Title: The legend of a Warlock who Served the Once and Future King

Author: Lamiabellascrittore (Correction: La Mia Bella Scritorice)but it was taken that's why its not gender specific. Sorry

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.

A/N: Okay. I know my story isn't going as some would like but believe me it it the only path to take. Still I hope you all keep reading as the story comes to a close and the next one begins.

Review and let me hear your thoughts. 3

Chapter 29

Spare an Enemy, Kill a Friend

Arthur left Merlin to head back to the warmth of the fire. Arthur felt a tear deep in his soul with each step that took him farther and farther from him. This time this absence felt permanent. As if one of them had already died and neither of them knew it yet. Arthur felt the need to morn something great. As if he was leaving home for an extended period and knew he wasn't coming back. Merlin on the other hand seemed like he's already accepted what fate had planned and was resigned to the coming loss. It bothered Arthur more than he was willing to confess.

Arthur entered the wide cave where lit by the small fire. It had to be small. There's very little ventilation shafts in this cave if at all. When Arthur arrived Darrin and James sat whispering to each other conspiratorially as they leafed through some parchment but James quickly shoved it back into the bag by their feet. Darrin watched with amusement as his brother pick up his sword and began to sharpen it with a wet stone that they found in the bag with the parchment. He was trying to seem busy to keep the attention from the parchments they were looking at but it didn't matter. Arthur wasn't looking at them at that moment any way.

Arthur thought it odd but couldn't find enough energy to care. His life was now upside down, inside out and now it was spinning. Nothing could surprise him now. Not after Morgana, Agravian and now Merlin. What else could be next waiting in the shadows to pounce?

He looked around the cave to see what was bothering him. Something stood out but he couldn't put his finger on it. But something was missing. Someone was missing.

"Ranoue." Arthur called. No answer. He was no where to be seen. Arthur gave the cave another quick glance. Ranoue's weapons were gone. Arthur looked at James and Darrin who still whispered to each other quietly. James seemed to be telling Darrin to put something away.

Arthur walked over to them. "Where's Ranoue?" Arthur wondered, looking down at them. The brothers looked up from their private conversation. Darrin folded up a piece of parchment and shoved it back into the bag Merlin gave them.

"Ranoue?" Darrin asked. Mirth danced deep in his eyes. "He said he had to take a leak." Darrin smirked. He leaned back and rested his head back on a flat boulder next to his brother who focused solely on cleaning and sharpening the blades before him.

"Yeah." James murmured absently. "But that was a while ago." James paused in his work and lifted the sword up for inspection. The fire light caught the blade just right making it seem as if the blade was drenched in blood and then the fire popped and the blade was silver one more. He brought the sword back and set it across his knee and continued to sharpen the already sharp sword. Again.

"Honestly he didn't look right." Darrin pointed out. James frowned but continued to run the wet stone slowly and methodically over the blade never looking up. The sound of stone over steel accompanied with the crackle of the fire was comforting. Almost lulling. Darrin nudged him. James looked over at his brother.

"Go on." Darrin pressed. He looked up a James tiredly from his spot on the ground. "Tell him."

James set down his blade. Its been finished for a while but he needed to work with his hands. He just needed the distraction. James looked up at Arthur. "He seemed..." James paused searching for the right word but none came to him. "I don't know. It could be nothing, but he did threaten to kill Merlin the first chance he got."

Arthur's eyes dilated with the sudden rush of emotion eclipsing all the blue before going back to normal. His jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists at his sides. Anger and betrayal flared but he batted it back down. He knew nothing. No reason to overreact.

Darrin snorted. He lifted his head from his arms braced behind his head to looked over at his brother with a raised brow before he put his head back down and stared up at the King towering above them.

"What are you saying?" Arthur gritted.

James refused to speak. He didn't want to say something that angered or upset the King. He couldn't risk Arthur asking them leave. James and Darrin were the Kings last defense. They needed the knight to help fight with steel. James could only fight so well and his brother not at all. His gift was in healing magic and not in battle magic even if he was talented at most things.

Darrin glared at his brother when he realized that he wasn't going to speak. He was disappointed. He had thought his big brother would speak up. He was the strongest of them. Darrin had no doubt that James would survive this was. Darrin, well, he had no grand illusions of surviving. He wasn't a fighter, he was a healer like William and their mother was. James is the fighter, liker their father was but he was wary of the Kings temper and would risk getting banished. They were still magic users and just because Emrys was the Kings best friend it didn't mean that James and Darrin were safe from persecution. Not even Emrys was safe. Arthur could change his mind when this was over and have him burned at the stake because Emrys would never hurt Arthur not even to save his own life. Darrin shook his head angrily.

