Chapter 14

The three of them raced to the museum and stopped at the demolished doors. One was hanging on its hinges, a smoky hole in the side while the other swung lightly in the breeze. It was as if a bomb had hit them.

Merlin led the way, not wanting Arthur or Janette to get hurt by…whatever was in there. He stepped over chunks of wood and stone and looked around the dark entry way. Walking forward, he looked around and his heart sank at the sight.

Everything had been torn apart. The front desk with the computer and other logs were completely gone, a pile of chunky ash on the floor. The sitting tables where visitors could examine documents and other objects closer sat in a pile of broken pieces by the left wall. Towards the right, all of the Camelot treasures…gold, silver, jewels…everything was gone. Nothing but black and smoke remained. The same went for the armory, the art, and the miscellaneous sections….in fact, the only thing that had survived were the two long rows of books.

Arthur appeared next to him, Janette wrapped in his arm. Her normally beautiful ebony skin had paled and her bottom lip quivered. Her dark eyes shone with fear. Merlin turned to them, devastation plain on his face at the sight of his whole life's work…destroyed.

"Janette…what happened?" Merlin asked.

She took a step towards the mess, shaking her head. "I was – I was in the armory, you know how I love it there, and I was just cleaning things, making sure everything was alright for when you came back tomorrow. I had my headphones in…I couldn't hear anything. But then…there was this explosion, loud enough to break through anything, so I went to the front of the museum because that's where I'd thought I'd heard it and there was – there was this woman. She wasn't like anything I'd ever seen. Her eyes…they glowed…gold…like a cat's…and she was saying strange things and everything was just disintegrating…and I didn't know what to do so I…I ran into the back room and locked the door…I tried looking for my phone to call you or someone but I had left it at the desk…." She broke into sobs. "I didn't know what to do. I was so scared…I'm so sorry, Merlin!" She turned away and Arthur wrapped her back in his arms, frowning worriedly at Merlin.

The warlock turned back to the scene. If Morgana had been here…what if she had come to the flat? Merlin still wasn't fully healed from his last battle with her…He tried to connect everything, wondering what was going on. She had come to the museum when she could've went to the flat. She had destroyed everything except the books. She didn't even leave a message…or anything. Thoughts flew around his head, spreading from one to the next like wild fire. But one was screaming louder than the others.

What had Morgana wanted from the museum?

xxx

Merlin gave Janette the rest of the week off. The next day, he and Arthur returned to the scene of destruction. With the help of magic, he fixed the place up as best as he could…but, unfortunately, even his magic couldn't bring back the invaluable items from his and Arthur's past. All of those pieces…all of those memories…gone forever.

Over the next few days, the two contemplated the reason for Morgana's attack. Merlin began searching through the books, looking for any sign as to why they were left standing. Near the end of the week, he discovered the answer.

"It's not here!" he exclaimed, carrying the laptop as he walked out of the book stacks.

Arthur looked up from some order forms of possible Camelot items, frowning. "What isn't?"

"A book. I have everything in this entire museum cataloged, including the location within the museum. But this book, it's not there and that's the only place it could have been." Merlin showed him the picture and description.

Arthur read it, his frown growing. "But that – that's a book on –"

"Dragons. I know."

"What would she have wanted that for?"

Merlin stared at the hunter green cover of the book on the computer, his heart sinking. "It can…that book can help her raise a dragon."

"What! Are you suggesting that Morgana now has a very dangerous book that can help her bring about a creature to destroy England?" Arthur exclaimed.

Merlin closed his eyes, pushing the computer away. "I'm not suggesting it. I'm saying that's exactly what she's going to do."

"Well, we have to stop her! I will not let her destroy this world as she once tried to do. You can find her, can't you?" Arthur demanded.

Merlin swallowed, thinking about the other book and its location in London. "I think…I might know where she is."

Arthur stood up. "Alright. That's it then. We'll go and get it and her. She can't defeat the both of us, Merlin."

Merlin remained in his seat, shaking his head. "Arthur…you're not going with me."

The king froze and turned back to him, eyes wide in question. "What do you mean?" Merlin didn't look at him, not responding. Arthur understood the meaning of the silence. He shook his head and crossed his arms. "No. Absolutely not. You're not going alone."

Merlin turned on him, anger and panic flaring in his veins at the thought of Arthur in danger…Mordred stabbing Arthur flashed through his mind, a shadow, and he shuddered at the coldness that had consumed him during his time without the king.

"Arthur, I can't lose you. She's defeated you once and she can do it again. I won't have it. You're staying here."

"And you think that I want you in harm's way? Do you think I could live with myself if you died? Because I can't, Merlin. I've already felt what that was almost like and I don't want to know for real. I'm going with you or we're not going at all!"

"Arthur, you did die!" he shouted, the pain of a thousand years and more bleeding into his voice. "I was left, alone, to watch you and everyone else. I sent you away! I held you as your life left! So I already know what it feels like and I've been living with that for 1,478 years. I can't do it again, Arthur. I won't. I won't make it this time. You can't go. I need you to live. I just…you can't." Merlin turned away as his voice cracked. The tears had come along with the memories and emotions he had been so desperately suppressing all this time. He clenched his teeth.

Arthur stood there, the anger leaving him. His heart ached at the pain in Merlin's voice…in his blue eyes…his usually smiling face. He went over to him and took him into his arms. Merlin turned towards him, clutching to his shirt. Arthur rubbed his, kissing his neck gently.

"Hey. Look. Merlin…I'm sorry. I know…I know it was hard…but I don't want to lose you either…we'll figure something out, alright?"

