"Why?" Arthur booms, his cobalt blue eyes aflame with fire. He stares Emrys down, his lips in a tight line and his body visibly shaking.
Emrys looks on with guilt prominent on his face, his hand fists in the bloody blue tunic to the point it looks painful.
The tendons in the king's neck protrude threateningly as he, limberly, jumps to hit feet, his body rejecting the sudden movement. He lifts Excalibur in front of him, his face crippling with anger and uncertainty. All of the knights back him up, lifting their own blades as to defend if needed.
"Merlin is your confidant," Gwaine growls and steps next to the king. "He is your equal! Without him you would not exist...! Why do you sound like this is a game?! Why do you hurt him so…?!"
"Yes, Merlin is my everything," Emrys agrees, nodding his head solemnly, his golden irises swimming with sadness.
"However, there are times when we "battle." Merlin fights me; he does not let me be free. We fight and I end up injuring him…He hurts me as well, not physically but when he hurts, I hurt."
The warlock stares each of the shell-shocked men down knowing they can do nothing against him.
"…I regret doing it." His hand fists tighter into the blue fabric, cradling it closely to his stomach. He looks down at the dagger and delicately touches the hilt, sliding his hand against it in such a comforting and fond way that it causes Arthur's eyebrows to furrow in confusion.
"I do not wish him pain. I care for Merlin, more than you can ever know. I love him, he is precious to me. He is my whole world...!"
He turns his back to them, his golden irises landing on the back wall. He places his left hand upon it, allowing slim fingers to slide down the worn stone. The men gasp as the stones, where his fingers brush, almost immediately begin to look anew, strong and sturdy stones replacing the dull ones. The whole wall begins to glow with life, it's undeniably beautiful.
Emrys' eyes follow the light, a grin splitting across his bloody face and joyous sounds spilling out between his lips.
The men watch in awe as the room slowly lights up with what can only be described as heavenly light. The ratty tapestries come back to their former glory, brilliant shades of blue and green woven within rich Raven insignias that blow within the wave of magic. The columns, once broken and crumbling are now all erect and are adorn with pristine white marble.
They all openly gasp as the light engulfs them, they feel warm. They feel whole. The magic that they had feared and hated calms and sooths them…
A gleeful laugh slips out of the warlock's mouth, a sound full of life and love. It causes the king and his men immediate heartbreak.
Arthur's blue eyes land on the magical entity, a sadness growing within his heart.
No! Snap out of it, Pendragon! Arthur shakes his head rapidly at the thought. This is not Merlin! We have to get Merlin…!
Emrys stares up at his creation with awe and amazement, as if nothing could be more beautiful. His arms are wide apart, as if bestowing a grand gift like no other. Suddenly sadness fills the warlock's eyes, as if he suddenly remembered something important. His joy diminishes as fast as it had come. He slowly lets his arms fall back down and stares at the terribly baffled men before him. The magic retreats and the room slowly reverts back to its original crumbling state.
The absence of magic make the men feel horrible, as if they were cheated out of something.
Emrys lowers his golden eyes to the floor and touches the dagger once again, his fingers barely grazing the hilt.
"…I cannot tell you how it feels when Merlin uses me freely. I feel as though we are finally as one. I feel as though I'm not so alone...I have roamed this mound of dirt since the beginning of time. If this world were to suddenly end, I would be grateful. I have known a loneliness none can understand. That is, until I found Merlin…" An unbelievably loving smile blossoms across his lips.
Arthur's eyes soften at the sight and he lowers Excalibur. The knights all look at him warily but reluctantly do the same.
"You see, his soul had a light to it; even within his mother I could feel it. I couldn't help but want it, I wanted this light. I knew that if I didn't have it then I…I…" Emrys trails off his voice cracking severely at the end. His hand clenches the blade, the gems cutting Merlin's fingers.
"Emrys," Arthur rasps, stepping forward.
The warlock's face drops at the use of his name. His head snaps up and his eyes pierce the king through his heart causing him to back away once more. The knights step in front of him, all giving the warlock an uneasy look.
"I try to be his support but all he wants is to be yours, mortal king," Emrys says steadily, his golden eyes looking Arthur dead in the eyes from beneath Merlin's black fringe.
"I'm jealous, you have him all to yourself...What do I get? Nothing. Nothing but chains and a weak promise that someday things may change! I want freedom!" Emrys opens his arms wide once more, his face filled with anger. He points a long finger at Arthur, ignoring the knights who encircle the king. Emrys lets out a growl and Merlin's skin begins to glow a blinding gold, they men having to shield their eyes. Their eyes widen in horror as debris begin to float in mid-air, especially the broken stone that surround the furious warlock.
"I should not be caged in such a way! Merlin should not be suppressed! I deserve to be allowed to exist...Without magic, we might as well die! We are magic! We cannot exist without the other! You have tried to destroy everything we are...Why?! Why do you hate me so? Why do you hate Merlin? What have I done to be shunned in such a way...? Merlin was born this way, I chose him and I regret it..." A lonely expression flitters across his face, but the anger does not recede as gushes of power push against the men, causing them to skid backwards, their boots craping across the worn stone and their arms are raised in front of their faces.
"Am I such a curse...? Is it really that awful to claim me...? Why are you so important? I have done everything for him...!"
Red fills the golden irises as rage begins to take over.
"He is mine! You cannot have him! None of you can!" He wraps his arms around Merlin's torso possessively, his golden eyes flaring violently.
Determination fills his face and he raises his arms at the frightened men before him.
"I will destroy everything that has hurt Merlin," he hisses through clenched teeth.
"Everything that has ever tried…! He, is, mine! This whole planet has harmed him and so has everyone in it! I hate all of you! How dare you try and take him from me...! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT ANY LONGER...!"
Someone's not happy…Yikes.
I'm updating a little faster because I wanted to post before Christmas! Also, I won't be able to post tomorrow!
Sooo, a little deeper in Emrys! Sorry if the concept confuses everyone! As I said before, I gave Merlin's magic his own personal identity, "Emrys."
I told you it was king of batty! Lol I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for all who have commented! It means the world to me to hear back from my readers! Please continue to do so! :]
Also, I HAVE 180 FOLLOWERS! OMG! This is seriously amazing! I never thought my story would have this many!
(Actually, I didn't think there would be any lol!)
You guys are seriously the best and make me smile! Not to mention write more!
I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends!
Best wishes always,
Lthien~
