Thank you my excellent betas and all those who have reviewed and added me to their favourites. I will point out that sadly I don't owe Merlin or the BBC series. Warning: The next 3,500 words are dramatic and involve death, destruction and tears.
Chapter 29
The King looked at Merlin and then his wife. He thought that this time she really had messed things up and had some explaining to do. First though he was intrigued as to what Merlin's other demands where.
"You had other demands Grandson?"
Merlin nodded. "I want the wrongs in my family righted. My father is dead but he was not the only one affected by your decisions. First my mother is to be afforded protection of the Kingdom. If she wishes to live at this court she shall. "
"A reasonable request, despite my objections to the match she clearly raised you well."
"I have not finished." Merlin was still as stern as he had been for the last hour.
"If I'm to become your heir then the ban on magic must be lifted."
King Garratt sighed, "Merlin I have already told you why I object to this. It is for the Kingdoms protection."
"I suspected as much, so I propose that you stand down in two years from now. I am not ready to be King and in case you didn't notice I have other problems to deal with. If you will not relax the ban in magic, you will give up your throne to me and I shall do it."
The Queen remained silent; Garratt looked into his grandson's soul. "No."
"No? What do you mean no?"
"I will not be ordered around by my own Grandson."
Merlin was not going to back down. "And I will not be told what to do with my life by people I do not trust."
"Then we are at an impasse."
Both fell silent. Both seemed shocked when the Queen finally spoke.
"Oh enough of this charade. Both of you do not control what happens next."
Merlin spun his head to the Queen, her voice sounded different. Looking back years later he should not have been so surprised when he suddenly went crashing into a wall.
"Elizabeth! That is too much!"
A cackle, "Oh that is nothing dear King to what happens to you."
Merlin could see his Grandfather from the corner of his eye fly into a large pillar and slump head down onto the floor. He sensed a stronger magic from the Queen than he had first seen.
He shouted; "How could you? To your own family. You're meant to be my grandmother!"
The Queen flashed a smile, "Yes I am meant to be your grandmother. About that."
Merlin could still not get off the floor. He tried to reach inside for his magic but it was not responding. There was only one hope now. He summoned his strength to call to Leon.
The voice turned sarcastic, "Oh look the young warlock is trying to get his little friend to help."
"Who are you?"
The Queen looked at him, with a familiar smirk; "Oh don't you recognize me Merlin? How about this?"
King Garratt had begun to stir, just in time to see his wife, his beautiful wife turn into the one creature he never wished to see again in his life.
"Nimueh. With all the strength in me, what have you done to my wife?"
Nimueh, still smirking looked at the King, walking over she stroked his face and lifted his chin up. "Oh your majesty, I sent her to her death. A fitting revenge for what you both did to me."
"We did nothing." The King grit out.
The witch nodded. "Indeed, nothing. You let me be hounded by Uther. You both knew what was involved when he made such demands on me. You turned your back on the old religion. Even your own magical son and grandson have suffered at your hands, well no more."
"You will not kill my Grandfather."
A cackle, "Oh dear Merlin. I seem to remember you saying something like that before. And what happened? Here I still am?"
"In spirit form. No one comes back from the dead."
"Be that as it may, I have enough power to dispose of you both. You see Merlin you and that Dragon of yours think you have destiny all planned out. Well you see there is a book, The Book of Kells. It contains secrets to deep magic. And it also contains the steps you need to take to kill a warlock. Yes even one as powerful as you."
"Well if you knew that you could have killed me when you had the chance!"
Nimueh moved from the King and was now towering over Merlin, "And ruin all my fun? I have been waiting in the spirit world for my revenge. And the witch sisters gave me the perfect opportunity to escape from the Cailleach."
"You've promised her something!" Nimueh nodded. Merlin could feel his strength fading, his life force leaving him and where was Leon?
"The Cailleach had her chance to have me Nimueh and she did not take it."
"You aren't for the Cailleach. She will have a King and two witches that is enough. I can't have you copying me and escaping in a few years can I? No Emrys, for that is what you truly are; you will not get the luxury of the spirit world. You shall be no more. Your magic will end, you shall end and just like Arthur you shall be forgotten forever more."
King Garratt felt he could stand. Nimueh looked slightly surprised as he began to do so and turning to him, "You know this to be true Garratt."
