Reawakening
Story 3 in the Reforged AU
CHAPTER 21
Battle engulfed the island. While their forces weren't actively losing the battle. They could hardly call barely staying alive winning, either. Prevented from reaching the Rowan tree by a wall of flame, the sorcerers now faced an enormous fiery being that attacked them from behind. With a slash from its huge fiery sword, dozens of the sorcerers were cut down. Their lives snuffed out.
The being stood easily fifteen feet tall, taller if one took into account the obsidian horns curving out dramatically from its forehead. Equal parts beast and man, in appearance; the being had cloven hooves beneath goat-like legs, and a long tail. It held its flaming sword in claws and snarled at them with a wolf-like snout. But it had arms and a torso like a man. And above the beastly snout, very human and intelligent eyes glared at them malevolently. Its skin moved. Black plates sliding over a molten metal skin. Where in another animal there might be hair or fur covering its legs, tipping its tail, and making up its large mane, on this beast they seemed to be living flame.
The heat was rolling off of it in visible waves. Merlin and his allies were packed into the courtyard with nowhere to run. The creature seemed in no hurry to kill the sorcerers, as it burned the bodies of the poor souls it had killed and ingested the ash with an air of supreme satisfaction. The remaining sorcerers pressed back towards the wall of flame, desperately trying to get away from the huge monster.
"An ifrit!" Vadoma's shocked yell pulled all eyes to the Atzinganoi seer. "Link quickly! Give me your energy! No, not you, Emrys! Not you Morgana!"
Grateful for the order, for someone who knew what they were facing, the Druids and Atzinganoi sorcerers immediately linked together; funneling their power to their leaders. The Atzinganoi funneled their energy to Purah. Then the Druid Chieftains and Gaius linked with Purah, the seer's second-in-command funneling their combined power to Vadoma.
The effect on the woman was instantaneous. Floating several inches off the snowy cobblestones, she appeared weightless. Her silver hair floating around her as if she were underwater. Her black eyes snapped open and she pointed her staff at the ifrit.
With a voice that sounded like hundreds of people speaking as one, she ordered Merlin and Morgana to continue on. "Go. Go now and find Elolam. We will take care of putting out this fire."
"I'll burn you. I'll burn you all."
Vadoma's laughter was terrifying as she responded to Elolam's threat and began her battle with the giant fire demon.
Merlin and Morgana shared a quick glance before nodding as one. They trusted their allies and knew that they were incredibly powerful. They turned their attention to the wall of flames blocking the entrance to the courtyard where the Rowan grew.
Morgana extended her senses, feeling for the wells that had, she remembered, provided fresh water to the inhabitants of the island. Locating one just on the other side of the flames, she linked quickly with Merlin. Extending their staves in the direction of the well, they pulled water from its depths. The water gushed from the well like a geyser. Shooting up into the air fifty feet and dousing the flames with a sizzle and a thick cloud of steam.
They could hear the beast scream as Vadoma attacked. But they put that battle behind them. They had a more important task.
Together, they passed through the wall of steam and stepped into the central courtyard. Once the most holy site to the Old Religion. Racing towards the Rowan, they extended their staves once again, gathering up all of their power and prepared to unleash it on the ancient tree.
"It appears that I will have to take care of you two myself."
Rising from the roots of the tree there grew a large black form. Seeming to be equal parts black tar and greasy smoke, he rose at least thirty feet tall. Turning glowing red eyes on the two sorcerers, he smiled. Baring pointed teeth dripping with black poison. This was Elolam in his true form. It had to be.
Merlin and Morgana shifted their focus immediately and hurled a giant bolt of pure energy at Elolam. Intent on destroying the dark God before he could do any more damage.
But he simply laughed and dissolved, allowing the bolt to pass harmlessly through him. The energy smashed into one of the ruined towers, which exploded into fine dust on impact.
He turned then, and shot bolts of black energy towards the sorcerers as he moved away from the tree. They dove aside, narrowly avoiding the blast. Separated, they ran in opposite directions. Depriving Elolam of a single target. As they ran, they flung bolt after bolt or white energy at the God in rapid succession. He wasn't able to dodge them all. And the few that hit had a large impact. Those places where he was hit with the pure power were made solid. Resulting in a horrifying patchwork of tar, smoke, and black rock.
Turning his attention to Merlin, Elolam advanced on his chosen prey.
"You will give me what is mine or I will take it as is my right! I am superior! Who are you to challenge a God?"
"I'm Merlin! And you're going to be very sorry you came here!" Merlin shouted. "This land does not belong to you. It belongs to us! And the Goddess who loves us!" He shot wave after wave of energy at the dark God as he retreated further into the ruins. Intent only on drawing the monstrosity away from Morgana.
"Foolish Goddess. Sharing power with worthless beings like you. When you're under my control this 'magic' will be a thing of the past."
"You would take us against our will! Turn us into monsters! We will never choose to serve you! We have free will!" Merlin only half paid attention to what he was actually saying. The majority of his focus was on evading Elolam and formulating a plan of attack.
"Free will? Of course you have free will! Love me or burn for eternity. It's entirely your choice."
While Merlin distracted Elolam, Morgana crept up behind him. Aiming carefully, she unleashed bolts of energy at each of the places that were now solid. But he heard her approach. Turned with impossible speed and grabbed her around the hips in one foul hand. Pinning her arms to her sides. Lifting her to his face. His claws raking her sides and piercing her skin.
