A long awaited chapter for many of you. :) We are slowly heading towards the end of the story (only three more chapters after this, I think) so I would just like to thank you all for sticking to it, and reading and reviewing. It means a lot to know there are actually people out there, enjoying something I wrote. Virtual hugs to all of you!
To asdf; Of course I read your reviews! I'm happy with each and every one of them! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. As for your questions, they will all be anwered in this chapter.
To D; Thanks for the review! The backstory of the necklaces will be told in a future chapter, no worries. :)
Enjoy!
21. For what it's worth
Merlin's brow creased as he saw Elena and Alexander the next morning. Gwaine had told him about the commotion he had obviously slept right trough, and something told him whatever Elena had seen, it hadn't been pretty. He frowned as he saw the angry and hurt looks Alexander kept sending in Arthur's direction, and wondered what had happened to the future king that he had not been able to prevent.
"Ready?" Morgana asked as she came to stand beside him.
He just kept eyeing Elena and Alexander.
"Merlin?" Morgana asked again.
"Yeah, sorry." he said, as he turned toward the noble beauty. "What did you say?"
She smiled. "I asked if you were ready." she repeated.
Merlin nodded as he turned back towards Elena and Alexander.
"Yeah." He said. "I just hope they are too."
Morgana followed his gaze and sighed. "They are. I think they are more determined to let this work then ever before."
Merlin quickly turned towards Morgana. "You know what she saw?" he asked.
"No," Morgana answered as she shook her head. "but giving the looks they are both sending Arthur I think we want to prevent it as badly as they do."
Merlin smiled as he looked at Morgana. It was weird how easy he had forgotten about their likeness of thoughts, and how soon he was getting used to it once again.
"I'm glad you're here." he heard himself say, and quickly looked away before her eyes could meet his.
But he heard the smile in her voice as she answered. "So am I."
-Sent by a king-
"I don't need to tell you to be careful." Arthur started.
"Than why are you saying it?" Merlin asked sarcastically, but Arthur ignored him.
"Just do as we discussed yesterday evening, and we'll meet each other inside."
His look flickered to Gwen, on the other side of the circle, and then back to Elyan and Gwaine, begging them with his eyes to keep her safe.
"Make sure you get there alive, no matter if you have been seen or not." Alexander cut in, earning a grin from both Morgana and Merlin at how normal it seemed for him to finish his father's thoughts.
Alexander's eyes met Arthur's for a moment as the father took over again. "Don't force the fight. Just make sure you make it back alive."
Everyone nodded and was ready to turn as Arthur spoke again, a little less confident than earlier.
"According to someone I have come to see as a friend, I am surrounded by my future most valued knights."
Alexander grinned as Arthur's eyes looked at Elena for a minute before he continued.
"In the present, knighthood is a reserved privilege of nobility, and although I have never really valued that rule" he said as his eyes darted to Lancelot
"I now see the reason I will eventually be the one to break it."
He finally looked up and stared every man in the eye, much like he had done that final day in the future. "The old kings of Camelot believed in equality in all things. I think it is time to revive that tradition."
Merlin grinned as he saw Percival, Gwaine and Elyan's surprised looks. Completely understandable of course. It took a while to see through the pratness.
"And may you or I not be there for that day, then trust me now, when I tell you, that day will come."
It was silent for a while as everyone took some time to let the words sink in.
"Well, I sure as hell wouldn't want to miss that day for the world." Gwaine said as he extended his hand, lightning the mood. "I'm pretty sure there will be free drinks when that happens too!"
Arthur smiled as he took the man's hand.
"Let's go."
-Sent by a king-
"You're quiet." Alexander observed as he fastened his saddlebag. They should be able to flee soon, once they had the egg.
"What makes you say that?" Elena questioned as she did the same.
"The fact you haven't said much all day. C'mon, everyone knows I'm the quiet one."
She didn't answer as she turned away from him.
"Elena, we will change it." he said as he took hold of her arm.
Her eyes bore into his as she struggled herself free.
"Yes, I will."
Alexander quickly stepped in front of her.
"What are you planning?" he demanded.
"Nothing." she said as she tried to make her way past him, not meeting his eyes.
"Elena." He said, warningly as he stopped her again, his hand on her arm. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid or reckless or… Promise me you won't try to be a hero."
Only then she looked up. "Shouldn't I be the one telling you this?" she questioned him, a small smile gracing her beautiful face.
