Merlin 1920
"MERLIN!" Arthur's plaintive cry echoed around the battlefield, beside him Gwaine, Leon and the other knights turned in time to see the entrance to the cavern where Merlin was battling Morgana collapse bellowing dust everywhere. All of them turned away, shielding their eyes, before turning back to see the wall beginning to crack, echoes of the sound of a cave in just reaching their ears, even as outside the trees above the roof of the cavern began to collapse downwards. Arthur started forwards, tears stinging his eyes, only to be gripped by Leon.
"sire.." Leon said softly.
"Let me go, we have to help him!" Arthur shouted.
"Sire he's gone, nothing could survive that" Leon said.
"I can't… I have…" Arthur tried, but found his voice failing him.
"Sire, please" Leon said again. Arthur took another step forwards, then collapsed to his knees, Leon supporting him the whole time.
"Merlin" Arthur whispered as the cave continued to collapse.
Within the cavern, the battle still raged, even as around the battling warlock and sorceress, the roof began to cave in. Merlin dodged one of the boulders even as Morgana did another one, each of them knowing this was their ultimate fate no matter what happened. There was a thunderous crash from above, and Merlin heard Morgana scream as more rocks fell, she crumpled to the ground, her dress torn and ripped in several places, a moment later more rocks fell.
"Lesotos" Merlin intoned softly, Morgana looked at him, and he at her as a golden barrier formed around them.
"What have you done Emrys?" she demanded. Merlin shook his head as the barrier formed fully, then everything stopped, for both of them.
1000 years later…
Chug Crack! A cold wind blew into the concealed cavern, the golden barrier dissipating as it was touched. With a gasp both Merlin and Morgana took in great lungful's of air, Merlin falling to his knees, palms on the ground, even as Morgana struggled to stand. Slowly she raised her hand, it glowed briefly then died out. Dazed she stumbled forwards towards the breeze, Merlin tried to follow her but his legs felt like lead weights. Slowly he raised his hand towards her.
"Silot" he said weakly, but it was too little too late, Morgana had already gone. Taking a deep breath he crawled towards the cool breeze, squinting at the bright light from outside. Using the fallen rocks to help he struggled to his feet and moved out into the sunlight. He stopped when he was outside, his eyes taking in the view. Where hours ago there had been nothing but trees, now he saw most of them were gone, and in the distance, he could see several large buildings bellowing smoke into the air. He could also see where the ground had been carved away and a stone path winding towards the city, strange horseless carts moving along them quickly.
"What is this?" he muttered. Slowly he stepped forwards again, before finally his legs gave out. The last thing he heard before he passed out was the sound of someone approaching him.
"Hey kid, you alright?"
"Found him out by '29, just collapsed right in front of me" A man's voice brought Merlin awake.
"What do you make of his clothes?" a woman's voice
"His clothes? Some kinda fancy dress get up" the man replied.
"Why'd you bring him here Tom, not like we have enough to worry about" the Woman said.
"You didn't see him Tawny, the way he was looking round, like he didn't know where he was" Tom replied.
"Did he have anything else on him? ID? Anything?" Tawny asked.
"Nothing I could find" Tom replied. Tawny sighed.
"Hello" Merlin's voice was rough. Immediately he saw two faces appear over him, neither he recognised. And their clothing was ridiculous.
"Hey kid, how you feeling?" asked the man.
"Could I have some water please?" Merlin asked.
"Sure thing" the man replied, vanishing out of sight, leaving the woman looking at him.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
"Morgana, I was fighting Morgana, there was a cave in.." he said.
"Who?" she asked as Tom reappeared with a glass of water. Merlin took it, sipping it.
"Sorry it's warm kid, but it's the best we've got" Tom told him.
"It's fine, thank you" Merlin replied.
"So who's this Morgana?" Tawny asked sitting down on the edge of the bed. Merlin sipped the water, as he looked around the strange room, lights were fixed to the wall, glowing magically with some kind of inner fire, the walls were decorated in a green floral pattern paper.
"An old enemy" he replied.
"Enemy?" asked Tawny. Merlin nodded at her. Tawny looked at Tom who shrugged.
"Only found him" he said.
"She escaped from the cavern, I have to find her before she gets to Arthur" Merlin said.
"Arthur? Who's that?" asked Tom. Merlin frowned at him.
