Ch 26: Radioactive
Merlin cinched the girth on his horse before turning to Gwen and Morgana standing to the side. The sky was gray and gloomy, casting a somber mood over the small group. Gwen threw her arms around Merlin in a hug. "Keep him safe Merlin. I want both of you to come back, alright?"
Merlin nodded, pulling back to smile at Gwen, "I won't let anything happen to him. I promise."
"Promise the same for yourself, Merlin."
Merlin's grinned widened. "Oh, Gwen. I always come back."
"I hope so." Gwen smiled hesitantly.
Merlin turned to Morgana, speaking in low tones, "Be careful, Morgana. Uther's at his last straw. If you should need to get out of Camelot, head for the druids. Ask for a Seer named Aderyn – she will continue teaching you how to harness your gift."
"Merlin…"
"We'll be alright. But don't – don't let him get to you, Morgana. Keep your head down. This time he knows. Uther knows you have magic. Don't give him a reason to come after you."
Morgana nodded and Merlin stepped back to the horses to double check the horse tack and saddle bags as Arthur walked out of the castle and said his own farewells. Merlin and Arthur mounted up and were about to ride out when a side door opened and a voice yelled, "Oi!"
Gwaine, Lance, Percy, and Eli came running out towards Merlin and Arthur, fully armed with their saddle bags. "You two were just going to sneak off without us?" Gwaine asked.
Arthur looked at them regretfully. "No. You are not coming."
"Arthur –" Lance started.
"No."
"You can't leave us behind!"
"YES! I can. And you will stay here. Because I need to know that there are still men in Camelot that I can trust," Arthur explained. "I need you here to keep Gwen and Morgana safe and to protect those the others won't. Leon is in charge while I'm away. He already has his instructions. I trust you all to follow him."
"You are going to your death!" Gwaine exclaimed.
"Merlin has found a way to keep both us safe. We will be fine. Now get out of here. You're all late for training."
With a bit more grumbling, the knights reluctantly filed out of the courtyard towards the barracks and training fields under Arthur's watchful eye. As the knights disappeared around the corner, Arthur and Merlin gave one last farewell to Gwen and Morgana. As Arthur spurred his horse to a gallop, he saw the shadow of his father standing on the battlements of the castle. With a defiant glare, Arthur turned away and rode away.
From the forest, a few more pairs of eyes watched Merlin and Arthur ride from the city. Morgause's eyes widened in shock as her memories flooded back to her. Before she lost consciousness, her last thought was: Morgana.
Rain poured endlessly from the sky – a slow, steady, soaking stream – as Merlin and Arthur rode north from Camelot. Merlin thanked the fates that it was still summer or else the rain would truly be unbearable. Already the wetness was sinking deep through his clothes into his bones. For a while he had tried wearing a poncho – despite Arthur's laughter at him – but the wind and water combined managed to permeate through and Merlin had finally removed the poncho when he realized it was no longer useful. Arthur was quite miserable too, the water having soaked into the layers beneath his chainmail, adding about twenty pound to the weight he carried.
They had left the roads earlier that day, choosing to head directly north instead of following the winding roads. Both men regretted this decision as they rode without any form of building or shelter in sight for miles.
"Can't you say a spell and make us dry again?" Arthur asked over the rain, wiping his face clear of water, though it quickly was quickly replaced. His hair laid flat matted against his forehead.
"Well, I could, but fat lot of good that'll do while it's still raining. I'd have to keep saying it and I'm not sure I have the stamina for that after riding in the rain for hours. We need to find shelter."
"Oh! What a good idea Merlin! Why hadn't I thought of that one myself?" Arthur said sarcastically, looking around the barren, craggy hillside stretched out before them and behind.
"There has to be somewhere! Don't you have a map?"
"Oh yes, but it became a sopping wet mess of paper about four hours ago."
