A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

~ Baltasar Gracian


Chapter 11: The Second Favor

Merlin had been playing chess with his brother when Lancelot's message echoed in his skull.

"Emrys," Lancelot's voice said making him knock over a piece. "I need your help."

"Merlin," Nowe pouted. "You just ruined the game."

Merlin didn't answer his brother. He just listened to Lancelot's message.

"There is something called a wraith here in Camelot. It has been challenging the Knights of Camelot to duels to the death. It appears that it is someone called Tristan Du Bois and it won't stop until Uther is killed. I realize that what I'm asking might be hard for you and the last thing you would do is help but my master Arthur is next to become a victim of this wraith. It isn't right that this thing issue fights to the death when one of them is already dead. Already two of them have fallen in unfair fights. Can you help destroy it or at least even out the playing field and make this fair? The challenge will take place at noon tomorrow if you decide anything."

Merlin was holding his head and Nowe saw that his brother's face was serious and troubled. The annoyance he had was replaced with concern. "Merlin? What is it? Are you okay?"

He breathed out and looked over at him. "We have to talk to Father and Kilgharrah."

Merlin and Nowe found themselves on the top of the tower with Kilgharrah perched there with their father, Uncle Richard and Uncle Abel. Their mother and sister were over in town assisting all the new people that had been liberated from King Bayard's shipment to Uther.

"Does the name Tristan Du Bois mean anything to any of you?" Merlin asked them.

"Tristan Du Bois…I know him. That's Uther's late brother in law," said Balinor.

"Late? What happened to him?" asked Nowe.

"It was during the first years of the Purge. Uther had captured Kilgharrah and I managed to escape his dungeons. I was working to try and free him but it wasn't easy. Thankfully, Tristan Du Bois had come to Camelot and challenged Uther to a fight. The fight managed to provide the cover and distraction I needed to free Kilgharrah and make our escape."

"Wait," said Merlin. "Why would Uther's brother in law challenge Uther to a fight to the death?"

"No one seems to really know why," Balinor said. "It was kept quite private. Why do you ask Merlin?"

"It seems that someone used his corpse as a template for conjuring a wraith."

Balinor glared. "A wraith?" He then looked over at Abel. "You think a rogue necromancer is loose?"

"It's possible. Without any more information I'm afraid that we can only guess."

"Wait," said Richard. "What's a wraith?"

Kilgharrah explained it to them. When he was done he looked to Merlin. "And you say that this wraith is Tristan Du Bois. If I had to guess then I would say that it will only fade away when it kills Uther Pendragon."

"Before its doing that it seems to be challenging knights there to duels to the death. Every time it wins it just throws it gauntlet for a new challenger and the following day it defeats them. From what my own source in Camelot tells me, two have already been felled by it. It sounds like it just going through everyone one by one until Uther decides to finally fight it himself. Tomorrow, however, his son Arthur Pendragon will be next to fall."

"A warrior like him?" said Nowe. "How can he fall?"

"Even the best warrior in the world will fall against an enemy that won't be slain no matter how hard they try," Kilgharrah explained. "A wraith isn't of this world so mortal weapons won't stop it."

"A mortal weapon can't stop it? Then…an immortal weapon is needed," said Nowe.

Abel smiled. "Yes. I see that you are starting to really train with your mind as well as with your sword Nowe."

"The young prince is right…however immortal weapons are not a common variety."

"Well…except for the one at my waist," said Balinor as everyone looked over at the sword Excalibur he guarded over well.

"So, the wraith could be felled by it," said Merlin.

"It is fascinating but I fail to see what this has to do with us," said Richard. "This wraith may only be dealt with by us but unlike the incident with the griffin and the Afanc, only the King and his knights are affected. Those are our enemies and they are the ones that we owe nothing to them at all."

Yes, Richard did have a point. There was no real reason for them to step in on for helping the Pendragons or their knights. They are not like the civilians they had stepped in to help.

