Chapter 7—Mortis

Merlin meets the Great Dragon in the field outside Camelot.

"Hello, young warlock," the dragon says. "I trust all is well in Camelot?'

"Is it ever?" Merlin says darkly but jokingly. "I've come to ask you about the Embolis."

The dragon is not surprised in the slightest. He merely nods.

"You don't seem surprised I mention it," Merlin notes.

"That is because I knew it was going to be in Camelot," the dragon says.

"How did you know?" Merlin asks with surprise.

"Because I sent it there," the dragon says. "The Embolis is at its safest in Camelot at this point in time."

"How?" Merlin implores, rather angry that he did not know this.

"Do not be angry with me, dragon lord," the dragon says calmly. "Camelot can rarely be breached and if it is only by incredible skill. Not to mention it is under the protection of the knights of Camelot, Arthur and of course yourself, young warlock."

"And the Gorinian assassin?" Merlin practically barks. The dragon says nothing. "By sending the Embolis here you have put Camelot in more danger than it usually is!"

"No, Merlin I am protecting something greater!" the dragon nearly roars. "And it would bode you well to accept the assassin wholeheartedly—Mortis' alliances have changed in ways you can only begin to imagine and will not change from this point forward."

"How could I accept such an assassin wholeheartedly?" Merlin yells. "He probably has murdered more than any war."

"Not by choice!" the dragon roars.

"It was his choice to go to the Gorinians!" Merlin yells.

The dragon's face softens slightly and his voice quiets. "You cannot change what has already been set in motion. Leave the assassin be so that the Embolis will be safe."

"Why should I allow him to stay in Camelot?" Merlin shouts darkly.

"Because Mortis is your present and your future," the dragon says seriously. "That you cannot deny, Merlin. I am truly sorry that I could not tell you."

"You will not do this again," Merlin orders.

"If I absolutely have to, I will," the dragon says calmly. "And this was absolutely necessary. You will not be so angry with me in the near future. I am sorry, young warlock. But I cannot tell you anything more. Even an order from a dragon lord cannot allow me to tell you."
Merlin looks into the dragon's eyes and sees that he is telling the truth. He is incapable of telling him, even if he is the last dragon lord.

"Very well," Merlin says angrily. He turns to leave. "Watch over Aithusa for me," he says.

"The white dragon is doing well and growing quickly," the Great dragon says. "He will be ready to protect Albian soon."

Merlin glances over at the dragon and gets back onto his horse, unsure of what could be so great that the Great Dragon could not tell he, Merlin, Emrys, the last Dragon Lord.

The final of the tournament is meant to be a fight between Sir Harry and Arthur. Merlin goes to the side and stands next to Gaius.

"What did the Great Dragon say?" Gaius asks eagerly.

Merlin just glares forward as Arthur and Sir Harry stand across from each other.

"He sent the Gorinian and the Embolis here," he says angrily. "He could not even tell me, even if I ordered him to."

"Did he tell you who the assassin is?" Gaius says fully surprised by this information.

"He said his name is Mortis," Merlin says darkly as Sir Harry and Arthur draw their swords. "And that he's my present and future."

"That's terribly cryptic," Gaius says. "How could he send a Gorinian assassin here and not think Arthur is in danger?"

"He says Mortis' alliances have changed drastically and never will from this point forward," Merlin sighs. He shrugs. "He says I shouldn't look for him, but I will anyway."

"Are you sure that is wise, Merlin?"

"It is all I can do," Merlin says darkly. "If I do not know who or what to protect then how can I protect Arthur? No, I will find this Mortis and see how I can help—and keep him close so he does not touch Arthur."

Merlin looks forward and sees Arthur and Sir Harry beginning to clash their swords at each other. Across the field Merlin sees Lara sitting next to Gwyn in the stands. But her face is serious and without emotion. Then in a fleeting moment it shifts to horror.

Purple smoke erupts around Gwyn and forces Lara to the side. Screams roar with the great smoke and Arthur and Harry stop fighting.

"Guinevere!" he shouts at the top of his lungs. He runs forward but the smoke clears and Gwyn is gone. Lara is standing with her hands balled into fists.

Morgana is then behind Arthur in the middle of the field. Merlin rushes forward, but stops when he sees Morgana holding a dagger to Gwyn throat.

"If you want to see her alive again, you will bring the Embolis to Marx castle by the coast," Morgana barks with a smirk on her face and her face pressed to a desperate Gwyn's.

