Sorry it took so long to post.
It was very cold and he was freezing. He decided that he no longer liked the snow. He wished that Arthur would just shut up. It was like somethings had never changed. He was tired of eating plants. "If you say one more word about my incompetence; then I am going to turn you into a rabbit. Then I am going to kill you and put you in a stew and eat you." Merlin grumbled.
"Well, if you would just conjure us up some decent food; then I would not have to complain." Arthur huffed.
"It was your and your wife's stupid idea that I needed company. I was actually more than willing to make this journey on my own. But no! I was not given the option. Shut up and stop complaining!" Merlin kicked snow into the air.
"If you were all powerful; then we would not be freezing and hungry." Arthur grumbled.
"That's it I have had enough!" Merlin turned around. He waved his hand over Arthur's face and his eyes flashed gold.
Arthur tried to talk but found that he could not. He could not feel his lips or move them. He could not open his mouth at all. He moved his hands to face. He could still feel his lips for which he was thankful. He began muttering under his breath.
Neither of them were paying attention to where they were walking till it was too, late. They were quickly flung into the air. They were now pressed up against each in a large net swinging in the air. Merlin's eyes flashed gold, and they were dropped to the ground.
They had barely rose, before they were surrounded by a couple dozen men. Arthur was glaring. Merlin rolled his eyes. "I would suggest you men leave and turn the other way."
"And what is scrawny, boy like you going to do." A tall man spat. This seemed to spur the other men into taunting him.
Merlin scrunched up his fist. Arthur had his hands wrapped around Excalibur. Then wind began to rise though Merlin's eyes never changed from their deep blue. A young man stepped forward. Merlin could not see his. He could only see the deep dark blue eyes. They held a lot of anger and hate in them. "I do not think that they would fetch much of a price. I do not think that they would make much of a slave for the witch and her search."
Merlin glared his eyes at the young man. He thought that the voice was slightly familiar. His eyes opened wide as he realized who it was at the same time three of the men moved forward. Merlin did not think or look at them. He kept his eyes on the young man. Energy blasted all around him. All the men were thrown backwards. "I have been looking for you for four years." Merlin barely whispered.
"Not very well." The young man spat.
"Your magic was gone. Every time, I got word of someone even close to looking like you. I went there. I was either too, late, or it was someone else. I promise you, Mordred. I never gave up on finding you though many thought I should." Merlin tried to step forward.
"There is nothing left for me except this life. I have nothing but anger and hate." Mordred glared.
"That is so not true. There is so much left for you." Arthur spoke this time. "You are young and strong."
Mordred spat and stared at Arthur. "Don't you understand, without my magic I am nothing. I have felt nothing, but a void. Every day I wake up and go to sleep feeling a deep hole within that can never be filled. I was born with a gift. I felt the magic of my people wrapping around in love and understanding. I can no longer feel it."
Arthur kept Mordred's focus on him. Merlin started to slowly move behind the young. "I cannot fully understand what you feel. I do know that you can walk away and make a better life for yourself. You can be more than what these men are."
"You understand nothing! I will no longer be welcomed among my people! You have no idea of what I have been through and had to endure! I have often thought to end my life; however, when it came down to doing it. I couldn't. I have no reason to live! I have no courage to violate my people's law to kill myself!" Mordred yell almost to tears.
Suddenly, Merlin moved with speed. Mordred turned the same time Merlin slammed into his chest. Merlin knocked him to the ground. He placed his hands on the boy's face. His eyes glowing a bright gold.
Mordred suddenly arched his back and screamed. Suddenly, several images ran through Mordred's mind. Everything that Merlin had ever done, since the first cry for help. Merlin allowed the tears roll down his cheek as he watched play through his mind. "I told you. I never stopped. I tried everything that I could."
Mordred felt the tears roll down. "I am nothing, now! I am not worth it."
Merlin wiped the tears away with his thumb. "You have always been worth it. It has not changed. We need to locate the knights, and the people that have gone missing."
Mordred shook his head. "It is better this way. I know what was foretold. You are better off to kill me."
"Nothing is guaranteed. I have not given up on you, yet." Merlin whispered.
"I have not been there, but I believe the witch they tell me about is Morgana. She has been taking men to work in these tunnels. It is believed that she is looking for the Diamair. She is the key of all knowledge according to my people." Mordred murmured.
