Chapter 50: To The Perilous Lands
Merlin peered over the top of Arthur's head at the maps spread out on the ground.
"Merlin, you're making me uneasy looking over my shoulder like that, you do know that, right?" Arthur replied, the tinge of annoyance in his voice.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "That's why I'm doing it, Sire," he replied. He squinted at the maps. "You do understand that they're all different, right?"
"Hardly anyone travels into the Perilous Lands." Leon said, sitting next to Arthur and studying the maps with intensity. "And unfortunately, none of them were very decent cartographers."
"None that survived, anyways." said Gwaine, leaning back against a tree.
They had left the citadel close to noon, and had ridden well past sundown. If all went according to plan, they were likely to arrive at the Fisher King's castle by tomorrow afternoon, and then hopefully back to the citadel the following day.
Still, it was a pretty big "if", and a pretty momentous "hopefully"
The only relief was that, while Bertilak had taken Elaine's weaving of the Perilous Lands and the castle, and if he knew what it meant, then the Romans and the Amatan army still had to travel into Camelot's borders and through the kingdom in order to retrieve it.
They had a head start, the best knowledge of the land, and Gwen, assisted by Sir Fergus, Isolde, and Sefa, was going to keep up a strong patrolling system along the border of Mercia and through the kingdom.
It was a small relief, but it was all they had.
"Is anyone else a little concerned that it's warmer here than it was when we left?" Gwaine pointed out, still lounging against the tree. He was right; here there was no snow on the ground, and the air was warmer.
"We're just outside the Impenetrable Forest." Merlin pointed out, "and beyond that is the Perilous Lands. They're magic, so they aren't bound by the same rules of nature." Arthur and Leon weren't the only ones who had done research.
"Do you believe the legends that the Fisher King is still alive?" Lancelot asked. He stood close to the fire, his arms crossed. He had been quiet on the journey, pensive.
"Is that even possible?" Percival asked, sitting down next to Gwaine, and elbowing him for room. "I know the Fisher King was a powerful sorcerer, but is it possible to live for centuries?"
Merlin shivered. "I don't know." He said shortly. Morgana looked at him with concern in her eyes. Merlin shrugged, brushing it off. Out of everything he had read in the hour he had before they left, that detail caused the most alarm. More than the missing armies, the reports of beasts and powerful weather, it was the sorcerer at the center of it all who had managed to cheat death.
Emrys translates to 'immortal' What did you think it means?
Merlin pushed Kilgharrah's words out of his mind. "The Fisher King," he said, "Was-is- said to be a powerful sorcerer. He was wounded in battle, and retreated to his castle. His wounds would not heal, and festered, and with it, so did his kingdom."
"Sounds lovely," said Gwaine.
"Did he create the Impenetrable Forest too?" Elyan asked.
"No," Morgana said, "That's said to be as old as the world itself." She looked sidelong at Merlin with a grin. "I was doing my own research."
"Still, I'll admit I'm not a fan of the name," said Tristan.
"We don't have much of a choice." Leon pointed out. "We can go around the forest, but doing so will add at least a day to the journey."
"I for one don't want to spend any longer on this than necessary. Get to the Fisher King's castle, and get out, no distractions." Arthur agreed.
"My dear brother, you seem more anxious to get home than usual." Morgana teased, a knowing smile on her lips.
Merlin tilted his head towards her. What are you talking about?
Shh. You'll see.
Arthur covered his own grin with a roll of his eyes before he shared a knowing look with Elyan, who shrugged good-naturedly.
"What is happening?" Merlin said, dumbfounded.
Arthur laughed. "Clearly Merlin has an issue with being kept out of the loop of things, isn't that rich?"
"Yeah, it's not just Merlin who has no clue what you're talking about here." Gwaine cut in.
"Fine, fine." Arthur relented, "I wasn't sure if I was going to share this yet, but Morgana has forced my hand."
Morgana said, "To be honest, it's because I'm not sure I can keep it from Merlin for another day."
Merlin could only look between her and Arthur, completely exasperated.
"Guinevere is with child." Arthur said at last, barely able to contain the grin on his face.
