I do not own Merlin. Which is probably a good thing because the things I would do with...
AN: I already send my apologies to asdf. I am afraid it is such a story...
Any Other World
Chapter 2
Merlin stood at the altar of the Isle of the Blessed. His eyes were closed, allowing him to see better into the present and future. He could see the King sitting at the head of a long table, confident and strong. His ward, the Lady Morgana, sat on his left side. She wore a wonderful red dress, as always, and she looked pleased as a warm smile played around the corners of her lips as she listened to the King. Arthur sat on his right side, his thoughts distant as he mindlessly ate drapes.
They were all so very clueless to what was about to happen. Merlin chuckled. The prospect of traveling to Camelot made him feel final. He was about to change everything and no one would be able to stop him. He had been living on the Isle of the Blessed his entire life, having been shielded from the world by Nimueh.
"Are you sure?" A voice suddenly asked.
Merlin did not need to open his eyes to know who it was that now stood behind him. He had been raised by her, taught by her, but now he had surpassed her. She was strong and powerful, but Merlin had long ago surpassed her. He respected her, however, knowing that magic was not all that was required to be a powerful with or sorcerer. You needed to be cunning and smart and Merlin was still learning those tricks.
"It is time," Merlin told Nimueh. He turned around, looking into her bright blue eyes. "You wanted revenge," he said, "that is all you have been talking about while raising me. Revenge and hatred. I am simply doing what you can not."
Nimueh didn't seem pleased with Merlin's words. "You have to be careful," she said.
"Is that concern?" Merlin asked, his eyebrows high.
"No," Nimueh quickly dismissed Merlin's statement. She turned to walk closer to the altar, her fingers sliding across the different artifacts laying scattered across it. "I have no concern for you. I raised you with only one purpose and that was that you would achieve what none of us have been able to do recently."
"Kill the Pendragons," Merlin smiled. He had heard so many stories of the King and none of them were good. They told of cruelty and the many deaths of innocent people. Hundreds of sorcerers and witches have died at his hand, even children were not spared. Merlin knew that he was only alive because Nimueh had protected him his entire life and now he could repay her by giving her what her heart desired the most: the death of the Pendragons.
"Exactly," Nimueh smiled along, "your magic is unique, unlike anything I have seen in my life. You can not fail, Merlin, because you would be a great loss for the magical community."
"I would be a great loss to you," Merlin turned serious.
Nimueh inhaled deeply. She gazed deeply into his eyes and a smile filled her face. "You would be," she admitted reluctantly, "I have known you for you entire life. I have witnessed how you grew up to be a wonderful man and I know you will not disappoint me."
"I won't fail you," he reassured her, "I have never failed before and this time won't be any different. I will kill them and magic will be triumphant."
-o-o-
Arthur's bedchambers were surprisingly clean. Merlin did not know the Prince personally, but he had gazed many times at him by using magic and one thing Merlin had grown certain of: Arthur was not neat at all. Walking around his bedchambers gave Merlin a better opportunity to get to know the Prince better, however. Assassinating him immediately would be so very dull, Merlin had decided. If he were to kill them, he at least wanted them to suffer the way Nimueh had suffered all these years having to watch her people and friends die.
A voice startled Merlin. "Who are you?"
Merlin turned around, finding a young man standing at the entrance of the chamber. His short brown hair matched his brown eyes and Merlin recognized this man as Arthur's personal manservant. Every royal man or woman had someone that was with them almost the entire day and Merlin shuddered at that thought. Spending the entire day with the Prince must feel like a personal hell.
"You are Lancelot," Merlin spoke, "Arthur's personal manservant."
"You know my name," Lancelot said, his body language cautious, "yet I don't know yours. That seems hardly fair."
Merlin smiled. He already liked Lancelot since he appeared to be a reasonable man. "I am Merlin," he introduced himself, "it is a pleasure to meet you."
"You are not allowed in here," Lancelot said. He opened the door behind him again, motioning for Merlin to leave again. He quickly saw that Merlin had no intention of leaving, and he seemed unsure of how to proceed next. "What exactly are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see where the Prince lives," Merlin explained, "I like to get to know him a little better before I kill him."
Lancelot moved very quickly for a human, Merlin thought amused. The servant jumped to his left and grabbed a dagger that lay on the table. Merlin did not move at all, however, but his eyes flashed golden and Lancelot found himself unable to move.
"That," Merlin said, rolling his eyes, "was not very smart." He took a step closer towards Lancelot, examining him closely. He had met few men in his life since the Isle of the Blessed was a sacred place where few were allowed. He was curious to find what Lancelot would try to do. "I had no intention of harming you. In fact, I like you. You could be so much more than a mere servant."
"It is an honor to serve Arthur," Lancelot hissed through his teeth, clearly not liking Merlin in return, "he is a good man and he will be a great King one day."
"You have the makings of a Knight," Merlin continued talking as if Lancelot had said nothing, "you have the strength and courage. You are not afraid of me which is something I admire and you have the looks. The rough edged face that an opponent would grow to fear in time. You could be so much more than being a servant, Lancelot."
"You do not know me at all," Lancelot said, his voice trembling, "I do not want to be a Knight." He tried to move again and pain struck him. He squeezed his eyes shut and it mesmerized Merlin that Lancelot did not even try to scream. The spell he had cast was a powerful one after all.
"Do I detect fear?" Merlin moved closer towards Lancelot who was still unable to move. "Do you fear me now?" There came no response and Merlin took another step towards him. They stood only inches away from each other now and Merlin slowly placed his fingers on Lancelot's temples.
"What are you doing?" Lancelot demanded to know.
"You do fear me," Merlin said, looking directly into Lancelot's eyes, "but there is only one thought on your mind."
"Are you reading my mind?" Lancelot seemed shocked by that fact.
"I see a woman," Merlin grinned, enjoying the power he had over the servant, "a beautiful woman. Guinevere is her name and she is your fiancee. She is kind and you would give your life for her." Merlin dropped his hands back to his side, taking a step back. "I will have to meet her," he said teasingly, "she seems lovely."
"Stay away from her," Lancelot warned him, though his words seemed very empty considering he was powerless. He could not even move, but his fingers clenched even tighter around the dagger which he still held.
"I would have allowed you to live," Merlin sighed, "you are a nice man, but you are also Arthur Pendragon's loyal servant. Had you been his servant, I would have let you go, but you are his loyal servant." Merlin grinned again. "If you think about it," his hand moved towards Lancelot's, taking the dagger from him who could do nothing to stop Merlin, "it is Arthur who is responsible for your death."
Merlin planted the dagger deep into Lancelot's chest whose eyes grew wide with shock. He gasped for breath, but he did not scream. Merlin made sure he couldn't make any sound which would attract the attention of guards.
"I will let Guinevere know that you really did love her," Merlin told the dying Lancelot, "and I will comfort her."
Lancelot fell down, his eyes still wide, but empty now. His heart had stopped beating and Merlin gazed at the lifeless body for a moment. This was the first man he had killed with his bare hands, but he felt nothing. No regret or guilt. If anything, he felt that he made the right decision in killing Lancelot so quickly. He had not suffered...for that long.
Merlin stepped over the body and left Arthur's bedchambers, ready for the next part in his plan.
AN: The second chapter has ended. How fun it was for me to write Merlin this...evil. He killed Lancelot and he didn't even feel anything about it! Please review :)