Author's Note: Firstly thank you for sticking with this story and thanks to my beta dris and my previous betas for their help along the way. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed (I'd like some more) and thanks to those who have made me their favourite author. After this chapter I will be taking a short break, only a week or so from writing while I get ready to do the next chapters.
So here we go ladies and gents. Here we go. Make sure you have a cup of tea or a beer when reading this. Sit down on your favourite chair and have some snacks handy and make sure your drink and crisps (that's chips for you Americans) are nowhere near your feet as you will be jumping out of your seat. I can't guarantee everyone is going to like this but it is epic. Myths, magic, action and truth collide in a way no one can have foreseen, I present to you Chapter 50, The Return of the Red.
Chapter 50: The Return of the Red.
Blood, Arthur looked at his left hand, he was bleeding, he pressed his hand to the left side of his body, it was clear to him that he had been stabbed and a feeling of light headiness was washing over him.. Arthur looked around the tournament field, the crowds were still cheering, and he stumbled slightly and went backwards. Could he continue he thought?
His mind said yes, yes you can don't back down now. He growled, he may be a lowly servant but he had his pride and he wanted his master to feel proud of him. He had picked up that Knights were brave, fearless and he would never get to be a Knight if he cowered now. He shook his head, as if clearing his mind of the pain would help him and he lunged forward.
Breadths ragged, he could hear the other man's nerves, he cannot have expected Arthur to have continued after that blow but Arthur was not going to give up. He lunged at the other Knight, who quickly stepped back and raised his sword to meet Arthur head on. The pain was coming back and he knew he had minutes before he would topple over. A thought came into his head, this Knights footwork was slow, Arthur was too quick for him, he knew that.
Arthur stepped two paces back, the other Knight was unsure, watching closely. He took one step forward and then Arthur struck, attack after attack, jumping, jabbing at the other Knight until the blonde saw his chance, his opponent mis-stepped and Arthur moved his sword, it crashed against the Knights helmet, sending him to the floor.
The crowd lept up, cheering. Arthur towered over the other man, "Do you yield Lord Thomas?"
Thomas, crestfallen nodded, "I so yield." Arthur offered a hand to him and helped lift him up, Thomas being magnanimous in defeat told the crowd that his opponent was a worthy victor. Arthur beamed; he did not deserve such praise. He took his helmet off to acknowledge the cheering masses.
Suddenly the pain was back and he felt disorientated, he looked down and saw blood now pouring out of him. Arthur reached out for support and Thomas grabbed him, his last memory was of a tall Dark Lord he recongised as Duke Kay with a face like thunder.
Kay's heart was racing, he hoped that the nobles and Knights around him did not see his sweating, his stomach churning; he felt he had been stabbed himself. The sight before him was the one he feared most of all, Arthur lying in a pool of blood. Nobility or no nobility, he had only one choice, he lept over the barrier and onto the field.
Thomas was wide-eyed as he saw his cousin rush towards him; he wasn't sure what to do. Arthur was an important servant after all but he was a servant. Kay was now hovering over Arthur; he turned to look at Thomas and said "Get Gwaine now and the physicians. He is badly injured." Thomas scrunched his face up and looked at Kay, was he serious? Arthur had just beaten him and now he had a serious injury? And what was Gwaine going to do?
"Thomas, I meant now. Go, please go!"
Kay now looked back down at Arthur; he could see the sweat on Arthur's forehead and wondered if his was as bad. "Arthur, Arthur stay with me, its ok, help is coming."
"Your Grace, please, I'll be fine."
"No you won't Arthur. You are badly hurt, you will need help."
Arthur chocked out, "You shouldn't fuss over me, I am a mere servant."
Kay smiled, "Many will disagree with you there." The Duke shook his head, where was Gwaine and the medical help? He looked up to the heavens; if Arthur died Merlin would never forgive them. He then felt a chill, the hairs on his arm pricked up, he felt something touch the back of his neck.
"He's dying. He's actually dying." An unmistakable voice in his head said.
