HEY GUYS! SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST PART OF 'MEETING EMRYS' AND I THINK YOU GUYS WILL LIKE HOW IT TURNS OUT! I ONCE AGAIN THANK ALL MY READERS AND REVIEWERS! I LIVE FOR YOU GUYS!
ONCE MORE TIME! I DO NOT OWN MERLIN! *SOBS QUIETLY IN A CORNER*
(Side note: Hey if any of my readers are into angsty bromancey feels then they should check out Hopes And Dreams. Just type it in the search bar along with 'Merlin' and you will not be disappointed! It is the most heartbreaking fic I have ever had the pleasure to read!)
SO CHAPTER TEN! ENJOY!
Chapter 10
"Morgana?"
Ok so you could say Arthur was shocked. Nope, that didn't even begin to describe what he was feeling. He was shocked yes, but also confused, terrified and just a small part of him was happy to have that gaze on him without having to be ready to be flung three thousand yards. He found himself just staring at her, looking just as she did before she spiralled further towards insanity and she was staring back, her horror gone and was replaced by an expression that could only be insane happiness.
How Arthur had stopped hoping he could ever see that look on her face again.
"Arthur!" She beamed and stepped forward, her smile only faltering a tiny amount as he scrambled up and stepped back. "Arthur?"
He stepped back again and found himself backed into the giant figure that was Percival.
"What is she doing here?" Arthur found himself demanding.
The knights ignored him and smiled at Morgana. Gwaine was first to speak. "Good morning Morgana. How is the fair maiden?"
"This fair maiden will feel a lot happier once you stop hitting on her all of the time." She chuckled and the knights joined in. She looked towards Arthur again, the happiness still radiating from her. "Hello Arthur. It's been a while since I've seen you."
Arthur couldn't name what he was feeling at that moment. The way they addressed each other, the way they casually exchanged insults, it was exactly like it used to be and Arthur couldn't help but believe that he finally had his sister back. He was only human and he had wanted the old Morgana back for so long that he just grasped at the idea that she will one day be like this.
"Why are you here?" Something dawned on Arthur. "You're the-"
"Court Sorcerer." Leon finished for him. "Yes she is."
"But what about Merlin?" Arthur turned to face the knights. "If he's not dead and capable of walking, wouldn't he-"
Arthur heard a sigh and turned to find Morgana looking at him sadly. "They didn't tell you the full story did they."
"We didn't get the chance!" Elyan spoke up.
Gwaine nodded. "He skipped from the hall the second we told him Merlin was alive. We tried to call him back but he was too far gone."
Arthur spoke up. "Wait so where is Merlin? And why is Morgana-you know-"
Lancelot laughed and Gwaine answered. "Not attacking us every which way no matter how many times she failed."
Arthur nodded and turned when Morgana coughed slightly. "And that can all be explained if you follow me Arthur." She beckoned and Arthur looked nervously around at the knights and stepped forward when they beckoned him forward. "I know you must feel really strange seeing me like it was in the old days but believe me, I have changed. And you have no idea how happy I am to see my brother again." She was starting to tear up and the knights took their cue and stepped quietly away.
Arthur could feel the familiar burn of tears reach his eyes. "But, Older Arthur? He-"
Morgana shook her head, her expression turned thoughtful. "As you know, the Arthur of our time has been a bit distracted." She sounded so sad for him that Arthur found a smile pulling at his lips and when Morgana noticed, she smiled too. "But to see you as you were all those years ago, is really quite something. I just can't believe you were willing to forgive me and you don't know how much it means to me to be able to speak to you again as a proper sister."
Arthur felt a tear spill from his eyes and run down his cheek. He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "You don't know how long I've wanted the same."
She laughed as her tears spilled as well and Arthur found himself being swept up into her arms, long fingers patting his hair. "Thankyou Arthur."
They parted and smiled brilliantly at each other once more before Morgana beckoned down the hall and they fell into step, side by side like it was always meant to be.
They had been chatting for about an hour before they came to a rusted and barred door, on it was carved some sort of tree. Its branches wove around each other and reached out towards the edges of the door. In the centre of the trunk, there was a single star. It seemed to shine with a power beyond its control, yet it was so protected.
Arthur glanced around him realising that he didn't recognise the huge cavern they were in.
"Morgana?" Arthur ventured.
"Hmm?"
"Where are we?"
