Merlin

Episode 4.02: The Darkest Hour Part 2 Rewrite

Before the Dawn Part 2

Chapter 3: Dragons, Destiny, and Interludes

Several hours passed by, and still the group trudged through the forest. Seibara looked at the rest of the group, exhausted. And suddenly she couldn't take it anymore. They were marching to her definite death and their probable deaths. The least they could do was make sure she was well rested.

She plopped down nosily onto the forest floor, groaning as she feigned a faint. The knights turned around, and Arthur looked at her questioningly. "I am officially taking a break," she replied, firmly. The knights gaped at her. "I'm tired, and unlike your shiny dancers, I don't have to follow your orders."

Arthur rose an eyebrow. "I can easily send a message back to Camelot and kick out your camp from my Kingdom."

She propped herself on her elbows, staring angrily at the king. "And by the time your message gets back, I'm willing to bet that Camelot would be frozen to death. That is assuming your messenger manages to make it back alive," She snapped.

Arthur felt something hot rise up his back. "Every second that you waste results in some innocent life dying. The faster we go, the more people that survive," Arthur said indignantly. When Seibara didn't so much as glance at him and started to orient her bag on the floor, Arthur felt his anger burst beneath his carefully forged mask. "You can't be serious," Arthur screamed. "You're damning your own people as well as mine!"

"No, I'm increasing our survival rate, as well as theirs," Seibara countered. "Look around at your knights, Prince Arthur. They're tired. You go on like this, and you'll find yourself dead before we even reach the Isle." Arthur looked around, noticing how tired the knights were. Elyan leaned against the nearest tree, barely being given enough time to rest from his wound. Seibara continued, calmly. "If you still insist upon going, then go ahead. I'm staying right here."

Arthur knew she was right. And yet, his pride got the better end of him. He took in a deep breath, reigning his emotions. "We're moving on. And if you refuse to come with us, good luck with the Dorocha." He turned around, about to walk on when Seibara's voice interrupted him.

"Yep, go on ahead. Good luck finding another magical person who would willingly sacrifice themselves to heal that tear or whatever."

Arthur whipped around, anger and exhaustion catching up to him. Whatever he was about to say next however, was interrupted by Leon.

"Sire, she is right. We need a break." There was a small desperate tinge in his voice as Leon glanced worriedly at Elyan. Arthur turned to the rest of his knights. They all returned his gaze, their weary eyes begging him.

Arthur sighed. "Fine. Set up camp here." He turned to face the sorceress. "And don't you think I did it for you."

Seibara smiled sweetly, as if taunting him. When he turned away, he heard her mutter. "I didn't do it for myself either."

Who was she? Lancelot wondered, as his horse trotted behind Merlin's steed. Those warm honey eyes still lingered in front of his eyes. Who was she? Could she have been Guinevere? There was a chance yet, there was something different about those eyes. While they still had a touch of gentleness, there was something defensive – perhaps even protective. Could she still have been Guinevere? And if she wasn't, who else could she be? Who else could he fall so deeply in love again, when he had sworn to love none but the woman that could never be his? Who else could waver his loyalties?

"There's a lodge up ahead," Merlin called back, pulling his horse to a stop. Lancelot followed him, as they made their way into the structure.

"Hello?" Lancelot called out. The men halted instantly. There was a man hunched over the table, completely still and frozen. Both of them sobered instantly, and made their way to the man, gently turning him over before placing him on the nearest bed and covering him.

"We can't stay here," Merlin sighed, still gazing at down at the covered body.

"There's nowhere else, Merlin. It's almost night. We'll make a fire. It will keep us safe and dry. And there's more than enough fuel to get us through the night," Lancelot said sadly, before moving towards the pile of logs. He picked up some wood and placed it into the fire pit at the center of the room.

Merlin nodded and raised his arm. "Bel onbryne." He smiled at Lancelot's startled expression. "I'm not entirely useless you know."

Arthur leaned back against the nearest tree. Elyan sat next to him, with Seibara checking on him, while Gwaine, Percival and Leon sat across from them. The fire in the center of their camp flickered, providing warmth and protection to the recovering knights.

Gwaine tugged at his boots, removing the leather footwear and placing it next to the fire before taking his socks off.

"Has something died?" Leon scrunched his nose. Staring at the socks, Percival and Leon exchanged glances before immediately getting up to settle next to Elyan.

