"Mordred," Merlin breathed, stunned. He'd hoped that he would never see the druid boy again. So many had warned him that Mordred and Morgana would bring about Arthur's ruin. Still, when Merlin looked at the man, all he could see was the terrified, lost child that he and the others had smuggled from Camelot. To that day, guilt over his actions plagued him.
Mordred smiled, "Hullo, Arthur."
Morgana has her nightmare, Aithusa comforts her.
"Remind me, Merlin, how we ended up like this?" Arthur grumbled as they trecked through the snow. Merlin rolled his eyes. "You were thinking of your stomach, as usua-"
"Seriously?" Merlin interrupted. "You have got to be kidding me."
Arthur looked over his shoulder at the exasperated warlock. "Yes, Merlin."
"Oh, you're a fine one to talk."
"I beg your p-I"
"Ho!"The leader of the men cried. The bickering pair fell silent. The path was winding between tall, steep snowy, well cliffs were an exaggeration (they were about three times the height of a man on horseback). Still, they were sufficiently intimidating, and made escape rather difficult.
"We can't let them hand us over to Morgana. We need a plan." Merlin muttered. Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but before he could the Leader jabbed him in the gut. Hard.
"You speak when you're spoken to!" He commanded gruffly. Arthur doubled over and Merlin grabbed his arm. "Faster!" The Leader snapped, and with that, the prisoners were painfully wrenched forward.
The happenings in Camelot remain the same. Sefa speaks to Gaius.
Arthur and Merlin banter to stave of the cold and hunger. Mordred tries to get them fed, or at least slow the pace, but the Leader refuses. Merlin and Arthur send him grateful smiles, though Merlin still was unsure about the boy. At least he had tried, though, and Merlin was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt
At Ismir the Diamir protects a still unconscious Gwain.
Reluctantly, Mordred wakes a sleeping Merlin, trying not to disturb the king, who sleeps less than a foot away. Groggily Merlin wakes, looking just as young and innocent as the day he left Ealdor. The moment does not last though, and Mordred feels a pang of pity as we watches the pain the years have inflicted fill Merlin's eyes.
Mordred does not fail to miss the wary way Emrys regards him, though he cannot fathom why. He still does not understand why Emrys nearly left him when he was a child fleeing Camelot, though he can see how guilty Emrys still feels about it.
He will not lie, it stings. But with time, Mordred believes he may be willing to forgive him, though he still longs to know why. He hands the tired young man the loafs of bread, and a look of surprise and gratitude fills Merlin's eyes.
"Thank you," Merlin was careful to keep his voice down. Mordred smiles in return. He begins to turn away, but a voice stops him. "Why are you doing this?"
Merlin seemed genuinely curious, and he hears the trace of regret in his voice. Mordred looks at Arthur, "He once saved my life, I owe him a debt." A pained expression clouds Emrys' face.
"Mordred," He begins uncertainly. Mordred looks at him questioningly. "I know it doesn't change what has happened, and I know what I nearly did was unforgivable, but for what it's worth, I am sorry." There is true pain in the words, and Mordred smiles gently.
"I know. Maybe one day I will forgive you, but I will not lie to you Emrys," He repeats his earlier thoughts, "I still feel betrayed by what you did, and I don't understand why you did it."
Merlin nodded, the guilt slamming back full force. "And one day I might explain. But today is not the day. For either of us."
Mordred nods, and walks away. Merlin watches him go, and he does not think he has hated Kilgharrah this much since he attacked Camelot. No, he decides, for once, destiny can shove off, I've slighted Mordred enough. Listening to predictions of the future have caused only harm. Never again.
Morgana rants,Sefa's father informs her of the arrest, Morgana is totally insincere. Arthur steals the Leader's dagger. Gwen refuses to lift the sentence on Sefa, but reveals her plan to Gaius. Merlin and Arthur execute their cunning plan and run for it.
Merlin gaped. "You've gotta be joking."
"Do you have a better solution?" Arthur retorted, turning and running a few paces, he would need a running start to make the jump. With a heart stopping leap, Arthur made it to the other side of the icy crevice. Merlin glanced round. The men were not far behind.
"We haven't got all day, Merlin!" Arthur shouted.
With a deep breath, Merlin backed away, and leaped. He barely made it, if Arthur hadn't been there he would probably have plunged to his death. Then again, if not for Arthur he probably wouldn't be there.
Arthur promptly shot the two men that followed. "I'll make sure they can't get across." Merlin scrambled forward.
"Merlin!" That idiot is going to get himself killed.
Merlin hacked away at the ledge with his ax while Arthur shot down the men that had followed. Merlin looked up, the next man was Mordred. No, not again. He would not be responsible for Mordred's death. He would never cut through the ledge in time, and Arthur was suitably distracted with the crossbow…
"Feall" With a flash of his eyes and one last strike, the ledge collapsed. Mordred skidded to a halt, just barely managing not to fall. Relief flooded through Merlin. He turned to Arthur and gestured for him to run. Arthur didn't need to be told twice, and sprinted away. Merlin hesitated a moment, turning back to Mordred. He gave him a minute nod, then turned and followed Arthur, praying he didn't trip and fall on his face in the snow.