James tore his eyes away from his brothers blue ones and looked at Arthur. "He almost got Merlin killed." James spoke softly. He couldn't bear the look of disappointment on his brothers face. It was more painful than the thought of being sent away. Merlin said not to fear Arthur but old habits...

Arthur looked back and forth between Darrin and his elder brother. "When?" Arthur asked.

James glared at nothing, but in his mind he remembered the look on Ranoues face. Anger, relief and irritation. But nothing terrified him more than seeing the look on Merlin's face as Darrin pulled the dagger from his back. There was a reluctant relief. As if he was surprised he was happy the blade missed his heart.

James focused back on Arthur. "When he broke us out of Morgana's camp. Ranoue saw the guard attack. He chose to kept his mouth shut." James spoke facts being sure to keep the emotion from his voice. He was good at that. Locking away his emotion. It kept his head clear and his heart from shattering. There will be a time to more. But the time is not now.

Darrin drawled. "As king Merlin has all the right to claim his life. In my opinion, Ranoue assisted in an assassination attempt on our king. You ask me," Darrin scoffed. "That's just as bad as wielding the blade himself. If Merlin lets him live I'll be surprised."

"Well, no one asked you." James snapped at his brother. James sighed and looked back at Arthur reassuringly. "Ranoue will be back soon. He not an idiot. He wouldn't confront Merlin." James tried to reassure him but he sounded unsure even to his own ears. "Merlin wouldn't harm any of your Knights." He tried again.

Darrin dared to laugh. "What about Garret?" Darrin mumbled. Jame's reached out and slapped his brother up side the head. Hard. Darrin glared at his brother but otherwise kept his mouth shut. He lye back on the boulder with one of his arms over his eyes the other crossed over his abdomen and pretended to zone out.

"Wait." Arthur drew James attention. "What about Garret?" Arthur murmured pained. He was a good man. Hot tempered and unpredictable a times but he had a sympathetic heart and he was a great fighter.

"Don't worry about it." James muttered. He stood up and set the dagger he sharpened back by Darrin's side. He then bent to retrieve the sword and put it back into its scabbard. He then secured the belt around his waist and faced Arthur. "That doesn't matter right now." James brushed it aside. "What matters is that Ranoue has some issues he needs to worked through and Merlin can help him. He's not beyond letting himself be a punching bag if it helped Ranoue get some anger out."

Arthur paled a little. "Ranoue could kill him."

"Yes, he could. If Merlin doesn't fight back."

"Don't worry. He will." James reassured and glared at his brother. "Merlin an take care of himself. I've seen him try and hold back but there's something in him that no man or woman can stand against. He is a force of nature."

Darrin gave a sharp bark of a laugh from under his arm. "That is putting it mildly big brother." He chuckled darkly. "Merlin can be gentile, but the man has a ruthless temper. I'm loyal to Emrys and Emrys alone but I believe that Morgana awakened a certain kind of darkness in him and I'm not sure where it will lead him only that if he isn't careful it will descend further and further into the hell that is Morgana."

James kicked Darrin with his foot. "Don't make Emrys sound so dark and bloodthirsty." James murmured to his brother. He nodded to Arthur who was staring off down into the cavern with a look deep concentration and concern. He didn't even seem to be listening anymore.

"What?" Darrin exclaimed softly, remembering to keep his voice low. James just shook his head and went to get a few more pieces of wood from the pile by the far cavern wall.

The only sound in the cave was the crackling of the fire, muted footsteps and the juggling of fire wood as James added more to the flames. It was comforting. Something normal. But Arthur waited for it to shatter with batted breath. The sound of a voice become louder and louder. Forcing Arthur to realize it wasn't his imagination. Some one was yelling.

"...thur." A muffled voice echoed from the dark tunnel drawing Arthur closer to the cavern entrance and out of the glow and warmth of the fire.

"Did you hear that?" Arthur murmured.

"Hear what?" James asked, still kneeling by the fire.

"Shh." Arthur hushed softly. James stood up and crept closer, listening. Darrin sat up and listened too.