"No, he will be ok, I promise."
"You can't promise that. Don't make promises you can't keep." The voice said sadly.
"Can you help then?" Kay replied.
"Of course. I'm keeping him alive now but he needs to be moved. Get Arthur to your chambers and I can instruct you and Gwaine."
As if by magic Gwaine had now appeared with two servants and the court physician, "What happened?"
"He fought bravely, he won and then collapsed, we must move him inside."
Kay turned to the physician, "I want him treated in my chambers."
The physician looked very surprised, "But Sire, that's…"
"That is exactly what I command, am I clear?"
"Of course. I need to examine him here briefly, there's a lot of blood."
"Fine" Kay said, "But be quick, there's been enough of a scene already."
The voice in his head said, "There's going to be more of a scene later once I talk to you in private."
The physician declared that Arthur could be moved and instructed the servants to help move him. Gwaine insisted he would help too. Kay looked at the scene in front of him, two servants, the physician and three noblemen all fussing over one servant, life couldn't get more strange.
Back in Kay's chambers, the bleeding had slowed down but Arthur was now passed out. The physician had declared that he had done all he could and it was now in the lap of the Gods. Kay had asked everyone to leave except Gwaine.
"Lap of the Gods, Kay. That didn't sound good."
"It's not in the lap of the Gods, Gwaine, someone can help."
Gwaine wasn't sure whether to be concerned or grateful, someone could only be Merlin.
"I presume we need to lock the door?"
"Yes, and be prepared for an argument afterwards." Leon shook his head; he knew Merlin really would give it with both barrels. First though Arthur needed fixing.
Gwaine walked over, locked the door and then turned to Kay and smiled weakly, "Want me to take the blow?"
"Thanks Gwaine but it's both our faults. One of us needs to be able to calm him down though."
A voice boomed from the mirror, "There's fat all chance of either of you calming me down, but first, Gwaine go to Arthur's left and place your hand on his chest, Leon you go on the right and do the same."
Both men moved quickly, albeit sheepishly. "Now repeat after me, OH domhain a mháthair, beseech i dhuit, Arthur ar ais ar a sláinte, sÚil a fhoirceannadh, a chur ar a pian ar shiúl. Insint mé leat go gcaithfidh an Pendragon beo, mar tá sé scríofa mar sin ní mór é a pas a fháil."#
As the men ended the chant, Kay noticed that the room grew cold, he looked at Gwaine, "I can feel it too Kay, it's got too cold." Gwaine peered over to the mirror, "Merlin is that you?"
There was no response, Merlin just stared at Gwaine. "Fine, no answer from the warlock. Now what do we do?"
The mirror responded, "Now say this, "Fola de Arthur regroup, Croí na buille Arthur, comhlacht Arthur a bheith socair."#
The temperature dropped further, Gwaine was now shivering, he looked at Arthur who was not responding, sure he was breathing he thought but he wasn't shaking and the cold did not seem to affect him.
"Almost done, this is the final part" Nádúr mháthair Oh, ais Arthur, a chur ar an cumhacht ón Emrys. Chun Tugann sé an saol Pendragon. Mar sin, caithfidh sé a bheith."#
The cousins were shaken by the unmistakable sound of a mirror smashing, the glass flew across the room. Merlin has gone.
"What has just happened Kay?"
"I, I don't know." Kay looked at Arthur, he was stirring, "Look Gwaine, look Arthur, he is waking up."
Arthur's eyes opened, where was he? Earl Gwaine and Duke Kay were looking over him beaming. "Er, what's going on?"
"Arthur, you were injured, badly injured in your fight against Lord Thomas." Kay spoke first.
"Are you ok, do you feel alright?" Gwaine asked, placing a hand on Arthur's forehead.
"I feel fine, well I think I feel fine. "
"Do you remember anything Arthur?"
