"Merlin! Merlin! You won't believe it!"
"What is it Archimedes?"
"I have over two hundred people following me! I never thought I'd be so popular!"
"Um, I don't think that's true, Archimedes... I think it's more of they're following the story."
"Unbelievable. The fool actually thought they were following him? What a delusional featherbrained narcissist!"
"Nobody asked your opinion, idiot king! However, what do you think, Harry?"
"Er... I'd rather not give my opinion."
"What? Come on, Harry, everyone should know what you think about two hundred people following you."
"But that's just it, Arthur, they're not following me, you, Merlin, or Archimedes. They're following the story the Creator is making through using us, just like Merlin said."
"Told you so, clotpole."
"Shut up, Merlin."
"Stop yelling at Merlin!"
"How dare you tell me what to do, fickle feathers! I am the King! I answer to no one!"
... While our boys bicker amongst themselves (well, mostly Arthur and Archimedes while Merlin, Harry, and myself shake our heads and roll our eyes) thank you all so much for following, favoriting, and reviewing this story! Over two hundred followers and over a hundred favoriters?! Oh, it brings me happiness! And only three more away from having over a hundred reviews - hint hint. ;)
Thank you all! Now, enough prattling on, enjoy the next installment!
Disclaimer: The usual, I suppose. Good thing Archimedes is distracted with yelling at Arthur right now so he can't tell me off for not writing it out...
21 The Lady of the Lake
Arthur could not believe what Merlin had just said. "Altiore? Aithusa's son?!" he cried.
Merlin ignored him, stroking the giant dragon that was crying the largest tears Arthur had ever seen. Striding forward, the king led the others to where dragon and dragon lord stood. Merlin was whispering reassurances to Altiore who was making some kind of strangled scratchy noise – maybe the equivalent to sobbing?
Arthur eyed the large beast in dismay. Though his knowledge of dragons was limited to two, Altiore looked nothing like his parents. While Kilgharrah and Aithusa had hard glimmering scales and proud, regal airs, Altiore was -to put it bluntly- weak and broken. The entire image was just wrong.
"What happened, Altiore?" Merlin asked, stroking the dragon's large marred cheek.
"Goblins," the blind dragon replied. "They captured me when I was sleeping. By the time I woke to try to fight them off, they'd locked me in these magical restraints. They dragged me down here and did such terrible things. They took my sight! They magically lacerated my scales, torturing me… I called and called for you, Merlin. Why did you not come?"
Merlin's voice was pained. "I didn't hear any cry. I didn't hear Aithusa's either when you were taken away. I'm so sorry, Altiore. This is all my fault."
"I had given up hope that you would come," Altiore muttered, his deep voice plagued with weariness. "I almost forgot who I was."
Arthur watched as Merlin's broken expression hardened into anger. His eyes flashed and the chains keeping Altiore at bay not only snapped apart from the dragon's legs and neck but disintegrated into powder. The cave floor started to rumble and Arthur reacted on instinct. He grabbed Merlin's arm to try to calm him.
"Merlin, you need to relax or else this entire place is going to cave in. We still need to get the horcrux, remember?"
"Who is that?" Altiore wondered, sniffing the air. "There are others with you, Emrys?"
"I'm Arthur, King of Camelot," Arthur replied before Merlin could. "My wife, Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table are with me along with three sorcerers, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. We're friends of Merlin's."
"The great King Arthur of Camelot?" Altiore cried in disbelief. "But how?"
"It's a long story," Merlin answered, "but Arthur is right. We need to get something before we can leave this place. Altiore, when we come back I'll heal your wounds. Will you allow us to ride on your back if we need to make a hasty escape?"
"I will do anything to remove myself from this wretched prison you have freed me from, Merlin," he promised.
Merlin patted his snout. "We'll be right back. Arthur, you and the knights stay here. When the goblins come, you'll have to face them. Altiore, don't use your fire, okay? I don't want you to accidentally kill Arthur or one of the knights."
The dragon looked disappointed. "I will restrain myself."
"Right, Guinevere, Harry, Ron, Hermione, let's go," Merlin said, while Arthur sent him an affirmative nod.
As the five of them disappeared, Arthur unsheathed his sword, standing in the center of his men. "At least they can only come from one location."
"That give us the advantage don't you think?" Gwaine grimly smiled.
"Don't get overconfident, Gwaine," Leon reminded. "Many a man has died from such a thing."
"Good thing I'm not overconfident then," Gwaine replied while the others only rolled their eyes.
The men of Camelot waited three more minutes before the first sounds of the enemy alerted their ears. "Here they come," Arthur muttered, getting into a defensive stance. "Percival, guard the entrance to the Lestranges vault. Should any get passed us, you will have to take them down."
"Yes, Sire," the large knight muttered, walking over to where Merlin and the others had disappeared. Just as he whipped around with his sword at the ready, the goblins came bounding around the corner.
The sight of five armed knights was not something any of them had been expecting. The goblins in front drew to a halt, the ones behind slamming into them due to momentum. There was a brief moment of silence where everyone in the vicinity held their breath and then Arthur raised his sword. "If you value your lives, you will come no farther."
The nearest goblin, a creature with rather pointed ears, nose, and hardly any white hair, pointed a long finger at the king with a sneer. "You dare threaten us when it is you who are stealing?"
"Normally I would condone such things but for the greater good of this land I must follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter," the king reluctantly replied.
"The penalty for thievery is death no matter whom you may claim to be!" another goblin snarled.
Arthur drew himself to his full height, his regality pouring into every inch of his frame. "If you threaten our lives we will retaliate – though we do not seek your blood!" The goblins hesitated but a moment before surging forward. "On me!" Arthur shouted, rushing to meet the offending creatures, swinging his sword.
