Finally done with the vacation stuff...even though it ended in the previous chapter but still! haha
Act 1 of this story I guess you can say is now over
We'll be getting back to Arthur and Mordred about maybe next chapter or the chapter after that. Not sure yet
Taking inspiration from so many works of art/literature/media I've seen since I was old enough to remember any of them so I hope I didn't disappoint you guys :)
"Rísa rammr at afli Ymir!"
As soon as the incantation left the Sidhe's mouth, Morgana for the first time in ages felt completely terrified.
The atmosphere around them began to chill considerably as ice formed all around the land, from the amphitheater to the outskirts of Pompeii and still moving.
"That wasn't the Sidhe language, or even that of the Old religion?! It sounds familiar but dammit where have I heard it before?!" Her voice sounded further than it was with the roaring of the wind.
Merlin concurred "It was an ancient form of Norwegian specifically old Norse! If what I fear is true, than we're in for a big one now! Prepare yourself!"
"What about my family?! The people still trapped here?! They're gonna freeze to death! Hell I'm going to freeze to death!"
Merlin didn't really care if Percival's reincarnate did or not, the prospect of this next summon took all precedence. He's only lucky that his close proximity to Morgana's magic is keeping him somewhat warm enough not to freeze himself.
"He's right Merlin! Before this monstrosity gets here, we must break Cathair's hold on them! They need to flee before they're glaciers!"
"…"
"Merlin?!"
"Huh?! Oh yes yes of course!"
Morgana filed that away for later "How's your power situation?! Have they returned?!"
Merlin grimaced as he shielded his face from the frosted blowing away at them.
"Not there yet!"
"How long?!"
"Hopefully not too long!"
Morgana had to think quickly, they're running out of time!
Good thing she saved some magic, time to get creative. She can use the wind to her advantage.
She gathered her breath as she mentally uttered to incantation to break the spell placed on the captives.
"Rhyddhewch nhw i gyd" Morgana than breathed out her spell which was carried by the frosting wind in every direction thus being inhaled by the captives who were subsequently released and began to panic at the sight of the torment that was about to be unleashed.
"Go Ted, get your family and the people as far from here as you can!"
Ted was grateful as he gripped her forearm, how coincidental that it was similar to the old shakes the knights would always use for comradery.
"Thank you so much! I hope you two can gut this fucker like the pig he is! We'll all be rooting for you!" Ted turned to offer Merlin the same wishes but the Immortal Warlock wasn't even paying attention, focusing his gaze in front of him…
"Go Ted! Time's running out!" Morgana nudged him off towards the screaming crowd gathering into a group to make their way out of here!
"Good luck!" He ran off towards the people, hopefully to find his wife and daughter in one piece.
Getting closer towards Merlin, Morgana magicked herself warmer clothes as all the concrete and the very air itself was practically ice and snow. Merlin however declined to receive the same.
"Soon it'll be unnecessary."
Well what's mean? Is he talking about his magic returning?
"Get ready Morgana, he's here."
"Who?!"
"I hope you don't think that just because those fools got away that it'll matter in the end Priestess?! And you Emrys, I do wonder just what your pose will be when you turn into an ice sculpture!" Cathair's voice was echoed out as his summoning was at last complete, causing the very earth to rumble as a creature of great stature erupted from its surface.
The wind died down until all was silent…the cold however only intensified.
"That's…that's a Jǫtunn…"
Merlin grimly responded "Not just any Jǫtunn…the forefather of all Jǫtunn. The King of the Frost Giants. Ymir…"
The Ancestor of the Jǫtunn stood tall at nearly 300 meters in height. His entire body was literally ice, horns, and beard. His eyes however showed the mastery he has over the frost. This Sidhe...managed to tame a legend that even the Norse's Odin feared?
Morgana didn't understand how Merlin could remain calm!
"Morgana calm down."
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?! We've never exactly fought a Frost Giant before let alone it's King!"
Neither of them were around when the Vikings invaded Albion, for Merlin he was too busy exploring the known and unknown parts of the world. Morgana? She just didn't care who did what in the island of petty kingdoms as she was with Aithusa in Greenland.
