Sacrificial Limits

A/N – Okay, so maybe I sort of kinda lied a bit in my review replies. This did not take a couple of weeks. I finished this chapter instead of continuing studying cuz there's only so much math work my brain can take before it withers away and dies, and what would happen to my stories then?

Anyway, before I continue my incessant rambling, THANK YOU again to all those who've reviewed! :D It's great to hear (read?) that you enjoyed the last chapter, even though I wasn't all that sure about it. I hope this chapter isn't too bad; it's kind of filler-ish, I guess you could say, and I know you guys wanna know how Arthur's reacting to this and what he's thinking. Well, you just gotta wait till next chapter, folks. ;)

I'm holding you up – go on, read and enjoy, and I'll see ya at the bottom!

Chapter Four

Lancelot knew what it felt like to have someone close to you die, someone irreplaceable; to lose them forever and have to learn to live without them. He knew the pains of having loved ones torn away from you while you were helpless to save them. The hurt, the anguish… He'd knew first-hand how strong those emotions were.

And he never wanted to feel them again. Not if he could help it.

That was why, when Gwaine mentioned the Druids could help Merlin, he volunteered to go find them. Because he didn't want a repeat of what happened to his parents, his friends - his whole village. He didn't want to sit there, powerless to help, while Merlin's life slowly drained away. If there was a way to help him, even a mere possibility to cure him, he'd go for it. And the Druids were more than just a mere possibility; they were a near certainty.

So it was with a determined spirit that he rode out right after receiving his instructions, heading west for the Druids' camp.

Merlin will live. He kept the mantra in his head, spurring him on, not once slowing his pace. He rode fast and hard, while going over in his mind the few things that had been bothering him since this whole darn thing started. His main worry – besides the constant concern of Merlin not making it – was Arthur's reaction. Yes, he had agreed to get the Druids' help, and he wasn't his father nor did he view magic in the same shrewd way Uther did, but Lancelot was still slightly dubious about his acceptance. He had a foreboding feeling that the prince might just find out about Merlin's magic during all this, and where would that leave them?

But surely, if he had already figured it out and still regarded magic as treacherous, he wouldn't have agreed to healing Merlin? Or would he? Maybe he might just have accepted it, briefly, or maybe he still was not aware of his manservant's powers. Lancelot hoped it was the latter. He wouldn't be there for Merlin if Arthur figured it out now and did something rash. Gwaine was there as well, true, but he didn't know about Merlin either.

Or did he? Lancelot hadn't missed the lingering way in which his fellow knight had eyed Merlin's wound and himself, and suspected that Gwaine knew something – recognized that he, Lancelot, knew what was going on here. But Lancelot was confident in Gwaine's loyalties and his friendship with Merlin, and felt that he could trust him if Arthur acted impulsively. He would have to; it wasn't like he had a choice anyway.

A grim smile appeared on his lips at that before he shook his head. There was no point in dwelling on things he could not do anything about, even if he wanted to. The most he could do now was find the Druids as fast as possible, and trust his friends' judgments. Merlin's life depended on it.

He urged the horse to go faster, going along at a speedy gallop now. It was just as well that Camelot's Knights got the best breed of horses, otherwise it might have collapsed under the strain.

.:`:.

It was nearing dusk when he sensed he was being watched. After riding hard for three hours straight with only the sound of his horse's hooves and the mind-numbing thoughts churning in his mind, his nerves were well and truly on edge. He pulled on the reins to slow down and surreptitiously glanced around, grimacing as he realised that the slowly lengthening shadows made it easier for someone to be hiding there.

A rustle of leaves from his right caught his attention and he gave up all covert pretenses as he slid off the horse, unsheathed his sword, and took up an offensive stance, all in one move. His dark eyes warily eyed the array of bushes and trees in front of him and he waved his sword threateningly in front of him.

"Show yourself," Lancelot called out cautiously.

A figure – no, two figures – stepped out of the shadows slowly, and Lancelot lowered the sword just barely as he sighted them, but not too low. The first man was older than he – in his late forties, maybe – and tall, but he stood with a firm and unwavering stance, contrary to his seemingly frail appearance. He held the knight's gaze with his own undeniably wise one, and had a head of white hair. He radiated strength and power that Lancelot presumed was his magic.