"Arthur" Merlin stated. "King Arthur of Camelot?" Merlin prompted at their blank looks.
"oookay, you said he wasn't hurt" Tawny replied looking at Tom.
"I didn't think he was" Tom replied.
"I'm fine, I just need to get back and stop her" Merlin replied.
"Yeah kid, I get that. Look do you have a name? maybe we could find out where your from or something" Tom said.
"I'm from Camelot, I said that" Merlin replied.
"Yeah, okay, we'll deal with that later yeah?" Tom replied. "I'm Tom, my sister Tawny" he said, introducing them holding out his hand. Merlin looked at it, then did the same. Tawny chuckling, Merlin immediately pulled his hand back, looking at her.
"Sorry, did I do something wrong?" he asked as Tom glared at her.
"No kid its fine, so come on, what's your name?" Tom asked.
"Merlin" he replied.
"Like Merlin the magician?" asked Tawny.
"I don't know what that is" Merlin replied. Tawny whistled through her teeth and stood.
"Ohh boy, you got us a right dozy here" she commented.
"A right dozy?" asked Merlin as she walked to the other side of the room.
"Don't worry about it kid, just rest up" Tom said to him. Merlin looked at him, then slowly nodded. Tom took the glass back and stepped away, leaving Merlin to his thoughts.
"The mans whacked in the head" Tawny said softly as she spoke to Tom, her glance occasionally going over to Merlin.
"Possibly, look I need to get to work, David will have my head if I'm late" Tom replied.
"I dunno why you work for him anyway, the man's scum" Tawny replied.
"I know, but it's work, it keeps us fed and housed right?" asked Tom.
"I suppose, don't mean I got to like it or anything" Tawny replied.
"I know sis, look just take care of… well Merlin I guess until I get home, we can talk then" Tom said.
"Fine, but if he starts moving things around with his mind I'm calling the cops" she replied. Tom grinned and looked over at Merlin, before he left the room. Slowly Tawny turned back to face him.
David McRealy, head of the industrial corp. of Cardiff sat at the head of the long boardroom table as he regarded the members of the board gathered around him. Slowly he stood and walked around them, each of the men present looking at each other, or the table as he slowly moved around.
"You know, I do pride myself on being a fair man, I give and expect little in return and not one person here can say they did not benefit from my… charity over the years" he stated as he walked around them. "So imagine my surprise when word reaches my ears that someone at this table has been trying to sell out to my competitors, the… sense of betrayal" he continued, stopping behind a bald headed man and placing his fingers on the back of the chair. The man swallowed hard and glanced at the other's seated around the table. Slowly David removed his hands and carried on moving, the bald man letting out a sigh.
"It cuts me to the soul it really does" David continued. "But there it is, for you gentlemen, someone trying to give away our biggest secret to the enemy" he stopped moving now he had circled the table and was back at his own seat. Slowly he turned to regard a smartly dressed man three chairs down on his right.
"Now, Mr Hobbes, why would you do that?" he asked. The smartly dressed man looked up at him, eyes wide.
"Sir, I assure you I am no sell out" Hobbes protested.
"Yet we know otherwise don't we?" David replied, gesturing to a large muscular man by the door. The man stepped forwards and clamped a hand on Hobbes shoulders.
"Sir please" Hobbes tried.
"Goodbye mister Hobbes" David said, then looked at the muscular man. "Lose him" he said dismissing him. The other members of the board looked away as Hobbes was taken from the room. Outside there was the sounds of a struggle, before the door closed.
"Now gentlemen, I will take suggestions for his replacement" David said sitting down.
"Here, try to eat some of this" Tawny said handing Merlin a bowl of soup. Merlin was sitting at the table, and looked up as she approached.
"Thank you" he said as she placed it in front of him. Tawny sat opposite him as he ate.
"so you're Merlin from Camelot then?" she asked him. Merlin looked up at her.
"Yes, except I don't know where I am or where Camelot is from here" he said. Tawny nodded and leant back in the chair.
"You do realise that's all a legend right?" she suddenly asked.
"What is?"
"Camelot, King Arthur, Excalibur, Merlin, its all just legend, don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading about it as much as anyone, but aren't you taking it a bit far?" she asked.
"Its real, believe me" Merlin said. Tawny sighed.
"I'm trying to help you here Merlin, you go around spouting off nonsense like that you'll end up in the nut house for sure" she said.
