When they began their final descent to the English airport Matthew reached over and woke Alfred. He let loose a wide yawn and for a moment Kate caught a glimpse of eyes far older than the face they were set in. She blinked in confusion as Alfred and Matthew spoke.
"Did you get a hold of Uncle Will?"
"Yes, but when I explained to him the situation he laughed and said if Arthur got himself nabbed by the old hag he could get himself out of this mess."
"Wait you told him about this Nimue person having supposedly taken Arthur and he believed you?"
"Yeah. I know its strange, but Alfred what if..."
"There is no 'what if' Mattie. There is no such thing as magic and no such thing as enchantresses."
Matthew sighs and rubs his forehead. "Al you can't just dismiss something like this completely, I mean look at us!"
"We're different Matt and you know it. Look let's just drop it, we're landing soon and we'll need to get a cab out to this place right?"
"Yeah. I arranged for a rental though. We'll be out in the middle of no where Al, we're going to want a car." After a pause Matthew added. "And I'm driving. Arthur had your UK license revoked after that incident last May with the 12 car pile up."
Kate and Terry glanced at each other overhearing this and wondered just what kind of person this Arthur Kirkland was to be able to revoke a driver's license.
"It wouldn't have happened if they just drove on the right side of the road."
Matthew rolls his eyes and turns to Kate and Terry. "Once we land we'll head for Cheddar Gorge, its the only place near Cheddar with any kind of caves. It shouldn't take us long to search them. I called the park services and arranged for us to have caving gear supplied. Have either of you ever done this sort of thing before?"
Kate and Terry glance at each other and shrug. "The last time either of us did anything like this we were fish."
Matthew blinks and then turns away. "I'll take that as a 'no' then."
When they landed Matthew led them to the rental place and signed out their car before they all headed out. It wasn't a very long drive and by the time they reached Cheddar it was mid morning. Matthew lead the car up to a ranger station in Cheddar Gorge and parked.
"The park ranger is going to come with us to start with, he's going to gives us a map and show us a few of the caves before turning us loose. He's gotten us a radio and supplies in case we get lost. Since you two haven't really done this before, stay to the middle and close to either Al or I. We'll probably tether one of you to each of us in case something happens."
"Wait, wouldn't we just pull you down with us?"
"You can try." Matthew smirks, "But I doubt it."
They pile out of the car and meet the ranger who gives them their gear and goes over it with them. He seems a bit less sure about letting Kate and Terry go but it seems that whatever Matthew had told him for their reasons was enough to prevent him from saying anything. While the ranger was going over things with Kate and Terry, Matthew was rolling windows in the car down slightly and seemed to be talking to someone inside, though only his stuffed bear was in the car. Once they were ready the ranger took them on a quick trip into the nearest cave, explaining that it was normally off limits to visitors due to its dangers. Kate and Terry were made comfortable with their gear before the ranger excused himself and left the four alone near another cave entrance.
They spent the rest of the day exploring various caves and finding not a trace of Arthur or anyone really. Most of the caves seemed devoid of any human life. the few that showed signs of human activity were easily dismissed by the evidence of archaeological excavations happening nearby. When the day came to a close Matthew led them to a cabin he had arranged for before they arrived and they all turned in for the night.
The next morning they began again, crossing off cave after cave from their search. About mid afternoon they reached the entrance to a new cave and began heading inside when a sharp cry from a bird of prey had them halting. The bird swooped down from the surrounding cliffs and landed on a rock by the entrance to the cave they were heading into before crying out again.
"Is that a Merlin Hawk?"
"How the heck should I know? I don't bird watch, that's your hobby."
"Watch it Al."
"Fine, whatever. So what is a hawk doing here?"
"You said it was a Merlin Hawk?"
Matthew nods at Terry's question.
"Maybe it was sent by our friend."
"Your friend sent a hawk. Why would he do that?"
"Probably to show us the way."
"Right."
"Al, stop being a hoser and lets just go."
