To MegamiTenshiHime, morganaxmerlin, shelle-ma-belle, natcel, Saellyra of Mirkwood, Bolivianfall and sammansen, thank you very much for your reviews, it is really great to see someone likes my work ^^ It gives me the power to go on :)
Also, sammansen, thanks for finding few of my grammatical errors and showing them to me, so i can write better now :)
They never expected to find other travelers. Even more, the travellers who would attack them straight on. More then forty men in dark orange clothes rushed at them, forcing them to defend in the labyrinth of high and wide, corinthian columns. The room was different then those before. Spacious and high, with about forty to fifty fancy columns reaching the ceiling so high above them that it was almost not possibly to see it with the naked eye. The few meters wide columns, at some point in time were probably white, but now they were mostly dark grey and black from filth.
Men before them had to be here far longer then, then Merlin and his two companions. They quickly encircled Arthur, who put his back to the giant column behind him, hiding himself behind his mighty sword.
Morgana tried to use her magic. She stopped few first men, forcing them to regroup. But what she wasn't expecting was that they had magic. She felt her body binded by their strange, mystical powers. She gasped, feeling her body wrinkle on the floor. Her eyes widened from excrutiating pain, as she was trying to open her lips, gasping for air.
And Merlin got knocked out from the very start. But instead of falling, his blue eyes glowed with orange light. He never jumped or run. He just slowly moved. And he found himself behind the tall, muscular, black haired man, who was shouting commands and who just a moment ago was about fifty meters afar from his starting position.
The green eyed man before Merlin turned to him, feeling his body getting heavier. He fell on his back to the dusty, grey floor, grunting as the impact forced the air from heavy lungs.
Merlin stepped on his wide, muscular throat and person under him trembled even more. His color skin, especially on his face and neck became purple red, as him body was jamming into the floor by an invisibly force.
"I will not repeat myself", hissed Merlin, looking at the laying man with his blue eyes glowing with orange light and anger, "call off your men. Never say a word about me, or my powers", Merlin stepped back, taking his foot from the green eyed man throat, who gasped for air, as the invisible power that was jamming him to the stony floor disappeared.
The black haired man before him knelt and straightened his arm, helping him get up.
"You alright?", asked black haired, blue eyed young man, looking with concern at the man laying on the cold, dusty floor before him. The stony floor under lying man was bruised and crashed like someone hit it with great force. Man under him closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again. His body became less twisted. He pushed himself to his knees, before standing up.
Black haired, green eyed man grabbed young man, who was standing before him, giving him a fascinated look.
"Mighty magic, a real seal", green eyed man licked his lips, biting the lower one, excited.
"Merlin, are you alright? They surrendered... Merlin?", a blond man in grey armor with the mighty looking sword in his hand was running hastily in their direction. He stopped, when the man he was calling turned to him with confused look, not recognizing him. The black haired, blue eyed man pointed to himself.
"Merlin, by any chance", he fidgeted, looking at blond warrior with shyly eyes, "you were talking about me?"
Arthur gulped and turned to Morgana, who appeared before them, limping, gasping and grabbing her left side near the ribs, her face in pain.
"Morgana, i think we have a little problem...", Arthur glanced at Merlin, who smiled awkwardly to them, brushing his shoulders in a friendly 'what?'.
"Merlin, you really don't remember anything?", asked him the black haired beauty. Her face was wearing a mix of emotions, but the ones that was the most visible was concern, hurt and anxiety. They tried to sum up everything that happened before they entered the labyrinth. Both Morgana and Arthur gave Merlin a short summary of who is who without focusing on unnecessary details. They also didn't say anything about their activities.
"So instead of being with this stunning beauty i was risking my life for", the black haired, slim, young man moved his finger, stopping pointing to Morgana and pointing to Athur, "this big fellow, choosing to be his servant? Was i stupid or what?" He laughed, grinning, shaking his head, disbelieving.
Both Morgana and Arthur exchanged concerned looks. They learned that if not for Merlin, they would be long dead. While Arthur was also worried for him as a friend, Morgana wasn't sure why she was exactly worried. The icy blue eyed beauty was still pulling herself together after the emotionally exhausting second part of the yesterday. Her emotions were in disarray, running wildly. She always felt the attaraction to Merlin, but she was always suspecting that the reason was nothing more and less, then her hate. The need to take revenge. To hurt him, like he did when he betrayed her. Now she wasn't sure, that it was all she wanted. Or if that was what she was truly hoping to achieve.
"Now i would like to know, who are you?", Merlin turned to the tall, muscular, black haired man sitting next to them, who was the obvious leader of the about forty people standing around them, listening, waiting.
