Title: If the Disir Judged Merlin Instead
Description: What if the Disir decided to judge Emrys for his destiny still being incomplete, instead of Arthur for rejecting the Old Religion? Reveal fic obviously. Also Mordred is good because I say so.
Word Count: 3,329
Part: 1/1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Osgar," a voice called, causing the man to turn around.
He kneeled.
"You know what must be done," she continued.
"I do," he said.
"Stand. Take it," the cloaked woman gave Osgar the token, "The fate of Emrys is in your hands now. See that you honor it."
Arthur was sitting at a table, with his council when Leon walked in hurriedly.
"What news from the East, Sir Leon?" he asked.
"Serious news, I'm afraid sire," he said taking a seat.
"As you know, a few days ago, our garrison in the forest of Breckfire intercepted the man who goes by the name of Osgar."
"The sorcerer."
"The same. They were trying to apprehend him when he used his powers to escape. I'm sorry to report that Sir Ranulf was mortally wounded."
"Sir Ranulf? He was a loyal and true knight," Arthur continued, "Place all the men in the Eastern territories on high alert."
"Yes sire."
"I personally shall lead a patrol to bring this Osgar to justice."
"Sire," Mordred said, pointing at Osgar's fleeting figure in the distance.
The knights split up, and rush towards the man.
Gwaine and Elyan are the ones to find Osgar.
"Who are you, and what's your purpose." Gwaine demanded.
"I was beginning to fear you took the wrong path."
"Who are you?" Gwaine repeated.
"My name is Osgar. And I have an important message for Emrys. Take me to your king," he demanded, knowing that Emrys is always by his king's side.
Ignoring the odd name, Emrys, Elyan said, "It'll be our pleasure."
"Do you not know who I am?" Osgar asked when Elyan pointed his sword at his neck.
"You are a sorcerer, a heretic, and a murderer," Gwaine interrupted.
"No, just a man who values his freedom. Take me to your king."
Osgar pushed the knights' swords away and when they pointed them at him again, he yelled.
"Would you challenge me!?"
He threw the knights back with magic, but only after Gwaine gave him a fatal wound to his stomach. He gets up, and wanders, desperately looking for Emrys to complete his task, before he dies.
He walked up from behind them, not trying to be stealthy.
"Stop!" Arthur yelled.
"Sire," he said falling to his knees, "My name is Osgar.
"I know who you are."
"I am sent from the sacred Disir to pass judgement on Emrys."
"What right have you to pass judgement," Mordred asked, lowering his sword.
"No man is above the Disir," he said, "However powerful."
So far having directed the conversation towards the three as a whole, he finally turned to Merlin to speak to him directly.
"It is my duty to pass their judgement onto you, Emrys. My sacred duty."
Upon hearing this, Mordred steps infront of him and points his sword at the kneeling man. When he pulls the coin out of his robes, however, Merlin pushed Mordred to the side to face Osgar directly. Mordred puts his sword away.
"Your hand, Emrys."
Merlin hesitantly reaches his hand down, so that Osgar can give him the token.
"It is done."
"What is the meaning of this?" Merlin asked.
"It is both judgement and fate. Your destiny remains unfilled. Now the ancient gods answer you," Merlin looked angry, but didn't say anything, "The Disir have spoken. The circle of fate begins to close, for even as Camelot flowers, the seeds of her destruction are being sown."
"What nonsense is this?" Arthur asked, but was met with only silence.
"It is not to late, Emrys. Not too late to avoid the Once and Future King's death, at the druid boy's hands. Not too late to fulfill your destiny. Redeem yourself. No further chance shall be given. If you do, take the king. They will not accept you without your other half."
Then, Osgar lied down, taking his last breaths.
Merlin and Mordred looked at each other meaningfully. While Arthur didn't miss this, he also didn't know what it meant.
"What did he mean, Merlin?" Mordred asked, later that night after all the others had gone to sleep.
Merlin looked at him questioningly.
"About Arthur's death?" he continued, "At the druid boy's hands?"
Oh. Right
After a while Merlin spoke.
"There's a prophecy. A druid boy is destined to kill Arthur."
There was silence after that.
"Is that why you've been so distant towards me?"
Merlin's lack of reply said more than enough.
"Merlin?"
"It's... complicated. I've had people telling me I should kill you since I first met you, when you were just a boy."
"People?"
