Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Seven:
Mordred forced himself to roll on to his back and sit up. He looked round slightly dazed, but Morgana was nowhere in sight. He caught sight of Merlin, laying not far from where Mordred had fallen. Mordred quickly scrambled over to him and rolled Merlin on to his back. Blood run down the side of his face, from where Merlin had struck his head on a rock when he'd landed.
"Emrys!" Mordred exclaimed, shaking Merlin shoulder lightly but Merlin didn't respond.
Mordred glanced round and raised a hand, resting it over Merlin's head wound. Mordred's eyes flashed gold as he channelled his magic into Merlin's wound, commanding it to heal. The wound under his hand slowly stitched itself up and Merlin let out a groan. Mordred sat back and waited for Merlin to come round, all the while keeping an eye out for Morgana.
Merlin groaned and opened his eyes to find Mordred kneeling over him. He glanced round, before sitting up. Mordred quickly rested a hand on Merlin shoulder to steady him. Merlin blinked a few times and raised a hand to his head and frowned when it came away bloody… Only there was no wound.
"You healed me," Merlin said looking at Mordred. "Thank you."
Mordred smiled and nodded.
"What happened?" Merlin asked, wiping the blood from his face.
"Morgana," Mordred answered.
"She's here?!" Merlin jumped to his feet and looked round.
"Go, Emrys," Mordred said. "I'll will keep Morgana distracted."
"No," Merlin shook his head. "I won't leave you here alone to face her."
"Arthur and Gwen need you," Mordred pointed out. "Morgana won't harm me, I'm sure of it."
"Fine," Merlin nodded after a moment. "Just be careful, Mordred."
Mordred nodded and Merlin got to his feet, grabbed the supplies and quickly continued up the path after Arthur. It didn't take long for Merlin to catch up with Arthur and Tristan.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed. "Where's Mordred?"
Merlin glanced behind him and Arthur made to push past Merlin, but Merlin quickly stopped him.
"No, Arthur!" Merlin blocked Arthur's way.
"I won't leave a Knight behind," Arthur said.
"Morgana was there," Merlin protested. "Mordred's given us a chance. We can't throw it away!"
Arthur stared down the mountain path, before he sighed and turned back to where Sir Tristan was standing guard over Gwen.
"Fine," Arthur said. "Let's keep going."
)o(
Mordred watched as Morgana approached him. He glanced the way Merlin had gone for a moment, before turning towards Morgana once more. He could do this for Emrys and Arthur.
"Why didn't you kill us?" Mordred asked as soon as Morgana was close enough.
"My arguments not with you, Mordred," Morgana answered. "How could it be? We're of a kind. As for a Merlin, he does not deserve a quick death."
Mordred glared at Morgana.
"Never," Mordred said. "We could never be the same kind, Morgana."
"You wear the uniform well, but we both know what lies beneath," Morgana sneered at his red cloak and Camelot crest. "Do you think Arthur would tolerate you for one minute if he knew the truth? One of his knights, a sorcerer!"
"One day he will know," Mordred told her. "One day we will be accepted."
"Your naïveté would be charming if it wasn't so dangerous," Morgana answered. "Where's Emrys?"
"Emrys?" Mordred questioned, pretending to be confused by who she was referring to.
"You pretend you do not know of whom I speak?" Morgana accused him.
"It is a name I've only heard of," Mordred replied.
"He's not here?" Morgana said, glancing round and Mordred could see the fear in her eyes. "With you?"
"If he was, would we both not feel the presence of such a great sorcerer?" Mordred smirked slightly.
Morgana looked both frightened and uncertain and Mordred watched her closely.
"Then I have no further use for you," Morgana snapped and raised her hand towards Mordred.
"You would strike one of your own?" Mordred challenged her.
Morgana hesitated.
"I am not strong enough to defeat you, Morgana, but know this," Mordred told her. "Such hatred as yours can never triumph. I hope one day you will find the love and compassion which used to fill your heart."
Morgana stared at Mordred and for a moment Mordred thought he saw tears welling up in Morgana's eyes. But Mordred doesn't waste any time and his eyes flashed, sending Morgana flying backwards through the air. The impact of her landing knocked her unconscious and Mordred stared at her sadly, before moving past and running in the direction Merlin had gone in.
)o(
Merlin paused at the top of a ridge and looked down at the water below them. Behind him Arthur and Tristan came to a stop too. Arthur looked down at Gwen in his arms and relief washed over him, they'd made it
"It's just as Gaius described," Merlin said, his voice full of awe, before making his way down the ridge towards the water. "The Cauldron of Arianrhod."
Upon nearing the water, Merlin sets down the supplies he'd been carrying and stared across the water for a moment. Did he really have the power to summon a Goddess? The White Goddess? Beside him, Arthur gently lowered Gwen to the ground, while Tristan stood guard behind them.
"Where's the sorceress?" Arthur demanded, looking round.
"Gaius says she's a recluse," Merlin answered. "She shuns the company of men."
"She's going to have to make an exception," Arthur replied. "We haven't got much time. Guinevere could wake up at any moment."
"We've got more tincture," Merlin pointed out.
"No!" Arthur snapped. "No more. I won't risk it. We have to find her."
"I'll search for her," Merlin said, grabbing one of the bags, only for the black dress to fall out as he did so.
Arthur raised an eyebrow at the sight of it and looked at Merlin.
"You didn't think this was going to be free, did you?" Merlin asked.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur replied confused.
"The sorceress," Merlin explained. "She likes to be paid in clothes. She can't get to a tailor."
"Why would a recluse be interested in clothes?" Arthur sounded even more confused.
"I don't know, Arthur," Merlin exclaimed. "She's a sorceress. She's not going to be normal, is she?"
Merlin rolled his eyes and quickly walked off. He found a sheltered area hidden from view and quickly began to change. Muttering the spell he needed to change his appearance as he did so. He just really hoped he could maintain both spells… Maybe he should have sent a request for help to Freya after all.
)o(
Hey, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.
