Hey guys here is chapter 14, I hope you enjoy it! :) I definitely enjoyed writing it! I've split this chapter into two bits because it was a bit too long so the next one will be up very soon!
Rowan had completely lost track of where Emrys and the knights had gone, the flustered man had hurtled down corridor after corridor but could find no trace of them. A wave of despair engulfed him as he panted, sliding heavily down the wall cradling his head in his hands, what good was he to Emrys if he couldn't even find him, he was a failure.
Just as his eyes began prickling hot and wet, brimming with salty regret a muffled sound reached his ears. The emerald eyed man quickly raised his head, hardly daring to breathe as muted voices drifted around the corner of the destroyed statue beside him. He tentatively pushed himself to his feet and moved cautiously towards the noise, as he rounded the bend he was suddenly bombarded with large golden dragons decorating the many hanging tapestries lining the passageway, immediately recognising the royal seal, he hurried towards the open door. The royal chambers, it must be where the Prince was.
Rowan, without thinking, blundered into the room, stopping dead as the hushed voices abruptly stopped, and a dozen pairs of eyes suddenly gaped at him with the same unveiled shock he surveyed them with.
"Who are you?" a pretty dark skinned girl asked, her voice was confident but Rowan picked up on the wavering fear beneath.
"He's one of them" a red clad knight spat, Rowan recoiled at the venom in his voice flinching away from the angry man "this is the work of cowards, fight us like real men!" the knight continued furiously, struggling feebly against his bonds as the rest of the men began hurling abuse at the small man. Only the pretty girl said nothing, she watched him with a cautious yet unsure expression in her brown eyes.
Rowan attempted twice to make his voice heard but when twice he failed he exasperatedly lifted a hand, muttering incoherent words beneath his breath, bringing his hand down in a sharp motion as if it were an axe slicing through bark. Suddenly everyone in the room fell from their invisible chains, a few losing their footing in shock and crumpling as their legs failed them with misuse.
In an instant they had swiftly recovered and a dozen swords were heading for him, Rowan began raising his hands an explanation on the tip of his tongue when a sharp voice stopped the forward motion of the knights
"Wait!" Gwen shouted, she turned to face Rowan and approached the nervous man "why did you help us?" she asked slowly, genuine confusion wrinkling her brow and she scrutinized the small man. Rowan gazed back at her for a split second, something pure and kind in her face made him tell her the truth instead of lying again "I made a terrible mistake" he stammered "I freed Prince Arthur from the cave, but I've lost track of him and I must help Emr- I mean Arthur, Seskel is so powerful, Arthur doesn't stand a chance"
Gwen narrowed her eyes, trying to absorb the man's frantic words "please, I am not the enemy" Rowan breathed, his eyes wide and terrified as the knights continued to point their weapons at him. Gwen bobbed her head thoughtfully, fixing the small man with an intense gaze "you will help us?" she asked directly, Rowan simply nodded "Seskel is evil and corrupt, he must be stopped".
Gwen turned to look at the knights behind her "we need to help Arthur" she said determinedly "show us where he is" she directed at Rowan, the small man hurried from the room followed by the knights and a determined serving girl.
Back in the grand throne room Merlin glanced quickly around the chamber, all of its inhabitants, injured or not, were cowering against the walls. He felt a colossal amount of relief as he spotted Gaius with his trained hands pressing down on a wound in a boy's shoulder, Merlin recognised the lad from all the times he had been in the kitchens collecting the prince's breakfast and supper. He shared a quick glance with his mentor, the old man's face was grave and he looked at Merlin with a helplessness the young warlock had never seen before.
It frightened him.
His attention was drawn back to the sorcerer as Seskel moved back to the middle of the room, standing dangerously close to Uther, looking the prince up and down, licking his tongue over his rotten teeth greedily. "Oh this was just meant to be" he sneered.
Arthur took a few controlled steps into the room, his eyes boring into the sorcerer's "let these people go they have no quarrel with you" he said calmly, gesturing to the frightened bodies lining the walls.
"Oh but they are citizens of Camelot" Seskel drawled, cracking his knuckles menacingly "and any citizen of Camelot is an enemy of ours".
The knights moved slowly behind the prince, shadowing his movements as they watched the confrontation before them. Merlin had not moved, he was transfixed on the insane sorcerer, his eyes wide and terrified, an absent hand clutching at his chest as it began to throb horribly with an ache he could not pin point, seemingly in response to the corrupt man.