"Fine." The group heads into the cave with the merlin leading the way. They made their way back into the cave and eventually the bird came to rest on a rock jutting from a pool. It let loose another cry and swooped at the water. Confused the group held their lights up to shine down into the pool's depths.
"Are those swords?"
"Yeah, kinda cool actually. But why are they down there?"
Kate looked them over and seemed to be the only one to recognize the pool for what it was.
"It's an ancient tradition from the early days of Britain. warriors would have their swords thrown into a body of water after they died."
"So these swords have been down there a long time?"
"Yeah, most likely dating all the way back to Arthurian times. Possibly earlier."
The group stares at the swords for a moment before Alfred removes some of his gear and jumps into the water. The clearness is not muddied as he makes his way deeper.
"Alfred! What do you think you're doing?"
"Getting us some swords."
"What?"
"We've already been following that bird and I think it wants us to get a few of these. Besides we didn't bring any weapons and if Arthur and his kidnapper are really down here..."
"We'll need something to fight with." Matthew sighs. "Fine, but they can't be in great condition and if the kidnapper has a gun we're screwed."
"It won't be that bad." Alfred ducks under the water for a moment and pulls up a pair of swords and heads back to the shore, handing them to Matt before going back and getting two more. "Huh?"
"What is it Al?"
"Nothing really, just these were the only four loose enough for me to pull up."
Matthew blinks and looks at the swords, then at the bird, then at Alfred. "You're serious?"
"Yeah, weird huh?"
"Beyond weird."
"The bottom has probably grown over them some from calcium deposits and that sort of thing. It's not surprising some would be stuck."
The brothers turn to Terry and shrug.
"Perhaps, but I've seen how much Al can bench press. He should have been able to pull any one of those swords up here."
As they all stand around staring at each other in confusion, the merlin swoops over and lands on one of the blades Alfred is holding and then glides to Kate's shoulder. He maneuvers back and forth for a while until Alfred hands the sword over to Kate. The blade he hands her is rather short, shorter than the other three at least. It was also lighter, but seemed just as ancient and worn as the other three. Kate studies it curiously before shrugging.
"Guess this one's mine then."
The other three swords are quickly distributed and the merlin takes off down another passage once again. They follow and notice that as well as going further back the cave seems to be sloping downward and soon they hear sharp cries echoing along the dank walls. As the cries increase in volume Alfred slowly seems to get more and more spooked, inching ever closer to his brother.
"What do you think is making that sound?"
"I don't know, but it sounds like whatever it is is in pain."
One of the cries sounds more like a short scream for a moment before Kate remembers the dream she had of Nimue and the blonde haired, green eyed man.
"What does Arthur look like?"
Matthew glances back to Kate, confused by the question, but answers. "Well he's about a head shorter than Al and I, has bright blonde hair that never seems to be tamed and green eyes."
"Don't forget the monstrous eyebrows, bro."
Matthew just rolls his eyes while Kate's get wider.
"Its Arthur!"
Matthew and Alfred stop at her exclamation and turn to face her as another half scream echoes around them.
"What?"
"The noises we're hearing, its Arthur screaming from whatever Nimue is doing to him."
Matthew opens his mouth to protest the idea but is cut off by Alfred bolting down the tunnel in the direction the screams seem to be coming from. Kate and Terry follow as Mathew hurries after his brother.
The cries and screams get louder accompanied by a rasping, hissing voice that seems to be laughing. Just as Alfred is about to turn a bend, from which they can see light coming around, Matthew reaches forward and grabs him. He puts a hand over his mouth to stop him from making too much noise before dousing his and Alfred's lights and motioning for the other two to do the same. They can now hear what is going on in the other chamber.
"My dear Arthur, why do you fight me ssssso?"
"I will never give into you Nimue. Try whatever you will, you will not bend me to your will." The voice was pained and Kate caught the brothers tense up at hearing it.
"Wretched little brat. If you will not ssssserve me in my purpossssse in life, then you will do ssssso in death!"