"Ymir's presence here as with any ritual summoning, is only as long as the will of his summoner. Which means…"
"We have to focus on Cathair..." Morgana than began to wonder…how the hell are they even supposed to reach him from down here.
"Emrys I'd ask if you made peace with the Goddess…but that would just be cruel!" Cathair's arrogant voice sounded faint but could still be heard even at the amount of distance. Merlin's glare become one with a bit of confusion.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Morgana tried to keep him talking, just long enough to think of a way to get to him without facing the wrath of Ymir.
"You should know Priestess! Then again, you're a priestess to an empty throne hahaha!"
Morgana couldn't understand what in blazes he was on about, but it didn't matter because Ymir raised his foot and tried to stomp on them. Forcing them to scatter in different directions hoping to confuse the giant. Not that it mattered, it's focus was on Merlin no doubt due to Cathair's influence.
"Morgana! Focus your magic inward! Let it empower your body tenfold!" Merlin shouted while trying to dodge the spikes of ice Ymir's fingers were shooting towards him.
Morgana than took a deep breath as she began to take back in all of her magic that was leaking from her body via her aura. This trick they discovered proved very useful when fighting many magical and legendary foes that proved hard to kill even with magic. It was Merlin's specialty, he taught it to her not long after they both ended up fighting a Kraken in the Atlantic once upon a time. Hopefully it'll be enough to at least slow down Ymir's onslaught to get to Cathair.
"Go on! I'll keep him distracted!"
"Dammit Merlin be careful not to become a popsicle!"
"Thanks for the advice!"
Merlin tried his best to avoid the whirlwind of snow and ice being lodged his way as he led Ymir out in the direction toward the sea, exposing his back for Morgana to take advantage of.
Morgana shrunk her sword into a dagger to be better mobile and chased after them, not letting Merlin's opening for her go to waste.
As she began to leap towards Ymir's legs however she was on her knees. Feeling rather dizzy...
"What...what's going on?"
She felt lightheaded...tired...but how? She could have sworn she didn't use too much of her power in her earlier skirmishes...? Did she miscalculate?
Morgana gave herself a few slaps, this wasn't the time to fall apart! She just had to walk it off and fix whatever issues she had later! She regained her bearings and once again prepared herself as Ymir was beginning to pressure Merlin.
She leaped a few meters into the air and latched onto the spikes to keep from falling back onto the ground, pocketing her dagger between her teeth. After taking another breath, Morgana lifted her legs onto Ymir's and leaped upward to another spike and kept up the process until she reached his shoulder.
Merlin was beginning to feel more and more like himself as he kept dodging hurls of ice and frost beams from the eyes of Ymir.
"Is this what you've been reduced to Emrys?! Running like a coward?! Ha! Clearly without your magic you're nothing!"
"That's right keep taunting you ingrate, we'll see who has the last laugh momentarily."
"2 minutes left." Merlin could feel the beginnings of a smirk making its way to his face.
It's astounding the Italians or hell the global entities of the world haven't already descended down upon them. It's not like anyone from miles away couldn't see an ICE GIANT wreaking havoc chasing down a man who's moving inhumanly quick.
Morgana kept her balance as she latched onto to the frosty hair of Ymir, hearing Cathair's laughs and taunts as he remained focused on Merlin. The fool will regret taking her eyes off her.
As she climbed to the top of Ymir's head, she stealthily made her way closer to Cathair. Wielding her dagger ready to skin the devious fucker.
As Morgana went for a fatal blow however, she spasmed. What's happening to her body?! Why is it beginning to fail her?! Did Cathair curse her? Could it have been the effects of the Draugar's poison? No it doesn't add up! Damnit!
"I do hope you weren't thinking it would be that easy Priestess?" A flash of red and Morgana was paralyzed, her dagger making it's way to the hand of Cathair.
"Fuck! I can't move! Merlin!"
Merlin's eyes widened as he mentally heard her plea! Dammit! In his distraction however, Ymir got a hit in.
Merlin clenched his eyes shut as he began to feel the frost trapping his arms and legs in ice. He was trapped!