Merlin sighed. Closing his eyes, he concentrated deeply before opening them, his eyes bright and luminous. Looking around he saw further than he normally could, through and around objects in a way that bent the normal physics of the world. There! An old dilapidated barn was on the other side of the hill rising to their left. The roof looked mostly fallen in, but there looked to be enough room for them to fit in a dry corner. "Come on. I think I can see a place." Merlin turned his horse in the direction of the barn, carefully guiding them to avoid slippery footing.
An hour later, Arthur and Merlin led their horses into the abandoned barn, avoiding the areas that looked unstable to find a dry area on the side. Arthur breathed a deep sigh of relief to be out of the rain and flopped down on the ground in a heap of drenched metal, man, and cloth.
"Fordwin þá wæter," Merlin said, motioning his hand over Arthur, the horses, and finally himself. The horses tossed their heads nervously as they sensed the change as the water disappeared. Arthur sighed happily as the weight lessened with the loss of water. Merlin sat down heavily beside him, immediately laying back and closing his eyes.
"Much better," Arthur said imperiously, shaking out his clothes and chainmail. He inspected a section of mail closely. "Do you think it will rust?"
"Nah," Merlin said tiredly, "Impervious to rust."
"When did you do that?"
"Hmm, a while ago. Makes it easier to keep clean."
Arthur looked over at the warlock, about to make a jest about how Merlin was truly the laziest servant ever, when he realized that Merlin was deep asleep. Letting out a small snort, Arthur stood up and untacked the horses before draping a blanket over Merlin. He chewed on some jerky from his pack before wrapping himself in a blanket and following Merlin to sleep.
The next day greeted them better with no more rain storms, though the sky remained overcast and gloomy. The ground threatened their journey this day. The rains had thoroughly soaked into the ground, creating a thick, deep mud. The horses sank slightly and it was quiet except for the squelching sound of each sinking step to be followed by a splatter as another hoof was pulled free. There were more than a few times that Merlin had to steady either his horse or Arthur's with magic to prevent the beast's legs from sliding out from underneath.
For days they traveled under cloudy gray skies, heading in the general direction of the northern wasteland. The landscape changed as they traveled, creating a breathtaking view with mountains rising in the distance. After the fifth day, Arthur frowned as he looked out from the top of the hill they had crested. "We should be close by now."
"Are we sure we're going the right direction? It's been cloudy for days. Hard to know what direction is what without the sun or stars."
Arthur hummed his agreement, eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"You wouldn't happen to have packed a compass, would you?" Merlin asked, before continuing sheepishly, "Because I seemed to have forgotten to bring one."
Arthur looked sharply at Merlin. "A compass? Really, Merlin?"
"What? I know – that's like a rooky quest mistake. You have one then?" Merlin asked eagerly.
Arthur stared at Merlin disbelievingly before erupting into laughter so intense he doubled over in the saddle, leaning against his horse's neck.
"What is so funny?" Merlin asked irritated.
"You," Arthur managed to say between peals of laughter.
"Well I don't see the hilarity here. So explain before I…. give you donkey ears."
Arthur sobered instantly. "You wouldn't."
"Don't put it past me. Now what's so funny?"
"Merlin, compasses haven't worked properly in years. Not since the magic waves first started. That's what caused a lot of the plane and ship wrecks even while technology worked. The compass would suddenly go completely wonky. The pilot or captain would have no idea he was traveling in the wrong direction until it was too late. Where have you been the last half century? 'Cause I'm pretty sure you were the one out of the two of us that lived through it all."
Merlin gaped at Arthur, mouth hanging open like a fish. Finally he snapped his mouth shut before Arthur started snickering at him again. "I suppose I was sitting around a lake waiting for you and didn't have much use for a compass in the mean time."
For a while they rode in silence, continuing in the direction Arthur believed to be north. Merlin digested the new information Arthur gave him. He wasn't sure what would cause all the compasses to stop working. Compasses operated on the simple property of magnetism. Electricity going down wouldn't affect the geology of the earth with the poles. Oh. Magnetism. Electricity couldn't change the earth's poles, but changing a magnetic field would be able to mess with electricity. But what did magic have to do with the Earth's magnetic poles?
