Title: The legend of a Warlock who Served the Once and Future King
Author: Lamiabellascrittore
Rating: T+
Warnings: Violence, sexual content, adult situations and more- deal with it. There is more to come.
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. There most likely will be a sequel if you all want.
A/N: Sorry for the wait. Family drama takes its toll and its all I can do to try to keep writing.
So on brighter note. If you like it I will continue. Please be kind. ;) The more you review the more likely it is that I will continue with a sequel 1000+ years into the future.
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. ; p
Okay. New A/N: So the story is getting darker. Sorry. Can't help it. I like the dark sexy stuff. It will most likely get more intense.
Come on people give me some love and review. 3
I hope you enjoy...
Chapter 24
The Chain Of Command
Merlin traced his steps back to the tent where he left Mordred and Ranoue. It wasn't hard to find. Garrets body was blocking the entrance. Someone had tossed it carelessly outside the tent and if you wanted in or out you needed to step over the body. Merlin's gut twisted. The cruelty that had been shown to this Knight was offensive. Even though Merlin hadn't known him very well he still felt awful about killing him, and Merlin was disappointed by the way Garret body was treated.
Merlin heaved a heavy sigh. His eyes flashed gold and the body levitated off the ground to the side of the entrance. It felt extraordinary to openly use his magic. Merlin set Garret's body gently to the side. Merlin shook himself as a wave of goosebumps assaulted him. He felt restless as if a million ants were crawling under his skin. Ignoring the feeling of unease he walked into the tent shoving the fabric to the side.
Mordred sat on Morgana's desk feet swinging freely. Blood decorated Mordred's knuckles and he sported a black eye, bruised jaw and a split lip. Ranoue's face wasn't much better. Merlin noticed Ranoue no longer had his hands bound and his knuckles matched Mordred's.
Ranoue stared at Mordred murderously. Mordred only took the glare in stride. His smirk grew as Merlin came into the tent. Ranoue transferred his glare to Merlin but Merlin didn't spare him a glance. He knew Ranoue was a druid and he also knew that Ranoue owed Emrys nothing. Merlin understood the kids anger, but he didn't get why Ranoue would want to kill him.
Mordred felt Merlin enter the tent. His power was unmistakable to those who listened hard enough. "Emrys." Mordred greeted looking sideways at Merlin. He noted with satisfaction that he was injured. Mordred sat up and face him fully ignoring Ranoue entirely. "What happened to you?" Mordred barked.
"I could ask you the same question." Merlin shot back. Mordred raised a brow.
"Morgana," Merlin said slowly and scowled. "We had a disagreement. That's all." He stormed to the desk and sat heavily in the throne like chair and started to riffle through the desk. "She wants the prisoner Ranoue transferred to the tent where Darrin and James are." Merlin huffed agitated. Not at the transfer but that he couldn't find what he was looking for. Morgana must have the maps here in her desk. The routs and trading posts for all her supporters.
"And your not happy about that." Mordred guessed. He jumped off the desk and walked around it to see what Merlin was doing.
Of course Merlin was happy but he couldn't say that. "No." He shook his head. "It just means more people can be killed for my actions." Merlin pointed out. He found what he was looking for, a packet of folded parchment, and shoved inside his jacket pocket. He stood up quickly as Mordred came to block his path.
Merlin fought down that urge to lash out at Mordred and instead he shoved past him. Merlin grabbed Ranoue's arm and pulled him none to elegantly to his feet. "So what happened between you two?" Merlin asked as he retied the rope around Ranoue's wrist for appearances sake.
"We had a disagreement." Mordred smirked, a dark sadistic mirth danced in his ice blue eyes.
"Mm." Merlin murmured giving Mordred a long penetrating stare taking him apart piece by piece with his eyes alone. Mordred felt the sudden urge to try and shield himself against Merlin's gaze but he wouldn't dare move and show Merlin how much he actually got under his skin.
"Mordred is going to take you to the prisoners tent." Merlin stated. His eyes flashed gold under his lids where Ranoue couldn't see he was using magic making the bonds loose but seemingly tight and secure.
Merlin turned away from Ranoue and let his hands go. He glanced at Mordred who stood stonily with arms crossed over his chest leaning up against the desk as if he hadn't a worry in the world watching Merlin closely with narrowed eyes.
"I see he is relatively unharmed." Merlin said sarcastically glancing at their matching faces and bloodied knuckles. "Be sure to keep it that way." He said seriously.
"What? You think I'm going to kill my own brother?"