"Promise me." he told her again, for once not falling for her charm, as he took her hand and squeezed it. "Elena."
She didn't answer.
"I won't let you go until you promise me." he said again, still holding her hand.
She looked him in the eye and sighed. "I promise."
Alexander nodded, obviously relieved as he let go of her hand. He looked over her shoulder to see Morgana waiting for her.
"I'll see you inside."
Elena nodded, but before she could turn he grabbed her hand again.
"I…" he began, but she cut him off, her hand on his lips.
"I know." was all she said, smiling sadly, and before he could finish his sentence she was already gone.
-Sent by a king-
"Do you think Elena and Morgana will wait for us, once they cross those spells?" A nervous Merlin asked his two companions as they made their way through the thick forest surrounding the western side of the castle.
Neither of his friends answered, but instead only quickened their pace as the dark beginning of the tunnel came into sight. Arthur quickly lightened a torch and hurried inside, swiftly followed by Alexander, and eventually by Merlin. There hung a tense silence between them as they slowly made their way through the dark. Every drop of water sounded like a footstep, and every shadow of a rat, was that of a possible knight. It seemed more like days than hours before they finally reached old steps, carelessly carved into the foundation of the mountain. Alexander and Arthur exchanged a look before they slowly made their way up. It was silent. Way to silent, for Arthur's liking.
Suddenly the sound of a crashing bucket resounded through the old dusty part of the dungeons they were now most likely in. Arthur and Alexander turned, swords drawn, ready to face the first knight who would round the corner, only to see Merlin next to a bucket with an apologetic look on his face.
"Merlin!" the servant saw his master mouthing. "You idiot!"
Alexander just turned back around and waited. And still, no sound of echoing footsteps or clinging swords was heard. They slowly continued their way up, finally reaching the ground floor of the castle, still not a knight or servant in sight. Arthur frowned as he stared at the double wooden doors of what he thought to be the throne room. He send Alexander a troubled look.
"This isn't right. It's way too easy."
Alexander nodded, and kept looking around, half expecting knights to suddenly appear out of nowhere and surround them. Still, nothing happened. Arthur reached for the doors, opening them with a sudden movement, cautiously looking around him as he stepped in.
"What is wrong here?" He whispered to Alexander, dead on his heels. "Where is everyone?"
Suddenly the doors behind them slammed shut, sending both knights to turn around, weapons ready, only to have them magically fly out of their hands. Arthur stared at his hand in shock, than back at the man that had been standing behind the door.
"Arthur, how nice of you to join us." Bayren started, in the meanwhile making his way to the throne on the other side of he room.
Arthur followed him with his eyes, until his gaze fixed on something behind the throne. Or better, someone.
"Guinevere." Arthur breathed as his eyes met hers.
Bayren went on as if he hadn't spoken.
"Though it took you long enough."
All of his friends were there, hands tied behind their backs, knives without masters wielding them at their throats. Only Morgana and Elena were missing. Until he followed Alexander's gaze that is, and gasped at the sight in front of him. The most amazing thing unfolded before Arthur's eyes; a small brilliant waterfall, cascaded through one of the inner walls of the throne room, before disappearing into a small basin. It was…beautiful. At least, it would have been beautiful if his adoptive sister and a girl he had come to see as a friend had not been tied to the wall next to the fall, one hand of each touching the cascading water.
"Morgana!" Merlin cried out as he saw the unconscious beauty tied to the wall. Arthur send his servant a surprised look.
"Don't worry gentlemen." Bayren said as he followed their gaze. "She's just a little beaten. The spell I cast on her took a little more energy out of her than I expected."
"What spell?" Arthur demanded, taking a step towards Bayren menacingly.
Bayren looked at the prince amused. Really, what was he going to do?
"The seeing spell." Bayren explained as he dramatically made his way to the waterfall and the two sorceress, turning his back to Arthur, Merlin and Alexander like they were no threat at all.
"My great-great-grandfather built this castle around the cave he found his dragon in, attracted to the raw magic of the mountain. He was a Dragon Lord."
He chuckled as he noticed his mistake.
"But of course, you already knew that."
He turned back to face Merlin and than the Crown Prince of Camelot.
"The cave's water is mingled with the purest form of Magic, making it a perfect scrying crystal."
One look at the cascading water was enough for Merlin to know Bayren was telling the truth. He could all but feel the power.