"How can we find this place?" Arthur asked glancing around.
"I was always required to stay at the camp. I was never allowed near the place. I have a general idea of where it could be located." Mordred stood with Merlin's help.
Merlin indicated for him to lead the way. Mordred looked all around and began walking to the north east. "They are all dead. You are different, now." Mordred looked at Merlin.
"Tis true. I have been through a lot, but nothing compared to you. I have accepted all that I am. It was not easy. I do not take life easy. However, they deserved it. Sarum will get what his coming to him, very soon." Mordred stopped. He and Arthur took stepped back from Merlin, and his death glare.
"We will need to find a place to make camp." Arthur spoke.
"We can make camp anywhere. It is nothing but a desert of snow." Merlin stated.
They walked for a couple more miles before they decided to stop for the night. Merlin created a protective circle around the camp. He melted the snow and created a fire that would last all night. Merlin kept an eye on Mordred. He was having a hard time because he kept seeing the little boy he took Isledir.
"What is wrong?" Mordred shivered under the stare.
"I keep seeing the boy and hearing the voice of a 15-year-old. Your voice has changed. I am still adjusting to the changes. I cannot apologize enough for not getting to you in time." Merlin started to stare into the fire. He began thinking about his brother.
"What are you thinking you about now?"
"I am wondering if Morgana has any other sorcerers working for her. I was thinking about your magic."
"I doubt she has any others. Especially, if she has resorted to slave traders and Saxons. I try not dwell on the loss of my magic. It is gone. Sarum destroyed the creature that took by throwing it into a fire and watched it burn." Mordred shifted uneasily.
"What would you be willing to do to get it back?" Merlin already could see it. He remembers the feel of Mordred's magic. He can remember the force and dark tint to it.
"Do not jest? It is gone." Mordred rose.
"I do not jest. I am magic. I can see and hear what I need to do and for you to do. I have never done it, before I would like to say that it would definitely work. I cannot. Did you keep anything from the time when you had your magic?"
Mordred dropped back down to the log. He stared at his hand. "You mean I might be able to get it back. The void could be gone?" Mordred did not want to hope.
"There is a possibility, yes. I will not make any guarantees. I would like to try. So did you keep anything from your time with druids that was yours alone?" Merlin spoke. He kept looking at the fire. He did not want to look at Mordred.
"I kept my runes and few other small items that were easy to carry and be kept hidden."
"May I hold them? I would like to see if they still have any residual energies from your magic, because it will be needed."
Mordred reached for his bag. He dug to the bottom. He pulled out a cloth and handed it to Merlin. Merlin took the cloth. He did not need to open it. He could already feel Mordred's magic through it. "It is just as I remember it. Powerful with a tinge of darkness." Merlin spoke with his eyes still closed; so he did not see Mordred flinched.
Merlin rose. He began to make images in the snow around the fire and on the ground. He moved in a circular motion. Mordred watched not recognizing the images. Merlin placed a cloth above the fire and whispered a protection over it, so it would not burn. He had Mordred move behind one of the images. He moved behind another image. He reached for Mordred's hands and cut both of them and cut his own. He gripped the boy's hands. He allowed their blood to drop over the fire. He chanted the following words over and over again. "Tá mé draíochta. déanaim iarracht a shocrú mícheart. déanaim iarracht a thabhairt ar ais go tógadh le forneart agus gan toiliú. déanaim iarracht a chur ar ais draoi óg draíochta. De réir ár fola, ag ár toil, ag ár intinn. Iarraim go bhfuil na heilimintí agus Máthair Mór dheonú mhian."
While Merlin began to chant, the wind began to rustle. The air began to pulsate. The fire began to rise. Lights both bright and slightly dark began to rise and circle the combined hands. Merlin still chanting released Mordred's hands. The lights began to circle the boy's hands and move around and in them. They began to spiral their way around the boy's body till it was settled and filled and the boy was surrounded by light.
Merlin gave thanks. Everything settled back down. Merlin moved quickly as Mordred's legs gave out from under him. Merlin was able to catch him and ease him down to the log. Mordred's eyes remain closed, but Merlin could see a few tears drying on the boy's cheeks. Merlin did not need Mordred to respond. He knew that it had worked. He could feel the boy's magic vibrating from him. He removed the cloth and placed it back in the boy's bag.