Abel shook his head. "We may have to interfere regardless."

"What do you mean?" asked Richard.

"Creating a wraith is serious dark magic. It toys around with the boundaries of life and death and that is a serious breach of Frith's laws regarding magic. Despite the intention to eliminate Uther we shouldn't show blindness to this breach of our laws."

Kilgharrah nodded. "Abel has a point. Your kingdom is trying to put order into magic as there hadn't been any done since the Purge started. It would be counterproductive to just let this abuse pass."

Kilgharrah was right. It was why they created laws on what magic was allowed, tolerated, had to be officially sanctioned and what was forbidden. It was a method to ensure that there were none who believed that they could abuse magic because they felt that Camelot gave them an excuse to. Uther's idea of bringing order to magic was to destroy it no matter what form it took. The truth was that his method only served to bring chaos as it drove more people to try and abuse it such as the case in this necromancer that conjured the wraith to be against him.

Merlin nodded. "Not to mention that I was asked to see to this wraith as part of my debt."

They spent a good half hour in debate over the issue before it was decided that Merlin should go and see to the wraith.

"Merlin, you can go and see to the wraith for your settling your debt. You will need this." He unsheathed Excalibur and handed it to his son. "However, there are conditions."

Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Conditions? Like what?"

"Don't call attention to yourself this time. It might be best if Uther does not get false ideas that we are going to clean up his messes for him while he tries to destroy us in the meantime. Make that clear to your contact as well."

Merlin nodded. "I'll won't be as attention drawing and I'll make it clear to Lancelot about why I did it."

"And there is a bigger condition," said Kilgharrah. "You must guard that sword with your life Merlin. It is a weapon that can do great things but in the wrong hands it could be twisted as a means to bring great evil and suffering. Keep it close and out of reach from any wrong hands. Use it to stop the wraith and bring it right back."

"Don't worry. I will," he promised.


That night Arthur was in his room with Lancelot having one final practice fight. Arthur wanted to be as ready as he could be when he faced the Black Knight tomorrow. Lancelot had a lot on him mind with the truth of the Black Knight and the reality that Arthur might very well be dying tomorrow. It was wearing on him mind so much that it was affecting his concentration and Arthur was noticing.

"What's with you?" he asked as he backed away.

"Nothing si-, Arthur," he corrected. "I'm okay."

He was steadily trying to kick the habit of referring to him as sire all the time. A feat he might not accomplish due to the circumstances.

He saw that he was distracted and tried to laugh it off. "You look even more worried than the challenge than I do."

Lancelot didn't smile or laugh. "Arthur, how are you not concerned?"

"I'm concerned but I'm not worried about it. I can beat this knight and I will avenge my friends."

"Arthur, Owain and Pellinore no doubt felt the same thing and this knight slew them without losing a step."

"I've studied his movements during his two fights. I know what I have to do to win."

"No, you don't!" he let out.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to say Lancelot?"

Lancelot tried to settle himself. "I'm sorry Arthur but you have to take a moment and consider this opponent that you're about to face tomorrow."

"What are you talking about?"

"Haven't you noticed it?" He went to the window and pointed him out. "Arthur, the knight is standing there like a statue. He has been doing that ever since he arrived in Camelot. He hasn't eaten anything. He hasn't drunk anything not even water. He hasn't even rested. All he has done when he hasn't fought is just stand there staring up at the castle. What man does that?"

Arthur seemed to be slightly disturbed by his words but just shrugged his shoulders. "So, this man is driven."

"Drive doesn't take away a man's basic needs like eating, drinking or sleeping."

"Lancelot, what are you trying to say?"

Lancelot didn't want to say anything that would tell Arthur outright that he was going to die. He didn't need that now. "I guess I'm trying to say that you should not be blinded by visions of victory or you could end up just like Owain and Pellinore."

He thought it best to leave it at that as he bid Arthur good night. When Lancelot left, he spent a good hour looking out the window at his opponent for tomorrow and saw that this man had indeed not move a single muscle the entire time.