"No Duke Kay, I do not. But I just had the oddest dream. I was by a lake. There was tall skinny man shaking his head at me. He had really big ears. He looked sad. I went to speak to him but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. He told me that everything would be ok and then he changed. He was now wearing a crown and a robe of red. A monkey climbed onto his arm. Then I heard a roar, a really loud roar and I woke up. He looked, well he looked familiar."
Gwaine chuckled and ruffled Arthur's hair, "Some imagination you've got there lad. Glad you're ok though. Now you are to stay here and rest."
Arthur went to sit up and protest but his head felt too heavy, "I can't stay here my Lord, it wouldn't be right."
"Nonsense, Duke Kay won't mind, will you?"
"Not at all, not at all. You were very brave out there Arthur, you did your master proud."
"Thank you." Arthur yawned, he felt so tired. His head was now pounding.
"Excuse me my lords, I feel very tired."
Gwaine smiled at him, "And so you shall rest. I'll get someone to bring some water and we shall let you sleep." A servant will be outside, just call if you need anything.
Arthur went to argue back but his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.
Both men got up, they opened to the door to be greeted by the King, with what Gwaine could only describe as a death stare, "Ah my dear responsible nephews. Thomas has been to see me. He's told me that your servant Gwaine, by the name of Arthur almost died on the battlefield and is now in Duke Kay's chambers."
Neither wanted to respond.
Garratt glared, "I trust by your silence that that is the case. So you shall now walk with me in silence to my chambers and then you will be giving an explanation that I cannot wait to hear. "
The cousins nodded and then walked two steps behind the King.
Now outside the King's chambers, the silence was deafening. The King opened the door, following him in Kay and Gwaine saw what was in front of them and their mouths dropped.
"Hello Kay, Gwaine."
The body was unmistakeable, the hair the same as they remembered, the ears no different but the face, the face looked older, more ragged. But it was him, sitting on the Kings bed.
"Hello Merlin" Kay stammered, his emotions running wild, his brother was back, he ran towards Merlin to hug him but as he got to the bed he felt a force blocking him, like a bubble.
"Don't come near me."
"But Merlin."
A cold, hard voice responded, "DO NOT BUT ME. I AM THE EMRYS."
"Merlin, M-bro, come on."
"DO NOT CALL ME M-BRO. I AM THE EMRYS."
Leon looked at Gwaine crestfallen, what had happened to his brother? Gwaine picked up on his sadness and thought he couldn't do anything worse.
"Merlin, what's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me? What's the matter with me? Let's see, first I died, then I have been awake recuperating and helping your sorry arses and I leave you to do one thing and you can't even do that properly. Arthur nearly died. He nearly died and you have got the audacity to ask me what is the matter?" Merlin was glowering at the both of them, if looks could kill Gwaine thought him and Leon would be stone dead.
"As much as I enjoy my nephews getting this lecture, just how have you defied the laws of all magic and nature and appeared from nowhere?" King Garratt looked at his grandson, something was not quite right. There was nothing in the prophecies or texts he knew of a warlock just appearing from thin air.
"I am the Emrys."
"Yes I can see that Grandson but even you having that title doesn't give you this power. There if a life for a life if you recall."
Merlin nodded, "You are correct. But I have bended the laws to my will. It is a risk I had to take to protect Arthur. Since you are all incapable of doing so."
"So what are you going to do now? Sit here and brood all day? Not even you can cheat death Merlin." The King was sure there was a string in this tail.
"No, I will make sure Arthur has fully recovered and then I will not let him out of my sight."
"Merlin you can hardly be his nursemaid. And in case you hadn't noticed we've got a major crisis on our hands with Norsemen everywhere. We have got to stick to the plan." The King hoped these words would make Merlin see sense.
"That's your problem your Majesty, not mine. I care not. I only care about Arthur."
The King's voice went lower, softer, "Are you saying you don't want to help us? That you don't care about what happens?"
"I only care for Arthur."
Garratt was now agog. Merlin had just given up on not only him but his family and the Kingdom. He shook his head. "Then I have no choice Merlin, if you will not help my Kingdom I must ask you to leave."