The camp exploded into cheers and a chorus of 'congratulations' from all around.
"Just what we need, another, smaller version of Arthur running around." Percival joked.
"Ahh, with any luck, the poor thing will take after the mother more." Gwaine added.
"Congratulations." Lancelot said, slapping Arthur's shoulder in a friendly manner. If it looked a little stiff to Merlin, Arthur didn't catch on.
Still grinning from ear to ear, Arthur said; "That's enough excitement for one day. We have plenty of it to face tomorrow."
As the knights and Morgana turned in for the night, Merlin took Lancelot aside.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Of course, Merlin was over the moon for Arthur, but at the same time, he was sensitive to his other friend's feelings.
"I'm fine." Lancelot said, forcing a smile. "After all, this is what Gwen wanted, isn't it? A family, the perfect husband. As long as she's happy, nothing else matters, does it?"
Merlin only nodded, unconvinced, but he knew Lancelot would say no more. He rested his hand on Lancelot's shoulder once more, before turning in for the night himself.
Settled in beside Morgana, he felt the comforting weight of her hand on his back.
So that's what you were hiding from me when I saw you with Gwen earlier. He said.
I can't keep things from you for very long. Morgana admitted. I enchanted the crystal to grow clouded when it was held by a woman that was with child, and it did when Gwen held it. That's how we knew. When you walked in, she handed it back to me, and the spell was broken, after losing contact.
Right, said Merlin.
Merlin. Morgana ran her hand over his back.
Merlin turned over to face her, barely making out her face in the dark of the night, and the shadows from the campfire.
You know I love you more than anything else. She thought to him.
I do, Merlin replied.
I'm happy for Gwen and Arthur, truly. But-
Morgana. Merlin cut her off. I know you've been using magic to prevent a pregnancy. I understand why, too.
He could see the relief flash by on her face. You're not the only one, I know Tristan and Isolde are doing the same. It's a terrible time to have to worry about not only your own life, but that of a child too. I don't envy Arthur and Gwen that, he told her.
It's more than that, said Morgana. I keep thinking about my vision. She reached out her hand and Merlin held it tight in his own. It's selfish, but I don't want to risk raising a child on my own, without you. I barely knew my mother, I'm afraid I don't know how to go about any of it.
Merlin smiled. And you think I would? I barely knew my father too.
Morgana squeezed his hand. If I lose you I'm afraid of what I'll become. How could I subject a child to that?
Merlin only held her hand tight. He knew he could attempt to placate her, tell her she was inherently good; but it would only be that; an attempt. She had her mind made up when it came to her own nature.
Believe me, Morgana, he said at last. I want nothing more than to die at a ripe old age.
The next morning, they had a quick, cold breakfast of food that they had packed, before heading out just before dawn. It was only a matter of minutes before they crested over a ridge and looked down to see a lush, green forest below; a stark difference to the barren winter wood around them.
"Well, if we didn't know it was magic before…" Percival muttered.
Merlin nodded. Surrounding the trees was a rolling blanket of fog, giving the Impenetrable Forest a hazy, shifting quality, almost like the trees were moving. And beyond them, a desolate wasteland, scattered with long-dead trees and jagged stones, glowing almost red in the early morning light.
"Everyone should follow me," Merlin said. "Morgana, take up the rear. Everyone else, stay with the group and don't wander off."
"Do you think the forest is alive in some way, Merlin?" asked Elyan.
"I don't know," Merlin admitted. "But better safe than sorry."
"Let's go," Arthur said, steering his horse just to the right of (and only slightly behind) Merlin's. "Let's make quick work of this forest, and hopefully we'll reach the castle just past noon."
Merlin nodded, and urged his horse forward.
The Impenetrable Forest was thick, overgrown with vines and undergrowth, to the point where they had to take their swords out and hack a path through. Still, the branches seemed to claw at their clothes.
"Should we abandon the horses?" Tristan suggested, pushing a low hanging branch out of his way.
Merlin wanted to agree, his own horse kept his ears flat against his skull in displeasure. Still, he shook his head. "Who knows if they'll still be here when we come back for them. Our journey back could take days."
"Merlin and I can heal a horse," Morgana called from the back of the group, "but we can't teleport."