The knights cried as one, following after their king. Whether it was by magic or some other means, the goblins were suddenly in possession of their own swords and, in some cases, axes. Not for the first time Arthur wished for Excalibur but settled for the temporary sword Merlin had given him, swinging it forward to block a goblin's strike. The clang of steel on steel rent the air as the knights took down their foes. Arthur tried his best to avoid giving the goblins fatal wounds but when your enemy is showing no mercy, a stray mark is bound to happen. Arthur called upon every amount of training he possessed, assessing each opponent he faced with the utmost scrutiny. The goblins were shorter than men so he used his height to his advantage, adding extra force to his downward strokes. The poor creatures he faced shared the same surprised and alarmed expressions before he inflicted them with wounds and moved to another foe.
Pretty soon the ground was littered with goblins and abandoned weapons, the air filling with their groans of pain. Arthur was pleased to find that the worst injuries his knights had sustained thus far were a couple of scrapes on the cheek and lower chin. Arthur was surrounded by five goblins at once when there was a clap of thunder that caused his ears to ring. The king immediately was disoriented along with every other person in the vicinity. Thunder in a cave? He twisted around to find an absolutely terrifying sight.
Stepping away from Guinevere, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, his eyes glowing a permanent shade of vibrant gold and his body radiating with ancient power, was Merlin. The dust on the floor swirled around him like a miniature tornado, his clothes rippling a little in the self produced wind. The goblins visibly shrank away from the knights, unconsciously grouping together near the only exit. Arthur ran out of the line of fire, shouting for the knights to follow him. They gathered against the wall, inching closer to where Altiore lay. The dragon, sensing his dragon lord's power, remained completely still.
Merlin took another step forward, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cause the ground to swallow all of you whole?" he snarled at the goblins, his deafening voice echoing relentlessly off the cave walls.
One of the braver fools stepped forward, pointing a shaky hand towards him. "You are the one at fault here, Emrys! You dare to threaten us when it is you who came here under false pretense? You are a thief! A liar! No matter what power you hold, you are not above the law!"
"Silence!" Merlin roared, the ground rumbling beneath his feet. "Before you judge me you must first take into consideration your ignorance concerning this matter! There is an evil you have been harboring within this establishment with the ability to oppress your people which I and my companions are attempting to destroy! I do not steal from the Lestranges vault for my own gain but for the future of Albion and I will not allow any creature of magic or modern sorcerer to prevent me from accomplishing the task the Old Religion has given me to do! Now let us pass or I will be forced to do far worse. Keep in mind, I am within my rights to destroy you for you have not only bound but mutilated a dragon of the Old Religion. As the last dragon lord I am well within the law to bring justice to this creature! I am showing you mercy by allowing you a chance to let us pass. Do not test me further, goblins, or your fate will be far worse than that which you bring upon captured thieves!"
The air once more cracked with a thunderclap, dust and rock tumbling down from the ceiling. Several goblins widened their eyes in fear, not having realized the magnitude of their folly. Clearly they hadn't anticipated Emrys being a dragon lord or else they never would have taken the beast in the first place.
One of the older goblins stepped away from his peers and bowed low towards the warlock. "We apologize, Great One, we didn't realize you were a dragon lord. We never would have taken the beast without your permission if that were so."
Merlin's eyes flashed and another bout of thunder shook the area so much that Arthur had to catch Leon before he tumbled sideways. The goblin that had stepped forward toppled to the ground on his back, flailing his limbs and whimpering in terror.
"You are implying the audacity of me giving you any kind of permission to bind a dragon and keep them underground?!" the warlock thundered. "How dare you! If I ever hear of you harboring a dragon again, I will personally see to it that your race is nothing more than a memory in the minds of men!"
A whirl of wind blasted from Merlin's body slamming into the goblins, forcing them either out of sight or into the cave wall. To say the creatures were driven out of their minds with terror would be an understatement. Even the wounded that somehow managed to not topple over the cliff scrambled to their feet and ran as far and as fast as they could from the area. Above their heads Altiore let out a roar of triumph, fire exploding from his mouth towards the ceiling.
Arthur was staring at Merlin in awe, his mouth completely hanging open. He couldn't believe the ethereal embodiment of power before him was his clumsy, bumbling, foolhardy manservant. Even though Merlin had just threatened to wipe out an entire race, Arthur somehow knew he had been bluffing; he would only do that if it was a last resort and it would be for the greater good of all, not revenge. Did Arthur doubt that Merlin could do it? Not in the slightest. Not when he was looking like this.
The power surging off of Merlin's skin could be felt in every bone of Arthur's body but unlike his knights who seemed to be just as horrified as the goblins, Arthur felt strangely secure and safe. It was then that he remembered words spoken by his best friend long ago, almost from another lifetime…
I'm a sorcerer… I have magic… and I use it for you, Arthur. Only for you… I was born to serve you, Arthur…
When first learning of Merlin's magic and his immortality, Arthur had listened in both disbelief and astonishment as the warlock had stated that the purpose of his life and his magic was for him. Only for him. Perhaps that was why Arthur was no longer afraid of the power emanating from Merlin's body. He understood that it would never willingly be used in such a way to harm him or any he wanted to protect. Merlin truly was incredible. So this was the true power of Emrys.
Merlin turned his attention solely on Altiore and raised both hands. A thrill of magic rushed from his open palms, surging upon the dragon in seconds. Unlike the energy from before that was meant to strike fear in the hearts of men, this magic felt like being wrapped in a blanket and cherished in the arms of loved ones. Arthur watched in wonder as the once flaky, decaying scales transformed into the most vibrant gold from the dragon's head all the way down to the tip of his tail. The scars along his front legs, neck, and snout disappeared all together and his once white eyes became the color of purest sapphire jewels – the same as Aithusa's.
A roar of appreciation escaped the dragon as he flexed his wings and stomped his ebony claws into the ground. Arthur and the others fought to keep themselves upright as the ground jostled beneath their feet.
"I can see!" Altiore cried with joy. "I can see!"
Arthur tore his eyes away from the jubilant dragon just in time to see Merlin changing back into his usual nonthreatening self. The warlock hesitantly looked at the king but the fear soon transformed into puzzlement as Arthur sent him a reassured smile devoid of fear.
"Thank you, Merlin!" Altiore expressed, regaining the warlock's attention by nuzzling him with his large head.
