Bearing the Path to Destiny
A/N: I'm happy to say that now comes a key part of the legends. The Red and White Dragons better known as Madoc and Aithusa. What really happened between them? What about Arthur and Odin? Merlin and Morgana? Well, let's see.
Inside the tent are two serpents, one white and one red, reveal them and watch what they do.
~ Merlin and the Red and White Dragons
Chapter 12: The Red and White Dragons
When Odin called for the charge, Mordred and Nemain settled in their horses and watched with bated breath for the first big clash. Nemain personally loved watching the first time enemies on the battlefield went for one another.
"Things seem like they'll go our way," Nemain smiled as she noticed an Albion warrior get a spear to the chest.
Mordred chuckled in agreement as he looked on at the battle. Yet, as he watched when the fighting started to get underway, his eyes flew up to a shape in the sky that started to fly towards their army.
"Look," he said pointing him out. "It's Emrys."
They looked up to spot Emrys wearing a bright blue cloak, the same blue as the Albions, and he was starting to assist the men below with random spells to deter their own forces. Tripping, disarming and cancelling out their side's attacks and intensifying and/or shielding their enemy as he went.
Nemain breathed hard through her nose at the sight. "And it would seem he's up to his annoying tricks again."
"Then let's stop him."
"Yes. Mordred, go and tell Morgana that her time has come. In the meantime, I'll send some interference his way while she gets ready." Nemain gestured to the gargoyles that they brought along. She commanded them to attack Emrys and they took off into the sky. "That should keep him busy long enough."
Merlin then became engrossed in fighting the gargoyles that he failed to notice that Odin and Arthur had met on the battlefield a bit away from his current position. Nemain turned to look behind her when the sound of wings were heard and saw, just in time, Morgana on top of her dragon flying for him.
"There she goes," Mordred said moving towards her.
"Good. Now that she will have Merlin occupied." Nemain whistled and suddenly roars sounded out. "Ogres," she said with command clear in her voice. "Attack!"
Her ogres brandished their axes, let our another roar and then ran off for the battlefield trembling the earth with every step they took.
It had been close to four years since these two had laid eyes on one another and right now the only thing that their eyes could do is glare. Sparks were being shot out of both of their outlines, brighter when their glares were harder. Their separate hands were clenched into tight fists and their teeth sealed shut in irritation. The sight of their enemy across from one another was so consuming that they momentarily forgot that there was a full blown war being waged beneath them.
Morgana was drowning in pure dark hatred. Her vision was completely red save for the man that held her contempt. Merlin...Emrys. A sorcerer who was burdened with magic since his birth. Much like herself and forced to live in a world where his very nature would've gotten him executed to sate a tyrant's wrath. A man who she could completely have understood as he undoubtedly could've understood her. Yes, a man who she trusted with her most personal secret and yet didn't in turn trust her with his. The man who betrayed her and tried to kill her with poison. The very last Dragonlord as well. Where was he when Aithusa was alone and made to suffer with her? Serving the son of a man that would love to see him dead. Now here he was. Still serving that man and coercing others of their kind to do the same. Only now his appearance was different. The goofy smile and simple clothing that he both wore were replaced with a hard look of focus and gold eyes of magical power as well as a sea blue hooded cloak fit for a noble. He was flying in the air in a tremendous show of magic before her with full pride in what he was. He had some nerve!
Merlin head and eyes burned with a white hot rage. It was even whiter than his former charge. The sight of the once beautiful dragon that he hatched before Kilgharrah now reduced to this. Not only did Aithusa seem cripple and deformed but her scales also seemed to lack the shine and luster he had seen them with. His eyes then fell on the one who was responsible. The one who surely twisted the innocent dragon to serve and sate her hatred and vengeance. The one who corrupted the sign of Albion's great future into a weapon against it. Morgana was wearing a black cloak but he could make out the silk dress underneath. Her hair seemed to have been groomed back to her original glory but her expression of contempt still remained. She had her hands at the back of Aithusa's head, behind her ears and actually seemed in place riding her. His previous talk with Lionel rushed back and he found himself getting more angry in the fact that she didn't deserve such an honor especially on Aithusa. How dare she!