"Half." Ranoue hissed and spat at Mordred's feet. He hated to even acknowledge that they shared blood.
Mordred raised a single brow and looked over at him. "Half brother." He mocked. Mordred looked back at Merlin.
"What?" Mordred snapped in response to Merlin's scowl. Merlin let his eyes roam over Mordred in disdain.
"I wouldn't put it past you to kill your own brother just because you felt like it." Merlin stated coolly.
"Granted." Mordred acknowledged. "But it was you who taught me that you don't have to have a reason to kill someone. They only have to be in your way. You made me in your image by trying to kill me."
"First off. I didn't teach you that, Morgana did. I just used her tactics." Merlin pointed out. "And if I taught you anything at all it was that you can't trust anyone..." Merlin pointed out. No one was trustworthy. Even your shadow disappeared in darkness. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides how was your brother in your way?"
"He refused to help me. Sound familiar?" Mordred uncrossed his arms not wanting to match Merlin. His fists clenched at his sides. Mordred felt Ranoue watching him. His heated scowl followed his every move.
"I tried to help you but your fate was already starting to threaten Arthur's. Silly me for thinking I could change it." Merlin sassed.
"Ha." Mordred laughed. "No, Merlin. Not even the great Emrys can alter Arthur's fate. I thought I could change it myself when I was a boy. When you, Morgana and Arthur saved me I thought briefly maybe this was a King worth fighting for, worth dieing for, but he showed himself to be nothing more than his fathers son. Uther made Arthur in his own image. Just as you have made me the monster standing before you. I am you, only better." Mordred concluded as if it were a sane and rational idea.
"We are nothing alike." Merlin denied. Ranoue snorted in derision.
"I doubt that, Emrys." Ranoue sneered st him. "You murdered Garret in cold blood. A Knight of Camelot. You are a traitor."
Merlin looked at Ranoue silently letting the promise in his eyes do the talking. It seemed like Ranoue had more to say but decided to keep his mouth shut. Good, Merlin thought.
"You know." Mordred quipped watching the interaction between Merlin and Ranoue drawing Merlin's attention away from his brother. Merlin glanced back annoyed with Mordred.
"You're more like me than you give yourself credit for." Mordred insisted. He stepped away from the desk he was leaning against and challenged Merlin.
"You and I are nothing alike." Merlin repeated standing his ground.
"Aren't we?' Mordred challenged. "We were both born with magic. We both betrayed the same King we served." Mordred paused assessing Merlin but he gave nothing away in those blue quicksand eyes of his. Mordred sneered. "And we both love the same woman." Mordred smiled. "The only difference is that I love Morgana not in spite of her darkness, but for her darkness."
Merlin's scowl suddenly broke into a bright and radiant smile, and he laughed. He didn't care that it sounded almost hysterical. Merlin knew Mordred had a point and Merlin was as lost as ever but he still had a purpose. Mordred didn't. He just wanted to hurt as many of those who hurt him.
"The thing about Morgana Mordred is she refuses to be out shined. She is the only star aloud to shine in that darkness and if you fight for a spot among her universe she will swallow you whole."
"Then let her swallow me hole." Mordred smiled putting emphases on the word swallow.
Merlin glared at him and snapped his mouth shut to keep from saying something he wouldn't regret and scowled. His lips pressed in a thin line. He didn't have time for this. He needed to get Ranoue to the prisoners tent.
He didn't like that Mordred and Morgana had a thing but he also didn't like how Mordred like to flaunt it. Normally Merlin didn't give a rats ass about who Morgana fucked, until Mordred started to run his mouth. Its bee resent and Merlin suspected Morgana chose Mordred as a new lover because Merlin refused to bed her again.
"Morgana has a way of using what you love against you." Merlin said. "That's how she got Kara to help. She knew you and Morgana used that to her advantage hoping Kara's execution would push you into her arms. And it worked."
"You and Arthur are the cause of Kara's death." Mordred yelled.
"Enough." Merlin snapped. "Take Ranoue to the prisoners tent. I'm going back to bed before it gets to late and I have no time to rest."
Mordred seethed silently for a moment before he got a handle on his rage. "Its only been dark two hours." Mordred pointed out. "You still have until an hour after dawn. Morgana wants all her sorcerers properly rested for the march."
All her sorcerers, Merlin taunted in his head. "Mm." Merlin grunted in reply his lips pressed tightly together. He watched silently as Mordred grabbed his brothers arm and ruffly haul him from the tent.