Merlin grabbed onto the dragon in order to keep himself from falling over. Laughing, he patted Altiore's large cheek. "You're welcome. Now you look just like your father; except your eyes. You have your mother's eyes."
Ron smirked a little, ribbing Harry in the side. "I hear you get that a lot too, mate."
Harry shoved him playfully. "Shut up, Ron."
Arthur finally noticed the cup in the boy's hands. Such a small thing and yet it gave off a vibe of destruction and death. Just like how he felt when in the presence of the locket, Arthur didn't want to draw near to the cup if he didn't have to. "You were successful then?" he demanded, eyeing the object.
Harry held it up, nodding solemnly.
"Then our purpose here is at an end. We need to leave," Arthur commanded, turning to Merlin.
"Altiore, are you strong enough to carry everyone?"
"I believe I can do it," the dragon confidently replied, stretching his wings again.
"Alright; I'm going to fly ahead and make a path for you to follow. If you are having any difficulties, alert me immediately."
The dragon looked at Merlin bemused, clearly wondering how he was going to accomplish making the suggested path. He would have demanded more information if he hadn't sensed his lord's urgency. Lowering his neck and body, he caught Harry's eye and nodded to him. "Best get on then," he commanded. "Though you must keep in mind that dragons are not horses and I would not be allowing this if my dragon lord had not asked it of me."
"Oh do stop being so proud," said Merlin as Harry hoisted himself onto the dragon's neck. Ron and Hermione clambered up next followed by the knights. Guinevere waited until Arthur assisted her into position near the dragon's head before climbing on last, settling just behind the spiked points on Altiore's crown. Everyone grabbed on to each other, locking their legs in place just as they had done when they had rode Merlin. Altiore let out an uncomfortable grunt as he raised his neck and walked forward.
"Heavy they are," he commented to Merlin, the warlock assessing his legs to make sure he wasn't wobbly; the limbs were sturdy and strong.
"What did you say, dragon!" Arthur snapped, poking the back of the dragon's head.
Merlin chuckled amusedly. "Try not to throw them off, Altiore. Arthur's the only prat I've got."
Turning away from the dragon and the scowling king, the warlock then did the unthinkable. Sprinting to the cliff edge, he leapt off the side with his arms spread wide. Altiore let out a gasp of disbelief and rushed forward, jostling his cargo. Arthur's heart leapt into his throat and for a moment he could hardly breathe but then the familiar form of a humungous black dragon shot past them, a roar escaping its mighty jaws.
"He's a dragon?!" Altiore gasped in disbelief.
"He's an idiot," Arthur corrected, again uncomfortable with the vibrations between his legs from the dragon's voice. "You'd best follow him though before he brings down the entire building and traps us inside."
Altiore didn't need telling twice. Spreading his large wings, he leapt from the cliff, diving a little before the wind caught beneath his wings, propelling him upward. Arthur's stomach was left somewhere behind him as his breath caught in his throat and he momentarily forgot to refill his lungs. The ascent was practically vertical with that of the gaping chasm below them and Arthur felt Guinevere's arms tighten more securely around his torso at the same time the weight of the others behind them slammed into his chest. The pressure was unbelievable and Arthur had to redouble his grip on Altiore's horns in order to not fall backward. He ground his knees into the dragon's neck and shut his eyes, sending a silent plea that they would make it out of this alive. He also sent a choice amount of angry words towards his Court Sorcerer even if the man, well, currently dragon, would never hear them.
"Hold on!" he managed to shout over his shoulder, praying that the others had heard him and that none would fall off.
Merlin was apparently successful in creating a sufficient escape for the others for they flew out of a hole into a blinding flare of light. What Arthur hadn't been prepared for was the onslaught of spells rocketing in their direction as Altiore righted himself just before his head could crash through the ceiling.
It didn't take Arthur long to realize that Merlin was no longer a dragon but instead lying unconscious amidst the rubble he'd caused when he'd broken through the floor. Standing below them, his face completely murderous and flinging spell after spell in their direction, was Voldemort. Several Death Eaters were with him, each attempting to kill them as well but, to Arthur's relief, Morgana was thankfully missing. A green spell was headed straight for Guinevere and in a desperate attempt to protect her Arthur flung out his hand. The spell connected with his gauntlet and bounced off, shooting vertically towards the ceiling. Arthur's heart caught in his throat, sending silent gratitude to Merlin for enchanting his armor. Speaking of…
"Altiore! Merlin's down there!" Arthur shouted, pointing at the rubble.
"I see him!" Altiore snapped. "Hold on; this may get a little messy."
As Altiore dived, Arthur faintly heard Harry, Ron, and Hermione shouting various spells, their enchantments flying down and disarming several Death Eaters. Out of the corner of his eye, Arthur noticed one of Harry's spells knock the wand out of a young blonde's hand, the boy letting out a terrified cry as his wand soared through the air before disappearing into the gaping hole in the floor.
Altiore let out a roar, his giant body mass scattering several black robed sorcerers as his large claws expertly gathered up Merlin's still form. Voldemort let out a scream of fury flinging a spell towards the dragon who ducked to the side with agility that was surprising to everyone present. Arthur was nearly thrown from his neck from the maneuver. He only prayed that none of the others had fallen off as Altiore rose into the air, heading for the stained glass ceiling above them.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Arthur shouted, his eyes widening in fear. "Brace yourselves!" he cried over his shoulder, ducking down to hide his head protectively from the onslaught of soon to be broken glass. The dragon hit the ceiling with such force that the glass exploded in hundreds of little shards, several pieces still managing to rake their way past Arthur's armor into his skin. He hissed in pain, hearing Guinevere cry out behind him.
Altiore let out another roar as the free sky above enticed him to climb higher and higher into the clouds away from the terrified sorcerers screaming below in Diagon Alley. The dragon leveled out after a while, trying to fly as straight as possible so as not to lose his passengers.
"Where are we going?" Gwaine shouted just loud enough for Arthur to hear despite the wind whistling unrelentingly in his ears.