"A dragon."
Mordred's eyes widened.
"A dragon."
Merlin nods, "His name is Kilgarrah."
"And he's been telling you to kill me?"
"Him and many others."
There was a beat of silence.
"So, why am I alive? You're more that capable of killing me. You could probably wouldn't even need your magic."
"You doubt yourself Mordred. You're a fine knight."
"But, you're Emrys."
"But I wasn't always. Well, I was, but I grew up normally. Well, as normal as I could given the situation. Up until I met you, I was only ever Merlin."
Mordred looked confused, "Nobody ever told you?"
Merlin shook his head.
"Not then, and not now," Merlin chuckled, "Not even that damned dragon. I have no idea what I'm doing."
Mordred looked surprised.
"That isn't fair to you."
There was more silence, longer this time.
"Do you think it'll happen?" Mordred asked, referring to the prophecy.
"I don't know. But there's more to it than that. You and Morgana have always had a... connection."
"I- Yeah, I guess."
"You and Morgana are "destined" to be united in evil. I listened to the dragon when he told me not to reveal myself to "the witch" even though I could've helped her."
"You blame yourself."
"Her fear and anger turned into hatred and violence. If she had me to help her, reassure her that she wasn't alone and wasn't a monster... Maybe things would have been different."
"So, I'm trying to trust you. I don't want to kill you Mordred. You're kindhearted and pure. I made a mistake with Morgana. I won't make the same one with you."
"But you'll still be distant and cold?"
Merlin paused, "I'm working on that. I'm just... I saw you kill him. In a vision a dying druid seer showed me. It's been hard to work around. But, I'm hoping we can be friends."
"Me too," Mordred smiled.
The two sat in silence until Merlin convinced Mordred to get some sleep. Then, Merlin was left to his thoughts.
Gwaine lie awake, unable to sleep. When he asked Arthur what the man had wanted, he said he wasn't sure. When he asked Merlin and Mordred, however, they just said it wasn't important and tried to change the subject. From what he'd gathered, though, Osgar had passed judgement on Merlin. Or "Emrys" as he called him. Gwaine knew there was more to this than Merlin had shared. He wasn't confused about anything at all, only angry and... hurt? Either way, something was going on. He just needed to figure out what. He'd decided to push for answers the next day, when Mordred started speaking to Merlin.
What did he mean, Merlin?"
Are they talking about something Osgar said to them?
There was a pause, so Mordred continued, "About Arthur's death at the druid boy's hands?"
He threatened Arthur? No, it doesn't sound like a threat. More like... a warning.
After a while Merlin spoke.
"There's a prophecy. A druid boy is destined to kill Arthur."
There was silence after that.
"Is that why you've been so distant towards me?"
Why would that cause Merlin to be distant towards Mordred? He's not the Druid boy. He's not even a Druid!
Merlin's lack of reply said more than enough.
"Merlin?"
"It's... complicated. I've had people telling me I should kill you since I first met you, when you were just a boy."
"People?"
"A dragon."
Merlin's talked to a dragon?! Wait, dragons can talk?
"A dragon."
Merlin nods, "His name is Kilgarrah."
Of course Merlin would know the dragons name.
"And he's been telling you to kill me?"
"Him and many others."
There was a beat of silence.
"So, why am I alive? You're more that capable of killing me. You could probably wouldn't even need your magic."
So Merlin does have magic! I knew it. I called it.
"You doubt yourself Mordred. You're a fine knight."
"But, you're Emrys."
Emrys? Isn't that the name that Osgar called Merlin?
"But I wasn't always. Well, I was, but I grew up normally. Well, as normal as I could given the situation. Up until I met you, I was only ever Merlin."
Mordred looked confused, "Nobody ever told you?"
Merlin shook his head.
"Not then, and not now," Merlin chuckled, "Not even that damned dragon. I have no idea what I'm doing."
What... is he doing?
Mordred looked surprised.
"That isn't fair to you."
There was more silence, longer this time.
"Do you think it'll happen?" Mordred asked, referring to the prophecy.
"I don't know. But there's more to it than that. You and Morgana have always had a... connection."
"I- Yeah, I guess."
"You and Morgana are "destined" to be united in evil. I listened to the dragon when he told me not to reveal myself to "the witch" even though I could've helped her."
"You blame yourself."
Morgana was not Merlin's fault!