1 minute left.
"Hang on please! Just for 1 more minute!"
"I'll do my best."
"Cathair stop! It's me you want! Let her go!"
"Don't worry Emrys you'll get your turn, but I thought it special if I took away what little you have left in this world. Only then will I have Ymir grant you reprieve." Cathair lazily made his way to Morgana's body, while Ymir kept up the frost, in an effort to encase all of Merlin in ice.
"You worm! If you do this…I'll make sure you suffer dearly! I will haul your carcass all over the earth! I will laugh at your wretched pleas and moans for mercy! You will never have a moments peace so long as I will it! Do you hear me?!"
45 seconds…
"Empty words Emrys. Thanks to the Dark One, your connection to all your might has been severed. I do hope there was nothing left unsaid between you and the Priestess, because you'll never be seeing her again. She'll be doomed to wander the icy abyss of Niflheim while you remain trapped in ice for the rest of eternity!" Cathair's victim grew rather large Sidhe wings the further along Cathair possessed him.
Morgana tried her best to move, but her magic...it's being erratic. She doesn't understand any of this, it's as if all of her energy is sapping away from her.
"Morgana?! What's wrong?! Break free!" Morgana's power should have been more than enough to dispose of Cathair, Merlin was trying so hard to break free from this damn icy prison! Ymir truly is a formidable one.
At her current condition, she doesn't have to strength left to combat the power of a Sidhe elder. So she did the only left that she could…she spat in his face, glaring at him in a show of defiance and fearlessness.
If Cathair was annoyed, he didn't show it. Simply wiped his face off and traced the dagger along Morgana's cheek.
"…How expected of a lowly creature. At least the Goddess is no longer here to bare witness to the disgrace that was her Priestess." Cathair grinned at the confusion turn alarmed look on Morgana's face.
"Yes Priestess…she's gone. Just like all the other deities of the world she too eventually faded not too long ago actually." Cathair laughed as he readied to pierce Morgana's heart, her dagger now infused with Sidhe runes…could that actually kill her? She doesn't know…she doesn't anything anymore…the Goddess is gone…they're all alone. Is this why her visions have ceased…because there's no one to give her visions?
Morgana felt her heart drop at the news she dreaded to hear, Merlin whose hearing has finally regained its heightened enhancements caught it and widened his eyes in shock.
The Goddess has faded…? The same Goddess that returned Morgana to life, that granted him his companion through thick and thin…is gone?
Merlin's sadness turned to cold fury. Defense is over, now to it's for him to take control of this fight.
3...2...1...
Time's up.
"Cathair…you like he...assumed that without magic I'm weak."
Cathair stopped in his tracks as he felt a pressure building up, his eyes widened as he quickly turned his gaze back toward Merlin.
Merlin's aura was fiery as his molten gold eyes returned with a vengeance, the ice around him melting as it grew brighter.
"Impossible…the Dark One ensured that you would be powerless…" Cathair couldn't believe his gaze.
Merlin cold gaze blinked as he smirked. "How pathetic, you actually let a mortal make a fool of you. Than again…not like it took much effort."
Cathair growled as more of his Sidhe features erupted from the mortal body he possessed.
"I think we've humored you long enough. It wasn't enough for you to do dare work with that wretch Sigan but you dare try to take from me Morgana?"
Then rumbling of grand proportions could be felt…the source?
Vesuvius.
"It's no longer possible for you to defeat me you little ant. Soon I will honor my promise, your wings are mine."
Morgana felt Cathair's hold on her loosen as she moved her fingers!
Merlin than felt it.
"He's finally awake. Time for a family reunion."
"It's over Sidhe. I hope this was worth it for you."
"Ymir! Quickly freeze him! Destroy him! Do anything!"
Ymir prepared his attack as the weather around him grew colder and was ready to be hurled at Merlin. Then he was struck by a blow of lightning briefly stunning him.
Cathair turned to heavily breathing but now freed Morgana and regained her dagger from the blasted Sidhe.
