Alaia Skyhawk: I know you're all itching to get reading so I won't comment, lol XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

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Chapter 21: The Crystal Cave ~Part 1~

It was the sound of something crashing through the undergrowth that resounded through the forest, two figures running as if the demons of hell were at their heels. Panting with the exertion of their mad dash, Arthur glanced at the black-haired man beside him.

"Why the hell are we running? Why aren't you doing something about them, Merlin?"

The two of them looked over their shoulders, a massive horde of brigands racing after the two of them with obvious physical harm intended.

Merlin flinched, as an arrow whistled past his head.

"Too many of them and too many trees! If I stop to aim then I'm a pincushion! I need some cover!" Arthur cursed, Merlin retorting. "What? So you could do much better against that many in this terrain?"

"Too much talking, not enough running, Merlin!"

They both ducked as another volley of crossbow bolts zipped over their heads and thudded into nearby trees, the two of them turning sharply to descend a rocky gully. Their hiding place proved futile, and once again they were forced to run for their lives deeper and deeper into the increasingly rocky terrain.

They turned a corner, Merlin skidding to a halt for a moment only to be yanked into motion again by Arthur. He had felt like something had just hit him, a blast of power echoing from the earth.

"Arthur... I don't think this is a good direction to travel."

The prince didn't stop, muttering harshly.

"We don't have much choice! The Valley of Fallen Kings is down here, and the superstitious believe it to be cursed."

"I think the superstitious might be right... Arthur, I can feel something down here."

They passed through a gap framed by two massive statues of robed men, Arthur ignoring Merlin's agitated tone. Going deeper into the valley, stone faces peered out from amongst moss and ivy to gnaw even more at Merlin's nerves. He didn't like this place, and he wasn't sure why, but his hesitation slowing both of them down caused Arthur to turn and glare at him.

"Look, they won't follow us down here. Trust me."

Rabid screams of charging men immediately sounded from the direction they'd come, the brigands appearing seconds later as the prince and warlock turned and ran once again.

"You just had to say that..."

"Shut up and keep running!"

More and more arrows shattered upon boulders or imbedded themselves in the earth around them as they ran, the sound of the air over the feathered flights like the buzzing of uncountable lethal insects. Merlin swore as one almost got him in the shoulder, turning on one foot to glare at the archer responsible.

Said archer gasped in pain, as a flash of golden eyes introduced his crossbow to his face, but not before he fired off one more shot. If he did survive the blow, Merlin doubted he would be shooting arrows ever again.

He turned satisfied the man wouldn't be getting up again, Merlin moving to continue after Arthur only to see him face down in the leaf litter ahead of him. That last shot by the archer had taken the prince in the back, and he was groaning in pain and close to passing out.

Cursing under his breath, Merlin grabbed him and half dragged him down the nearest gully. Urgently whispered spells erasing their tracks from the forest floor, while others created a trail of disturbance leading away from the hiding place. Halfway down it Merlin stopped and glared at the rock and stone walls behind him, forcing his laboured breathing to slow so that he could cast a spell.

"Seachmall ar tslanaithe, amhain eaoth do feic!"

The air rippled, seeming to change into rock and earth the same as the walls to either side. It was only an illusion, but hopefully it would stop any of the bandits from taking a closer look down here as Merlin resumed helping the stumbling Arthur. They soon reached a dead end, the sounds of the bandits slowly fading into the distance and disappearing. It seemed the illusion and the false trail had worked, which meant he could now deal with the prince's wounds.

He rolled Arthur onto his front, the prince murmuring groggily.

"What hit me?"

"You have an arrow in your back."

"Really? ...That's nice..."

Merlin stared at him; Arthur was wavering in and out of consciousness. It was clear the prince wasn't going to make much sense right now. Shaking his head, Merlin took hold of the shaft where it emerged from Arthur's chainmail. He had to do this carefully or he could cause more damage than had already occurred. Thankfully the prince was totally unconscious now, because if he'd started screaming then the problem of the bandits just might come back.

As soon as the arrow was out, Merlin undid Arthur's belt and armoured collar so he could pull the mail off over his head. The cloth of the shirt beneath was already becoming soaked with blood, and it was with great urgency that Merlin placed his hand over it.

"Piurihaale dol geben." There was almost no response. The bleeding slowed a little, but the wound didn't close. Frowning, Merlin tried again, his voice harsh. "Le sar iestab hostuur!"

Again the bleeding only slowed, the wound refusing to close. Merlin bit his lip, desperate. This is what he hated about healing spells. Crushed or injured limbs, easy. Wounds to head or torso... insanely hard. Why did the arrow have to hit him in the back? Why not the shoulder, where it would be easy to fix?

"Listen to me, clot pole. I don't care if you die; there are plenty of other princes. You're not the only pompous, supercilious, condescending, royal... imbecile I could work for. The world is full of them. But, I'm going to give you one more chance... Now come on! Wake up!"