"Morgana," he said in a deeper harder voice than before. "It's been a while."
"Yes, it has Emrys." she said adjusting slightly. "Or is it still Merlin? Was it ever even Merlin?" she said with a harsh laugh.
"Always," he answered coldly.
"Much has changed since them. One of the more noticeable things as that, this time, we're meeting in the air." She bit back a slight bit of awe that forced into her at seeing again that he was flying without any aid at all and without any apparent difficulty. "And you were still a servant as well. I hear that you've gotten quite the promotion over these three years."
"Times are changing Morgana. The laws on magic were changing as well. It's a real shame that you couldn't enjoy them yourself. Not that you deserve to."
"What? Going from Arthur's bumbling manservant to his personal mystical guard dog? Is that the change that you were enjoying?" She actually stopped glaring to smirk at him. "You take a lot of pride and pleasure going from a neglected servant to a glorified one. That's the real shame here."
"What? That I devote my life to caring for others instead of myself?!" he spat at her.
"Interesting choice of words from someone who disgraced his kind by serving the ones that would love to see to their end!" she spat back.
"As if you really care Morgana! You don't know how to care about others anymore. The only thing that you care about is yourself!"
"Pfft," Morgana blew up at her hair. "You know nothing Merlin. You're the one who puts your so called care in the wrong ones." She then started to run her hand along Aithusa's neck a little affectionately. "Leaving the ones that actually do need it out in the cold and alone! Isn't that right Aithusa?"
He watched as Morgana's hand started to caress Aithusa as if she was trying to care for her. It made him clench his hand harder. Aithusa just hovered there and kept staring at him with those sad blue eyes. "Aithusa," he said in the dragon tongue. "Stand down." he ordered.
Aithusa started to shake a little after Merlin's direction. Morgana was starting to jolt side to side as well. "Aithusa!" she cried. "Aithusa, Stop!"
Aithusa seemed to react to her voice and steadied herself. She was starting to huff but she stayed in the air. Merlin couldn't believe that she was fighting him like this. "What have you done to her?!"
Morgana looked at him with a revived glare. "What I've done?!" she spat with clenched teeth. "How dare you! I only did what you never do!" Her head started to pound and she felt herself heat up. Her breathing became heightened and she brought out her hand. "Pel Tan." A ball of fire as big as her head suddenly came alight. "I was there when there was no one!" She then screeched as she through her fire at him with all the tension and rage she could muster.
"Pel o Ddwr." Merlin brought his arm back and a giant blue bubble appeared and he threw it at Morgana's attack. The fireball and bubble collided and created a small cloud of steam. He saw Morgana distracted by this new development. "Oddi Ar y Beic!" His spell shot for her but Aithusa went and whacked at it with her wing. "Aithusa!" he shouted with both confusion and anger. Why did she just do that?"
Aithusa just roared at him in response and rose higher with Morgana ready with another spell.
With Merlin now being distracted by Morgana and her dragon, the battle seemed to start to again wear on the side of the Alliance. They were outnumbered before Nemain sent out the ogres to join in the fray and with the addition of them and the loss of Merlin, the tide was turning. The Alliance was starting to get pushed back. An ogre took three men and threw them across the field as if they were simple toys. Another ogre cut through a soldier with his axe so brutally that there wasn't even a corpse but a red splat. The Albions tried to help where they could, either firing their own spells or unleashing blasts from their magical weapons at the Ogres. It was effective...when they could get to them. The problem was that most of them were so scattered and deterred by so many enemies that they couldn't get to the Ogres. Friend and foe were too clustered together so they couldn't unleash their power at their fullest without hurting some of their own side. Most of them couldn't fly so they couldn't move over to stop them directly. The very few that could, were currently busy with the enemy sorcerers and their magical weapons.