The man behind him was younger, shorter, and more secluded in appearance. He clutched a shoulder-pack almost possessively, his slim fingers tightening around it. His soft brown eyes were regarding the knight curiously, and Lancelot found his stare slightly unnerving, as though the man could see all his thoughts and fears, sense his insecurities, his worry.

And despite the suddenness of their presence, Lancelot felt immensely relieved, because he knew without a doubt who they were.

He had found the Druids.

"Sir Lancelot, I assume?" The first man asked, stepping closer once Lancelot lowered his sword completely and stuck it in the ground. He gripped his hand in welcome. "I am Iseldir, Chief Druid of our camp."

"A pleasure," Lancelot nodded, and then asked curiously, "How did you know who I am?"

The Druid gestured his companion forward with an inclination of the head. "Cathbad has foreseen your urgent arrival, although we do not know the cause of your apparent distress." He pierced the young knight once again with his perplexing gaze. "I sense something terrible has occurred."

Lancelot blinked and shook his head to focus the confusing mass of thoughts threatening to take over his brain. "Yes. It's Merlin," he confirmed, getting a sense of urgency. "He's wounded and we're afraid he does not have much time left. He – I don't know how- but-," he stuttered and clenched his jaw with another desperate shake of the head. "We need your help."

Iseldir turned to look at his companion – Cathbad – with an odd light in his eyes. Lancelot fought back the urge to grab him and jump back on the horse and head back to Merlin. It's been three hours… he thought, troubled.

"You said 'we need your help'," Cathbad spoke up, his voice soft but his tone no less dominant than Iseldir's. "Who else is there?"

"Another knight, Gwaine, and Prince Arthur," he answered immediately, praying that the mention of the prince wouldn't turn them away. "Arthur agreed to get your help; he's desperate – we all are," he added imploringly.

"How did he receive his wound?" Iseldir queried. His composed tone seemed to calm Lancelot down and he took a breath before answering deliberately.

"We – we're not sure. Arthur was shot by bandits last night in the side, and Merlin… I don't know. He was watching over him during the night, I don't know what he did, but this morning Arthur was completely healed and Merlin was sporting the exact same injury he had, as if he'd taken it from him. He's lost a worrying amount of blood since then…" His voice trailed off as his eyes darkened in worry.

"You are aware of his powers, then? You do not seem panicked," Cathbad observed.

He nodded. "I have known about Merlin's magic for a few years now. But that is partly why I'm troubled – Merlin told me he isn't particularly good at healing spells, yet he accomplished something so obviously advanced. How?" He glanced between them as they exchanged a look. Maybe now he'd get an answer to the one question that had been on his mind the whole day: how?

Iseldir emitted a brief sigh as his eyebrows drew together slightly. "By your description, it was not a normal healing that Emrys used. We were unsure of whether or not he possessed the gift, but it seems so." At Lancelot's bewildered look, he added, looking slightly troubled. "It seems Emrys used the power to Mirror Life and Death to heal your prince."

Lancelot's head spun. Mirror Life and Death? He wasn't entirely sure what the power was, but he could guess, and it wasn't a comforting thought. But if he had to go so far to Mirror life and death, then didn't that mean…?

"It means he believed Prince Arthur to be too far gone to be healed normally," Cathbad confirmed, finishing his thought. "Emrys has truly made the ultimate sacrifice this time."

Lancelot stared at him, not even grasping the fact that the Druid Seer had apparently read and answered his thoughts. He had a bit more pressing matters on hand. "So… Arthur was really dying," he said slowly, the pit of foreboding growing deeper in his stomach. "And Merlin – Merlin gave his life up?" He felt the forbiddance bubble into panic. Merlin couldn't actually be dying! He just couldn't.

Iseldir clasped a soothing hand to his shoulder and asked quietly, "Does Prince Arthur know of Emrys's secret?"

He shook his head haltingly. "No, he- he doesn't. He suspects sorcery is at work, but I think he is too confused by the events to truly pinpoint their origin." He met the Druid's wise eyes. "But even so, he did agree to employ the use of magic to heal Merlin. I think that… if he did know now… it would not be as bad as you fear."

