Title: The legend of a Warlock who Served the Once and Future King
Author: Lamiabellascrittore
Rating: T+
Warnings: Mild language. Violence- some adult situations-deal with it. There is more to come. Happy soon to be Halloween .
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or any of the characters. If I did there would be a season six, seven, eight, and so on, and a movie, of course.
Spoilers: Possibly.
Summary: Merlin and Arthur go on a mission that was supposed to be strictly reconnaissance. However, nothing ever goes as planned, and they get separated. Merlin is kidnapped by Morgana and Arthur must find a way to rescue his ever loyal servant. But, will Arthur still save Merlin after he learns Merlin has magic? This story is building up to the battle of Camlann. The sequel to this one.
A/N: Okay, so this is my first Published Fan Fiction. Please read and review.
If you liked it I will continue. Please be kind. ;) The more you review the more likely it is that I will continue this story and more. Sorry for any errors, it becomes difficult after editing it so many times. It becomes a lot like a word repeated over and over again until it no longer makes any sense.
I hope you enjoy...
Chapter 12:Part 2
A Contemplation of Betrayal
Her hard sole slippers clicked on the white marble floor as she hurried from the room. Merlin fallowed like the dutiful slave he was pretending to be. They walked for about ten minutes going down stairs and through hallways. Each corridor and each stairwell was filled with all manner of delineations. Some were of intimidating kings, warriors fighting along side sorcerers using magic all warring in a great battle as one. Others were of Dragons, and their Dragon Lords standing over a field with a raging war below. The portraits looked ancient and they were covered in dust. But one in general caught his attention and stopped him in his tracks. He tripped over his feet before righting himself.
Morgana spun around the moment she heard Merlin's steps falter. She stared at him trying to see what had made him stumble. He was looking up at a rather large portrait. It was a painting of The Great dragon, and his Dragon Lord. Morgana stepped up next to him. Merlin was trembling and his lips move with silent words. When she came closer, she understood. He was reading the label in gold underneath.
"The Great Dragon, and his Dragon Lord, Balinor." Merlin said, voice strangely blank.
"Isn't that the Dragon Lord you went to find when the Great Dragon attacked Camelot?" Morgana asked from behind him. Distantly remembering the dragons attack. He looked back at her before giving the painting one last fleeting glance.
"Kilgharrah, his name is Kilgharrah," Merlin gritted. "And Balinor, his Dragon Lord. He's dead." He turned away from the painting and looked at her. "What are you playing at, Morgana?" Merlin asked tiredly, changing the subject. He didn't want to think about his father, and the mistakes that led up to his death.
She was silent for a while, considering if she would answer. But she couldn't. That's what she wanted from him. Answers. Did he regret trying to kill her?
"Do you regret it?" Morgana asked desperately, ignoring Merlin's question. She wanted to believe he did.
He paused as if deeply considering something. His first thought was to asked if she regretted trying to kill, Uther, Arthur and Merlin. But he knew she didn't. Merlin on the other hand... "Do I regret it? Maybe." He looked at her sadly. "Would I do it again?" He said, his heart hurting. "Yes, if it meant that I could save the kingdom. I only regret that it never did its job and killed you. A lot of innocent lives could cave been spared as a result. Kill one to save a thousand. Wasn't that what you tried to do, by murdering King Uther?" It had boiled down to such obvious choices. Her or Arthur. Her or Camelot. No matter the love he had for her the importance of his destiny promised hope, not just for himself, but a kingdom in need of salvation.
"Were going to the training arena." She said abruptly, changing her mind. Instead of taking him to the kitchens like she had planned, she decided to take him down to the training grounds. "I want to see what you can do before your sent into the kill ring next week." Morgana said simply.
She gave him a long look before she turned and walked on, keeping up her maddening pace. She just wanted to see him get knocked around a little. She will let Jarrod, her best fighter, and his sorcerer, Fredrick have some sparing practice with Merlin. Fredrick was one of the most powerful sorcerers she had come across, well except her, and of course Emrys. Emrys. She seethed. She desperately needed to find him before it was to late.
