Last chapter of this " episode ". Thanks for all the reviews and feedback that this story is getting it's really appreciated and keep them coming :) I'm still taking your own characters, just PM me with some details about them and I'll add them to the story. Also I don't own Skulduggery Pleasant or Merlin.
Valkyrie had followed the directions Gaius had given here on where the intruder had went, they were going below Camelot itself down into the tunnels below. Valkyrie had found two guards dead and was following the path which they were guarding, there was no light instead Valkyrie had a flame in her hand while reading the air with the other, there was movement up ahead she could feel that, there was just one person ahead which gave Valkyrie some confidence she didn't fancy going up against a lot of people in this dark tunnel then the person up ahead stopped. Valkyrie froze, she thought they had heard her but then she heard a rumbling sound up a head as if the tunnel was collapsing then she saw light from where the intruder was. She walked up to it and saw that they had found a passage way into a large room, it was brightly lit and had statues of knights standing at the four corners of the room as well as standing in front of the centerpiece of the room which was a coffin sitting on the top of a small platform. Valkyrie spotted the intruder walking towards it, they wore all black, no skin showed they had black armour, black gloves, black boots and a black hood.
" Not another step! " Valkyrie said, the intruder stopped " Put your hands up and turn around! " Valkyrie ordered and the intruder obeyed, when they turned around the shadow of the hood covered their face. " Who are you and what are you doing down here? "
" Don't move " said the intruder in a voice that seemed to echo inside Valkyrie's head " The floor is rigged with traps, you'll kill us both "
" And how do you know that? " Valkyrie asked and took a step forward and nothing happened
" Foolish, very foolish " said the intruder, there was a noise coming from Valkyrie's right that sounded like stone being rubbed against stone, she looked around to see that the statue of the knight had turned its head and was looking straight at her. While she wasn't looking the intruder pushed at the air sending Valkyrie back and she hit the wall, the intruder ran to the coffin as the other statues slowly began to come to life. One took a step forward and drew its sword
" Oh hell " Valkyrie said.
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" The farm has been in the family for years " explained Elaine to Merlin, the two looking at the small plot of land at the bottom of the village " I work at it now, well me and Aunt Grace and my brother I guess but he's away "
" To where? " asked Merlin
" Wherever the wind takes him I suppose, he goes looking for work and sends money back when he can " Elaine said just as Arthur walked over to them
" So how was Aunt Grace? " asked Merlin
" Never do that to me again " Arthur said " She said that people have acted strangely after she started hearing a noise in the night" said Arthur " She said that she heard it coming from an old barn "
" That's just down next to our farm " Elaine said pointing in the direction " Just beyond those trees "
" And why could you not have just told us that in the first place? " asked Arthur
" Because I thought Aunt Grace would want to meet you " Elaine said, Merlin laughed and Arthur sighed
" Very funny now come on " he said and the three walked towards the old barn.
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The old barn was hidden by a group of trees at the edge of the forest, it was burnt and looked like it was going to collapse at any minute.
" Have you checked this place? " Arthur asked, Elaine shook her head.
" Aunt Grace and a few of the other villagers have, but found nothing " Elaine said, Arthur walked towards the barn and Elaine and Merlin followed. Arthur came to the door and pushed it open and the tree walked inside. Merlin felt it as soon as he walked inside, it hit him like a bad smell, magic was here. Someone or something magic was in this barn.
" When was the last time that this barn was used "
" About twenty years ago " Elaine said " Were all surprised it's lasted "
" So am I " Arthur said. Merlin looked around him and noticed the ladder up to the next level of the barn, it wasn't burnt in fact it looked new. He was about to go and check above him when Arthur flew over his head and crashed against the wall. Merlin spun around, Elaine waved at him and she waved.
" Hi Merlin " she said, her eyes had turned red and her veins were red too.
" Elaine? " asked Merlin, she smiled and attacked. She was fast, to fast and before Merlin could react she had kicked in the stomach forcing all the air to leave his lungs, he doubled over and Elaine hit him so hard he was lifted off his feet and landed on the ground a few feet away from where he once was.
