Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin
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Merlin knew Arthur was just being a stubborn prat now. There was no talking to him. So she hurried to where Gwen resided. When she was a girl, Cerdan used to tell her stories about weapons that could kill anything. He told her of swords blessed by dragon-fire. It was one of her favorite stories. Merlin knew little about her origins, but her father was like her. He was warlock and his power was rooted to dragons, a dragon lord. Merlin knew though; as long as her father lived her own kinship to dragons would be weak. But even un-awakened dragon lords had had connections to their dragon brethren. Arthur needed a sword blessed with dragon-fire and there was a dragon in the bowels of the palace. But firsts she needed a sword and she knew where to get one.
"Merlin, what are you doing here?" Confusion, lot's of it. She cocked her head, smiling awkwardly.
"To ask a favor of you."
"Yes?"
"Well, it's unconventional."
"Go on." Merlin's expression grew severe, her eye trained on Gwen intensely.
"A sword, the strongest your father's ever made, to save Arthur."
X
Arthur stood in his chambers, watching over the Black Knight. Tomorrow, he could very well die. Every fiber of him wanted to summon Merlin to his chamber. If he were to die, he wanted to die knowing every ounce of his affections had been expressed to her. He wanted to die knowing he had held her for the entire night before. Fiancé or not, he wanted Merlin to share his bed, if only for that one night. And, shamefully, a small part of him wanted to leave her with child, a chance to make sure his line lived on, even if it was a bastard begotten on a witch. But he was too honorable. Merlin would grant him near anything if he pushed enough, but he didn't want to force her. She didn't want it, she belonged to another so all he could ask was a kiss. But he stared on. He had made his choice, he chose to fight. The door opened and Morgana entered. She looked nothing like the fierce child that had entered his life so early on. Morgana was meek and sad.
"I don't want you to fight tomorrow." She was so unnaturally quiet, like someone extinguished her fire. For moment he held fast then laughed a little.
"You're worried about me."
"Please don't do this."
"I have to. It's my duty."
"I understand. But Merlin won't." Arthur bit his lip. One more reminder that he was likely to die tomorrow without having truly even held the woman he had loved, was it love all this time, for years. Morgana said nothing else and left him to his thoughts.
X
"My father's been saving this. Always said it was the best sword he ever made." Gwen watched in surprise as Merlin's eyes lit of reverence of the weapon. From the stories she'd heard since childhood, spell casters rarely used mortal weapons and unusually held them in low regard, dismissing them as crude.
"It's perfect." Gwen wondered what the witch had up her sleeve but it was for the prince, their prince. Then Gwen thought of the blade vanishing.
"He'll kill me if he finds out I took it." Merlin tilted in her head in sympathy.
"He will understand. It's for Arthur." Arthur, not the prince or Prince Arthur, just Arthur. The prince was infatuated with this woman. Merlin was engaged, but to a child. Gwen wondered what exactly had transpired after their departure from Camelot. Few women could resist the prince's charm, fewer had the privilege to call him by name, and fewer still had the prince chasing them like a love-struck puppy. That was only Merlin, his affection for he seemed different from every other lady Arthur had taken up with. There was awkward fumbling and embarrassed flushing; for other women he fancied, he was ever the charming prince. Was Gwen looking at the future queen of Camelot, it was hard to say. It was harder still, to say if Merlin felt the same. She guarded her true feelings behind a cheerful mask. Gwen could only hope for the best.
"You're proud of him." Merlin gifted her with a smile and vanished out the door.
X
Merlin used a cloaking spell to make herself almost invisible. It was useful for traveling through the streets at night. Merlin called on her magic to guide her where Kilgarrah resided. Though the situation was dire, she was rather giddy about meeting him for the first time. The dragon soul that roared within her body left her into the dungeons, the blade swaddled and cradled in her arms like an infant. It was her child in a sense. The blade would be legendary and gifted to Arthur exclusively. But those thoughts vanished as she came to the cavern where the dragon resided.
"Merlin. We meet at last Young Witch." Merlin knew that she must have looked a star-struck maid. Her soul sang and twined with the dragon's. Their souls were kin and Merlin had never felt so close to anyone save Mordred. Merlin had to shake her head to remind herself why she was here.
