Late again, I know! Endings sometimes are more difficult than beginnings! (dragon mode: on!)
Anyway, thank you very very much for the reviews, especially to SeverusHermioneForever, Helen, Someone from Ireland, Maya and Chris. And thank you so much too for the messages, favourites and alerts. You're the best, guys! =D
And now... we have a rescue to join!
Previously...
The dragon took some distance and breathed away some fire, making the men surprised. When the fire stopped, there was a silver sword, the best one Uther has ever seen.
"It's yours king." The dragon said. "While fighting with this sword, named Excalibur, you can't be killed. Then it'll be a fair combat, since the sorcerer can't be killed too."
"Thank you. Thank you very much!" Uther said sincerely taking the sword when it planned near him, by magic.
"But pay attention! You mustn't use it for ordinary fights! Or the magic will get weaker... Use it to rescue the witch. And then keep it in a safe place, where only a man of worth can find it and only in a moment of real need." The dragon warned.
"I promise I will!" Uther said.
"Now we should go." The dragon said. "It's time."
"Merlin, please, set him free." Uther said.
Merlin pointed his palm to the dragon and said a spell. The chains crashed and the dragon could fly away.
"Thank you so much, my friends!" The dragon screamed flying away. "I'll be waiting for you near of the place where the witch is."
Chapter 36
In the next moment they were in front of the castle. Gaius and Gwen were watching the knights and the magical army getting prepared.
"Be careful, Arthur!" Gwen said hugging her beloved.
"I'll... you don't need to worry, Guinevere, you know I'm a great knight!" Arthur said as he always uses to.
"Don't be a prat!" A voice behind the prince said. "Just kiss her!"
"Merlin!" Arthur was shocked and amused.
Gwen blushed with a lovely smile just before Arthur smashed his lips against hers, in a kiss full of love, passion and promises...
"Merlin..." Gaius called the boy. "Do what you must do. But please, don't act like a fool." Merlin had a fake outrage on his face, making the old physician smile. "I love you the way I'd love a son if I had had one." He explained.
Merlin just hugged Gaius with the love he would devote his own father. However, the king's words just took their attention.
"Firstly I'd like to thank all of you for join me in my quest for Morgana." It made Merlin smirk and Arthur to feel a bit awkward. "I must tell you we have an extra help. The great dragon, the only one who has remained will fight by our side." People got excited, surprised and, some of them in panic. "There's no reason for panic!" Uther promptly got their attention again. "He's by our side as an ally, and he gave us proves of his loyalty."
Soon they were in their way. Uther, Arthur and Merlin riding in front of everybody else. Behind them, on the right side, the knights were following Arthur while, on the left side, people with magic were following Merlin (Kevin and his father near him).
"You know, Arthur... it is not something bad." Merlin said as they left the kingdom.
"What do you mean?"
"Now you'll have a little brother or sister and even a step mother!"
"Oh, shut up, Merlin!" Arthur rolled his eyes.
"No, I'm serious! And you said Morgana is like a sister to you, so it makes her baby not only your brother, but also your nephew!" Merlin was amused. "A big family!"
"Shut your mouth up!" Arthur said word by word, getting angry, for Merlin's amusement.
The sun was almost setting when Uther's army arrived at Cenred's kingdom. They were in the forest edge, getting organized for their attack.
"Here you are, king!" The dragon greeted him.
"Dragon." Uther greeted him too. "Remember, he's our ally!" He said to his army when some people gasped.
"Little warlock, good to see you!" The dragon greeted Kevin. "I think you have a great task today."
"Did you heard him, father? That means I'm not going to be waiting for you here in the woods!" The boy was very excited, amusing people around him. Mr. Johnson, however, remained with a serious face.
"Before your attack, king, the little warlock must go to the castle and use his gift, so you can know where the witch is." The dragon suggested.
"He's too young, it's dangerous!" Merlin interfered.
"Nobody will imagine a young kid would come to rescue Lady Morgana." His father pointed. Kevin looked at him with a big smile. He couldn't believe he trusted him such a great task! "However, I want you to be very very careful, did you understand?" The boy nodded.
