The dragon growled deep in his chest and stretched his wings, taking a deep breath. "Climb onto my back." The dragon said. Arthur put his sword away after he managed to slow down his racing heart and rushed to Morgana to get Merlin.
"Let's go." Arthur said and paused as he watched Morgana climbing the dragon. Gwen helped Mordred climb and Morgana helped pull him up the rest of the way. Something was different. As Arthur watched Gwen start climbing, he noticed Merlin wasn't making any sounds.
He turned to look at him. Merlin still held the crystal against his chest, but while his tears had dried, leaving his eyes red and his face tear stained, his eyes were staring far away, anger and hurt flickering in his expression. Merlin was still trapped in the vision… but something had changed. Arthur couldn't understand how exactly.
"Arthur." The dragon called. Arthur turned his attention back to the dragon and with the help of the ladies (and the dragon using his deadly muzzle to push Merlin up), they managed to get him onto the dragon's back, safely held by Arthur around the waist.
"Sire! My lady!" Arthur turned, looking up shocked at Sir Leon, who stared at them horrified.
"I shall kill him." The dragon said and took a deep breath, light making his mouth glow.
"No! He's a good and honest knight!" Arthur yelled.
The dragon growled but expanded its wings anyway, taking into the air, sweeping in. All Arthur heard was Leon's yelp of horror. Considering Leon could still be heard yelling and struggling even underneath the dragon as he took off, Arthur could only guess the knight was also coming along for the ride.
The caverns ran deep under Camelot and opened up to a large field away from the city and away from prying eyes.
By then Leon seemed to have quieted down although he could still be heard struggling suddenly at times.
Arthur noticed they crossed the boarder into the neighbouring kingdom. "Where is Morgause, Morgana? Are we going in the correct direction?" Arthur asked.
"Morgause is in Essetir." Morgana said. "I know where she normally meets me but… she may not be there right now. When we land I can send a message for her." Morgana said.
Arthur held Merlin up against his chest as he felt Merlin relax. He'd fallen asleep. He hoped they would get there soon.
The ruins where Morgana seemed to meet with Morgause were not that far away from where she'd shown him his mother.
"Arthur?!" Leon yelled as the dragon released him and he scrambled back, taking out his sword. Arthur quickly climbed off the dragon, taking out his own sword.
"Stand down Sir Leon." Arthur said. Leon was still gaping from his prince to the dragon and back again.
"How did the great dragon break free, your highness? We must tell the king! What… why were you riding it?" Leon asked confused.
"Leon, I don't want to fight you, put the sword away." Arthur said, approaching slowly. Leon seemed to be in a slight state of shock, which allowed Arthur to take the sword away with barely a flinch from the knight.
Leon seemed to take in Arthur's lack of concern and finally turned his attention to the Great Dragon who had reached back and pinched the back of Merlin's coat with its mouth and picked him up the way a kitten would be transported by its mother. The dragon lowered Merlin into his arms and Arthur held him close as Merlin sagged against him.
"What's wrong with Merlin?" Leon asked. Morgana approached.
"I'll explain the best I can, Sir Leon." She said and took a still shocked Leon to the snow covered ruins, to what Arthur could only imagine would be Morgause's shelter.
Gwen looked uncertain whether to stay or go, but eventually followed Morgana and Mordred into the ruins.
Arthur looked up at the dragon. "Can Morgause be trusted?" He asked.
"I highly doubt it. You shouldn't be surprised to find few allies from those that practice magic." The dragon said.
"Won't you be cold? Out here?" Arthur asked. The dragon gave a short laugh as he curled up on the ground, the snow melting around him.
"I will be fine, Arthur Pendragon. I will soak in the sky that has been denied to me these last twenty years." The dragon said and stared up, watching the sky bleed into reds and oranges as the sun set and the first stars began to rise.
The air came cold, so Arthur decided to leave the dragon here and help Merlin inside.
Leon seemed still frozen with mixed feelings, looking as if he was processing again and again what Morgana had said to him. Regardless, Arthur knew he did not have to worry about him. There was a fire in the centre of the small room that despite the many drafts and lack of solid walls did not seem to allow the air to enter and flow through, keeping the warmth inside.
As they made themselves comfortable to wait for Morgana's sister, Arthur uncorked the water skin and brought it to Merlin's mouth.
"Come on, Merlin. You need to drink something." Arthur said. Merlin didn't respond. Arthur reached to caress the other's face, forgetting where they were for a minute.