"Her fear and anger turned into hatred and violence. If she had me to help her, reassure her that she wasn't alone and wasn't a monster... Maybe things would have been different."
"So, I'm trying to trust you. I don't want to kill you Mordred. You're kindhearted and pure. I made a mistake with Morgana. I won't make the same one with you."
"But you'll still be distant and cold?"
Merlin paused, "I'm working on that. I'm just... I saw you kill him. In a vision a dying druid seer showed me. It's been hard to work around. But, I'm hoping we can be friends."
"Me too," Mordred smiled.
The two sat in silence until Merlin convinced Mordred to get some sleep.
Wow. I guess I have a lot to think about.
"Arthur, we have to go see the Disir."
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at Merlin.
"What?" Arthur asked.
"We can't ignore this. We have to see the Disir."
Arthur laughed.
"You can't actually believe that nonsense the sorcerer was spouting yesterday? He didn't even know your name!"
"Just because you didn't understand what he was saying, doesn't mean I didn't. I need to talk with the Disir to hear from their own lips why they judge me. But, they won't accept me if you aren't there."
"You can't be serious! Whoever they are, they're sorcerers, so they're evil. It's too dangerous, I can't allow you to go."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not asking. I'm only pleading that you come with me."
"Merlin, it's too dangerous, you can't go. I'm sorry."
"Arthur, you don't even understand what's going on!" Merlin yelled, "This is serious! If the Disir have as much power as they say they do, then their judgement could ruin everything!"
This left Arthur with nothing to say.
"I cannot ignore this."
"My lord," Mordred said, "Merlin will go, whether you are with him or not. But, Osgar warned against going without you. There's no telling what the Disir will do if he shows up alone."
Arthur sighed.
"Fine. We'll go see this "Disir" but if something happens..."
"It won't," Merlin said, sounding so sure.
"I only hope you're right about this, Merlin."
"This is it?" Arthur asked, "This... cave?"
It was only Arthur, Merlin, and Mordred. The other knights had gone back to Camelot. Mordred had insisted on coming with them.
"Yeah. Yeah, I think so."
Arthur was about to walk in, when Merlin stopped him.
"Wait! Arthur, this is a sacred place."
"Sacred?"
"Yes. Everyone knows you can't go armed into a sacred place!"
"You know, it really is a wonder your still alive if you are this reckless every day."
"Please, Arthur. Leave your sword outside."
"Merlin, I'm either going in with my sword, or not at all."
Merlin sighed, hoping the Disir would understand.
"At least put it away."
Arthur complied and sheathed his sword before walking into the cave, Merlin following him closely behind. Mordred left his sword on the ground and then followed Merlin inside.
When they got to the back of the cave, there were three women in long black cloaks, their faces were hidden.
"We do not judge."
"We do not condemn."
We are but the internuncio of the one who presides over all."
"Who sees all."
"Who knows all."
"The Triple Goddess."
They spoke this last line in unison.
"And you, Emrys, have angered her."
They paused, waiting for Merlin to reply.
"What have I done to anger her? Am I not doing as she pleases? Is my service still not enough?"
Arthur looked confused. He didn't understand a word the Disir were saying, but it was obvious Merlin did.
"Your sacrifices have been many," one of them started.
"And you have lost much," the second continued.
"But your destiny remains incomplete," the third, and final, woman finished.
Merlin is silent for a moment.
"I am doing the best that I can-"
"It is not enough!" they roared together, cutting Merlin's sentence short.
"I need more time! Please, just give me more time. It will happen!" Merlin yelled desperately.
"You have had time! Years and years of time. Yet you do nothing. You sit by, and watch your own kin be slaughtered and enslaved."
"I am doing all that I can! Is it not enough? Arthur is not his father. The only ones he's put to death deserved it!"
"The laws still stand."
"Did you expect them to be gone within the first few months of him being king?"
"You have not done your duty in showing him the good it can do before he became king."
"Why do you think? Because people keep trying to kill him. How do you think he'd react? I'll tell you how. He'll kill me!"
The Disir did not acknowledge his words.
"You will be given one last chance, Emrys. Reveal yourself. Fulfill your destiny, so he in turn can fulfill his."
"But if you don't," a different woman continued, "Your king shall die, at the druid boy's hands."
"And you shall be forced to walk the earth alone, ever waiting, never growing. Barred from Avalon until the return of your king."
