This chapter is a lot longer than the others and is full to the brim with craziness! I really enjoyed writing this chapter just because I put so much in it, and it's so full of emotion. I actually cried a little while writing some of it (guess that means I did something right). I hope you enjoy it and I love to hear what you have to say so review – pretty please with a cherry on top! Haha see you next time, bye for now! ;)
It was a magical moment in more ways than one. Merlin was simply rested up against a large pine whilst keeping watch when suddenly a doe came walking through the overgrowth. It froze in place, not a single movement except a sudden twitch of its ear ever-so-often. Its large brown eyes seemed to stare right into Merlin's soul. It felt so warm to the warlock, so absolutely peaceful and beautiful to watch that deer as it watched back and Merlin seemed to forget all his troubles. He slowly stood and stepped forward raising his hand all the while continuing to be taken aback by the animal's beauty. The rising sun shined down and through the branches overhead, showering them in a ray of golden, warm light. Merlin could see the dust in the air dance around in the wind past the animals head making its soft ears twitch even more.
Finally Merlin stood directly in front of the doe, his hand outstretched and stroking the deer's neck. The creature leaned into the warlocks touch and lifted its head to nuzzle at his hair. Their eyes met again shortly after and it was as if they were reading each other, giving the other a hope of some kind. Then a noise came from behind as one of the knights began to wake and the deer gave one last look before turning slowly and walking back through the bushes.
"Merlin? What are you doing?" Arthur asked drowsily from his position on the ground. Merlin just turned to him with a slight grin on his face.
"Nothing sire… I just thought I was just taking in the beauty of the forest…"
After the rest of the group awoke they slowly prepared for their ride toward Corinth. Merlin tossed them all apples, knowing well enough to give Gwain two, and began packing up his and Arthur's things.
Leon was giving Merlin continuous looks of concern noticing how tired the warlock looked and Gwain noticed the interaction almost immediately.
"Is something wrong with Merlin?" The alcoholic knight asked Leon.
"I had to wake him from a nightmare last night… He insisted on taking watch but I don't think he switched off with anyone again. He looks exhausted."
"Another nightmare?"
"What do you mean, 'another' nightmare?" Leon asked curiously.
"The night before we left Merlin had a nightmare… I fear he hasn't been getting much sleep." Gwain stated worriedly.
The knights soon went their separate ways again, gathering their things and loading stuff onto the horses. However, Gwain couldn't help his worry for his friend rising while remembering what Gwen said, he feared Merlin getting hurt again.
"Are you alright, Gwain?" Merlin suddenly asked passing one last bag to the knight.
"Huh? Oh – yeah, I'm just thinking of – uh – stuff..."
"Oh, well, if you don't mind I could really use your help." Merlin rubbed the back of his head embarrassingly. The warlock had to constantly ask for help mounting his horse because he could only use one arm. None of the knights felt burden by it though, and were always willing to help the man they all considered a little brother.
Gwain helped lift Merlin up onto the horse and made sure the warlock was settled on top of the saddle before turning to mount his own. After they set off it was a silent journey, only a few jokes and quick comments throughout the ride. None of them could really stray their thoughts from one thing – the last time they went to Corinth. It wasn't so much as the journey there that bothered them, or even the sorcerer they had to kill while there, but the trip back. Everyone of them were suddenly flooded with memories of the devastating ambush that nearly brought all of them to death and created ever lasting damage, like Merlin's arm. Elyan constantly had to remind himself that if the ambush never happened he would have never met what was now his wife – Althea – but even so he couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Even without going through the EbonyForest, it brought back memories of pain that many of them tried to forget. Pain just isn't something you want to remember.
Though they had to admit the silence was making it worse. There was no banter or teasing and the lack of singing birds made it somewhat eerie. So finally Merlin decided to do something about it. With a quick whisper of a spell hundreds of butterflies flew out of the trees and surrounded them, flying around the knights making the men gape in fascination at the beauty of it.