"..ound... us...ve...run...thur..." The voice yelled getting closer and closer. "...have to run." Ranoue yelled. "Arthur we have to go. Now!"

"Ranoue?" Arthur murmured. Ranoue came barreling down the tunnel right for them. He skidded to a halt. He bent over to rest his hands on his knees to catch his breath and reached. His stomach heaved painfully demanding he expel any and all continence but he hasn't eaten or drank anything in over twenty four hours and nothing came out.

"Merlin got you running scared?" Darrin teased. Ranoue looked up at him sideways from his pron position and flipped him off. Darrin crossed his arms over his chest and laughed. Ranoue straightened up, faced Arthur and gasped in a few more big gulps of air before he could speak properly.

"He found him." Ranoue blurted. "He found us." He started to kick dirt over the fire to snuff it out. "We have to go. Now."

"Wait." Arthur slowed him sown. "Who found whom?"

"My brother!" Ranoue said wildly. "Mordred." Ranoue started to kick dirt over the fire not realizing what he just said and to whom. He didn't care. He wanted to shove Arthur towards the exit but he dare not touch him. Not when he looked up and saw the look on Arthurs face. Ranoue swallowed. "We... we have to go. Now." Ranoue urged. He swallowed. He watched as the storm descend over Arthurs face when Ranoue revealed that little bit of information. A film went over his eyes as if he didn't recognize Ranoue at all, and was maybe even a little unsure of him. Ranoue knew it was the wrong thing to say but it just came out and Arthur couldn't confront Ranoue right then because of the situation. That gave Ranoue a few more moments of peace and Arthur a whole lot of time to stew in his thoughts.

"Come one lets go." Ranoue pushed. He ignored the new distrustful glint in Arthur eyes and lead them from the cave. They were trapped like cattle waiting for the slaughter in here and he was anxious to be in the cover of the trees.

Sensing the urgency James finished putting out the fire while Darrin took the bag and made sure they had everything before rushing after Ranoue and Arthur.

"What about Merlin?" Arthur asked easily keeping pace alongside Ranoue.

"Mordred wont hurt him." Ranoue assured a little out of breath. He was already exhausted from running to the cave to warn them that running now made his legs feel like water but he tensed his legs and continued on. Pushing himself to his limits and beyond. Ranoue reached down into a part of himself he hasn't touched since his village was razed to the ground by Morgana and his half brother.

Ranoue was petrified of what magic could do so he hid his gift away in the deepest pits of himself, but now he needed it. He reached down and pried open the prison door that confined his magic and let it feed him. Healing his torn leg muscles and giving him the energy and ability to continue on. It was intoxicating. The rush of magic was unlike anything he could imagine. He had forgotten how good, how powerful he felt, and he remembered why he hid it away. It was addictive and could call the best men to darkness. He had to be careful.

"How do you know Mordred wont hurt Merlin?" Arthur asked after a short silence. They wound their way through the trees and groves as quick and quiet as possible. The snow covered them in white flecks before melting from their body heat and making them wet. They shivered from the cold. Already their lips were turned blue and their cheeks and noes' were red.

"He belongs to Morgana. She wouldn't allow another to harm what belongs to her." Ranoue murmured absently, keeping ahead so Arthur didn't see his face. He didn't want to risk Arthur seeing what lurked behind his eyes. The tug of war between killing Emrys or sparing Merlin. It was to hard to decide. They were the one and the same. How do you spare an enemy and kill a friend?

Arthur took heart in Ranoue's assurance as morbid as that sounded, but he was thankful of it. At least for now Merlin had some protection. The snow covered the muddy ground in a light powder that blended into a frozen mosh of muck and seeped into their boots and soaked their socks freezing their toes. Hypothermia was a real concern for them if they didn't reach shelter by the next afternoon.

Ranoue was angry, scared and unsure of himself. Merlin was right. Ranoue's emotions are putting Arthur's life in danger. Not Morgana's fascination with Merlin but Ranoue's. He needed to put aside his hatred and use his energy to protect the King who was supposed to help create Albion. With Emrys.

Ranoue hated it. He really did, but he didn't have to like or trust Emrys in order to help them achieve a better future. Ranoue knew who Merlin was before he became aware that Merlin was Emrys and he was a good man. A name change shouldn't change that but it did. It changed everything.

Darrin stayed at the back of the pack with his brother keeping the King safe from surprise attacks but with no light to guide them they raced through the woods with out direction. They kept a good pace but it didn't do them any good, or get them very far.

