Chapter Nine The Stolen Magic

"DADDY!"

Merlin felt his heart break when he heard his daughter scream.

"Raven?"

With Arthur and the knights behind him with swords drawn, he made his way over to her.

He froze when he saw a figure curled in a ball "Sweetie?"

She rose her head "Daddy"

He instantly ran to her and placed his hands over her shackles "Unspanne thas maegth!"

She gasped as the iron cuffs fell.

Merlin wrapped his arms around her "Oh, sweetie. I have missed you so much."

He pulled away, but her eyes made him stand and stumble back "No" he said shaking his head.

Raven's eyes were glowing red.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Behold. A speechless Merlin." Alvarr spoke.

Arthur and the knights hurried over and gasped and what they saw.

Merlin was shaking with anger as tears streamed down his face."What have you done to my daughter?!"

Alvarr smirked "I think red sorts her eyes. better than blue and gold. You're too late, young warlock. Raven is mine!"

"She will never be yours, not as long as I'm around."

"That can easily be sorted. Astrice!"

Seeing it coming Merlin released a shield "Eas jaeld!"

"Swefe nu!"

Suddenly Raven collapsed to the ground.

Morgana came out of nowhere, picked her up and ran out of the cave.

"Follow her!" Arthur shouted to his knights.

"Arty, leave!" Merlin yelled as he released the spell, muttered another and sent Alvarr flying into the cave wall.

"No and I am not leaving you."

Merlin turned to him "You stay, you'll die."

"So will you." His eyes widened "Mer-!"

Not looking behind, Merlin casted the shield again, blocking the sorcerer's spell "I have magic, you don't. LEAVE!"

Arthur ran out, not glancing back.

The warlock turned round and found Alvarr standing there. He released the shield.

"Magic with magic. Who will win?"

"Me" Merlin answered as he muttered a spell turning himself invisible.

"Don't be coward, Merlin. Face me."

"Why?" His voice echoed around the cave.

"Do you fear me, young warlock?"

"I fear no one, especially you."

From where Merlin was standing, his eyes glowed gold and Alvarr bent over in pain.

"What have you done?"

"A little gift from my wife."

Alvarr yelled a spell.

Nothing.

He tried again.

Nothing happened.

Out of nowhere, Alvarr welcomed a punch in the face, sending him to the ground.

Merlin became visible, rubbing his knuckles, which were now bruising.

"What...have ...you done?"

"The great dragon said a trade for the stolen magic must be made. You stole my daughter, so I've stolen your magic. Your magic for my daughter?
I call that a fair trade. But you see. I don't want to be in possession of such a cruel and evil magic. So I am gonna give it back to you, but you see, its combined with my magic. The second it enters you, you will die. Any last words?"

"You're a coward, Merlin. A joke. You use magic for good, for everyday purposes. Why not use it to conquer the world. Have people tremble at your name."

"Why would I want that?"

"Your power would be so strong. You will be know as the greatest warlock in the world."

Merlin grinned "I already am. I'm Emrys."

The warlock said a spell and Alvarr's magic came back to him, but Merlin was right. Alvarr started choking. Blood was trickling form his mouth.

A gagging gurgle and Alvarr collasped. Dead.

Outside, Morgana was cradling a sleeping Raven.

"Where were you Morgana?"

"I'll explain when Merlin comes back."

"I'm here"

They turned round and found him, stumbling towards them.

"Merlin." Arthur ran over and brought him into a hug. "You alright?"

He pulled back with a smile "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Gwaine asked the worse "Alvarr?"

"Dead."

Merlin's eyes fell on his daughter. "Raven" He hurried over and knelt beside Morgana. He placed a kiss on her forehead while he stroked her hair back. "What happened to her?"

"After we left Camelot, I had a vision. Of you. Of this. I turned back and told Gauis everything. I saw. you and Alvarr fighting, but before you arrived, I saw him place an enchantment on her. To turn against you, Arthur, everyone apart from him. This was his plan along. To keep Raven by his side, till shes old enough to understand her magic more, then he will kill her and harnass her powers for himself."

Merlin, with tears in his eys, took Raven into his arms and hugged her tightly "My baby girl."

"It was luck that I managed to arrive in time before he could take her away. I placed a spleeping spell on her, but the enchantment he placed..." she trailed off and shook her head.

"What?"

Moragan sighed "After I explained it all to Gauis, he said in order to break the curse, you must take her to The Cauldron of Arianrhod. Only there can the charm be broken. Once there, we must seek the Dolma, ancient sorcerer of the land. She is the only one who can break it."

After a few exchanged looks, Merlin spoke. "Well, what are waiting for?"

Merlin quickly stood up, with Raven in his arms and carried her to the horses.

They rode off with haste.

Raven was seated in front of Merlin who kept a tight grip round her waist.

Hours later they arrived.

A desolated wasteland with rocks and cliffs.

They walked over the land until they came to a lake.

Merlin placed her down near the edge.

"Gauis said, after you've knocked her out, wake her and make her walk into the water. On her own will."

"How do we do that?"

"Who are you?"

They turned round and saw an old woman wearing a black tatty dress. Her hair was grey and mattered.

"What business do you have in this sacred place?"

Merlin stepped forward "Are you the Dolma, ancient sorceress of the Cauldron of Arianrhod?"

She bowed "Who else would I be?"

Merlin looked closer "You look familiar, have we met?"