"Why am I always the butt?" Gwaine complained.

"Can't think." Leon retorted back.

"Pick on Percival."

"Why me?" Percival asked innocently just as Elyan spoke up.

"He washes."

"And he doesn't set fire to his socks." Leon said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. Gwaine eyes widened, and he glanced down at his burning socks.

"Ugh! No!" Gwaine snatched them from the fire and tried to put them out.

Arthur laughed, and the knights couldn't help but join in. They all chuckled at Gwaine's expense. Slowly the laughter died off, and the knights looked up at Arthur.

"There is perhaps another two days of journey before we reach the Isle of Blessed," Arthur said. "We will leave at the break of dawn."

"Do you know what we're going to face on the Isle of the Blessed?" Elyan asked, curious.

Arthur hesitated. "I don't know. I am assuming that there will be tear at the center of the Isle. I am unsure about whatever else we might face." He paused, looking at Seibara. "I believe there is a guardian. She demands the price to seal the veil…" His voice trailed off. He gazed uncertainly into the fire.

Elyan nodded. "We will be behind you, Arthur. Whatever you do." He smiled, proudly at his King. "We would fight a thousand armies with our bare hands for you. We stand together, as your Knights of the Round Table. All of us here would die for you." Arthur nodded gratefully as he examined each of his comrades' faces.

"Thank you," he said, softly.

"Well, not all of us." Seibara smirked, her eyes filled with gentleness that the knights had never seen before. Arthur smiled back. Despite her harsh words, Seibara had become closer to the group than he could have ever imagined. There was no denying that now.

Gaius removed his glasses and placed them gently on one of the clustered tables in his chambers. He walked up the stairs to Merlin's room, quietly pushing the door open. Peering through the cracks, he gazed at the druids spread on the floor of the room, hidden not-so-inconspicuously from the nobles. Then again, they could all care less. Camelot was in trouble, and their wood supply was dwindling. Along with their food storage. The courtyard was covered with refugees, with a torch lighted between every group. And still more fell dead to the Dorocha's screams…

He sighed, as he closed the door shut, making his way across to his own cot, now currently occupied by Gwen. The unconscious Gwen he had found lying outside of her house, blood dripping from her head, next to a frozen guard. It was obvious: someone had tried to kill the maidservant, tried to cover it by making it seem like a Dorocha attack, and failed.

He had cleaned the wound almost as soon as he brought her back. Now he was just waiting for her to wake up.

The fire light danced around his chambers, as Gaius looked around. His normally messy chambers were now beyond repair, seeming as if all of the Earth's natural disasters hit the small workplace.

His eyes suddenly fell on an open book. He walked over to the table, resting his weary arms on its surface as he peered into the old parchment pages. It was the same Merlin had shown him. The same book that supposedly said something about the sacrifice of a magical being. He had taken Merlin's word that day, and hadn't read the book himself.

On the topic of veils:

There are several magical worlds, all of which are separated by veils and interlinked by bridges. The veils are not meant to be tampered with as the consequences could be devastating. However, it times of dire need, the High Priestesses and Priests of Old Religion would perform a ritual at the altar of a sacred gateway during the time when the specific veil would be thinnest. The sacrifice of a magical life said with the spells annotated below opens the veil, and the spirits asked could be brought out.

The sacrifice is usually a magician, with barely any power. This is because, in order to heal the tear, an equal or more powerful magician is required –

What? Did Gaius read that right? Gaius went back rereading the sentence. Equal or more powerful. There was no denying it. If Merlin was correct and the sacrifice was Morgause…

Morgause, even though she was nowhere near Merlin's level of magic, was still very powerful, being a High Priestess of the Old Religion. Seibara was merely a young chieftain of a band of druids. Would her magic be strong enough?

Gaius felt his heart drop and he sunk into the nearest chair. His eyes looked at the fire, worry flashing through them.

Because, if Seibara wasn't strong enough, the only option left would be Merlin.

The hunter's lodge was silent. Across the room, there lay two cots, occupied by a servant and a knight. Night had fallen and after long hours of chatting both men had fallen asleep. The screams of the cold spirits could be heard, but none entered, as the flames from the fire pit drove them away.

Yet, the knight had miscalculated. And by midnight, the wood source dwindled, letting the oblivious men sleep through. It was when the last flames flickered, barely providing any warmth, that the scream entered the lodge. The veiled spirits rushing in to take their prey.

