Thank you sooo much for those review, favs and alerts! They're absolutely brillant! I have to say though that once more, I'm not sure about this chappie! Its definetely the longest that I've ever written!
Anyways, Enjoy!
He kept watch. Seeing how his manservant/best friend-turned-sorcerer handled the situation and he must say he was in some strange was... proud... of what Merlin was doing even though he was, is, a sorcerer.
Holding on to Lancelot with what must obviously be magic, he pushed him back and Merlin, himself, stepped forwards maintaining the grip on the knight the entire time.
"So, Emrys. We meet again." She said. Well, she didn't quite say it, it sounded more like a statement to Merlin and the knights as though she didn't care about her feelings anymore. She was well past the stage of feeling anything other than the pain and the loneliness.
Merlin and the Cailleach both started circling each other and everybody saw the sudden transformation in Merlin. Instead of his usual graceless stumbling steps and the slumped shoulder, he suddenly rolled his shoulders back like how Arthur might after a long day of training, he straightened his back into his full height, lifted his chin and all of a sudden the stumbling idiot of a friend/servant disappeared and Merlin The Sorcerer was standing in front of them having completely forgotten about their audience. His steps had an oddly grace to them and his hands were always shifting at his sides as though they were ready to come up at a moments notice.
Arthur, Gwaine and Lancelot watched in amazement as even his voice deepened and sounded even more powerful. There was golden electricity and light flowing through his hands and had Merlin been facing them they would have seen that his storm blue eyes were swirling with gold.
A definite sign of magic and he won't be able to get out of it this time.
"You will not take anyone's life just for the veil." he stormed.
"The price must be paid. A blood sacrifice is what it takes to tear my veil open and a blood sacrifice is what is demanded to repair it. Those are the rules."
Merlin felt his blood boil. Those words were very similar to what Nimueh had said even though the Cailleach was a much more powerful and older creature of the Old Religion, he couldn't help it. The Old Religion demanded nothing. It was people like this that demanded these things. So he said it.
He wasn't going to hold back any longer. He can feel his magic swirling and pushing against his barriers trying to set things right, trying to escape. For the first time since he can remember in a very long time was afraid. Afraid of himself, afraid of his magic, afraid from what it might do, what he might do. He really didn't want to lose control now.
"It demands nothing! You demand it and I will not allow you to take anyone's life just to get the job that you're responsible for done!" He didn't know what he was saying but surely, the keeper of the veil should know how to deal with something like this.
"You can demand no such thing from me! You may be Emrys but have not felt what I have! You have not seen what I have! You have not the power I have!" She felt her voice waver but she would not stop.
Everyone of the audience was shocked when Merlin stepped forward slightly and there was a slight slump to his shoulders again. But that didn't stop the power radiating of him.
"And you don't have that right to demand something like this from us either!" Merlin literally screamed.
"The veil repaired until I have received my sacrifice." She growled. They all noticed the hint of hunger as her eyes rested on Merlin then moved onto Arthur.
With slight shock Merlin realised the audience was staring wide-eyed and open mouthed at him. Even Lancelot. He saw the hunger and greed hidden behind the wall of pain in her eyes and he lost all control.
He, without notice, spread his hands out beside him, palms facing out. His feet took on a stance similar to that of Arthur's when he's about to charge and his posture straightened even more and the swirling gold intensified.
Gwaine and Arthur particularly were excited to see the magic that Merlin was about to use. What they didn't expect was what actually happened.
Merlin screamed.
Arthur might have called him a girl but right then, he would have taken it all back.
The scream in itself was absolutely terrifying that even The Knights Of Camelot would admit that they were scared. The scream was so full of loyalty yet betrayal, of love yet hate, of darkness yet light, of strength yet weakness.
It was a scream that described everything yet nothing.
With it came a swirl of majestic and brilliant golden lightning that hit the exact centre of Merlin's palms.
Sooo ya. Dont forget the reviews peeps, its like the fuel for the story
Cya. Storm.