Arthur was fighting the knight with everything he had but it didn't seem to be of any use. The crowd saw him land three good blows that should've brought down his opponent but the Black Knight refused to fall. The knights were standing back and trying to fight the urge to step in and save their prince but were restrained by the rules of the Knight's Code. Uther was gripping the arms of his throne with a death like grip before he cried out.

"Enough of this Tristan!"

His roar fell on deaf ears. The Black Knight kicked Arthur to the ground and slammed his armored foot on Arthur's hand. His other foot kicked the sword away, out of Arthur's reach. Arthur looked up at the knight to see the blade of his sword angled straight down at him. The Black Knight then raised his sword up high and Arthur's eyes pupils shrunk in realization that Death was now coming for him.

Morgana gasped as she woke up in her bed. Her heart was racing and her head was damp with sweat. That was too vivid a nightmare. She got out of bed and went to the window and saw the Black Knight still there. She hoped that what she saw was just her nerves about tomorrow. She didn't want to see Arthur die out there tomorrow like Sirs Owain and Pellinore had.


Lancelot got up this morning and raced to the castle to see that the Black Knight was still standing there. Many people were watching the knight in preparation to see him face the prince today. It seemed that Emrys had decided not to rid the city of the wraith after all. However upset he was, Lancelot couldn't find it in himself to put any blame on the sorcerer. If the role was reversed and someone had asked Arthur to try and save the Dragon Prince should he be in danger he knew Arthur wouldn't give direct aid to the enemy. This wasn't Emrys' problem and I guess he felt that Lancelot's request was crossing a line. He took his gaze off this creature and raced to the kitchens and after to Arthur's chambers to try and ease him into today with grace when he stumbled onto Gaius already in there speaking with Arthur.

"I want you to take this Arthur. It's tonic for your nerves."

Lancelot came in with the prince's breakfast and set it on the table. He wondered why Gaius would offer Arthur a tonic for calming him when he knew that being calm would do no good against an enemy that couldn't be killed. Something didn't feel right about that.

"Gaius," he said drawing their attention. "Do you think a tonic is the best thing for him now? It might dull his senses for the fight."

Arthur had been about to take it when he stopped just before it touched his lips. "Lancelot is right. Perhaps I shouldn't."

"I took that into account already sire. It won't hinder your fighting today."

"I've fought well before without tonics. Save it for me after I've won," he smiled as he gave it back to him. "It will give me something to look forward to."

Gaius watched as Lancelot helped Arthur settle in for breakfast. This wasn't good. Uther's plan for today was just thwarted and if he tried to push any further than Arthur would get suspicious. It was clear that Lancelot was a bit suspicious himself as he looked curiously at him as he made the Prince's bed.

"Best of luck today Arthur," he said as he made his way out.


Uther was surprised that Arthur had shown up in the armory with his servant, wide awake. Somehow, the plan for Arthur to be drugged failed.

"Father?"

"Arthur…I'm merely here to…wish you luck in your fight today."

Uther didn't know what else to do. Arthur was getting ready to go and fight Tristan today and nothing save the truth would stop it but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't tell Arthur about Tristan as that would bring up his mother and could also bring up Nimueh and he didn't want Arthur to ever know and be horrified by the truth of his origins. He couldn't do that to his son.

Arthur smiled as he appreciated his father coming down to see him before the fight. "Thank you."

Uther nodded to his son. As he left him to get ready, he noticed that his son's servant seemed to be looking at him like he disapproved of him for some reason.

That's because Lancelot did. He could tell that Uther was in some kind of inner debate about the truth of the wraith and what it really wanted but, for some reason, Uther didn't want to tell his son about it. Gaius hadn't explained why this Tristan Du Bois wanted to kill Uther but something told him that it was quite the serous matter that Uther seemed to be quite scared of considering how he had been acting since it arrived. It seemed that the king wanted to take the secret to his grave or rather his own son's grave and allow him to die to protect it. Yet he wouldn't tell Arthur, it wasn't his place to.


