Chapter 37: A Hidden Truth
With a small smile and the widening of his eyes Merlin attempted moving his head up while asking a simple question that caused Morgana to break out in a fit of happy tears.
"What did I miss?"
"Merlin!" Morgana shouted out happily as she lunged awkwardly over Merlin's head to kiss him firmly and passionately. When she realized the angle they were at was awkward she immediately raised Merlin's upper body closer to her while she continued kissing him with furious passion. Merlin did his best to return Morgana's affection but was still exhausted from his previous 'condition', Morgana didn't seem to mind however and seemed perfectly happy to have Merlin back in her arms. She finally released her lips from Merlin's as she rested her forehead gently onto his.
"Don't ever do something like that again," Morgana pleaded.
"What save your life?" Merlin teased gently. "I can't promise that at all." They chuckled warmly followed by a chuckle far deeper than either of their own that caused Merlin to look up in disbelief.
"Kilgharrah?" Merlin said in shocked amazement.
"It has been far too long young warlock; it is good to see you again." Merlin smiled at the sight of his old friend as he turned to look back at Morgana.
"How is this possible?" Merlin asked happily.
"It's kind of a long story," Morgana said warily. She hadn't wanted to explain everything that had happened yet, she wanted Merlin to have a chance to rest for a few days before they discussed it. Merlin looked around expectantly but frowned at the lack of familiar company.
"Where are Aithusa and Gorat? And who is he?" Merlin asked gesturing to Roku.
"Like I said, it's a long story," Morgana said sadly. So for the next several hours Morgana explained everything that had happened the last several days to Merlin: her visiting the Euchdag, releasing Roku's spirit to aid her in freeing Merlin, Gorat's death in giving them time to escape, Kilgharrah's temporary return, her journey to the Fisher King's territory and her visit beyond the veil; which Kilgharrah found very interesting. Merlin was saddened at hearing of Gorat's death and looked away sadly in memory.
"He didn't deserve to die like that," Merlin said sadly.
"I agree," Morgana said as she removed the leather bracelet from around her neck and handing it to Merlin. Merlin looked at it for a moment before giving it back to her.
"Keep it," he insisted. "He gave it to you after all," Morgana nodded and put it back around her neck.
"So how much time do you have left before the spell wears off?" Merlin asked Kilgharrah.
"Roughly another day," the Great Dragon admitted. "Unfortunate seeing how dire the need in the living world is."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked. "The way Morgana explained it Marion was done in, if Gorat couldn't survive a blow like that then neither could she,"
"Yes but the problem is that Marion really didn't take the full brunt of the attack, her mortal vessel did," Roku said speaking for the first time since Merlin awoke.
"What is he talking about?" Merlin asked Kilgharrah. Morgana looked towards the Dragon as well, curious to the answer of Merlin's question. Kilgharrah sighed as he lied down in a comfortable position before answering Merlin.
"While the demon is in possession of Marion's body, the actual demon is still across the veil,"
"But I thought demons had to possess a sorcerer to cross the veil unless it was summoned," Morgana said curiously.
"Not always; there are several ways for a demon to cross the veil without possessing a mortal sorcerer."
"How many?" Merlin asked.
"There are four that are the most successful," Kilgharrah said quizzically. "The first way and probably the most commonly attempted, is when a mortal reaches across the veil for the aid of a demon or spirit. They will eventually find one and willingly allow the demon into their mind in exchange for access to their power; while the sorcerer feels in control at first they will eventually lose control completely to the demon while still maintaining slight consciousness. The demon is in control of the body while never physically crossing the veil."
"And that's what Marion did," Merlin said solemnly recollecting Henry's description of the demons arrival.
"Correct," Kilgharrah said dryly. "The witch willingly called upon the demon to aid her as she lay dying due to Aithusa's attack. When they were joined together the demon was able to heal Marion and slowly take control of her body."
"But she seems to have the same goals as before she joined with the demon, open the veil and summon demons to attack the mortal world," Merlin argued.
"Oh she will definitely attempt to open the veil," Kilgharrah assured him. "But it won't be to release other demons; it will be to free herself."
"What do you mean?" Morgana asked.
"The demon possessing Marion is doing so with its corporeal form, like how I'm controlling this body; its physical form will still be on the other side of the veil. If she can open a tear in the veil large enough her physical form can fuse with her corporeal form along with Marion's body giving her increased power almost that of a Greater Demon."
"Well that can't be good," Merlin said managing to sit up on his own, but still within arm's reach of Morgana.
"Indeed," Kilgharrah agreed. "You are running out of time young Warlock, you must find a way to separate Marion from the demon before it is rejoined with its physical form."
