"Harder Than Ever" (Rose)
Over the previous months, I have grown accustomed to riding fast- but never at this great of speed for so long. I keep praying that Storm will keep his stride, and that I will keep my strength and not meet my doom under his mighty thundering hooves. We are going harder than ever. We cannot let up for the sake of the kingdom.
Never before so torn at a decision, I sorrowfully recount the events of the past days in my mind. More than anything, I wanted to track down Kilgharrah and make sure Merlin is all right. However, the other part of me beat it in to the opposing side that Merlin would want to look after Arthur. Since I know that he is in capable hands- er, claws- I will complete his normal duty of bringing evil to the light.
I wonder at the notion that this is where I, foretold, was to be at this moment. There are things here at work, greater than I, and even Merlin, which I do not completely understand. All I know is what is before me, right here, right now. With every passing second and tree we whip past like lightning in flesh form brings us closer to Camelot, closer to Arthur, closer to where my destiny lies ... for now.
"A Proposal" (Merlin)
Rising after God knows how long, I find the other night's events nearly repeated. "You shouldn't have let me sleep," I say in light but firm scolding to the Great Dragon.
"I had no choice, young warlock," he informs. "The venom was too strong, even for your great powers."
I struggle a bit on the ground, trying to stand. "I don't have time," I argue, gaining leverage from my bent knee, pushing upwards. "I need to get back to Camelot." I wobble a little. "The kingdom is in danger and ... it's my fault," I comment sadly. "I should've listened to you- should never have trusted Morgana," I add bitterly.
"You did what you felt was right, and that shows great courage," he commends. "But trust is a double-edged sword."
"I thought-" I pause. "Because she has magic, I thought we were the same."
"In some ways you are," he contemplates.
"No," I shake my head in denial, not wanting anything in me relating to Morgana in any way. "I will never be like her."
"You have learnt an important lesson, Merlin ... Your determination to see the goodness in people will be your undoing," he says with warning weaved in his words. He continues, "But I fear that your futures are now joined forever. She is the darkness to your light, the hatred to your love."
"I need to get back to Camelot," I repeat to heighten the urgency of this point.
"You are not yet fully recovered, Merlin, and it's more than three days' walk," he reminds.
I nod, considering this as a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth with a proposal, which will be more of a demand, settling in my mind. "I've no intention of walking," I mutter with huge implications.
At first, he is a heap of scaly protest, but I manage to talk Kilgharrah down and convince him to fly me back home. Laughter explodes from within me as we ascend into the night sky. I let go of my hold on one of his head's spikes and holler into the vastness. "Whoa," I sputter as he dips a little, curving downward. "Ha ha!" I chuckle with delight like a child as the wind whips through my short black hair, making it stand up.
As he hovers over the clearing in which I spared his life about a year ago, I give one last yell. "Woo!" I shout as we descend in choppy progression. He lowers his upper throat to the ground and I promptly slide off his long, powerful neck.
"This is as far as I go," he says, lifting his head high once more.
"Thank you. I won't forget this," I tell him with a somber air of parting clawing at me.
"Be careful, young warlock," he warns. "The great battle for Camelot has begun. You must be strong, for Arthur's destiny and the future of Albion lie in your hands."
I must say that he is never light on speaking the burdens people carry. I nod in one sharp movement of confirmation. He jumps into the air, strong gusts of wind blowing into the surrounding trees and whooshing all around me. I lean back, gazing as he make a hasty retreat. I set off at once for the city gates, only to halt, crashing my body against the trunk of a tree, when I hear the pounding hooves of an approaching horse at marvelous speed. The noises seem to echo, causing uncertainty to flow through me on just how many horses there are, and who- friend or foe- is riding them.