Just as Nimue finishes her sentence Matthew and Alfred charge from their hiding place and into the large, lit chamber from which they heard the voices.
"Leave him alone!"
Their charge seems interrupted though when Kate and Terry follow them out and find they had fallen into a somewhat shallow pool that filled the space. Across from where they entered they could see a large iron door open and revealing Arthur chained to a wall, covered in cuts. Before him stood a woman made of dark mist from the shoulders down. She had long flowing black hair and held a black dagger in one of her misty hands. Surrounding the area were several mer demons armed with spears and swords.
Matthew and Alfred seemed to pause upon gaining their feet and stared at the creatures around them.
"Holy shit, Arthur isn't crazy!"
"Not the time for this Al!"
The short conversation is all it takes for the spell of surprise to wear off before Nimue was ordering the mer demons to attack before turning her own attention on Kate. Kate ducks Nimue's first attack and manages to block the second with her sword.
"You! You wretched little brat. Alwaysssss sssshowing up and ruining my plansssss!"
As Kate fights off Nimue, Alfred and Matthew are taking on the mer demons. The brothers fight back to back, though Matthew seems to have lost his sword and replaced it with a spear. The waist deep water wasn't effecting them as much as one would expect which had the mer demons staying back warily after a few skirmishes, darting in with an attack every now and then.
Terry it seemed was being ignored by the combatants and seeing an opportunity makes his way over to the open cell with Arthur. He eyed the injured man carefully before stepping up to him and looking over the chains. "Don't suppose you know where to find the keys to these chains."
"No, she used magic, there is no key."
Terry frowns. "Great, can't even get you out of here while the rest of them are distracted."
"You came with Alfred and Matthew?"
"Yeah. A friend told us to find Alfred and bring him with us to find you."
"A friend? This wouldn't be a no good, know it all wizard by the name of Merlin would it?" Terry glances up at the bite in the other's words.
"Well yeah. You don't seem too happy to hear about him."
"Just, repeat what I say. 'Desatarse'."
"Desatarse."
The chains binding Arthur to the wall fall slack and Arthur stumbles forward a step and into a surprised Terry.
"Thank you. Would have done it myself, but those sorts of binding spells need released from outside the imprisoned. Now, help a chap out and get me out of this bloody cell. That blasted enchantress is going to regret messing with Arthur Kirkland."
Terry nods and helps Arthur out of the cell. Once out he hears him mumbling something before his voice booms and fills the whole cavern.
"Eu mandos demos te, vai-te!" A sweeping motion of his hand has the mer demons dissolving into bubbles and fading away.
Nimue lets loose a screech at the sudden disappearance of her minions.
"What! How can thissss be!"
"Sod off you bloody witch." Arthur attempts to stand tall next to Terry, though he leaves a hand on his shoulder for support. "You should be grateful I haven't banished you yet for all the trouble you've caused me."
"Insssssolent whelp! I'll ssssshow you who ssssshould be grateful!" Nimue makes to charge at Arthur but Kate jumps between them and holds her off, surprising everyone.
"What!"
"Call its name child. The sword, call its name!"
Arthur seems to recover the fastest from the surprise of Kate's intervention.
"R right, I would if I knew it."
"It is the blade of legend, the blade of the king himself, call it now."
"You have got to be kidding me."
Kate struggled at holding Nimue back as she processed what Arthur had told her.
"Excalibur!"
With a blinding flash the sword seems to explode with light and Nimue lets loose a painful screech. When the light goes back to normal Nimue is nowhere to be found and the sword in Kate's hands is as good as new.
"Wow, that was pretty cool."
"You can say that again."
"Artie!"
A sudden splash and Alfred seems to have tackled Arthur into the water. The two come up gasping for air, Arthur with a scowl and Alfred with a happy grin on his face, he is still holding tightly to the brit.
"Alfred, you sodding git. Let go of me."
"No way Artie, do you have any idea how worried I've been about you. I'm not letting go of you ever again."
Arthur seems to blush at this before trying to pry the American off of himself.
