Author's Note: Thanks to all my reviewers! This is a really long author's note, sorry about that. This next paragraph is to HEIRESS GREY so feel free to skip it but then please do read the last paragraph.
To Heiress Grey: I wanted to PM you but you have it disabled. Thanks for your review! I know my work is riddled with errors… I write these chapters in one go and publish them without reading them over, given that my crazy life really shouldn't allow for writing fanfiction so I don't bother to edit. If in the future you see any particularly glaring errors I'd be grateful if you could point them out! If I ever go back to clean this up I will fix them. In regards to this going a lot slower than Connected – I made a decision to add a bunch of original characters (the lords and knights, mainly), so unfortunately I think that is slowing me down from getting to the main stuff. Also, since I'm doing longer chapters I'm adding in more detail rather than just driving it completely by the plot. I hope you still enjoy!
Okay, to all my readers: I just sat down to outline how this story is going to play out, and I realized that it is long. I mean, really long. So – my question for all of you. Would you rather have a really long "Destiny," or do you want me to wrap it up somewhere and make a third installment to the series? As you may have noticed, we have two different strings of plot going on here – you've got the whole Banishment Spell thing, but also you have Lord Samuel and his cronies. Of the latter, I know exactly what he's doing in the story but his plot points don't really pick up until the end. I could very well expand on that and put it into a third installment if that's something you guys would rather see. Then, "Destiny" would focus more on the Banishment Spell story-arc, and Samuel's character would have a minor sub-plot to be picked up on in the third installment. Alternately, it could all be in one big story. What do you guys think?
Whew. Okay, I'll let you read now. Sorry.
Merlin was examining the spell anxiously, looking it over and muttering aloud. "This is… really complicated, Gaius. I need to tie the spell to another magical being, and use our combined forces to break the banishment."
Arthur was pacing. The three men had moved out of Merlin's room to Gaius's main chambers for more space. "What did that man want?" he repeated for at least the fifth time. "Why would he want you to leave Camelot?"
Merlin looked up from the spell book to look straight at Arthur. In truth, he had discerned "Harvey's" true intent almost immediately, but he wasn't sure if he was right, and he was hesitant to tell Arthur his theories. "Well…"
"What? Merlin? What are you not telling me?" Arthur demanded.
"I think… he wants me away from you so he can convince me to join him."
Arthur scoffed. "Like that would ever happen." Merlin smiled at Arthur, extremely grateful for his friend's trust.
"He knew my identity as Emrys, which makes him connected in some way to the druids."
"The druids?" Gaius said dubiously. "This seems out of character for them."
"Yes, it does," Merlin said. "But we know it's possible to stray from the path. Mordred is a good example of that."
Arthur nodded sadly, and Merlin was grateful for the thousandth time that Arthur knew the full truth, that he didn't need to offer any explanations, lies, or excuses to his best friend.
"So they want you on their side," Gaius said. "To help them… what?"
Merlin shrugged. "Gain power? Command the world? With enough power, they would have a lot at their fingertips."
"Well, he's an idiot, then," Arthur said firmly. "You'll do the spell to counter-act Harvey's and then you'll… leave… Camelot, just until it works. And then you come back. He's already failed." Arthur's voice was extremely confidant on the surface, but he looked at Merlin, hoping for confirmation.
Merlin nodded at Arthur. "They obviously won't be able to get me to turn against you, but I'm certain they'll try whatever they can think of to get me to change my mind." Merlin twisted his mouth around wryly. Gaius pursed his lips and shook his head anxiously. It took Arthur a minute to catch on to the point, and then he took a few urgent steps forward.
"You think they'll torture you."
"I don't know how many of them there are, Arthur, but it would have to be a pretty big group for them to get to me."
"But – "
"I can take care of myself, Arthur."
"But…"
"I don't like it any more than you do."
Arthur dragged a hand harshly through his hair. "So… how does this work? How do you counter-act the Banishment Spell?"
Merlin looked at Gaius and then at Arthur, for a long moment. "Arthur, I think it's time you met a certain friend of mine."
Arthur raised his eyebrows, and Merlin lowered his. "Time to talk with a dragon."
The entire round-table group had congregated in Arthur's chambers to discuss the plan. It was a point of pride for Arthur that he hadn't let any of the noble advisers in to this special group. They met wherever they felt like it, and they spoke as equals. He knew it drove Lord Samuel crazy, which was only a fringe benefit, of course.
"Here's what's to happen," Merlin began, speaking to the group at large. "I can tie a spell to Kilgharrah that will allow me to leave Camelot and return again in two months, according to my calculations."
The sound of "two months" rang in the room, and several people looked ready to interrupt, so Arthur stepped in.
"I know. But unfortunately it's the only plan we've got." He turned to look at Merlin, feeling a uneasy tightening in his chest. Two months.
"In that time," Merlin continued, "I'm going to try and discover what this sorcerer is up to. I believe he wants to… convert me, somehow, to his cause for power. He may belong to some sort of a group, looking to recruit a powerful sorcerer to their side. The point is, I'll make myself scarce. I won't let him get to me, obviously, and after two months I'll be back in Camelot, and this sorcerer will realize that there's no way to turn me against Arthur."
Leon shared the same look of concern as everyone else in the room. He cleared his throat and spoke, trying to remain stoic. "Is there any possibility that this is the work of Morgana?"
Merlin shook his head. "It seems most unlikely. This man said he was… an admirer of mine. And he didn't kill me when he had the chance. Thus far, I don't believe Morgana even knows that I am Emrys. I'd be surprised if she had anything to do with this."
"Two months," Gwen said suddenly, her voice quiet but piercing. "That's a long time."
"I know," Merlin said, voice coming out low and uneasy. "That's the other thing we need to discuss today. I can't be here to protect Arthur."
Just a few short months before, this might have prompted an amused response from the group. Merlin had always been known as a loyal and true friend to Camelot, but the idea of the young man protecting, rather than needing protection had been laughable. Now, no one was laughing.
"Merlin, obviously these men aren't after me or Camelot, or the sorcerer could have just killed me when he was here."
"I know," Merlin responded to Arthur. "But what if Morgana gets wind of the fact that you're unprotected? Or even if she doesn't, she could strike while I'm not here."
The room let that sink in for a moment. Merlin felt sick. The idea of leaving Camelot… leaving Arthur completely vulnerable for two months… If anything happened to any of the people he cared about, he'd never forgive himself.
Author's Note: Please read the author's note above and let me know what you think of the direction this story is going.