Merlin woke with a start, dumping his alcohol into the pit, and feeding the flames once more.

"Lancelot!" he screamed. The knight was up in no time, grabbing his sword as both men fled from the shelter, the Dorocha screeching behind them.

Merlin looked up to the skies, as he and the knight dashed through the woods, and roared. "O drakon! E male so ftengometta tesd 'hup' anankes!" His powerful voice resonated through the woods. The men continued to sprint, the Dorocha following behind, weaving around and leaving a misty trail behind.

Just as they were nearing a clearing, a fireball came out of thin air, shooting at the spirits and warding them off. Another deep roar vibrated through the forests, as the golden scales of the Great Dragon flashed, his jaws opening to release yet another powerful gust of flames.

Flapping his wings, Kilgharrah landed in front of Merlin. Lancelot's eyes widened, and he drew out his sword, his fear for the great beast evident in his eyes.

"It's alright," Merlin assured the knight, smiling as he gazed up at his old friend. "It's alright." Lancelot looked at his friend and then back at the dragon before sheathing his sword. His eyes still narrowed cautiously towards the dragon, but at least he didn't have anything pointy aimed towards him.

Merlin gazed up at the proud creature, bowing slightly. "Thank you."

"Who is your friend?" Kilgharrah growled looking pointedly at Lancelot. He jumped as soon as he heard the dragon speak.

Lancelot stepped forwards, bowing his head slightly in a sign of respect. "I'm Sir Lancelot."

Kilgharrah cocked his head. "Of course! Sir Lancelot, the bravest and most noble of them all."

Lancelot blushed. "I'm not sure that's true," he replied, modestly. Merlin grinned, obviously amused at the interaction.

"We shall see," Kilgharrah said before turning back to Merlin. "For now, there are more pressing things at hand. The Dorocha cannot be allowed to remain in this world. The sundered veil must be restored."

"We're on our way to the Isle of the Blessed to help Arthur heal it," Lancelot said.

"Indeed. But at what price?"

"I know that the spirit world demands a sacrifice." Merlin started carefully, before the dragon interrupted him.

"It demands nothing. It is the Cailleach, the gatekeeper to the spirit world, who asks such a price."

"And is there no other way?" Merlin asked, his heart rising in hope.

"There is not," The dragon replied sadly.

"Arthur had asked a sorceress to help. He intends to sacrifice her to heal the veil." Merlin said, staring at the floor.

"And you do not like this deal, young warlock?"

Merlin shook his head. "I do not like how an innocent life must be sacrificed for Morgause's and Morgana's actions. It isn't fair."

"I agree, but destiny works in different ways." Kilgharrah looked at Merlin. His golden eyes seemed to flash with something, as if he was in pain. Lancelot's eyes widened as he recognized the emotion: it was the same displayed by the Vilia towards the paralyzed Merlin. "Up until yesterday, I knew the future." The dragon sighed still looking at his dragonlord. "But now, destiny has changed. And the future has remained a mystery, a blank slate that anyone could write on."

There was a moment of silence, before the dragon spoke up. "What if I were to tell you that Seibara's magic is not powerful enough, alone to complete the task. What if, with the addition of the life force of several of the knights, the veil could be healed?"

Merlin's head shot up. "I refuse to allow more than one sacrifice to occur at the altar," Merlin replied, his voice powerful and determinant.

The dragon's head dipped low enough to meet the eye level of the lanky servant. "What can you do, young warlock?" he asked quietly.

Merlin looked up thoughtfully at the sky. "The Cailleach demands a price." He paused, taking a deep breath in. "If Seibara's magic isn't enough… I will pay the price. I alone will be the sacrifice."

The dragon closed his eyes, while Lancelot stared at the secret warlock in unmasked disbelief.

"It will be an empty world without you, young warlock." Kilgharrah breathed, before lifting himself up and flying away.

Merlin sighed, looking intently at the ground, before returning Lancelot's gaze. He had a lot of explaining to do.

A/N: Oh my god, this chapter took a lot out of me. Well, Merlin's got some explaining to do next chapter. And I can't promise anything, but I think there'll be more action

Seibara's first scene was so much fun to write. And Arthur at the end of his patience… haha can't say I wasn't laughing there. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did!

Oh, and I definitely loved writing the Kilgharrah's part! Too much fun, I tell you.

Stay tuned. And don't forget to review.