A.N. I am doing my English revision wink,wink.
"How did this happen Leon? Merlin wasn't caught in the vines like we were!" The Prince questioned harshly, pacing and running his hand through his hair. Guilt was bubbling through him, like heat bubbles through lava. It was eating away at him – if he hadn't brought Merlin with him, then the Serving boy wouldn't be trapped behind a cliff that was now as solid as rock.
Sir Leon looked down guiltily, "He pulled us out sire, I saw him free us,"
Arthur cursed and threw up his hands in irritation, "I knew it! That idiot doesn't understand consequences!" He pulled his fingers through his hair once more, sighing in irritation.
"Well, well, Arthur! Where on Earth is Merlin?" Came Morgana's cruel voice from the base of the cliff. Her eyes twinkled in evil pleasure – she was enjoying every moment of this.
"Where's that devil that's supposed to be with you, Morgana?" Arthur returned through clenched teeth.
"She's seeing to Merlin, the boy needs to be taken care of after all," Morgana bragged, her face was smug and her eyes were glazed over with pleasure. She suddenly glared at Sir Leon, her eyes flaring a molten gold. Sir Leon was flung backwards.
He hit the ground with a thump; unconscious.
Arthur's eyes followed the knight, horrified, "What are you doing Morgana?" He cried, rushing to his comrade's side.
Morgana paid no attention to the question, shrugging it away, "Have you never questioned your serving boy's uncanny ability to identify magic, Arthur?" she asked, fixing the Prince with a cold mossy glare.
Arthur's mouth flapped open as if to answer, and then he shut it, wondering. Her words hit home, after all there was the instance with the troll and the goblin. Merlin had known what the creatures really were. Morgana stepped towards him, stalking through the misty forest like an ethereal spirit,
"Have you never wondered why he's always around the aftermath of every magic instance that you've ever been involved with since he arrived?" Morgana continued, drawing ever closer to the Prince. Arthur's brow creased as the words she was saying hit home – just what was she implying?
"And have you never puzzled over his mysterious persistence to follow and protect you?" She finished, pacing around Arthur slowly.
"I suppose not – his actions are careful around you," She sighed, stopping in front of Arthur, staring him in the eye, "But last year, every plan I hatched and every scheme I devised wasn't enough. He blocked me at every corner, preaching how magic wasn't a bad thing, how I should accept Uther how I should wait for you to become King. Odd, isn't it?" Morgana's voice wasn't sure anymore, she sounded lost – as if she too were puzzling over the mysterious Serving Boy's behaviour, over his strange habits.
Over his unfailing loyalty that was stronger than any other knight's.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Merlin gasped in a ragged breath. Elvira smiled sadly at him, her black hair falling onto Merlin's chest strand by strand, as she leant over him watching his face.
Merlin was lying on a round, stone table and his shirt was torn to shreds. A long pike stretched from the chasm's ceiling to just above Merlin's chest, where a sinister black liquid dripped from its tip onto Merlin's skin – right over his heart.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Merlin's eyes opened slowly and Elvira smiled, her black lips pulling themselves upwards in happiness as though possessed.
"What… are you… doing?" Merlin gasped, through slit eyes. Evlira simply stared at him, her crimson eyes boring into him,
"When all of the Old Religion seems doomed, he shall come. The Land that was shadowed with doom shall exalt in thy coming, Lord Emrys" Elvira whispered as though enchanted, her eyes were unfocused and her voice was monotonous, the layers of it harmonizing.
"Thou shalt commeth unto us as a second messiah, the one who shall unite the Old and the New Religions. Thy task is great, and yet thy end shall come before ye has finished," Elvira finished, her eyes focusing, and centring onto Merlin's eyes.
"That prophecy was created by me, long ago – when I was still an angel," Elvira sighed, almost looking sorry that she had doomed this fate upon Merlin, "But you must save me first, you must rescue me, Emrys,"
And then Elvira's face transformed, her mouth widened and her sad smile turned into a demon's mouth. Fangs pierced through her gums and stretched out of her mouth. Blood dripped down them, from piercing the gum. Her eyes raked over Merlin's limp body, and she licked the blood off her new fangs.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"I wonder what the blood of the greatest magician of all time tastes like," She wondered, her head drawing close to his neck. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth wider, clamping her jaws over his skin.
Merlin jolted and groaned, but couldn't move. After a long draught, Elvira let him go, and pulled her head up, and throwing it back to face the ceiling.