"But every time we kill her she seems to come back," Morgana argued. "How are we to defeat her?" Kilgharrah looked away in thought and shrugged absently.
"Aside from killing the demon's physical form: I do not know," Kilgharrah admitted.
"Words of wisdom from the mighty Dragon," Roku said with a sarcastic laugh. Kilgharrah growled and looked as if he was about to pounce at Roku before Merlin regained the Dragon's attention.
"So we need to wait for their forms to combine then?" he asked.
"Absolutely not," Kilgharrah said strictly. "If the Demon is made whole again it will possess the powers of a Greater Demon. The last time a Greater Demon was loosed on the mortal world it wreaked havoc unopposed for 50 years."
"What about the Dragon that defeated it?" Merlin asked. Kilgharrah seemed to jump at Merlin's question.
"What?" Kilgharrah asked warily.
"Alice told me about the last time a Greater Demon was released. It took three High Priests, three High Priestesses and a Dragon combined with a spirit. She said the Dragon may still yet live, it might be able to help us." Kilgharrah sighed morbidly as it looked down at Merlin with a defeated looking expression.
"Merlin," Kilgharrah said slowly. "The Dragon you speak of is dead,"
"How do you know?" Merlin asked.
"Because he is me," Merlin and Morgana looked up at Kilgharrah in shock while Roku turned around, now interested in the conversation.
"YOU were the Dragon?" Merlin asked in shock.
"Yes," Kilgharrah admitted sadly. "It was almost an eon ago, the demon the Cailleach had summoned was on a mission to destroy and conquer the mortal world when it one day attacked a Dragon colony, my colony."
"What happened?" Morgana asked.
"We fought it; we were the only ones at the time with the power to; but not for the sake for the world, but for the sake of our people. Needless to say many of my kin were killed in the battle, including my mate Velanna." At the name Merlin's eyes glowed as the memories within him brought up a picture of a beautiful green Dragon.
"I was heartbroken at the loss of my mate and I swore to kill the demon if it killed me."
"So the Priests and Priestesses chose you for the ritual?" Morgana asked.
"More or less," Kilgharrah replied. "The Priest and Priestesses, along with the aid of the Fisher King, summoned a Spirit of Faith from beyond the veil and convinced it to help us in the fight against the demon. It fused its essence within me giving me the power to defeat the demon; it was a long and hard battle."
"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" Merlin asked.
"Merlin… this was a war that took place long before your time, although now I regret not telling you before. To answer your suggestion: No, the Dragon from then cannot help you defeat Marion, not anymore anyway." The group sat in silence for a few moments unsure of what to say about the situation.
"So were doomed then?" Merlin asked surprising everyone.
"Merlin," Morgana started softly but Merlin cut her off.
"If we can't kill Marion now before she fuses with her physical form there's nothing we can do."
"There is one thing we can do," Roku said conversationally.
"And what would that be?" Kilgharrah asked skeptically.
"The blow your Golem managed to strike against Marion, while not enough to kill it, greatly weakened her. It will easily take at least a month before she is able to reform a physical vessel and even then it will be severely weakened. She will be hasty in wanting to summon her physical form."
"Get to the point," Kilgharrah demanded.
"My point," Roku said calmly shooting a cold look over to Kilgharrah, "Is that she will rush to summon her true form from across the veil and will make mistakes. When she opens the portal across the veil she will be unable to move until her bodies are joined together; that is when you strike. You kill her physical form before they join and her corporeal form will leave the girl's body." Merlin and Morgana looked at one another before looking up at Kilgharrah.
"Would that work?" Merlin asked. Kilgharrah seemed to dislike the answer he gave but nodded regardless.
"Possibly, but I wouldn't trust conventional means to kill it. I would use the blade I forged for Arthur to slay it."
"I can't, I threw it in the Lake of Avalon after Arthur died. You yourself said it was for his hand only."
"I had Aithusa forge a sword for Mordred," Morgana said helpfully. "It should still be at his grave."
"It was foolish of you to have Aithusa forge a sword in her breath," Kilgharrah said scoldingly. "Even more so to leave it somewhere where anyone could get to it."
"Yes well that wasn't my biggest concern at the time," Morgana argued.
"Stop arguing," Merlin instructed looking at the two. "So we get the sword, wait for Marion to reappear and then kill her physical form."
"And then we all go to the tavern afterwards and celebrate by sacrificing virgins for my favor," Roku was ignored as the three continued speaking.
"I left the sword about a week's walk from here," Morgana informed them.
"I can get us there faster," Kilgharrah said standing to his full height.
"Do you have enough time?" Morgana asked?
"For this task? Yes. It is the least I can do."
"Then let us not wait," Merlin said as he struggled to his feet with Morgana's help. "We have work to do."