He gently shook the prince, the feeling of uselessness bringing tears to his eyes. It couldn't end like this! It just couldn't! He slumped to the ground, staring at his hands in impotency as he began to sob. He'd failed, he'd failed his best friend!

"Tell me... Why are you so sad?"

Merlin flinched, head jolting to look up at the figure that had just entered the gully. It was an old man, garbed in rough robes of earth-toned cloth, and his expression was one of curiosity.

"My... My friend is dying. I can't help him. There's magic I could try, but I'm not sure I can cast it on myself."

The man gazed down at him for a moment, before shaking his head ever so slightly.

"Then do not waste your tears, that magic you speak of is not needed in this case, for I can tell you that his time to die is not yet upon us." He moved towards Merlin, striding past him and over to Arthur. "You need not be afraid, my name is Taliesin."

"I'm Merl..."

"I know who you are." Taliesin had cut Merlin off mid-word, glancing at him before continuing. "The moment of our meeting has been written for many, many long years... You are Emrys." He knelt beside Arthur, placing a hand over the wound in his back. "Welcenoul.."

The single uttered word was accompanied by Taliesin' eyes glowing gold, the sign he was a sorcerer of great power. The effect of the spell on Arthur was immediate, the pallor leaving his face as he was rolled onto his back and a folded cloak placed beneath his head.

Merlin stared in sudden hope.

"Arthur?"

Taliesin looked up at him.

"He is sleeping. Within hours he will be fully recovered."

"Are you sure?"

Merlin couldn't help his doubt, after all both of his spells had failed while a single word from this man had worked. Taliesin just shrugged, looking off into the distance a bit.

"If my memory serves me well..."

Merlin frowned, baffled.

"What do you mean?"

Taliesin turned to face him, regarding him steadily.

"There's something I want to show you, Merlin."

He strode away, the warlock behind him hesitating.

"What?"

"You must wait and see..."

Merlin glanced at Arthur one more time, before setting off to follow the old man. Taliesin had saved Arthur, so he at least owed it to him to see what he wanted him to see. It was a winding path they took through the valley, Merlin beginning to feel ever uneasier as the sense of power in this place grew stronger. They were nearing its source, and he wasn't certain he liked that.

Taliesin eventually stopped beside the narrow entrance of a cave, indicating with a hand that Merlin enter.

Merlin just stared.

"You want me to go in? But why bring me here? For what reason?"

The old man simply chuckled, leading the way into the depths.

"All in due time. You will discover all within."

It was with much trepidation that Merlin once again followed him, agitated and nervous to an extent he could not remember ever having been. It was dark within the passage, and he was barely able to see the man in front of him, but that changed when the passage opened out into a great cavern whose walls were studded with innumerable white crystals. Their pristine facets reflected an unearthly glimmer onto their surroundings, lighting the cave with a serene glow.

Merlin breathed out in awe despite his anxiety.

"What is this place?"

Taliesin answered him.

"This is where magic began... It is the Crystal Cave." Merlin had begun looking at the nearby crystals, but then began to twitch and avert his eyes, never looking at one stone for more than a second. Taliesin noted this, as Merlin began to pace with his breathing agitated. "What is it you see?"

Merlin swallowed convulsively, answering.

"Images... Flashes... I've seen something like this before, in the Crystal of Niatid."

Taliesin nodded.

"What you see here is exactly the same, for the Crystal of Niatid was hewn from this very cave." He pointed at Merlin. "Look into them, Emrys. Really look... Much will be revealed."

Merlin turned to face the crystals, staring into the nearest before tearing his eyes away from it.

"No! Take me... out of here. How do I get back to Arthur?"

Taliesin' expression was firm, his voice stern.

"The future is hidden to all but a very few, Emrys. You are one such person!"

Merlin's refusal was sharp, the fear in his eyes very real.

"No! I've been through this before!"

"Then perhaps there is a reason you were brought here at this moment in time..."

Merlin hesitated.

"What reason?"

"Only the crystals can tell you... They contain futures that are not yet born. The secrets they reveal, Emrys, are unique to you and you alone... Look into them, Emrys. Really look." Merlin started to shake his head, Taliesin's next words sending him into stillness. "Use what you see... for good."

The words struck home, as Merlin fell silent and slowly turned to face the crystals again. He then descended the small slope to walk among them, their whispers drawing him in and leaving him oblivious to the glow that appeared beside the old man. He did not see Taliesin vanish, not at all, as the visions of the crystals sent him flinching from one of them to the next, trying to flee until finally their full message was imparted and he dropped to his knees.

He stayed there, panting in terror.

"What... was that?" Still gasping, still shaking, he clutched his head as his whisper became a scream. "What was that?"

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Alaia Skyhawk: Dun dun dun DUN!