Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter Ten:
Merlin collapsed to his knees and gripped his side as tightly as he could, hissing in pain. Ahead of him Finna and Mordred were still supporting Alator, who was barely conscious. Above them the sky was rapidly darkening, they had about half an hour of light left before it became too dark to see… Which wasn't really a problem for four magic user of considerable power, who could easily summon a light to see by.
"Emrys?" Mordred asked, as Merlin struggled to force himself back to his face, his face becoming alarmingly pale as he did so.
"I'm… Fine, Mordred," Merlin answered, having finally gotten back on his feet. "Just keep… Going…"
"I won't leave you behind," Mordred disagreed.
"I'm… Right… Behind-" Merlin was cut off as he fell to the ground, a pained groan forcing its way past his lips.
"Emrys!" Mordred exclaimed stepping and forcing Finna to do the same.
Mordred quickly let go of Alator and rushed over to Merlin, who was trying and failing to get back to his feet.
"You have… To… Keep going…" Merlin spoke out loud this time. "It's… Not… Far now."
They'd been traveling by foot since they had escaped with Alator and left a false trail for Morgana to follow, whilst hiding their true tracks as they moved. The reason for that was simple, Finna's magic wasn't strong enough to use a teleportation spell, for herself and Alator, over the distance she needed in order to get Alator to Alice… And neither could Merlin. His injured side was rapidly draining his strength, to use such a powerful spell while his physical form was in such a weak stare could do serious damage to all involved.
"Emrys-" Finna began to protest, as she slowly lowered Alator to the ground and moved towards him.
"It's… Fine…" Merlin cut her off. "Kilgharrah…"
Finna's eyes lit up in understanding and she quickly knelt beside Merlin.
"For hundreds of years the Catha have guarded their ancient knowledge," Finna told him. "But now the time has come to pass it on to you, Emrys. For only you can carry their hopes into the great battle itself."
"How… Do I… Do that?" Merlin asked.
"Here. Take this," Finna pressed a small silver box into Merlin's hands. "Guard it carefully. It will help you in the dark days to come. Without you, Emrys, Arthur cannot build the new world we all long to live in again."
"Finna…" Merlin began to say, but was cut off by a hiss of pain. "Thank you."
"It's been an honour to help you, Emrys," Finna smiled.
"Mordred…" Merlin coughed slightly. "Go… With them…"
"I won't abandon you," Mordred disagreed.
"Help… Them…" Merlin stared at Mordred. "I… will… Find you… They… need your… Help…"
Mordred stared back at Merlin for a couple of seconds, before he looked away and nodded. He quickly got to his feet and helped Finna once more. Merlin watched them go, before he turned his attention towards the sky.
"O drakon..." Merlin called out with the last of his strength. "E male so ftengometta tesd' hup' anankes'…"
)o(
Merlin shifted slightly as began to wake. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and he blinked his eyes open. The last thing he remembered was watching the sky darken above him as he waited for Kilgharrah to find him, he must have passed out before Kilgharrah arrived. Finally opening his eyes fully, Merlin sat up and looked at Kilgharrah before he suddenly realised his side had been healed.
"Thank you," Merlin said, as he rubbed a hand over his side.
"It is my pleasure," Kilgharrah answered with a bow of his head.
"For a second there," Merlin rubbed his side again. "I thought you weren't coming."
"I would never forsake you, young warlock," Kilgharrah replied.
Merlin frowned as he stared at Kilgharrah, before he quickly got to his feet and took a step towards Kilgharrah, gesturing to one of his wings.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked concerned.
"Of course," Kilgharrah said, but it didn't sound very convincing to Merlin.
"Your wing..." Merlin disagreed.
"I am tired, young warlock, that is all," Kilgharrah answered. "But I shall serve you as long as I have the strength."
"If you are ill, I can heal you," Merlin took another step forward.
"There are some things even a warlock as great as you cannot overcome," Kilgharrah told him. "I am old, Merlin. My time has almost come."
"No!" Merlin disagreed, clearly upset.
"It is the cycle of life," Kilgharrah replied, looking down at Merlin with a fond expression. "No more, no less."
"What will I do without you?" Merlin asked, he'd always had Kilgharrah to rely on when he and Gaius were at a loss as to what to do.
"You will remember me," Kilgharrah answered simply.
"Will I see you again?" A part of Merlin already knew the answer.
And it was confirmed as Kilgharrah turned and flew away without answering. Merlin watched until Kilgharrah had vanished from sight. What would he do without Kilgharrah? The two of them may not have base the best of relationships, especially when Kilgharrah was willing to have Merlin sacrifice his mother's life to save Arthur, but over the years Merlin had come to consider Kilgharrah family and not just due to their bond as Dragon and Dragonlord.
Shutting his eyes for a moment, Merlin took a deep breath. He couldn't worry about that now, he needed to find Mordred and return to Camelot before he was missed. He reached up and rubbed his face and it was then Merlin realised Kilgharrah had healed Merlin's injured hand too… He'd have to talk to Alice about learning some self-healing healing spells, he couldn't afford to end up in such a perilous position again.
)o(
"What does it say?" Merlin asked where he sat opposite Gaius in the Physicians chambers as Gaius opened the silver box Finna had given Merlin.
He, after finding Mordred and learning Finna and Alator had made it away safely, had made it back to Camelot just before midday. He and Mordred had changed out of their Saxon clothing, before taking the main road to Camelot, only to be found by the Knights who'd ridden out to find them. It was nice to know Arthur really did care.
"Just a moment," Gaius answered, picking up his magnifying glass. "Let loose the hounds of war. Let the dreadfire of the last priestess rain down from angry skies. For brother will slaughter brother. For friend will murder friend. As the great horn sounds a cold dawn at Camlann. The prophets do not lie. There Arthur will meet his end, upon that mighty plain."
"So many have suffered," Merlin sighed. "So that I may hear this."
"Yes," Gaius agreed setting down the piece of parchment. "I think I know what's going through that head of yours, Merlin. That your destiny is too much for one man to bear."
"Yes," Merlin smiled ever so slightly. "You always did know me best, Gaius."
"Be assured of one thing," Gaius told him. "There was never anyone more capable than you, Merlin. You will not fail."
Suddenly the alarm bell began to sound and Merlin looked up in alarm. It wasn't long before Leon, Elyan, Gwaine, Percival, Mordred and Tristan entered the chamber carrying a dead Knight on a stretcher between them.
"We got here as fast as we could," Gwaine explained, as the stretcher was set down on one of the work benches.
"You did well," Gaius said, moving across the room and pulling back the cloth which covered the dead Knight. "Where did this happen?"
"He was found just inside the border," Percival answered.
"Merlin fetch me my glass please," Gaius said, turning to Merlin who was staring down at the dead Knight in horror.
"Do you know what it is?" Leon asked.
"I fear so," Gaius replied gravely, taking the magnifying glass Merlin handed him. "The skin has grown across his face until he suffocated."
Merlin looked up from the body as Arthur entered the room.
"Gaius?" Arthur questioned as he looked at the dead Knight on the table before him.
"The disfigurement is not as a result of disease or infection," Gaius answered. "It's the result of powerful magic. In the old days it was a punishment known as raigaid, the ultimate warning from the high priestess to her enemies."
"Why was this knight chosen?" Arthur asked. "What had he done?"
"He had done nothing, except be a knight of Camelot," Gaius replied. "It is a warning sire. A warning to the whole kingdom… Morgana has declared war."
)o(
Hey! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.