" Your cute, you know that " Elaine said " I'm really sorry that I have to kill you "
" I am too " Merlin said, he raised his hand and his eyes glowed and Elaine was lifted off her feet and she crashed back through the barn door.
" Hang on, Hang on that is not fair! " Merlin looked up to see where the voice had come from and saw a thin man, his clothes were torn and needed a wash, just like him. He had black greasy hair and was unshaven.
" Your not supposed to have magic! That's not fair! " He shouted. Merlin raised his hand and the man was thrown off the next level of the barn and landed flat on his face in front of Merlin
" You're the sorcerer that killed the patrol aren't you " Merlin said, the man stood up and bowed
" Jack Sprat at your service " he said
" Jack Sprat? "
" Jack Sprat "
" Your names Jack Sprat? "
" Your names Jack Sprat? "
" Stop that "
" Stop that "
" I said stop that and answer me! "
" I said stop that and answer me! " Jack said grinning. Merlin raised his hand
" Ok Ok calm down it's just a bit of fun " Jack said
" What have you done to Elaine? "
" Simple little mind control technique " Jack said " And it's more than just Elaine " he said as Aunt Grace walked in as well as four others and Elaine all with their eyes glowing red as well as their veins. Jack laughed and sprang up to the next level of the barn again and sat like a frog watching, Merlin took a step back, Arthur was still knocked out so it was six possessed people as well as jack against him.
" Good luck skinny boy " Jack said laughing as the six attacked Merlin
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Valkyrie ducked under a swing of one of the knights sword and pushed at the air forcing it back a few steps. There was six stone knights as well as the intruder against her. She curled the shadows around one knights feet and tripped it, she then had to avoid another swing of a sword that just missed her head, she stumbled back just avoiding another swing, the knights were slow after just waking up but they were getting faster. The intruder was standing next to the coffin with both his hands placed on it, Valkyrie tried to get to him but another knight blocked her path, it swung for her and again she dodged but she lost her balance and began to stumble back as two other knights raised their sword. Valkyrie pushed at the hair to send her flying up into the air just as the two knights swung for her, they missed and hit each other instead. They both staggered for a moment before falling to their knees, Valkyrie landed near the coffin and pulled at the shadows in the room, they formed near the intruder who was to busy saying an enchantment near the coffin to notice, they hit him pulling him back from the coffin, he tried to pry them away from him but he fell of the platform and landed on his back.
" Valkyrie! " she head someone shout, she looked towards the door to see Roxy run into the room with a torch in her hand
" Run! " Valkyrie shouted but Roxy was frozen stiff with fright staring at the four remaining stone knights who turned to her. Valkyrie cursed and pushed at the air to lift her over the knights and land in front of Roxy, Valkyrie splayed her hands and the knights were forced back by the misplaced air hitting them, Valkyrie then gathered the shadows and aimed them at the knights feet hoping to trip them but all they did was cut through them with their swords
" How are you doing that? " asked Roxy
" I'll explain later " Valkyrie said, she joined her hands together and focused, these knights were made of stone perhaps she could break them apart, she wasn't good so much at manipulating the earth but it was worth a go, she felt the space between her and one of the knights and pulled, the knights head tilted and it looked at its right arm that was beginning to crack and soon the knights right arm fell off and landed on the ground along with the sword it was holding, Valkyrie flicked her wrist and the sword shot up and stabbed through the knights chest, it fell to its knees and died just like the other two. A light then began to shine from the coffin where the intruder was standing at saying an enchantment. One knight turned to face him and attacked the intruder, the other two attacked Valkyrie and Roxy. Valkyrie pulled Roxy behind her and swung fistful of shadows at one of the knights which didn't seem to take any effect at all Valkyrie rolled out of the way of one swing from the knights but the other got her, stabbing her through the chest with one of their sword, Valkyrie fell to her knees and soon everything was becoming a blur to her, she could see one of the knights raising their sword