"Only a coward would attack defenceless people, women, children" Arthur spat bristling, appearing to hit a nerve as Seskel visibly swelled, his lip trembling in rage as his dirty fingers balled into fists "then tell me this Prince Arthur" he shouted shrilly "what is your tyrant of a father then? During the great purge I watched as hundreds upon hundreds of innocents were drowned, tortured, burnt at the stake and hung, yet no one stood up for them!" his voice had reached a deranged shriek, his face an ugly purple, a vein visibly bulging in his temple.
Merlin flinched at the wave of raw power that had washed over him, originating from the sorcerer during his outburst, yet something about it was off, it was twisted and warped. In his manic fury the sorcerer had raised the King's sword high above the kneeling monarch "I will avenge all of their suffering!" he snarled, a hysterical grin tainting his face.
"NO!" Arthur yelled, instinctively surging towards his helpless father on the floor, the sorcerer's empty hand moved instantly, stopping the prince in his tracks as if he had run head long into an invisible wall, his feet scraping on the floor as he pushed against the unrelenting force.
"Take me instead!" Arthur yelled in a strained voice, desperation shining on his face, Uther glanced horrified up at his son "Arthur, no" he said pleadingly, terror in his tired eyes. "My father is old and weak" Arthur continued breathlessly "I am the crown prince, the sole heir to Camelot, take me".
Everyone in the room looked on in horror as the prince offered himself to the evil sorcerer "sire" Leon began, shock paling his lightly stubbled face as he and the rest of the knights made to move toward the young regent. Arthur ignored him, eyes still locked with Seskel's as the sorcerer narrowed his slightly, contemplating the prince before him.
Suddenly Uther was hurled across the room, landing in an unceremonious heap on the hard stone, Arthur made to run to his father, worry etched on his face but Seskel was too quick for him. A brutal blow to the back of the head knocked the prince to the ground, dealt by the hilt of his father's sword, his armour clad knees hitting the floor with a dull clang as the sorcerer loomed intimidatingly above him.
A unanimous roar of outrage thundered throughout the room as Leon, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine and Merlin charged for the corrupt man, fury in their eyes, at the same time citizens from the side lines joined their forward motion, desperate to help the prince. At that instant more bodies hurtled through the cavernous hole as Rowan, Gwen and the rest of the knights came pouring into the room, having taken their chance to assist the young regent. Almost every person in the grand room gunned straight for the sorcerer in an attempt to overpower the evil man.
It was a valiant effort, Seskel had to give them that. To a mere man, it would without a doubt be over, he would more than likely be dead before he hit the ground. But for him? These people believed they could over throw him with mere brute force?
With a bellow which shook the ground, sending cracks zig zagging up the walls and windows blasting into the sunshine beyond, Seskel blasted every brave person off of their feet, sending them spiralling through the air. There were cries, whimpers and grunts as bodies were thudded against the walls, once again pinned against their will. Merlin scrunched his eyes shut as his back slammed unmercifully into the cold stone, jarring his throbbing chest, all the air whooshing from his lungs as he struggled to regain the ability to breathe. He could distantly feel the fruitless struggles of Gwaine beside him, the brown haired knight growled furiously, thrashing his body with all his might yet having little success in breaking free.
Seskel clapped his hands mockingly, smiling coldly at the trapped citizens around him "that was quite a show, I thank you for providing some much needed entertainment before the grand finale" he twirled the ornate sword in his fingers, looking down at the prince kneeling powerless below him before glancing gleefully to where the King was held fast against the stone "you know, I think this is the most poetic revenge, allowing you to live, but forcing you to watch your son die knowing it was all your fault, killing you would be kind compared to the guilt that will devour you" he growled, an unforgiving sneer pulling at the corners of his rotten mouth.
Merlin's breath suddenly caught in his throat as he stared horrified at the scene before him, the unthinkable images he had witnessed in the terrible crystals replaying stark and with vivid sharpness before his eyes.
This was it. It was happening. He couldn't let this occur.
His head whipped furiously from side to side as he glanced at those around him, his friends, his mentor, his fellow citizens, all with the same despairing and terrified expressions on their faces as they watched the bowed prince.
"My son, no" Uther faintly cried before his head lolled lifelessly onto his chest, finally succumbing, his already broken mind unable to cope with what was transpiring. He had lost Morgana whom he had treasured beyond everything and now he was going to lose Arthur, his son, heir and pride.
