Disclaimer: IDOM
Hello there, dearies! Fortunately for you guys, all I have to say today is in answer to a few reviews... By the way, even though I don't answer many of them anymore, I really do appreciate each and every review. They're amazing to receive. :)
Firstly, wow... Lol, I didn't even notice the irony of Morgana using hemlock... Geez. I just google'd deadly poisons and it had all the properties I wanted... I must've forgotten. *sheepish grin*
Wisegirl6-you silly girl, you've got your PM's turned off. ;D In answer to your question, though, no, Gaius won't be coming in in this story... I have other plans for him, don't worry. I'm hesitantly poking at a sequel where he comes in. *pokes* :D
Overall, I'm very happy you guys liked the last chapter, and it was a lot of fun reading about your frustrations at Arthur not yet remembering... Well, here you go...*evil smirk* You finally get your wish... Kinda...
Enjoy:
Chapter 20: War of Change
And they did.
Merlin and Arthur drove back to apartment building, changed into more suitable clothing, picked up a very cheerful Guinevere, whom had packed a small cooler of food, and headed to Lincoln's Inn Fields. They walked, each of them more than happy to enjoy any remaining warmth in the autumn air.
Merlin carried the cooler while Arthur dribbled a football... the entire way there. Guinevere giggled as he lost it in a bush and grabbed the cooler from Merlin as the two went at it, stealing the black and white ball from each other, expertly weaving it around their feet.
"I didn't know you could play, Col," Arthur teased.
Grinning, Merlin answered, "Neither did I."
Once they made it to the park, they chose a remote area away from footpaths and people, under a gathering of shade trees. The others showed up half an hour later, bringing charcoal, various meats and vegetables to grill, and drinks.
Percival prepared the grill that was there, doing a quick cleaning job before dumping some charcoal beneath the brackets of metal while Arthur, Elyan, Gwaine, and Leon battled each other for the football. Merlin helped Guinevere unpack everything onto the wooden table there, and soon enough Gwen had shooed the warlock away, telling him to enjoy himself.
She knew how worried he'd been about everything as of late; his episode last night had only increased her worry. This... this was his time, though. To forget everything and to truly have some fun with his friends, whether they knew or not.
Once all the dry foods were set up, Guinevere joined in with them, laughing her head off as Elyan stole the ball from her, kicked it up, and bounced it off the crown of his head right into the imaginary goal net between two trees.
Gwaine dug out a Frisbee not long after, flicking his wrist just enough to send it to Merlin, who caught it perfectly with his deft fingers. He laughed and threw it back, making it curve to the right before snapping back towards his friend. The sergeant laughed, impressed, and threw it to Guinevere, who giggled as she threw it to Merlin.
Arthur, Elyan, Leon, and even Percival soon joined in on that, trying to show off as much as they could before a real game of ultimate Frisbee was organized. Percival killed the coals and let the meat pop and finish up while the teams were split into Arthur, Elyan, and Percival against Merlin, Guinevere, Gwaine, and Leon.
Arthur's team started off since they had fewer players, and he whipped it to Elyan, who jumped to wrap his fingers around it. Percival and Arthur ran past him, each blocked by Gwaine and Gwen, respectively, while Merlin and Leon were further back in case he overshot. He didn't, but Guinevere intercepted it before Arthur could pluck it from the air. Gwen smiled broadly at her success but shrieked when Arthur's strong arms wrapped around her and swung her through the air.
Giggling at the rush, she screamed for Merlin and threw the Frisbee unevenly. And if Merlin's eyes glinted with gold as it magically straightened and he caught it, well, no one noticed. He flicked his wrist outward, sending it curving knee-high towards Gwaine at the goal line. When he caught it, Gwaine cheered and shouted, waving the Frisbee in the air as everyone laughed.
It was like that all day.
Everyone just relaxed and let the stress melt off of them.
When the food was done, everyone grabbed a paper plate and swarmed around the grill as Percival dished everything out. Merlin and Guinevere giggled at the back of the pack as the guys loaded their plates.
The sun was already going down, and they all gathered in a circle on the ground to eat. Blues and pinks and purples highlighted the sunset while the family of friends ate and laughed and joked and teased.
And it was perfect.
When the stars started to appear and the sun dipped below the horizon, and the park was supposed to be closing, they all set their plates aside and just fell back onto the soft grass, staring at the bright stars and muttering about their forms.
Merlin actually took over in teaching them a little about them, about their history and where the names originated from. He pointed out Antlia, Fornax, Carina, the great Pegasus; Leo and Leo Minor, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Canis Major and Canis Minor.
It amazed even Guinevere that Merlin knew so much about them, but she understood why. Merlin had lived fifteen hundred years, and she thought that the stars would have changed the least. His friends had come and passed, the land reshaped itself and buried the past, but the skies remained the same.
A small breeze blew through the clearing, and Gwen, next to Merlin, heard him sigh with content. She gave him a soft smile, knowing just how much more he needed this than the rest of them. She would have to thank Arthur later, even if he wouldn't understand the depth of her gratitude.