"Maybe I should go with him..." An old woman who has offered. Nobody would think I'm here to rescue her too..."
And so they went.
Kevin's hands barely touched the rough stone of the castle when a guard arrived.
"What people like you want here?" He asked very impolitely.
"I'm so sorry, my boy isn't feeling that well, he's just trying to recover and we'll be in our way." The old woman said.
"King Cenred has said he doesn't want the people here around." The guard said coldly taking his sword.
Kevin didn't notice any movement. He was learning about that castle... seeing its map in his mind... looking for Morgana...
"Please, we're just an old woman and a child, what can we make against our king?" The woman insisted, trying to earn some more time.
"Oh, maybe I can solve the question!" He raised his sword and the woman discreetly used her magic, making his sword gets very hot, so he dropped it. "Oh, so we have a sorceress here?"
Kevin opened his eyes. He knows everything he needs now.
"Leave us." He said boldly to the guard, who laughed hard.
"Do you think you can tell me what to do, little boy?" The guard asked amused and angry. "Maybe your grandmother here, that sorceress, didn't teach you respect, but I'm going to teach you some..." He gripped Kevin's arm with violence.
However, nothing happened. Well, nothing happened to Kevin. The guard just stopped laughing and fell over the floor. Dead. Behind him, Prince Arthur with his sword in hand.
"Thank you!" Kevin said finally opening his eyes again.
"No time for that! We must hide his body before another guard came and find us!" The prince said.
The aged woman murmured a spell and the body disappeared.
"How...?" Arthur was shocked.
"He's still here, sir, but he's invisible now. It's going to long about half an hour." She explained.
"It's time enough." Arthur said.
As they were back in the woods, Kevin's father hugged his son.
"My brave boy!" He laughed.
"She's fine, sir!" Kevin quickly told the king. "She's up in one of the towers..." Kevin pointed to the tower nearer from the place they were. "She's chained and the place is very well guarded."
"Good job, Kevin." Uther thanked him.
"In which of the towers she is?" Sir Leon asked.
"I had no time to see. But only one of them is used as a dungeon. The others are unoccupied. So I don't think there are too many guards near them."
"Well observed." Merlin pointed.
"We're going to attack now." Uther declared. "But I want you to go very silently, let's surprise them!"
Morgana went near of a small window and looked at it. A cold wind made her face hurt a bit. No, she doesn't want to think about the upcoming night! She could see what probably the castle back side. Suddenly she saw a movement in the edge of the forest... something or someone that surely shouldn't be there. She looked more carefully... Knights with red cloaks. Knights of Camelot? Yes! The lady's heart skipped a beat when she saw the unmistakable form of Uther coming from the woods. Her Uther has come for her! She smiled. Oh, she needed to tell them she was there! They would probably look for her in the underground, where dungeons usually are. She shouldn't scream, however, or the guards would notice something was wrong. She has to tell them! And she knew what to do.
Uther looked at the two towers which were visible from that point. One of them caught his attention, because there were something moving around there... Some small lilac things flying from one of its small windows. Lilac butterflies! Morgana's butterflies! He laughed in amusement and hope as the butterflies popped in those funny colourful sparks. Soon his army knew where to find Lady Morgana.
"I'm arriving, my dear!" The king murmured to himself. "Up there!" He said to his army and rushed to the castle, followed by Arthur and the knights.
People with magic, following Merlin's orders, were all around the place, some of them still in the woods, some with the knights. As soon as Uther killed one guard and entered the castle with his men, they heard a bell. As they had already discussed, Uther rushed to the tower with some knights and magic users while Arthur and some more knights and warlocks went to the great hall to meet Cenred, faking innocence.
"Here you are, Arthur Pendragon!" King Cenred greeted him as Arthur and his men entered, leaving behind them some bodies of Cenred's army.
"Where's she, Cenred?" Arthur urged. "Give me her now and we won't harm anybody else!"
The man laughed while some more men arrived in the hall.
"You lost, Pendragon." Cenred smirked, trying to show them a self confidence he didn't have. "She's very well guarded by my men where she is." He smirked again, pacing around the young prince as if analyzing him. "My castle, my rules!" He said after some moments. "However, I'm a merciful king, Pendragon." He used Morgana's words. "You give me Lady Morgana and I let you go back to your father with no harm."