"Problem is, seers are pretty hard to get your hands on these days." Bayren said as he started pacing again. "But it was just my luck you brought me the two most powerful ones in the world, telling me everything I wanted to know; past, present and future. Including that quickly self-designed master plan of yours."
Arthur turned his frustrated glance back to Bayren.
"When I felt someone pull at the magic boundaries of one of the tunnels underneath the castle I knew you were coming. I didn't expect you to bring this many friends, though. But whatever." he said as he started to laugh, as something very funny suddenly occurred to him
"The little witch wanted to fight my herself. Get the job done before you even arrived."
Arthur's eyes shot to a barely conscious Elena. He could guess how that had turned out.
"Ow, but that's right. I didn't tell you how I knew you were coming in the first place." the sorcerer said, clearly enjoying himself.
Suddenly two knights appeared from behind one of the pillars, dragging an old man between them.
"Fabian." Merlin whispered as he recognized the old storyteller.
"I take it you have met before." Bayren said as he glimpsed at Merlin before turning back to Arthur.
"My knights arrested him early this morning, when he was spreading word trough the village that salvation was on it's way."
Arthur looked at the man between the two soldiers and sighed before turning back to face Bayren.
"Release him." he demanded. "He told you what you wanted to know. He is of no more use to you."
Bayren snickered at that. "No, I guess he is not. But since you care…" and with a simple nod of Bayren the knights dropped the old man to the ground, no restraints or knife necessary as he was to beaten up to even stand. "…I'll keep him a little longer."
"Horsefucker!" Alexander muttered.
"Ah…you must be Alexander... son of Arthur and Guinevere Pendragon... Crown Prince of Albion." Bayren showed of with his new knowledge, as he started to make his way to the young knight.
Arthur's head snapped to Alexander, the latter one squaring his shoulders.
"What if I am." He challenged, the time for cautiousness long behind him.
"So much like your father…and yet so much like your mother." Bayren remarked. "Who would have believed Uthur Pendragon's son would marry a servant…" Bayren trailed off as he eyed Gwen, who was frantically looking for Arthur's eyes.
"Let them go." Alexander said low, menacingly.
"Who?" Bayren asked, acting dumb as he started to pace again. "You can understand I'm a little confused, giving all the people I have captured here. Your knights? Your parents? Your love? Hers?" He asked as he slowly made his way past all of them, earning several death glances, especially from Gwaine.
"All of them." Alexander said, still threatening.
"Excuse me, her parents?" Arthur suddenly intervened.
"You're as blind as a bat Arthur Pendragon. But apparently it runs in the family." Bayren said, now eying Alexander.
"What is that supposed to mean?" the latter one asked, wanting the sorcerer to focus back on him, instead of his father.
"You and the princess of course." Bayren said, motioning to Elena. "So caught up in doing what is right for Albion to see what you want is what you are destined to do. Uniting Albion and Avalon once and for all."
"What, princess?" Arthur asked again.
"Ugh, I guess introductions are in order first." Bayren said as he dramatically motioned towards Elena.
"Meet Elena, daughter of Morgana Le Fay and Emrys, crown princess of Avalon."
"Don't you mean Avian?" Alexander interrupted, not wanting to show Bayren what affect the revelation of the prophecy had on him.
"She will never rule Avian!" Bayren suddenly burst out, losing his calm and superior behavior for the first time.
"I will make sure of that. No descendant of Balinor will ever rule this kingdom! Over my dead body."
Alexander's eyes narrowed. "That was the idea."
Merlin just looked at them. Balinor's descendant…Emrys' daughter…
"Who the hell is…" Arthur began to say, clearly as confused as his friends, but Bayren cut him off.
"You see Emrys," he said to a shocked Merlin, still trying to comprehend he had a daughter…Elena…with Morgana no less.
"This is what happens when you're too scared to live up to a name."
Arthur followed Bayren's stare, only to see Merlin. "That's the second time…" and suddenly it seemed to dawn on him. Now he thought back of it, it all made perfect sense: Merlin's supernatural luck in surviving, his own luck in surviving, how Merlin knew all about Avalon and stuff.
"Shall we help the prince jug his memory?" Bayren suggested as he extended his hand to an in the meanwhile wide-eyed Morgana.
When had she woke up? Before the surprise about Bayren revealing Elena was their daughter apparently. When Merlin realized Bayren was about to use her powers again, he pushed himself forward.