When the knight knocked Arthur to the ground Morgana stood up from her chair as fast as lightning. The last few moments were happening just like in her dream. Arthur struck the Black Knight in the shoulder but the man didn't falter. He drove his sword into the man's torso and the knight didn't fall. He also cut through the back of the knight's armor but the man didn't lose a spring in his step. Those were the same three type of hits that she had dreamed he did just last night.

She looked over at the knights and saw that they were looking off in concern just like she saw them do as well.

"Enough of this Tristan!"

Morgana saw that Uther said the same thing that she heard him say before. Everything was coming true. That meant…

She watched Arthur get knocked down and his sword kicked away and the Black Knight positioned his sword over him.

"Someone stop him!" she shouted.

The Black Knight raised his sword and she knew that it was too late.

But the next moment, a great puff of fog fell from the sky and spread about everywhere taking Arthur and his opponent out of sight of everyone.


The fog surrounded the whole arena and blocked the view of the two combatants from everyone. The whole arena was full of whispers and scattered whimpers as they wondered what was going on in there. Lancelot was feeling anxious. Was this Emrys' work? Had he decided to help after all?

Arthur was on the ground looking up at the blade as the fog settled in. He hardly realized it as his focus was on the blade. The knight had raised the blade but instead brought it to block a blow from a surprise sword. Arthur wondered who it was that interfered with his fight but didn't see any red attached to the sword. It was black from a cloak with some blue peeking in from a fighting attire that didn't belong to Camelot. Arthur saw that the face of this man was shrouded by a hood and could only see the man's lips.

Those lips spoke. "Stay down and out of my way prat."

That voice was low and strong but also had a bit of a condescending tone as if the owner was annoyed. Arthur narrowed his eyes a bit but didn't move. He just watched as the figure stared down the knight.

"I am sorry that you were disturbed. I am here to offer you the peace that is being denied to you. I will free you from the one that unjustly rose you to serve their own end. Rest assured that I can offer you closure from this world."

The knight turned his head before he swung at the newcomer. The mystery man ducked from the blow and jumped back to avoid the following blow. The sword the cloaked man had was quite exquisite even from where he was lying. He noticed the crest of the Dragon King peeking out from the fold of the cloak. It was clear now who this man was: Emrys, the Dragon Prince. Arthur wondered how no one was doing something about this but noticed the fog encasing them. He wondered why it appeared so suddenly when it wasn't cool enough for fog until he noticed something out of place. It was in a perfect circle. The fog was blocking the sight of them but Arthur still saw the sun above them. It was like the eye of a storm and the three of them were in the center.

Emrys chanted a spell and the sword the wraith held snapped off the hilt and then he drove the sword he held into the chest of the Black Knight. What followed wasn't a scream but a howl. It was not the sound of a man. The helmet of the knight flew off but what was shown wasn't a face but a skull with minimal shows of flesh still on it. Lancelot had been right. This Black Knight wasn't a man at all. The body burned up and after a moment nothing was left but its armor that fell lifelessly to the ground.

Emrys looked off towards him and Arthur thought that he was going to attack him next. Emrys' smirk was seen from under his hood.

"Arthur Pendragon. Don't sell yourself too high. I'm not here for you. I was here for that wraith. I'm well aware of what you were tasked to do by your father. If you want to follow through with it then we will meet again I'm sure. If we do, you should think hard about what you decide to do. You will have to face the consequences of your choices just like everyone. Trust me, being a prince doesn't give you an escape from living or dying by what follows those choices."

Then he chanted something else in a strange language and he could make out two spots of gold light in the darkness of his hood and he vanished. The fog around him started to thin out and dissipate.


