THE SECOND RISING OF ARTHUR PENDRAGON
Chapter One:
The door appeared. Harry barraged through and the DA poured in afterwards.
However, instead of entering a room, Harry felt a tug at his navel and found himself uprooted from the ground and spinning away at high speeds. Harry panicked; the sensation was relatable to travelling by Portkey.
In a typical Portkey-like manner, when Harry landed once more, his knees buckled, causing his bottom to connect with the floor. His glasses were dislodged. Seconds later, the rest of the DA materialised. They all gaped, surveying their new surroundings. Harry pushed his spectacles back onto his nose. He too, gasped, as his vision came into focus.
They were on a boat.
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Nicola squealed. "We're on a boat! I love boats! I love ships! Lots and lots of ships! That's why I love marinas – because I love ships!"
The DA, already disgruntled with their sudden transportation, muttered confusedly.
Nicola pouted. "If only I could English."
Alice sighed. "What Nicola meant to say is that we, Nicola and I, happen to be quite skilled at captaining ships."
Hermione's brain was working in overdrive to get over her stupor. "Well, that's good." She explained slowly. "Because while we're on a boat, we have no specific geographic location. This means that even with You-Know-Who, Voldemort's ward-breaking device, he will be unable to apparate straight to us."
Harry breathed in relief. The Room had delivered them to safety after all.
Unfortunately, their relief was short-lived when a muggle pirate ship was spotted on the horizon.
"Fuck." Nicola muttered.
"Don't swear." Suzy reprimanded instinctively.
The DA squinted, temporarily blinded by glare as light reflected off metal. For a moment, Alice thought that it was the pirated themselves sparkling. However, when the DA could see clearly again, they realised that the pirates were carrying the metal objects, which were in fact, guns.
"Blimey! What the bloody hell is a gun?" Ron asked cluelessly.
His question was somewhat answered when the pirates began to open fire. Their bullets smashed into boat's hull, causing it to start rocking violently.
Harry drew his wand and bellowed, "PROTEGO!"
Harry gritted his teeth and strained but was unable to hold the bullets back. The attempts by other DA members were similarly unsuccessful.
As the boat's motion became more volatile, Suzy began to lose her balance and stumble in disorientation. Suzy's shriek was so loud and piercing that even the distant pirates stopped to cover their ears. This caused Alice and Nicola to cringe before rushing to their friend's aid. They each grabbed one of Suzy's arms, stopping her from falling over.
Alice scowled at Nicola. "Between your incessant squealing and Suzy's screaming, one day, I'm going to go deaf."
Suzy's snapped retort was cut off as the boat veered sharply to her left, flinging her to the floor.
"Shouldn't you two be trying to control this boat?" Suzy was miffed.
"Oh shit." Her companions groaned prompting Suzy to slap Nicola once more; Nicola pouted because for some reason, Suzy never hit Alice.
Alice ran back towards the controls, cursing her and Nicola's stupidity for abandoning them or at least failing to use autopilot in the first place. During that time, the boat had become even more destabilised. Alice slipped, crashing into Dean Thomas who in turn collided with Ginny who in fright cast her signature Bat-Bogey Hex. The large flapping bogies increased the DA's panic, adding to the chaos. Ron, who had been targeting (and missing) the pirate ship with blasting curses, was blinded and subsequently hit the DA boat's gunnel instead. Pieces of the gunnel exploded outwards; the force flung Ron's wand out of his palms and the DA yelled as fragments of boat material careened into them. Neville leapt over to Luna, shielding her with his own body. Hermione wheezed, clutching where she had been struck in the stomach.
"Harry!" Ginny's abrupt cry forced the DA to freeze in surprise.
Because Harry Potter was the 'boy who lived', 'saviour of the wizarding world' and widely regarded as the 'Chosen one' – the only one who could defeat Voldemort.
Then, there was horror.
Because the redhead was leaning over Harry, who had been knocked unconscious onto the ground, a trickle of blood flowing down the side of his face.