"Beautiful…" She whispered, and then she snapped her gaze back to Merlin. A black liquid suddenly trickled out of her eyes and she sniffed the black tears running down her face. She screwed her face up in sadness, and Merlin stared in utter shock as the very being he'd begun to fear sobbed her heart out.
She grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled his head up, drawing her own close to his face.
"If you can save all of the Old Religion, then save me as well!" She cried, her crimson eyes pleading with him.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The black liquid soaked into Merlin's chest creating a dry, black stain right where his heart would be. Merlin twitched in pain with every drop; it felt as though the liquid was dragging his soul down into hell.
Elvira had ensnared his soul, he was prey to her malice.
Arthur stared at Morgana in disbelief – just what was she saying about Merlin?
Morgana pawed at the ground with her foot, "I don't understand why would a mere serving boy would be so adamant to protect you,"
"He's an idiot, that's why!" Arthur finally yelled, "Now if all you're going to do is turn me against my friend, then can I go? I really need to get Merlin out now," Arthur concluded sarcastically.
Morgana frowned, "Only on one condition," She glared, "You must get past me, Arthur,"
Without any warning, she thrust her hand out, screaming "Astrice!" with a golden flash, Arthur felt a force hit him in the stomach and he was flung backwards.
"How about we spar 'brother' just like old times," She gloated, her eyes watching the prince slowly get himself to his feet. As Arthur watched, Morgana thrust her hand forward. Muttering in the language of the old religion, she drew a sword from a crack in the air. Prince Arthur stood and looked at his half-sister.
He took a deep breath and his eyes centred. Enough thinking about that idiot, Merlin He thought, If I don't go rescue that fool, he really will die.
Arthur drew his sword, and drew up a lungful of air, calming his nerves. Smiling slightly to himself, he ran forward and lunged at Morgana.
Morgana parried, and thrust out at Arthur. He dodged to the side, thrusting his sword at Morgana as he dove. They sparred for a few seconds, their blades clashing with harsh sounds.
They drew close together, locked for a moment by their swords. Arthur grit his teeth and began to push Morgana slowly backwards; overwhelming her with his strength. Morgana tripped over a root, distracted, and went tumbling to the ground.
Arthur stood over her, the cruel weapon in his hand ready to take life. And then her eyes shone gold once more, and the world slowed down. She stood and brushed herself off, before taking her sword.
Gold flashed, and time resumed once more. Arthur gaped at Morgana who had seemingly just teleported. And then he shook the shock off, and soon they were locked in battle once more.
Arthur groaned as he was pushed back, away from the cliff. And then another sword joined his. Sir Leon had joined them.
In the damp dew of the air, came the smell of metal from clashing swords. Morgana was at a clear disadvantage, with the two knights bearing down on her. Sir Leon gave Arthur a look as he parried Morgana's strike.
The look said for Arthur to leave him, and Arthur got the message. Morgana jumped in for an attack again, and Sir Leon held her off. Arthur smiled and dodged around Morgana's graceful sword, running towards the cliff-face.
Morgana roared and attempted to follow, but was cut off by Sir Leon.
Glaring at him, Morgana raised her blade; brandishing the object savagely.
"You will regret that, knight," She snarled.
And then they were locked in battle once more, with Arthur running desperately towards the cliff face.
A.N. Geez that took me forever! I've finished my exams now (whoop!) but I am going to start revising for my next batch in about a month's time.
I've decided to do a part of the story each week, so next week's will be the final part of this episode =)
Reviews!
CJaMes12 – Yo! Thank you for the kind, kind words =). I was hoping the angel'd be horrific, but I fear she may get a bit monotonous… ah well.
Charliieee – Thank you! I'm honoured =)
Hrhfanficlover – Thank you for the kind words
XxSailorWinchesterXx – Thank you, and it's no problem – sorry I took such a long time…
MerlinandArthurLover – Thank you for another review! Sorry the cliff-Hanger was evil, but people may get bored if it's not a cliff hanger! Yeah, I know what you mean about school -_-'
Emachinescat – Thank you again for the continued support =) Sorry, I haven't updated soon, you must be cursing my very web-name (hangs head in shame). Thanks for the very kind words – and the exams have gone really well ^_^. Sorry again for taking ages to update….
TaintedXIllusion – I was really trying to extend the length of my chapter, but I also thought that it'd be interesting to see what Sir Leon might think =). Please may you tell me what spelling errors I've made? I'm doing this to increase my writing ability, so I'd like to know so that I can improve. Also I'm English, so colour is spelt that way for me –and grey instead of gray ;)