Merlin turned back to the desk as soon as he was gone. He walked around the desk searching for the other things he needed for his half ass plan to work. He would have had more time if Arthur had listened to Merlin in the letter and not put his life on the line following Morgana's army. Even now Merlin had this small tickle at the back of his mind letting him know that his charge, the man he was supposed to keep safe and alive above all else, was in danger. Not now but he will be if he wasn't careful.
On the cushioned wooden bench in the corner Mordred left a dagger and sword in the corner to be cleaned. Merlin shrugged and grabbed them. He put the dagger in his boot and the sword and scabbard on his hip.
Slowly Merlin followed Mordred towing Ranoue letting them get a little further ahead so they wouldn't hear his footsteps perusing. The blade of the swords bounce against his thigh with each step as he hurried after them. Merlin still didn't know where the prisoner tent was and relied on Mordred to lead him there.
It was a five minute walk to the other side of the camp where the prisoners tent was. It was the farthest from Merlin's. He held his breath as Ranoue was shoved inside the tent Mordred quickly on his heels. Through the flap of the tent Merlin spied two figures that had to be James and Darrin. Gotcha.
Merlin turned making his way back to his tent he crept around the outer part of the camp doing his best not to be seen. Most everyone was in bed now and the camp was silent except the random horses snicker, chickens squawk or the soft note of an owls call. It all blended together with his muted footsteps and pounding heart.
As soon as Merlin entered his tent his breath started to even out. He was nervous and jumpy, for good reason. He couldn't afford to mess this up now. If any of them were going to survive the night Merlin needed to be in balance and his emotions were anything but. They were as turbulent as a raging sea. He went about gathering any extra jackets he had in case Darin and James needed them.
Merlin looked up, hand going automatically to his swords hilt. He immediately relaxed when he saw Cedric walk into his tent.
"Emrys." Cedric greeted. Merlin narrowed his eyes. "Merlin." Cedric corrected. "Its starting to rain."
Merlin nodded and went back to what he had been doing. The rain changed nothing. He paused and leaned on the table his hands on either side of his bag. He closed his eyes and released a long suffering sigh.
"I need a favor, Cedric." Merlin mumbled. He opened his eyes, sat up and started to remove his black leather and chain mail armor.
"What is it?" Cedric asked scratching his fingers over the stubble on his cheek.
"It's simple." Merlin said solemnly. He shoved his armor in the bag with all his supplies. He tied the leather thong to keep his pack shut and then put on his dark peasant shirt the twin tot he one in his bag.
"Don't let anyone inside the tent. Make it seem as if I'm still here and I don't want to be disturbed."
"And...that's it?" Cedric asked unsure of Merlin's plan. There was a lot of spur of the moment bullshit. He didn't even bother to ask what Merlin planned. The less Cedric knew the better.
Cedric went to leave but hesitated before he left tent. "Don't do anything stupid and don't get yourself killed." Cedric said seriously. "We still need you." Cedric said meaning all of those who still called Emrys King. Merlin nodded and turned to make sure he had all he needed. He grabbed some cloth for bandages and some salve he had on a side table for his own wound that he has yet to be able to treat. Merlin could treat his injuries after he got the boys to Arthur's camp.
No doubt Merlin will sustain a few more before they managed to get free. Merlin headed to the back of the tent away from Cedric. His eyes flashed gold and the tent material was made ethereal. He was able to pass through as if it were an open door.
Once outside the tent he let the spell fall and the fabric returned to normal. Merlin waited a few more tense seconds listening to his surroundings. No one spoke or moved about except the sentries who weren't bothered with those already inside the camp wondering about but those outside the camp trespassing.
Merlin quietly made his way through the slumbering camp doing his best to go unnoticed whispering a sleeping enchantment to any who woke from his passing. With a flash of gold they slumped back down unconscious. He kept moving. He slipped around Morgana's tent to see if Mordred was with her. If so it made getting James, Darrin and Ranoue a little easier. He used the same spell he used to get out of the back of his tent but altered it so that it was like a one way window. He could see inside but no one could see out.
Mordred paced in front of Morgana who sat lazily in green velvet lined chair. Mordred's silent rage was a gathering storm that Merlin could actually physically feel growing inside him. It was only a matter of time before Mordred has had enough of Morgana's games and he went out on his own to kill Arthur, but until then Morgana's hold on him was too strong. Morgana stood up and walked towards Mordred slowly. Her strangely seductive feline gate enticed a mans fantasies.