"I don't know where it is, Morgana!" Arthur yells, his face desperate and afraid for Gwyn.

"Then I suggest you find it," Morgana says darkly like a snake.

A blast goes again and purple smoke erupts forward.

"GUINEVERE!" Arthur screams rushing forward. But they are gone.

"The relic is too important," Merlin tries to reason as he follows Arthur toward the courtyard as they made preparations to leave after Gwyn. Arthur wants to send out a decree to find the Gorinian assassin so they can get her back. "He won't come forward with it."

"Even if he does we will not give the relic to Morgana," Arthur says without emotion. "But we've seen him fight—he could be very useful to us."

"His identity would be compromised," Merlin says.

"I won't force him to show us who he is," Arthur barks. "I only want Guinevere back."

Merlin looks solemnly at Arthur as he straps his crossbow to his saddlebag.

Then an arrow shoots quickly in between Arthur and Merlin and hits a wooden post behind them.

They start and look at the arrow—attached to it is a folded piece of parchment. It is the arrow they found on the night of the intrusion.

Arthur rushes to it immediately and rips the parchment from the arrow. He reads it fervently then looks up at Merlin. He shoves it in Merlin's hand and stalks to his horse, mounting.

Merlin reads it aloud. "Meet me in the Darkling Woods. We will get Guinevere back. Mortis."

Merlin crumples it and gets on his horse as well.

"Merlin," Gaius says going next to Merlin's horse and looking up at him. "You have to make sure that Arthur does not allow Morgana to have the Embolis. You must speak to Mortis and tell him to take the Embolis as far away from Morgana as possible."

"I know, Gaius," Merlin says fervently as Gawain, Percival, and Leon gallop forward with Arthur and Elyan at the lead.

"And Merlin," Gaius says. "Do not touch the Embolis if Mortis has it. I'm afraid that even you would be tempted by its power."

"I understand, Gaius," Merlin says looking down at his mentor. Gaius realizes that Merlin has become just as wise as he, at a younger age. "I know she's ill but…do me a favor Gaius and watch over Lara." Gaius blinks as Merlin turns his horse.

Merlin rides after the knights and catches up with Arthur and Elyan.

They ride to the Darkling Woods and slow as they go into the forest, looking around the canopies for the figure.

"Did the note say specifically where to meet him?" Percival asks.

"No," Arthur says sternly. "But I'm sure that he'll find us whenever he wants."

"Perhaps we should call out to him?" Leon suggests.

"Mortis!" Gawain cries out.

"Gawain," Elyan says angrily to shut him up.

"If we must find him," Gawain says roughly.

"We don't want to give him any reason to leave us," Elyan says sharply.

Merlin stops and raises his arm. "Shh," he hushes.

They all go quiet and their horses stop, listening.

"We don't have time for this, Merlin," Arthur hisses.

Then Arthur's mouth shuts immediately as he and the others see the figure.

Dressed in all black, Mortis has a sword at the back and hip, just as before. Only eyes are visible and it is obvious that Mortis is small for such a skilled man. Supposedly because Mortis needs to be agile and quick.

"Mortis," Arthur says in a mildly choked manner.

Mortis nods quickly then turns. A black horse with a white spot on his long nose comes into view from, saddled and back covered with a bow and quiver full of familiar arrows. Mortis mounts the horse and raises a jaw to Arthur.

"Do you have the Embolis?" Arthur asks.

Mortis' eyes settle on Merlin for a moment then look back to Arthur. Then Mortis pulls a small round package from the inside of the dark cloak draped over shoulders and raises it or them to see.

"We cannot give it to Morgana," Arthur says sternly.

Mortis nods flatly and tucks the Embolis back into the cloak. But when Merlin saw it, he could feel the power. He could feel that the power could be enticing and invigorating—that much is certain. As soon as the wrapped Embolis goes back into Mortis' cloak Merlin tears his eyes away from the package.

"We have a plan," Arthur says. But before he can open his eyes Mortis shakes a head. "You won't hear it?"

Another head shake.

"You have one," Arthur comes to the conclusion.

Mortis simply nods. Then Mortis hands Arthur another folded piece of parchment.

Arthur reads it aloud. "Morgana will not get the relic. Guinevere will be saved. Trust me." Then Mortis turns the horse forward to another edge of the woods.

"This should be fun," Gawain says to Merlin as they ride forward.