"Why won't you believe me?" he demanded.
"Because it can't be real, and if it was then it was hundreds of years ago" she replied. Plop the spoon splashed into bowl, Merlin looking at Tawny, his face pale.
"what do you mean?" he asked her.
"Look, Merlin, I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
"Please, what do you mean hundreds of years ago?" he asked.
"Look if Camelot did exist it was a thousand odd years ago, wherever it was its gone now, all that's left are some drawings and stories and… well not a lot else" she said.
"What year is this?" Merlin asked.
"What year?"
"Please…"
"1922" she replied. Slowly Merlin sank back in his seat.
"Then they're dead. Arthur, Gwen, Gaius" he said softly. Slowly he looked up. "My mother, Gwaine, all of them" he said.
"This has really got you hasn't it?" Tawny said as she watched Merlin. Slowly he pushed the bowl away.
"I'm not hungry anymore" he said. Tawny looked at him, moving over as he began to cry.
"I'm sorry Merlin" she said gently. He wiped his eyes as he looked at her.
"No, I can fix this I have magic I can get back" he said.
"Merlin…"
"I can I know I can" he said.
"Merlin, there's no such thing" Tawny said. Merlin looked at her then.
"You're sure about that?" he asked. Tawny frowned as he held out his palm. "Ingorussu Lamana" he intoned. A second later a small flaming gold dragon appeared on his palm.
"How the hell…" Tawny said as she watched it.
"Magic" Merlin replied closing his hand. Tawny looked at him, her eyes wide. "Don't worry, I wont hurt you" Merlin assured her. Tawny nodded at him, then fainted. Merlin blinked and sighed.
"Not intentionally anyway" he amended.
"You're late"
Tom turned to see the foreman of the industrial plant regarding him from a nearby doorway.
"Sorry, I had some trouble at home" Tom replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that, however Mr. McRealy does not pay for personal problems. He want's to see you"
"Now?"
"Yes" the foreman replied. "You know the way" he added. Tom slowly nodded, and moved towards the metal stairwell. He climbed up it, to the top, where he looked down to the workers below who were hammering away at the hot metal making car parts. Slowly he turned to see McRealy's bodyguard standing there watching him, arms folded.
"I'm… I'm here to see Mr. McRealy" Tom said. The guard regarded him for a moment, then knocked before pushing the door open. Slowly he walked in, coming to a stop in front of the large oak desk. McRealy was writing something down on a notepad, before he finally looked up.
"Tom isn't it?" he said.
"Yes sir, you wanted to see me sir?" Tom replied.
"I did indeed. It has been brought to my attention that you have been late on at least three occasions over the past month, I don't appreciate slackers in my workforce" he said.
"I'm sorry sir, I just have some things I needed to deal with at home" Tom replied.
"Really, nothing serious I hope" McRealy replied, picking up the pen again.
"No sir"
"I see" he replied, putting the pen down once again. "You see Tom, you put me in a difficult position, I know you're a hard worker, I really do, yet I can't be seen to be showing favouritism" he said. "So what do I do with you?" he asked.
"I… Don't know sir" Tom replied.
"I know, well I suppose one more chance is in order, after all good workers are hard to find" he replied. "But Tom, if you're late again I will put you on the street, do you understand?" he asked.
"Yes sir, thank you sir" Tom replied. David nodded, then looked over as the door knocked again and opened. This time a beautiful woman entered the room, flanked by two burly looking men.
"And who might this be?" asked David as Tom stepped out.
"My name is Morgana" came the reply before the door closed. Tom looked back at it quickly, then at the bodyguard who was once again eyeing him. Slowly Tom went back down the stairs.
"Naaa" he said shaking his head.
"Tom, you really gotta see this!" Tawny said excitedly as she practically pulled him into the room.
"What? Tawny?" he asked, even as his mouth gaped open. Merlin was sitting cross legged on the floor, with several flaming dragons flying around him. His eyes were closed, and he looked almost peaceful.
"Don't worry Tom, as I told Tawny I'm not going to hurt you" he said, opening his eyes. Tom slowly stepped forwards and held out his hand, one of the dragons landing on it. Tom slowly grinned then laughed as it took flight again.
"Are they real?" he asked.
"In a sense, they're made from magic" Merlin replied as he stood up, the dragons slowly blinking out.
