Merlin and Ruadan slowly returned to the camp. The camp seemed restless probably they had realized that he had escaped. Some of the Saxons had lighted their torches. It was time to go apparently. Morgana appeared in front of the troops and walked towards Ruadan and Merlin.
"So you caught him. Good. Make sure he doesn't escape again, he is slippery. I want his hands bound."
Merlin offered his wrists to Ruadan without any resistance. Ruadan bound his hands, he knew it wouldn't make any difference anyway. Morgana lifted her eyebrow in surprise.
"You seem unnaturally cooperative, Merlin. What do I owe to that?"
Merlin looked at Ruadan to ask his permission. Ruadan simply nodded to confirm that it is okay to tell Morgana some part of the story.
"Ruadan told me about The Isle of the Blessed's spirits. I want to help" Merlin said simply.
"You will help, I assure you. But not about what you think." Morgana pulled his neckerchief from his neck with an instant move.
As she said magical words her eyes turned to gold.
Tracking spell. Merlin recognized the magical words. Once the magic was done to an object, it helped people to track the person they are looking for. The object had to belong to the person whom they are tracking.
Morgana threw the neckerchief on the bushes for Arthur to find it.
"Now, we are ready to leave. Ruadan we have things to talk about. You two, keep an eye on him." Morgana gestured to two Saxons to keep an eye on Merlin while she started to walk with Ruadan.
…
It was nightfall and Arthur had refused to set up a camp and wanted to look for Merlin. The knights were desperately fighting with branches now. Everywhere was dark and it was almost impossible to trace to tracks.
"Arthur we can't keep going like this" Leon finally gave up and opened his mouth.
"I can't believe Merlin became the damsel we need to rescue," Elyan said with a hint of humor in his voice. The knights were cutting the branches to make a way to move.
"Do you have better candidates, Sir Elyan? Besides, if any of us would be damsel, it would be Merlin" said Arthur a little annoyed, to branches, to Merlin because he got himself captured, to Morgana for taking him and himself for letting that happen.
"What makes you think you think Merlin is the damsel? You were the damsel the entire time, Princess" Gwaine said cheekily to Arthur.
"When was I ever the damsel, Gwaine?"
"Well, there was this time the amulet you were wearing was killing you and Merlin asked for my help for your quest…"
"Wait, the amulet was killing me? The one Morgana had given that to me? How could Merlin knew this?"
Leon contemplated what Gwaine and Arthur said. "So Merlin knew about Morgana's betrayal before it happened" he guessed.
"Well, he didn't tell me that much. But I wouldn't be surprised. You know he is smarter than us" Gwaine shrugged.
"He was also the only one besides Gwen who realized Lamia was going to kill all of us," Elyan thought loudly.
"Well, he also saved you from Dorocha, sire," Percival said.
"That is right, you were the damsel all along, princess. Let Merlin be center of attention for a change." Gwaine laughed.
"You are right. For all this time Merlin stood beside me to protect me. And I dismissed his suspicions about Agravaine probably would have dismissed him if he told me about Morgana, and failed to protect him when Morgana took him. Now all I want is to find him and save him." Arthur confessed as he exhaled.
"Sire your sword" Leon looked at the sword which was in Arthur's scabbard. Blue lights were coming from it. Arthur pulled it out and the sword's light brightened the forest better than any torch could.
"Oh, my" Percival said in awe, looking to their surroundings. All the knights were in shock. The light didn't burn their eyes, it was just helping them seeing clearly.
Arthur was looking at the sword with admiration. He wasn't sure about using a magical sword. Magic had taken two of his parents away from him. His father taught him that it was pure evil. But he got used to that sword. It was better than every other sword that he had used. Besides, the sword was making him feel secure. It was like it is protecting him. How could a thing that has been designed to protect be evil?
"Sire" Leon said again in pure shock. Not only the sword's power surprised him but he was also surprised by Arthur who didn't have the slightest astonishment.
Arthur pointed to the bushes. "There is something over there".
Gwaine went to look at it immediately. "This is Merlin's neckerchief."