"Of course, but that was long ago. We must hurry, before your daughter awakes.

The Dolma placed her hand on Raven's head "The magic that has ensnared her is strong indeed. It can be fought. It can be broken, but if we fail, your daughter will be lost to Alvarr forever. Do you understand this ?"

Merlin nodded "I do."

"Very well. When I wake Raven Freya Emrys, from her sleep, she must walk into the Cauldron of Arianrhod of her own will. Only then can it be broken."

"How can she walk into it on her own? Shes just a child. She will not understand."

"The enchantment he placed will make her have the brain of an adult. It is slowly killing her. When she comes of age, it will eventually kill her. We must act quick."

Merlin nodded and knelt beside her as she started the process "Giedle ic thec thissa meowlessawole, gyden aeblaece."

Her eyes glowed gold as she stood.

Raven began to wake.

"W...where am I? Where is Alvarr?"

She stood quickly, upset and scared.

"Who are you ? Whos that old crone?"

She tried to run, but Merlin hurried and picked her up. She struggles with the strength of an adult, but Merlin manages to keep hold of her.

"Get off me! I don't know you!"

"Raven you do. Its Merlin. Your father."

The mention of his name, she stoped and stared at him.

He reached a hand out to her neck and pulled out the ring. He held up his hand.

"Look, sweetie. Its the same as mine. This was your mother's. She gave it to you after she passed away giving birth to you."

Raven's eyes turn from fright to love.

"Set her down, Merlin and walk in to the lake."

He did what the Dolma said. Placing her down, he walked backwards into the water and held out a hand for her to follow. "Daddy?"

Merlin kept silent and nooded. She slowly walked towards him.

With water up to her knees, the Dolma started "Yfel gaest, ga thur fram thisselichaman. Bith hire mod eft freo. Ar ond heofonutungol sceal thurhswithan!"

Her eyes glowed gold as a white light appeared round Raven.

After it disappeared, she was looking around frantic.

"Raven" She gasped and turned.

At the sight of Merlin, she jumped in to his arms "Daddy! I'm sorry."

"Don't. You have nothing to be sorry about. It wasn't you." His grip tightened around her as she started crying.

"It's okay. You're okay. Youre safe. Alvarr is dead, now sweetie. He will never hurt you again."

Once out the water, Merlin placed her down and held her hand.

"Thank-you. We owe you a debt. Ask for anything."

Dolma sadly smiled "The only thing I ask for is to be reunited with my family. We were seperated some years ago. You cannot make that happen. Farewell Merlin, Raven."

With a nod they left.

On their way home, Raven confessed "I felt her daddy."

"Felt who, sweetie?"

"Mummy. At the lake. I felt her with me."

Merlin smiled "She will always be with us."

"Not like that. I mean she was there. I saw her."

Merlin frowned "How do you mean, baby?"

Raven shook her head "I don't know. Must of been dreaming it."

When they arrived in Camelot, they were greeted by Uther and Igraine.

"You've found her!" Igraine exclaimed, taking Raven into her arms.

Uther walked towards his son and stepson. "What happened?"

Arthur clapped Merlin on the back "My brother here killed him, single handed. And Raven was under spell and with the help of the Dolma, they brought her back.

"Mummy!" Raven yelled.

Merlin looked at her then round to where she was looking.

"No sweetie, thats the Dolma."

"Its mummy."

"Igraine can you and Morganna take her inside."

"Of course Merlin."

They left Merlin, Arthur and Uther as the knights followed.

"Dolma, what brings you to Camelot?"

"Raven has an intelligent mind."

"And a tired one. She thought you was her mummy, but my wife passed away some years ago."

"Yes I did. During child birth."

Merlin frowned "Don't, Dolma. Arthur!"

The prince drew out his sword.

"Merlin, my love."

His eyes widened when he heard his wife through his mind.

"You have raised out daughter into the most beautiful young girl. I see she kept my ring.

The warlock stepped forwards and said a spell.

Before their eyes, the black dress was replaced with a red one. Her hair grew longer and faded from grey to black and her face became younger.

She looked excatly the same as she did the day she died

"Fr...Freya?"

She nodded with a smile as he reached out a hand to touch her face.

"After, you killed Alvarr, those who he killed were brought back."

Freya was real and alive.

She took hold of his hand and kissed it.

Merlin broke out in happy tears as he laughed.

He threw his arms around his wife and kissed her with all he had.

She broke it when she spoke "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, but how did Raven know?"

"Merlin, our daughter has the same power as me. She is a Seer. She saw this."

"Daddy"

They turned around and a smiled when Raven came running down the cortyard steps.

Freya bent down and picked her up.

"Told you Daddy. Told you it was Mummy."

Merlin smiled "Yes you did."

Merlin couldn't be any more happy. He had his wife and his daughter back.

While that was going on outside, inside Morgana entered her chambers and froze at what she saw.

A small figure wearing a blue hooded cloak with their head down.

Morgana closed the doors and spoke "Who are you?"

"I am in search of the one they call...Emrys"

"Why?"

"I want revenge on the one he killed. Alvarr."

She narrowed her eyes as she walked closer "Who are you?"

The figure rose their head and lowered the hood.

Morgana gasped "Mordred?"

He grinned "Hello Morgana."

The End.
Thank you to everyone who read it and reviewed.
As the ending gave away a clue, there will be a sequel.
Not yet though, just keep checking my page. :)