The King felt all the life then sucked out of him as he nodded sadly. "It is. Merlin I am sorry. The book says 'Magic can fall when Hope is lost and Courage forgotten. For without hope and having lost courage what can Magic do? When magic ends its powers will leave this world forevermore."
"Want to tell your Grandson how you know?"
Garratt shook his head. "Merlin, the book was held by the Norsemen. Your Grandmother stole it when she heard what it contained. She did it to try and protect the future. When we married I vowed to help her hide it. That is why the Norsemen have been attacking."
"And that is another betrayal of me Garratt. That book was to be mine! You stole it from me. And now you must die."
"NO!"
Nimueh was secretly delighted that Merlin was going to show some fight in him after all. The warlock rose and outstretched his hand sending a ball of fire straight at the High Priestess which she deflected.
"Must do better Emrys."
"Oh I shall."
Merlin's eyes flashed gold and with a snap of his head, Nimueh flew into the ceiling, falling back down with rubble surrounding her. He quickly stumbled to where his Grandfather lay. Looking at the King who seemed to have ages ten years in ten minutes, Merlin forgot all about their trials and the lies and focused on the fact that he had tried to protect him as best as he could. "It's ok Grandfather, it will be ok."
"I highly doubt that Emrys."
Nimueh flew a bolt of lightning at Merlin sending him into the door. Merlin felt the air in the room change; this was something he could not defeat alone. With what little strength he had left he called to Leon and to Killgarrah, hopeful at least one would save him.
"No one not Leon, not the Great Dragon," and then with an additional cackle, "why not even the great Arthur Pendragon can save you now Merlin."
"Oh really?"
Leon barged into the Great Hall and waved his arm at Nimueh. Nothing happened. "Oh dear, the Warlock's little helper doesn't know how to use magic properly. Let me show you."
"trí thine"
Leon was quickly engulfed in fire. Oddly the fire did not burn him, but simply stopped him from moving.
"No one can stop me. Now this ends."
"I don't think so witch."
Gwaine and Henry both said in unison.
"Excellent, why not have the rest of the family. I can kill you all at once. Then Garratt your kingdom will fall, and who will have the power to put it back together?"
"Over my dead body Nimueh."
"Careful what you wish for Garratt."
Nimueh lifted her hand, she was going to enjoy killing this treacherous King in front of his grandson, Years she had waited for her revenge and nothing would deny her.
"Still as arrogant as ever Nimueh." She turned to see who had said that and was greeted by a small lizard.
"Brilliant, the Great Dragon reduced down to a Lizard. How apt. So tiny and insignificant."
Killgarrah roared with laughter, "I am still twice the magic scholar you are."
"Ó Calieach, OH choimeádaí na geataí ar an domhan thíos, teacht agus do duais a éileamh"
The ground shook as a small grey light formed in the centre of the hall. Nimueh backed away while Leon and Gwaine stood in front of Merlin and the King.
"Who calls the gatekeeper without a blood sacrifice?."
"It is I. Killgarrah, the last of my kind. I call you to reclaim a soul which has escaped."
The Cailleach appeared from the veil, smiling, "Well what have we here? The mighty Emrys on the floor? The great King Garratt barely breathing and the last Dragon a small lizard. And you think to summon me Lizard?"
"I believe we have something of yours?"
"Indeed you do, but she has promised me a soul or two as compensation."
Merlin was not surprised when the Dragon grew in size to that of a dog and bared a smile. "Yes but what did she promise you?"
"The soul of a King. One as great as Arthur, no less."
"And yet we have a King right here with larger lands and a bigger fortune, will he not do?"
The Cailleach shook her head, "A nice try Dragon, but he is dying. I will need more than that."
"Have me."
"Ah but Emrys, you chickened out before, why should I trust you now?"
Merlin was resolute; "If my life brings Nimueh back to where she belongs I will gladly give it. If my life means the plans to kill off Arthur fall then I will submit to you."
"He is lying" Nimueh was now glaring at the Cailleach and Merlin. "He cannot be trusted. He must die now."
"Hush witch, you have no control over me. He shall die as shall you."
"We had a deal."
"I deal with no one, not even a High Priestess. You allowed yourself Nimueh to be defeated by Emrys and for that you will always be a failure. I have no desire to ally myself with you. I only used you and the sisters to get what I want. What I desire above all. The soul of the most powerful, the most high warlock of them all."
"You will not take him." Leon shouted.
