Chapter 37 - War of the Kinds

Mordred smiled.

His plan was going perfectly. Merlin had lost his magic and soon he will get Morgana back and take over Camelot, well with or without Morgana, he will try.

Standing on top of a hill looking over the great city of Camelot, he had found peace. Even though he hated everyone in the great city, he could see the beauty that the castle of Camelot gave off. That's probably why so many have tried to conquer it.

A source inside the great city had told him about Merlin lost of magic and Arthur's failed attempts to get the lords on his side with bring back magic. Even though this is what he wanted it wouldn't last.

Both Merlin and Morgana have had wool pulled over their eyes, no Pendragon can bring magic back and only now do I see it.

"Boss, what do we do now?" A Saxon said

Mordred was brought out of his thoughts "We ride towards Camelot, we must declare war on the Pendragons!"

"Right boss"

Mordred had had enough. "And stop calling me boss." He grabbed the Saxon and pushed him up against a tree. "If you wish to give me a title then sir or milord will do!" He growled

Mordred let go of the Saxon. He scrambled to his feet and went to collect together the men.

Mordred returned to looking over the city as it slept. Arthur Pendragon, you won't know what hit you! Nor will Emrys.

Another normal day to everybody else was Merlin's nightmare.

He never realised how much he used and relied on his magic. Even simple tasks like heating the water for Arthur's bath felt like a chore.

Well Merlin it technical is. Merlin shock his head.

To Merlin the days felt like weeks. It had been two weeks since he had lost his magic and there had been no attack on Camelot, no attempt on Arthur's life. He was just wondering when Mordred would strike.

He trudged into the physician's chambers. He saw Gaius and Arthur talking.

"Merlin, have you finished?" Arthur smiled at him. He too had realised that Merlin must have used magic to do most of his chores and now was struggling to keep up with them.

He also noticed that Merlin had a lot less time for himself. He seemed happier when he had a bit of time for himself.

"Yes sire, unless you have anything else you wish me to do." Merlin hoped that he hadn't. He had hoped to see Morgana quickly before dinner. He hadn't had the chance to speak with her because everything was taking longer than usually.

"Come and look at this"

Merlin moved to where Arthur and Gaius were standing and saw the body they were examining. The face of the knight had been distorted, the knight didn't have a face, skin had grown over the facial features.

"What happened?"

"We believe Mordred and his men attacked them just outside the city. The rest of the patrol was found dead. This was the only one like this."

"That's bad, very bad" Merlin looked very worried, last time he had only just been able to save Arthur. Mordred was too close for his liking.

"Why?" Arthur was confused by Merlin worried look.

"Because I cannot protect you against him." Panic was present in Merlin's voice.

Arthur had never known Merlin to worry or panic over anything.

Arthur smiled "I know that's why Gaius and I have been talking."

"We believe that we may have found a way of getting your magic back." Gaius spoke up

"How?"

"The crystal cave"

"Gaius I cannot go back there. You remember what happened the last time I went there." Merlin desperately didn't want to go back there. Not every again.

"But Merlin it is the birth place of magic and as you are magic itself, I believe it may be the only way."

"We will go with you making sure nothing happens to you" Arthur put his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "We won't leave you. Not again."

"Thanks Arthur but I will go alone, if Mordred was to strike then he will try and attack when you will be most vulnerable, which is when I am weakness. That's why he did that to a knight." Merlin gestured the knight with the skin over his face.

"Sire, Merlin's right. That is the sign that the High Priestess would us to declare war on their enemies. It is now a war between you and Mordred."

Arthur pondered on this. "When will you leave?"

"Dawn, I need to get my magic back. If I don't, Camelot and the Albion that we are creating may fall."

"Just stay safe Merlin."

Arthur turned and left, still worried for his friend.

"I better get packing." Merlin turned to his room to get his backpack. Let's hope everything goes right for here.

At dinner, Morgana noticed that Merlin wasn't there. She liked seeing him there. Give him looks which would make him very uncomfortable under her gaze. It was fun seeing him squirming. It was weird seeing him back in his role of manservant to her brother. She liked the carefree Merlin she had fallen in love with when his was banished.