She didn't slow down as she rounded the corner. He could hear her start to descend a flight of stares. Her small heels clattering on the polished marble as she hurried down the steps. She expected Merlin to fallow. He sighed, wearily and did as was expected. He probably pissed her off with his honesty.
When Merlin had caught up with her, she tossed him a brief glance over her shoulder, satisfaction glinted in her eyes like a blade in the moonlight. They were almost there. Down one more hall and they stopped at a door. She opened it and walked in. The door lead outside into a large field, surrounded by tall trees where dozens of men and woman could practice in both magic and steel.
Morgana paused to watch her army. She was proud to say the least. She only wished Merlin agreed. She could see how the panic in him seemed to build as he realized that this would be the army that came to take Camelot.
"Why do you do it?" She asked mildly, truly curious. "Why use magic to defend those who would condemn you for it?" She paused, letting her words take their effect. "What do you think Arthur will do when he finds out you have magic, and that the very thing he has been fighting against, has been at the heart of Camelot the entire time." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He had visibly paled. "What do you thank he will do when he learns the extent of your betrayal?"
"I should hope that the years I have given him have proven my loyalty." Merlin said plainly.
"And what about if he sees you now? Fallowing me around like a trained dog. Obeying every order." She said candidly. Merlin kept his mouth shut. What could he say? She was right. She nodded to herself as if satisfied with his silence and walked fully into the field. Every man and woman stopped what they were doing to face Morgana. She was the kind of woman that silenced a room when she entered.
"Jerrod and Fredrick." She called.
A few second passed before two men broke away from a group on the far end of the field and jogged over. They stopped in front of her and bowed low. One was tall and lanky with a dangerous aura of dark power around him. He reminded Merlin of Sagan. In fact as he looked around he notice that she had dozens and dozens of sorcerers with the same uneasy magic in them, and beside each sorcerer was a man clad in armor, protecting him from a physical attack. Morgana was building an army. Now he knew why she was inquiring about Emrys.
"Is this why your searching for Emrys? You want him in your army?" Merlin said. Looking from the army of magic and steel, and back to her.
"No," She scoffed, waiving the very idea away. "I want him to lead it. And if he wont. I want him dead." She said simply.
"From what I have heard about Emrys, My Lady, he serves the Once and Future King, and he will not be easily defeated." Merlin said boldly. Nearly telling her he was Emrys. But she probably doesn't even know who the Once and Future King is.
She ignored him and addressed the two before her. "This is Merlin. He is to be your first contestant today." She said. "He's damaged, be careful."
Morgana was right. Merlin was damaged. But not in the way she implied it, like it was a weakness. No. It was his strength. Damaged people are dangerous because they know how to survive.
"Yes, My lady." Jerrod nodded. Fredrick eyed him up and down. A manic gleam in his black eyes. This wasn't going to be fun, Merlin thought dejected.
Morgana tuned to Merlin. "Give me your hands." Merlin looked a her skeptically but obeyed nun the less. "I'll take the cuffs off to a low you access to your magic, but the collar stays on, as a precaution. If I feel threatened, it will shut down the connection to your magic." She murmured a spell and the cuffs clicked open and fell into her palms.
The moment the cuffs were off his knees went out from under him. The flood of magic was so great it overwhelmed him and he fell to the ground. He panted on his hands and knees, trying to calm the chaos inside of him. His kept his eyes tightly shut. He shook his head, his heartbeat thundered in his ears, roaring like a dragon. He heard muffled voices and then hard hands lifted him to his feet. He kept his eyes shut as dizziness swept over him.
He felt nauseous for a second before it passed, and a long welcome heat spread throughout him. Owlishly, he opened his eyes. He felt invigorated, as if he had slept for a month. His aches and pains from the torture all but gone. Colors were brighter and noises were louder. It was an amazing transition. Once he was steady on his feet Jerrod let him go. Merlin opened his eyes.
Morgana watched transfixed as his eyes faded from brilliant gold, to amber, back to his natural blue. She had never seen someone react that violently to having their magic suppressed. Maybe the odd complaint of a headache or maybe some aches, but never a response like this.