"Hey, what's that?"
All eyes turned to a section of copious trees, to where Elyan was staring intently. He stood, narrowing his eyes to try to see it better. A flash of light sped through the foliage again, and soon the rest of them were standing too.
"Let's go check it out," Gwaine grinned.
But Merlin had seen something different, sensed something different. "Wait! Maybe we shouldn't. What if it's nothing?"
"Well, then it's nothing," Leon chuckled. "Come on."
Guinevere noticed Merlin reluctance and jogged over towards him, brushing his sweater. "What is it, Merlin?"
"Magic. Whole magic."
"But I thought you said—"
"I did. What I sensed... magic isn't pure like that anymore. It's..."
There was another flare of light that silhouetted a tree, highlighting the bark at the edges.
"Come on!" Elyan laughed, diving into the shade of the trees.
The rest followed suit, and with his heart beating rapidly in his chest, Merlin scrambled through every single possible explanation because this wasn't right. Magic that pure... it only came from the druids that Merlin had scarce association with, Arthur and the others who'd returned, and Morgana.
The druids would have informed him that they were around—it certainly wasn't anyone from their group—so that meant...
"Katie?"
Merlin whipped around, wide eyes locking on a dark figure within the trees. Pale skin glowed in the little moonlight that came in through the leaves, and dark hair fell around her neck and dark clothing.
Merlin, from this distance, wouldn't have enough thought it was Morgana except for the air of magic gathered round her like an extra layer of clothing. It saturated the area: the air, the ground, the foliage.
It was everywhere. It was hateful. And it was disgusting.
Just being there made Merlin, whose magic was so pure and so full of light and hope and wonder, feel nauseous.
He felt himself slip sideways into Guinevere, who tightly grabbed the back of his sweater to keep him upright. "Merlin," she hissed. "What's wrong?"
"I-I... d-don't..."
"What're you doing here?" Arthur shouted. The suspicion in his voice was clear, but there was still a hint of a smile.
She took a few steps closer, digging her hands into her designer jacket. "I was just going for a walk, and I saw Leon's car parked just over there. You know the park's closed at this hour, right?"
"Well, we don't like to advertise that we're still here, Katie," Gwaine teased. "Did you see those lights earlier?"
"Yeah, I saw them," she answered flippantly.
Merlin's eyes stayed locked on the woman the entire time. He tried to push his nausea down, but it only came back with a vengeance, and he swayed again. He could feel Guinevere's tight grip on his sweater as he pulled his magic to the surface. Merlin silently wondered if the others felt something, too, and if that was why they hadn't yet met their "friend" in the center. Each kept their distance from the other, an expanse of at least twenty feet.
The warlock watched as Morgana's dark head flickered between him and Arthur as she asked, "Has he told you yet?"
Glancing towards Arthur to meet his questioning gaze, the detective shouted back, "Told me what?"
"About his past," she deadpanned. "About everything he's done. About who he really is. Has he even told you who you really are, Arthur?"
"What?" The detective's brow furrowed as he glanced at Merlin, whom was trying to keep himself together as the gross magic flared. "What're you talking about, Katie? I trust Colin; that's all that matters."
"But is it really? How far does that trust go?"
"Katie," Arthur snapped, "stop talking in riddles. What're you getting at?"
Her magic flared angrily again as she, plainly, said, "He's killed, you know. He's killed so many people, ruined so many lives."
Gwaine scoffed. "You're kidding, right? He barely looks twenty-five years old. I think you're being a bit dramatic."
"Oh? You've read this file, then?"
"Well, no, but—"
"No matter. It wouldn't be in his file anyway. He's not who he says he is." Her pale eyes landed on Arthur, and something like sympathy darkened her face. "I tried to show you that."
The detective's defense was waning as his eyes lost focus. The others, too, seemed to be zoning out. "Katie, wha—?"
"I told you not to trust him. I told you. And yet... I guess it's true. You really are two sides of the same coin. Just like before."
"B-before?"
"In your other life. In Camelot. You dream about it, don't you? Of me, Gwen, Merlin, the knights. Even your father and Gaius."
"G-Gaius?" Merlin whispered.
Guinevere looked up at him, registering the pain in his eyes. "It's okay, Merlin."
"Do you remember your dreams?" Morgana asked. "Any of you? Do you remember Camelot? Do you remember who you once were?"
Merlin looked over at Arthur, whose eyes were misty and clouded as his gaze stayed fixed on the young woman before him.
"You do, don't you? You remember. Not all of it, but... bits and pieces. Well, you should I suppose. You had the biggest shock of us all, what with Merlin being a..."
"A what?" Arthur snapped, his body tense. "What happened? What's going on?"
"Your memories, Arthur," she said carefully, as if speaking to a child. "They're reemerging."
"Memories from what?" he shouted desperately.
"From Camelot."
Merlin pushed his nausea down again, ignoring his dizziness as he stood tall. "Morgana, stop this."