"Maybe you should look into that spell." Gwaine replied, hacking at a lump of ivy. Merlin heard the sound of cloth ripping, accompanied by Gwaine saying: "shit. I just had that damn cloak mended."
"We're making good time." Leon pointed out.
"Let's keep moving," said Arthur.
The forest, Merlin noticed, was almost deathly silent, apart from the hacking and chopping of swords against the trees. There was no birdsong, or any other signs of life apart from their small group.
"I know this is going to sound absolutely mental," Percival said, "but I swear we've passed that tree."
Merlin swiveled in his saddle to look at him. Arthur did the same. "That's impossible." Merlin said. "We're going northwest, we always have been going northwest."
"Stop the horses," Leon said. He dismounted and struck his sword into the ground. "Judging by the shadows, Merlin's right," he said, freeing his blade and sheathing it before getting back on his horse. "Northwest."
They continued on, but as Merlin nudged his horse forward, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Merlin closed his eyes, and sent his magic forward. When he opened his eyes, he visualized the path ahead. Just like he said, it snaked northwest, before finally reaching the edge of the forest.
If his magic told him to go this way, surely that meant he was right?
By noon, they were still in the forest.
"Something's wrong." Merlin announced.
"No shit." Elyan said.
Merlin brushed it off, the journey was starting to take its toll, and the dense forest had made them all weary.
"We should have reached the castle by now." Arthur pointed out, "We've wasted half a day in this forest, we might've made better time if we went around at this point."
"Um," Gwaine called. He had gotten off his horse and was examining a bush at his feet. "I hate to make a bad situation worse, but-" He held something aloft in his hand. It was a torn piece of red fabric, perfectly matching the hole he had made in his cloak hours ago.
"We've gone in a fucking circle!" Tristan exclaimed.
"Yelling isn't going to solve anything!" Morgana called. Merlin, she added silently to him, is everything alright?
I don't know. Merlin admitted. I was using my magic to see the path ahead, it's supposed to be leading us out of the forest. Something is twisting it.
Despite everything, Merlin felt a sudden, calming feeling rush over him. He took a deep breath. Thank you. He said.
Is there anything else I can do? Morgana asked.
Stay with the others. I need to see something for myself.
From across the group, he saw Morgana nod as Merlin severed the connection.
"It's not just the direction, something is interfering with my magic," he announced, dismounting off his horse. "I'm going to find out what, stay here."
"Merin." It was the first time all day that Lancelot had spoken. "Do you need someone to go with you?"
Merlin shook his head. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it just wants a one-on-one meeting." He turned to Arthur with a faint smile. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes…"
Arthur picked up on the joke. "We'll leave without you." he finished for him, but Merlin could tell his heart wasn't in the jest as it normally was.
Merlin nodded, and trudged into the forest, heading left. After a few minutes, he was encompassed in silence.
Merlin closed his eyes. Reaching out with his mind's eye, he tried to find another source of magic. There was Morgana, he could see her, glowing golden.
He reached out further. There! There was a blue glow; small, but bright. He made a link to it. Who are you? He asked, his vision trained at the light.
The light winked at him, and flew, flying right towards him in a flash.
Merlin blinked, his normal vision returning to him.
There was rustling in the bushes. Something small.
"Who's there?" Merlin called. "Show yourself."
"So demanding, Emrys." The bushes parted to reveal a small pixie. "I would prefer a simple 'hello.'"
"Err, hello." Merlin said, crouching down. "Who are you?"
The pixie smiled, and it felt like she was staring a hole through him. "The spirit of this place. They call me Queen Mab. You and your friends have been quite mean to my home, cutting it to pieces."
"I'm sorry," Merlin said. "We're trying to get through to the Perilous Lands. But we've instead gone in a circle. How do we get out of here?"
Queen Mab smiled again. "A pity, Emrys, that we have to meet when you're still so young. Don't you know; left is right, and right is left. The way behind is the way ahead."
Merlin blinked, then shook his head. What was it with magical creatures and being unable to speak plainly? "What does that mean? Don't speak in riddles."