"Morgana. How glad I am to see you again. I had you once, High Priestess, but you managed to escape before my work was complete. You will not be so fortunate this time. I will make you mine!"
Morgana spit at the God. Furious with herself for falling into his trap.
"Now now. Is that any way to treat an old lover?" He leered at the Priestess and leaned close, his fetid breath rolling across her in waves.
"Stay away from me you foul monster! I have never been yours and I will never belong to you!"
He opened his jaws and extended a long black tongue, licking Morgana's chest and neck thoroughly. Causing her to retch. "Oh but you're wrong, little Priestess. I had you every night while you lived here with me. You thought those were dreams. But I assure you, those nights were quite real. You moaned and writhed beneath me like the wanton you are. I am looking forward to resuming our affair. Your little bodyguard can watch, if he promises to behave."
Morgana screamed in rage. "No! It was never you in my dreams! It was only Merlin!"
"Merlin? This same Merlin that even now is climbing that tower and planning on ambushing me? Well now isn't that interesting."
Morgana paled when she realized her mistake. She had revealed that Merlin was far more than her bodyguard. He was a weapon that could be used against her. And she was a weapon that could be used against him, in turn.
Turning his head to a darkened walkway above him, Elolam taunted Merlin. Who he knew was hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce. "Worship me and when you die you can sit at my side for eternity. I might even stop what I'm about to start."
With his free hand, Elolam ripped Morgana's robes from her body. Leaving deep gouges in her fair skin from his claws. At her screams of pain, the God merely laughed. "Such a prize," he taunted. Licking her skin and laughing at her helpless struggles.
"Morgana!" Merlin screamed at the sight of his bleeding, terrified wife.
"Don't fall for it! Don't let him know where you are! Move! Get behind him! I will be fine!" She ordered. Even in his mind, her tone brooked no disobedience. "End this!"
Merlin nodded. Hating himself for agreeing with her plan. Moving stealthily across the walkway and descending through a tower.
As Merlin moved into position, Elolam enjoyed himself. Artistically, he cut swirling patterns and designs into Morgana's creamy skin. Carving runes of his power into her flesh. Her blood and tears giving him a nearly sexual satisfaction. But it wasn't enough. Merlin completely dismissed, Elolam lost himself in his twisted ministrations, carving every exposed inch of her skin and preparing to do far worse.
Merlin acted before Elolam could violate Morgana any further. Stepping out from the shadows with a primal roar, Merlin pointed his staff at the God and unleashed raw power. Engulfing the god in blinding white light. Where he had been hit before, the light burned away the stone, leaving nothing but ash. And where he was still tar and smoke, he became solid.
Screaming, Elolam flung Morgana away like a rag doll. Certain that she would bleed to death in moments, he focused again on Merlin. This bodyguard was proving persistent.
Their battle took them across the ruined temple and beyond. Onto the snow-covered hillside, they fought. Merlin leading Elolam away from Morgana once again. But unlike the last time, this time they were in constant communication. He was giving her time to heal. She was his secret weapon.
Merlin moved to a cliff edge and faced Elolam. Smiling, he pointed his staff at the God. "It's time for you to die! You will not destroy our Goddess!" He yelled.
"I will be the only God on this world! All others will be destroyed. One by one. Do you think your puny Goddess is the first? Fool! She is but the latest in a long line!"
But as Elolam talked, Morgana got into position. Pointing her staff, she unleashed not a bolt of power, but a massive gust of wind. The plan was to knock the God over the edge of the cliff, giving them a precious few moments to send a combined bolt of power at his falling form. But again, he sensed her presence. Turned at the last second with a shocked look on his face. Leaping into the air he avoided her attack. Lunged at her.
But she wouldn't be caught so easily again. And now Elolam again fought both sorcerers at once.
Merlin fairly flew across the white hills. Shooting bolts at the God in such rapid succession that they seemed a solid blast. He was so beautiful. So graceful. His sleekly muscled body easily maneuvering across the rocky hillside. The sight startled Morgana and pulled her attention away from Elolam. The dark God saw his chance and took it. Reaching out he once again grabbed Morgana with one clawed hand. But this time he didn't bother tormenting her. This time he knew that Merlin was his true enemy. And he knew exactly how to most hurt the little sorcerer.
"Fool. You matter not. And you have been adequately distracted. Witness the destruction of the one you love."
Enjoying Merlin's screams demanding that he stop, Elolam lifted the wildly struggling Morgana high into the air. With a crushing grip, Elolam squeezed the High Priestess. Crushing both her staff and her bones in his punishing grip. Laughing maniacally, he flung her lifeless body over the cliff and into the icy waters of the lake with a mighty throw.
Merlin called for Morgana in his mind. "Morgana. Are you well? I wish I could take that pain away. I'm so sorry you've been hurt so badly! Will you be able to rejoin the fight? Don't try to come back in if it's too painful. He must certainly believe you're dead." Merlin was worried about the pain that his wife must be suffering. "Love? Talk to me. I need you to talk to me."
But she isn't there. "Morgana. Please, talk to me."
Silence met his call.
"Morgana?" His call became desperate. He screamed her name. "MORGANA!"
But still there was no reply.
This wasn't supposed to be possible.
The world closed in on Merlin in that terrible moment. The color leached from everything around him. A deafening silence roared in his mind where Morgana's voice should be.
Merlin fell to his knees in disbelief. Morgana. The other half to his soul. Was gone.