Morgana took one last look at the door and turned to Arthur, sorrow reflected in her gaze. "We are beneath the castle. And no, you have not been here before. This chamber was created by me to hold Camelot's greatest enemy and it is from them that you will learn Merlin's story. Now just to warn you, you are not going to like this and whatever happens, do not be deceived." She breathed deeply and raised her arms towards the door. "Now Arthur, I am going to use magic so I need to concentrate, okay?"
Arthur resisted the urge to argue and nodded. "Okay." He mumbled.
Morgana began to open her mouth in a wordless spell and when her eyes flashed that familiar gold, Arthur couldn't help but flinch.
"Sorry." She mumbled but before he could reply the branches of the carved tree began to move.
They began to trace their paths, slowly inching their way towards the trunk, only leaving a gold trace behind them. The star began to shine brighter and as soon as all of the branches had retreated back into the base, the trunk opened and the light exploded, blinding Arthur for a second before shrinking back into itself, leaving the door wide open.
Arthur looked up at Morgana in question but she was distracted, looking deep within the shadowed room. Arthur stepped forward and almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Be careful Arthur. This man is dangerous." She whispered. "I would come in with you, but unfortunately he has blocked me from entering. Just stay calm and whatever you do, do not listen to him."
Arthur was confused. "But you told me to listen to his story."
"Yes his story, nothing else. Don't bother trying to get through to him." She said as she nudged his shoulder and he stepped into the shadows.
"But-" The door slammed shut behind him and Arthur's question was cut off.
He stepped forward slowly, feeling for any traps that may await him but nothing deadly shot at him. He picked up his pace to a steady walk when he heard a quiet sob. It seemed so quiet but still so loud in the echoing silence.
"Hello?" Arthur murmured loudly. "Show yourself."
There was another rack of sobs. "Arthur?"
The voice was so torn, so broken and Arthur found himself recognize the voice. "Merlin? Is that you?"
The sobs stopped and a thick fog suddenly started to rise from nowhere as the voice answered. "Arthur? Help me please. Help me please!"
"Hold on Merlin. Where are you?" He started to walk faster through the seemingly never ending chamber, keeping his vision sharp and listening for Merlin's voice. "Merlin say something."
It was quiet for a moment before a voice answered, still pleading but there was also a hint of coldness there too. "How could you do this?"
Arthur froze on the spot when he felt the breath ghost over his neck. He whirled around to see nothing of no one, only more shadows in the fog.
"Why would you do this?" The voice was getting stronger and more cruel.
"Do what?" Arthur was starting to panic. The beads of cold sweat were pooling over his brow and he felt goose bumps rise on his arms. The fog started to curl around his arms and legs, prickling his skin and winding its way under his skin.
Once again when the voice replied, it was tickling Arthur's neck. "How could you?"
Arthur whipped around once more only this time he saw the person behind the voice. It was most definitely not Merlin.
He still had the same lanky frame, and prominent bones that stick out every which way. His physical form was there but Merlin was not. His usually bright face was shadowed with bones that were way too prominent. His once pale skin had begun to tint a sickly green and the shadows under his eyes were large and dark. The most terrifying aspect of this Merlin though, was his eyes. Instead of their bright and jewelled blue, they had turned dull. So dull that they looked grey, his iris's not too different from his pupils.
"Where's Merlin?"
The Not-Merlin smirked and his eyes blazed gold for the tiniest of seconds. "I am Merlin, Arthur."
Arthur shook his head and took a step back. "No. You're definitely not Merlin. I think I would know my best friend."
Merlin chuckled deep in his chest, the sound cruel and unforgiving. "I believe you lost that title when you sent me here."
All mirth from his voice was gone and Arthur took another step away. "No I wouldn't do that." It was a feeble attempt but Arthur tried anyway.
Merlin narrowed his eyes until he looked like a beast sizing up his prey. "Well who did this then?! Who cast me aside, left me alone and isolated me just because I was trying to be honest!"
Arthur was surprised at the outburst. The Merlin in front of him was exactly the same as Merlin on the outside, Arthur could map out every single feature of his face. But on the inside, the Merlin Arthur knew was gone. Inside was a shrivelled and twisted man in the body of his best friend. This then led Arthur to the question of why.
"Who tore me open and spat on already bleeding wounds?! Who didn't listen to every single story I tried so hard to tell, tried so hard to explain. I TRIED SO HARD! I TRIED TO GET YOU TO SEE THAT I MEANT NO HARM BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I HAD MAGIC!"