"No!" He screamed as he outstretched his hand, but Bayren turned around in record time, and before Merlin could even think about casting a spell, he was hit to the ground.
Bayren turned back to Morgana like nothing had happened and when he stretched out his hand, the Queen of Avalon once again lost consciousness as images started to appear in the water beside her.
Merlin slowing time and killing the old sorceress, saving Arthur for the first time.
Merlin again, bringing those snakes in Valiant's shield to life, creating wind so Arthur could defeat the Afanc, taking Arthur's place in drinking from the poisoned chalice, guiding him out of the cave, casting a spell on Lancelot's sphere so he could kill the Griphin.
Merlin defeating Edwin, killing Sophia and her father and saving Arthur from drowning.
Merlin, asking Kilgarrah to forge Excalibur, saving Ealdor and following Arthur into the maze after he killed that unicorn.
Merlin killing Tauren's men, offering his life for Arthur's on the isle of the Blessed, killing Nimueh.
Alexander's eyes shot to Morgana. This was draining her.
Arthur just kept staring at the water and the images still flowing through them.
Merlin saving Arthur from that wild boar, saving Camelot from Sigan.
Merlin killing the assassin Myror.
Merlin killing Hengist.
Merlin poisoning Morgana and saving Camelot.
Merlin taming the dragon.
Merlin,
Merlin,
Merlin…
Arthur's head started spinning as he realized none of these heroic acts were his. Merlin had been the one to save the day all along. People had been honoring and admiring Arthur, while actually, they should have honored and admired , clumsy, bumbling Merlin
"He saved your live so many times. All for nothing it seems. Apparently, even the mighty can fall." Bayren spat at Merlin, who still hadn't moved.
"No one left to save you know, is there?" Bayren asked as he straightened, and before Arthur had even the slightest chance of reacting he shot an energy blast towards him.
"No!" A loud cry suddenly echoed through the hall as Merlin threw himself at Arthur, sending him backwards against the ground while he took the full force of the blast.
He was only down for a second before he crawled up again, and faced Bayren, a whole burnt in his clothes, but not a scratch on his skin.
"You should not have touched my friends." Merlin said in a low voice Arthur had never heard him use before.
Suddenly, Merlin's hand shot out and cast a blast of his own, forcing Bayren to take a step back as he blocked it, and some of the knives at his friends' throat to fall. Arthur could see why everyone seemed to be whispering Merlin's sorcerers name in awe.
"Impressive." Bayren said as he took a step forward again, and by the look on his face, he truly meant it.
"But come now Emrys, you don't really want to do this now, do you? We are family after all…."
"No, we are not." Merlin said, looking his uncle in the eye, and despising him more than he would ever thought possible.
Bayren grinned, as if he had expected this reaction.
Another blast from Bayren, another block by Merlin.
"Servant for a Pendragon prince while you could be king. You're just like your father!" Bayren sneered at Merlin
"You know nothing about my father! You are nothing like him!" Merlin suddenly yelled, tears starting to form in his eyes.
"No." Bayren said, as if he was glad that was the case. "Balinor always wanted to do what was good and right. And look what that got him. A life in exile, hiding in a cave."
This was the first time Merlin had to take a step back.
"You knew…you knew he was still alive?" he asked Bayren, shocked.
"Of course I knew." Bayren snickered. "And the only reason I didn't have him killed, is because I knew he would never come back anyway. Not after what he had done. The stupid fool would never forgive himself. You're just like him. So insistent to do the right thing that you would hide behind another man if that was what it takes."
"I don't expect you to understand," Merlin said as he banned the tears from his face and took a step forward again.
"because you don't see everything. Like when Nimueh poisoned that chalice. Arthur risked his life for me, a servant, to get the antidote. And in that maze, he took the poison, took his responsibility, willing to die instead of a servant, again. He helped the druid boy escape, he helped me safe Ealdor. He risked his life for Gwen, for me, and for the entire of Camelot over and over again. Everything I did, I couldn't have done without Arthur's help. We're but two sides of a coin. I don't expect you to understand, cause you don't know what it is to have a friend."
"Touching." Bayren snickered.
Another blast, another block.
"You are going to dodge my blasts forever Emrys? Protect him forever?"
"I am happy to serve him until the day I die." Merlin said solemnly, earning a look from Arthur as he recognized the words.