Morgana reminded him by clearing her throat and he turned to see Leon and Gwen keeping their gazes on the fire, Morgana looking mildly amused at Arthur forgetting they were all there, and Mordred just stared openly, like children are quick to do.
Arthur sighed and simply decided to make Merlin comfortable, in the hopes that he would sleep. Gwen managed to make them all a small something to eat from what they'd brought with them, and soon after they went to sleep, no one keeping guard, considering there was a giant dragon outside doing that for them.
oOoOoOo
Merlin opened his eyes, dazed, everything around him was blurry. He could see a fire. Morgana lay near it with Mordred sleeping beside her. Gwen was nearby and across from her was Leon, leaning against a wall, sword close to hand.
Merlin felt something cold in his hand, calling to him and something warm wrapped all around him. It took him a while to realise they were Arthur's arms holding his back flush against Arthur's chest. His hand held onto Merlin's own, rubbing smooth circles every so often with his thumb. Merlin could feel his warm breath against his ear and wished he could turn around. He wanted to see him. See his eyes, his face, his kind smile. His heart ached with grief.
Arthur was dead. This was a memory, or a vision, who knows. But it wasn't real. Tears burned in his eyes once more.
"Emrys…" Merlin looked at Mordred across the fire, his eyes focused on him. "Release the crystal, Emrys. Arthur is alive." Mordred said into his mind, ringing in the distance of his consciousness.
"No… he's gone… he's gone. It's my fault." Merlin replied.
"He's not! He's alive! You need to let go of the crystal." The child said.
"You killed him." Merlin said and Mordred flinched, eyes wide and soon filled with tears. The crystal rang louder and Merlin closed his eyes, succumbing to his reality.
oOoOoOo
Arthur was pulled out of his sleep as he heard a child's muffled wail. He frowned sitting up, as did Morgana and soon everyone else looked over at Mordred in concern.
"Mordred? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Morgana asked worried, trying to uncover Mordred's face. Arthur came closer and knelt beside him, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"What's the matter child?" Arthur asked with a frown.
"Bad dream…" That was his only explanation. "I'm sorry." He seemed to add at the end and it didn't make any sense to Arthur.
"Don't be sorry…" Morgana said gently, hugging him, petting his hair to soothe him.
He was soon back asleep and Arthur looked at Merlin. "Any signs of Morgause?" He asked Morgana.
"She's close." She said.
oOoOoOo
Arthur went with Morgana, following her into the snow-covered forest. The full moon lit the night, reflected on the snow.
"Sister…" Morgause said, looking confused and surprised between Arthur and Morgana.
"It's alright, Morgause… Arthur wants Uther gone as much as we do." Morgana said.
"I highly doubt he wants him gone just as much. Arthur is a noble prince, a noble knight. Treason is not in his language." Morgause said, beginning to circle Arthur. "Why are you here? Arthur?" Morgause asked.
"Merlin is trapped in the crystal of Neahtid's vision. I need you to perform a hand-fasting ceremony to help us break him free of it." Arthur said.
"Sister, congratulations, though I would have thought you'd choose a… different suitor." Morgause said.
"Uh… no." Morgana laughed faintly, with very little humour.
"Merlin... and I need the hand-fasting ceremony." Arthur said.
Morgause's eyes widened slowly and the amusement was barely hidden in her expression. "Oh, this is precious." Morgause said. "What would Uther Pendragon say to that, I wonder." Morgause said and gave off a delighted laugh. "Do you even understand what a hand-fasting entails? You'd be bound in a union more sacred than marriage. You want to be this close to your… manservant?" She asked.
"Yes." Arthur said simply. "I'll do anything to keep Merlin safe."
"Even bind yourself to him without his consent? If he's in the crystal's vision, he can't consent."
"It must be done." Arthur said.
"Truly your father's son." Morgause said and Arthur flinched, looking away.
"Morgana and I both know now, what Uther did to your mother. Believe me that I am as disgusted as you knowing what he's capable of." Arthur said. Morgause's amused smile was still on her face but her eyes turned steely.
"I'll perform the hand-fasting ceremony. Show me the servant." She said. She froze when she saw the dragon and turned to them. "Oh. You want a proper hand-fasting ceremony. Well… that truly is… surprising… I suppose being you, you'd need the dragon's blessing." Morgause eyed him up and down in a strange way before laughing and continuing into the refuge.
