The characters of Merlin unfortunately do not belong to me but this fan fiction does so please enjoy.
Chapter 21
Returning to the land of the living was like diving into a winter lake. Merlin's nerve endings screamed with sensation and he choked as his lungs filled with the hot air of the cavern.
"By the Gods!" He gasped, collapsing to his knees. It took him at least a minute before he could climb to his feet and look at the chaos raging around him. "Gwen!"
The servant girl was charging towards him with a dagger, eyes filled with murderous intent. But instead of slamming into him she passed right through Merlin, letting out a battle cry as she stabbed an enemy who was attacking Lancelot.
"They can't see me." he realized, staring down at his wavering torso. "Where are the amazon's?"
He wove through the fighters-their only acknowledgement of his existence being a shiver whenever a ghostly limp touched them-in search for the enthralled female warriors. He finally found one, holding her own against Percival and Galahad. Just as she was about to deal a death blow Merlin leapt forth and grabbed the silver strand out the back of her neck.
It actually surprised him how easily it broke, lingering in the air for a few seconds before disappearing in a cloud of crystal dust. As it did life returned to the amazon and she stopped her weapon at the last seconds.
"Who, what?"
Galahad and Percival reflected her confusion. But confusion turned to anger when the amazon saw Morgana.
"TRAITOR!" She roared, charging at the sorceress.
Morgana was able to dodge the sword but was caught in the cheek by a punch so strong it sent her to the ground. When she tried to regain control of the amazon she found herself attacked by another.
"Tonight you die, oath breaker!" Growled the furious warrior.
Morgana's heart raced in fear as she avoided the two and called out to the other. The third obediently turned to her but stopped and charged, her eyes glowing and alive. As she thrusted her spear Morgana saw the ghostly figure holding the remains of her spell.
"MERLIN!"
"Of course she can see me." Merlin muttered, dodging a ball of magic. He didn't know if the spells would harm him but he didn't want to take the chance.
Meanwhile both heroes and villains stopped in their battle to watch as the three amazons attacked Morgana who was cursing and throwing spells at empty air.
"She must have gone crazy." Gwenevere shrugged.
The others shrugged as well and resumed fighting.
The ghoul's claws whistled as they swiped the air where Arthur's throat was. Another snapped at his leg and he kicked it in the mouth, fangs screeching over his armored boot and setting his teeth on edge.
"Oh, he nearly got you that time." The fake Merlin commented, picking a plum from the fruit bowl in its laps and taking a bite.
Arthur glared up at him.
"First we shall test your mind."
"Why?" Arthur asked, stumbling over a rock.
The cavern was so dark he could only see vague outlines of objects and had tripped and fallen so many times he had lost count. But despite this the fake Merlin wouldn't light or torch or help him along.
Cloth rustled as the fake shrugged. "I don't know, tradition, I guess."
Arthur yelped as his hand hit the wall.
"So what will I have to do?"He asked rubbing his sore wrist. "Answer riddles, solve a puzzle, decipher some ancient scroll?"
The fake stopped and turned to face him, teeth flashing as it gave him an evil smirk.
"Not exactly."
A woosh of air and Arthur's sword was ripped out of his hands. Before the prince could protest the fake shoved him hard in the chest and sent him tumbling through empty air. The fall lasted a few seconds and when Arthur hit the ground light filled the cavern, revealing a large arena.
The arena was ringed by iron doors and had a well at the center that the fake merlin hovered over with Arthur's sword. As Arthur watched the fake snapped its fingers and the gleaming blade became covered in rust.
"What are you doing!?" Arthur demanded.
"Starting the first test," The fake said, tossing the ruined sword at Arthur's feet. "At the bottom of the well is a potion that can restore your sword. Get it or become their next victim."
"Who's next victim?"
The fake pointed to one of the doors that was slowly opening. For a few moments all was silent then a raspy moan slipped out of the darkness followed by a hand, leg, and body.
"By the Gods!" Arthur gasped
The creature's head turned towards him, lips pulling away from stained teeth in a growl and white eyes becoming alight with hunger. The smell of rotting flesh and blood oozed from the creature, bones cracking as it limped towards Arthur.
"What is that?" Arthur asked, his voice cracking.
"A ghoul," The Fake explained sitting down on a high outcropping of rocks. "A evil spirit with bad hygiene and an insatiable hunger for human blood.
At this the ghoul snarled, nails growing into long talon-like claws.
Arthur gulped. "A-and I assume you want me to kill it?"
"Yes, and its comrades."
More ghouls limped out of the door, each one's eyes filled with hunger as they caught sight of the prince who was quickly backing away from them.
"And how exactly am I supposed to kill them?"
The fake tapped a finger to its lips. "Chopping off the head seems to do it."
"With my sword?"
"Yeah, unless you can do it with your bare hands."
Arthur gritted his teeth. "The one you just ruined!"
At his shout the ghouls howled and charged him, startling Arthur with their speed.
"As I said, princeling, at the potion that can fix your sword is at the bottom of the well. Besides destroying the ghouls or skipping the test I can use my magic to grant you one request."
Arthur ran to it and looked inside and saw a silver flask at the bottom.
"How am I supposed to get it?!"
The fake Merlin rolled its eyes, summoning a bowl of fruit. "Use your mind, princeling, and I suggest you use it quick; ghouls get hungrier the longer they have to wait."
The ghouls roared in agreement.
A few minutes later and Arthur was down to the wire. He had foolishly believed that his armor would protect him from the monster's claws and he now sported several scratches because of it. His muscles ached and each breath was like fire to his strained lungs. The well was, of course, too deep for him to reach into and grab the flask and the walls were covered in moss too slippery to climb. The fake Merlin kept insisting that there was a way to get it but the ghouls didn't give him the time to think of it.
"But I have to," He thought to himself. "Merlin's life depends on you!"
The thought of his love brought Arthur a bit of peace.
"These monsters wouldn't harm you, Merlin," He said. "You're much too kind for them to eat."
So kind that you he would help a little girl who had dropped her ball in a small but deep hole. Though he was dead tired Merlin had spent hours going back and forth to the well and filling the hole with water till the toy floated to the-
Arthur's eyes went wide. "GUARDIAN!"
"Yes, princiling?'
"I ask that you fill this well with water!"
The fake Merlin smiled. "As you wish, princiling."
Arthur ran over to the well and cried: water was spilling from the cracks in the walls bubbling around the flask that rose along with it. When it was arms length away Arthur reached out and grabbed. Yanking off the cap he poured the golden liquid onto his sword. As the rust fell away the hunger in the ghoul's eyes dimmed some fidgeting as their prey took the gleaming weapon in his hands.
"Now," Arthur said. "Who wants to lose their head first?"
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