"You're such a girl, Merlin." Arthur chuckled knowing that the warlock was the cause. However, the king was still taken aback by the beautiful display of butterflies, and how magical it seemed. It amazed all of them; because it was only a year ago they would have said all magic was evil, when in truth, it could do this. They were grateful of Merlin for having erased the tension and bringing smiles to their faces even though it was a girlish thing to do at the sight of the insects – but they couldn't help feeling awed by the experience. Merlin grinned and remembered the deer that morning. Even after all the times of feeling like a monster, it was times like that, or even like this, that he realized how much good his magic could do and how much beauty and pure magnificence it truly represented. This was the second time that day Merlin forgot about all his troubles and let them blow away in the wind.
After that, the knights were a lot more talkative and they continued the journey with continuous conversation about everything and anything.
"So, would you prefer a girl or a boy?" Leon suddenly asked Elyan, they had just finished talking about one of the female hounds at Camelot having pups and the shaggy haired knight felt like it was a good time to bring up Elyan's unborn child.
"I'm unsure… Perhaps Althea and I can have both – I mean, why stop with one?" The dark skinned knight smiled and thought about it. Within nine months time he would be able to hold his little girl or boy in his arms. No matter what their sex may be, he knew he would treasure them with his whole heart. "Besides, Gwen is going to constantly want to look after them – if they become too troublesome I'll just lend them to her for a while!" Elyan said jokingly, knowing full well that his sister would love them like they were hers but he would never actually give over his children. They all knew that, of course, because the knights chuckled at the thought. "That's just the way Gwen is though… caring, loving, and motherly. Whenever I caught a cold or the flu when we were young, she would constantly be at my side making sure I was alright and watching over me. She was born to be a great mother and wife. However, if anyone breaks my sister's heart, they'll have me to answer to!"
"So that'll be three of us!" Gwain announced cheerfully though no one knew what he meant.
"What are you on about?" Arthur asked.
"Leon has a son, Elyan is married with a child on the way, and I've got the love of my life and a little princess. Now it's up to Percival, Arthur, and Merlin to actually find some decent women and start a family!"
"Ah – now I understand," Leon began, "so what about you Percival? Is there a 'special someone' in your life?"
"That's classified information." Percival smiled.
"Well then! If Percy isn't going to tell us then that brings us to…" Gwain looked between the king and the court sorcerer, "how about you, princess?"
"I could have any woman of my choice… However, if I had to choose, Princess Mithian is quite the beauty." Arthur stated blankly.
"You fancy Princess Mithian?!" Leon exclaimed, "Am I correct that she and her father came to visit the kingdom when you were, what – 16?"
"Yes, and she fifteen. In fact, I was going to propose her and her father come and visit again sometime soon, as to revise our treaty." Arthur confirmed, but none of the knights missed the smile on his lips.
"Or do you just wish to see the lovely princess again?" Gwain snickered.
"Alright, enough about my love interests – what about you, Merlin?" Arthur turned around to see his ex-manservant smiling innocently, "Do you somehow happen to have a girl you fancy?" Arthur remember the night they spent in the destroyed village of Avarian and the story Merlin had told him about a girl named Freya – but the king was curious to know if someone else had caught the warlocks attention.
"Naw – no one really, I've only ever been in love once and that time is long gone." Merlin explained still grinning like he was hiding something.
"Come now! Don't be shy, Merlin! Tell our friends here the undying crush you have on our dear Guinevere!" Gwain saw Merlin blush with his words and took it as a victory – it had definitely just embarrassed him.
"What?!" Arthur and Elyan nearly shouted in unison, Arthur from pure surprise and Elyan from a protective brother stand-point.
"N-no! What are you talking about?! Gwen and I are just really good friends!" Merlin tried to explain.