Merlin glanced up, blinking away tears and trying to smile. Arthur gave him a small smile, catching a tear with his thumb and tracing down the length of the warlock's jaw.

"We should go do something…get out of here…you've been working nonstop to figure this out. You need a break," Arthur said, holding Merlin at arm's length.

Merlin nodded, his thoughts tumbling…. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Why don't you go pick up a pizza from down the street…I just need a minute to arrange things here. Close up and all."

Arthur searched his face carefully before nodding and grabbing his jacket. "Alright. But then it's just you, me, the pizza…and a couch." He grinned and winked, trying to break the tension before heading out the door.

Merlin waited till he was gone before letting out a breath. His stomach rolled guiltily as he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Marcus? It's Merlin. I need a plane for tonight. Can you have it ready by midnight?"

There was a mumbled response and question from the other end. Merlin glanced at the two missing books on the laptop screen, heaviness weighing his heart down about what he was going to do…what he had to do.

"Yes. To London."

xxx

Arthur murmured something in his sleep, rolling over, his back pressed against Merlin's side. Merlin watched him carefully, wide awake. When he was sure that the king was asleep, he stood up as quietly as possible and got dressed. He threw some clothes in a suitcase, grabbed all of his debit cards and a few wallets, added in his laptop, and zipped the whole thing.

Arthur stirred in his sleep and Merlin looked to him anxiously, not daring to move until he settled again. The king snored once and Merlin's heart calmed. He went to the kitchen table, picked up a pad and pen and scribbled a hurried note to the king.

Arthur, I'm so sorry but I had to go. I couldn't let you get hurt. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine and soon this will all be over. Please don't get mad and don't do anything rash. See you soon.

Merlin

With one last glance back at the sleeping knight, Merlin picked up his suitcase and slipped through the door.

xxx

When Arthur woke the next morning, he was surprised to feel coldness next to him. He looked over, groggy eyed, and noted Merlin's absence. With a yawn, he sat up, stretching.

"Merlin?" he called, standing and padding barefoot into the bathroom. Nothing. The warlock was gone. Arthur shrugged and got dressed, figuring the sorcerer had gone to the museum. More research or something.

Arthur went about his usual day. He ate breakfast, watched some telly, went for a walk, and practiced sword-work. It wasn't until much later, when Merlin still hadn't returned, that the king began to worry. When he went into the kitchen that afternoon, he noticed the pale sheet of paper for the first time. Frowning, he picked it up, eyes racing over the words and heart faltering at what the sorcerer had gone to do.

His heart almost stopped and he looked around wildly, trying to figure out what to do. Elizabeth. She could help him. Mind set, he grabbed his sword and ran out the door, heading to the hospital.

"I need to speak with Elizabeth Baxter," Arthur told the lady at the front desk, breathless. She frowned at his mad state, noting the sword, but nodded and paged the nurse.

A few moments later, she appeared, curious, and eyes widening fearfully at Arthur's panicked features.

"Arthur. What's wrong? What's happened?" she asked, ever calm and quiet.

"Merlin. He's gone off to do something very stupid and very dangerous. I need your help finding him. You will help, won't you?"

She watched, wide eyed at the man's earnestness, and nodded. "Yes. Of course I will. Have you tried his phone? Do you know where he is?"

He shook his head and started for the door. "No idea. But I think Janette might be able to find out."

Elizabeth followed him, dialing rapidly on her phone. It rang three times before going to voicemail.

"You have reached the phone of Merlin. I'm not in right now but leave a message and I'll get back to you."

"Merlin, it's Elizabeth. Where are you? Arthur is freaking out right now. We're heading to the museum. Please call me."

She hung up and followed the king up the steps and through the door.

"Arthur," Janette said, surprised to see the man without Merlin. She frowned at his hurried state. "What's up?"

"You have access to all of the records, right?" Arthur asked.

She nodded. "Of course. Why?"

"Merlin's gone god knows where after…after a very dangerous person who has a very dangerous book. I need to know the location of the book.

She nodded again and pulled up a laptop. A few minutes later, the three surrounded the computer. Janette's fingers clicked away as she went through page after page, searching for the misplaced book. Finally, the record, which Merlin had only recently been on, popped up, giving them a picture and address.

"That's in London," Elizabeth said uncertainly. "I'm not quite sure you'll manage well there."

Arthur looked to her. "I know I am asking a lot, Elizabeth. And I know this all may seem very confusing…however, Merlin could be in very grave danger. Will you help me get to London?"

She bit her lip, thinking. Then she gave one, short nod. "Alright, yes. But…we'll have to take a plane. Do you have any money?"

Arthur held up one of Merlin's cards. "Yes."

At that moment, Janette butted in, confused and curious as to what the hell was happening. "Hey, whatever's happening, I want in on it. I did find this place after all."

But Arthur was already shaking his head, walking away. "No, ferocious Janette. You are not allowed to join this battle."

And the king and nurse disappeared through the door before she could argue. She frowned and went back to her book, muttering all the while, "Of course I don't get to do any of the fun stuff. I definitely need to find a better job."

xxx

A few hours later, Arthur and Elizabeth sat on a plane. She had made arrangements at work, had bought their tickets, and had tried calling Merlin two more times before reluctantly joining Arthur on the plane.

The king stared out the window, brooding. Even the sight of soaring past clouds, as if they were birds, couldn't shake his thoughts. He only had one thing on his mind.

Stop Morgana and save Merlin. Before he got himself killed.