"Try and stop me. It is of his choosing."
Leon was now crouching down at Merlin, "Merlin you can't do this. What about Arthur and your future?"
Merlin smiled weakly. "That is why I must do it. It is my destiny to protect him, and now apparently this land too. If dying means Nimueh is gone and things will get better then so be it."
Leon shook his head, "What about Morgana? And Morgause?"
"Emrys knows what happens next. For such a powerful spirit to leave this realm means that magic will be unbalanced. Their spell will crash around them. Arthur shall be freed."
"Is this true?" Leon was now staring into his brother's soul, hoping it was not the case.
Merlin nodded. "I am that powerful. If I die it will unbalance the earth, nature itself will be in revolt. They are not powerful enough to stop it."
By now Leon had tears in his eyes, he was holding onto Merlin and would not let go. "You cannot go Merlin. You cannot die here. You are my brother, hell you are my world. I love you. Don't leave me. Don't leave me here with Gwaine!"
Merlin chuckled, "I love you too. And you Gwaine. I'm sorry it has come to this."
"Enough of this all. No one crosses Nimueh. I shall have my revenge."
Nimueh threw a ball of fire at the Cailleach who reached for her staff and deflected it back, the priestess jumped out of the way. "Think you can beat me Nimueh? Ha!"
Nimueh conjured up another ball. "I don't need to, but I can deny you what you want and survive here." She threw the ball at Leon knowing Merlin would throw him out of the way and jump in front of it. Merlin's body took the full force of the blast and fell back into the door.
"You will pay for that witch."
Leon finally threw off the shackles of not knowing his magic and instinctly flicked his wrist sending Nimueh backwards into the widening veil. She screamed as the darkness took over her. The Cailleach cackled. "Escaped again I see Emrys. Perhaps it shall be third time lucky."
"Never."
Merlin rose. He spat out. "I have had enough of you. Enough of Nimueh, enough of Morgana and Morgause and of every evil living thing on this earth. I am the Emrys. I have the power over life and death."
"But not over me. Or do you dare to try and take my throne?"
"I have no desire to become the keeper of the spirit world, but I judge you unfit to do so."
The Cailleach shot Merlin a steely glare; "Oh really? And what are you going to do about it? You'll have to fight me for it and you don't have the strength!"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "I don't have the strength? Funny how everyone always underestimates me. You have seen what I can do watching from the dark. Now you shall know it yourself."
The warlock looked at Gwaine and Leon and gave them both a nod, 'please let this work' he thought. Merlin reached inside of himself and called out to his brother's and cousin's magic. Come to me, come to The Emrys. Both souls responded and a pale blue light left Gwaine and Leon and wrapped itself around Merlin.
"Impressive indeed, but not enough Emrys. Not in your weakened state. Now this shall end."
The Cailleach rose her staff, electricity was coming out of the black orb and she pointed it straight at Merlin. The lightning bolts deflected off of him.
"Not enough either Cailleach."
"Ah but I am stronger than you. Let's see what you have got then Emrys."
Merlin bowed his head, "Killgarrah, Killgarrah, I need you to do this."
"Fear not young warlock, I have known for some time this may be necessary. You know the risks?"
"I do. I have to stop this."
"Very well."
"Come on Emrys, bowing your head isn't going to stop your death."
"No but it will see to yours." Merlin rose with arms outstretched, the castle shook and thunder could be heard. The Cailleach remained unmoved and her staff vibrated with the sheer energy she possessed. "Little chance of that Emrys". She raised her staff and pointed at Merlin but nothing came. She whispered something and tried again, this time the staff emitted a red beam of light that tore into Merlin causing him to double over in pain.
Gwaine saw the blood first. Leon saw a vision he hoped he would never see. And Merlin saw his chance. The Cailleach was too distracted by her impending glory to fail to notice his hand held slightly higher than the rest of his painful body.
But she did not fail to hear the voice from Merlin. She did not fail to see him rise one last time nor did she fail to see the determination in his eyes. "Ó Calieach, OH choimeádaí na geataí ar an domhan thíos, tá tú neamhábalta chun seilbh na hoifige sin. Glaoim ar an draíocht an domhain, d'anamacha bhfear, do shliocht an dragain a smite tú as an réimse. Is féidir do cumhachtach a scrios. D'fhéadfadh a bheith seo do lá seo caite. Is féidir do ríchathaoir a dhéanamh ag ceann purer agus de croí fíor. Calieach, tá mé Emrys. Agus mé do doom."
