Part 4

After Ruadan's little potion show, Merlin had been bound to a tree again. He didn't give them his secret. But he gave Arthur's which was more shameful. He had no idea what Morgana intended to do with him. Maybe she didn't know either. Maybe she was going to use him to get Arthur to back down. Why was she taking her to Isle of the Blessed then? He was only sure that every minute he is here, he was endangering Arthur. His self-sacrificing -clot pole of a master was probably coming after them now. This was enough reason to escape.

'Bryne' Merlin tried to turn his back which was hard because of the damn tree and whispered to ropes.

There were small sparkles came from the robe, as the knot on the rope burned his hands. He was free.

The guy who should have supposed to watch over him was long asleep. Merlin walked in slow steps not to wake any Saxons.

When he made sure he was far enough, he ran.

Then he was thrown into the air and found himself on the ground. He looked back, he thought he would be seeing Morgana. But no, it was Ruadan.

"Gehaeftan" As Ruadan cast the spell the wines beneath him wrapped around Merlin.

"I had my suspicions" Ruadan started.

"That I will run away?" Merlin asked angrily.

"That you have magic."

Merlin froze at the statement. "Then I saw you in action" Ruadan showed half-burned rope.

Merlin called his magic, preparing to strike him, he could not risk his secret being exposed. He would kill him if he had to. Ruadan sensed the shift in the air.

"I mean no harm to you," he declared. The wines let Merlin go and Ruadan offered Merlin a hand to lift him.

Merlin rejected his offer and stand up on his own.

"What do you want?" Merlin asked in a low voice.

"To come into an agreement, I think you need to hear what I have to say."

. . . . .

.

"They are headed to Isle of the Blessed."

Arthur looked at the trails. He was certain of it. There was no other place Morgana would go in that direction.

"Sire, we should head back to Camelot, most of our men are injured." Leon declared looking at him.

"I won't make them continue with us. Sir Owain, take the injured men and return to Camelot. Gwaine, Elyan, Percival, and Leon, we will keep looking."

Leon interrupted him. "Sire, you are throwing yourself at huge risk. That is what Morgana wants. It is a trap."

"You think I don't know that Leon? But I owe him that."

Everyone went silent. It was no secret Merlin was like a little brother to the knights. Not to mention, Leon witnessed how Merlin kept Arthur safe during Morgana's last reign and during Dorocha attack which Leon had been grateful. He was a good -man. But Leon couldn't exchange Arthur's life with Merlin's.

Gwaine was the first to step up.

"I don't know about you gentlemen, but no one takes my friend as a souvenir and gets away with it."

Arthur smiled. He knew Gwaine would be the first one to volunteer. He knew if he hadn't thought about saving Merlin, Gwaine would gladly go solo to rescue Merlin himself.

Percival went forward.

"He is our friend, we can't leave him with her."

Elyan thought about it for a second and stepped up.

"I owe him too, sire. He saved my life during I was possessed by a spirit. Not to mention he took care of Guinevere while I hadn't."

Arthur looked at Leon at last. Arthur wasn't going to rest until he found Merlin. It was Merlin who protected and supported Arthur during times like this. Leon knew he couldn't be Merlin but he would take care of his king. Leon nodded.

"Then let's move. We have an idiot to save."

..

Ruadan and Merlin sat on a rock. Ruadan brought out a small stone from his pocket and extended it to Merlin. Merlin looked at the yellowish stone suspiciously.

"This is a crystal of Tetraith. It is not as powerful as the Nehaithid crystal but it has the power to record the events that happened around it. Come on, ask it to show you."

Merlin said the magic words then his surroundings began to change.

He immediately realized he was in Isle of the Blessed. But the island didn't look dead like the time he was last there. It had flowers, pure and clean waters, children were running- mostly girls.

Then he saw someone familiar. Nimueh was standing, watching the kids in a bored manner. She looked like she was waiting for someone.

Then a woman appeared. She had black hair and fair white skin. Her eyes were blue-or so Merlin thought. They looked so dead Merlin couldn't figure out which color they were. Merlin noticed there was a little blond girl with her.

The woman urged the little girl to play with other kids. "Morgause, go play with them." Then she turned to Nimueh.

"This is your fault, Nimueh. Uther is on this revenge quest because of you."

"Is that so Vivienne, is he really? I have warned him about what the consequences may be. Yet he acts like it is all my fault. Maybe he wants to play the blame game because he wants to forget that he had betrayed his wife."

