The Nightmare begins pt.12
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
"What do we do?" Gwen asked.
"We do as we are told. We stay here. Gaius can take care of himself." Morgana answered.
"I hope so."
Meanwhile, in Camelot, everyone had split up. Merlin and Lancelot walked towards the council chambers.
"DO you know where we're going?" Lancelot asked.
"I can sense the cup with my magic. We're almost there." Merlin answered. Then they were caught by two guards. The guards pulled out their swords and attacked. Merlin and Lancelot fought. Merlin hit both men and they exploded.
"It is supposed to do that?"
"Yeah. Come on, we have to hurry."
Down in the dungeons, Arthur and the knights had arrived. They had killed a few of the guards. One managed to escape. Arthur saw his father in one of the cells. He went in and went to him. He unchained his father.
"Everything will be alright, father." Arthur said.
"She betrayed us." Uther mumbled. Then he looked into Arthur's eyes. "Morgana betrayed us."
"Save your strength."
"Arthur, we have trouble." Leon stated. Then they heard the warning bell ring. Arthur came out and saw several guards.
"Free the rest of the knights." Arthur ordered. Leon and Percival did as they were told while the rest helped Arthur fight off the immortal knights. Meanwhile, Agravaine was in Morgause's chambers.
"Sounds like Arthur is trying to win back his kingdom." Agravaine scoffed.
"They will be defeated." Morgause answered.
"I should go back to my chambers, just in case."
Agravaine went to his chambers while Morgause went to find Arthur. Merlin and Lancelot had made their way to the council chambers. They saw five guards.
"I think Morgause went a little too far with five guards." Merlin said.
"Yeah." Lancelot replied. They fought the guards and managed to get in the council chambers. They locked the door and smiled at each other. Then they saw six guards guarding the cup of life. "Now, I think 11 guards is way too many."
"I agree."
They fought the guards. One of them cut Lancelot's shoulder. Lancelot cried out painfully and Merlin used his magic to kill the man. When the guards were killed, he ran to the cup. He was about to knock it off the pedestal when Morgause came in and violently threw Merlin against the wall. Merlin cried out painfully as his body collided with a pillar and then the wall. He fell to he ground and groaned. Morgause stood over him.
"This will be the last time you ever meddle in my plans." Morgause hissed.
"I wouldn't touch him if I were you." Gaius warned as he came out of the shadows.
"And what do you think you're going to do?"
Merlin caused Morgause to fly against the wall. Morgause hit he wall and fell to the ground unconscious. Merlin stood up only to fall to his knees in pain.
"Gaius, you have to hit the cup with the sword. I can't move." Merlin cried. Gaius picked up Merlin's sword and hit the cup. It flew off the table hit the ground. The blood poured out of it. Down in the dungeons, all the immortal knights exploded. Arthur and the knights laughed.
"Looks like Merlin did it." Arthur said. Arthur went to the cell and helped his father out. "You're safe now."
They walked out of the cell.
"Where's Gwaine?" Elyan asked. They looked around and saw a hallway. "Gwaine, are you alright?"
They heard Gwaine groan.
"What do you think?" Gwaine questioned as he came out. "And that's sir Gwaine to you." The knights laughed. Upstairs, Lancelot and Gaius were checking Merlin over.
"I need to get him to my chambers soon. He could have serious damage." Gaius said. Lancelot nodded.
"Don't worry about me. Where's Morgause?" Merlin panted. They looked over and saw that Morgause was gone.
"Gone. Hopefully far away from Camelot."
Then Merlin whimpered painfully. Arthur and the knights started going around and freeing all the Lords and Ladies. Arthur went into Agravaine's chambers and saw Agravaine.
"Arthur is Camelot safe?" Agravaine asked.
"Yes, uncle. Morgause is defeated." Arthur replied.
"Good. I'm lucky she didn't throw me in the cells. I tried to get away, but she had guards at the door day and night."
"We know. IT's alright."
Arthur and Gwaine got to the council chambers and saw Merlin, Gaius, and Lancelot.
"Are you three alright?" Arthur asked.
"Lancelot has a bad cut on his shoulder and Merlin is severely injured. We need a stretcher." Gaius answered.
"Gwaine."
"On it." Gwaine replied. Gwaine ran out of the room. Arthur and Lancelot helped Merlin lie down on the floor. Merlin cried out in pain as his back hit the ground.
"Is it just your back that hurts?" Arthur asked.
"No. My head hurts. My ribs feel like there's a huge weight on them. My legs ache. My arms feel really heavy." Merlin groaned.
"What happened?"
"He was about to get rid of the cup but Morgause threw him against the wall with magic. He hit a pillar before hitting the wall and then the ground." Lancelot explained. Then Gwaine came in with the stretcher. Arthur and Gwaine helped Merlin on it. Merlin whimpered painfully the whole time. When they got to Gaius' chambers, Gaius checked Merlin over.
"Gwaine, I want you, Percival, Lancelot, Elyan, and Leon to go get the girls and bring them home." Arthur said.
"Wait a minute, Lancelot. Let me treat your arm." Gaius warned. Lancelot had his arm treated and followed Gwaine out of the room.
At the old castle, Gwevian had started crying and wouldn't stop. Morgana and Gwen tried everything they could.
"Something must have happened to Merlin." Morgana said.
"Morgana, you don't know that. Merlin could be fine." Gwen answered.
"No, I know something happened and Gwevian does too."
"Hopefully, they'll be back soon to get us."
A few hours later, the knights arrived. They went in and saw Gwen and Morgana trying to calm Gwevian.
"Is Merlin alright?" Morgana asked.
"No. He's injured. How did you know?" Lancelot wondered.
"I could feel it. Gwevian hasn't stopped crying."
"Then we should get you home now."