"Hey!" Gwaine stepped away from the scarf as it starts flying and pointed out a direction.
"Is the neckerchief flying" asked Elyan.
"No," said Gwaine with a mocking tone "I am sure there is another explanation for why it is still hanging on the air."
"She wants us to find them," said Leon.
"Then we find them," said Arthur with a determination. After all, Arthur wasn't going to be defenseless when he was going to face Morgana.
"I hope she didn't hurt him," Elyan said in a thoughtful tone.
"We won't let that happen."
…..
Merlin kept walking behind Ruadan and Morgana while three of the Saxons watching over him. He was wondering what Morgana was planning. They were getting closer to sail to the Isle of the Blessed. The mists of the Island were slowly revealing themselves. As Morgana and Ruadan slowly disappeared in the mist and leaving only the Saxons around him visible, Merlin mumbled magical words to hear what they are saying.
"The sword is a problem," said Ruadan's voice.
The Saxon who was pulling the robe which Merlin's hands were bound with noticed he was falling behind. He roughly pulled the rope as Merlin huffed. Merlin saw Morgana's shadowy figure turned her head to him for a moment then kept walking.
"I know. I have witnessed its power myself. Is it possible to destroy it?" said Morgana.
"I don't see how. To reflect your spell, it must have forged with an ancient dragon's breath."
"Aithusa didn't forge it."
"Aithusa is a baby. Not to mention sick. The sword she would forge wouldn't even have the half of Arthur's sword," Ruadan declared.
"The Great Dragon that Arthur killed?" There was a shock in Morgana's voice.
"I think so. But whichever dragon it was, it was older and more powerful than Aithusa."
This new information gave Merlin a little relief. At least Morgana wouldn't try to use Aithusa's power. Merlin knew even if Morgana tried to, he could command the little dragon not to do it. But Aithusa was nowhere to be seen when Ruadan and Merlin had returned the camp.
"Speaking of, where is the baby dragon?
"As you said, Aithusa is still weak. She is having difficulty walking, and her wings haven't healed yet. So if we can't forge our sword, we take Arthur's."
Oh, goddess Merlin thought. This wasn't good. He remembered how Kilgharrah had reacted when he found out Uther had used the sword. He couldn't imagine how the Great Dragon would react if Morgana got her hands on Excalibur. But most importantly, it was Arthur's only defense.
"And when we do," Morgana continued. "I want you to take it."
"Me?"
"I can use a sword. But I don't describe myself as a swordswoman. I want you to have it. You saved me from Sarrum's claws, you are loyal to me, and I trust your judgment."
"I am not sure I want that kind of power, Morgana."
"We arrived."
Merlin released the spell. They came near to the misty sea of Isle of the Blessed. Morgana gave a coin to the cloaked old man.
"You know where I wish to go."
The old man looked at the coin and allowed them to enter the boat. Merlin, Ruadan, and Morgana got on the boat. Merlin realized Morgana only took seven men with her.
"Wait, are you just going to leave the rest of your troops here?" Merlin couldn't help but ask. He knew he shouldn't ask so many questions while he was a prisoner. But curiosity got the better of him. To his surprise, nobody punched or hit him. He saw a flicker in Morgana's pale green eyes. A small smile appeared on her face. She looked like a cat that was playing with a mouse it caught.
"Well, I want to leave some entertainment for my brother." She said sheepishly.
Merlin looked back with terror. Arthur was going to follow them and come here. Then he was going to find himself in big trouble. He thought of doing magic, but Morgana was so close to him. She would immediately hear if he chanted a spell or notice if his eyes turn golden.
"Let's go" Morgana called out the old man.
As they sailed to the Isle of the Blessed and went inside to the mists, Merlin began to hear screams. They reminded him of Dorochas' and mandrake roots'. He wasn't sure whether non-magical people were supposed to hear it. And since he was with Morgana, he did his best not to put his hands to his ears. He saw Morgana who was sitting beside him also stiffened.
This was going to be a weird journey.
NEXT: Morgana and Merlin have a chat. Morgana suddenly finds what to do with Merlin. Arthur comes across a surprise while searching for his manservant.