"My Lady, do we test Magic or steel first?" Fredric said, stepping up to address Morgana.
Morgana assessed Merlin. He must have some skills with a weapon, or he wouldn't have survived at Arthur's side for as long as he has. And she wanted to be sure he was able to defend against the brutes she has entering the Kill Ring in a weeks time. She was positive that Merlin wasn't Emrys, but he still needed to participate in the culling. Only she didn't want him to die. However, that didn't mean she did not want him to hurt.
"Steel." She said, gouging his reaction.
Merlin just nodded, already figuring Morgana's intent. She wanted to hurt him for the words he spoke, because they had resonated with truth. Merlin looked around for a sword, when one of the guards came up and handed him one. Merlin looked up and noticed it was the very guard that he had tackled to the ground, the dame one who had tossed him to the ground when he first walked out of Morgana's hut almost two days ago.
"Thank you, Cedric." Morgana said. He bowed and went back to guard the door. His calculating eyes trained on the coming fight.
Merlin fallowed Jerrod into the center of the field. They faced each other, sizing each other up.
"First to draw blood wins." Morgana announced. If Merlin won, he had a chance. If he lost, he was sure to die, even with magic.
Merlin stood confidently, arms loose at his side. His sword held loosely in his right hand. He watched Jerrod closely. From all the months and time he had trained with Gwain, and his relentless technique, Merlin was up there with the best of the knights. So when Jerrod suddenly swung his sword, Merlin was ready and ducked, but his feet tangled together, and he went down on his backside. Jerrod's sword flew right over his head.
Merlin huffed and looked up, feeling the air stir above him. He brought his arm up and blocked Jerrod's blade with his own. A resounding clash of steel rang out. Jerrod's sword caught on his blades hilt. Merlin pushed the sword away using the hand guard to catapult the sword away from his neck. As soon as Merlin was free he twisted out of reach and scrambled to his feel.
Merlin had to admit, he had an advantage. His magic helped him move faster, swing harder and react better, but he was still clumsy. He had learned how to fight and use his clumsiness to the best of his advantage. Gwain drilled into him that Merlin needed to be able to fight from every angle, whether it from a horse, on his feet or on his back.
They circled each other. This time Merlin attacked first in a flurry of strikes. Jerrod blocked each blow, keeping up rather easily. Merlin was starting to get angry. All the pain and hurt he has faced these last few weeks came frothing to the surface. The anguish and shame of having to be Morgana slave. The humiliation of having his magic stolen and sealed away. Keeping his magic a secret, and living in fear. All of it. He saw red. He wanted blood. Merlin sliced down and caught him on the cheek drawing blood.
"Call!" Fredrick voice yelled. "Merlin draws first blood." Calling the fight to an end.
Obviously that was suppose to halt the fight. But Merlin wasn't listening. He struck out again and again, faster and more vicious than the last attack. Jerrod blocked and parried as best he could but Merlin could feel him tiring. The sword wavered in his hand, but still Jerrod tried to get the best of him. Jerrod got his hand around Merlin's sword and grabbed the wrist of his free hand and twisted Merlin around into a kind of awkward hug to keep him still, but before he could get a solid hold, Merlin jerked his elbow up as he twisted out of his grasp and bashed him in the face.
He released Merlin with a curse, and using his distraction, Merlin found an opening and kicked out, catching him in the chest. He put as much power as he could into it. Jerrod flew back and hit the ground hard, loosing all his breath. When he tried to sit up, a force shoved him back, holding him down.
Merlin tossed his sword to the side as he walked threateningly towards Jerrod. He straddle him and started to punch. Harder and harder, one after another. There was no resistance as Merlin's fists came down brutally on his face.
Blood splattered on his hands and sprayed his shirt and face, the warm red liquid only spurred him on , calling to the demon that hid deep within him, but it wasn't enough. With one final strike, Merlin tossed his head back and yelled to the heavens. With it came a pulsing wave of power that rocketed out from the enter of his chest knocking everyone back a few steps.
