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Chapter 2
"So where are these people that we need to pick up." Arthur asked after they had been riding for a while.
"I'm not sure exactly." Emrys said.
"Then how are we meant to find them?" Gwaine asked.
"We don't."
"Has anyone ever told you that you don't make any sense?" Arthur asked him.
"Wait 'til you meet Kilgharra, then we'll see who doesn't make sense."
"Who's Kilgharra?"
"Dragon."
"Of course he is." Arthur muttered.
"But we don't need to talk to him yet."
"Then who do we need to talk to?" Gwaine asked.
"Alator, Iseldir, Gilli and Alice." Emrys said simply, "Here should do." he stopped his horse and dismounted.
"For what?" Arthur asked as he and Gwaine did the same.
"To talk to them of course." Arthur opened his mouth, "Don't ask because you probably won't understand."
Arthur frowned as Emrys walked a few steps away and closed his eyes.
'Alator' Emrys sent out a message through his mind.
'Emrys' Came the reply.
'Iseldir'
'Yes Emrys?'
'Gilli'
'What? Who are you?'
'Alice'
'Yes?'
'I need your help, will you allow me to summon you here?' He asked them all. Once they all consented he began muttering a long stream of words from the old religion.
Arthur and Gwaine shared a look but before they could say anything four pillars of swirling wind started to surround Emrys, just as they were about to step in when he opened his eyes. The wind died down to reveal four figures standing around him, Arthur gasped as his eyes faded from gold to blue.
Two of the people didn't look shaken by the experience at all and bowed to Emrys.
"Oh... No don't bow!" Emrys sighed "Are you alright? It can be a bit disorientating the first time." He asked the other two people who seemed to be having a bit of trouble staying standing.
"No, no we're fine." The only woman in the group told him.
"Hey," Said Arthur, "I know you two," He pointed to the woman and a young boy, "You're the sorceress that poisoned my father, and you were in that tournament."
They nodded but didn't pay him much attention.
"Who are you?" Asked the boy.
"Really? Why does no one recognise me, the glamour isn't that strong." Emrys muttered.
"Glamour?" Asked Gwaine.
"I don't really look like this, well, I do. But not completely. I look a little different, I didn't have time for anything dramatic yesterday because you two were busy getting yourselves killed."
"Then what do you look like?" Asked the boy.
He didn't answer but walked forwards to place a hand on both the boy and the woman's head.
"Oh! You're-"
"Yes."
"Emrys." Arthur said, "Who are these people?"
"Oh yes, how rude. This is Alice and Gilli," He gestured to the boy and the woman, "And Alator and Iseldir." The other two nodded in greeting.
"You're the man that captured Gaius!" Gwaine shouted at Alator walking forward as if to attack.
"Gwaine," Emrys said warningly.
"I am sorry for how I treated your friend." Alator told him.
Gwaine opened his mouth as if to argue but Emrys interrupted "He accepts your apology."
"Why have you called us here Emrys?" Asked Iseldir.
"I need your help. Morgana has taken Camelot... Again."
"But you don't need our help to defeat the witch." Said Alator.
"Maybe not, but I want to make sure she stays away. If she sees just how many people oppose her then maybe she'll finally give up."
"Why don't you just kill her?" Asked Gilli.
"Because that's not the answer." Emrys answered simply. "Do I have your help?"
"You have always had the loyalty of the Cathe Emrys." Said Alator.
"Thank you." He turned to Iseldir.
"I'm not asking you to fight, I know the Druids are peaceful people. But if you could help in anyway possible, defensive spells, healing?"
"Of course. We will be happy to help."
"We?" Asked Arthur.
"Iseldir is head of a clan of Druids, I believe you attacked them once." Emrys answered.
"Oh, err..." Arthur mumbled awkwardly.
"It's forgotten." Iseldir assured him.
"Gilli, you're battle magic is some of the best I've seen. Will you help?"
"Of course, you helped me when no one else would and taught me why to use my magic. I'll help you anyway I can."
"Alice, you're the best healer I know. Certainly better than I could ever hope to be, there will be injuries and I'm sure Gaius would love your help." He said with a smile.
"You can count on my help."
"Thank you, all of you. I'll send for you when we're ready to march." He turned to walk away, "Oh, and don't be afraid of the dragons." He said to them before mounting his horse and riding away.
"How are they meant to get back?" Asked Arthur.
"Arthur," Said Gwaine, "Magic. Duh."
"Oh right, of course."
XXX
They'd been traveling for most of the day before anything else happened. Arthur and Gwaine were riding ahead whilst Emrys was... Well they weren't sure what he was doing but they were sure it was something important but completely mental.
Arthur held up a hand as he heard a noise in the trees bringing Gwaine and him to a stop. Before either of them had a chance to identify what it was there was a cry and six bandits came running out of the bush towards them. They were ready to draw their weapons but before that was necessary their attackers were sent flying back into trees where they didn't get up.