"Arthur, it's good to know you're safe."
"Yes well. Do you mind if we get out of this cave and find somewhere dry and preferable warm to catch up?"
Matthew nods and helps to remove Alfred from Arthur, though he still refuses to release Arthur's hand as they make their way out of the cave and to the cabin they were staying at.
"Hey, where'd that merlin go that led us down here?"
"Merlin?"
"Yeah some bird that led us right to you. It was kind of weird."
Arthur stops and clenches his free hand, one eyebrow ticking in anger. "That... Emrys show your bloody face you sodding git!"
There was silence for a short moment before the merlin hawk from before landed a few feet from them and stretched out into the shape of a man.
"Ah, Arthur, its good to see you're well. It's been a while old friend."
"Don't old friend me you bloody wanker. You go vanishing off the face of the earth for centuries and the first I even hear about you is from that boy over there saying you sent them to rescue me instead of bloody doing it yourself."
The old man scratches the side of his nose and glances at Kate and Terry. "Yes well I had my reasons for sending them to fetch you. Besides, what could I do that you couldn't and if I recall you did better than I could by getting rid of her demon servants."
Arthur glowers at the old man before them. "I was bound by magic before I taught the release spell to that boy over there and was helpless to do anything before that. You should have known that and I know you bloody well did, so stop playing the wise and all knowing Merlin and own up to your own shortcomings Emrys or so help me I will make you regret it."
"Ah, yes, but it wasn't my place to save you was it?" Merlin smiles at Kate as she shifts uncomfortably. "Isn't that right Kate? You and that sword belong together after all."
"What! What do you mean by that? This is Excalibur. It belongs with King Arthur."
"Oh brilliant, you haven't even told her." Arthur steps forward and bows slightly at the waist. "My dear, if you don't mind, could I borrow the sword?"
"I uh, sure."
Kate hands the blade to Arthur and he takes it gently.
"Please kneel."
A glance to Merlin shows him nodding in approval so Kate kneels before Arthur. He takes the sword and gently rests it on each of her shoulders while speaking.
"With this blade I bestow unto you the mantle of King and all it entitles. Now rise and take this sword as proof of your kingship."
Kate gets back to her feet and Arthur returns the sword to her.
"Its nothing truly official, however I will expect you to keep in touch."
Kate stares in shock at him. "You mean... I'm the real reincarnation of King Arthur?"
Arthur seems to ponder the question for a moment before waving his hand a bit in dismissal. "Not exactly. You are however his descendant and as such as your line continues so does the health and well being of England. That is what is meant by the phrase 'the once and future king'."
"I still don't get it."
"No need to worry my dear. You simply did your duty to your bloodline and protected England from Nimue, One might even say you saved England when you saved Arthur here."
Arthur blushed at Merlin's words.
"You git, you make it sound more extravagant than it is."
"Do I?"
Arthur caught the playful twinkle in Merlin's eye and his blush soon turned to his brow twitching. "Bloody wanker."
A tug at Arthur's hand has him turning to Alfred.
"Hey Artie?"
"What is it Alfred?"
"Why didn't you tell me sooner you knew Merlin."
Arthur's brow twitches and Matthew pulls his brother back as Arthur takes a swipe at him.
"Al, he did sort of tell us he knew Merlin. Remember all the stories he told us?"
"Yeah, but those were just bed time stories."
"Don't you bloody even mutter you don't believe in magic after all of this you sodding wanker."
"So you told bedtime stories about me to your friends. Seems rather strange if you don't mind my saying."
"Sod off Emrys. I raised the lads. It wasn't so strange to tell them bedtime stories when they barely reached my knees."
"Ah, so they are rather young then. I wasn't even really sure they were the ones to help but I remember you telling me your brothers and that French boy weren't on the best terms with you. and I knew better than to ask the Spanish."
Arthur snorts, "You've been out of touch for a good five hundred years Emrys. I'm surprised you even looked in America for help."
"Yes well when I heard about the special relationship between the United States of America and England, well..."