Darrin heard his brother cry out and turned in time to see him crumple to the ground. Darrins heart skidded in his chest when he saw the small puddle of blood pooing around his side. A large blur rushed past Darrin knocking him down. A Giant of a man raced towards Arthurs exposed back.

"Look out!" Darrin could do nothing but shout a warning as he stood back up but it was too late. The giant took Arthur to the ground.

Arthur turned around at Darrins shout just in time to face the human wall that slammed into him. They tumbled painfully to the ground. Arthur's breath left his lungs in a whoosh and his head cracked back into the frozen earth. Arthur grunted with the impact. His ribs screamed at him. His head spun and pounded with each heartbeat. Arthur shoved at the giant pinning him down but he wouldn't budge. Arthur gave one more desperate attempt, his lings burning for air, when suddenly the giant flew off of him and into the base of a large tree.

Arthur turned onto his side coughing and gasping for air. His eyes landed on Darrin. His hands outstretched towards him, his eyes still glowing a fierce gold. Arthur shivered as he watched Darrin asses the situation. He was terrified but determined.

Arthur looked around for James and saw him lying unconscious on the ground just tot he side of Arthur. Darrin sparred his brother a single glance before he focused back on Arthur, and the Giant currently pick himself off the ground.

"Arthur, get to my brother." Darrin yelled. He sent another spell towards Theron when he found his feet. "Get out of here. I'll hold him off." Darrin sent another pulse of magic at the giant but he dodged at the last minute and barreled towards Arthur. Darrin cursed. He took off the bag he carried and tossed it at Ranoue as he ran past him towards the Giant.

"You want to kill something, big man." Darrin hollered as he ran past. He sent out a pulse of magic more to annoy than to harm. Just to get his attention. "Come one." Darrin zapped him again. "Come and get me."

The Giant growled and chased after Darrin. Darrin slipped on the frozen muddy ground in his hast to get away. He cursed, got o his feet and ran into the trees. The plan worked. Arthur and his brother were in the clear but Darrin was in the red and his head was on the blades edge.

Ranoue didn't hesitate. He ran at Arthur and shoved the bag into his arms. "Go." Ranoue yelled giving Arthur a shove with the bag.

Ranoue ran towards James and scooped him up. It was harder than he anticipated. James was pure muscle but Ranoue managed to toss him over his shoulder and run towards Arthur although he felt like he was moving through quicksand and had to drop James by the rime he reached Arthur. Arthur gave the bag back to Ranoue with amusement and bent to grab James. Arthur hoisted him easily over his shoulder. Ranoue nodded to the trees behind them. Arthur gave one last fleeting glance at Darrin taunting the giant and then headed for the cover of the trees.

Ranoue hesitated a moment and looked back to see if he could spot Darrin but Darrin disappeared into the trees with the Giant on his heels. For a long moment it was eerily quiet. Ranoue looked around once more the silence stretching. Then an strange undefinable sound had a burst of black birds race for the safety of the sky not far from him in the direction Darrin led the Giant. They were startled by something violent happening below the canopy.

Ranoue backed up a step, and then another. His fear rushed up and overwhelmed him like a flash flood. First a trickle of fear making itself know and then suddenly and without warning the river flows violently past swallowing everything up. He could only guess at what had startled those birds, and if he could hazard a guess it was Darrin giving his life so that they had a few extra minutes head start.

Ranoue swallowed. He looked back at where Arthur had disappeared and felt the back of his eyes start to sting. His throat tightened. What would they tell James when he woke up? Ranoue didn't know. What he did know was that James was not going to take it well. In fact, Ranoue was a little nervous for when James woke up. He was a sorcerer and he had just lost his entire family in a matter of days. Ranoue felt what that was like and knew first hand what that did to a man. Ranoue was walking proof that life's cruelty had no limitation, discrimination or mercy. Ranoue tossed the strap of the bag over his shoulder and went after Arthur. He blended into the shadows of the trees like a wisp of smoke into thin air. He was getting the hang of this magic thing again. Like ridding a horse. You never forget.

Okay... Here is a question for my readers. Its something I have been meaning to ask, mainly you Mersan123, but all can put in their thoughts.

Who do you want to kill Mordred. Merlin, Arthur or Morgana?

How should Mordred be killed?

Should I kill off Cedric or keep him for later?