Star Wars & Merlin FanFic
"Chapter 6: Journey to Odin's Kingdom"
When Anakin and Arthur were pushed back into their cell, their hands were untied and instead, the guards placed them into metal shackles that were secured to the walls, meters from each other. Anakin and Arthur both struggled in the guard's grip even as they felt the shackles lock onto their wrists,
The guards laughed, pushing Anakin and Arthur into sitting positions onto the hard cold floor, Anakin glared up at them
"Cowards!" he spat, however the guards laughed once more
"Odin's going to destroy your father and your kingdom" one guard snarled however Anakin only stared back harder before the guards left the cell. Arthur looked around the cell, seeing the night sky as best he could through the small barred window to the right, the chains rattled as he attempted to make himself comfortable
"Father will not come here by himself" he spoke in a soft voice as Anakin then pointed out
"Father will not come at all; he'll send two of his knights or even Obi Wan, to rescue us. Odin wants to trap him" he explained leaning his head back against the stoned wall, "I hope Morgana's alright" he added changing the subject as Arthur then replied
"Someone would have found her by now and she'll have told someone what we were planning on doing. She's smart" he assured him making Anakin smile
"I'm sorry I made you follow me into battle Arthur. It's my fault we're here" he confessed as Arthur shook his head
"No, it's not. You're my big brother and I wasn't going to let you go out there on your own. They'll come for us before it's too late" he promised as Anakin looked across at his little brother, the fear that was there before was replaced by the hope someone would come for them, Anakin attempted to move towards his brother, as best as the chains would allow him, allowing one hand on his leg,
"I hope you're right and we will see Odin's plan fail right before his own eyes" he told him as the night air crept into the cell through the small window, which dropped the temperature causing them to shiver from the cold.
The horses had been galloping through most of the night through the forest and across the open green plains towards Odin's kingdom which was on the far side of the land. With morning less than two hours away from rising, Obi Wan and Gorlois had decided to take a small break and give the horses a chance to have a drink themselves.
Obi Wan was sitting before the orange fire, watching the flames cackle before him before Gorlois placed more wood onto the fire, making it go higher before he began to unpacking small food rations from his pack, breaking the silence
"Why would Odin do this?" he asked, "He ambushed my team of soldiers, then has majority of his soldiers attempt to take Camelot and then turns around and kidnaps the two princes" he states "I mean did he want Camelot or did he want to take down the king?" he asked as Obi Wan leans back, looking across at him
"It was all about getting to Uther, that was his plan all along" he replies "He thought if I take out the knights, I can take Camelot easily and then his guards must have spotted Anakin and Arthur in the battlefield, knocked them before deciding he can get a ransom from Uther" he explained giving a low sigh "Anakin and Arthur being captured by Odin, means that Uther could give in, to whatever Odin wants" he warns as Gorlois handed him some food
"Well, Odin's a fool because we're going to slip in and take those boys back. They are the future of Camelot" he stated before he laughed "And besides, I'll never hear the end of it from Morgana, if I came back without them" he confessed making Obi Wan smile
"Seven years old and she has you firmly wrapped around her little finger" he teased as Gorlois shook his head,
"She's developed a friendship within the last six years of meeting Anakin and Arthur, they get along well and they both look out for her" he explained. Obi Wan laughed-he wasn't always around the kingdom but it sounded like Anakin and Arthur had kept themselves pre occupied before Obi Wan then thought of using his own abilities to find Anakin and Arthur, knowing in public, he abandon his abilities with the force, showing his loyalty to Uther all those years ago;
Flashback-6 years ago
It was only a day, one day, that Uther lost his beloved wife Ygraine and was left to raise two young sons, Anakin and Arthur, who was only a day old. Uther was crushed, broken hearted at losing his wife and convinced there were forces behind her death which needed to be removed. He had come to a decision and knew it was a rash one; it was the best way that ensured his sons were protected.