"You know why I'm here."
"You have waited long to meet me, my child. Is that not reason enough?"
"I'm afraid this isn't a social call. Arthur's to fight a wraith, to the death. He will die tomorrow if nothing is done. I have brought you a sword."
"What is it would want of me?" Merlin looked down.
"The stories say a weapon blessed with dragon's fire can kill even the undead."
"It's true. But mind you the dead never come back without reason. Who has returned and to what purpose."
"I know little, the brother-in-law of the king has returned for Uther." Kilgarrah drew back.
"Then let the wretch die. It is because of that bastard that your family has been reduced to fragments, your mentor dead and your druid tribe nothing but dust." Merlin but her lip. It was true.
"But it is Arthur who is to fight. I cannot let him die. Destiny or no, he is a good man who will led well one day. You have to help."
"It's your destiny to aid the Pendragon, not mine."
"But if he dies there is no destiny! Everything will fall apart."
"Do you deny that you want that? If that happens, you will be able to marry your druid boy without consequence. Tell me you're not a fool who knows not what his fate has decided."
"I know, I love him regardless. But my feelings about Mordred are not the topic here! It is Arthur's life! Don't you want to see Albion come to be?!" Kilgarrah sat back, watching her curiously.
"You do realize that a weapon forged with dragon-fire is very powerful."
"I know." Kilgarrah chuckled.
"Little witch, you don't know, you can guess, estimate and assume but you do not know. I am much older that you, girl, I have seen more already than you may ever. If you had, you would not ask this of me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"In the wrong hands this weapon can do great evil."
"In the right ones it do just as much good."
"I will do this on one condition. It can only be wielded by Arthur and Arthur alone."
"I understand."
"Do more than that, child, you must promise." Merlin nodded her eyes intense.
"I promise." The dragon nodded back at her and gestured for her to stand back. The sword floated higher as the dragon summoned his fire. Merlin watched in awe as fire bathed the blade and blessed it. She saw destiny in the flames, the future of her king reflected on the steel. This blade would do well, she was sure of it. Her mouth opened slightly taking everything in. Her eyes drank in the sight, this blade, it was her child and she was to offer it Arthur a part of herself.
"Heed my words. The sword is for Arthur alone." Despite the severity of his words, his gaze seemed almost tender to Merlin. It was kind and gentle.
X
Merlin stood in the armory waiting Arthur. Gingerly, she unwrapped the blade to reveal its beauty. Arthur would use this word and he would win. But suddenly occurred to her that she had promised him a kiss as a token. The thought made her flush like a maid of twelve. It was only a kiss on the cheek, she reasoned. Merlin had done the same as a small thank you for saving her life. Mordred would mind, no matter how she hoped he wouldn't. But Arthur wouldn't die now. Thanks to the blade she held in her hands. She held it to the light reflecting on its true beauty.
"That's a fine blade." Merlin jumped and nearly dropped it. She would never be okay hearing Uther's voice. To him she appeared nothing more hand a freckled, red-haired maid, but still. She smiled uneasily and looked back at the metal.
"Who are you girl?"
"Just delivering sire, a blade for the Prince to wield."
"He won't need it today." Panic seized her, what?
"I will be fighting in his place."
"Sire?" Despite all this man had done to her, her family and everyone she cared about, it wasn't in her to ate him. When she looked at Uther, she didn't see a monster. Merlin would see a small scared animal, terrified at every sound. He was frightened and frankly pathetic, too much so for her to hate.
"Can you put on armor child?" Merlin nodded. She had expected to tend to Arthur so Gwen had showed her the ropes the night before.
"Go on then."
"Bur sire, Arthur is fighting today."
"The grievance is with me, it is my fight." Merlin began to panic.
"I do not have your armor."
"That'll do." He said, pointing to Arthur's things. Merlin nodded and got to work. Then she froze in horror as Uther picked up the blade.
"I'll get your sword." She spat quickly.
"This will do fine."
"But sire, it was made specifically for Arthur."
"Who made it?"
"Tom the Blacksmith, Milord." She whispered as she pulled on a plate. How many of her kind would kill to be where she was? To have the life of Uther Pendragon in their hands?