Arthur looked back at him. "You've been silent for a while. Don't think too hard – you might set the forest on fire."
"Oh very funny sire," Merlin said rolling his eyes.
As Merlin continued to think, Arthur was yammering on about how they weren't lost – surely they were still headed north. Merlin grinned at Arthur's rambles. They could either wait for evening to come and determine the direction of the sunset, or perhaps Merlin could do something now. Checking to make sure Arthur wasn't watching, Merlin whispered, "Færblæd wawe þá gesweorc. Þrosm tohweorfe!" The wind picked up with a rustling of leaves in the trees, and beams of sunlight began breaking through the cloud cover. The blue sky above peaked through long enough to catch the sun's position.
"Ah!" Arthur cried satisfied. "We are heading north, however we've turned slightly east and we really want to be heading west. What luck that the clouds cleared for a moment."
Merlin shook his head behind Arthur, somewhat disbelieving at how oblivious the prince could be, and yet, he found it quite unsurprising altogether.
Not two days later they approached the edge of the Northern wastelands. Arthur halted and said, "I do not believe we should travel any closer without protection.
Merlin nodded and moved his horse close to Arthur. He placed a hand on Arthur's forehead and incanted, "Scildan wilþere þe fyr. Acwence þa bryne. Scildan þurhhæle þin licsare!" He repeated the spell three more times for himself and the two horses.
"Will it work?" Arthur asked anxiously.
"Only one way to find out…" Merlin chewed his lip hesitantly, "Arthur, we don't have to do this. We don't actually have to go into the radiation zones."
"No, Merlin, I fully accept the punishment for my actions. However, you, Merlin – you don't have to come."
"I'm not letting you go alone," Merlin said rolling his eyes.
Arthur's tension eased at these words. "Well, come on then. We have many miles to cover yet."
Gwen stepped out of her flat on her way to the castle for another day's work. She nodded greetings to the familiar faces she saw on the way to work. As she was nearing the guard security checkpoint to the castle grounds, a small boy ran up to Gwen and tugged on her hand.
"'Scuse me, miss. Are ya Gwen? Ya work for ta Lady Morgana?"
Gwen nodded at the boy, puzzled. "I am."
"Will ya give 'er this?" The boy quickly shoved a folded letter into Gwen's hands, scurrying away before Gwen could say another word. The boy ran around the corner into a dark alley where a cloaked figure stood hiding. "I gave 'er ta letter ma'am. Now, ya promised coin."
"Yes, I did. Remember: speak of this to no one." The cloaked person placed a few coins in the boy's eager hand. The boy clenched the coins in a fist and ran quickly away. Morgause stood up, drawing the hood close to her face as she left the alley and moved carefully through the city.
Gwen watched the direction the boy disappeared for a moment before she looked down at the folded letter. She turned it over in her hands, but didn't see any identifying marks other than Morgana's name. Curious, but not wanting to invade Morgana's privacy, she placed the letter in her purse and continued through the checkpoint into the castle.
"Morgana?" Gwen knocked lightly on Morgana's door.
Morgana cracked the door open and a smile lit her face, "Good morning, Gwen." She opened the door wider and Gwen followed her into the rooms."What's on the schedule for today then? It's so dull here now without Merlin and Arthur."
"I agree. It's difficult to carry on here while worrying about them." Gwen picked up Morgana's planner and checked the calendar. Her hand slipped into her purse as she searched for a pen and came to rest on the folded letter. "Oh, a boy stopped me this morning, handed me this for you." She passed the letter to Morgana.
"Hmm," Morgana said as she sat examined the letter curiously. She down at her vanity and broke the seal of the letter. Gwen busied herself with setting out the schedule for the day and straightening Morgana's papers.
Morgana recognized the handwriting of the letter immediately. The note was very short. 'Beyond the Limits Pub, backdoor. Tonight, 11 pm, knock five times.' Morgana folded the letter back up and tucked it into a drawer.
"What did it say?" Gwen asked curiously.
