening his arms wide, "all of us, Me, Leon, Percival, Thomas, all exactly how YOU-" he swung around pointing a finger at her, "-Made us!"
"No.. I didn't" she said softly. Merlin shook his head and sighed.
"Then, please, tell me, because I really have to know what would possess you to bring back four people who truly despise you" he said. Thomas took his feet off the table and leant forwards, not caring his hands were laying in Alistor's blood. Leon and Percival stood and leant back against the wall of the hovel, arms folded.
"To kill Arthur" she said.
"you brought us back to kill our liege?" Merlin asked. "That old chestnut?" he added.
"It would have been the most humiliating death he could endure, killed by those who once cared about it" she said. Thomas laughed and stood up.
"She's funny, I like funny" he said, then he turned to her. "sorry my lady but truth be told, well we're going to kill him anyway" he said.
"You are?" she asked confused.
"Of course, that is along with every other living person in this kingdom" Percival snarled.
"not even you can do that" Morgana sneered. Merlin smiled and looked at Leon.
"Look around you witch, its already beginning" he said. Morgana did so, squinting, seeing nothing but a putrid moss growing from the wood of the hovel. Moss that had not been there before, Moss that was even now slowly spreading as she watched. Slowly she turned back to Leon.
"Its called the shade" said Merlin, "And as it grows it will taint everything, plants will wither and die, water will foul, crops will fail, and eventually, when the land is covered, so too will the people wither, and then, at the end, when they believe they cannot fall any further, they will become, just like us" Merlin said.
"Your insane, that will take years" she spat.
"Probably yes, but not with magic. Seven months Morgana, seven months and this kingdom will beg for death, and we four will be waiting" Merlin said, leaning towards her again. "And believe me, after a year of being dead, we are very patient" he whispered, then he turned away, looking at the others.
"Now, who wants to gut her?" Merlin asked smiling. Slowly Percival stepped forwards, picking up a rusted dagger from the table, suddenly Thomas held up his hand, Merlin looking at him.
"Why don't we make her our first, let the shade have her" he suggested. Percival put the knife down grinning. Merlin nodded, smiling.
"Now that idea, I like that" he said, then with a sigh he moved past Morgana.
"have fun" he called back as he and the others walked out, leaving her helpless to watch the Shade creep closer.
Outside dawn was breaking, and Merlin looked around smiling in satisfaction.
"You know, I've missed that, the feeling of the sun on my face as it rises" he admitted.
"Don't care for it myself" muttered Leon. Merlin smiled and walked forwards.
"Then perhaps we'll find something you do like"
"Killing that prat of a king would be a good start" Leon said.
"Ahh, no not yet, first my friend, we are going to break him" Merlin said. "We are going to take his allies, his family everything he holds dear and then, then we'll kill him" Merlin said. Closing his eyes as behind him from the hovel, Morgana began to scream.
"this day is getting better and better" he muttered, then looked down at his armour. Slowly he smiled and placed his hand on it, the colour going to a rusted red colour.
"Well?" Merlin asked turning. The others nodding, Merlin reached out then, changing the armour to the same rusted red colour.
"Now, who wants to say hello to Arthur?" he asked cheerfully.
The audience chamber was full, the knights, the council members, Gwen, Gaius. People talking amongst themselves.
"It has to be something to do with that storm last night" muttered Elyan, to Gwaine and Kyle.
"What's so bad? I mean yes it was a bad storm, but it was just a storm right?" asked Kyle.
"In this place, who knows" replied Gwaine, Elyan holding his hand up for silence as Arthur walked in, dressed in armour.
"Okay, it was more than a storm" said Gwaine. The audience chamber fell silent as Arthur walked to the chair and turned to face them.
"I'm not going to go around the houses" he began, looking around. "as you are all aware, we had a terrible storm last night" he said, "what only five of us present here are aware of is that is was magically induced" he said, mummers traveling around the hall. "Quiet" he ordered, everyone falling silent.
"Balinor, felt something last night, Freya as well, they felt something being brought back" he said. The people in the room frowning. "It appears that Morgana may have had something to do with what has happened" he said, then looked over at Freya, who stepped forwards holding Balinor.
"What we felt, went beyond this world, far beyond, and it physically brought people back. People we love, people we have lost" she said. "But the severity of the storm indicates that, something went wrong with Morgana's plan" she said.
"Balinor kept screaming bad men" said Arthur taking over again. Then he looked around the room.
"We finally managed to find out who is back. Its Merlin" he said. The room going deathly quiet.
"It is also entirely possible that others been brought back as well. Namely Leon, Percival and Thomas" he explained.
"What?" asked Elyan softly.
"sire, by gone wrong, what do you mean?" asked Gwaine stepping forwards, it was Gaius who answered.
"By wrong, we mean they have returned twisted and evil, if they have returned, then they will surely view us as the enemy" Gaius said. Arthur held up his hand as people began to talk again.
"Please" he said, gesturing for calm.
"We have no concrete proof of this yet, this is just a warning briefing" Arthur said. "now I ask you do not talk to anyone outside of this room about this, not until we know one way or another" Arthur said, suddenly Balinor began to squirm in Freya's arms.
"Shushh" she soothed, George moving over, Balinor holding out his arms to the servant. Freya handed him over gently.
"thank you" she whispered. George nodded, hugging the boy softly, frowning, as he listened.
"Now, as much as it pains me to say this, but if it is true…" Arthur trailed off looking over to George.
"What is it?" he whispered. George looked at him.
"Bad men sire, he keeps whispering bad men" George said. Suddenly Freya stepped forwards, hands glowing.
"No" she said, as at the front of the room the door exploded inwards, knocking everyone to the ground. Arthur slowly looked up as a man entered the room, face hard and cruel.
Did you miss us?" asked Thomas, looking over at Rory, who shook her head sadly.
"Oh gods no" Arthur said, as Leon stepped forwards.
"My Liege" he said with a mock bow, his voice full of contempt, as Percival also entered.
"Nice, I like what you did with the place" added Percival, looking around, then the final person pushed his way in, smiling as if nothing was wrong.
"Hello Arthur" Said Merlin, crunching the wood from the door beneath his feet.
"Guards!" yelled Arthur, standing up.
"oh, you mean these two?" Merlin asked innocently as the two men who had been on duty outside flew into the room, obviously dead. "They had an accident" Merlin said, then grinned, the other three laughing, Arthur feeling sick to his stomach.
2/14
Merlin
The Darkest Knights
"Oh come on Arthur, admit it, you missed me" said Merlin stepping forwards before glaring over at George, who held the screaming Balinor in his arms.
"Shut that child up!"
"He deliberately showed himself, openly taunting me" said Arthur as he spoke with Gwen and Freya.
"Why would he do that?" asked Gwen, confused.
"To show he isn't afraid of us… of me. The ultimate insult"
"The city of Kalaros, home of the dead" Merlin said. "and the place that we shall call home" he continued.
"Why here?" asked Thomas.
"Because, hidden in this city is the one thing that can defeat us, we have to find it and destroy it" he said.
"Oh my god, Arthur" said Gwen as Morgana stumbled into the room battered and bleeding.
"Come now Percival, that is no way to treat such a valued ally of Camelot" said Thomas stepping into the throne room of Godstone's castle.
"I will never kneel to you!" Godstone spat at them.
"A pity" said Thomas, suddenly Pulling Vivian into view and holding his sword up to her throat.
"You might however want to rethink that" Thomas said with a malicious grin.
"I can't do it Freya, I can't go to war with the man I love" Rory said crying. Freya pulled her into a hug.
"I know, but This is not Thomas, any more than it is your Merlin" she said, her tears joining Rory's.