Chapter 6 - The Choice Between Magic & Death
He leaned his back against the uncomfortable rock wall. The knees drawn up, the head resting on it. It is bleak and a lot worse than the dungeon in Camelot. His body trembled not only from fear, but also from the cold. Tears rolled slowly down his cheek. The only thing he wants now is to come home. He wants home. Rather, he is just wishing for his mother.
A rustle at the door made him look up. He expected the worst. Only this time a familiar face appeared. He was speechless. The King of Camelot stood before him and looked down on him. Nathan saw the relief in his eyes.
Nathan hastily wiped his tears off his sleeve and sat up.
His ankle hurt, as did his head. Since he buckled in an attempt to escape and hit his head against the ground. But none of that prevented him from wrapping his arms around Arthur. Finally he was no longer alone.
Arthur returned the hug, if only hesitantly. He ran his hand through his son's hair before turning away from the boy and reaching for the small hand, "Are you okay? Can you walk?" Arthur asked worriedly. It has not escaped the king's notice that the boy has a head injury and limps. Nathan nodded. He grimaced with pain at every step, but understood that the king needed freedom of movement to fight the enemy knights.
Arthur led him out of the dungeon, where some familiar faces were waiting for them. Sir Leon, Percival and Gwaine were fighting the guards.
Merlin, however, remained at the tunnel entrance.
In the corner of his eye, Nathan saw one of the enemy knights take his sword out at him. But at the same moment Arthur pulled him behind and deflected the enemy blow. Nathan was trembling all over, his legs were shaking as his eyes registered every stroke - as the enemy attackers fell to the ground and more appeared behind them as if it were an endless loop.
"Run to Merlin," said Arthur, trying to keep the knights away from them. However, Nathan remained behind Arthur, unable to continue walking. It was Gwaine who grabbed the boy and led to the tunnel.
They didn't get very far. Lot's men came from all sides. They even knew the tunnel and blocked the only way out. Merlin pulled the little boy close, held him, and surrendered when he realized that Gwaine had no chance. All of them were arrested by the knights and locked in the dungeons. The fight was hopeless - as if Lot knew they were coming and upgraded his team accordingly.
Arthur slid onto the bare floor, leaning against the wall, looking at his fellow prisoners - Merlin and Nathan. Nathan sat across from him. Merlin, on the other hand, was walking up and down. It was clear to him that he was trying to work out a plan. A plan that will hopefully bring them all out safely.
"Merlin!" Arthur said. For a while he put up with the nervous manner of his servant, but slowly Merlin should also come to rest.
"There has to be another way," said Merlin, "Arthur. Lot will behead every one of us."
"We can hardly knock on the door and ask if we can go."
Merlin sighed and settled between Arthur and Nathan, "I don't understand why we're not dead long ago," he said.
"Just because Lot wants to torture me to find out Camelot's vulnerabilities,"
A little later the door was opened. Several knights stood before them at once. A knight stepped forward and grabbed Nathan. The 8-year-old kicked and punched, but he had no chance against the knight's strength.
Arthur stood in their way. He stood in front of the knights and Nathan, behind them the other knights who all took their swords out to Arthur.
"Let the boy go and take me instead," said Arthur. The knight, who still grabbed Nathan roughly, grinned grimly and nodded to his men, who now also grab Arthur.
They took the two to the throne room, where King Lot was already waiting for them. With a hand gesture, Lot signaled his men to let go of the prisoners.
"Look, I rarely receive a royal visit," Lot grinned.
"You want me, so please let the boy and my men go,"
"Where's the fun in that?" a female voice said. Morgana appeared behind one of the stone pillars. The corners of her mouth contorted contemptuously.
Arthur looked horrified at his sister. He should have known that Morgana was behind all of this. He's straight into a trap.
"Nathan," smiled Morgana, "have you ever seen magic?"
The boy shook his head and looked carefully at the black-haired woman.
"Magic can be used for a lot of good things," Morgana approached the boy, knelt before him and put her hand around the child's aching ankle. She whispered some unintelligible words, her eyes flashed briefly, "I'm very sorry that you were hurt. Your ankle will be fine again."
Nathan's eyes shone with sheer amazement. Since magic is forbidden in Camelot, he has never seen or felt the magic. He really liked that his ankle healed in an instant and the pain stopped suddenly.
"Was soll das hier werden, Morgana?", fragte Arthur und musterte sie misstrauisch.
"You can't choose how you are born, who your parents are. But you have a choice, Nathan, whether you want to continue living in a damned kingdom where magic is forbidden or whether you come to me. Magic is beautiful," Morgana formed her hands, muttered something inside, opened her hands again and a small butterfly flutters around the throne room.
"Wow," Nathan gazed at the butterfly. He reached out for the butterfly. The butterfly actually sat on his finger. A slight grin crept across his face, the children's eyes sparkling with joy.
"Both Uther and Arthur kill my kind because they think magic is bad," Morgana said.
"Stop it!" Arthur said, "what gives you the right to influence him like that? You are the bad witch here!"
Nathan turned in surprise. Why should the lady be evil? She healed his ankle. Gaius could have done nothing more than an ointment and then it would have taken him ages to play again, "I like the magic and you don't look that bad," Nathan said. The butterfly quickly caught Nathan's attention again.
"After all, someone who appreciates my skills", she grinned,
"Come on Arthur, you can stop playing your eternal hide and seek. I know who he is," and glanced over at Nathan, who was again staring at the butterfly," Nathan likes magic. I think he will turn his back on you soon."
"No way. He knows where he belongs. I won't let you take him away from me!"
"Don't worry, brother, if you don't let him, your son can die with you," Morgana held out her hand in the direction where Nathan was standing and began to cast a spell. A great fiery hurricane appeared and moved towards the boy, who, distracted by the butterfly, did not notice anything...