Merlin looked like he'd been slapped. His face went white, and he stepped back.
"Who are you to make such threats?" Mordred spat, stepping forwards.
"We are the mouthpiece of the Triple Goddess."
"And we do not make idle threats."
"We only warn."
"You are not Emrys. You do not decide when the prophecies are fulfilled. The Goddess would not have sent you. She has seen his suffering. She would not do this."
"You accuse us of fraud?"
Mordred shook his head.
"I know not who you are. I know only that your words are your own. The Triple Goddess would never had said these things. Whether you are who you say you are or not, I cannot say."
Merlin, who was looking less pale, stepped forwards.
"Do not interfere with things you do not understand," Merlin said, "Be patient. The time will come."
The Disir had nothing more to say, so they bowed their heads respectfully.
Merlin turned around and left, with Mordred and (a very confused) Arthur at his tail.
"What was that all about?" Arthur asked Merlin, almost as soon as they were out of the cave."
Merlin hesitated. His first thought was to just say "nothing" but now he isn't so sure. Is this the time to reveal himself?
Merlin decided on just saying, "It's complicated."
"We have time."
Merlin turned to Mordred.
Do you think this is a good idea?
What I think does not matter.
But still I ask. Is now the right time to reveal myself?
Mordred hesitated.
I cannot say. I think only you can decide if it is time.
Merlin already knew what he had to do. His mind was made up.
"I'm not really sure where to begin," Merlin said, looking at Arthur.
Arthur said nothing.
"There's a prophecy," he started.
"A prophecy?"
"About you."
There was a brief pause.
"That the Once and Future King, you, with the help of Emrys, me, are to unite Albion and..." Merlin mumbled the last part and Arthur didn't hear what he said.
"And what?"
"And," Merlin stopped, "And return magic to the land."
Arthur sucked in a breath and for a moment, nobody spoke.
"Why would I- Why you you want-" Arthur didn't really know what to say.
"I have magic."
Arthur's eyes widened even further (if that was even possible).
"I was born with it! And I haven't used it for evil. Only good."
"Magic is evil," Arthur stuttered, sounding unsure of himself.
"Magic isn't good or evil, it just is. Evil is in the hearts of men."
Arthur paused for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"I have only ever seen magic used for evil."
"And why do you think that is? Ever wonder why so many sorcerers attack."
"Because they're evil."
"No. Because your father killed their families in the Great Purge!"
Arthur turned to Mordred, his mind conflicted.
"What do you think of all this?"
Mordred hesitated, but spoke quickly.
"Sire, I have had magic since I was very young. I didn't learn it until I had to, to get control."
"Is... Is it common to be born with magic?"
Mordred nodded.
"Most people are born with some magical talent, and if you don't learn spells, you emotions will cause it to get out of control. For most it doesn't show up until their early teens, but the more powerful you are, the earlier it appears. My first magical outburst was a couple years before I came to Camelot for the first time."
"When we snuck you out of the city?"
Yes, Arthur knows Mordred is the druid. He isn't that stupid.
"Yes."
"So, when did your magic first show up Merlin?"
Merlin hesitated.
"My mother said it was a couple days after I was born."
Arthur's eyes widened. He didn't know a lot about magic (as he's now learning), but that doesn't seem normal.
"There are some who believe him to be the most powerful sorcerer to ever live."
Merlin blushed.
"That isn't for certain. I'm not that powerful."
Mordred gave him a look and Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Fine, fine. Alright, yes. I'm Emrys. The most powerful sorcerer apparently."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"You."
"Yes, me."
They talked for a while longer and the more they explained, the more convinced Arthur became that his father was wrong. Merlin told him about some of the main things he's done since coming to Camelot and both Arthur and Mordred listened intently. Then Merlin told them what Uther did, and how Ygraine actually died. There was lots of yelling, crying, and laughter (when Merlin told them about the Goblin). But eventually, they got to a point where the only question was: "What now?"
It was late, and so they decided to get some rest before making the journey back to Camelot the next day. But while they were unsure of what was to happen, Arthur knew he couldn't keep the ban. Not after learning how many innocents are suffering because of it. How many children were scared for their lives (or freedom), just because of how they were born. Arthur knew it had to change. He just needed to take the first step.
The End
So, I may make a second part, but I'm not sure yet, and if I do it won't be published right away.