"Why do you hate Emrys so much?" Morgana wondered out loud. Mordred halted his pacing and looked at Morgana sardonically.
"Why do you?" Mordred tossed back and continued pacing.
"Well aren't you just a little bucket of sass..." Morgana purred and smiled.
She caressed his stubble covered cheek with the back of two fingers. She leaned in and stroked her lips over his offering herself. Merlin grit his teeth, shook his head. Mordred leaned away from her and gave her one long look.
"I wont make love to you so that you can think of Emrys the entire time." Mordred hissed.
"Then just fuck me." Morgana purred. "I wont mind if you imagine I'm Kara..." She smiled provocatively. Mordred said nothing for a moment before he growled low in his throat giving in. Merlin turned away just as Mordred took possession of Morgana's lips.
Satisfied that they were busy Merlin dropped the spell blocking his view and started his way to the prisoners shelter about a dozen or so tents down. Almost there. Merlin gripped the daggers hilt tightly and pulled it from its sheath. He crept closer and closer. Ten tents to go. Eight. Five. Three. One.
He was at the door to the prisoners tent when the muted snap of a wet stick alerted Merlin to the guard behind him. He turned just in time to see the sword coming for his gut. Merlin twisted, dropped his bag and caught the guards sword arm under his left pinning it to his side. Merlin hit the mans wrist with the hilt of his dagger breaking his wrist. The sword fell from the guards hand.
The guard opened his mouth to yell out in pain but Merlin's magic was quicker. Merlin severed the mans vocal cords with a flash of eerie gold. The man flailed and tripped shocked by the sudden searing pain and terrified that no scream sounded from his lips.
Merlin used the mans momentum as he fell to propel him towards the prisoners tent. He crashed through the tent door flaps and landed heavily on the ground. Merlin paused long enough to pick up his pack, the guards fallen sword and make sure he covered any evidence of a struggle before he followed after him.
The man was just making it to his feet when Merlin entered the tent after him. Darrin and James were shackled to a wooden pillar that held up the large tent. Ranoue was lying down hands no longer bound. Good, he figured out the ropes weren't really confining him, Merlin thought.
The three of them looked up at the commotion. Ranoue sat up and watched as the guard struggled to his feet. Darrin and James watched with tense eyes waiting to see what was going to happen next. Merlin walked over to Ranoue's cot and set the bag of supplies down but kept his dagger in hand. With quick movements Merlin cut the others bindings.
While Merlin's back was turned Ranoue watched the guard steeled himself. He pulled a dagger from his belt and threw the dagger at Merlin. Ranoue pressed his lips together to keep from making a sound. His heart beat in his chest like a galloping horse. Ranoue almost smiled when he saw the dagger hit its mark.
Merlin grunted when the blade went into his shoulder blade. The opposite the one Morgana had skewered. An inch or two to the left and it would have undoubted pierced his heart.
Merlin slumped forward knocking into James. He caught Merlin before he completely lost his balance. With out a though James yanked the dagger from Merlin's back and threw the man own dagger into his chest.
Merlin grunted as the blade slipped from his flesh. He could admit he was surprised that James acted so quick choosing to end the mans life rather than simply maim him.
As soon as the guard hit the ground dead James helped Merlin to the cot. James pushed past Ranoue shoving him aside. James went to help Merlin sit down but Merlin shook his head. He gently disentangled himself from James and stood on his own. James scowled but didn't say anything. Instead he transferred his glare to Ranoue.
"Why didn't you warn him?" James hissed doing his best to keep his voice low.
"What?" Ranoue asked incredulously. "I didn't even see the guard draw his dagger."
James scoffed. "I saw your face. You were relieved when you saw the dagger hit its mark." James accused. "You decided not to call out to him. Why?" James demanded.
"James." Merlin snapped. "Leave it alone."
"Why-" James started.
"I said leave it." Merlin hissed. "We need to leave. Now."
"What? So that you can murder us in the woods where you don't have to clean up a mess and just leave us there to rot?"
Merlin huffed. "I'm not-" Merlin was going to say I'm not going to kill you, but he was to tired to even try to defend. Ranoue believed Merlin was a traitor. A man to hate. A man to destroy. Nothing Merlin said would change that. "Come on. We don't have time for this." Let Ranoue paint Merlin as the villain.
Merlin turned and grabbed the bag. That was a mistake. It wound was deep. Deeper than Merlin would have liked. Still he grit his teeth, pushed past the pain and dug out the clothes he brought but left the bandages in place. No one other than him were in need of them. He tossed the clothes to James and Darrin. They quickly put them on.