Merlin's eyes had started swimming in red and gold. They were the Pendragon's colours but they had never been so dulled, so lifeless. The red of his irises was rusted and turning brown, like the colour of the old blood that stained men's' swords. And the gold was murky and the shade being the colour of off cheese.
Arthur watched as Merlin relaxed, his breathing no longer coming in strangled huffs. "I guess I shouldn't have expected anything more though, you were always so oblivious to the others around you. Four long, long, years I was working for you and you suspected nothing! Looking back I now realise was so simple minded to the world around me and for me to actually believe that you, son of Uther of all people, would actually accept me for who I am but I was obviously mistaken."
Arthur was taken aback. Had he actually been that horrible to Merlin? Arthur thought he was working towards a brighter kingdom and when he had made that truce with the Druids, Arthur thought he was one step closer to being a king that Uther could never have become.
"I was working, I-" Arthur started to say.
Merlin smirked. "Then why make me do what you made me do? Does your cruelty to those with magic know no bounds?"
Arthur could feel tears stinging in the corners of his eyes and he refused to acknowledge the small trickle of the ones which had slid down his cheek. "I always though you supported the way I ruled."
Merlin raised his eyebrows and chuckled once more. "Really Arthur? Is it such a surprise that you should do so much as cry?!" He laughed loud and mocking. "You always were the weakest King I had ever had the displeasure to know! How could you even think that I supported a world which would have me and my kind executed for just being ourselves! Are you really that stupid! I was loyal to you once Arthur and, I vow, I shall never make that mistake again. You know what? Morgana had the right idea back then she was on the proper side. I really would like to take a crack at destroying this god-awful kingdom and replace it with one that was fair and just. Do you know how I would do it?"
Arthur stepped back once more and spun trying to look away, only for Merlin to appear right back in front of him again. It suddenly got very cold and Arthur began to feel numb. He couldn't feel his fingers or toes and his eyes began to dry. The fog started to freeze Arthur to the spot, he couldn't even budge, as it travelled further up his body and through his nose and down his throat.
Arthur was fighting for breath when Merlin continued. "I would firstly walk through the castle grounds tearing anyone who came in my way limb from limb. When the brave and noble Knights of the Round Table gallantly galloped out to stop me, I will tear them apart from the inside and I'll do it slowly, just to see them wretch and squirm."
Arthur tried to speak up but Merlin raised his hand and the seeping coldness settled in his lungs, slowly filling them with ice.
Merlin squeezed his hand and Arthur felt something squeeze inside of him. He gasped and let even more air out, the empty space being filled with nothing but ice.
"Ah, ah, uh! I'm not finished." He relaxed his hand and squeezed again, his smirk showing how much he was enjoying Arthur squirm. "I have not talked about your lovely wife Guinevere." He paused as Arthur managed a gurgled shout and narrowed his eyes. "I would kneel her down in the throne room, pin her so she can't move. I would let my magic hook her skin and peel it off, slowly and painfully. I would make you watch as she screams, screams for your name, and screams for you to save her." His eyes were all rusted red now, no trace of gold or grey left. "But you won't be able to. You'll be glued to the throne where you sentenced so many to death and you will be unable to look away. I will hold you there as you experience what I had to, stuck by your side watching you kill my own kin."
Arthur fell to his knees as his vision started to redden around the edges and he wildly clawed around, for what he didn't know but when he looked up into the cold gaze of his once best friend, Arthur gave up. He just let the tears spill as the images of what he had done and what was to happen filled his head. He collapsed onto his stomach and rolled over until he was looking up to Merlin.
"And you will watch, knowing it was your stupidity and your blindness that caused your people this ache. And you will see the man I am now, knowing that it were you who asked me to be this."
Arthur's vision completely reddened and he was suddenly lost in a gulley of black mists and a laugh so cruel that it had Arthur's insides squirming.
HEY GUYS! I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER I HAD A LOT OF FUN WRITING IT ESPECIALLY EVIL MERLIN! I LOVED IT AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT TOO! AND I'M SORRY AGAIN FOR HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET THESE TWO CHAPTERS UP BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS FORGIVE ME! PLEASE R&R THEY MAKE ME HAPPYYYYYYYYYY! J
UNTIL CHAPTER 11