"You gotta stop leaving your back unprotected, not even I was that amateurish back in the day." Morgana's condition seems to have somewhat stabilized along with her feeling of loss towards the news of the Goddess. She rejoiced at the return of Merlin's powers, finally they could end this madness.
Cathair was starting to panic, this wasn't going according to plan! Curse the Dark One! He was a guinea pig!
Merlin closed his eyes and readied to call forth an old friend, the one who will help him put away Ymir back into the frosty hell he came from.
"O drákon! Xypníste apó ton líthargo sas! Ríxe tin orgí sou ston echthró mou! Kai fére mou ti níki!"
Cathair and Morgana heard the deep growl in his voice loud and clear. The latter smirking as she readied to see the fear in Cathair's eyes, while the former was frantically trying to figure out how to get out of this!
As soon as his chant was complete, the night sky illuminated with spots of brightness. Vesuvius despite not being active in over a thousand years, had enormous levels of bright light shining into the heavens.
Cathair has to shield his eyes, while Ymir stood still as stone.
As the light died and shaking died down…nothing happened.
Cathair looked around, while Morgana was busy laughing behind him taking glee at his befuddlement.
"What's wrong Cathair? Has it sunk in yet that you're about to wish you were never conceived?" Oh how she missed this, the feeling of superiority over a would-be victor.
"I don't understand…what did you do?!"
Merlin smirked as he motioned Cathair to look upward.
From behind the clouds the darkness was once more illuminated this time with a silvery blue light as the form of a very large dragon took form as it fled in top speed down next to Merlin, letting out a mighty roar that shook the land within 200 kilometers. This noble beast was nearly as tall as Ymir…but far longer. His blue and silver scales shining brightly among the light his presence has brought forth. The wings and hind legs he inherited from his mother proudly stretched along with his blue eyes that emphasized the power in his flames.
Cynfab has answered the call to arms.
Morgana smiled; last she saw her grandson he wasn't anywhere near this big.
"This can't be happening!" Cathair needed to think of something and fast!
As the light settled down, Merlin looked up at his grandson and his cold gaze softened "Wakey wakey. It's good to see you again Cynfab."
"Aye father, it's been sometime. Please allow me to vanquish this fiend so that we may be able to reconnect all the sooner." Cynfab lowered his head as Merlin rubbed it, closing his eyes to bask in the comfort Merlin brought him. Merlin in turn cherishing that his first grandchild is here again, and that he still considers him a father.
"We do this together my boy. I'm a being of my word after all. I promised that I'd make him suffer." Cynfab nodded as Merlin jumped atop his head.
"Before we destroy Ymir, we need to get your grandmother back."
"Not to worry father, I do not fear this creature of ice."
"I figured. Just don't get reckless."
Cathair's fear turned to irrational anger as he refused to go down like this! "Emrys! This changes nothing! The Sidhe have never feared the dragons and I won't start now! Ymir annihilate them both! Cast the entire world in an eternal winter!"
Morgana charged at the Sidhe who lashed out at her dodging her attack as Ymir went straight for Cynfab who swiped away all the spiked hurling towards him. Any that connected simply bounced off his scales.
"Cynfab! Strangalíste aftó to skoulíki me tin ischyrí sas morfí!" Merlin ordered, winded blowing at him with Cynfab flying towards Ymir and now wrapping his serpentine body around the frost giant to restrain him.
Cynfab roared at Ymir and ignited his blue flames at his face, however Ymir breathed frost right back canceling out his attack. Seeing an opening however, Cynfab rammed his horned head into Ymir's knocking it back further.
"No matter, the objective was just to get Morgana." Merlin could now see clearly that the Priestess in question giving Cathair a run for his money...
Prior to this, Cathair was forced on the defensive as his magic was being used to maintain Ymir's presence. Ugh! He can't afford to use any on the Priestess, unless...
Dodging another blow, Cathair tore off a piece of Ymir's spikes on his head to use as a makeshift weapon.
"You honestly expect to beat me with what is essentially hair?"
"You underestimate Ymir, Priestess! Emrys may have regained his power, but the King of the Frost Giants isn't your typical Gryphon or Manticore!"