The king frowned, trying to think. He didn't want to land in the middle of a forest because he didn't know if Merlin needed further medical treatment none of them could give. What had happened to him anyway? Arthur was sick with worry. He couldn't see his soul brother and even though he knew he was somewhere below in Altiore's clutches, Arthur wouldn't be satisfied until he knew Merlin was okay.
But where could they go?
The answer came to him almost as if it was spoken by the voice of another. "We're going home," he muttered to himself before shouting loud enough for the others to hear, "Altiore, take us to Camelot! Take us to Hogwarts!"
The dragon let out another roar and Arthur hoped that meant he agreed to take them where they needed to go. He must have for the next second he turned his body more towards the west and shot like an arrow through the sky, the setting sun opening before them in a mass of gold, pink, and orange.
It took about half an hour before the spires of the castle came into view. Arthur's tense muscles clenched at the promise of relief soon to come. His entire body ached and his worry was border-lining panic on behalf of Merlin. He didn't even register the fact that he was bleeding from the glass shards in his body. All he cared about was making sure Merlin was alright.
Altiore's large form must have been sighted from far away for by the time the dragon lowered his descent and circled around to land, the stone steps were filled with students and teachers. The second Altiore touched down Arthur was leaping from the dragon's neck. His body fell six feet, the landing done perfectly but the force from the impact causing the king to tumble into a roll. With expert skill he flowed with the motion and came back to his feet, rushing around to the dragon's legs where Merlin now lay in the grass.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouted, falling to his knees, turning the warlock over. The king gasped in dread. Merlin was as white as a sheet, every vein in his body easily visible, the color a sickening and unnatural black.
"Arthur!" Guinevere shouted, joining his side.
"Guinevere, he's hurt!" Arthur cried in dismay, finding the frantic eyes of his wife.
Her hair was in complete disarray, her face cut with multiple scratches and a few bruises. Even so she had no concern for herself but her friend as she dropped down next to her husband. Her hand reached out and touched Merlin's forehead. "He's ice cold!"
"Percival!" Arthur bellowed.
The large knight came into view immediately with Gwaine and Elyan following behind. Leon stayed back, supporting an unconscious Harry with Ron's help. Percival dropped down and hauled Merlin into his arms before looking to Arthur for further instructions.
It was then that Arthur noticed the crowd of students and teachers in their midst. He found Professor McGonagall and immediately took charge. Rushing forward, he demanded with the little dignity he had left, "Professor, do you have a physician?"
"What? Oh, yes, yes we do!" McGonagall turned to another teacher. "Pomona, please show the way to the Hospital Wing."
The witch called Pomona nodded before gesturing for them to follow her. The students parted, bewildered and scared, allowing them entrance. Arthur glanced over his shoulder at Altiore. "Stay there, Altiore, until I come for you!"
The dragon nodded, rather unhappy that he couldn't follow them to make sure his dragon lord was alright. Arthur was infuriated with how long it took to get to the Hospital Wing, silently complaining the whole way about how much easier it was to get to Gaius's before the Founders altered his castle to fit their image. Gwaine and Elyan ran ahead when they reached the right hallway, practically flinging the doors out of the way as Percival bounded inside, outstripping the accompanying teacher's strides with ease.
"Merlin's beard! What the devil is going on here?" a woman shrieked from within.
Arthur streaked inside, skidding to a halt to address the questioner. "Where is your physician?" he demanded.
The fierce looking woman eyed him shrewdly, her jaw tightening. "That would be me," she declared, drawing herself up to her full height. "And I would like to have you know that I will not tolerate –"
"Silence woman and listen to me!" Arthur commanded, overriding her. "I am the king of this castle and my Court Sorcerer – no – my brother's life hangs in the balance! Treat him first and then I will apologize for our rude behavior!"
The woman stared at him in disbelief before finally noticing the unmoving form of Merlin on the nearest bed. "Gracious, what happened to him?" she cried, rushing forward.
"We don't know but Riddle and his Death Eaters were involved," Arthur answered hastily as he watched her prod and examine his unmoving friend. Come on, Merlin, you're supposed to be immortal! That better not have been a lie! You can't die on my now, idiot! Come on!
The physician finished her examination and rushed to a cabinet, pulling out various bottles, some containing dry contents and others liquid. Grabbing her wand, she produced water from the tip, filling a small collection of basins next to Merlin's bed. She halted slightly, eyeing all the knights with a heavy frown.
"I beg your pardon but I can't very well do my job with all of you hovering near my patient!" she snapped.
Reminded of how Gaius would shout for everyone to get out, Arthur ordered the knights to retreat to an empty space in the corner. He however, refused to move and his queen, just as stubborn as he was, stayed by his side. Arthur vaguely heard the door to the Hospital Wing open again as Harry was carried in by Leon and Ron, the two of them setting him onto an empty bed with Hermione trailing tearfully in their wake.
Unlike Merlin, Harry was conscious. "I'm fine," he slurred, trying to push Hermione's fussing hands away from attempting to pull the sheets up to his neck. "Really, Hermione!"
"You fainted off of Altiore!" Hermione snapped. "You are not fine Harry!"
The boy did look rather pale but not as pale as Merlin. With that, the king deduced that his brother was in worse shape and therefore Harry could wait if treatment was needed. The physician seemed to agree as she spared Harry only a glance before turning back to her current charge. After another painstaking ten minutes with no change to Merlin's blackened veins and pale skin whatsoever, the woman stepped back and hung her head.
"I'm sorry," she genuinely replied, "but this is beyond my capacity to heal."
"What?!" Arthur cried in outrage and desperation. "Surely there must be something you can do! You have magic! You have to be able to heal him!"
The woman's blue eyes continued to sear into Arthur's with distain. Arthur took one look at Merlin before his vision went red. His anger took hold and the king didn't even care as he grabbed the nearest nightstand filled with the various bottles and flung it across the room. He kicked the empty bed next to Merlin's, ignoring the pain that it brought to his foot. He took out his sword and threw it as far away from him as he could, bellowing in agony as the metal caused sparks to fly against the stone floor. Tears unbidden fell down the king's face and he collapsed onto his knees at his soul brother's side, taking his shoulders and shaking them.
