Yay! I can't believe we're up to ten chapters! That's amazing. Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and subscribed. Thank you all! Enjoy, the story is far from over.
The sun was shining brightly across a beautiful meadow, glinting in rays of reflected light off of a modern glass building located in the middle of the area. However, the atmosphere was far from easy and happy, in fact the tension and rage radiating from the place was almost palpable. Even the insects and animals seemed to shy away from the building, sensing that not all was right.
"Worthless, stupids idiots! None of them can follow a simple bloody order! Find and kill the reincarnated king before Emrys can stop you. But what happens? You fail and I lose forty of my soldiers. A simple task! Why must I work with bloody idiots?" A red-haired woman screamed, storming around her office. Anyone within their right minds would be a hundred miles away right then, but instead the leader of the failed mission was currently cowering in front of her.
"I'm deeply sorry madam. He was in our grasp but we could not help when Emrys arrived. He was far too powerful madam." He begged, bowing low.
"Too powerful? Too powerful!? Your team was equipped with the most dangerous weapons that any organization could supply. It should have been more than enough." The woman scowled, her eyes flashing a threatening gold.
The leader instantly threw his hands protectively over his head, taking giant steps away to try and protect himself. He recognized the sign and wasn't stupid enough to continue plundering ahead like he was, but unfortunately he wasn't smart enough. After nothing happened, he fell to his knees trembling in fear.
"Please madam, please! We fought to the last man!"
The change in the atmosphere of the room was instantaneous. Dark negative energy seemed to fill the room and the woman's eyes crackled and blazed with undisguised power and anger. The man on the floor whimpered, his previous bravado vanished.
"Obviously not." The woman stated and in a single moment, she had whipped out a gun and fired it, creating a cleat shot through the man's forehead.
The was a short silence as the woman silently watched a dark pool of blood rapidly form around the dead man's head, the gun still slightly smoking and facing outwards. The woman watched him with a cold, calculating gaze, unfazed at all by what she had just done. She did it for a living after all.
Then, she blinked and the moment was broken. She stuffed the weapon back into her jacket pocket, brushed her bright red hair away from her face and casually sat down behind her desk.
"Colin? Get a crew up here. There's been another accident." The woman said, pressing a button on her desk that connected her to the intercom.
"Right away madam." Came the short, crackled reply and the line faded out before coming back to life when the woman entered a different intercom.
"All stations, be known. The King is alive and has been found by Emrys. Prepare to launch your squadrons. This time, he will be found and killed. Albion will not be reborn."
Arthur stared motionlessly out of the black Ferrari's window, watching from the passenger seat as the world flew by them. They were speeding along a highway, blasting past speed signs, other cars and the occasional police vehicle but none of them ever bothered the expensive car and it's passengers. It was almost as though the whole world seemed to stop as they drove past. Arthur had little doubt that it didn't have anything to do with Merlin.
"Arthur, how are you feeling?" Merlin suddenly asked into silence, turning to face him for a moment.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Arthur returned instantly.
Merlin just raised an eyebrow at his tone and smiled before continuing, "Because you just witnessed over forty deaths, was almost killed by a madman and his organization and you met the most powerful warlock in Earth's history. It's a lot to take in and I know you don't understand most of it because you hardly remember anything."
"What do you mean remember anything?" Arthur asked, frowning.
"I've already told Arthur. You lived a long time ago as the King of a forgotten time. Your memories from back then are what I am talking about. You need to remember them." Merlin informed him.
"King Arthur Pendragon? From Camelot? This is impossible!" Arthur shook his head.
"I though you said you believed me." Merlin said, a hint of hurt in his voice.
"I said I trusted you, not that I believed you. They're very different." Arthur replied.
"They're really not." Merlin muttered under his breath but Arthur heard most of it.
"What did you just say?" He asked anyway, determined to have at least something over this strange man.
"Nothing." Merlin replied.
"You see, this is why I'm the King and you're just a servant." Arthur told him, smirking proudly. That was until he realized what he said and turned to face Merlin who was grinning.
"Did I just …? Were you my …?" Arthur stuttered, unable to form his questions properly.
"Yes Arthur. You just remembered something." Merlin grinned proudly. "I was your servant when you were King, but I was also a close friend. You never liked to admit it but you told me so just before you … you, um …"
"Died?" Arthur finished.
"Yeah." Merlin replied sadly, years of pain and loss evident in his expression until a moment later he looked up, smiling as bright as ever. Arthur raised an eyebrow but he didn't question it.
"So, you were my servant but you were also a powerful warlock?" Arthur asked confused. Why would he have been a servant if he were so powerful?
"Magic was outlawed in Camelot. You didn't know, I didn't tell you. But I was always there, protecting you." Merlin replied fondly, remembering happier – or more medieval – times.
"I don't understand." Arthur said, more to himself than to Merlin.
"That's okay, you prat. I'll tell you more once we're safe." Merlin replied.
"Prat? Is that even a word?" Arthur asked, not bothering to try to be offended. It felt right for some reason, like Merlin was meant to call him that.
"Yes, yes it is." Merlin said simply, laughing.
"So, where is this safe place you're taking me?" Arthur asked, leaning back more comfortably into the chair. "Is it a house? Somewhere underground?"
Merlin just laughed even harder leaving Arthur to wonder where exactly where he was going. After all, he had willingly got into a car with a powerful stranger. Never talk to strangers? He hadn't been following that rule a lot lately.
It turned out however, that he need not worry about their destination because Merlin pulled off of the highway and turned onto a dusty lane leading far off into a giant mass of tall grass that eventually led up to the top of a hill surrounded by tall trees. They were once again invisible from the public eye.
Arthur paused before getting out of the car this time, confused as to why Merlin had led him to this secluded yet very open place. Anything from above would be able to see them and it wouldn't be hard to sneak up on them. Merlin however, instantly hopped out and quickly surveyed the area before nodding and turning back to watch what Arthur did.
"What is this place? I thought you were taking me somewhere safe?" Arthur accused, staying near the car.
"It will be safe very soon. I just have to call in the protection." Merlin told him vaguely.
"Wh -?" Arthur started but he was instantly interrupted when Merlin opened his mouth and roared.
"O drakon, e mala soi ftengometh tesd'hup anankes! Erkheo!"