Here is the next chapter! Enjoy!
Arthur hopped off his horse and started to walk to the cave his heart hammering against his chest.
Gwaine and Lancelot looked nervous.
"Arthur are you sure about this? I mean you did take the Cup from them and threatened one of their children." Gwaine commented. Arthur rolled his eyes. "Thank for stating the obvious Gwaine. I'm not sure how they will take it, but we have to try. Merlin could have been here."
They three stopped as Jenred approached the group. He held up his hand. "Do not worry Arthur Pendragon. I mean you no harm."
Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Thank you. I am here to look for Merlin. Has he been here?"
Jenrad half smiled. "Yes, Emrys has been here. I will give you the directions as long as you promise to bring him no harm."
Arthur nodded slowly. "You have my word."
Jenrad nodded his appreciation. "Thank you my lord. I would invite you in, but some of the Druids are still resentful and it might bring bad blood."
Arthur sighed. "That doesn't matter. Where did he go?"
Jenrad pulled out a map seemingly out of nowhere, and laid it on a flat boulder. "Emrys is seeking to kill the woman who cursed the Lady of the Lake..."
"Who?" Gwaine interrupted.
"Freya."
"Ah."
"Anyway, he is going to kill this woman to set the balance of the world aright and to bring Freya back to life."
Arthur nodded. "We know that much, but somehow I don't think Merlin would actually do it. He is not much of a killer."
Jenrad smiled at Arthur's statement. "True. But he has killed for one reason. To protect the innocent. If he kills Valen, he would be doing just that for she is a cruel and evil person. She has hurt more people than just Freya."
Arthur frowned. "How do we find him."
"I will show you where Valen is and I am almost certain that is where you will find Emrys."
Merlin looked around him. He had entered a small town. Not exactly the place he would think to find an assassin. But looking at the directions that Jenrad had given him, he knew that it was the right place.
As he entered the town, Merlin saw that it was not the type of town that one would expect. Thieves lingered around in the shadows, men spoke in whispers and drunks were everywhere. Almost every corner had a bar of some sort. Merlin smiled to himself. It was a good thing Gwaine wasn't here. The knight wouldn't last a second.
Merlin turned a street corner and entered a bar, keeping his cloak close to him hiding his face.
He went up to he barkeeper. Jenrad had told him that he place was full of assassins waiting for their next kill. Merlin knew he would have to be extremely careful in a place like this.
The bartender went up to him.
"Sorry son we are all out of women. There has been a fresh demand and my ladies are busy for the night."
Merlin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm not here for any random women. I'm looking for one called Valen."
The barkeeper was silent. It had definitely struck a cord. "Looking for someone to do a nasty job for you eh? Well she should be in the cave past the city. You will need money. She doesn't do cheap."
Merlin nodded. He looked outside. It was getting really dark. "I would like to have a room please."
He placed a few coins on the table. The bartender nodded and gave him a key. "Room 12. Up the flight of stairs on your left. You will be sharing with one other. Best I got, take it or leave it."
Merlin was so tired he took the key without a second thought. "Thanks."
As he entered his room Merlin took off his cape and lay down on his bed. He spoke a spell and a rose appeared in his hand.
"Don't worry Freya. I made a promise, and I will keep it."
Merlin had fallen asleep, and was suddenly awoken by his roommate entering loudly.
Probably had to much to drink. Merlin thought wryly. Keeping his back to the man, and his hand on his dagger, he heard the man mumble.
"Where did I put that bloody ring?"
Merlin froze. It couldn't be. But it had to, he would recognize that voice anywhere.
Turning he saw the last man in the world he expected to see. "Gilli?"
"Arthur we should stop for the night it is getting dark. Merlin isn't going anywhere we can't follow."
Lancelot's voice came from behind the prince. Arthur turned in his saddle. "Your right. Let's make camp."
The three made camp and Arthur took the first watch as he couldn't sleep. Looking around he saw that they were in the forest of Lost Future. He didn't even know the place existed till Jenrad told him about it. It was said to be haunted, of course Arthur ignored that as a superstitious fancy. If Merlin was here with him the idiot would be up all night looking for ghosts. Arthur smiled to himself as he thought of the complaints Merlin would be making up at the moment.