The pirates kept firing.
~x~O~x~
For what seemed like an eternity, Arthur was drifting. It was as though he was skimming under the surface of water. Arthur didn't know why, though. Arthur was certain he was dead. He could remember Mordred's blade coursing through his body as though it was yesterday. Arthur knew that there was no way he could have survived that.
Yet, here he was.
Somewhere.
Somehow, he knew that time was passing. But how much time? Months? Years? Occasionally, Arthur had seen blurred faces and heard indistinct voices. He thought that they were somewhat familiar, resembling Guinevere, Gwaine, Leon. He never encountered Merlin. Arthur wondered why. He missed Merlin, having not seen his brown-haired
friend since before the Battle of Camlann.
Over time, life carried on without him.
So, Arthur was adrift.
But today was different. Today, Arthur found himself drawn to something. For the first time, he felt like he had a sense of purpose. Arthur felt like he was floating upwards. Breaking past water's surface. Travelling, as though little more than a ghost, through the bottom of a ship.
Then, Arthur found himself solidifying. He blinked slowly and he could see for the first time in he-didn't-know-how-many years.
Arthur observed his surroundings curiously. He was standing in a shady corner of the ship's deck. Arthur saw people brandishing metal weapons, spread out across the deck. These were the pirates. Arthur's brow furrowed. He zeroed in on the pirates' weapons. How much time had to have passed for the sword to become so different and unrecognisable? Arthur scrutinised the gun butt, baffled when he compared it to the hilt of a sword. Additionally, the blade had shortened considerably and Arthur wondered why the blade was now made from the same material as the hilt. How could that work? Arthur shuddered thinking about it. Arthur reached for the sword holstered by his hip. Thankfully Excalibur remained unchanged from when he had last handled it and unknown to Arthur, when Merlin had tossed it into the Lake of Avalon.
Just when Arthur had wrapped his head around this strange development of weaponry, Arthur's sense of hearing intensified. His head pivoted towards the source of loud 'bang' noises where he noticed that the pirates were firing at another nearby ship. Arthur shrugged. He was wrong. The guns were not a type of sword after all. They had to be a type of bow! However, regardless of what type of swords or bows they were using, the pirates' malicious firing and ruthlessness reminded Arthur of his enemies, the Saxons.
Arthur fumed.
So, he rushed out from the shadows, drawing Excalibur. Arthur charged towards the nearest pirate, stabbing the dark-haired man between the ribs. Before the fallen man managed to scream, Arthur had moved on and beheaded the next pirate.
The pirates were so shell shocked by Arthur's appearance that they froze like statues.
They were easy targets for Arthur who did not hesitate before taking them all down.
Arthur smiled, like he always did after a job well done. He was also satisfied, feeling like he had managed some revenge over the Saxons and Morgana's army, who had caused him to be initially killed.
Arthur looked around contemplatively.
It was then that he realised that the DA were waving and cheering at him.
~x~O~x~
"Where did that guy with the sword come from?" Parvati exclaimed.
"I don't know but he killed all of those pirates." Seamus remarked.
"Thank Merlin." Lavender breathed, palms covering her face. "We're alive."
~x~O~x~
"Take heart, for when Albion's need is greatest, Arthur will rise again."
~x~O~x~
Arthur paused in the doorway.
"Is he alright?" He inquired.
Ginny was holding a strip of white clothing to Harry's head, staunching the flow of the raven haired wizard's blood.
"Yeah, fine." Hermione said wearily. "I just wish we had found some bandages."
Earlier, the DA had pirated the pirate ship, finding a large stash of food.
"We don't want wrackspurts to get into his head." Luna commented dreamily.
"You mean an infection?" Arthur asked.
Luna simply shrugged. Ron made to snort derisively but stopped once Neville glared at him.
Arthur sighed. He wished Merlin was here. Merlin would know how to deal with infections.