"My father was clear when he said me I shouldn't leave your kingdom without Morgana. I want her. Now." Arthur said seriously, trying to give his father some time to find Morgana.
"Give up the witch and you can go." The king raised his hand to stop his men, who were about to attack. He knew Camelot had a better army than him. He needed a plan...
"Never!" Arthur laughed. "I don't know what kind of monster you are, Cenred, but we, in Camelot, don't use to give up our family!" He saw Cenred's face turn in a scowl.
"And how do you suppose you can have her back? Fighting my powerful army with few knights and some starving villagers?" Cenred teased and signalized his men to attack.
And finally the fight began!
Arthur and the knights were fighting against Cenred and his men while the warlocks discretely were around them, protecting Arthur and his men. Camelot had a great advantage not only because their knights were better, but because Cenred and his men never expected fight against magic.
Meanwhile, Uther was running as fast as he could up to the tower where Morgana was. Following him, there were some knights, some people with magic and some of Cenred's men, who had seen them while they sneaked to the tower. Some of the knights were fighting Cenred's men while Uther ran, never stopping, his heart beating hard.
Mr. Johnson, who was just behind Uther, suddenly stopped walking and, after receive a nod from Sir Leon, pointed his hands to the way they had already made and said a spell. Instantly it created a barrier between the combat and the stairs in front of them.
"Mr. Johnson? What...?" Uther asked still going up.
"Don't worry, sir! I put a magical barrier there. Your men can pass through it, however our enemies are trapped there." Kevin's father explained.
"Great job!" Uther approved it, always running to the top of the tower, Excalibur in his hand.
Merlin was outside the castle, in the woods edge. He magically blocking the castle door, so the guards couldn't enter to help their mates. People with magic were all around, blocking other entrances and occasionally causing some trouble to the guards. But nobody could notice them, since Uther was known as a king who was strongly against magic. In the guards' opinion, those people probably were lazy villagers, who came to watch what was happening around there...
"Merlin, do you think my father is well?" Kevin asked in a low voice, trying not to disturb him.
"Of course! Your father is doing great! You don't need to worry..." Merlin said.
Kevin sighed and wished he was older, so he could take part in the action, instead of wait for them outside.
"Don't worry, little warlock! It's almost time to take the witch." The dragon told him, knowing what the little boy was thinking.
Morgana was tense. She was trying to keep herself calm by caressing her belly and looking by the window. But there was nothing there to see! She concluded Uther and his men were already in the castle... what if the sorcerer hurts Uther again? She sighed and caressed her belly again, keeping her mind in Uther's baby. She tried to use her magic to release her wrists. But, once again, all that happened were those sparks... Why it didn't work on the chains? Her baby, she concluded...
"That's futile, Pendragon!" She heard the sorcerer's voice. Uther! Uther was there! Her heart skipped a beat just imagining him facing that sorcerer again... "You won't find her."
"Morgana!" She heard him. "Morgana, where are you, my dear?"
"Uther!" She screamed as loud as she could. "Uther, I'm here!"
Suddenly the door was heavily opened, breaking in the process. Magic, she concluded.
"Morgana!" Uther was keeping the sorcerer from touch them with his magical sword. "I love you!" He screamed at her.
She smiled, feeling her heart melting.
"It's time." The dragon declared.
"For what?" Merlin asked him. All the guards who were outside the castle were beat now.
"For us to rescue the witch, young warlock!" He said as if it was obvious. "Quickly, climb up here, on my back."
"Why?" Kevin couldn't understand.
"Your destinies are calling you!" The dragon said mysteriously. "You, young warlock, must arrive up there and help the king to kill the sorcerer. And you, little warlock, must help me to bring the witch here outside safely. I don't think a pregnant woman should ride me all by herself..."
The boys smiled and quickly mounted the dragon. And, hearing their amused laugh, people could see the boys flying on the back of the dragon right to the tower.
"I love you too, Uther..." Morgana answered him. For a couple of moments she completely forgot where she was.
"Morgana!" She heard a childish voice coming from the window.
"Kevin!" The man answered before the lady could.