Save me
A voice whispered in the wind. Arthur shook himself. He had just imagined it.
All of a sudden a girl appeared in the mist making Arthur stand up and pull out his sword. She just stood there staring at him. She looked unnaturally pale, and sickly. Her torn dress floated about her. She looked like she was floating on air.
"What do you want?" he growled. She tilted her head. "You do not remember me?"
Arthur relaxed... a little. "You are the Druid girl."
"I am Freya yes."
"What are you doing here? How is this possible?" Freya laughed a little. "I am here to help. Oh please Arthur relax, you look like you've seen a ghost. There is one place you will have to stop on your way if you want to save Merlin."
"Where?"
"The sword that you used to defeat Morgana was taken and placed in a stone by Merlin. It is to keep it safe, and only you can pull it out."
Arthur frowned. "What in the world has that to do with Merlin's quest?"
"There was one thing that Jenrad did not tell you as he did not know. Valen used to be a Druid, a good and kind person. One hundred years ago Valen put her blood in the Cup of Life as an experiment. Soon she came to realize her powers and became power hungry. She betrayed the Druids and lived a life of ruthless killing and torment. Now she is trained and is the best assassin for she cannot be killed. Only the sword will be able to end her life."
Arthur stood there for a moment and let this information soak in. "So Merlin is walking into a trap."
Freya nodded gravely. "Not even someone with his power can stop her. You must retrieve the sword."
"Where is it?"
"Keep traveling north and in two hours you will come to a brook. Follow it till it separates and then go north once more. In less than an hour you will find the sword. I am counting on you Arthur. Make sure that idiot lives please?"
Arthur smiled. "I will."
"Arthur who are you talking to?" Gwaine's voice broke the conversation.
"I was..." Arthur stopped when he saw that Freya was gone.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Gwaine chuckled. Arthur turned towards him slowly. "I think I just did."
Meanwhile Merlin was having an interesting time as well.
"Gilli? Is that really you?"
Gilli looked up in surprise to see his friend so far from Camelot.
"Merlin? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to help a friend. You?"
"Just wandering around." Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Gilli. Why do you need your ring?"
Gilli looked down. "The men have challenged me to a fight." Merlin sighed. "Gilli I thought you were past all this."
"I am really!" Gilli protested. "But a man has to earn his keep and this is how I do it."
Merlin sat up and looked at his friend in the eye. "It's wrong."
"You got any better ideas? No one will hire someone like me and I would rather do this than starve."
So saying he picked up his ring slipped it on his finger, and left slamming the door behind him. Merlin sighed and rubbed his eyes. Didn't look like he was going to get much sleep tonight.
Merlin waited for Gilli to walk in and then watched as his friend sat down. Gilli looked weary.
"What's wrong?" Merlin asked.
"I never wanted a life like this." Gilli's eyes wandered. Merlin nodded. "I know."
"All I do is fight and earn my keep traveling. It seems like there is no purpose in my life. Nothing to life for except to enter places like this and cheat to win. I'm breathing, but I'm not really living."
Merlin sighed and patted Gilli's hand. "Everyone has a purpose. Gilli you have gift! It's not meant to be thrown away like this. I know that you will have a chance. Just... you need to be patient."
"Easy for you to say." Gilli retorted. "You are the all-powerful Emrys. You're destiny has been handed to you on a silver platter."
Merlin scoffed. "If you knew all that I've had to go through you would not have said that."
Gilli frowned. "What do you mean? You've got Giaus, your friends, and it was simple. Protect the prince of Camelot, make sure he becomes king."
"Simple is the last word I would use for my destiny. But that doesn't matter. For twenty years I had no idea why I was given such power. I was lost, without purpose, I know exactly how you feel. My home was simple, plain and don't get me wrong, I loved the people but I had no one who understood me. Well, that's not entirely true, I did have a friend and he got me through lots of teasing." Merlin laughed at the memory.