"Merlin? Merlin! Please, I can't lose you! Come on, you idiot, wake up! MERLIN!"
Overcome with grief, Arthur slumped forward, his head resting on Merlin's unmoving chest. He was no longer breathing. At this revelation, Arthur seemed to snap and he felt like half of him was withering, decaying… his heart throbbed and his stomach lurched. He suddenly felt hollow… empty…
"You can't be gone," he whispered brokenly. "You can't be…"
"Arthur…"
Was someone calling his name? What did it matter? Half of his soul had just died.
"Arthur!" it was Guinevere who finally reached him through the darkness, her steady hand gently shaking him He looked up at her, his eyes hollow. "Look!" Guinevere breathed, pointing over his shoulder.
Arthur turned and saw a woman in a beautiful red dress standing at the foot of Merlin's bed. The outline of her form, however, was not solid but rippling like the disturbed surface of a lake. Her eyes were large and soft, the color of the earth, her skin as pale as moonlight, and her hair almost the color of ebony. She was staring at Merlin with such a profound expression that Arthur was left temporarily speechless.
"Death will not claim him, Arthur Pendragon," she spoke, her tone calm and soothing. "Bring him to the lake. I await you there."
She then disappeared, her form simply fading away in the blink of an eye. Without question Arthur lifted Merlin into his arms and began striding to the door.
"Where on earth do you think you're going?" the physician demanded.
"To the lake," Arthur replied without looking back. "Tend to Harry until I return."
"But all of you are bleeding!" she protested.
"I will not be treated until my brother is safe!" Arthur snarled, his eyes like liquid fire as he whirled around to face her. "I will not lose him! Even if I faint on the lake's shore nothing in this world will prevent me from giving him aid!"
The woman's mouth had dropped open and her eyes were wide with shock but Arthur didn't care. He needed to get Merlin to the lake. He felt it within the core of his being. Spinning on his heel, he bustled his way out of the infirmary, Guinevere and the knights immediately following after him, their steps quick with the importance of haste. The students were still mulling in the Entrance Hall, blocking the front doors.
"Stand aside!" Arthur commanded halfway down the marble staircase and everyone leapt towards the walls, creating a path. Arthur didn't even pause to glance at the wonder within the students as he rushed out the open doors onto the lawn.
"Where are you taking Merlin?" Altiore demanded the second he saw them exit the castle; apparently he was what had caused the students to linger.
"To the lake," Arthur growled, hastening down the sloping lawn. He didn't even notice that he couldn't feel his arms anymore or the blood that was dripping down the side of his left temple. His lungs may have been heaving for air, the burning for oxygen searing his throat, but Arthur wasn't paying attention to any of these things. He reached the lake and sure enough the woman he had seen at Merlin's bed was standing in the water except now her form was solid.
"Hurry!" she called, waving her arms. Arthur splashed into the water, disturbing the glassy surface. "Place him in the water," she further instructed.
Arthur did as she asked before stepped back, his wet boots gathering dry sand as he came to a stop next to Guinevere. She desperately took his hand and both of them held on in a death grip, their eyes only on their friend. The knights stood beside their sovereigns, a silent pray on their lips.
The woman in red bent down and caressed Merlin's face, her thumb rubbing across his cheek. "You'll be alright now, Merlin," she whispered though her voice carried to the shore. Placing her hand over the warlock's heart, her eyes burned gold. "Þu fornimst adl fram guman!"
The surface of the lake suddenly emitted a golden glow, bathing the surrounding area in a five foot radius from its shore. Arthur watched as Merlin was pulled beneath the water. He started but a miniscule squeeze from Guinevere's hand gave him pause. A heartbeat later and Merlin emerged until he was floating on the surface. A black substance leaked out of his body before the golden light sucked it completely away.
The warlock let out a gasp, his lungs filling with much needed air. The golden glow disappeared, leaving the surface of the lake bathed in the moonlight above. Merlin sputtered and coughed, his eyes blinking around until his entire body seemed to freeze in shock. Arthur was frozen as well, his limbs unwilling to move, his eyes alone drinking in everything he was seeing.
Merlin's lips parted, dropping open in disbelief. "Freya?"
The woman smiled all the way up to her eyes and tears began to fall over her slightly darkened cheeks. "Hello, Merlin."
Then, without warning, the warlock grabbed her wrist and yanked her down on top of him in a kiss so passionate that Arthur almost looked away. Never in his life had he seen his manservant display such affection for anyone. The fact that Merlin was capable of romantic feeling was something Arthur had nearly forgotten as possible. But then his brain caught up with everything he was witnessing and he realized who this woman was. She was the druid girl Merlin had once told Remus about, the conversation Arthur had unintentionally overheard, and he was the one who had killed her.
"Oh my goodness," Guinevere gasped beside him, her hand rushing to her mouth as she watched the pair in the water exchange a kiss that rivaled those told in fairytales.
Freya pulled away, smiling as wide as she possibly could, her dark eyes alight with love. Merlin cupped her face, stroking her cheek. "It's been so long," he whispered brokenly. "I haven't seen you since that day…"
"I know," she sighed, leaning in to his touch, her eyes closing. "I am sorry Merlin. I was not allowed to reveal myself to you. But every time you came to the lake, I was there, watching you."
Merlin smiled sadly. "I know. I could feel your presence. But how are you here now? Has something happened?"
"You nearly died mate!" Gwaine shouted from the shore, ruining the moment.
Merlin gave a start, finally noticing they had an audience. Arthur had never seen the man's face turn so red so fast. Smirking, the king stepped forward. "Are you going to continue lying there in the water, Merlin, or are you going to be a gentleman and introduce us to your lady friend?" the moment the words were out of his mouth, Arthur froze. Did Freya want to meet him? As curious as he was to meet the woman who captured his servant's heart, Arthur was again reminded that he'd been the one to bring about her death! Distinctly uncomfortable now, the king wished he could take back what he'd said but not as much as he wished he could take back what he had done.
Merlin's blush, if possible, deepened further at the king's comment as he pushed himself to his feet. Freya looped her arm through his and the two made their way to the shore although they stopped at the edge of the water.