"I WILL NOT LEAVE, I AM THE EMRYS."
Leon put his hands over his eyes and rubbed his face, this was not his brother. No one could get through to him, there was one last hope.
"Gwaine go and fetch the Lady Hunith. Now!"
Leon had never seen Gwaine move so fast, he lept out of the room.
Gwaine returned quickly with Hunith in tow who then took one look at Merlin and rushed towards him, arms waving in all directions before she crashed into him and hugged him. "Merlin, my boy, my son. It really is you."
Merlin hugged back, a tear forming in his eye, "It is me, I'm sorry mother, I really am."
Hunith pulled away and stroked his cheek, "You never have any reason to apologize to me, you are my son. I should be apologizing to you, for everything you have been through. I should have known something could have gone wrong. I betrayed you."
"You're my mother" Merlin cried out, "you could never betray me."
All three men looked at them and felt distinctly out of place, the King nodded to his nephews to indicate that they should leave them to it. Garratt took a step back only for Hunith to bark, "The three of you stay exactly where you are."
Hunith turned back to Merlin, "Now tell me properly what you have done to come back. You've done something, I can tell in your eyes, what did you bargain and who with?"
"No one, I broke free. I told Freya, that's the Lady in the Lake, it's all hard to explain but I told her I was coming back and then I was here."
"I don't believe you my son. I don't pretend to know everything about magic but I do know there has to be balance."
"Not for me mother, I control life or death."
Hunith turned to the men in the room, who all shrugged.
"Well, I suppose you could be right Merlin. If you say so."
"I am right mother. I am the Emrys."
A booming voice filled the room, "No what you are young warlock is impulsive and foolhardy. You have risked everything for the Pendragon and stretched the rules of magic to breaking point. You have made a terrible mistake."
Garratt knew at that moment the Dragon was right, even Merlin had to obey the rules of nature.
"Killgarrah, I suggest you show yourself."
Hunith's eyes bulged as she saw a small fly that had been buzzing around slowly turn into a bird and then a small Dragon. "Killgarrah, is that really you?"
"Hunith, it has been a while. I am glad you are here, perhaps you'll be able to knock some sense into my young warlock?"
Merlin stared at the Dragon who snorted, "Foolish warlock, so many times you have failed to heed my warnings and now a price must be paid."
The King felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, "What is the price Killgarrah and what is going to happen?"
"I do not know" Killgarrah replied. I cannot see the future, destiny is shaken. "All I do know your Majesty is that at the very least there must be a life for a life but I fear there is more to it. If Merlin bent the rules to come back then that means the gap between this realm and that of the others is weak, if not broken."
"What do you mean?" Garratt now was beginning to wonder just how bad this could get.
"Like I say, I cannot be sure but no one bends the rules of nature and magic without a price. It might not be straight away either, the price could come later. There is a risk that as Merlin escaped that others have. There is a risk that destiny has been altered or that time itself has been affected. Or."
"Or?" The King thought there couldn't be anything else.
"Or", Merlin responded, "Nothing has happened and you're wrong."
Garratt was glad his castle was built well when the Dragon boomed back, "Or Merlin you've let everyone and everything out of the darkness. For all you know every single dead being is coming back. For all you know destiny has changed beyond all recognition, for all you know you've brought on 13 plagues."
Merlin was not in the mood for the Dragon or be lectured at, "And for all you know nothing will change and I am that powerful."
There and then the King knew what must be done, "I will not take that chance Merlin. You have been foolish I have no doubt but let us hope my actions will fix this mess."
"A mess caused by none of you looking after Arthur properly."
"Well you told us a spell Merlin and it didn't work", Gwaine retorted.
"And you clearly didn't do it right did you?" Merlin bit back. "As for you brother, you should have been far more careful."
Leon nodded, "I am sorry, Merlin."
"I am too, I cannot trust you."