Her eyes instantly narrowed with malice as they locked on to him. "And who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Morgana—"
"No, Emrys. They don't even remember you. You are no one. You are nothing, you coward. You have no say in this. Why don't you tell them who they really are? Why not show them who you really are? Face it, Merlin, you're living the same life you lived in Camelot. You're hiding, and you're lying."
"And what about you, Katie?" he snarled. "Who are you in this new world? Do they know what you can do? About your abilities? I see you're still murdering people to get what you want."
She sneered at him. "And you're so righteous, are you? How many people have died in yourname, Merlin? How many people have you killed?"
"Merlin?" Arthur questioned meekly. "Y-you..." He suddenly cried in pain, clutching his head as he doubled over. Gwen rushed to his side, wrapping her arm around his shoulders as he fell to his knees.
"Arthur!" the warlock shouted. He poised himself protectively in front of his friend, body tense and defensive.
"Well, now isn't this familiar?" Morgana cooed.
The poisoned magic around them flared, causing Merlin to yelp and wrap his arm around his middle. The other men stood there, as if paralyzed, with blank clouded eyes that stared, if Merlin could guess, into the past.
"Morgana, stop this!" Merlin cried as the wind picked up. It whipped and pulled at his dark hair, and he had to narrow his eyes as the fallen leaves and dirt became a part of the violent dance.
"Why should I?"
"Because you're going to get everyone killed!"
Morgana's pale eyes were filled with hatred. "So be it." The windstorm continued as the others cried out, also grabbing for their heads.
The warlock racked his brain for an answer, for a solution, and when one sprang to mind, he shot out his arm, shouting a spell as a blue shaded shield enfolded them all. At once, the wind stopped, and the leaves floated towards the ground, though the trees outside the guarding sphere still bent at Morgana's storm. Arthur and the others slowly looked upwards, still grabbing at their heads, but their hold loosened as their hands began to fall. Merlin, too, felt better.
It was Morgana's disgusting magic that had caused everything, and as soon as the warlock's kind, warm magic blanketed them, it drowned out the woman's.
Merlin let his hand fall, mentally locking the spell in place. He knelt in front of Arthur, placing his hands on his shoulders and lifting his head. "Arthur. Arthur, are you alright?"
He didn't respond but to nod his head, dazed. Merlin's eyes melted with worry, and Guinevere brushed his arm. "It's okay, Merlin. I'll deal with him."
Knowing he couldn't do anything, Merlin grit his teeth and stood once more, turning to face Morgana as a thousand emotions flooded his eyes.
"Merlin?" Gwen started. "No, don't-"
The warlock let the shield waver just enough to let him through and solidified it again once he was outside the protective ward. Immediately, the wind pulled at him again, ready to sweep him off his feet.
Arthur ground his palms against his temples. "M-Merlin, wait..."
But the warlock couldn't hear him; the wind once more filled his hearing and the ferocity of it pulled at his hoodie. "Stop! Stop this, Morgana!"
She sneered at him, dark hair whipping behind her. "Why, Emrys? Can't take it?" Morgana yelled something, and green flames sprouted from her hand. She whipped them at Merlin, and he erected a small shield in front of him, instinctively ducking as the flames spat and hissed like oil.
He looked towards his friends, face full of determination and worry. To his surprise, everyone's gaze was locked on him. Their eyes were full of awe, confusion, fear, and anticipation, except for Guinevere, who looked at him with the familiar pride and faith that made a rush of protection and determination and love rush through him all at one. It was the pride and faith that had kept him going for fifteen hundred years.
He had lost everyone once.
He couldn't lose them again.
"Emrys."
Merlin turned to look back at Morgana, whose casual, nonchalant tone made resentment bubble within him. He let his shield down, brow furrowing at the small smile on her lips. A second later he was drawn towards a glinting object in her hand. She'd pulled it out of her coat, he realized, while he was distracted by the flames.
His eyes widened with horror and panic as her finger tightened around the gun's trigger. "Morgana, no—"
That was when the shot rang out.
That was when Merlin screamed.
And as the bullet ripped painfully through his body, Morgana disappeared in a dark whirlwind, and the shield Merlin had erected to protect his friends exploded in a burst of bright light and strong force, knocking everyone backwards as the light died.
And the world faded to black.
Cliffie! I'm sorry. (No, I'm not.) This chapter... this scene with Merlin and Morgana arguing with everyone around was the scene that sparked this fic. Really, I wrote this scene ages ago, like, the beginning of 2013, shortly after the finale, but I didn't do anything with it. But then I showed it to some friends (CaptainOzone and ErinNovelist) and they liked it so much that it got me thinking to put it in a real-length fic instead of a one-shot thing. And wham! Here we are! Ironic, though, that I wrote it at the beginning of the year, and now it's December... Oops.
Last thing...CaptainOzone sent me a song today, one she found on iTunes radio... It's, ironically, called, "Remember Me" by Thomas Bergerson. It's so good and it's so beautiful, and I can honestly see scenes from RM playing with it and I'm a little dork, I know. xD Have a listen!
Anyway, I've got things I need to do before bed, so I'll see you all same time next week! Later, guys! Sleep well. :)