"I cannot physically leave the lake," Freya informed them before curtsying to the royals. "It is an honor to finally meet the Once and Future King and Queen."
Arthur stared at her, his mouth slightly falling open. "But… but I…" he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
Freya raised a hand. "All is forgiven, Your Highness."
The knights and Guinevere eyed the king in confusion but Arthur wasn't paying them any attention. He was staring at this girl with a respect and gratitude he reserved only for a select few. His eyes burned a little but he refused to let the tears fall. He would not cry in front of his men! – (Forgoing the fact that he already had when Merlin's life seemed to be lost.) Humbly bowing his head, he let the words softly leave his lips. "Thank you."
Freya smiled understandingly, nodding towards him. Merlin, trying to save the king from the knights' further scrutiny, cleared his throat. "Everyone, allow me to introduce Freya, the Lady of the Lake, Gatekeeper of Avalon."
"A pleasure," said Gwaine, the first to introduce himself to the lady. "Sir Gwaine." He took her hand, kissing the knuckles. He wiggled his eyebrows at the couple, displaying a heartfelt smile. "It's an honor to meet the woman who has stolen the heart of my best mate. Tell me, Merlin, is this why you wouldn't accept any dame I placed in your path."
"I told you once that my heart was taken, Gwaine," Merlin replied. "It's your fault for believing I was talking about my loyalty to Arthur and not an actual lady."
The carefree knight laughed. "Well, you chose a beautiful rose."
Freya blushed at the compliment. The other knights took turns introducing themselves before Guinevere stepped up to the woman and hugged her without warning. "Thank you," she cried, her cheeks wet. "Thank you for taking care of Merlin and his heart. It means more to me than you may ever know."
Freya, surprised but pleased, smiled warmly at the queen. "And I should return the gratitude to you for caring for him in my absence. It is reassuring to know that he is in good company."
Guinevere looked upon her sadly. "I feel that this may be the only time I get to meet you."
"There may be another time," Freya hinted though she too appeared sad. "I fear I have lingered longer than I should. My task was to ensure that Merlin was cleansed from the evil he sustained from the Cailleach's Elder Wand."
"Is that what happened?" Arthur wondered, brave enough now to face Freya due to her forgiveness.
Freya nodded. "The Deathly Hallows are extensions of death itself. Merlin would not have died from the Elder Wand's attack but he would have taken a long time to regenerate his life force – longer than the Old Religion could afford to wait which is why I was allowed to step in. Merlin, you need to be careful. Though you are immortal, you can still taste of death. Any spell from the Elder Wand will leave you temporarily immobilized because it is as if Death itself is striking you; just like the time you encountered the Dorocha, when your body slipped into a comatose state and for a moment you even stopped breathing."
"I remember," Merlin replied with a slight shudder. "Lancelot told me I was healed by water spirits."
Freya smiled. "Yes, they were ready and able to help you in that time of need to which I am eternally grateful. If not, you would have taken weeks to recover from the Dorocha's touch – time that you couldn't afford to take even then." She looked upon him with saddened eyes before letting out a heavy sigh, "I'm afraid I must go now."
"Wait!" Arthur cried, stepping into the water. Freya paused, eyeing him curiously. Arthur coughed into his hand before rubbing the back of his head, his eyes suddenly looking anywhere but at her face. "Er – that is – well, I wanted to…"
Freya surprised him then by throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. "Thank you for taking care of him, Sire," she whispered in his ear. "You are the greatest friend he has and I am forever in your debt for giving him the happiness he has today."
She pulled away from him and Arthur felt like his face was on fire. "Er – right… I'm happy to be of help."
Merlin raised an interested brow but didn't inquire for Freya had locked eyes with him again. Looping her arms around him, she presented him with the most passionate kiss she could muster and Merlin, filled with the same longing desire, kissed her equally in return.
"I love you," Freya whispered, her eyes searching his.
"I love you too," Merlin replied, cupping her cheek. "Maybe I'll see you again… someday."
"One day," she agreed, clasping his hands. She kissed his cheek. "Farewell, my love."
And then she disappeared, her body fading away in a blue glow that fell into the lake. Merlin stared at the water for a solid minute before sloshing towards the shore. Nobody really knew what to say. Arthur's heart was heavy as he watched his soul brother but he couldn't help but be relieved at the sight of knowing that Merlin was well and no longer looking as if he was being eaten from the inside by some unseen dark magic.
The king reached forward and took the warlock's shoulders. Their eyes met and no words concerning what had just occurred needed to be spoken between them. Merlin merely sent Arthur a weary smile and Arthur returned it before yanking the dark haired man into a temporary hug. With a thump on the back, Arthur wrenched himself away from him.
"It's good to see you on your feet again, you idiot," he grinned. "You gave us quite the scare."
Before Merlin could react it was Guinevere who surprised them all by punching him in the arm. "Ow!" Merlin protested.
"Don't you ever scare us like that again!" she warned, her eyes blazing with unspeakable fury. "We thought we'd lost you!"
"Sorry," Merlin protested, rubbing his arm. "I thought it was already established that I couldn't die. Immortal, remember?"
"You still looked worse than death, mate," Gwaine commented while the other knights nodded grimly in agreement. "The princess is right, though; it's good to see you alive and kicking."
Merlin sent them all his cheeky grin before his eyes suddenly rolled into his head and he fell forward. Arthur caught him and for a moment feared the worst – until Merlin started to snore.
Elyan blinked. "He's asleep?"
"That normally is what happens when he overexerts himself," someone said behind them.
Arthur recognized the voice immediately. "And just where have you been this whole time, Archimedes?"
The owl swooped down from the large tree near the lake, landing gently on Percival's shoulder. "Do you know how long it takes to fly around after Merlin's magical aura? By the time I reached that blasted forest, all of you had disappeared to somewhere in the heart of London! I decided that instead of following you around to who knows where I would simply return here, knowing that eventually you'd come back. Now, what has the idiot gone and done now?"
"Apparently the Elder Wand has enough punch to knock our resident warlock into a death coma," Gwaine answered.