"Being picked on was something that I got used to. Still do. But once I found my destiny I realized why the gift was given. Even after loosing a lot much was gained. I'm sure that will happen to you too."
Gilli looked at Merlin who looked like he was in his own little world.
"What happened to your friend?"
Merlin swallowed. "He died."
"I'm sorry."
Merlin smiled at Gilli. "Me too."
There was silence for a while. Then Gilli turned to Merlin. "Where are you going?"
"I'm... it's complicated."
"Tell me."
"I'm going to try to kill Valen." Gilli's eyes widened. "That is impossible! I've seen her fight. Even someone as powerful as you has no chance. It's almost as if she can't be killed."
Merlin perked up. "What do you mean?"
"I remember, one time a man stabbed her. She just pulled the sword right out of her stomach and killed the man."
Merlin's eyes widened. "There is only one explanation."
"What?"
"She must have used the Cup of Life. Not only is she a good fighter, she cannot be killed." Merlin whispered the last sentence.
Gilli leaned back against the wall. "You can't go."
Merlin tensed. "I have to."
"Why? It doesn't make sense. You don't seem like a killer to me."
Merlin leaned back. "I'm not, but if I don't someone very close to me... will die."
If the situation hadn't been so serious Merlin would have laughed at the irony of his words.
Gilli frowned. "Well you can't do it alone that's for sure."
Merlin shrugged. "I'm pretty used to being on my own."
"Well, you shouldn't. Let me come."
Merlin turned sharply towards Gilli. "That's a bad idea Gilli. You would be risking your life, besides, people who join me in quests have had an awful habit of dying."
Gilli chuckled. "Come on we are kin. Besides, you need the help and it can't be worse than what I'm doing right now."
Merlin grinned, "I can see that you are not going to back down."
Gilli shook his head. "Nope."
Arthur stared at the sword in the stone in awe. Gwaine whistled. "So it really is a sword in a stone. I thought it was some sort of metaphor or something..." he trailed off as Arthur and Lancelot stared at him incredulously.
He held up his arms in defense. "What it was confusing!"
"What part about a sword in a stone, is confusing?" Arthur asked in exasperation. Gwaine frowned. "The part when you said something about a sword stuck in a bloody stone." He replied cheekily.
Arthur rolled his eyes and walked up to the sword. Gwaine spoke up again. "You know, after all the trouble Merlin went through to put this thing in the stone, he might not be too happy about you taking it out two days later."
"Is there any way I can make you shut up?" Arthur asked annoyed.
Gwaine rolled his eyes, "With my concentration span, you are out of luck my friend."
"You have the concentration span of a new born lamb!"
"Arthur!" Lancelot's voice came out of nowhere.
"We need to get the sword now. Time is against us." said the reasonable knight.
Arthur sighed. "It looks tightly wedged in there."
"I agree but you are the only one who can do it."
"Thank goodness it has nothing to do with your strength, otherwise we all would be doomed." Gwaine muttered as Arthur shot him a death glare. Lancelot rolled his eyes. "Honestly it's like I have to babysit you two!"
Shaking his head Arthur put his hands on the hilt. He felt a strength surge through him and he pulled the sword out of the stone. He had expected some sort of tug or resistance but it slid out so smooth that it nearly pulled Arthur off balance.
Looking at the sword Arthur remembered using to defeat the immortal army. He felt the perfect balance.
Gwaine whistled. "Goodness! It's beautiful."
Arthur smiled as he swung the sword around. "The balance is perfect."
Lancelot grinned. "What are you going to call it?"
Arthur looked at the sword and thought for a moment. "Excalibur." The words came out of nowhere but once Arthur spoke them he knew that they fit the sword.
"I'm going to call it Excalibur."
Ok so this time I decided to be nice and update in less than a week. I just had so many ideas that it seemed fitting. Can't wait to post more, and I always liked Gilli, so I hope that it's ok that I added him.
See you all next chapter!
PLEASE REVIEW! :)
