TITLE: Into the Woods

CHAPTER/TITLE: Thirty Five/ Goodbye, Emrys

RATING: T (just to be safe)

A/N: dun dun dun

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Merlin or Robin Hood.

Chapter Thirty Five: Goodbye, Emrys

Robin heaved himself off the ground, whipping his head around in the direction he had come from. He had landed safely, almost softly. He knew it had to have been Merlin that sent him away and not Morgana. The young wizard was protecting him.

Robin wasn't about to leave his friend alone though. The outlaw charged through the field as fast as his weary legs would carry him. He was still quite a far distance away when he suddenly stopped. A large shadow darkened the grass and the sky above. Robin craned his neck to get a glimpse of the source.

What he saw made his jaw come loose. He couldn't help but swallow and slowly take steps backwards.

The giant beast circled above him and then careened towards the ground below. Robin readied himself as the creature landed, shaking the soil beneath both of their feet.

"Peace, young Locksley. I wish you no harm."

Robin wasn't quite sure what surprised him more, that the monster was there, that it could speak, or that it knew his name. He couldn't even form words, let alone thoughts.

"I am here to help," the beast continued, "although I would rather not do this. I have no choice but to obey. Hurry. Climb on my back. I will take you to your friends and safety."

"I – I – can't," Robin started slowly, still trying to believe his own eyes. "My friend –"

"Merlin has instructed me to take you away from here, even if I have to use force."

"Merlin?" Robin gasped. "Merlin –"

"Is my master," the creature explained. "I am the last dragon, as he is the last dragon lord. I must obey his command and he has commanded me to take you to safety."

"But what about him?" Robin demanded.

"I do not want to leave him," the dragon explained, "but I have no choice. What a dragon lord says, a dragon must obey. Hurry on my back or I will carry you in my claws."

Robin reluctantly did as the creature commanded, hesitant about trusting this being he still wasn't convinced wasn't a dream, and not desiring to abandon his friend. He climbed carefully onto the dragon's back, clinging to its scales.

"Hang on," the old voice commanded.

This time Robin didn't hesitate to obey as the monster lifted itself off the ground and they took off through the air. Robin had never experienced anything such as this. The wind beating against his face and the amazing scenery that flashed by below was almost enough to cause him to forget all else that troubled him. He imagined he was one of his arrows, whizzing and cutting through the sky.

Before he had barely begun to enjoy the experience, they were already landing. Robin leapt down and searched his wooded surroundings.

"Your friends are just beyond that ridge," the dragon answered Robin's unspoken question.

"Can you help us save Merlin?" Robin pressed. "Can't you stop Morgana?"

"I would wish nothing more than to turn the witch to ash," the beast bellowed, "but I must go. Merlin ordered me to bring you to safety. He also commanded me to kill him if he tries to hurt any of you. That, I cannot and will not do. Though he did not order me to stay. I cannot kill him if I am not here. I will go. You and the others must save him, and yourselves."

"How?"

"Morgana has used a magical creature to take hold of Merlin's mind. You must kill the mother, the beast that bore the one infecting Merlin. Only then will he be free from Morgana's hold over him."

"Where do I find it?"

"That, I do not know." The dragon bowed his head. "I am sorry. I wish you luck. Save Merlin. I must go now."

Before Robin could say anymore to the creature, it lifted its great body into the tops of the trees and disappeared above the forest canopy.

For a moment, Robin simply stood there, attempting to process all that had and was happening.

Merlin would have been grateful for the healing spell Morgana had used on his limbs had he not known the true purpose behind her actions. It was a long and painful process even still. The witch had carried him back into the hut and was still applying further poultice and reciting another incantation. The spell would not be immediate. He would need rest.

Though he highly doubted Morgana was going to grant it.

He was teetering on the edge, back and forth, coming in and out of consciousness while she worked. He wasn't sure how much time had passed when his body finally felt whole again. The healing of his physical wounds did nothing, though, for the breaking of his heart when he saw Morgana approach with the all too familiar monster.

He tried to struggle, to pull himself away, anything. Even if it was futile, he wouldn't just lay down and let it happen.

Merlin felt the creature puncture the skin of his neck. With a piercing scream, Merlin crumpled over, convulsing. He was trying to fight it this time. He knew now what the creature was capable of. His body shivered as his strength against the magic faded and he slowly fell into the beast's grasp.

"Shh," Morgana cooed and then cackled when Merlin finally ceased his struggles. "There now, that's better."

Morgana magically removed the chains that bound her slave and knelt beside him, her lips brushing against his ear.

"You are going to kill Arthur Pendragon," she whispered. "You will kill him and anyone that stands in your way. You will make his death painful and slow and then you will kill anyone with him that calls Arthur their friend - his knights - and his queen. When you succeed, you will then kill yourself."

Shoving his face once more into the ground, Morgana stood triumphantly.

"Goodbye, Emrys."