"No one can defeat me."
Merlin beamed at her. "Funny, I just did." He flicked his left wrist and the Cailleach went crashing into a wall. Merlin lifted his left arm, his right holding his flesh wound and threw her into the ceiling, then pulling her back onto the floor. His eyes went from gold to a dark red, a beam of red energy, of anger left his eyes and slammed into the body of the Cailleach. She screamed in pain.
"Now you know the pain I feel, that others have felt but you will have the mercy of having no life force at all. You are no more."
As the words left Merlin, the veil disappeared; the Cailleach was still on the floor. "Your world has left you. And I have no place for you here. mbeidh níos mó"
With that, the Cailleach's body caught fire and within seconds all that was left were ashes.
Merlin nodded at Killgarrah. Having borrowed the Dragon's magic was the only way to stop her. And now he felt faint, he became unsteadying on his feet. "Leon, I think I'm lightheaded."
Those were the last words he spoke. He fell into Leon's arms, Gwaine trying to stop the blood flow but failing to do so. Both screamed for help.
The Dragon shook his head. "Neither of you can help now. It has been done."
"He can't. he can't be." Leon choked the words out. "Come on Merlin, come on M-bro. You can't do this to me. Not now, not after what you have just done."
The King was the one to speak the sad realisation. "The book says clearly, Magic can fall when Hope is lost and Courage forgotten. Look Leon, look Gwaine at Merlin, the magic is leaving him."
It was unmistakable; a pale blue light was now leaving Merlin's body. Leon looked at the Dragon.
"The King is correct, that is the Warlock's magic."
"There must be something we can do?" Gwaine finally spoke.
"You must stop his magic wreaking havoc upon the realm. Everything has been disturbed. Kingdoms could fall, men will suffer."
"Tell me what we need to do." Gwaine looked at the Dragon.
"Very well. Merlin's body must now lie where none can disturb it. His magic must stay with him."
It was Leon's turn, "How do we catch his magic?"
Bring me the pendant you are wearing Leon."
Leon walked slowly to the Dragon. "Drop it on the floor and back away. I have no wish to see you hurt."
The Dragon blew fire onto the small stone that was hanging from the chain and the blue light rapidly sunk into it. The ground shook and all could hear a terrible, blood curdling groan.
"What was that?"
"That Gwaine is the Earth recognising what has happened. You have little more than a couple hours to get Merlin's body to where he must lie."
"And where is that?"
"The Giants Causeway in Ulster. He must be accompanied by one of blood and of magic.""
"Then I shall go."
"No Gwaine I shall go. I am his brother."
"And I am his cousin and best friend."
"You shall both come with me. It is what he would want is it not?"
"It is hours from here, at least a day Killgarrah."
"Indeed it is Leon, it brings me now joy to say that you shall both have to fly on me and hold his body. The path to the Causeway is not safe and we cannot afford for you both to be attacked on the way."
"Then if that is what is required to let my brother sleep and for the Earth to be calmed, then that is what shall be."
"Very wise Leon."
"Killgarrah."
"Yes your majesty."
"If there is one scratch on any of them."
"Fear not King Garratt, Leon and Gwaine will return in one piece. And Merlin's body will be unharmed."
"Good."
Leon and Gwaine both looked at each other, the short walk onto Killgarrah carrying Merlin would be the longest and hardest walk they would ever face. Both were secretly glad they would not be on their own.
"Come, the sooner this matter is closed, the sooner you can move on."
Leon shook his head, with tears in his eyes he said "I will never be able to move on Killgarrah. And I have to return to Ealdor and break the news to his mother."
"I am truly sorry to see you so upset Leon."
"Thank you."
Gwaine picked up Merlin's legs, Leon his arms and they carefully moved him to right by the Dragon. The Dragon nodded and grew in size, taking out the roof of the Great Hall. Garratt didn't care; his Grandson and his Wife had been lost forever.
Leon climbed on first and Gwaine lifted Merlin up onto him and then climbed on himself. "Well I guess this is it?" He said.
The King used what little energy he had left to speak. "I am sorry for my part in this affair. When you both return things will be different. I vow to my Grandson I will do better."
Gwaine and Leon both nodded at the King and Killgarrah took off.