"It means exactly what you think it means Emrys, and since you do not like riddles, let me give you a rhyme as a warning: keep your loved ones close, for I tell no lie. Before tomorrow's end, one of you shall die."
"Wait!" Merlin called, but she was already gone, and the forest was silent once more. Merlin took a deep breath, dread setting in. Slowly he stood. He had to get back.
Merlin turned, to go back the way he came, when he thought. Left is right, right is left. The way behind is the way ahead.
Slowly, Merlin turned in the opposite direction, deeper into the forest. "This is stupid." he muttered, before walking.
And yet, after a few minutes, he came upon his friends once more.
"Thank the gods," Elyan said. "I was dreading a search party."
"Good thing you didn't." Merlin said. "You would have gotten lost. I know the way out." he paused. "For real, this time. The forest works in opposites. Left is right, right is left, and all that. So in order to go northwest…"
"We go southeast." Arthur finished.
Merlin nodded.
They turned their horses around and set off in the opposite direction. It was approaching dusk when at last, they broke free of the trees, and stood at the mouth of the Perilous Lands, the wasteland almost glowing before them.
"Not much of a relief." Gwaine said, "But I'll take what I can get."
"Sire," Leon pointed out, "If we continue now, we'll reach the castle a few hours past nightfall."
"Let's take a vote." Arthur said, looking around. "We can camp here and set out to cross the Perilous Lands in the morning, or continue through the night. Personally, I don't want to rest, not while we're this close to possibly getting the Holy Grail."
"I don't know about Father Bron, but Bertilak and Sarrum are well aware that we had a head start," Morgana said. "They're probably traveling through the night to get to the castle first."
"Not on my watch," Elyan said.
"I agree," said Tristan.
Leon nodded. "We lost enough time already today."
Percival shrugged his giant shoulders. "I'm not tired," he said.
"I read that it doesn't grow dark in the Perilous Lands," Merlin said. "We won't even have to light the way."
"I'm in." Lancelot said.
Everyone turned to look at the one who, uncharacteristically, hadn't said anything yet.
Gwaine grinned. "Sleep? Who needs it? I can sleep when I'm dead."
The other knights hooted in laughter while Merlin sat frozen. It was a coincidence, he told himself. Gwaine had said things just like that hundreds of times over.
And yet, Queen Mab's warning squeezed around his heart.
Keep your loved ones close, for I tell no lie. Before tomorrow's end, one of you shall die.
Next Chapter: Things That Are Earned Are Later Tested (coming 10/22)
So 3 things:
1) Queen Mab's line "left is right, and right is left. The way behind is the way ahead." is taken from the show. I did not come up with it but I did change its meaning. I also borrowed a little with the rhyme and warning thing.
2) In 3.8 "The Eye of the Phoenix" the map Arthur looked at showed The Perilous Lands just past Mercia. HOWEVER A) I had written this plotline before I thought to have Mercia fall, and B) that would mean mean that the Romans and Sarrum's army would have easily beaten Camelot to there, SO I have elected to ignore that fact and think of the Perilous Lands more to the northwest, closer to Caerleon's kingdom. C) if you rewatch "The Eye of the Phoenix", which I did, you're welcome, the same map lists "the dark tower" in the Perilous Lands (which we're supposed to infer is the Fisher King's castle, they just decided to reuse the name for the real Dark Tower in season 5, and I guess they didn't think anyone would notice. WELL I DID. I NOTICED.
3) I know they didn't have to cross the Impenetrable Forest to get to the Perilous Lands and the Fisher King's castle (that would be the Dollares Plains, however, they're both wastelands and honestly how many can fantasy Great Britain have?) However it fits my story and it's not like the writers cared anyways so shut up I'm the writer now and like the actual writers I'll just rearrange things and invent them as needed, but at least I'll try to be consistent after the fact from there. Cheers.
I love this show but also I hate it, you get me?
Also, on a more personal note, I am, to put it lightly, going through it; some if it is good, but stressful, some of it really sucks ass not gonna lie. I'm thinking of taking a month off in order to center myself, get caught up with writing, and whatnot; let me know what you think, I'll of course try to push through for you, especially now that the drama is really amping up.