"Oh, some man professing his love," Morgana answered dismissively.
"Oh. I'm sorry I passed it along then."
"No!" Morgana exclaimed. Gwen's eyebrows creased at Morgana's outburst. Morgana backtracked quickly, "I mean – I find the letters entertaining. If another should come, please pass it to me."
After Gwen had recited the day's schedule and plans, Morgana said, "I think we should get some friends together and go out tonight – have some drinks. We've all been so tense since Arthur and Merlin left days ago."
Gwen bit her lip, mulling over this, "Well, it'll at least make Gwaine cheerful for a while. He's been morose ever since Merlin and Arthur left."
Gwaine slammed his pint glass on the table. "Another!" All the knights were deep into their cups after a few hours of drinking. Gwen had left earlier that evening complaining of a headache and Eli escorted her home. Lance stared at the door after her wistfully.
The waitress brought a new pitcher and Percival filled all the cups. Morgana gracefully declined a refill. She was actually still sipping on her first pint, but the knights were too far gone to notice. Making excuses to use the restroom, she watched until none of the knights were looking in her direction before she slipped out the front door of the Beyond the Limit Pub and walked around the building to the hidden back door. Double checking that there was no one around to notice her, she knocked on the door five times as instructed.
"Name?" a voice asked through the door.
"Morgana."
"Pass code?"
Morgana frowned, puzzled. "There wasn't one…"
The man on the other side of the door laughed heartily as the door opened to reveal a large portly man. "Right you are. Margaret warned me of your arrival. Follow me." The man closed the door behind her, sliding the locks back into place before leading her down a flight of stairs heading under the pub. The stairs led deeper than Morgana expected, past the pub basement of beer and wine barrels. The stairs leveled out into a tunnel. Near the stairs was a door, from which Morgan could hear a faint music and thumping bass. A few people lingered in the tunnel. The man caught Morgana's curious look as she passed the door. "That's Camelot Underground – the club for magic users," the man said in explanation. Morgana nodded, though she was curious to go back and check out the club.
The man led her to another doorway, knocked, and waited until a voice on the other side called, "Enter!" Morgause stood up from a desk as Morgana entered the room. She couldn't believe the fortune for the two of them to be reunited once more. "You may leave," Morgause said sharply. She waited for the door to click shut before she quickly walked over to Morgana and embraced her. "Sister."
"I never thought I'd see you again," Morgana said as she hugged her sister, tears slid down her face as emotion overwhelmed her. "The last time I saw you, I –" Morgana's voice choked.
"Don't think of it," Morgause suggested. "We are together again. That is all that matters."
Morgana smiled at her sister, face free from the scars that had marred it before. "What is this place?"
"This is my office. I own the club down the hall – Camelot Underground. It makes a fine business. Word of mouth keeps it running. A silencing spell prevents them from revealing the location after they have come here," Morgause smirked. "It's safe to practice magic down here. This is also the headquarters for the magic rebellion in Camelot."
"I knew you would be at the very center of that," Morgana said unsurprised.
"Yes, well you know me too well. Though, I have to admit not more than a week ago, I would not have known you as other than Uther's ward."
"I've been searching for you since my memories returned, but it seems I am a lot more easily found than you. My search had only revealed an address that came out to be nothing."
"Things are not always as they appear," Morgause said, gesturing meaningfully to the place around them disguised up top with the pub.
"It would seem so," Morgana agreed. "Why did you contact me now?"
"Do I need an excuse to reconnect with my sister?" Morgause asked playfully. Morgana gave her a no-nonsense stare. " I regained my memories a few days ago – an old friend of mine revealed my past life to me and figured out how to unlock the memories. Several leaders of the rebellion have apparently lived multiple lives. When I remembered, I knew I had to seek you out – especially with everything that has happened lately. And maybe I was hoping that you would know more about what happens behind the castle walls than the pittance my spies are able to discover."
"Yes," Morgana said contemplatively. She considered recent events and what she knew of Morgause. "Things are different this time Morgause. We don't have to resort to the violence we did before. Arthur is on our side."