"Oh don't lie; I see the way you look at each other! Whenever I have you watch Beth she comes running over to help, and whenever you two aren't busy you go off into the woods to pick herbs and such!" Gwain continued to make the warlock blush uncontrollably.
"W-what?! I-It's not like that, we're just friends and… and she's like my sister!"
"Don't pull that! I can see it, mate!" Gwain punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"It's alright, Merlin, I won't kill you unless you break her heart." Elyan winked.
"I give up!" Merlin shakes his head laughing silently and staring at his friends in disbelief.
"Now to embarrass Gwain - I want to know when you think your going to ask Lilliana to marry you." Leon asked, bringing up the most awkward subject for Gwain he could think of.
"Uh… Um…" Gwain stuttered not sure how to answer, "I… know I want to marry her at some point in time…"
"You have to ask her sooner rather than later." Elyan pointed out the obvious.
"How about I ask her when we get back? Oh gods – I will – I'm going to propose to Lilliana when we get home!" Gwain announced with a wide grin on his face. He realized something right then, he realized Lilliana was the one he truly wanted to be with for the rest of his days. Over the years he had met plenty of woman, all of them hanging around him for a day or two, sometimes only one night and then they would be gone by morning. At first he thought the only reason Lilliana came back to him was because she had a daughter, that he created, and she didn't want to raise the child alone without help knowing she couldn't support them both on her own. However, after time, he slowly realized he cared for her. Gwain woke up every morning and saw her, and realized how beautiful she truly was and that he felt different about her than he had about any other girl. He didn't just want her for some one time thing anymore, he really wanted her! Gwain finally realized it was love, not some pathetic crush due to her beauty, but a true sense of love for her and her personality. Gwain loved Lilliana and he considered Beth his little princess. So he decided then and there that it was time to make it official – to make them a real family and get married.
"Really?! Well then… Congratulations!" Leon was surprised but happy for his friend all the same.
Merlin was happy for Gwain but still somewhat annoyed still at the subject the tavern addicted knight had brought up. It aroused questions Merlin hadn't thought about before – did he really like Gwen more than friends? 'Damn it Gwain!' Merlin thought angrily because now he was unsure of his own feelings. The warlock just decided to store the thoughts away until they were back in Camelot.
Soon later the group arrived in Corinth to be greeted by Giaus. The once bustling town was now deadly silent and was awfully glum. No children were laughing or playing in the road, no woman sat outside the houses washing clothes, no men were in the fields tending to the harvest. Bodies, big and small, were laid in rows on the ground, all of them wrapped and tied tightly in sheets and blankets. The stench of the rotting corpses blew in the light wind and the knights had to cover their noses in disgust. Everyone who was already there was so use to the foul scent that it didn't bother them any longer but to the new arrivals, it was absolutely revolting.
Merlin felt as if all his stomachs contents were about to come up when he saw flies buzzing around the bodies. He passed by one body – a young woman, possibly a teenager – whose head wasn't covered like the rest of her body and Merlin was disgusted when he saw maggots in her ears and eyes. Leon found another body like that, one he recognized as the man who helped them find the evil sorcerer last time they were there. It was terrible, but what was worse was the infirmary where the sick lay dying, knowing there was no cure. There was no hope, not the slightest smile or laugh, and Merlin wished summoning butterflies could make it all better, but it wouldn't.
"The few people who have been immune to this, plague you may call it, are staying within the rooms in the tavern. The woman you seek is among them – but I am fairly positive she doesn't realize she is the cause of this." Giaus informed them as they continued walking through the ghost town.
"Thank you, Giaus. Merlin, Leon, and Gwain – you come with me to confront her. Elyan and Percival, I want you two to stay and help Giaus with these people in anyway you can… It might be best if you begin digging graves, we cannot have these corpses lying about…" Arthur ordered, but his voice faltered with his last words. The group went their separate ways and Merlin felt intense power as they neared the tavern.