Galahad was one such warrior. He struck at an ogre and two enemy soldiers with a blast from his sword. He brought it down for a slice and once it touched down on the ground, a twister erupted from the tip to envelop the three foes before him. He saw that there was too much chaos for their side to use their magic at its maximum. He looked back at a small cluster of his men.
"Fall back." he ordered. "Fall back into line."
Sir Tristan was nearby and he yelled out Galahad's command to Camelot's own men as well. "Fall back with the others!"
Galahad was too into his direction that he didn't see the soldier coming at him. He looked back at the man just in time to have blood spill on him, but it wasn't his. The blood was that of the soldier that spilled on him when another blade connected with that man's chest. The sword belonged to Elyan.
He then removed his blade from that soldier. "Be more careful Galahad." He said falling back with him.
"Thanks Elyan." He let out a breath of relief. He had almost bit it there.
"Hey, Leon, Gwen and I got you back. I don't plan on letting you be lost to us again."
Galahad pushed down the rushing feelings pouring from his heart. This wasn't the time for them. "Lets make nice later." he said striking at another enemy soldier. The two of them started to fall back with the others.
Malcolm and Lionel were watching all of this by the city walls.
"This is not looking good." Lionel said watching an Ogre lift one of their troops by the head. "They're just too many of them."
Malcolm kicked some grass away. "Not only that, we're being outclassed. Most of our best sorcerers are away on Eire or are patrolling the borders. A lot of the ones we have here don't have the same experience, not to mention power for this type of close combat."
"Look," Lionel said pointing over to a cluster of their side forming. "Galahad trying to get them back into a line. Maybe now they have a better shot of unleashing powerful magical attacks without hitting their own troops in the process."
"It's not happening fast enough." Malcolm saw a few ogres rushing for them.
Suddenly, Madoc started to fidget beside them. "Madoc," Lionel said reaching for him. "What's wrong?"Madoc roared and then spread his wings out. "Madoc." Lionel cried. Madoc ignored him and then flapped his wings and took for the sky. "Madoc!"
His flapping made the line of men they were standing with start to tremble and shake out of their formation at the strength of the wond he made. A few even fell off their horses. Madoc flew for the part of the battlefield with those rushing ogres and let out a jetstream of fire that went and made a wall of fire. That wall swallowed ogres and even a few enemy troops and sorcerers in the flames and brought them to be charcoal. After that, Madoc flew about and shot smaller fireballs randomly at any enemy ogre or human he saw. A few sorcerers shot spells at him but he batted them away with his wings and returned them with dragon fire. Shields, metal or conjured, proved to be useless under Madoc's fire. His efforts generated cheers for their side as Albions, Celts, Welsh and even Camelot men roared and raised their weapons up as they seemed to be invigorated to keep fighting and fight harder.
"Impetuous, isn't he?" commented Malcolm at all the action.
"Try reckless." said Lionel.
Lionel then went over to one of the horses that was manless as its rider had fallen off during Madoc's take off. He climbed on despite protests from the horse's owner.
"Lionel?" Malcolm went over to him. "What are you doing?"
"My job," he said before riding off.
"Damn it," he said before pushing one of Olaf's men from his horse and stealing it.
"Hey," the man said trying to get back on his feet.
"Thanks," he said before snapping and tugging on the reins and riding after his friend. Despite the clear shifting of the tide, it could really still go either way and was still too dangerous to just ride into the battlefield like that and he had to wonder on Lionel's common sense. "Where the hell is that back up support? There's been more than enough time." he mumbled. Malcolm's horse suddenly neighed loudly as a great axe struck the ground a few hairs away from them. An ogre was creeping towards him and snarled. It freed its axe from the ground and stumbled for him. Malcolm went to reach for his bow but knew he wouldn't draw in time as the ogre already had its axe half way ready to dice him to bits. But then, a dark shape collided with the ogre and knocked it down. It looked like a panther but had a few scales and a blade ended tail. It bit into the ogre's neck and ripped it open. "Finally." Malcolm said before riding off to try and catch Lionel. "He took his sweet time."