"My name is Derrick. I am the leader of the Ravens", he focused his attention on Merlin, clearly ignoring the other two. The warm smile showed on his comely face, as he pulled from his black coat three necklaces. Each of them was composed of different stones embedded between the dark metal that was linking them. The stones were mostly dark, emerald green and bloody red, some of them dark blue or dark purple. "This task was to find enough people to wear one each. Unfortunately, we lost two of our members when advancing through the last chamber and when we saw you three we though that it would be best to kill one of you and make the two left to wear those, so we can advance to the next chamber", he explained, slowly handing to them the valuable necklaces. "You killed one of us, before we could one of you. So for the sake of the test, we surrendered, before someone else would be killed."
Morgana turned to Merlin, gloating. "I think it suits me well", she smiled, waiting for Merlin's response, who just smiled looking at her beautiful, alluring neck.
Arthur rolled his eyes, lifting his hands to put his necklace, when Merlin's hand bolted in his direction, intercepting the necklace before it closed itself around Arthur's thick neck.
"Morgana, try taking it off", said slowly Merlin, narrowing his deep, blue eyes. The air around them became more tense as everyone focused on them, changing positions from relaxed to anticipated. Younger and older men around them shifted in their positions. Their hands were hidden from the sight under black, heavy cloaks, but the three guests could easily guess that their hands moved near their belts.
"We tried, it is not possible to remove them before passing the test, if you just put them we could be on our way to the next level", urged them their leader, showing them reassuring smile.
"Tell me then, why only your necklace had diamonds in them?", asked Merlin, looking around. "All of their necklaces are the same as ours, at least all i could see", he pointed around, waving his hand. "And where is the body, of your fallen friend? Why only you talk to us? Why no one else? Why all of them wear the same clothes?", Merlin stood up, asking his questions. "And where is the information about a test?", he asked, focusing his attention on the man before him.
"You got me", Derrick brushed his shoulder, with bored voice. "Well, i can at least control the lady friend, no, i wouldn't try...", before he could end his sentence, Morgana lifted her hands in panic, to take the necklace off, but instead of the loosely hanging necklace she found the necklace tightly stretched around her slim neck. When she tried to force it, the necklace just tighten, strangling her. She gasped, trying to catch her breath. She let her hands fell down, feeling the necklace loosing it's grip. And then she saw two men's backs, blocking her view.
Derrick lifted his black brews, looking slightly amused at the two men standing between him and the black haired beauty.
"Give it a rest, fellows, she can't take it off and if i die, she dies too", said in a bored tone Derrick, glancing at them, slightly amused. "I was under the impression, you were enemies", he looked at Arthur, who was standing between him and Morgana, with his muscular hand on the hilt of his mighty, fancy looking sword. His eyes narrowed, as he glanced at the young warlock angrily.
"Take it off her", spat Arthur, unsheathing his sword.
Merlin's hand intercepted his, not allowing him to move his any higher.
"Someone is smart", the young leader of the men around them smirked. "Don't worry, i won't hurt her as long as you will behave. Now, put those on", he pointed with his eyes on the necklaces they both threw away. "And as for you my lady", he smiled at Morgana, "it was long before i bedded a woman, and a beauty like..", he paused when Merlin grabbed him by his own necklace, pulling his comely face to his own, stopping only when they were really close, almost touching themselves, feeling each other breaths.
"I don't think so, Derrick", he spat. "I think there is a reason you tried to fool us so we would put them on ourselves." Merlin gave him an angered glare. "I think there is a reason, why you were flatten on the floor. I think you are trying not to make me feel threatened."
"So what is your point?", asked amused Derrick, grinning.
"My point is, if you will force me, i will force myself into situation, where i will feel threatened."
Derrick leaned back, laughing, making Merlin release his grip with his hands.
"You are playing a very, very dangerous game", he smiled mischievously, his eyes sparkled, showing his excitement.
"I think, i should be saying that to you", Merlin narrowed his eyes, feeling not only anger but also excitement. He found someone who challenged him, who dared him to play with him in a game with the rules the both of them couldn't fully grasp. A very dangerous game, where domination, free will and lives were at stake.
Merlin turned together with Arthur to Morgana, both of them helping her to stood up.
She glanced shocked at them. She still could hardly believe, that Merlin would help her. But Arthur, risking his life to defend her. That was definitely something unthinkable. And yet he was standing, towering over her, helping her stand, ready to defend her. She breathed hard, confused, shocked and let them help her. Her hands found it's way to grab each of them by their arms, a ladylike behaviour she had almost forgotten she even practiced a long time ago.