After leaving his two sons, in the care of one of the lovely, caring maids, Uther summoned his council members and head knights into the throne room which included his old friends Obi Wan and Gaius. Obi Wan had only been back for a few hours and was curious when Uther had asked him to remain here but said nothing and entered the throne room with Gaius and everyone else, where minutes later Uther moved to the front of the room facing them all,
"Today, we mourn the loss of Camelot's Queen, my wife Ygraine, she died giving birth to our second son, Arthur and while Gaius explained she died of natural causes, I believe there was something else behind her death" he informed them. Obi Wan and Gaius both straightened up, intent to know what he was going to say,
"Sorcery" he stated as small murmurs echoed throughout the chambers as Uther remained strong "Sorcery has struck the very heart of Camelot, the Queen is dead and the future of Camelot will grow up without their mother, I must do what I can to protect my sons" he stated. Obi Wan feared what he would say next
"For too long, magic has crept its way into Camelot and gone undetected for too long. It is dangerous and must be eliminated forever" he informed them. He stood tall, looking around the chambers "From this day, all magic is hence force banned from Camelot. Anyone caught with magic or aiding any sorcerer will be sentenced to death" he declared "Earlier tonight, I prepared a list which was handed to Gorlois with the most known sorcerers who could prove most dangerous, Gorlois and his men will round them up and they will be executed tomorrow" he explained, he turned towards the window "Council is dismissed" he told them before the advisors began to exit, all but Obi Wan and Gaius who moved closer to the king who then spoke
"Guards, leave us to talk" he instructed. The guards nodded and exited closing the doors behind them. Uther then turned to his two friends, seeing the stunned looks on their faces "I am sorry I didn't talk to you in private about this, but I need to do what is right to protect my kingdom and my sons. I value your friendships greatly and yet I know that both of you do not agree with me that magic is dangerous and needed to be banned" he spoke, turning towards them and they both saw a intimidating look in his eyes-he was serious. "I know you both have abilities within the area of magic and I don't wish to see two of my friends executed" he went on "I will pardon both of you if you agree, right here before me, to renounce your abilities, sparing your lives" he stated
Obi Wan and Gaius looked between each other; what else could they say? It would be pointless attempting to argue now and change the King's mind about his decision, perhaps, if they turned their backs on magic for now, it would give them time to change Uther's mind. They looked back at Uther, still with his looming glare staring right at them. Obi Wan took a deep breath before he spoke "You have been our friend for years Uther. You have allowed us to practice our abilities out in the open, saving the kingdom many times. We will remain loyal by your side" he assured him as Gaius then spoke "Even though we will be hated by our kind, we will support you in your decision to do what is best to protect the kingdom" he added before Uther placed one hand on Obi Wan's shoulder and the other on Gaius's shoulder,
"You have both shown where your loyalty truly lies and made the right decision" he told them heading out of the chambers leaving Obi Wan and Gaius alone once more. They still felt stunned within themselves that they made such a bold decision-shunning magic to protect their lives. Hopefully, through this decision, they could be able to make Uther see sense that magic isn't all bad; however they didn't realize that once the king made a law, it was final.
End of flashback
Gorlois looked across at Obi Wan, having noticed how quiet he had gone, he threw some smaller sticks into the fire, hearing it hiss before he heard Obi Wan speak
"Gorlois, you were one of the knights who were sent to round up all the magic users, how did you feel seeing not just men, but women and children put to death?" he asked. Gorlois seemed taken aback, unprepared for that question. He swallowed the lump in his throat before he spoke
"I tried not to think about what I was doing that day. To me, they seemed like normal innocent people and I had a one year old daughter at home and seeing the young children being rounded up by my own men, made me sick to my stomach and yet, I couldn't argue with the King for fear he might have me killed" he replied as Obi Wan listened quietly, trying to not to remember the images he saw from his place from the castle's window,
"Do you feel it was right of Uther to suddenly ban magic?" he asks as Gorlois remained quiet for a moment before he spoke
"He lost his wife, the Queen. I would not like to lose my wife" he pointed out lowering his head "But, to murder innocent people just because they had magic was perhaps going a bit too far. Banishing them, maybe, but death might be pushing it" he confessed as Obi Wan nodded
"So, if you knew someone who had magic or magical abilities, what would you do?" he asked as Gorlois looked at him curiously
"Depends on how long I have known them" he replied then asking "Are you trying to tell me something?' he asked as Obi Wan quickly shook his head "No, I just wanted to know your thoughts on the issue" he answered as Gorlois shrugged
"To me personally, I have no issue regarding magic. In the past, magic has been used to save Camelot and so I have no issue with magic or people with magical abilities" he confessed unable to believe these words coming out of his mouth as Obi Wan gave him a small smile, relaxing more knowing someone else in Camelot didn't see magic being dangerous.