"What's happening?" asked Mordred.
The addition of the red dragon was bad enough but now there were these other creatures thrown into the mix too. There were about a half dozen of these feral looking creatures that started pouncing their ogres and men and a half dozen of these giant crow/vulture looking creatures that swooped down and carried off spare troops left and right that tore at them once in the sky.
"Dylan," Nemain said with clenched teeth. "He's here."
"Oh, that conjurer, right. Why wasn't he here from the start?"
"Must've been putting some time and effort in his conjurations to make them as resiliant against us as possible since they are vulnerable to our side. If they're here then he can't be too far behind."
Mordred looked on and balled his hand into a fist. "Those things and that dragon are starting to ruin everything," he spat. "We were winning and now look." he pointed at their sides dwindling forces.
"Calm yourself Mordred. The battle is still young." She then tugged on her horse's reins and faced their disciples. "Okay, we're moving out to execute our contingency plan."
"My lady," they chanted readying themselves.
Nemain turned back to Mordred. "You stay here and keep an eye on Morgana. Remember what to do if worst comes to worst?"
Mordred nodded his head. "I do."
"Good...we're all counting on you."
Mordred gave her another nod. "I know. I can handle Emrys and Morgana. And Arthur as well if Odin fails. But what about Dylan?"
"He's mine. Alright," she called to their own men. "Let's move. We need souls and there is a decent supply not too far from here. Once we have that, Dylan will fall before we take Emrys and his new dragon as well."
They started to ride off in enthusiasm as they finally were getting some action. Mordred watched them head off before unsheathing Clarent from his side.
Yet he wasn't the only one watching them. Not too far away, a certain knight caught sight of the party as well.
"Where the hell are they heading too?" he mumbled to himself. He cut down an enemy soldier from atop his horse and then rode off after them.
Odin brought his sword for a right side swipe Arthur knocked his blow aside. "You're finally mine!" he shouted as he came at Arthur with swipe from the left this time.
"No," he said batting it away. "You're mine Odin!" He then brought his sword down but Odin sidestepped it. Arthur quickly brought his arm up so the brunt of his sword caught Odin's new strike.
They were so caught up in their fighting that they hardly noticed the cheering. A sort of circle had formed around them made up of Camelot, Albion and Welsh soldiers and knights while Odin's troops and sorcerers were on the opposite side. They were cheering and pumping their fists for their separate leaders. Bedivere was there too and silently urging Arthur on. Percival and Gwaine were towards the front of their part of the circle shouting for Arthur.
"Get him Arthur!" screamed Gwaine.
"Go," edged Percival.
There were similar screams and cheers coming from Odin's side as well.
"Go Lord Odin."
"Kill Arthur Pendragon!"
"Take our revenge!"
This portion of the fight had been moved to the far recesses of the battlefield, into the trees and away from the open plain. Arthur and Odin locked swords again and were putting everything they could to overpowering the other. Odin pushed Arthur's sword to the left while he extended his right elbow to clock Arthur across the face. Arthur stumbled back a little from that blow and Odin brought his sword forward to try and deliver the final blow. Arthur could barely make out Odin running at him through the spots he was seeing. At the last moment, sudden inspiration coming to him from his spar with Lord Connor, he let himself fall on his back to avoid the strike and then struck at Odin's leg with a kick that made him fall on his face. Arthur then shot up to his feet and slammed his foot on Odin's blade and pointed his sword at Odin's throat when he managed to get up to his knees.
With that, all those on Arthur side drew their weapons at their enemies. The enemy soldiers and sorcerers there were ready to answer but a roar shook them off. Everyone looked to the side as Madoc, the Red Dragon, landed nearby snapping some tree branches off as he did. Madoc growled at the enemy and they dropped their swords and spears and the sorcerers followed with their weapons and spells.