Gwain wakes and speaks to the Diamir. Ruaden is killed helping Sefa escape. Morgana receives the message. Merlin and Arthur arrive at Ismir.
"What is it?" Gwen asked, looking in confusion at the tiny scroll.
"It appears to be a prayer." Gaius replied.
"Can you read it?" A pause. "Gaius?"
"I'm no expert in the druidic runes."
"Please, I know you to well." They both knew that Gaius could read the scroll without trouble.
"It's a call for victory over the enemies of the old religion." Gaius said casually. Gwen's eyebrows pulled together and a frown graced her beautiful face.
"I thought the Druids were a peaceful people?"
"For the most part they are, but for some the Great Purge changed that. They blame Uther for their suffering."
"But he's long been dead." Gwen was, if anything, more confused.
"Some believe that Arthur's no different from his father." Nonsense of course, Arthur had long since stepped out of his father's shadow. At least, for most people. But- "Sorcery is still outlawed, for them little has changed."
"So Ruaden believed it was his sacred duty to fight my husband." Gwen stated sadly.
"More than that," Gaius continued sadly. "There are some that believe Arthur is destined to die at a druids ha-" Gaius was cut off. A dove was tapping his window incessantly. He frowned and walked over, opening the window. The bird fluttered in, landing in the midst of Gaius's many potions. A scroll was tied to it's leg. Gaius unrolled it cautiously.
There were no words, just the mark of the druids with a sharp line through it, cutting the left spiral off from the others.
Gwen frowned at it. "What does it mean?"
"I don't know." And Gaius truly had no idea. He looked back the where the dove had stood, but it was gone. "I don't know. "
Back at Ismir.
The slavers trudge by as Merlin and Arthur crouch behind a rock, surveying the fortress.
"How are we supposed to get in there?" Merlin asked incredulously.
"There's always away, Merlin." Arthur replied, almost cheerfully
.Arthur and Merlin sneak in through the disposal tunnel. They then continue using an empty cart in the mines. Morgana notices Mordred. Arthur and Merlin find the knights and go looking for Gwain. Mordred feasts with Morgana. The warning bells, the Diamir wakes Gwain. Merlin and Arthur find Gwain and the Diamir. The Saxons leave. Where did Morgana get a Dragon?! Merlin 'lures the dragon the other way'. Arthur follows. The knights are still picking off Saxons. Merlin is sneaking after Aithusa. Merlin speaks ( or rather, tries to) with Aithusa. Arthur is found by Morgana. Confrontation. Mordred stabs Morgana. Mordred takes Arthur back. The Diamir heals Merlin.
"Much blood has been shed this day, and all for something few wise men would ever want."
"You mean the Diamir?" Merlin asked. The glowing creature nodded. "Morgana never found it." Relief washed over Merlin.
"And she never will." Confirmed the creature
"Because it is you." Merlin realized. "You are the key to all knowledge." Sympathy welled up within him. "There are times when I feel the weight of my destiny crushing me, but that is nothing to what you carry."
"It is both a blessing, and a curse. Is there anything you wish to ask me?"
"No. I don't think it would be good." The Diamir chuckled softly.
"You are wise, Emrys. Your wisdom will live long in the minds of men. Rest now, your friends are near." The Diamir turned to leave. It paused, "and Emrys, remember, there is a difference between what will happen, and what might happen."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked. The Diamir just smiled and turned away. Merlin opened his mouth to call after it, but the sound of boots reverberated throughout the tunnel. He turned to look, and when he looked back, the creature was gone.
The first one to arrive was Mordred, followed by Percival and Sir Milligan. Relieved grins appeared on Percival and Sir Milligan's faces (Merlin was very well liked by both servants and most of the knights alike), even Mordred looked please, though it was subtler.
The knights greeted him and helped him walk, Mordred once again leading the way, this time back to the others.
Mordred is knighted, but this time Merlin is in the crowd, and he claps along with everyone else. Ergo, no intense hallway confrontation.
Later…
"Mordred?" Merlin surprises him, he is outside on the battlements, looking out over the stunning city. He looks over, a questioning gleam in his eyes. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
Merlin lowers his voice, that combined with where they are and the hour means they cannot be overheard. "You have magic, yet you saved Arthur's life. Why?"
" Because Arthur is right, the love that binds us is more important than the power we wield. Morgana had forgotten that." Merlin nods, thinking. Then he smiles, a real, genuine smile, the kind that lights up a room in a second. And Mordred is surprised to find how much it means to him, and returns the gesture.
"Thank you." Merlin says sincerely, and Mordred nods. Then Merlin leaves him alone with his thoughts. Staring out at the grand city, Mordred thinks that the day he is ready to forgive is a lot closer than he first thought.
Instead of dinner/pudding with Gaius, this happens…
That night, Merlin was in a strange mood. He felt as though the world was on a precipice, ready to fall either way. He finds himself reflecting on the words of the Diamir. Did it mean Mordred? That he should trust him? He saved Arthur's life, and as Merlin decided before, he would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Morgana's alive.