Morgana shut him up by doubling her daggers with a spell and going at him from every direction, the adrenaline beginning to make up for her earlier stumbles.
Morgana snorted at the fool "Don't you know the saying Cathair? Pride cometh before the fall? I dare say that the Christians were onto something with that. Take it from a former villain, I just know these things."
Taking advantage of Cynfab who wrapped his body around Ymir which stumbled both her and the Sidhe...she leaped forward and slashed the bastard's eye right now.
"Argghhh! How dare you?! Wretched lifeform!" Cathair held his left eye and his blue blood kept leaking through his hand. Once he removed it, all could see the blood line slashed diagonally through what was once his eye socket.
"Hey look on the bright side, at least now you'll get a cool eye patch." Morgana smirked at the furious roar the Sidhe elder created.
"Morgana! Jump!" Merlin than blasted Cathair off of Ymir so that his wife could get on Cynfab with no fuss. The ram Cynfab did on Ymir forced Cathair to take to the sky to avoid any further harm to his host.
"Curse you Emrys! I had everything planned perfectly! I refuse to allow it to end this way!"
The Sidhe had tried to maintain his new position in the air with his wings, however his human host was beginning to fail him. He wasn't fully complete in his possession to pour so much of his magic out now and as a result the body was beginning to destabilize. Plus if he used too much than Ymir wouldn't have enough of his magic to remain in this realm, nor were his recent injuries from the Priestess helping in any way! He was trapped, plain and simple. Cathair quickly went back to Ymir in order to minimize the damage as best he could, retracting his wings.
Merlin said nothing as he grabbed Morgana and embraced her tightly!
"I'm alright Merlin." She gave just as a tight a hug.
"…I was scared."
"Don't be, let's finish this."
"Right…"
Merlin got them both off of Cynfab and gently to the ground as Cynfab than rammed Ymir toward the ground.
The Jǫtunn grabbed the end of his tail however, spinning Cynfab around at high speed before tossing him over to the sea.
If the Dragon felt any pain he didn't make it obvious, if anything he looked more angry at his slip up. Launching a blast of blue flames as hot as the volcano he resided in towards Ymir.
"If only Aithusa could see her son now, how much he's grown." Morgana commented, watching in awe as Cynfab held his own against the Father of all Jǫtunn. They were pretty evenly matched, to think this frost giant gave the Norse God Odin trouble. So to think that Cynfab is actually doing damage is astounding to see.
"In more ways than one…"
True, his strength was impressive. Being the first of a new breed, the connection between west and east brought with it certain traits but also responsibility. What he does now will set the example not just for his siblings but also future generations of his kin.
Merlin will ensure nothing ever happens to them, ever.
It was time to end this in one last blow.
"Cynfab! Metamorfóste ton eaftó sas! Kápse ton echthró sou me tin kólasí sou!" Morgana shivered at the raw power in Merlin's voice, it never ceased to amaze her seeing his Dragonlord abilities in action. One of the few upsides to always getting the occasional magical entity trying to usurp their authority over the earth…
Cynfab heard loud and clear getting some distance from Ymir who was on his knees. The snow and ice around him feeling the brunt of Cynfab's fiery attacks.
A loud roar from Cynfab as ancient Chinese symbols appeared in the air around him before clinging and burning into his body…erupting his entire form in ethereal blue flames akin to a Phoenix.
What differed the Eastern Dragons from their Western counterparts? You mean aside from the obvious? Well, it was their use of magic being able to alter their forms to achieve a greater level of divinity.
If you could only imagine the sight of such a majestic beauty. To hear the mighty shriek as Cynfab than charged in his fiery will toward Ymir with the heat of a thousand suns causing the giant to groan in agony.
"NO! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING EMRYS!" Cathair was forced to retreat from Ymir if he didn't want to get caught in the flames of the Dragon turned Phoenix.
Merlin and Morgana watched with satisfaction as the Great Ymir melted back into the cold ether that he crawled out of.
Cynfab than returned to his solid form as the blue flames dissipated into the atmosphere.
Cathair had no time to think as he was dragged over to Merlin whose mere gaze was holding him in place, his feet not even touching the ground as Merlin just stared at him.
