Remember Me
Chapter VII
At first, Arthur thought that the past couple of days had just been a dream when he woke back up in the white lighted room. He really hated the white marble and the glowing lights. All they did was confuse him. He had walked around aimlessly, calling out for anyone until a blurred figure walked out of the light, draped in a long cloak with golden trim.
"Am I dreaming?" Arthur asked as the blurred figure started to become clearer. A familiar chuckle left the figures lips and the light dimmed, making it possible now to see Arthur's new company.
"No and yes," Merlin's voice stated. Relief flooded through Arthur's chest as he stared up into the warlock's face. That scruffy dark hair and idiotic face was just what he needed. He stepped forward to pull him into an embrace, but stopped short. His eyes danced across Merlin's body. Hidden beneath the long robes were ink patterns. They were not the usual druid symbols that Arthur was accustomed to. These looked like patterns from spell old spell books Arthur remembered his father burning people for using. This was not Merlin. The ink marks weren't the only things different of his old friend. His face was the same, but his eyes were a bright golden color. Yes, warlock eyes turned gold when using magic, but these eyes didn't turn back to the blue they always held. These stayed a piercing and deadly gold that burned into Arthur's flesh.
"You're not Merlin," Arthur gasped, taking a few steps back from the warlock. The impersonator smiled at him crookedly.
"No and Yes, Arthur Pendragon." Arthur frowned in confusion and Not-Merlin simply bowed his head formerly. "I am not Merlin, but this body is his…" Arthur gritted his teeth, continuing to step back, but Not-Merlin kept following. Arthur watched Not-Merlin's feet, realizing that with every step the light turned into dark swirling mist. Arthur gulped nervously, tripping over his feet as tried to back away further from this stranger.
"Who are you?!" Arthur shouted, heart galloping in his chest. Just then a light zapped up from behind him and Arthur turned to see the exact copy of the warlock who had been sitting in front of him. At first Arthur feared that the original was trying to trick him with allusions, but when he looked closer he realized how wrong he was. This figure was too different. Instead of being draped in a long fancy robe he wore a blue sweat shirt and a red scarf. Black rimmed glasses were pushed up the bridge of his nose and his eyes were blue instead of gold.
"He is called Zachariah and he is the ruling sorcerer of this century," the figure said, in the usual Merliny voice. He watched as this Merlin raised his hands, sending out a wave of fire and burning Not-Merlin on the spot. Not-Merlin screamed, bursting into rays of light. There was only one warlock in this world that held so much power and Arthur knew who. Arthur's eyes turned to the real Merlin then, a smile on his lips.
"Thank the gods it's you!" Arthur cried, embracing his friend. Merlin hugged him back briefly before pulling away and nodding at the scorch marks on the once clean white floor they stood on.
"Sorry, I'm not in control of my magic as much as I thought," Merlin sighed.
"How do you mean? Merlin, what's going on?" Arthur badgered. He didn't want to pester Merlin about all this business when not asking first if his friend was alright, but this was getting insane. He was not going to be attacked by another sorcerer without knowing why. Merlin glanced around the room, like something was going to interrupt them and then started walking. Arthur followed close behind, watching as Merlin's eyes scanned around them protectively.
"I was trying to speak with you," Merlin began. "I sent out what little magic I had left, but Zachariah intercepted it and got in your head instead. Eventually I was able to break through and find you, but I don't know how much longer I have left before my magic wares out again."
"So this Zachariah is the mastermind behind all those sorcerers out there?" asked Arthur. Merlin nodded.
"That's why I had to contact you. I needed to warn you about him and what he's planning. He's trying to get all the sorcerers together so they can take over and start a war."
"Why would anybody want to start war?" Arthur questioned, not understanding at all. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"To cleanse the world of those without magic. The sorcerers will use their powers on the humans, forcing them against each other until every last mortal is dead. That's when the sorcerers take over," Merlin clarified. Arthur's face ran pale, eyes widening.
"But he's dead now right? You killed him?" Arthur asked Merlin hopefully. Merlin flinched at the word kill and Arthur instantly felt guilty for mentioning it at the sight of his friend. Before he could take it back, Merlin answered by telling him that this was all taking place in Arthur's dreams so none of them were harmed. In other words, that no good sorcerer was still alive and kicking. Merlin's hands reached out, holding Arthur by the shoulders. "You need to find the true members of the round table and return their memories in any way you can. Once that happens you can-"
"Yes, but what about you, Merlin?" Arthur interrupted. Saving the world was on his mind of course, but all his mind could think of was what happened to Merlin. The warlock smiled at Arthur fondly and his hands fell to his sides, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
"What about me? Arthur, I am the least of your troubles at the second." The king shook his head, clearly not wanting to listen.
"Will you be alright? Merlin, please I've only just found you again!" Arthur pleaded for once in his noble life. Sadness shimmered in Merlin's blue eyes and the young man shook his head. Fear bubbled through Arthur's body. "There must be some way I can still speak with you without weakening you!" Shaking his head Merlin stated,
"The only way I can visit you is in your dreams or keep contact is if we made a link with one another, but I would never put you through that, Arthur." Arthur's face brightened, ignoring the last bit of the sentence. So there was a way.
"Merlin, I am willing to take any of the consequences. No, I am your king and I order you to create this link!" Arthur ordered. At first Merlin stared at him in shock, but soon after Merlin let out an annoyed sigh.
"There is just no stopping you is there?" Smirks shown on both of their faces. "Yeah, not a chance," Arthur thought to himself. Merlin then flicked his fingers, sending a ring of fire around them. Arthur jumped in surprise, but didn't run. He simply marveled at his friend's magic. He had not gotten the chance to understand Merlin's magical self as much as he wanted to before his death, but now he could. Merlin snapped his fingers in front of Arthur's face then, drawing his king's attention back. The one and future king stared into those magical blue eyes and Merlin began to explain what would happen. He told Arthur what it meant to have a link of such strength with another. The link will give them access to each other's thoughts, memories, feelings, and pain. They can block some things out, but if it's too powerful they won't be able to. Merlin warned that Arthur would feel the pain he was in at the moment, but Arthur brushed it off. He didn't care how much he had to suffer. He wanted to be able to speak to Merlin, to know if he was getting worse or better instead of just sitting helplessly at his bedside.
At last they were ready to begin. Merlin took Arthur's face in his hands, eyes blasting gold as he chanted in a strange language. Merlin, shook as he uttered the words, blood dribbling from his eyes, nose, and mouth. This worried Arthur, but he left Merlin alone. He simply wrapped his arms around Merlin's waist in order to help hold him up. That's when he felt warmth flash through his skin and broke out in a cold sweat. He gasped, but Merlin's voice in his head comforted him.
"You are feeling how I feel, Arthur. Don't worry; it will only last a little while before your own body takes back over," Merlin whispered, through his strange chanting. Arthur nodded, squeezing his eyes shut in attempt to force back the pain, but it was too strong. He felt the bruised ribs and other bones of Merlin's beaten body. He could feel Merlin's thoughts curling through his mind and even saw a memory or two pass behind his eyes. He gasped, trying to pull away, but Merlin's grip tightened. "I'm sorry, Arthur."