Arthur looked at Madoc with a nod before he turned back to look down at Odin. "It's over Odin."
Odin was breathing hard but there was no fear in his eyes. He just stared at Arthur with defiance and contempt. "Well...get on with it. Kill me, just like you killed my son."
"You know full well that's not what happened. Your son issued a challenge to the death. I tried to get him to leave it but he wouldn't have it. Even when I beat him and let him leave with his life, he came at me and left no choice. I never wanted to fight or kill him."
"You think that changes anything," Odin said not batting an eye. "My son is still gone, thanks to you."
"Really? Are you sure that you're not really to blame? Your son wouldn't take no for an answer. He was adamant on fighting me and took it as far as death. I've always asked myself what was he trying to prove? Was he trying to prove himself to you?"
Odin actually flinched at that. "What son shouldn't try and bring pride to his father?" he said more to himself than Arthur.
"You think this is what he wanted for you? What he intended? Look around Odin." he said gesturing to their surroundings. "Look at what you've done. What you've made his legacy to be. You've helped a madman and his followers come and bring chaos to our land. You've made so many people suffer and even killed a noble lord with your own hands all in your son's memory. Take it from me not as your enemy, but as a son myself, that would wound him more than my sword did."
"What do you mean?"
"From now on, whenever your son will be mentioned, it will be on what drove his father in committing all of these crimes. All the death and suffering that followed because of him. I know personally how painful the thought of having suffering and death linked to your legacy can be. Now instead of having pride and honor to his name, there is only shame."
Odin's eyes actually started to shine a bit but he just shook them away before they could shed any real tears. "Stop. Just stop Arthur. Just...end me already." he said bringing his arms out to grasp Excalibur's blade and guide it to his heart. "Claim your victory and be done with it."
Arthur's arm tensed up but he didn't drive Excalibur into Odin. Instead he snatched it away and resheathed it. "No...I've already claimed my victory. I don't need to take your life to have it. It's already done. If I have to live with the shame that my father has brought down on me, then you have to live with the one you've brought to your son as well. Live with the consequences that taking his life has brought to me and what you've done in turn. Take what's left of your men and go home Odin. Yet, I should warn you, cause trouble again, and there won't be mercy next time."
Odin's hard stare was replaced by one of complete shock. Arthur backed away from him but kept his defiant stare on him. Odin took his sword from the ground, resheathed it and then slowly took off into the woods in defeat.
"Sire," some of his men said in protest before Arthur waved them away.
"My decision is final. Let them go," he said pointing to Odin's soldiers that were there as well.
Sir Ferris stepped forward. "Sire, what of these sorcerers," he said pointing to the enemy sorcerers they had subdued.
They were glaring up at Arthur with similar looks that were on Odin's face just mere moments ago. They weren't of the Thorns disciples and Arthur couldn't feel any of that chilling air off of any of them which meant they were just common sorcerers, albeit angry and vengeful ones.
"I said that Odin and his men are to go. They're included whether they have magic or not."
"What?" Ferris said in shock.
Arthur ignored him and stood before them. "I'm not going to ask any of you your motives. No doubt they are some that I've heard before. Whether you lost loved ones or were personally made to suffer, I know that you won't take any apology or words of comfort I say to heart. Yet, from my time in Albion, I've learned about the power in second chances which is what I'm offering all of you. Don't waste it on chasing revenge. It will only end in your end. Try to build new lives for yourselves. Lives that your loved ones and/or yourselves could be proud of. Now go on. I'm sure that Odin could use your company."
The sorcerers just stared at Arthur for a few moments after they were released. They still glared at him and for a second, Arthur thought that they wouldn't leave. That is until one just exhaled and slowly walked off in Odin and his men's direction. One by one, they all did the same. Some of Arthur's knights looked at him like he was crazy but Percival and Gwaine just stared off as their enemies walked off. Bedivere, his fellow celts and the Albions present, stared at Arthur with blank expressions on their faces. Bedivere then broke into a small smile and nodded off to him.