"Hello, father!" He smiled.
"Quick, young warlock!" The dragon reminded them about their actions.
Merlin agilely passed by the small window. The sorcerer got distracted by them and Uther took the advantage to harm him with the sword, making a big cut on his stomach.
"This was for what you've done to Morgana!" The king was possessed. "This is for trying to kill me and all the innocent men!" Uther attacked him again and the man groaned as if he was dying. Knowing he wasn't, Mr. Johnson approached him and used his magic, keeping the sorcerer like that.
Merlin quickly pointed his palm to the chains and said a spell. It fell and beat the stone wall making a lot of noise. Morgana caressed her wrists.
"What a relief! Thanks!" The lady said.
"My dear!" Uther came to her and kissed his lady. It started as a gentle kiss, but it soon becomes urgent as Uther forced his tongue between her lips. Morgana smiled and moaned, receiving his lover. Soon, all the fear of losing each other, the relief for finding her safe, the love they feel for each other, the passion, everything was present.
"Uther!" She gasped as he pulled away, not before biting her lower lip gently. "The... the sorcerer!" She tried to concentrate. "He is not dead!"
"I know, my dear..." He answered and pointed to Mr. Johnson, still using his magic on the hurt man.
"You must kill him while saying his name..." Morgana said quickly.
"Young warlock!" The dragon screamed, making Merlin stop smirking at the couple and hear him. "Use your magic on Excalibur, so the king can face the sorcerer safely!"
"His name's Taranis, Uther!" Morgana said while the king went with her near of the window. "Remember it!"
"And you..." The king said. "Remember I love you." He kissed her quickly once again.
Soon Uther's hands came to her waist, helping his dear ward to pass by the small window.
"I took her, sir!" Kevin screamed to the king, helping Morgana to mount the dragon.
"I trust you, boy!" Uther said. "Please, keep her safe!" He winked at Morgana with a smile.
"With my own life, sir!" Kevin answered solemnly, making both Morgana and Uther to share an amused smile. "Hold on, Morgana!" He said amused to her and soon the dragon was flying away.
Morgana laughed while the dragon flied. She had never felt so free!
"This is amazing!" She yelled.
"Isn't it?" Kevin was as amused as the lady.
"Hold on, my friends!" The dragon said and flied right to the woods.
They landed softly and soon some people came to help them. Among them, the aged woman who pretended to be Kevin's grandmother earlier and Mr. McLean with his stick. A man about Uther's age helped the lady to dismount while Kevin just jumped to the floor.
"Thank you so much, all of you!" Morgana was sincerely surprised seeing the people there, helping Uther to rescue her.
"You know, milady... We, people with magic must look after each others." Mr. McLean said wisely.
"You... you all have... magic?" Morgana was even more surprised.
They nodded.
"And I was a knight today!" Kevin said with a big smile kids use to have when they do something they really wanted to.
"Indeed, you were my brave knight today!" She hugged the little boy.
As the dragon flied away, Merlin gave Excalibur back to Uther.
"Thank you, Merlin." He took the sword and nodded to Mr. Johnson, who stopped his magic.
The sorcerer was healing fast, he moaned and tried to sit.
"You can't kill me, idiot!" The sorcerer said furious to Uther.
"I think I can, Taranis." Uther replied, glad to see the shock on his face. "We have never had a fair combat, right? No with your magic and with the protection of your name... But now I have some tricks too!"
"Don't make me laugh!" He said boldly, standing up now. "You know my name, and so? You won't believe your ward, that corrupted sorceress! Listen to me, you can't kill me, Uther Pendragon." Uther meant to attack him but the man used his magic to make his sword much heavier, making the king drops it behind him. Taranis laughed at that. "Oh, I think you were wrong, your highness..." He mocked concern.
Merlin took advantage of his distraction and used his magic, throwing the man against the wall violently.
"Your sword!" Merlin threw it to Uther, who took it agilely,
"Thanks!" He couldn't understand how it was not that heavy again.
"Your sword absorbs the magic around it, sir." Mr. Johnson explained blocking a magical attack from Taranis. "Now your sword is even more powerful!"
"You read my mind!" He said.