The Druid mused over this. "The bond between the great Emrys and the Once and Future King grows stronger than ever," he murmured with a significant look at Cathbad, who nodded solemnly.

Iseldir regarded Lancelot for another moment before nodding. "Very well. You shall receive our help. Any demise that Emrys is facing would be truly tragic for us all." Lancelot didn't stop to ask what he meant by that, and assumed this 'Emrys' was Merlin. He grabbed his sword out of the dirt with a relieved smile and turned to mount his horse again.

"Then we should ride out straight away. The camp is three hours from here."

Cathbad held his arm and shook his head. "We can travel much faster than on horseback. As you said, Merlin does not have much time left."

Lancelot was confused for a moment before he realised what he meant. He swallowed and nodded. "Right. Magic. You can transport a non-magical person, too, then?" he asked as Cathbad readjusted his bag so it hung from his shoulder without having the need to grip it. Iseldir took the reins of the horse as he answered.

"We can, but I warn you, the experience may be unpleasant and uncomfortable."

Lancelot nodded understandingly as he readied himself. He was filled with renewed vigor and hope; he just prayed that they weren't already too late.

.:`:.

It was painful… so painful… The air he breathed seemed to be poisoned, and every breath made his chest feel aflame. He was briefly aware of some sort of burning sensation in his otherwise numb limbs. Was he burning? Maybe that was it… It would explain the fire inside him…

Everything surrounding him was fuzzy and dark, unclear… Unknown. He didn't like the Unknown – it gave him a sense of foreboding… He didn't know what was there, what could happen… But even so, he felt as though this was a sort of Unknown he should not fear.

And then… it was in a spiral of colours and noises and nauseating movement that he heard the Voice. It was a familiar sound, somewhere in the back of his mind, but it was still another part of the Unknown. The Voice seemed to be addressing him but it was a blur of noise, along with everything else. He felt frustrated and wished it would either shut up or become clearer.

Shut up… Why was that familiar? He tried to remember, but it was so confusing… so painful… he just wanted it all to stop – Stop the spinning, the mass of confusion, the array of disconcerting colours. He found himself wishing to just sink away into the Unknown, where none of this mystifying mess could follow him. But the Voice… it would not leave him alone… it was so persistent, so… obnoxious…

"Merlin… Merlin…? Can… hear… Merlin…"

It would not stop… Was he Merlin? Maybe he was supposed to give some sort of response… He wished he could tell the stubborn Voice to go away and let him sleep… Leave him in the Unknown, because now he was almost sure it was a comforting place… It had to be, didn't it…? It could get him away from the pain and the fire…

He had nothing to hold on to… Although the Voice would insist otherwise, as it seemed to be calling him back… Back to where? He must have been somewhere… somewhere… Before he got sucked into this heap of befuddlement and agony… And ahead, the Unknown beckoned him in, invited him warmly, so appealing and tempting… But the Voice was persistent, it called some more, loud and demanding…

"Merlin…! Come on…"

The Voice… or the Unknown…?

.:`:.

A/N – Hehe, that was fun. :D Okay, so Cathbad is an actual Druid Seer from the legends, according to my research. *cough*Google searching*cough*

So how was it? I liked Iseldir's line about their 'bond growing stronger than ever'. I feel like it's foreshadowing something big. Of course, since I haven't actually written nor fully planned out the next chapter or anything after it, I can't be sure of that, but it is significant. *grins mysteriously*

And Lance wasn't near as hard to write as I dreaded. True, I didn't make him as angsty as I initially wanted, but I wasn't entirely sure how to do it properly, and when I write his thoughts, that's what came out. The beginning sure was depressing though. *sighs and hands Lance a gummy worm*

Please drop me a review and express your thoughts. Was that last bit good, or pathetic? :P Never tried something like that before, so here's hoping it was the former. ;)

Alright, I think that's the important stuff. Now, next couple of weeks are very important exams and since I'm already skiving off—erm, I mean, taking a brief break from studying by writing this, I doubt I'm gunna be allowed more computer time to type the next chapter up, nor will my muse be up to scratch in between all the maths and bio stuff I gotta learn. So until then, kudos! I know that reviews will definitely cheer me up while I study my head off, so that can be your good deed for the day. ;D

~iz :3