"So it is not a ploy?" Morgause asked, digging for information.
"No. He truly desires for magic users to be free and able to practice."
"Why the change of heart?" Morgause wondered aloud.
"Emrys."
Morgause's eyes lit up, her glee apparent at having landed on the true intention of the conversation. "Morgana, do you know who Emrys is? Have you met him?"
Morgana watched Morgause warily for a few seconds, fully aware of her sister's ambition. "I have met him," she said slowly.
"And?" Morgause asked. "Who is he? What is his real name?"
Morgana deliberated for a moment before reaching a decision. "I cannot tell you that. I won't break his trust like that."
"You know me, Morgana. If he is dear to you, I won't let any harm come to him. I would simply like to know. Hell, the whole bloody rebellion wants to know, but the druids are resolutely keeping mum on the whole issue. You're the only other lead I have."
"No Morgause. I do know you. Emrys has done me a great service. I trust him and I will not betray him again."
"Again?" Morgause jumped on the word. "So this man was also present in our past lives."
Morgana frowned, "My words implied no such thing."
"But your face gave it away… so did I meet this man at all?"
"I will not discuss this any further." Morgana's eyes were hard like jade stones.
Morgause sighed, "I did not mean to pry. Forgive me, sister. I suppose I have to wait then, for this Emrys to reveal himself. Tell me one thing though – is he the real deal?"
"Yes," Morgana said softly. "He really is who he claims to be. He was there, Morgause, the first time."
"So he's been reincarnated as well."
"Something like that," Morgana said, shifting uncomfortably.
"Very well," Morgause said, "I see that you don't want to talk about that either. So let's talk about the rebellion. Are you willing to take part?"
"Are you going to follow Arthur and Emrys or make your own plan?"
"That remains up to Uther. So far things do not bode well for him with Arthur's exile."
Morgana nodded, "I understand. I would ask that you wait until he returns, but I fear that you are correct."
An hour later Morgana slipped back into the pub and rejoined the knights at the table. "Morgana!" Gwaine cried, "Where have you been!"
"Oh, I ran into a friend of mine in the powder room," Morgana said nonchalantly. "Anyway, I think I'll head out. It's late."
"I'll escort you, milady!" Gwaine jumped up, but promptly tripped over the bench.
Morgana eyed him doubtfully, "You may need an escort of your own. I'll be fine. The castle is only a few blocks from here." The knights were too busy trying to stabilize Gwaine, attempting to keep him from knocking over tables and glasses. They barely noticed Morgana's departure as Gwaine passed out.
As Merlin and Arthur headed farther north, the landscape became more scarce and desolate. The trees were either dead or grew in strange directions and shapes. No animals could be seen. The rain had finally disappeared, but the bright sun had come out instead. The oppressive August heat combined with the strain of maintaining the spell against the radiation was draining Merlin's energy.
"Where do you think we are?" Merlin asked.
"North, probably close to Anglesey."
"Oh," Merlin said, "This used to be such a beautiful area. I spent a lot of time here."
"And you didn't recognize the area?"
"Well, that was several centuries ago. And well, I'm not exactly feeling well right now," Merlin admitted.
Arthur looked at Merlin sharply. "Merlin, what's wrong? Are you ill? Is it the radiation? I thought you were protecting us from that? Did you not cast the spell on yourself?" Alarm spread across Arthur's face at this last thought of Merlin not looking after himself.
"Whoa. Easy there. Too many questions, too fast," Merlin said. "I put the spell on both of us. It's the heat… plus the spell."
"Take the spell off of me."
"No, Arthur," Merlin said, shaking his head slightly.
"Merlin, I accept the consequences. I will not let you come to harm for this. Remove the spell."
"I won't do that," Merlin disagreed. "Radiation poisoning – cancer – it's one of the few things that I can't cure."
"I order you to undo the spell."
"Good thing I never listen to you. Come on. I'm fine."