"Worthy of King." He mumbled. Merlin felt the battle was being lost and quickly.
"My mum always said it belter to fight with a blade you know and trust." He ignored her.
"Has almost perfect balance. Tom's not the royal swords-smith, surprised Arthur went tot him." He mumbled while swinging the blade about, getting a feel for it.
"It was a gift; the blacksmith has great loyalty to him. He wanted Arthur to succeed." Uther hummed and left, grabbing his helm. Merlin watched helplessly as the baby was taken in the hands of the man who stole everything from her.
X
Merlin watched for the tents as the King threw himself on the spear for his son. For all his flaws, Uther loved his son. She could not fault him for that, or the love he had had from his wife. But his love for them was what been what drove him to murder. Merlin brought her hand flat against her hip, wishing she could feel Mordred snuggled against her side as he always did. If someone took him or her mother away after everything else she had, lost, even Merlin could not judge what she would do. She watched Uther go blow for blow, wielding the sword that was not his. She was happy Arthur was not in danger, but this man full of fear clutched Arthur's blade; her, in a sense, child! Merlin could hear the magic in the blade sing with each blow. She held her head high and continued to watch the two monsters fight. Then Uther knocked the beast's helmet off.
A corpse like face was raveled from under the helm. Merlin swallowed the while that threatened to leave her mouth. The magic that came of him was so dark, it was suffocating. It roared, it actually roared and Uther reared back in fright like a spooked horse. Merlin struggled to hold down what little she had eaten in the past few days, determined to see this through. Then Merlin felt another presence. She felt the presence of a witch, no, not a itch, a creature more magic based than a witch. She looked over and saw a beautiful woman, with eyes as striking as her own. She recognized the brand of magic that surrounded her. It was she that brought the wraith forth. Her eyes darted to Merlin and their gazes met. Merlin could tell this woman wasn't human, not anymore at least. They stared each other down, as if no one else were there. She became distracted as Uther was knocked onto his back. Tristan brought his blade down to snuff out the life of the murderer but Merlin had her magic weave into the King's shield, trapping the sword in its wood, giving Uther the time he needed to get to his feet and reclaim the blade and skewer the wraith.
The creature burst into flames as the onlookers stared in mixes of fascination, horror and disgust. A silence fell on the crowd when nothing but dust was left. Nimueh's gaze fell of Merlin one last time before she vanished amongst the crowd. As Uther stood to his feet, the crowd erupted in cheers. Uther dropped the blade as if in disgust and stormed away.
X
Once night had fallen, Merlin slipped into the armory and tracked down the sword. Her reverence peeked through once more. Then she hurriedly wrapped the sword in a rag. She stumbled down to the caves, cradling the sword to her breast. She entered the cave with a heavy heart. Every bit of her felt a child going to confess that they had been naughty. She came to the cavern, still clutching the sword.
"So, how did things go? Does Arthur live?"
"Indeed, he lives and the wraith was killed." The dragon sensed her unease.
"But?"
"It was Uther who slayed the wraith." The dragon reared back and roared. It was a frightening sound that chilled Merlin to her core.
"Foolish girl!"
"But I brought the blade to you so you could destroy it!" The dragon paused, in silent fury.
"It cannot be unmade." Merlin offered it again.
"Then tell me what needs to be done." Kilgarrah relaxed then, watching her.
"You must hid the blade where no man will ever be able to find it." Merlin nodded and re-wrapped the sword.
Merlin left the city, still protected by her disguise and into the woods. She traveled for half a day before she came to a lake. It was serene and beautiful. The magic was strong here. So she revealed the blade and with weapon last forlorn look she flung it as far as she could. Her heart sank a bit with the blade as the gold disappeared from the surface to settle at the bottom with the mud. Merlin buried the wrap used to carry it and gave the water one last look before turning to home. Mordred was waiting for her and was undoubtedly worried.
X
Arthur was sitting in his room, a frown on his face. But Arthur defiantly was not sulking! Despite all the good that had concurred in the past few days, a couple of things still bothered him. Even with his father's pride and love, even with the wraith gone, things irked him. For starters, Merlin never even said goodbye before vanishing like a phantom wind, he never got his kiss and… Morgana came in interrupting his thoughts. She was just as pleased as Uther about how things had turned out.