The fog lifted and everyone saw Arthur on the ground with no sign of the Black Knight anywhere, just his armor. Arthur got up and just stared down at the armor in shock. No one really knew what to think but the crowd started cheering anyway at the relief that their prince was still alive and the Black Knight seemed to be gone. Uther was relieved as he leaned into his chair and Morgana was trying to settle her heart. Lancelot and Guinevere shared a victory hug as they saw that Arthur was safe. Gaius was off to the side looking more calculating than content. He guessed that Lancelot suspected connections had been at play here just like he suspected. He wasn't too sure how yet but it seemed that the wraith had been vanquished by Emrys or Balinor or by some other means that came from them.

Arthur was taken to the throne room where his father asked what had happened. Arthur just said that the fog provided the opportunity to defeat the knight. He excused himself and said that he was tired. Uther allowed his son to leave but he didn't want to press the issue. He wasn't sure that Arthur had heard his outburst or not but he wasn't bringing it up. The last thing he wanted was to do something that would jog that memory out of his son and lead to unpleasant answers being said.


Nimueh couldn't believe this. Again. Again Emrys had come in and meddled in her business. Why? The prince was almost gone for good and no doubt his father would've followed soon after him. Emrys had destroyed her wraith and destroyed the best chance that their kind had to be rid of the Pendragons once and for all. Why? She didn't understand. What she did understand though was that it was clear that it seemed that she might have to deal with both Balinor and Emrys before she could deal with Uther and Arthur. Otherwise her plans would never be realized.


Lancelot walked back to his home that evening feeling quite relieved that Arthur was safe now. He had to admit to himself that he truly thought that Emrys had ignored or disregarded his request to stop the wraith and save Arthur. Lancelot could only imagine how it must feel to be asked to save someone that was tasked to find and kill you. However, he could see that Emrys had a good degree of honor about him that many wouldn't believe of him due to his magic. Arthur had told him of seeing Emrys within the fog as he destroyed the Black Knight and then spirit away.

Lancelot entered his home and shut the door behind him.

"Hello there."

Lancelot turned around and saw Emrys in his home by the torchlight from beyond his window, sitting by his table, just waiting for him. "Emrys," he said as he closed the curtains to obscure the view into his home from the outside.

Emrys then waved his hand and all the candles in the home came alight. Emrys' face was obscured by his hood but Lancelot could still make out his mouth and the bottom half of his nose. The two of them stare at each other in silence for a good moment before Lancelot broke it.

"Thank you Emrys. I know it couldn't have been easy to come here to save Arthur."

"Oh…I didn't do any of this to save Arthur Lancelot. He merely was in the wrong place at the right time. The one who created this wraith needed to see that their abuse of meddling with life and death would not be tolerated. The boundaries of life and death are sacred and shouldn't be meddled around with in such vanity. My father and I have our own laws for magic that we hold up quite seriously. Whoever did this was committing a serious abuse of their magic that had to be stopped despite what they may have tried to accomplish by removing that tyrant from the throne. I came to uphold the laws of magic."

Lancelot was a little taken back. He never would've thought that the Dragon Royals would've had their own set of laws concerning what magic was right or wrong to use.

"Despite that, thank you for destroying the wraith."

Emrys nodded before he threw the talisman over at Lancelot. "Thank you for telling me of this atrocity."

He looked down at it to see the second spot now had a matching aquarian star pattern like the first one leaving only one slot still empty. He looked up and saw that Emrys was gone and he was alone in his house.


End of Chapter 11

A/N: I hope you liked the deviation of the Black Knight's defeat. I wanted it to be a believable motive for the Dragon Prince to have in stopping the wraith. He didn't really do it for Arthur's benefit but to send a message that abusing magic, no matter what the intention, would be tolerated by him or his father. Nimueh doesn't seemed to have gotten the message though.

The next chapter will be an adventure that won't center around someone trying to kill Arthur but trying to kill Merlin. A mysterious father/daughter pair are found assaulted in the woods by bandits and Merlin finds herself drawn to her. Liana feels something amiss with them though. Also, Nimueh gets some trouble about the wraith from Morgause.