Gwenivere sobbed heart wrenchingly as the prince resigned himself to his fate, his blue eyes met the brown of hers for an instant and a thousand apologies and words that would never be said but also didn't need to be said passed between them.
The prince hesitantly dropped his gaze, pursing his lips and bowing his head as Seskel, a manic delight brightening his blood shot and bulging eyes, raised the sword high above his head.
Merlin suddenly began struggling, panic clouding everything, causing his breaths to come in ragged gasps, it was now or never, he had to do something. He clamped his eyes shut for a millisecond, willing his magic to overpower the bonds restraining him. He could feel it rushing gold and molten to the surface, desperate to defend and protect him.
He had to protect Arthur, he couldn't just stand by, do nothing and watch his friend die just to protect himself. He couldn't watch Arthur be cut down, watch the fate of Albion and everything they were destined to build together die with him.
Merlin swiftly opened his eyes and caught sight of Gaius watching him from across the room, the old man knew what the warlock was planning to do, he gazed at the man he would call his son with an age old sadness in his weary eyes. The shared look seemed to last a lifetime as unsaid memories and a shared suffering passed between the two and the servant knew Gaius had found the apology in his eyes.
Merlin reluctantly ripped his eyes away and focused them intently on the scene before him, willing his gift to aid him. Seskel gazed with a deranged glee at the helpless man beneath him, his arm trembling with trepidation and the weight of the sword held high "goodbye Arthur Pendragon" he snarled as the muscles in his arms began to release
"STOP!" a voice rang through the room, echoing full of an ancient authority and threat sounding so foreign coming from the man behind it. Merlin stood tall in the middle of the room, facing the corrupt sorcerer, determination blazing in his blue eyes, an intimidating confidence radiating from him.
Every eye in the room landed upon the servant "Merlin" Arthur murmured in warning, glancing meaningfully up at his man servant.
"Let him go" Merlin commanded, ignoring the prince, cerulean eyes boring into the hostile ones before him. Seskel lowered the king's sword, eyes narrowing as he took a step towards Merlin "excuse me?" he drawled, each syllable sharp as a dagger, and dripping with venom, how dare this boy confront him like this.
"I said, let him go" Merlin repeated, his confidence and purpose unwavering, Arthur internally scolded Merlin, his face creasing in exasperation, if they got out of this alive he was going to give the servant a scolding and a lecture that would rival all others. The man would be mucking out the stables for a month.
"He is just a simple minded fool" the prince said desperately "Merlin you idiot, stop trying to be noble" Merlin's mouth twitched slightly, a retort along the lines of not him being the stupid prat in this situation about to leave his mouth but he bit his tongue "you know I never do as I am told" he said slowly, never breaking eye contact with the sorcerer.
The corrupt man scrutinized the servant for a moment, taking in his lanky and ruffled appearance "be on your way simpleton" he cackled mockingly, eliciting a ripple of laughter from his followers behind him.
"Last chance" Merlin murmured, barely audible.
Arthur looked in confusion at his servant, the man was either blindingly stupid or actually had a plan, no one sounded that threatening unless they had something up their sleeve.
Merlin glanced suddenly at the prince and Arthur was shocked to see not fear in the servant's eyes, but sorrow and a wisdom Merlin seemed much too young to possess. He had seen the same expression on the raven haired man's face before now, when they had faced the great dragon, when Merlin would suddenly say something which was clever and extremely wise, and then today, when they were trapped in the cave, the servant had worn the same look when telling Arthur he did not want to lose him. Merlin smiled sadly at his friend as resignation set in on his pale face which had become determined and resolute.
Seskel had quickly become bored of the situation "enough of this!" he snarled loudly "how dare you confront me, you are nothing but a mere servant!" with a flash Seskel had hurled a huge fire ball at Merlin, the intense heat of it could be felt throughout the room as it barrelled with lightning speed towards the warlock.
In the last second Merlin had managed to erect a defensive wall of magic deflecting the fiery flames of the hell ball and it dissipated into nothing, leaving a singed odour and a cloud of steam behind.
A lone figure stood silhouetted in the rising condensation before moving purposefully forward, unmistakable resolve bright in his azure eyes.
"I am much more than that".
aaaaaah sorry for another cliffie! Had to divide this chapter into two parts so the next part will be up very shortly!
I hope you enjoyed it and thank you very much for reading! :)