" No! " Roxy shouted holding up both her hands, her eyes flashed gold and the two knights blew to pieces along with their swords. The intruder had managed to destroy the other knight and was now staring at Roxy who held up her hand with her eyes flashing gold again, the intruder doubled over in pain trying to draw breath but couldn't, he collapsed at the side of the coffin just as a beam of light shot from it and passed through the roof. Roxy backed off looking round the room
" Oh my God! " she said " What did I just do? "
" You kicked their ass that's what " Valkyrie said wincing at the pain in her chest
" Are you OK? " Roxy asked running over to her
" I'm fine, my jacket protected me, no major damage just a bit of a knock " she said as Roxy helped her up
" How did you do that? " Valkyrie asked
" I don't know I didn't even know I had magic " Roxy said " Just instinct I guess "
" What about the intruder? " asked Valkyrie
" He's dead, a beam of light came from the coffin though " said Roxy. Valkyrie began to laugh
" Great, Girl who can do powerful magic on instinct and a beam of light coming from a coffin and stone knights nearly killing me, don't see how it could get worse"
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Merlin really couldn't see how this could get worse, eventually the whole damn village was coming to attack him! He raised his hands and four people were send flying back, they landed on the ground and didn't move. He wiped sweat from his forehead and then ducked from a bit of the barns roof being thrown at him. The barns roof, that gave Merlin and idea. He backed off walking deeper into the barn. Jack leapt from what part of the barn from the other, thinking he had Merlin retreating, Jacks army of possessed villagers walked into the barn cornering Merlin
" Give up skinny boy and we promise not to hurt you to bad " Jack said, Merlin walked beside Arthur and looked down to make sure he was still unconscious. Merlin's eyes glowed and under his breath he whispered an order.
" What do you say? " asked Jack, Merlin looked up at him
" Take me, let him go " he said nodding to Arthur
" A noble sacrifice " Jack said " Let me consider it " and he began to stroke his chin and after a few moments braked a defiant " No! "
" Why? What has he done "
" Do you think I'm stupid? " Jack said " I know who that is that's Arthur Pendragon do you think I'm going to let him go? " he said, Merlin glanced towards the door of the barn then back at Jack
" Tell me then skinny " Jack said " Why are you protecting him this man hates sorcery he hates your kind! "
" Because he's a great man and a great king" Merlin said " And a great friend " Merlin then held up his hands and the barn door slammed shut, everyone looked towards the door while Merlin grabbed Arthur and his eyes glowed and hole appeared in the wall next to them, Jack looked over to see Merlin carrying Arthur to the hole
" Stop him! " shouted Jack but Merlin held up his hand with his eyes glowing and the barn collapsed on the people, Jack screamed as the roof came down on top of them while Merlin got Arthur outside and watched as the barn collapsed. Then a shadow appeared above them and The Great Dragon came down from the sky, responding to Merlin's order he breathed fire on the collapsed barn burning it and the people inside. Merlin got Arthur a safe distance away from the burning barn and set him down just as the dragon landed in front of him
" Thank you " said Merlin
" You know I can't resist the call of a dragon lord " said Kilgharragh " But you're welcome " Merlin looked at Arthur then at Kilgharragh
" Something wrong young warlock? " asked Kilgharragh.
" The forgotten has returned " Merlin said
" I'm aware " Kilgharragh replied
" Is he as dangerous as they say?" Merlin asked
" The forgotten was one of the greatest sorcerers who ever lived Merlin " said Kilgharragh " He is as dangerous as they say if not more "
" I've been told that The Forgotten will release Armageddon with the help of a being of pure evil " Merlin said
" I have heard of such a prophecy yes, The Forgotten's return is supposed to mark the beginning of Armageddon " Kilgharragh said
" Do you know who this being of pure evil is? " Merlin asked
" One name has been passed down through the ages, one name that haunted even the most powerful of sorcerers a name that the druids lived in fear of "
" What was is it? " Merlin asked
" Darquesse " Kilgharragh said " Beware Merlin, Beware of Darquesse " and with that warning The Great Dragon flew off just as Arthur awoke with a loud groan
" What happened? " he said getting to his feet
" umm " Merlin said, Arthur looked behind him to see the burning barn and he looked back at Merlin
" What the hell did you do? "