Emrys came riding out from behind them, "Honestly, I can't leave you two alone for two minutes can I?" when he saw that they weren't following he twisted in the saddle, "Well come on then. We haven't got all day."
The other two shared a look of disbelief before following him.
"So just how powerful are you?" Arthur asked once they'd caught up.
"If I wanted to I could move mountains, flatten forests and split seas without even lifting a finger."
Gwaine gave an impressed huff.
"So why have you never tried to take over Camelot?" Arthur asked.
"Why should I?" Emrys snapped, "I mean really, what would I do with a kingdom? Think Arthur." He tapped a finger to his own temple as if to demonstrate where the brain lay. Gwaine smirked slightly, he had a point.
They continued on in silence for a bit.
"If you're some big powerful sorcerer-" Gwaine began.
"Warlock." Emrys corrected him.
"Whatever. If you're that powerful don't you have a way to speed us up so we can get back before nightfall?"
"How do you feel about riding a dragon?" Emrys replied.
"Not gonna happen." Arthur said flatly.
"Well then no." Emrys answered Gwaine.
"But what about back when your brought those people to us? Can't you do that in reverse?"
"That would stress out the horses."
"And a dragon wouldn't?"
"Of course not."
Gwaine shook his head at the ridiculous warlock but didn't say anymore on the matter.
"It's getting dark," Arthur said, "We should set up camp."
"But we could still keep moving for another twenty minutes or so." Said Emrys
"Not if we can't see."
Emrys muttered a stream of words and a ball of whitish-blue light flickered into life.
"That works too." Said Gwaine.
"That light saved my life." Arthur said quietly.
"Look, Arthur, I know you have troubles with the dark and all but you weren't going to die." Emrys said
"No I mean it literally saved my life, and I'm not scared of the dark!"
Emrys rode up next to Arthur so that Gwaine wouldn't overhear them.
"My servant, Merlin, managed to get himself poisoned - the idiot always did try to give his life to save mine - and I had to go to these caves to get the antidote. I was going to die, I was hanging off a cliff face, surrounded by giant spiders with an evil sorceress standing about six ft away-"
"I never did like Nimueh." Emrys muttered
"But then this light appeared and it lead me to safety. It was beautiful. It was the first time in my life I thought that maybe not all magic was evil." Arthur had a faraway look in his face and as such didn't see the branch that was about to hit him in the face until it bent out the way, he looked around and saw Emrys' eyes fading back from gold again.
"Was it you?" He asked
"I think you know who it was Arthur. Even whilst dying Merlin's incredibly powerful."
"He's still alive?" Arthur struggled to keep his voice from cracking.
"I didn't know you cared Arthur?"
"Is. He. Alive?"
"In some senses of the word."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't agree with your decision to banish it, personally I think it was the worst mistake you've ever made but he's forgiven you for it."
"He... Forgives me?"
"Of course, but ever since he left he hasn't been the same. I haven't seen that grin of his for ages. If he were he he'd tell you not to feel guilty or something like that but I'm here instead and I'm not going to tell you that because I think it was probably one of the worst things you could've done in that situation."
"He's a sorcerer I didn't have a choice."
"You always have a choice." Emrys dropped back slightly to talk to Gwaine leaving Arthur to think about what he'd said.
"I know who you are." Gwaine muttered to him so that Arthur wouldn't hear, "I've only ever seen one person that can render Arthur speechless like that or who can get away with calling him anything." Emrys visible gulped, "Isn't that right Merlin?"
Emrys' head shot round to look at him.
"Oh alright then, I suppose my glamour wasn't that great." Emrys turned Merlin muttered.
"You're a warlock? Why did you never tell me?"
"You didn't know?" Merlin asked and Gwaine shook his head, "When I left what did Arthur tell everybody?"
"That your mother was ill so you were going to look after her, I assume that's not what happened?"
"I... Misjudged some things. I thought that Arthur was ready and I told him about my magic. He banished me, if I were ever to return to Camelot he would kill me." Merlin's voice cracked slightly.
"Yeah but you know that never works, I mean look at me! And Gwen and Lancelot... I think it's a sort of unofficial requirement if you want to be the king's friend."
Merlin chuckled.
"Has Arthur recognised you yet?"
"No. I thought that if anyone would it would be him but to him I'm just some nutcase sorcerer-"
"Warlock." Gwaine corrected with a smirk.
"Whatever! Some nutcase warlock that's going to get his kingdom back for him."
"What's going to happen to you once we take Camelot back?"
"I don't know." Merlin shook his head slightly.
"Whatever happens, it's good to see you again mate. And if we weren't on horses I'd give you a hug but we are so it's going to have to be a figurative hug."
"It's good to see you again too Gwaine." Merlin smiled.
"There! Up ahead!" Shouted Arthur, "There's the castle."
The group all broke into a gallop.
Aaah! It's exam time at school! You know you want to leave me a review to take my mind off such things as my downright awful French oral?Pretty please?