Chapter 47 [Severn—Two Turns of the Hourglass Later]
[A/N: As always, I refer to Old Merlin as "Emrys"]
Merlin crouched by the rushing water. He splashed his face from the rushing current. Concerns buffeted his mind much as the water frothed against the river's rocks. Chunks of ice floated through the chilled waters. Ahead of them lay a battle with an innumerable army, an accomplished sorceress and a bloodthirsty tyrant. Back in Nemeth, he knew Hunith and Taene couldn't stop worrying.
And then Mithian's fears screamed out at him.
It's all right. We are fine. Relax! He begged her.
I am scared for you. All right? That is what people who love each other do, Mithian retorted without the previous hesitation.
You sounded natural there. Already? He perked an eyebrow.
Morgana and I were practicing. Where are you now? She rubbed her forehead. She took the deep breaths Morgana had recommended to focus her thoughts.
We are at the Severn. Camelot's right across the water from us. He looked across the river into Camelot itself.
Everything seemed as it always had. The trees' bare branches swayed slightly in the breeze. Snow blanketed the ground. A few animals' tracks pockmarked the surface. Still, something else was off. The air crackled with black magic. Pain stabbed like a heated dagger into his psyche.
Merlin! Are you all right? What was that? She recoiled from the attack.
They are torturing people. He ground his teeth. I am going back. It is overwhelming. I do not want to be alone.
You should be back here. ARGH! she complained.
You should be resting. You overdoing it. He bit his lip. There was no way he could tell Rodor his daughter was overdoing their private communication. He shook his head. His fingers slid into his pocket. They glided across the glass vial therein.
I am worried about you. Deal with that! She sighed. I still wish I was there!
I do too. I… He started. Then something strummed his newly-enhanced senses. The presence floated close by on the river's other side. Sorry but I have to go.
WHAT? MERLIN!
There's somebody stalking us. Merlin cut off the connection. He knew he'd get hell from her for doing that. Still, he did not want someone using him to get to her. He'd take the lecture in exchange for protecting her….
…even if said Princess was determined not to be protected….
Why is nothing ever easy? He ground his teeth. If this does not reverse itself, Mithian will kill me. Then again so will Gaius and Mother. Arthur will tell old jokes forever. He rolled his eyes.
The presence whatever it was drew closer. He felt it getting closer still. "WHO'S THERE?"
Wind's whistle through the trees provided his only answer.
Malodius! Kilgarrah! We have an invisible spy! He uncapped the solution. He drank it down. He muttered the aging spell. Spasms pulled and prodded at his body. His skin wrinkled. His hair grew to beneath his shoulders and turned as white as the snow underfoot. His beard sprouted from his face and grew halfway down his chest.
"So you want to play games? BAH!" Emrys pursed his lips and made a face. "A 'nochdadh!"
The revealing spell shimmered throughout the clearing. It bounced off the supplies. It passed through the knights with maybe a slight shock or hairs standing up for a heartbeat.
In the river's midst, the spell ran into its polar opposite. A dark aura appeared to float just over the rocks.
"NOW I SEE YA!" He hacked. Then he pointed at the aura. His eyes glinted canary once more.
The aura flew backward. It struck a rather large oak on the Camelot side. Still it did not pass through it.
"CADAL!" He pointed at the aura once more. Between the age enhancement and the boost from the Crystal Cave, his spell saturated the energy source.
Morgause reappeared. Her eyes grew heavier and heavier. "Wh..where is Merlin? You?"
"THE BOY AIN'T 'ERE, YA BAT! NOW SHADDAP!" He cackled. Once more, he waved his hands.
The tree branches snaked down. They snared her wrists and ankles. They gagged her mouth.
"YA WON' BE DOIN' YER MISCHIEF NOW! HEH! HEH!" He felt the familiar psychic signature. Now you? He turned to find Malodius watching him.
My Prince? Malodius narrowed his eyes. What did you do?
He used an aging spell on himself. Kilgarrah noted from close by. He restrained the elder witch!
I can see that, Dragon. Malodius rolled his eyes. Annoyance flicked his tail.
He did what? Mithian chimed in. Merlin, you feel different! What did you do?
What did I do? Emrys grimaced. Nag! Nag! Nag! I just take down Morgause. What do you all do? Whine! EHH!
You did something to yourself! I can feel it! MERLIN! Mithian scolded.
Emrys limped with slow staggering steps toward the sleeping priestess. Eh ya ya! Any time we can get help here?
Freya stepped into view from behind a tree. She shook her head. "An aging spell? Really?"
"Pick! Pick! Pick! I did it. Maybe you can deal w' 'er?" Emrys complained. Arthritis stabbed at his knees, elbows and other joints.
Freya looked over the sleeping Morgause. "The goddess wants her." She shook her head. "I like you better when you're not so cranky." She disappeared with Morgause in a poof of mist.
"Everyone's a bloody critic." Emrys focused. He slowed his breathing. He muttered a few inaudible words. His hair darkened and shortened once again. His beard disappeared. His lungs stopped burning. His fingers and joints regained their freedom of movement. The wrinkles vanished across his hands and face.
Merlin groaned. He stretched his arms overhead to ease the last remaining kinks out. Then he headed back toward the camp.
Rodor watched him approach. Disapproval raised an eyebrow. "Merlin, you should not be by yourself."
"Sire. We just won a victory." Merlin grinned. "Morgause was spying on us. I caught her."
"You confronted her alone?" Rodor scowled.
"Malodius was there. Kilgarrah was close by. Seems my magic is stronger now. I was able to detect her and defeat her. Freya took her away." Merlin chose not to tell the King about the formula, aging spell or Emrys' role in the whole affair.
Rodor nodded. "Then I apologize. Well done, Merlin. We shall see how Meleagant fares without his sorceress. He is still a big enough threat with those forces. Shall we eat something?" He pointed toward the tent.
Hunger growled in Merlin's stomach.
"That would be great." Merlin followed Rodor into his tent.
Even after victory, one still needed to eat after all….