They went home. When they got to Camelot, Morgana ran to see Merlin. When they got to Gaius' chamber, Arthur was outside waiting.
"Morgana, Gaius is operating on Merlin." Arthur said.
"What? Why?" Morgana wondered.
"Morgause threw him against a wall. He hit a pillar, then the wall, and then ground. He was fine just in a lot of pain. Then he started coughing up blood. Gaius said that his ribs were crushed and that they may have pierced his lung."
"Was he awake?"
"Yeah. Gaius gave him something so that he would sleep peacefully for at least five hours."
"Ok."
"You should go get settled into your chambers. Take Merlin's things and put them in your chambers."
"What about Uther? What if Gaius finishes?"
"I'll get you if Gaius wakes and father is nothing to worry about. Father is traumatized. He's in his chambers being cared to."
"Ok."
Arthur saw how Gwevian was starting to calm down.
"Do you want me to hold her?" Arthur wondered.
"I can handle her." Morgana answered.
"She might start crying again."
"Fine."
Arthur took Gwevian and smiled when Gwevian remained calm. Morgana went to her chambers and got everything put in it's place. When she was done, she heard the windchimes in the window. She went to it and smiled sadly. Then she went to Gaius' chambers. She saw Gaius talking to Arthur.
"How is he?" Morgana questioned.
"He's sleeping. He's very weak from the surgery. He woke up briefly even though I gave him a very strong dose of sleeping remedy. He's very lucky." Gaius explained.
"Can I see Merlin?"
"Yes, but be very quiet. He needs his rest."
Morgana went in and saw Merlin on the table sleeping. Several pillows helped support his upper body so that he could breathe. Morgana went over and sat down on the bench. She squeezed Merlin's hand and watched over him. Several minutes later, Merlin weakly opened his eyes. He squeezed Morgana's hand. Morgana looked at him and smiled. She moved closer and kissed him. Merlin kissed back.
"How do you feel?" Morgana wondered.
"Not good. It's hard to breathe. My whole body aches." Merlin rasped.
"It will for a while."
"Can I see Gwevian?"
"Sure."
Morgana stepped out of the room and saw Arthur holding Gwevian.
"Merlin wants to see her." Morgana said.
"She's asleep." Arthur answered as he handed Gwevian to Morgana. Morgana went back inside and saw Gaius checking Merlin over.
"He should be fine, but he'll be in bed for quite a few weeks." Gaius sighed.
"Thank you, Gaius." Morgana replied. Gaius went to go a few things. Morgana went to Merlin and helped him hold Gwevian.
"Hey, little one." Merlin whispered as Gwevian opened her eyes. "Daddy missed you."
"She missed you too. When you were injured, she started crying and wouldn't stop."
"I've missed both of you girls."
"From what Arthur says, we'll be able to be ourselves now. Uther is traumatized and can't cause trouble."
"Good."
Gwevian started cooing. Merlin and Morgana smiled down at her.
"She's so precious. I want another." Merlin whispered.
"I do too, but you'll have to wait." Morgana replied.
"I know. How do you feel?"
"A little tired, but I'm fine."
"Good."
Over the next month, everyone got adjusted back into their normal lives. Merlin was moved to Morgana's chambers so that he was a little more comfortable. Arthur had a lot more to do because of his father's illness. Everyone tried to help him. After two more months, Merlin was finally back to normal. One morning, he was caring for Gwevian while Morgana was at a council meeting. Gwevian was giggling and grabbing Merlin.
"Ow. You're going to hurt me." Merlin teased. Then Morgana came in. Merlin could tell that she was upset. " What was it today?"
"Arthur just needs to fire everyone in that council chamber and replace them with sensible people." Morgana answered.
"What happened?"
"They want to raise taxes… again."
"The people can't handle that. Arthur's already raised it higher than most can handle."
"But he also made it known that the people give what they can. They don't have to pay that amount. He just requests that they try to. If the council members have their way, it will be genocide. People will die because they won't have any food or money."
"Arthur won't allow that."
"I know. Then Lord Davis accused me of enchanting Arthur and Uther."
"Let me guess, Arthur dealt with him."
"He tried to. Davis is a very cruel man."
"Try being his servant. I'd rather serve a bounty hunter."
"I know."
"One day, everything will change. We both know that. But we have to wait till Uther is actually dead."
"I know."
"Have you seen him?"
"I went to see him after the meeting. Gwen was caring for him. I know she only does it for Arthur."
"Yeah, well I think Arthur is ready to be king. I think he just needs to take over permanently."
"But he won't. Not unless Uther gets worse."
"Yeah. What did Agravaine have to say this time?"
"Same old. Do you think we should tell Arthur about Agravaine?"
"I'm about to. Arthur and Agravaine may be family, but I know Arthur doesn't always listen to me."
"But he does listen to you."
Then Gwevian grabbed Merlin's neckerchief and pulled.
"Gwevian." Merlin exclaimed. Gwevian let go and looked at Merlin. Merlin kissed her forehead and smiled. Gwevian grabbed his nose. "Ow." Gwevian giggled and let go. Merlin handed her to Morgana. Then he went to see Arthur. He knocked on the door.
"Come in." Arthur said. Merlin went in and saw Arthur looking at paperwork.
"Merlin how are you feeling?" Arthur asked.
"Good. He says that I can return to my normal duties."
"But you are no longer my servant."
"But I can still attend council meetings."
"True. I could use you. Morgana and Gwen try to help but they are women. Most of those men won't listen to them."
"They won't listen to me."
"I know, but it'll be one more person on my side."
"True. Arthur, I came to warn you about someone very close to you."
"What? Who is it?"
"Remember when I was stung by the serket?"
"Yeah."
"I lied about who I saw. I know who it was."
"Who was it?"
"It was Agravaine."
TBC