"What about your wound?" Darrin asked.
"Don't worry about it." Merlin murmured as he put the strap of the bag over his uninjured shoulder. "Come on. Lets go before out luck really runs out." Merlin motioned for the three of them to follow.
Merlin and Ranoue, James and Darrin made it past the sentries and out into the forest with out any further incident. They walked in silence until the fire light from Morgana's camp faded into the shadows of the trees behind them. All was going well until Ranoue opened his mouth.
It was a low humorless chuckle that had Merlin's hackles rising. "Who'd have thought that the Great Emrys of Legend would be hiding in Camelot all this time." Ranoue sneered.
"Shut it, Knight." Darrin snapped. "He wasn't hiding. He was ensuring magic has a future."
"Oh?" Ranoue laughed. Merlin stopped and watched Darrin stand up to Ranoue. James watched on from the side but Merlin crept closer. He didn't trust Ranoue right now. He has been pushed a little to far and Merlin was wary of the out come.
"Emrys has been absence from the magical community, how would that ensure it survived. That we survived." Ranoue hissed. "Emrys has been living it up serving the son of the King who persecuted and butchered our kind. How he stood idly by as he watched his people burn." Ranoue scolded. "That doesn't make him a hero," Ranoue looked at Merlin in disgust. "That makes him a traitor and traitors are executed."
"That's it!" Merlin snapped. He grabbed Ranoue by the neck. His wound cried out but the shock of pain deep in his shoulder electrified his blood and sent his magic into a spitting fit propelling him on. Gold flickered intermittently in his blue eyes threateningly. The clouds gathered above them ominously, and the light occasional spurs of rain evened out into a steady sprinkle. "I've had it with your hateful glares and ignorant quips." Merlin growled in his face and shoved him stumbling back a few steps. "Some times we have to do bad things to get good results." Merlin proclaimed. "When that happens, people often forget all the good you did." Merlin grimaced. He started walking again.
Ranoue scoffed. "Like that's an excuse." Merlin paused and looked to the side listening.
"Watch your tongue before I cut it out." Merlin warned. He was at the end of his limits.
Ranoue tisked. "Have you forgotten the chain of command? I am still your better, and you are still only a servant."
"Ha!" Merlin barked. "Do you even know what the chain of command is?" Merlin looked Ranoue up and down. "It's the chain I get and beat you with until you know who's in charge here. So don't challenge me. I don't want to hurt you."
In truth Ranoue's words stung him more than he thought possible. Would Arthur forget all the good in Merlin and only see Evil because Merlin didn't just use magic, he was magic and Arthur hated magic so... in essence did Arthur hate Merlin? Would he hate Merlin once he knew all of Merlin's deeds, both good and bad?
Ranoue scoffed openly. "Don't pretend that you do not relish bloodshed. I've seen you fight. Your think your so righteous but your just like the rest of us. Lost. Broken. Damaged beyond repair."
Merlin took a step towards him circling him like a predator would their pray. "I'm not saying what I have done, and probably will do, is right and I'm not saying that I don't regret some of the things I've had to do. What I am saying is that you don't have the right to judge me for the decisions I've had to make." Merlin looked Ranoue up and down. "I am good a war, I am great at battle, and I am even better at killing, but I am trying to be better, do better but you and those like you make it damn difficult. There is no right way or wrong in this battle, there is only the lesser of so many evils." Merlin glared. Circling him again, every lap drawing him closer and closer to Ranoue until he stood directly before him. Noes to noes. "Come to me when you know what is like to be fates champion. To have the lives of so many dependent on the choices you make. Only then can you have the right to judge me." It took everything in Merlin to refrain from lashing out and just ending Ranoue's life to make his easier but that wasn't really who Merlin was. Not really. He wasn't a merciless killer. He was a loyal servant, ruthless enemy and dedicated leader. "On the map of things your near to insignificant and the only reason your still alive is because you haven't compromised Albion. Yet" Merlin growled. He shoved past Ranoue and continued on.
"What makes you think your life is worth more than mine?" Ranoue demanded. Merlin turned on him. Merlin was having a really, really difficult time containing the amount of rage and irritation this particular knight created.
"What makes you think your life is worth anything at all?" Merlin snapped back.
He turned on his heel and continued on his way letting his magic lead him to Arthur. He eventually asked the three of them to gather some wood. A storm was coming and if they were lucky they might reach Arthur before the rain came down like a waterfall.