Arthur's eyebrows creased in frown lines at Merlin's back as Merlin rode ahead. Merlin might be 'fine' now, but Arthur knew that if they went much deeper into the radiation zone or stayed too long, eventually Merlin wouldn't be able to hold the spell.
Merlin became paler throughout the day and the next morning a fine sheen of sweat was evident on his forehead despite the cool morning air. The temperatures climbed as the day went on and Merlin grew fainter, clinging to his saddle with a hand because he lacked the strength to properly sit.
"Merlin," Arthur started warily.
"Don't," Merlin clipped. "I won't stop the spell."
"You can't do this Merlin! You are going to exhaust yourself and then where will we be? Trim back the spell to protect yourself."
"It is you that I am protecting. Everything is meaningless if you die here and I fail you a second time."
"Merlin…"
"No, we'll just keep going. I think I know where the bridge to the island is from here. We can cross and seek shelter tonight at Beaumaris Castle."
"Beaumaris?"
"Well, I suppose no one remembers its name now, since this area has been abandoned for half a century. But it's a 12th century fortress – you would like it I think."
"Alright," Arthur said, still worried for Merlin, "Lead on then."
Merlin led them to an old suspension bridge, fallen into disrepair since the beginning of the magic waves, but still looking firm enough to hold them and their horses. As they drew closer a small man appeared before them.
"You!" Arthur cried, pointing at the small man. "I know you!"
Grettir grinned at them, "So Magic and Courage have returned and wish to cross my bridge."
"It's had some very nice upgrades," Merlin said humorously, looking at the concrete bridge compared to the rickety wood bridge.
"All thanks to the trio that restored this land to prosperity," Grettir said with a grin. "And now you have returned to do so again, though you seem to be short one. No matter, only Magic and Courage are needed to complete the quest this time."
"That is not our goal," Arthur said, confused by the little man.
"I think that your quest will find you whether you wish it to or not. Please cross." Arthur and Merlin started their horses onto the bridge.
Arthur paused and looked to Grettir. "Now wait a moment, why do you remember us, when everyone else didn't?" Arthur asked.
Grettir smiled, "Nothing here is as it seems." Grettir vanished before their eyes, leaving Arthur even more confused.
"Merlin!" Arthur rode up beside Merlin as they crossed the old expressway bridge. "How did he do that?"
"I've vanished like that before… Not that difficult to understand. I explained it to you once before," Merlin said slowly.
"No-o! How did he remember us and not fall unconscious?"
Merlin tilted his head to the side as he considered this question. "I don't think that Grettir is a true person," he finally answered honestly. "I think he is an old religion guardian of this place and he wishes to aid us on this quest because we are supposed to restore the land somehow."
"But how? The radiation isn't due to some curse like the Fisher King had."
"Isn't it? Either way, it sounds like we'll have to figure it out before we leave. Now come on. The castle is this way." Upon reaching the end of the bridge, Merlin turned right to head toward the castle.
A/N: Long chapter! Took a bit longer to write than expected, so again sorry that I'm a few days late. I know a few of you out there figured out that this would be similar to the Perilous Lands. Hope it's not too close! Cause I know how re-reading fics that are just like the show can get a little dull… Let me know what you think!
Anyway, big news! The end is in sight! I estimate seven more chapters until this story reaches its close. Not sure what I'm going to do after finishing this though…
Please review! A BIG thank you to all my reviewers on the last chapter! I enjoyed all of your comments and I'll answer your questions soon if I haven't addressed them already! REVIEW!
Translations (All pieced together from numerous other spells in the show. Grammar is obsolete.):
Fordwin þá wæter.
Meaning - Vanish/cleanse the water.
Færblæd wawe þá gesweorc. Þrosm tohweorfe!
Meaning - Sudden blast of wind, blow the cloud/mist. Vapor be parted!
Scildan wilþere þe fyr. Acwence þa bryne. Scildan þurhhæle þin licsare!
Meaning - Shield resist the fire. Quench/extinguish/put out the burning/fire/flame. Shield heal you thoroughly from your mortal wound.