There was the sound of horse hooves approaching and they all turned to see that it was Lionel, riding off for them and he stopped right at Madoc. "Madoc, don't fly off like that again." he scolded as he got off the horse.
Madoc just shook it off but still kept eye contact with Arthur. He then walked over to him step by step. Madoc let out a soft sound from his throat before bending down at him.
"What is it? What's he doing?" Arthur asked.
Lionel looked almost a lost for words. "I-I, err, it looks like...Madoc wants you to hop on his back."
Arthur's eyes nearly bulged out as did everyone around him. "Madoc?" he asked. "You want me to mount you?" Madoc nodded his head slightly and even extended his left wing out and brought it back in. "Uh, okay," he said slowly before stepping forward.
Arthur climbed on top of him and once he was up, Madoc stood tall and then flapped his wings to take to the sky.
"Wait a minute," Arthur said tightening his grip. "What are you doing?" he sputtered.
Madoc let out a light roar as he headed up in the sky and flew off. Everyone on the ground then started to run or ride in the direction that Madoc took Arthur in.
Merlin and Morgana's battle in the air continued and yet neither seemed to be able to really land a critical blow to another. While Merlin had more freedom of flight then Morgana on Aithusa, Aithusa's magic resilent hide managed to help defend Morgana from most of Merlin's spells. It also didn't hurt her chances that Merlin was afraid of using too powerful a spell and it accidentally hurting Aithusa. When they were powerful, they were small and he always seemed to launch it just for Morgana, hoping that Aithusa would see that he was only after her and would allow him to save her from her clutches. But Aithusa didn't seem to want him to have it.
Merlin fired an energy ball for Morgana but Aithusa whacked it away with her wing where it flew off into the sky like a runaway comet.
"Llu O Saethau." Morgana raised her hand up and five arrows materialized above her palm before she flicked her wrist forward and the arrows flew forward for Merlin.
Merlin darted about to dodge those arrows. Rhwmo Hi Yn Rhaffau." he chanted. A long rope appeared out of nowhere and, like a flying snake, shot off for Morgana.
Aithusa extended her jaws out and bit into that rope snapping it in half before it could latch on to her. "Thank you Aithusa," Morgana said.
"Okay," Merlin mumbled to himself. "Enough is enough. This is for your own good Aithusa." He then shouted out in the Dragon tongue. "Aithusa! Buck Morgana off your back and stand down!" he commanded.
Aithusa started to cringe as she tried to fight off Merlin's command. The combination of Aithusa both trying to knock Morgana off and keep her on started to make her fly erratically in the air like a frightened horse. "Aithusa!" Morgana cried. "What's wrong?! Are you okay?!" She then looked over at Merlin. "What are you doing to her?!"
"Saving her from you!" he spat.
"What?!" Morgana wanted nothing more than to slap Merlin right then and there but her last buck actually made Morgana go into the air for a mild second. Morgana quickly tightened her hold but made it like a hug. She rubbed at her side and laid her head down on Aithusa's neck. "Shh," Morgana cooed. "I'm still here Aithusa. No one can or will hurt us again. Calm down. Please."
The sound of her assurances and her loving embrace seemed to pacify Aithusa enough to steady herself. Merlin was shocked that Morgana had gotten Aithusa to somehow disregard the command of a dragonlord. He'd never thought something like that was possible. It had to be a fluke.
"Aithusa," he shouted again in the dragon tongue.
Before he could say anymore, Aithusa let out a loud roar before shooting out a ball of fire for Merlin to stop him from trying to hurt her friend again. Merlin was so stunned by the fact that she would do this that he hadn't registered the fact that a real ball of dragonfire was indeed heading right at him. It seemed ready to turn Merlin to ashes before something hit it. It was another fireball and it made a mini explosion in mid-air that seemed to push Merlin back by its force.