"Just when people scream inside their minds..." The man smiled.
Uther quickly went to the sorcerer and harmed him again. Taranis tried to stand, but the wound was deep and he fell over his knees.
"Oh, where's your mercy now, Pendragon?" His voice was painful.
"Mercy? Have you saw what you've done to me? To Morgana?" Uther was furious.
"Sir, he's trying to earn some more time to heal his wounds!" Merlin screamed at the king. "It's now! Do it!"
"I'm killing you not because you have magic. But because you're a monster! You feed yourself with people's sadness, causing them to suffer!" And saying that, before the sorcerer could heal and get up again, Uther raised his sword... "That's why I finish your life now, Taranis! Claiming for justice and peace!" He said while his sword pierced the sorcerer's heart.
All they could hear was his desperate scream. And a very shining blue light filled the night as the sorcerer's life was gone.
"There are some people coming!" Morgana said excited seeing some shadows coming from the castle.
Her heart was beating faster as she imagined it was Uther...
"Some deaths confirmed!" Arthur arrived with his men and the magic users.
"Arthur!" Morgana hugged him. Ok, it was Arthur... but after everything it was very nice to see him.
People were talking among them, happy to meet their kin and friends safe.
"Morgana!" He was surprised. "Have they hurt you?" He looked at her more carefully trying to find something unusual.
"No, I'm fine." She was a bit amused. "Where's Uther?"
Arthur smiled at that. Of course she was eager to see his father... well not only see, a little voice on his mind insisted.
"Oh, I thought he was here with you." Arthur suddenly realised his father may be in danger. "We were fighting Cenred's men when the knights and magic users which were with my father came to help us... So I just concluded you were both waiting here in the woods." Concern was clear on the prince's face.
"Don't worry, Merlin is with him!" Kevin said breaking the silence.
"And you really think it's supposed to make me feel calmer?" Arthur joked.
But as he said that they saw three men leaving the castle.
"Uther!" Morgana screamed and ran to him before Arthur could say anything. Merlin smirked but soon continued to walk to the woods with Mr. Johnson (Kevin was running to meet them too, screaming and waving in joy).
None of them said anything. The lady just threw herself on his arms and let tears of relief pour while they hugged each other with love and tenderness. Uther took her on his arms and turned around, making Morgana laugh in excitement.
"I was so afraid of losing you, my dear!" Uther whispered wiping her tears away and kissing his beloved ward, having the night and the joy of his people, who waiting for them in the woods as a veil, giving them some privacy.
"I love you!" Morgana said as a confession. "I completely love you!" She kissed him once again.
As Morgana and Uther arrived in the woods, arm in arm, the people greeted them.
"Thank you so much! I can't tell you how thankful I am!" Uther said. "The sorcerer is finally dead. As a king and before that as a prince, I've being in some wars during my life and, of course, I've killed some men. To kill someone and see life going away from someone's eyes is never a good experience. Even when the person is an enemy. However, this one was the only man I killed which made me feel in peace, knowing he won't hurt or taking any kind of advantage of nobody else." The king took a deep breath. "For this smile" He looked at Morgana, who had a sweet smile on her face now. "I would go to hell and come back a thousand times." He finished his speech kissing her hand gently while people greeted him once again. "What about Cenred?" He asked Arthur after some moments, still keeping Morgana's hand on his.
"He watched us fighting his men and when he noticed almost all of them were beat, he just run away like a little girl, the coward!" Arthur told them, making all people laugh. "He's probably far away now..."
"Oh, and don't think I forgot about you!" Uther said to the dragon as people stopped laughing. "Thank you very much. We would never do all that without your help and without magic."
"You're welcome, king. Now I must go. A magical being like me was born to be free after all." The dragon answered.
"Will we see you again?" Merlin took a step near him. "You're a friend to me. To all of us."
"You're a friend to me too, young warlock. And never forget about your destiny." The dragon took a breath. "I've already say and now I repeat so everyone will know. You, the young warlock named Merlin, also known as Emrys, are the greatest warlock these lands will ever know. A lot was written about your destiny and I know a lot will be written about your history. Your name will be repeated across the millenniums and lots of generations will know your legend."