Merlin shivered at that. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. This was Morgana's mother.

"You fueled his rage! Ygraine died because of you! Why did you take such a risk? What could Uther possibly give to you that immortality hadn't?"

"And what could he give to you that Gorlois hadn't, Vivienne? Crown and jewels? Gorlois was a good and honorable man, he had high rank and riches. Still, you have waited for him to go to war to sleep with Uther behind his back! Now, he will take his guilt on every one of us. Maybe you are just angry because now your daughter can't be queen. Speaking of, where is she?"

"I left Morgana with Gorlois. He will take good care of her and we know Uther can't kill her."

"What if she has magic?"

"He would never suspect of his daughter. I can't say the same thing about Morgause."

"You shouldn't take anything for granted when it comes to Uther. He already has persecuted many of our kind. I wouldn't be surprised if he allies himself with that mad man Sarrum."

The scenery started to change and everything got blurred. After a short while, he was still in Isle of the Blessed. Except, it was horrific. He saw armed men some of whom were knights of Camelot attacking women, little children. Bloodguards were defending them as much as they can but they were outnumbered. It wasn't just Uther's men who were slaughtering people. The women whom Merlin guessed were High Priestesses tried to defend themselves with magic. But their magic wasn't working like they were supposed to.

"These women are supposed to best of magic users. Why was their magic so weak?" Merlin questioned loudly. Ruadan appeared behind him, they were still in the Island. And as the old man explained the slaughter was getting continue.

"Isle of the Blessed was the place where magical energy is most powerful. Because İt had a source." Ruadan explained looking at a giant tree that was getting burned to the ground. Merlin never focused on there before. While he was watching innocent women's children die he didn't focus on the tree. As Merlin turned to where the tree was he saw Uther, he was leading the group to burn the tree with another royal man who Merlin guessed was a king. The other king was bald, fat, and ugly. He had a disgusting smile on his face.

"That is Sarrum" Ruadan explained.

Morgana's mother was lying on the ground waiting for death. She lifted her hand as if she could protect herself with it against a sword.

"Uther, Uther please" Vivienne begged. Then her eyes turned somewhere else, when Merlin gazed at where she was looking he saw Nimueh.

"Nimueh!" Vivienne screamed as the last resort. But the High Priestess gave her an unbothered look and jumped at the water.

And disappeared.

"Shall I finish her off for you, Uther" Sarrum spoke.

Vivienne gave Uther a begging look. But Uther looked at her the way Nimueh did.

"Do as you wish."

Sarrum sword struck Vivienne down as she gave her final breath.

"Gaius" Uther called out casually. As if they were in the Court like on a normal day. "Where have you been" the king of Camelot questioned.

"I wanted to make sure the island is completely cleansed my lord"

His words hit Merlin hard. Cleansed? How could Gaius talk like that? When he looked at young Gaius he saw a flicker of a lie. Gaius usually had a very strict and stern face but Merlin always could tell he was lying. Then he understood.

Morgause.

Little Morgause was nowhere to be seen. Gaius must have snatched her and gave her to someone else before Uther and Sarrum realized.

The vision was finally over. Merlin took a deep breath and exhaled. He was sitting on a rock surrendered by trees again.

"Why are you showing me this?"

"I don't know who you are. But I know you are not what you seem. And I know fate has decided to bring you here. So I am asking for your help. The spirits in Isle of the Blessed are restless, help us to bring them peace."

"Is this what Morgana wants? To bring peace to spirits" Merlin asked not believing the question what he said.

"I fear it might be not Morgana's main objective as it should be."

"Because you showed her this vision, too," said Merlin with realization like he had solved a puzzle. "No one can soothe her rage now!"

"Her rage was like a rain of fire, to begin with! At least she is not betraying her people for Uther spawn!"

"Watch it" Merlin hissed a warning tone in his voice.

"Will you help or shall I expose your secret to Morgana? Or your King perhaps?

"I don't know how will I help" Merlin exclaimed.

"Find out. Until this is over I guarantee your safety."

"What about Arthur? My friends?" Merlin asked.

"If you focus on your task and finish it successfully, I will see that your King and friends unharmed. But only for this time."

"It is a deal, then."

Next Chapter: Arthur and the knights began to track Merlin. While Merlin, Morgana, and Ruadan sail to Isle of the Blessed.