Merlin decided he was tired of looking at him through a sack of meat, so his magic split them in two once more. Cathair being nothing more than a few cm tall in all his blue glory. The mortal on the other hand? Dead…huh guess he didn't survive. Oh well.
"Well…isn't Destiny a bitch?" His turn to gloat.
Morgana laughed as Cathair tried to think of someway to talk out of this…maybe he can grovel? Plea to Emrys' inner mercy?!
"So tell me worm. Where. Is. Sigan…?!" With each word Merlin strengthened his magic's grip on the Sidhe's body trying to force the pig to squeal.
"Emrys! Please! Mercy!"
"You try my patience Sidhe."
"I don't know!"
"Fine I'll just look myself."
"Wait wait I swear to you, the Dark One never came to me personally! He only sent a mind slave of his when he discovered my presence in the mortal realm! It was from he that I knew of when to expect you! He told me what I had to do and I agreed!
"Yes, you're little grudge against me. Tell me the fate of this so-called mind slave."
"He died! The Dark One's enchantment was set to kill him the second he was done delivering his orders! I swear, I don't know where he is or what alias he goes by these days!"
"…"
"Please I told you everything! I'm sorry please! Please have mercy! Let me go!"
Morgana rolled her eyes "Ugh quit your groveling already?! Merlin can you just kill him already so we can leave before the mortals arrive en masse?"
"Oh don't worry dearie, no amount of groveling will get me to spare his wretched life."
"No! No no no please!"
Morgana's golden eyes silenced his voice. Ugh it was giving her a migraine, combine that with the fact that she was feeling so fucking tired...!
Merlin than physically grabbed Cathair and tore the wings out from his back, watching the faerie scream in agony as he fell to the ground. He made a vow after all, he wouldn't let him die so easily. Merlin healed his new bloody injuries with magic as he wrapped his hand around his body.
"No Cathair, this won't be how you die. I have something better in store for an insect like you."
He turned to Morgana who was looking at him curiously "Please wait here."
"Huh? Why?" She didn't notice before during the battle...but Merlin's aura...it felt familiar. The same cold, merciless, detached feeling she felt years ago... "Shit..."
"Morgana! Merlin!" A voice shouted, they both turned to its direction. It was Ted and the rest of the people that were freed. Ted ran towards them waving his arms like some child.
Merlin than took the opportunity to get on Cynfab and took off for Vesuvius.
Morgana cursed as she realized that Merlin slipped away from her, turning her irritated gaze at Ted who was approaching her. Why was he still here anyway?! Are these people mad?!
While she was glad that they won, deep down she knew that the longer Merlin was in this state of being…the likelier it was that it would boil over until he was lost in his own mind. The damage that Sigan did to him couldn't have been the only thing that caused this? Something more had to have happened during the war. But that can wait for another day, she's exhausted, she's aching and she just wants this all to be over so they can go home.
"I need to find out what's going on with me, surely it couldn't have been anything that Cathair did. He wouldn't have had the chance to try a curse at me...I swear if it was the pineapple pizza I'll never hear the end of it from Merlin..."
"That was incredible! To think that just last week I thought Dragons, Wizards and Fairies were all a bunch of fairy tales!" Ted had a boyish grin on his face as Morgana just sighed, she does not have the energy for this.
"I assume that's your wife and daughter?" Morgana pointed to a woman and little girl who stood out from the crowd further away…rightfully intimidated.
"Yep, Laura and Dindrane. The best women in the world."
"Hmm…I'll take your word for it. Dindrane huh? Dare I ask?" That was definitely not an Italian name. Then again neither was Ted so what did she know?
"I've always been fascinated by Arthurian legends, and well Dindrane just stood out to me, I don't really know why but it fit." Ted shrugged as he waved back at his little girl who blowing him adorable kisses.
Oh, gee Percival's reincarnate is enamored by legends of himself…
"I wonder why...?" She snorted.
As Cynfab landed atop the massive volcano, Cathair was hysterical now realizing what Merlin was planning to do to him. He should have just stayed in Switzerland!