"Merlin! That is enough, he is your brother! I will not have the two of you fall out!" Hunith decided she had had enough of this all. "Now it seems that there's a chance you've done something beyond your powers so you can hardly lecture the rest of them. "
Killgarrah could not resist the chance to lay it on further, "And sentenced your Grandfather to his death."
Hunith turned wide eyed to the Dragon and then to Merlin, "Is this true? Your own Grandfather?"
"It's not what you think Hunith. Well, I do have to die but Merlin cannot help it." Garratt did not want Merlin and his mother falling out, despite how annoying she was.
Hunith did not respond, she just looked at Merlin, dumbly.
"You see Hunith, in order to bring back a powerful Warlock a King must die. It has been written for a long time, I always knew there was this chance. I have been ready, especially to see my darling Elizabeth again."
Hunith looked around the room, "Is this true?"
First Leon then Gwaine nodded. Merlin refused to look at her, "It is not my choice mother. I didn't ask anyone to die."
"Well Grandson I will be. Now we need to sort out some affairs of state first. In a way your pre-emptive return will help, because now I can introduce you and ensure the council accepts you as my heir. I must confess I was hoping not to have to do a repeat performance of the good Duke Kay's anointment but someone has it in for me. It's a good job my treasury has some funds left. Although you're going to have to do some alchemy soon in order to pay for everything you'll need. Not to mention a casting spell."
Garratt raised his hands before anyone could speak, "Now all of you leave me here to discuss some private affairs with my Grandson, some things are not for everyone's ears. Besides Arthur needs seeing to."
The King then looked at Killgarrah, "That includes you Dragon, don't think about hiding or listening in."
Hunith was first to move, hugging Merlin once more and whispering she still loved him, she titled her head to Gwaine to encourage him to move. Leon went to leave only for Merlin to run and grab his arm, "You're staying."
"I don't think that's for the best Merlin, we clearly won't be the same again. Besides the King was very clear."
"You're my heir Kay, If I die or something goes wrong you will need to know the secrets of state." Merlin looked at Garratt, "I do not want an argument Grandfather."
The King sighed, "Neither do I. But if he stays then you may as well tell all and sundry."
Gwaine knew he needed to be a big man here, "Uncle its fine, his Grace here got the brains, I got the brawn. I understand."
Merlin mouthed a thank you to him, "Not at all Merlin. Remember this next time you bite my head off."
"Sorry Gwaine, I am sorry."
"Me too Merlin. Now don't look like you're going to cry there, honestly don't be a girl."
Merlin smiled at his cousin, "Call me a girl and I'll turn you into one."
Gwaine beamed back; perhaps they would be ok and left the room. He did not seen Merlin's scowl on his way out.
The Dragon began to shrink in size, "I know where I am not wanted. But I suggest you heed my warnings if I find out more." The King opened the window, "Good, make sure you do."
Garratt watched the Dragon fly away and then closed the door, he turned and looked at Merlin and Kay.
"A drink is going to be required, one of you do the honours."
Merlin waved his arm, nothing happened. He waved his arm again, still nothing happened. He frowned. The warlock then whispered a spell and went white.
"My magic."
"What Merlin, what about it?" Garratt asked.
Leon looked at his brother who really did look as white as snow, he was now shaking. "Merlin, brother what is it?"
"My magic. It's gone."
-
Author's Note: So Merlin is back. He was always going to do something drastic when Arthur is in trouble. Remember he drunk poison for him, he offered to drink the cup of poison when the Unicorn was killed, he offered his life to Nimueh. Merlin jumped in front of the Dorcha and again offered his life to the Cailleach.
Please, please, please review!
Spell notes:
# 1) oh mother earth, i beseech thee, restore Arthur to his health, heel his wound, take away his pain. I tell thee that the Pendragon must live, for it has been written so it must pass.
#2) Blood of Arthur regroup, Heart of Arthur beat, body of Arthur be calm.
#3) Oh mother nature, restore Arthur, take the power from the Emrys. For he gives the Pendragon life. So it must be.