They stepped inside to see a man sitting by a lit fire holding tightly to a young girl, and an elderly woman was seated at one of the many tables with a cup of water in her hand which was clearly trembling. Seated on the stairs were a teenage boy and another grown man who were chatting quietly to themselves. At the far back of the tavern a young woman around Arthur's age was wrapping a blanket around a little boy and the toddler in his arms. She seemed kind and gentle and was good at calming the children's nerves, comforting them to the best of her ability. Around her neck was a beautiful silver chain and when she turned to face the king he could see the beautiful sapphire gem that hung by it. Merlin immediately sensed its magic when he saw the necklace.
"That's the necklace of Corona… I can feel its power." Merlin confirmed.
Arthur walked through the room and toward the woman who bowed her head in respect when they came face to face. "My lord." Her voice was no more than a whisper and her lips quivered in fear – fear of the recent events.
"Do you know what power that necklace possesses?" Asked Arthur getting straight to the point.
"W-what? You mean this old thing," she placed her hand over the jewel, "I bought it off a traveling merchant a few days before the illness began – fear I don't know much of its properties. Why? Is it of importance?"
"Were you thinking of a time of sickness – or someone you care dear about being unwell when you put that on?" Arthur continued his questions.
"My – um – sister was very ill. Not with this sickness, but of another which could not be cured. I bought the necklace for her. She told be it would be better I wore it so people would actually be able to see it – for she was bed-ridden. I was indeed only thinking of her dying from her illness within those few days. She died right before this plague began. Please, sire, if I may ask, what is going on?" She was trembling.
"We believe that necklace has magical properties and has caused this sickness. We have come to retrieve it. Once taken – the remaining people whom are ill should recover. May we have it please?" Arthur knew if she said 'no' he would have to take it by force anyway, but he was hoping it wouldn't come to that.
"So th-this is my f-fault?!" A few silent tears left her eyes, "I am so-so sorry! H-here, take it!" The woman all but tore it from her neck and heavily placed it in the king's hands.
"Thank you. This is not your fault, be sure of that. What is your name?" Arthur's voice was kind and gave the girl a bit of hope in the matter.
"My n-name is Crysta…"
"Thank you Crysta." Merlin suddenly spoke and walked up so he was standing beside Arthur. The king quickly handed the warlock the Corona necklace and Merlin closed his hand around it tightly in a fist. When is fingers opened up again all there was to be seen was silver and blue dust that blew away with a sudden rush of wind. "The necklace will no longer cause harm – I have sent it somewhere where it shall be watched over with great care."
Somewhere very far away – another world you could say – the necklace suddenly appeared in the hand of the lady of the lake.
Those who were in the infirmary quickly woke and began to recover immediately. Gwain and Leon joined Percival and Elyan in digging the graves. The remaining villagers of Corinth decided it would be best to relocate, not wanting to spend the rest of their days in a town that was now full of tomb stones and makeshift wooden crosses. So by the end of the week Crysta and the rest of the survivors made their way toward Avarian – it being the closest village. Arthur, the knights, Merlin, and Giaus stayed behind a while longer to make sure all bodies were taken care of and buried respectfully.
Before they passed the boundaries of the now deserted village Merlin stopped them and turned his horse to face Corinth one last time. With a whisper of a spell and the guided motion of his hand, vines, flowers, and trees started to grow around and through the houses and shops, surrounding all the graves. It was suddenly like new part of the forest but seemed to have more life than the rest, almost like the very death that caused the towns destruction fertilized the growth of new life in its place. Then with one finally flash of Merlin's eyes a thousand colorful butterflies erupted from the trees and it created a rainbow of sorts.
"Some magic can cause destruction…" Arthur suddenly said while still in awe at the new life, "but magic can also create life and beauty… Merlin, my friend, you just created something magnificent…"
With one finally look they all tore their gaze away from the breathtaking sight, and began to ride away.
Butterflies had just made everything alright again… Who would have thought?