While the volcano was inactive…that wasn't a problem.
A flash of gold, and suddenly magma began filling up at a rapid pace.
"I'd like to say it's been a pleasure Cathair but we both know that'd be a lie. Oh well if you happen to see the Goddess in the ether, please tell her I said hello."
Cathair finally accepted his fate…but not without trying to get the last word...
"The Sisters of Fate will avenge me Emrys! No amount of power can go against them! I hope you enjoy your last days of mediocrity while you still can!"
Merlin just gazed at the little imp in apathy before finally dropping him as the magma rose midway.
The explosion of pure magic into the atmosphere was all that muddled the screams of agony, as Cathair the Sidhe elder was no more.
Merlin than went back to Cynfab ready to leave this place behind…but not without Morgana.
"Come Cynfab let's get Morgana and leave this vile place."
"Yes father."
At the same time Morgana, Ted and the populace all turned in alert to Vesuvius as the infamous volcano let out a massive sound as smoke and molten rock spurted out of its mouth. Toxic gas filling the air in its immediate vicinity.
Morgana immediately performed a barrier to protect herself and the people as best she could…but to go against nature itself was quite taxing on her all things considered!
What the hell was Merlin doing?!
Then she saw Cynfab who landed with Merlin offering her his hand.
"Merlin what have you done?!"
"I settled things, it's over."
"Merlin!"
"Are you getting in or what? We don't exactly have much time here."
"Merlin at least help me get them out of here!" This was the last thing they needed right now, were the medication no longer working?
"We're fucking dead! We're gonna be the next living dead people things that Pompeii left behind!" Ted freaked out as he ran to hug his family while many of the people tried in vain to flee but some knew it was futile…you can't outrun a volcano at this proximity least of all Vesuvius.
"Why bother? They're going to die anyway. What difference is there if it's now instead of 40 years?"
Merlin seriously couldn't see why she was wasting more of her precious energy on these humans. Let alone Percival's reincarnation…!
Morgana cursed her luck, it seems the Emrys portion of his soul has taken a strong hold. Still, she wanted Merlin back and she was going to have him.
"Merlin I'm going nowhere until you get them to safety!"
Merlin clenched his teeth, great now she was playing THAT card again!
The lava began to pour down at a fast rate along with the ashes.
"Merlin you know I'm absolutely right when I tell you that when you snap out of this, you're going to regret it!"
Cynfab watched the exchange closely, in his experience he took no side whenever humans were involved. He didn't hate them, but he didn't love them either. He just followed his mother and father's advice at steering clear of them whenever they happened to be nearby.
Who really wants to get in between an argument between Merlin and Morgana?
Those left remaining were kneeling in praying positions while Ted covered his wife and daughter in a vain hope that he could at least keep them from feeling too much pain.
The clash of wills between the two of the strongest Mages in existence was fierce, Morgana keeping her gaze toward the man she loved.
"Please come back to me."
Merlin's eyes kept flashing between gold and blue, each side fighting to dominance but blue finally yielding to the pleas of his heart's owner.
He turned toward the mortals with a clenched mouth, finally muttering an incantation that one by one teleported them to wherever it is that they called home.
Morgana sighed in relief, once upon a time she herself wouldn't have cared for their lives. It's because she knew exactly what that felt like, that she'll focus all her might to keep Merlin from betraying his morals.
As Ted began to see what was happening, he saw that he and his family were glowing, getting ready to teleport away. He looked to the mages and gave a smiley salute, silently thanking them for all they've done for them until they too vanished to safety.
If only he knew who erupted the volcano in the first place…but details…
Morgana finally went atop Cynfab and wrapped tightly around Merlin, taking off to the skies as they saw Pompeii once more buried beneath lava and ash…how's the world going to react to this? Eh they won't believe magic that's for sure.
As for the people that did see them? Well, who'd believe them anyway? Besides they owed them a debt, especially Morgana. They didn't have to free them from Cathair but they did, nor did Morgana have to get Merlin to save them.
Even while flying over Sicily, they can see the mushroom cloud of black smoke and glowing orange covering the black sky. If they didn't have experience with volcanoes before they'd say it was sad to see such destruction but honestly it was captivating.