"Okay. But why? Look into his eyes…you really think he's your friend? You really think he will accept you for who you are? What you are?"
Suddenly a trace of doubt flashed across Merlin's face.
"He will betray you Emrys. Just liked his father betrayed yours."
Bayren had barely finished that last sentence as he was suddenly hit by the strongest blast until now.
"That is not true!" Merlin cried out. "Arthur is nothing like his father!"
Bayren smiled as he got up, pleased he had hit home.
"And still you stand alone. You didn't dare to tell, nor show him who you really were. You stand alone"
"Not alone." Elena said as she came to stand beside her father.
Somehow, between the blasts and dodges, Bayren must have lost concentration, and the bounds that bound her to the wall, had been broken.
"Never alone." Alexander added as he stood on Merlin's other side, and somehow their necklaces had made their way from underneath the layers of clothing, showing the world the union of Dragon and Sword once more.
Bayren grimaced at the sight.
"You think that can touch me?" He sneered at the dagger Alexander was holding.
"You think you can defeat me?" A sneer directed to Elena.
She actually smiled as she answered. "No. But than again, I don't have to."
She glanced at Merlin for a second before turning back to Bayren. A little shaken by the girl's obvious self confidence, Bayren's hand shot out towards her.
"No." Merlin said, calmly, as if he was reprimanding a young child as he held out his hand, simply dismissing the blast.
Bayren just stared at him, completely enraged now.
"You have some skills, I have to give you that Emrys." He said as he seemed to weigh his options.
In the meanwhile, Merlin was trying his hardest not to show what kind of effect these spells and blocks were having on him, his face a mask of concentration and false bravado.
"Why waste it like this? Why not join me, my nephew?"
What started as a grin on Merlin's face quickly became a soft laugh.
"You know how many times I have had that offer?" he questioned. "What about my loyalty to Arthur don't you understand?"
He asked, nearly losing his balance, and the smile on Bayren's face told him he had noticed it.
"I will serve him untill the day I die." he spelled out.
"Than you die!" Bayren spat as he suddenly thrust both hands forward, a huge yellow light appearing and shooting towards Merlin, who, just in time, drove his own hands forward, a blue light appearing and meeting Bayren's blast halfway, connecting, and sending side blasts everywhere.
Bayren had to take a step back when the light's connected, but so did Merlin, and the latter one knew he would not be able to keep this up much longer.
If there was ever a time to be that great warlock everyone seemed to think he was, now would be it.
In the meanwhile the raw energy of the two connecting blasts blinded most in the room, enlightening the two sorcerers on each end. Merlin staggered back a little, but all it took was one glance at Elena and Alexander on either side of him, and he knew he wasn't alone in this. So he put a step forward again, trying to get the side blasts as far away from his friends as possible.
Both sorcerers faces were a mask of concentration and pure exhaustion. Just when Merlin thought he couldn't take it any longer, the connecting blasts flickered, like saying to Merlin it was now or never, and with the last fiber of strength he had left, Merlin pushed his power forward, the blue light racing towards Bayren, and then, an explosion, causing both sorcerers to fly through the air.
Bayren was dead before he hit the ground.
"Dad!" Elena cried out as she hurried to the fallen Merlin.
"Dad?" she asked again, silent, kneeling down beside him.
Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.
He frowned as his sight was kind of blurry, until Elena's face and voice finally came trough.
"Arthur?" he managed to croak.
"He's fine." Elena smiled reassuringly, glad her father seemed to be okay. Figures that his first thought would go to his future king.
"Morgana?" he suddenly whispered, trying to get up. And of course his second would go to his future love.
"Mum's fine." Elena said again, as she held him down by the shoulder.
As if summoned Morgana's face appeared above Elena's shoulder, and she and Merlin exchanged an awkward, yet relieved smile.
And than suddenly, Arthur came into view.
"I can't believe it…" the Crown Prince muttered.
"Arthur…" Merlin tried to explain as he finally got up.
"…You knocked up Morgana?"
Many of you saw this coming, so I hope the way I wrote things lived up to the expectations.
I can't take credit for the 'horsefucker' though. I was going for 'son of a bitch', but a friend suggested this sounded a little more midieval. ;) Thanks Anaïs!
I used the fight between the Charmed ones and Billie and Christy (Charmed-season8) as inspiration. For the ones who want a visual, just youtube 'charmed big bang'. :)
As always, let me know what you think!