Chains rattled in the darkness, small cries for help followed, before a voice
"Anakin!" they cried "Anakin, please wake up, wake up!" they cried shaking a small young boy, his eyes closed, he remained still,
"Anakin!" they cried, the voice is Arthur's, he remained close to his brother before darkness covers them once more
Morgana's eyes snapped open, "Anakin!" she gasped "Arthur!" she cried, sitting up in her own bed. Her mother was in the kitchen. Morgana slowly climbed out of her bed moving across to the window. Her dream still vivid in her mind and recently, she had been having dreams that felt so real, like they were telling the future and yet no one else thought they were, she stared out of her window before a voice startled her
"Morgana, sweetheart, what are you doing out of bed?" they asked, it was her mother. Morgana turned around towards her mother,
"I had a bad dream, about Anakin and Arthur" she sniffed as Vivien shook her head moving closer to her daughter taking her in her arms, Morgana began to cry in her mother's arms "It…was…so real, mommy, I don't want them to die" she sobbed as Vivien took a seat on the edge of the bed, lifting her daughter up into her arms
"Sweetheart, Anakin and Arthur will be fine; your father has gone off to help rescue them. You're just scared for them" she assured her "It was just a dream and dreams don't come true" she reminded her hearing Morgana continued to cry in her arms. Vivien began to rock her little girl gently, comforting her. She hoped her husband and his friend would rescue the two princes soon.
King Odin stood in the stoned dark hallway, lit by the torches along the wall, looking out across his courtyard as the hooded figure approached and spoke
"I hear you have captured two interesting prisoners" they spoke, their voice cold and strong as Odin turned to the figure
"The sons of Uther Pendragon and what interest is it to you?" he asks, or rather scoffed hearing the figure cackle
"How much would it cost for you to hand them over to me. Uther Pendragon is a old enemy of mine and having his sons in my control could provide me with a chance to destroy Camelot once and for all" he stated as Odin listened then spoke
"And what is it in for me?" he asked. The figure smirked underneath his hood
"The chance to be apart in the fall of Camelot" he replied going on to explain "Think about it, you hand his sons over to me. I turn them into my 'servants', then help to take over their father, before I kill them and rule Camelot and then I hand over half of the kingdom" he finished as Odin gave him a stern look
"How do I know you'll live up to your end of the bargain?" he asks seeing the figure shrug
"You don't, you'll just have to trust me. I want Uther dead as much as you do and imagine, an entire family dead and its city fallen to darkness" he tempted as Odin nodded
"Your offer entices me. I will need to think this over" he admitted. The figure sighed
"I'll give you one full day then I'll implement my own plan" he snarled before turning around, heading back down the hallway leaving Odin wondering should he take him up on his offer.
By early morning, Obi Wan and Gorlois were saddled back up and riding across the lands towards Odin's kingdom which was coming into sights, as they rode over the mountains. They then left their horses at the entrance to the forest before Odin's kingdom, moving through the trees with the bright sun shining through the trees, unaware to Gorlois, Obi Wan was relying on his "force abilities" to get them through the forest, he sensed the kingdom was getting closer
"Odin's kingdom is just a few meters ahead, and we cannot waste more time, for I sense much more danger for Anakin and Arthur than just Odin" he confessed as Odin sighed
"Why don't I like how you just said that?" he asks before he felt Obi Wan stop him with one arm, looking around,
"This way" Obi Wan only spoke turning slightly to the left and continued walking. Odin could see the faint outline of the castle through the cracks in the trees. They were almost there. Odin would have kept on walking if Obi Wan hadn't pulled him back and down to the ground,
"Guards are patrolling the perimeter. We'll need to find a way in without being seen" he informed him observing the castle and its perimeter. Guards patrolled the drawbridge and entrance to the courtyard, Obi Wan studied the castle carefully
"We'll have to enter from the lower levels, the dungeons would be closer to the lower levels" he explained as Gorlois looked over at the castle, before Obi Wan then sensed more darkness coming from the castle. There was some greater evil inside the walls, Obi Wan got to his feet
"Come on, we need to keep moving" he told him moving him slipping out from the bushes keeping to the right while moving closer to the castle. They were almost there, they would rescue Anakin and Arthur, and hopefully the darkness Obi Wan was sensing would pass and didn't threaten the rescue mission.