"I'm sorry."
Morgana turned to her husband and leaned onto his back, resting her forehead behind his neck.
"I know."
"I told you I didn't want to be like that."
"I know."
"…Thank you for stopping me."
"You never need to."
"I will anyway, you were right. I disgust myself for even contemplating…"
"Ssshhh I know Merlin. I know that in your healthy state of mind you would never."
"…"
"Talk to me love."
"The pills you gave me, I told you they weren't enough."
"Let's take one step at a time, we'll talk about that once we return home."
"Home huh?"
"Well…Albion is where we found each other, place of our births aside of course."
"Of course."
"…I can't believe the Goddess is gone…"
Merlin sighed not knowing what to say to comfort her on this since…he doesn't even know how he feels about it. Or if what Cathair claimed was even the truth, he wasn't exactly focusing on that at the time.
"Take solace that the world is still spinning Morgana. No deity can change that from happening."
"I guess…"
Merlin knew that before he spoke about it with her, he had to find out more on the Sisters of Fate that together made-up Destiny. He didn't want to add onto her stress even more given all that just happened. He refuses to be the cause of it.
"Destiny failed once again."
"Hmm, I dread to see what they do next. This was an enormous leap from the Fates' previous attempts…" Morgana got a headache just thinking about it.
"Yes, I imagine they're done playing nice. If we will not play our roles…than they will do all that they can to make us suffer."
"…Then it's doing a shit job."
"I couldn't agree more."
Merlin than felt Morgana's head drop entirely on his back, feeling her breathing. She's asleep.
Cynfab flew carefully, not wanting to drop his grandmother…she'd be pissed if she fell into the Atlantic Ocean.
Merlin knew that the times ahead we no longer going to be easy. Once more they're entering into uncertainty, an age of Destiny meddling in their lives.
Once he makes good on his promise to the Sidhe…he'll have to figure out what to do with Arthur.
Than there's the pest Mordred, sigh at least none of the reincarnations had their memories…for now.
First things first…get his wife to their warm bed. Worry about everything else tomorrow.
Dindrane is supposedly Percival's sister in the legends so that was easy
Shit's getting real, I know the last was chapter was showed that even with all the power in the world. Merlin does have some kind of kryptonite. Morgana has become not just his anchor but his weakness, yet also his greatest strength
Morgana...hmm wonder what's wrong with her? Of course in any other fight she would have taken him out no sweat. Still even without magic she's no pushover. I think it was canon that she beat Arthur in a swordfight?
How do you guys like Cynfab? I didn't know if I should bother but I knew I had to at least make one of Aithusa's children into an active character. I hope he's something you guys like.
Now Merlin is obviously technically his grandfather but Cynny see's him as a dad since his real dad is dead. Thus he see's Morgana as just his grandma because he genuinely loves Aithusa as his mother.
I figured also that well, if the Old Religion is real than other religions had to be real. Does that mean all of them will show up? No. Or at least they'll be mentioned but they're not all relevant. The Norse were convenient because the Vikings did take parts of England I think before the Norman conquest? And obviously they brought with them their religion.
Shoutout to all the artists who created these by the way (I assume, since I googled them)
Ymir – static . wikia . nocookie revision/latest?cb=20201106000002
Cynfab (imagine he has Aithusa shaped wings and hind legs) – www . ebay itm/333869471182
Cynfab in his inferno form – www . pinterest pin/522839837961533223/
Translations
*O drákon! Xypníste apó ton líthargo sas! Ríxe tin orgí sou ston echthró mou! Kai fére mou ti níki!* "Oh dragon! Awaken from your slumber! Cast your rage on my foe! And bring me victory!"
*"Cynfab! Strangalíste aftó to skoulíki me tin ischyrí sas morfí!"* "Cynfab! Strangle this worm with your powerful form!"
*"Cynfab! Metamorfóste ton eaftó sas! Kápse ton echthró sou me tin kólasí sou!"* "Cynfab! Transform thyself! Burn through thy foe with your inferno!"