Arthur explodes into a bright blush a the suggestive phrasing. "You, Emrys, I, I raised him!"
"And why does that matter. Not like you two are related."
Alfred looks between the two curiously before letting a grin form on his face. "Yeah Artie, not like we're really related. Unless you want me to call you big brother. But that would be kinda weird, special since I went to all that trouble with rebelling so you'd see me as an equal." And before Arthur could say much of anything in response Alfred was sealing his lips with his own. "I really missed you Arthur. You have no idea how worried I've been."
Arthur blushes a dark red and turns away from Alfred and the rest of them.
Matthew smiles at the display and decides to cut in. "He really was worried sick about you Arthur. He barely even slept for the month you've been gone."
"Git."
"I'm really confused."
"I know, I keep wanting to ask what they are talking about."
Merlin chuckles. "It's simply who they are. Personified nations tend be bit odd and even strange at times. However one gets used to it over the years."
Kate and Terry both stare at Merlin in disbelief.
"Personified nations?"
Merlin nods. "That's what they are you see. That fellow Alfred, I've never met him before, but he would be the United States of America. Not sure about the other one though, must be another one from the New World. And then you have Arthur, possibly my oldest friend, he's England."
At the mention of his turns from his argument with Alfred and scowls at Merlin. "What are you off telling them Emrys?"
"I'm simply explaining what it is you and your friends are."
Arthur's brow twitches before he turns to Matthew, startling the young man. "Matthew, be a dear and direct me to where I might take a shower."
"Up the stairs and to the left. Uh, would you like me to get you some dry clothes for when you get out?"
"Yes, thank you. When I get done we can head to my house in London." Arthur walks off to follow Matthew's directions and he soon follows after him to get him a change of clothes.
Not long after Matthew goes up the stuffed polar bear doll that Kate had seen Matthew toting around began making its way down the stairs and she couldn't help but stare at it as it did so. It wandered over to Alfred and tugged at his pant leg.
"What is it Kuma?"
"Who are you?"
Frowning Alfred bent and picked the bear up and held it so their eyes were level.
"You know I don't know why Matt puts up with you."
The creature tilts its head and seems to shrug. "Hungry."
"Matt! Your damn bear is hungry. And I think you should put him down personally cause he's had Alzheimer's since the 1700's."
"I'll be right down to feed him and I'm not putting him down just cause he can't remember anything."
"You mean like your name?"
Matthew comes down the stairs then and takes the bear from Alfred. "Yeah, whatever. Want me to make enough pancakes for you while I'm feeding him?"
"Yes!"
Matthew goes off to the kitchen area of the cabin and Kate and Terry just stand there confused by the whole thing.
"It wasn't a stuffed bear."
"It's alive."
"It talks!"
Alfred turns to them with a grin. "Yeah Kumajirou is Matt's pet, companion thing. I think he told me once it practically raised him before he was found by Francis."
"Just how old is he?"
"Uh... You know I can never remember, just know he's older than me."
"Ok, what nation does he, uh represent then?"
"Oh, Matt's Canada."
Merlin scratches his nose in thought. "Canada, can't say I'm familiar with that one. Where is it located?"
"North of me. He's the second largest nation on the planet. You really have been out of touch for a while."
"Yes well, that's what happens when one spends five hundred years at the bottom of a whirlpool."
"Wow, you're pretty old yourself. How exactly did you meet Arthur though?"
"Well there was all the time I spent as King Arthur's advisor."
"I met him when he was just a lad, no more than eight. His mother took me in and took care of me while I was still very small. Emrys doesn't like discussing his past with many people, but we were sort of like brothers."
Arthur walks down the stairs wearing an over-sized t-shirt, baggy jeans held up with a belt and rolled at the bottom and a towel wrapped about his neck.
"Alfred where's your brother at?"
"In the kitchen feeding the bear."
"Ah, then we can leave as soon as he's done with that."
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Oh dear lord was this one long or what. I got nothing else to say though, so please review.