"Get him to the healing waters, now." Morgana snapped, motioning for men to take Jerrod.
She watched Merlin curiously as he sat back on his heels, hands on his thighs and head bowed as the guards rushed over and removed Jerrod from the field. The grass was stained with blood, and the sight made Merlin feel sick.
Morgana had never seen Merlin loose control like that before. It was exciting, and a bit unnerving. For the first time she believed Mordred when he said that Merlin did indeed have power.
"Hey!" A voice hollered.
Merlin's head snapped up and swiveled in its direction. Morgana tensed when she saw the murderous glitter in his eye. It was as if Fredrick's very existence offended him. Fredrick came striding up to him and shoved his hands out towards Merlin, and knocked him onto his back.
"Fredrick," Morgana yelled. "Enough." She demanded.
"No!" He roared. "He nearly killed my brother." Fredrick advanced on Merlin as he scrambled to his feet. "You wanted us to train him, then let me train him." Morgana stayed quiet. He was right. He had the right. "He needs to be taught some manners."
Merlin rubbed a sleeve over his face wiping the blood from his eyes. Fredrick stopped in front of him. "Lets see what you got." Fredrick postured.
"If you test me, you will fail." Merlin said slowly, as if to get the message across. Merlin wasn't in a safe mood. He couldn't control his temper, and he knew with out a doubt that Merlin would kill him with one well worded spell. Unless Morgana stopped him.
"Try me." Fredrick said confidently.
Merlin smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile. It was more of a barring of teeth. His bright eyes, and white teeth gleamed back at Fredrick through a face full of his brothers blood. Fredrick growled and barked in the old religion. His eyes glowed gold briefly before a current of flames rushed out of the center of his chest straight for Merlin.
Without saying a word, Merlin raised one hand towards the spell, his eyes flashed and the flames slammed against the iridescent shield that lite up blue and white whenever the fire brushed against the barrier. He felt the flames lick against the protection spell, searching for a way in.
Fredrick growled, and intensified the heat for a blinding second before it dissipated. Fredrick jerked back and then forward and shot out his other hand. The curse came hurtling towards him. Merlin caught it in the palm of his hand and sent it back at him intensifying its lethality. It hit him square in the chest, knocking him unconscious. A sure hit, just like he knew he could.
Merlin waited, and watched for the sorcerer chest to rise. For one heart thumping second merlin thought he had killed him. The thought made Merlin uncomfortable. Not the fact that he may have killed a man, but the possibility that he might still live. He had never before felt a rage such like he had here today. He could still feel that rage simmering just under the surface. He didn't know how to make it go away, and he almost didn't want it to. It helped ground him, and remanded him of his superpose. Keeping Arthur safe. He may be a damaged guardian, but he was a dangerous one.
"Merlin," Morgana attempted to get his attention.
Merlin looked over at Fredrick's still form. Merlin's eye twitched in irritation. The light rise and fall of the sorcerers chest just underneath the blackened scorch mark on his now ruined tunic let him know he still lived. For some odd reason he wanted to go over and finish what he started. Just... maybe... make his heart stop beating, make it seem natural. Merlin took a step toward him.
"Merlin." Morgana barked louder. Merlin's head jerked around and found Morgana staring at him. "Let the guards take him to the hospital wing to be looked after." Merlin stopped and looked at her for a long moment, indecision clouding his eyes. Finally he nodded, and hesitantly stepped away from him.
She squeezed her eyes shut briefly before she turned to Cedric and Liam. "Take him to the dungeon with the others. Give him some new cloths and a bucket of water to wash with." They nodded and bowed.
They surrounded Merlin and let them lead him from the field and into the castle once more, using their sheer size to herd him where they wanted him to go.
He could no longer feel his magic swirling inside him like a fiery storm. It lay dormant, out of hi reach deep in his soul. If he tried hard enough he might be able to make his magic break through, but the energy it would take wouldn't be worth it. It was better if he just played along with Morgana and got her to remove it. He swallowed heavily. He contemplated betraying Arthur, the man he had sworn to protect. But if this plan worked, he would be saving the sods life.