"Arthur, why are you sulking like that? Today is to be celebrated."
"Morgana."
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me that Merlin was betrothed?" Morgana's face fell then settled into confusion.
"Well, honestly, I didn't think it mattered much."
"Doesn't matter, there's another man out there, claiming her!" Arthur ranted, throwing up his hands. Morgana snorted.
"I'd hardly call him a man."
"Oh, what would you call him?" Arthur spat. Was the guy a piece of scum? Suddenly the image of his precious druid girl being forced down and beaten, or worse, violated filled his mind. To rid himself, he ruffled his hair as if they could be erased by such an action.
"A boy, Mordred's hardly old enough to be 'claiming' her. Besides, I didn't think you'd let a young boy stand in your way." Morgana chuckled. A long silence followed.
"Mordred?"
"You didn't know?" Morgana laughed.
"I thought he was her brother!" Arthur spat, disbelieving. His hair was sticking up in every direction from his ruffling. It made for quite the sight.
"No, her intended."
"How, how did that even happen? He's a child, for god's sake, how!"
"It was decided when he was born and Merlin was a little girl. It was decided by their tribe that they were a compatible match. So they were engaged the day Mordred was born." Morgana couldn't tell him the truth. She couldn't tell him that Merlin was nothing more than a peace offering to keep Mordred from killing Arthur.
"Engaged, who betroths newborns?" Arthur spat, ruffling up his hair.
"Druids, apparently, not like nobility is all that different." Morgana shrugged.
"Gods, sick people."
"Jealous Arthur?" Morgana teased, her trademark smirk creeping over her cheeks.
"No, it would never work out between us anyway. Father would kill her if he had the chance." Morgana frowned. His tone was too wistful. Besides, no matter how fond Arthur grew of a bedmate, he would never talk about anything like that. Morgana realized with a rush that Arthur cared so much already, he already entertaining fantasies of living with her forever. Arthur, commitment fearing Arthur, was head over heels, and dreaming of a marriage and family with a girl he hardly knew.
"You love her." Her words sort of spilled from her mouth before she had a chance to think them through.
"No I don't. She's just, attractive, that's all. I can't love her. Maybe I'll get a few kisses, even a tumble. But nothing serious can happen. I can't marry her; she could never be more than a mistress to me. Father would never allow that either. What I feel doesn't matter. I don't care about her, or love her because I can't. It's foolish to think otherwise." Morgana softened and hugged him.
"Oh Arthur. It's not foolish. Who knows what fate has in store for the two of you?"
It was a lie. They could never love each other. It would bring nothing but pain.
But for now, Arthur deserved the beautiful lie of a life with his druid girl at his side.
X
"Mordred?" Merlin whispered into the cave where she and Mordred had settled for the time being. A small body appeared from the darkness and threw itself at her. Merlin embraced the small form against her belly. Merlin smile and got to her knees, embracing her little love, nuzzling his hair in a comforting gesture.
'Emrys! Emrys!'
"I'm here Little Love, I'm here. Everything's been handled."
'I missed you.'
"And I you, now let's go to bed, hmm?"
'Song first.' His petulant child's voice leaked through his usual adult demeanor.
'Of course, a proper lullaby.' She replied, a giggle reverberating through their minds.
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Princess: So Arthur gets the full message here. Merlin's not for the taking, he lost her to a freaking kid, good job, she was lost before you even tried. And Merlin meets the dragon, things will only get better from here. So we'll see how Arthur's utter crush develops more next chapter, til then, bye!
Reviews:
Jkl: Here ya go!
Flyaway213: I can assure you Mordred feels the same. I doubt he'll let her leave his sight for the new few weeks.
Linnea.E: Well I hope you continue to enjoy
Nezumi: I don't know….. JK, I do, but what's the fun in spoilers
Hitomi65: Thanks!
Guest: Thanks, keep reading!
Narutoske: He really is, or tries to be at least
sKyLaR KnIgHt: Well your question should be answered and man ifs your pen name hard to type.