"I've never seen anything…" Tom said, then shook his head. "Okay, ermm, this chick you were fighting" he said.
"Morgana?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah, I think I saw her today, at the plant" Tom replied. Merlin stepped forwards suddenly.
"What was she doing?"
"Talking to my boss" he replied.
"Why would she be there?" asked Tawny.
"I dunno, I was chucked out the office before I could find out" Tom replied.
"I have to go there" Merlin stated.
"Whoa, hold your horses kid, she's long gone, and besides the plant's closed for the day" Tom said.
"Why didn't you come and get me?" Merlin demanded.
"Hey, in case you hadn't noticed, I was at work, I just avoided having my ass chewed out, how would it look if I suddenly went running?" Tom asked. Merlin slowly nodded and turned away.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not used to… I'm sorry Tom" he said.
"Hey its no big, at least we know she still in the city right?" Tom said.
"Yeah, but I can't let her run around out there, people will end up getting hurt" Merlin replied.
"Well you can't go looking for her like that" Tom replied. Merlin looked down at his cloths and shrugged"
"What do you suggest?" he asked. Tawny stepped forwards and looked him over.
"I think I can work with this" she said, guiding him away.
"And lose the beard!" Tom called out.
It took nearly two hours by which time it was completely dark outside before Tawny re-emerged from the bedroom.
"I feel stupid" Merlin stated from the room.
"Come on you look fine" Tawny told him, stepping forwards. Tom stood and grinned as Merlin stepped out from the room dressed in a blue suit, his hair slicked back, and the beard he had developed gone, only the hint of a moustache under his nose. Tom slowly nodded and then frowned.
"What's the scarf?" he asked.
"It's a me thing" Merlin replied. Tom chuckled and then shrugged.
"Welcome to the 1900's Merlin" he said.
"So what's the plan?" asked Tawny
"I find Morgana, get us back to where we're meant to be" Merlin replied.
"And what do we do?" asked Tom.
"Nothing, you've done more than enough already" Merlin said.
"Okay, fine" Tom said.
"But-" Tawny began, Tom held up his hand as Merlin went to the door.
"Thanks guys, really" Merlin said to them, as he opened the door and walked out.
"I can't believe you-"
"Three, two… one" Tom said, before the door opened again.
"So where exactly did you last see her?" Merlin asked walking back in.
"I trust you're well rested my lady" David said as Morgana emerged from another room, dressed in a white silk dress, her hair neatly tied back.
"Vey, I must compliment you on your hospitality" she said.
"For one with as such beauty as yours…" David replied. Morgana smiled, it had been easy to get the fool on her side with a small demonstration of her powers earlier. Now all she needed to do was to kill Emry's and then get back to her own time. Still that was for the future, for the moment she had a lot of unanswered questions.
"So you own this place?" she asked glancing around.
"I do indeed, the biggest manufacturing plant in the country, we turn out twice as much as other plants with double the staff" David replied.
"Impressive" she said, even though she could care less, but it wouldn't do for him to know that. "And how do you manage such remarkable feats?" she asked. David smiled at her.
"Do you really want to know the answer to that?" he asked.
"Oh yes" she replied. David stood and held out his arm which Morgana took.
"Then please allow me to show you" he said.
He led her out the back of the office to a small room that moved between floors by itself. Eventually they reached ground level and then went deeper, down and down for what seemed like eternity before they reached the bottom.
"Mind your step" David said as he led her into a dark passage. Morgana following him around several twists and turns, before they reached a large metal door with two guards on either side. David gestured for them to open the door, and they did so, silently and without protest.
"You hold a lot of power over them" Morgana said.
"they know who the real power is" David replied as he led her into a large cavern. It was lit with what looked like molten fire. Morgana looked around in awe, feeling the heat on her skin.
"You want to know the secret behind my success?" asked David. "Then please, allow me to introduce you" he said. There was a roar from above, and the rattle of chains, as from high above them Kilgharrah swooped down to land with a thud. Morgana stepped back from it, David looking at her with an evil smirk on his face.
"This is our great secret, the reason we can do so much with so little, Oh it took me years to catch him, but when I did…" he began to laugh. "When I did my success was assured" he said.
"I knew I would see you again witch" Kilgharrah said.
"You've met I see" David said.
"Not in person" she said. Then she began to laugh. "Oh Merlin, how I am going to enjoy this" she muttered.