"Let's find the riddle", said Merlin, when Derrick stood up. He pointed to the opened door at the end of the great hall.
"Truce?", he half smiled, his eyed sparkled mischievously.
Merlin and Arthur glanced at each other, before slowly nodding to Derrick, who was waiting for their answer.
"Truce", they both answered calmly and started walking with Morgana between them, followed by a group composed of around forty warriors and warlocks, with Derrick walking next to Merlin, throwing at him curious glances.
When they walked to the next spacious hall with a lot of big, empty thrones, they heard a voice in their heads.
"There are four hundred, fifty six thrones. Each of you need to pick his seat before the sand will be gone from the hourglass, or will be burned alive", all of them looked at the hourglass before them, with the yellow sand running out of it rather fast. "Then, each second throne will burn. And then the cycle will repeat until only 57 thrones will remain unburned."
"After you", smiled viciously Derrick. "Please don't mind us, we will pick after you."
"You bastard...", Arthur stepped in his direction, realizing Merlin was kneeling on the floor, furiously making some kind of marks on the dust, writing some kind of triangles.
"Merlin, what are you...", started asking Arthur, glancing at the running sand, seeing as almost half of it run out, feeling extremely anxious.
"Shut up", spouted hastily Merlin, drawing more drawings in the dust. "Impossible", the black haired young man mumbled to himself. He was watching his drawings, making some markings above them. He suddenly stood up, grabbing Morgana and dragging her to the first seat.
"No, that one is mine", Derrick seated himself at the first seat before Merlin had a chance to push there confused Morgana. The throne grabbed Derrick with metal shackles, not allowing him to move. "Let's see, if you learned something more then that the first one won't burn", Derrick focused his eyes on Merlin, who just turned to his right, still firmly holding Morgana's delicate hand. He moved along the line of thrones, counting.
"Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen", he pushed confused Morgana to the throne, but she didn't let go of his hand.
"Merlin, please, i don't want to burn alive", her beautiful body started trembling. Her slim hands grabbed him fiercely. "Merlin, please tell me, you know what you are doing", her voice was shaking terribly. She was visibly scared. "Merlin, i've seen people burn more then once by Uther", she whispered, horrified of what could happen to her if he was mistaken. She stood there, frozen from fear, not letting go of his hand. Her mind was showing her the visions of people burning alive, her fear was making her to remember once again everything she wanted to bury in her memories.
Merlin glanced at the sand in the hourglass. It was almost gone. He grabbed her chin, making their eyes meet.
"Morgana, trust me", he ordered her. His voice struck her with power and authority. She nodded and loosened her grip, moving a little closer to him, but he brutally pushed her. She sat on the throne, feeling the metal shackles closing themselves on her body, not allowing her to move. She followed Merlin with her confused, terrified eyes, but he was already running with Arthur, counting.
"Sixteen", he shoved Arthur on the throne. Arthur was looking very, very pale. Almost like his blood left his body for some time. He remembered every time, when someone was burned alive. Every time when Uther was burning someone, Arthur had to watch. Had to listen to the creams. To watch the body being consumed by a flames. To see how the body was squirting under the fire, how long it was needed for the body to be on fire. How fast people started shouting, begging pleading before they was just screaming from the excruciating, inhuman pain. He puked on himself, still sitting on the throne, feeling the shackles holding his body in one place, not allowing him to just fell on his knees and hands and freely vomit.
Merlin sat on his throne, anxious. He was unsure if he was right. If he wasn't, those people he loved would burn. Would suffer a horrible death. He didn't remember, but he somehow perfectly knew how people die when burned to death. He felt nausea. He focused on the Raven group members, who sprinted to the thrones, taking their positions. One of them didn't make it, before the sand run out. The flames appeared on him, crept over his body, swallowing him. The burning man started to scream. Arthur vomited one more time, before he fainted on his throne, losing consciousness. Merlin just averted his eyes, looking down, trying to focus on something else, to block the sound, to push it away. And Morgana started trembling and crying. Her memories came back to her, haunting her. And then she realized, that the thrones on both sides were burning with high, bright orange and yellow flames. The heat crept over her, making her sweat. And she realized, that this was the first cycle. She jerked, trying to escape, but her shackles held and she fell back on the throne.
Yea, i love doing cliffhangers :P
For anyone who is interested, what the riddle was this time, it was the alteration of the Josephus problem. With 456 places we have 57 places that won't burn. We count out every second place. I especially used 456, because 57*8 is 456. So in the next chapter i will show you the answer :)
And i don't know why, but i realized, that it happens awfully often that i make Morgana's life miserable. Don't know why though. Poor Morgana.