People were hearing and talking among them in shock. "That's why he has such a great power!", "He's Emrys! Did you heard? Emrys is here among us!".
"You, Emrys, is the last dragonlord." The dragon continued. "Your father used to be one when he was alive and now you receive his gift."
"Now?" Merlin couldn't say anything more since his mouth was wide opened in shock.
"Yes." The dragon nodded. "Now you're a grown up man, who proved to deserve this special gift. You can call me whenever you need me, Emrys." He made a pause. "And now I must go. See you soon, my friends!" And he just flied away.
Soon they were on their way back to Camelot, Morgana in the same horse than Uther, sat in front of him, who was cradling her on his chest.
As they arrived in Uther's kingdom, He stopped his horse.
"What happened, father?" Arthur stopped too and soon everybody stopped riding.
"We must do something to Excalibur." Uther said to everybody listen. "The dragon gave me it. A magical sword which would make me invincible."
"Why don't you just keep her with you, sir?" One knight suggested.
"No, Gaius always tells us we mustn't take advantage of magic." Kevin told the knight, making Merlin smile at him.
"Yes, indeed he does." Uther agreed. "And so did the dragon. It's a very special sword. But it's a very dangerous one too. Today I could feel its power. If it goes to the wrong person, I don't want even imagine what could happen!"
"So you should hide it in a safe place, Uther." Morgana suggested.
"Yes, my dear." He smiled sweetly at her. Too sweetly, Arthur noticed. "But where?" He said thoughtfully. "Merlin! What do you think?"
"Father! You're going to let it to Merlin take such a great decision?" Arthur couldn't believe his father! Come on... Merlin!
"Yes, Arthur. As we heard, Merlin is the greatest warlock that will ever live in these lands. And I'd like to hear his advice. Please, Merlin." He said almost formally, making both Merlin and Morgana smile.
"Well, sir..." Merlin started. He wished Gaius were here! He would be so proud! "I think you could hide it where everyone can see."
"It's ridiculous!" Arthur said.
"No, it isn't." Morgana got what Merlin meant. "So everyone can see it and respect its power, its magic. It's a good idea, Merlin."
"And how could it work?" Uther didn't get it. "Anyone could take it!"
"No!" Merlin got excited about his upcoming idea. "We're going to put a spell on it. We'll insert it in a stone using magic. So even the strongest man won't be able to take it away."
"And what if we need to use it again, Merlin?" Arthur asked in his most annoying way.
"We go there and take it!" Merlin smiled. "The only person who will be worth of taking it from the stone will be someone in real need and who will use it with fair ideas on mind and a kind heart, to lead his people to an age of light and justice." Merlin concluded and noticed he had everybody's attention.
"It sounds brilliant!" Uther approved it. "Let's do it!"
"Yes, I'm starting to think that maybe the dragon was right..." Arthur admitted.
They continued their way in silence. When they saw a big stone in the woods near of the city, Uther gave Excalibur to Merlin.
"Do it, please." The king said, making Morgana proud.
Merlin pointed his palm to the stone and said the spell. People watched amazed when a bright green light shined all around while the sword's blade entered magically in the stone. Some more words and the stone was written with the words Merlin said some time ago and which would become, in the future, the legend of Excalibur.
It was very late at night as they arrived in Camelot. Gwen and Gaius came to welcome them, with some guards, who helped them to dismount.
Morgana and Merlin smiled at each other as they saw Arthur rushing to meet Gwen, who looked completely relieved now.
"I'd like to thank all of you once again, my friends!" Uther said to his people. "Now it's time to have some rest and tomorrow evening we're going to have a great feast here in the castle. You and all the people of Camelot are invited. I have great news for you all!" Uther said, never noticing he was still holding Morgana's hand. "For now, I wish you a good night!"
Here we are! Uther saved her, finally!
I said this story was finishing... but there is something I love in stories... happy endings! I've planned to write everything here, but it become bigger than I intended... So I'm going to publish one more chapter. Magic has to be free, right? And Uther has something to propose to a special lady... ;)
Oh, and yes, we're going to have a threequel! =D
Please, give me a review! Your review is my only way to know what readers think and to improve... =)