With that wish in mind, Arthur turned around leaving the room. He continued to explore the boat, making sure to avoid the DA members who would hug and kiss him as they professed their thanks; or worst still, the girls who would snigger as they wanted to 'feel his sword.' This led Arthur up to the boats' deck.
He leaned against the railing at the edge of the boat.
Arthur inhaled a breath of fresh air. It smelled of to the ocean – a far cry from the woody scent of Camelot. It wasn't just the salt that was different in the air.
It was also the magic.
Compared to his father, Arthur considered himself to be extremely tolerant of magic. However, he still felt wary of magic wielding individuals because they tended to pose the greatest threat to Camelot. Arthur frowned. He was surrounded by magical beings who had almost been slaughtered by non-magical people. Pondering, Arthur realised he would have to get over his aversions sooner or later.
~x~O~x~
Neville wrapped his arms around Luna. According to her, hugs after a sudden battle were an effective way to scare off nargles. Neville just felt like giving Luna a hug. After surviving the death eater attacks and then muggle pirates, Neville just wanted to reassure himself that she was alright.
A flash of red outside the doorway caused Neville's head to jerk upwards.
"What's the matter, Neville?" Hermione queried where she was attempting to transfigure some of the cloth into bandages; unfortunately, her hands were shaky with fatigue and she could not concentrate enough to power the spell.
"Nothing." Neville mumbled while he parted reluctantly from Luna and walked outside.
Fred and George Weasley beamed at him.
"Oi Neville!" Fred started.
"How's Harrykins?" George added.
"Hope he's okay," interjected Fred
"Because we're throwing a party"
Neville mouthed blankly, "Party?"
"Celebrating the fact that - " Fred carried on.
"We're all still alive" The other twin said
Neville had no opportunity to respond because Ron stepped outside, as though he had an inbuilt sensor to 'parties' which would surely have 'food.'
"Of course, we will all be at the party." Ron said happily.
"Excellent Ronnykins!" The twins chorused before running away, cackling voraciously.
~x~O~x~
Elsewhere, an elderly man with a long, white beard waved goodbye to the young girl he had just treated from dragon pox. He smiled at her before shutting the front door and retreating back into his house.
The old man moved into the bathroom. He stared at his reflection in the mirror. He twisted the faucet and splashed water onto his face. When he looked up again, the man's white beard was gone, replaced with short dark hair.
Merlin sighed. For centuries, he had travelled between remote wizarding towns across many countries, pretending to be an elderly healer, healing people while hoping that Arthur would return soon. Over time, as wand magic took over from the rituals of the Old Religion and muggle technology replaced using horses for transport, Merlin's optimism began to wane. Merlin became a recluse – reluctant to befriend other people, knowing that they would die soon enough, leaving him alone once more. After Arthur's passing, Merlin had found out about Gwaine's death, then Gaius', eventually followed by Guinevere and the remaining knights. Merlin did not believe that he would be able to cope with suffering those feelings of loss again.
Merlin saw his eyes flash gold. He did that sometimes, instinctively searching around him for his magic. He was used to being met with nothingness.
Only this occasion was different.
This time Merlin's magic reached out and felt the reawakening of a millennium old connection with destiny.
That was how he knew that Arthur Pendragon had risen again.
Merlin had to protect Arthur.
Merlin grinned. Arthur was back!
With a small squeal of joy, Merlin focused his magic, ignoring long-forgotten incantations and willed himself to get back to wherever Arthur was.
~x~O~x~
There was a tremendous splash. Arthur was momentarily blinded by a fine mist of water.
Arthur blinked, peering over the side of the boat.
"Arthur?" The figure in the water called out.
Arthur recognised the figure's voice. "Merlin? Is that you?"
"Yes." Merlin grabbed Arthur's outstretched hand, allowing him to clamour onto the boat.
The men gazed at each other.
"Merlin!"
"Arthur!"
~x~O~x~
A/N: Thank you very much for reading! Reviews will be greatly appreciated :)