Arthur frowned in confusion, but the dragon offered no explanation, only a self-satisfied smirk and Arthur began to have a bad feeling about this whole thing.
oOoOoOo
They arrived to the circular stone formation Morgana walked with Morgause.
"You promised me you'd help me destroy Camelot, Morgana." Morgause said softly.
"I will… I… We'll end Uther and Arthur will be king. He'll bring magic back to Camelot." She said gently.
Morgause turned to her. "You can't trust him, Morgana. He has murdered hundreds of us on his father's orders." She said looking over to where Arthur stood, adjusting Merlin's cloak around his shoulders. "I don't know what spell he's trapped under, but soon he'll awaken and continue his father's ways." Morgause said.
Morgana shook her head. "It's not a spell. He cares for Merlin. He knows not all who practice magic are evil." Morgana said.
oOoOoOo
Merlin blinked. Everything blurred once more. Arthur was gone. But he could still feel him all around him. Up ahead was Morgana, talking to… Morgause?
He let his magic burn in his eyes as he listened in.
Morgause shook her head. "Morgana… you are destined to be Arthur's enemy. No man can escape his destiny." She said.
"Then it's a good thing that I am not a man." Morgana smiled and kissed Morgause's cheek, coming toward them. "We're ready." Morgana said and took Mordred's hand, leading him closer to the centre.
Arthur took his hand and Merlin turned to look at him, seeing him for the first time since these strange dreams begun. The crystal rang loudly and Arthur disappeared, but he could still feel his warm hand holding onto his, like a cruel punishment from the gods.
Merlin walked toward Morgause, pulled by his hand. To his right stood a sad Mordred, keeping his eyes on the ground while he held Morgana's hand. To his left stood a bewildered Leon, a conflicted Gwen and one smug dragon.
But there was something else. Merlin could feel it, in his core. Something all around them, coming closer as Morgause took out a dark red cloth and began wrapping it around his wrist.
The surrounding presence crept closer and something pierced the air. He turned in its direction and let his eyes glow, raising both his hands and raising a shield. The binding sash fell loose on the snow, right on top of the crystal of Neahtid.
The shield caught every arrow that flew their way.
The blurriness of his vision began to fade away.
Cenred's men stormed from the trees with a war cry. Morgana turned to Morgause. "You called them! How could you sister?" Morgana yelled.
"I will not allow the Pendragon line to continue to butcher us into extinction!" She yelled.
Morgause glared beside Merlin. He turned to see Arthur. Morgause lunged with a knife. Merlin didn't have time to react. He got in the way and she dug the blade deep into Merlin's stomach.
"MERLIN!" Merlin shuddered, falling back against the strong arms holding him as his senses all returned.
oOoOoOo
"AH! D-don't move me… don't." Merlin begged as he was held. He grunted, looking up and having his breath taken away as he saw Arthur, alive and well. Like waking up from a nightmare, the raw emotions were still there, it all felt so real, but now his mind was clear to see the truth.
"Merlin… We need to escape." Arthur said and scooped him up like one would a damsel in distress. It still sent excruciating pain through Merlin. There was a roar and Merlin saw the great dragon blast Cenred's men with fire, buying them all enough time to climb back onto the dragon.
"Morgana!" Morgause yelled but Morgana didn't return to her sister. Soon they were up in the air and Arthur cursed the sky, while Merlin tried to stay very, very still, every twitch sending a current of pain through him. Morgana handed something to Arthur and Arthur brought it over his soaking wound, pressing hard and making Merlin see stars.
"AHH!"
"What now? We need a healer!" Arthur yelled.
"There is someone else who could help… though I was hoping I wouldn't have to see the man who betrayed me so soon." The dragon said.
"Who're we going to see now?" Gwen asked.
"A man called Balinor." The dragon said. The name meant nothing to Merlin, so he took his time to ask a more pressing question.
"Can someone, please, explain what on Earth is going on?" Merlin yelled. He was ignored.
"Arthur, we must return to Camelot! What will the king say?" Merlin heard Leon exclaim.
"We cannot return to Camelot yet! We need a healer now! We're going to see this Balinor." Arthur said and pressed harder on Merlin's wound, making him cry out once more. "I'm sorry, Merlin."
Merlin grunted, breathing through clenched teeth. He held Arthur's forearm crying the hot tears of relief mixed with pain. "I'm just glad you're alive, you prat." Merlin groaned and Arthur gave a very short chuckle as he held him tighter.
Merlin closed his eyes, relishing in the reality of Arthur's warmth as he tried to ignore the creeping fever from the poisoned blade.