"What?" asked Morgana in surprise. "What happened?"
Merlin coughed out some of the ash that flew into his mouth. "What in the world?" he started.
"Merlin, I knew you could be an idiot sometimes but I thought even you were smart enough to move out of the way when a ball of fire comes at you."
Merlin, Morgana and Aithusa turned to source of the new voice and they truly saw a sight. Arthur was on top of the red dragon and he was quite the sight. He had his sword drawn out and the wind was making his red cape flap lightly in the wind making him look quite regal and strong as he stared them down.
Garrett was just gently patting his horse's man as he sulked. He and the men were in the settlement, following their orders to serve as protection to these people. His men were off speaking to the villagers, assuring them that they would be safe and had no need to worry about the battle reaching them. Some were even helping one or two with a physical task that had to be done to curb the stress and anxiety that had fallen on them. Garrett was just off to the side at the front just gazing off. There were trees surrounding this place so you couldn't see very far off but sounds travelled here quite well. There were echoes of the steel and cries of the armies beyond that only added to everyone's tension, or Garrett's impatience.
Garrett was so caught up in this that he didn't know that someone came to him until they tapped him on the shoulder and startled him. "What..." he sputtered. "Oh, hey Todd. Dane." he said at his two friends before he looked back out in the direction of all the excitement and importance.
The two brothers looked at each other before looking back at Garrett. Todd went and gripped the reins of Garrett's horse. "Maybe I should take your horse and get it some water."
"He's fine," Garrett said snatching them back.
Todd took a step back while Dane took a step closer. "What about you Garrett? Anything you need?"
"What I need I'm sure that I won't be able to find here."
Dane looked about. "I think I get what you mean. I don't see what use us being here accomplishes. This place is completely hidden from sight and even if it wasn't...I doubt there is going to be any trouble. The enemy is heading for Olaf's castle, not to a small village."
"Exactly," Garrett huffed. "My father appointing us this place was just a waste of time. A trick to keep us away, to make sure that I can't get hurt. Nothing is even remotely threatening is even close." Garrett then just growled and kicked at some dirt. "I can't take this anymore."
"Garrett?" Dane asked in concern.
Garrett breathed out audibly hard from nose "Ready the men Dane. We're moving out. This isn't where we're supposed to be."
Nemain's group was riding on in glee as the distance between them and that small village was growing smaller. Soon, they would absorb the souls there and be at their most strongest with very little time and energy lost on them. Nemain and Mordred may have absorbed fresh souls back at the keep but one more and so recent should give her a winning edge over Dylan.
Yet before they got there, one of Dylan's creatures pounced out from the brush and cut off their path. It was in front of all of them and snarled. "Just one," Nemain said with some amusement.
"Now," said a new voice. "When is it ever just one?"
The voice's owner also stepped out of the brush and walked forward and stopped to be in line with his conjured beast.
Nemain was surprised but kept her composure. "Dylan...it's been a while."
Dylan just stared at her with an arrogant smirk on his face. "It most certainly has Nemain...How are you?"
End of Chapter 12
A/N: I hope you liked it. I was going to have Madoc and Aithusa go at it in this chapter but I found that it was already long enough to add it but don't fret, the battle isn't over yet. I don't know if any of you can tell but some of this stuff was previewed during Morgana's vision from the last story. The part of a man cloaked in red atop a red dragon. Well, now you know that she was seeing Arthur on Madoc. Also, how did you like the scene with Arthur showing mercy to Odin? That was one of the choices that you guys voted for on my poll so I hope you all liked it. The next chapter will have the second part of the battle and we will see some more of destiny step in on them all.
Pel Tan - Fireball
Pel o Ddwr - Ball of Water
Oddi Ar y Beic - Dismount
Llu O Saethau - Flurry of Arrows
Rhwymo Hi Yn Rhaffau - Bind her in ropes