Gwen noticed Morgana mood changing and kicked her husband.

Arthur turned to see Morgana staring at where Merlin would stand. "Merlin's not here tonight, he is packing."

Morgana shocked her head and looked at Arthur. "Packing? Why is he packing?" She did realise that she was staring and tried to hide the blush that was threatening to show itself.

"He is leaving at dawn to the crystal cave, to try and get his magic back" Arthur said, not stopping from his dinner.

"When you say he, you mean he is going to go on his own?" Morgana didn't want Merlin to go alone. What if something happened? What if he was attacked by bandits again What if her met Mordred? What if, what if?

"He doesn't wish to put anybody in danger as now we are at war with Morderd." The two women gave him a sceptic look "that's why I was called to Gaius' chambers. A knight was found with the skin all over his face, hiding his facial features."

Gwen looked horrified "but why does that mean war?"

Morgana spoke up at this. "When a High Priestess of the Old Religion wished to go to war with an enemy then they sent one of their soldiers back, with the face covered in their own flesh. Morgause told and taught me the spell for it and said never to use it unless it was absolutely necessary. It is dark and horrible magic."

Arthur looked at Morgana. He knew that she had a whole year with him but could you learn that much in one year.

"So we are at war with Mordred again?"

"Yes Gwen" Arthur smiled at her, he knew that she hated this.

"Milord if it's okay, I wish to see Merlin before he leaves." Morgana stood up. He is going with someone and I will get it into his thick skull, that he needs us more than we need him. Also I need to speak with him before he leaves.

"Yes, goodnight Morgana"

"Night Arthur, Gwen"

She glided out of the hall, guards behind her, to the physician's chambers and a certain stubborn warlock.

"I hear you are going to the crystal cave."

Merlin stopped what he was doing. He looked up to see Morgana standing there. The guards looked a bit reluctant to stand outside and leave Morgana alone.

"Yes, I am."

"And you aren't going alone" She said more as a statement than a question.

Merlin looked back at the guards. Gaius had long gone to do his rounds, so they didn't want just to leave her alone with Merlin. They didn't know what could happen.

The guards finally slipped out of the door and Merlin sighed.

"Morgana, I ..."

Morgana turned behind her to see the guards gone.

"Merlin, I know that we need to talk but maybe we will talk when you get back. Now don't change the subject, you aren't going alone." Morgana tried again.

Merlin sighed again. She wasn't going to rest until she had got the answer she had come for. "No, I cannot take anybody away from Camelot. We are at war, Mordred against Arthur, our kind against the non-magical kind."

"Forgot it was the war of the kinds" Morgana said sarcastically.

Merlin smiled at the sarcasm in her voice.

"Merlin, what has happened to us?"

Merlin looked at her. "Nothing, I just haven't had the time. We need to talk and I want to be near you more."

"Gwen knows something is up, she keeps asking if there is anything happening between us."

"You keep saying that there is nothing."

"She is going to rat us out soon." Morgana looked worried.

Merlin smiled at her. "Well you know Gwen better than me. She will always find out."

Morgana walked up to him until there was about a meter between them.

"Merlin please take someone with you" Morgana said softly.

"I will be fine Morgana" He knew that she had gone back on the subject of him going to the crystal cave.

"Please Merlin, it will give me a piece of mind." She rested her hand on his arm. She knew that she sounded desperate but she didn't want anything to happen to him. "I don't know what I will do without you."

"Are you begging me?" He looked straight into her eyes "Fine, to make you happy I will take Gwaine with me. But Gwaine and only Gwaine. I cannot put anyone else in danger."

She smirked at him "that will make me very happy" Out of all the knight, she really didn't mind Gwaine, he was a bit of fun and a flirt. She liked him for that reason, however he hated her the most out of the knights. She gave him a kiss on his cheek and left him to pack for his trip.

Merlin stood there and watched her go, swinging her hips side to side, teasing him.