Archimedes' eyes narrowed. "I'm not surprised since it was made by the Cailleach. He seems fine now though; nothing a good night's sleep can't cure."
"For once you and I can agree on something," Arthur smirked.
"So it would seem," the owl replied just as Hedwig appeared, landing on Percival's other shoulder. She nibbled the large knight's ear in greeting and to everyone's surprise Percival merely smiled.
"Arthur, that owl is talking," Guinevere muttered in the king's ear, her eyes wide and staring.
Arthur jumped, suddenly realizing that Merlin's owl and his wife had never been introduced. "Guinevere, this is Archimedes, Merlin's owl. Archimedes, this is my wife, Guinevere."
The owl's eyes widened before he extended a wing and brought it over his feathered chest, bowing slightly in Guinevere's direction. "It is an honor to meet the Queen of Camelot."
Guinevere appeared amused at her husband's reaction; the king was having difficulty picking his jaw off the ground. Giggling slightly, she stepped forward and reached up to rub a finger over the owl's head. "It's nice to meet you, Archimedes. Tell me, how did you learn to speak our language?"
"Merlin's doing," the owl answered, fluffing his feathers happily.
"Alright, stop coddling him!" Arthur snapped, finally finding his voice. He couldn't fathom Archimedes capable of showing such respect to anyone and he certainly didn't like the way the owl was looking at his wife. It made him strangely jeal – no! There was no way he was jealous of a bird! Besides, the owl had Hedwig! Why should he feel threatened by a featherbrained idiot? It was completely illogical!
Guinevere sent him a curious stare before looking at Merlin's snoring form in his arms. "We should return to the castle so he can properly rest."
"We should also check on Harry," Leon suggested. "The boy did look rather unwell."
"We'll take Merlin back to – what did Professor McGonagall call it?"
"The Hospital Wing," Guinevere supplied.
"Does anyone even remember how to get there?" Elyan wondered as the group began to head up to the castle.
"I remember!" Gwaine declared.
Arthur grunted skeptically as he readjusted Merlin in his arms. "I highly doubt that, Gwaine."
"But I do!" the knight insisted.
"Alright then, lead the way, but if you get us lost I'm making you carry Merlin!" Arthur huffed as they trundled back up to the school.
Altiore greeted them five minutes later just outside the school. The grounds and stairs leading up to the oak front doors were devoid of students; Arthur suspected Professor McGonagall had something to do with their disappearance.
Altiore confirmed this when they drew close. "The children were forced to retire to their respective dwellings within the castle. Is Merlin alright? I felt incredible magic a few minutes ago."
"The Lady of the Lake healed him," Arthur answered, hefting the man in question in his arms to a better position. Merlin's head rolled before coming to rest on Arthur's shoulder.
"If he's getting too heavy for you, I can carry him," Gwaine volunteered.
"I'm perfectly capable of carrying him, Gwaine," declared Arthur protectively.
Gwaine and Leon shared a knowing grin. The king would probably cross an infinite number of leagues before surrendering his protective hold on Merlin. Though he seldom declared it vocally, it was clear by his actions how much Arthur cared for the young man; anyone with eyes could see that.
Arthur crossed the threshold into the castle, commanding Gwaine to lead the way back to the Hospital Wing. Altiore had obviously wanted more details but the king wasn't willing to give them at the moment; he was too exhausted to have that conversation tonight. Gwaine surprisingly managed to get them back to the Hospital Wing where the physician was currently tidying up the mess the king had made in his previous bout of desperate anger. She paused her work at the sight of the sleeping warlock in Arthur's arms.
"Is he alright?" she demanded, rushing forward.
"He's fine," Arthur briskly replied, walking passed her and placing Merlin down on the bed he'd previously occupied.
"He no longer seems to be ill," the physician commented.
"Indeed," Arthur replied standing up to face her. "I apologize for my earlier behavior, miss…?"
"Madam Pomfrey," she introduced. "And I can't say I haven't seen such desperation before. As a healer, I have been trained to expect people to react differently to unfortunate news."
Arthur didn't exactly know what to say to that so he abruptly changed the subject. "Can Merlin stay here tonight?"
Madam Pomfrey stared at Merlin with shocked disbelief. "I had heard from the professors what happened in the summer but never in all my years did I think it would be true…" Her eyes widened further as she scrutinized Arthur, Guinevere, and the knights. "Are you King Arthur?"
Arthur nodded in the affirmative. "I am."
"Bless my stars!" the woman gasped, holding her heart. She looked as if she might faint. "Then, that would mean…" she looked at the sleeping warlock and her face filled with reverent awe. "This man is truly Merlin. And the rest of you?"
"Queen Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table," Guinevere confirmed. "Thank you for trying to take care of Merlin. We appreciate your efforts."
"Well, I hardly did anything," she dejectedly admitted. "But perhaps I can help with the injuries all of you have received."
It was only then that each of them realized just how beat up they actually were. Though they tried to protest, Madam Pomfrey became as aggressive as Gaius, practically forcing all of them onto beds while magically tending to their wounds. By the time she was done fussing over them each was in a bed with a sleeping draught in their hands.
"Now, I want each of you to take that so you can properly rest until the morning and I don't want any arguing!" she added for Arthur had opened his mouth to protest. "You may be famous people of legend but I will not allow each of you to jeopardize your health! Don't make me force the potions down your throats; that's what I had to do to Potter in order to make him stay in bed."
Arthur looked to the bed opposite Merlin's on the other side of the room where Harry was indeed sleeping rather peacefully. Hermione and Ron weren't beside him and that did cause the king to worry where they had run off to. Maybe they were sleeping somewhere else? From the short time he'd known Madam Pomfrey he learned she ran a tight ship; just like Gaius. Were all physicians so ferocious?
The woman's threatening scowl was enough to convince him that it would be very unwise to refuse her demands. Sighing, the king caught the eye of his knights and solemnly nodded before drinking the mixture in his hands. Surprisingly it didn't taste foul like those Gaius would give. The effect was almost immediate; the king's eyelids drooped and his head hit the pillow, a snore already passing his lips. The knights and the queen experienced similar effects and soon the Hospital Wing was filled with the soft snores of legends. Madam Pomfrey chuckled to herself, still in slight shock, as she retired for the evening herself.
Morgana was frustrated. Voldemort had asked for her to meet him an hour ago. How dare he make her wait! For the thousandth time the woman was beginning to wonder why she had even bothered sticking around. Voldemort's magic may have been powerful but it barely held a candle to what the High Priestess was used to. The magic possessed by the man's followers was nearly laughable. These people called themselves witches and wizards yet to Morgana they possessed magic of such little power they might as well have been court jesters.
I should just leave, she silently mused to herself. I care not for this vendetta Voldemort has with the boy, Harry Potter, nor the petty war he has started. If Merlin and Arthur weren't involved in all of this I would have stolen that time turner and returned to the past already. Perhaps I should. Both Arthur and his filthy queen are here in the future. Camelot is defenseless. It would be so easy to slip into the past and take back what is rightfully mine! Hmmm… all I need is to find that man… what was his name? Snape. Yes. Snape…
She stood but before she'd even made it five paces, Voldemort burst into the room. Morgana watched as he whipped around and killed one of the Death Eaters behind him with a frustrated scream. The High Priestess was barely fazed as the man hit the ground, dead.
"What has made you so angry?" she asked as several of his followers began lining the walls.
Voldemort looked murderous, his red eyes glinting dangerously. "Leave us!" he commanded. The Death Eaters reluctantly but wisely obeyed, the last closing the door behind them in a hasty retreat. Morgana raised a curious brow. Voldemort closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his slit-like nose. "An unforeseen complication has risen to my attention," he reluctantly admitted.
"And what might that be?" Morgana asked without real concern.
Voldemort was silent for a moment as he began to pace. Something heavy clearly weighed at his mind but the man seemed to be struggling with whether or not he was going to answer her.
"The boy may have discovered a way to destroy everything that has taken me years to build," he vaguely revealed. "But I don't believe him intelligent enough to figure it out on his own. He had help and I can only assume it was Merlin. We need to destroy that menace before he thwarts the vision we are trying to accomplish!"
"I thought I told you to leave Merlin's fate to me," Morgana clipped, her eyes narrowing.
"Forgive me, my lady, but I have yet to see that come into fruition," the Dark Lord bit back.
Morgana scowled. "What you forget, my lord, is the years of experience I have had facing off against him. I have learned from many attempts that it would not do to be hasty. Defeating one's enemy takes time and careful planning."
"Are you implying that I am impulsive?"
"Not at all. From what you have told me, you've been plotting for years. You have been successfully executing your plans but Merlin graced the scene and is now spoiling things for you. I warned you that he would doom you to failure. I assume he has done something recently since you did not meet with me this morning?"
Voldemort placed his new wand on the table, the one he'd stolen from some old man's grave. Morgana could feel the magic coming from the strip of wood, silently recognizing it as Old instead of New. The Dark Lord had told her a little of the Hallows and his reasoning for seeking the Elder Wand though Morgana had no interest in taking it for herself. Why did she need a stick when she could channel her magic directly from her veins to her palms?
"He stole something precious to me, something that is part of a set of six highly magical items."
"And are these items capable of causing us harm in enemy hands?"
"Personal harm to me, yes."
Morgana had to bite her tongue in order to stop herself from demanding he be completely honest with her. Clearly he didn't want to tell her the true reason behind his distress but expected her to see the magnitude of displeasure the situation caused him. Taking a great effort not to roll her eyes, Morgana stood. "Then what needs to be done in order to prevent that from occurring?"
"One of the items resides within the walls of Hogwarts but Merlin has made it so neither I nor my Death Eaters can enter passed the school's wards."
Morgana smirked. "Your magic is nothing compared to that of the Old Religion. Of course it had no affect."
Voldemort stiffened at her insult. Scowling, he decided to gloat. "That may very well be false now that I have this." He pointed at the Elder Wand. "I struck Merlin with a killing curse and the man immediately fell."
"Is he dead?" Morgana demanded, her eyes flashing dangerously. Though it would bring her great pleasure to know if it were so, she would also be angry for not being able to deliver the fatal blow herself.
"Before I could confirm it, a dragon appeared and took him away – along with Potter and those filthy muggle knights."
Morgana frowned. If Merlin wasn't dead, at the most he'd be severely weakened. That wand possessed Old magic. It would have hurt him. The thought of a vulnerable Merlin boded well for them. This was an opportunity! "We need to strike out now while we can! If what you say is true and Merlin has been injured or killed then Arthur and the others will be defenseless against our combined forces."
"But we don't even know for sure where he or the others ran off to," Voldemort pointed out.
Morgana smirked. "I have an easy way of finding out. I need a basin and some fresh water."
Voldemort picked up the Elder Wand and waved it, causing the objects to appear on the table. Morgana wasted no time whispering a scrying spell. The water shimmered and Merlin's pale face appeared, his breath shallow as he fitfully slept. Voldemort peered into the bowl.
"He's at Hogwarts," he stated, recognizing the confines of the Hospital Wing at once.
Morgana waved her hand and the image faded in the water. "Then that is where we need to go," she replied, smirking.
"We attack tonight," Voldemort announced, spinning on his heel and throwing open the door. Grabbing a Death Eater by the arm, he jammed his finger into the man's skin over the Dark Mark, summoning his followers. As multiple men and women appeared in the room, Morgana couldn't help smirking at the thought of Merlin's suffering. Perhaps it would be fitting to kill Emrys and his king here in the future before returning to rule Camelot in the past. She'd take the time turner with her so even if they somehow survived, they wouldn't have any way of stopping her. All she needed was to get the device. When the opportune moment arrived, she would make Snape give it to her and then take her leave. Smirking, Morgana didn't even pay attention to the Dark Lord's battle strategies. She was too focused on her own.
There's a battle on the horizon! Please leave me a review to let me know what you liked/didn't like about this chapter. I'd love to hear from you!
Spell: Overcome the sickness in this man