Hi there Merlin fans and my lovely awesome followers. WOW! 8 followers and 7 favorites and 11 reviews, I'll be honest with ya, I didn't expect 1, but now all of the thanks goes to the 15 of you and to you that had reviewed, and to you that has been reading, you all keep me going on this story of mine, from the bottom of my heart thank you. This chapter goes out to all of you that has been following this story this far, and had been sticking around spite my many spelling errors. And this story was supposed to be originally 17 chapters, but because of all of you now it's going to be 19 at the most. With love to you all.
From beneath. part 1
"This is it"
River was broken out of his chain of thought. For a moment he wasn't entirely sure where he was.
All that he could think of was Quinn's face, and the hurt and anger he saw within her eyes.
He kept thinking about one thing over and over, something that he himself was confused about. What had he done? And why did he do it?
Quinnley was his best friend, like a sister, and what does he do? How does he repay her for everything that she tried to do for him? He turns his back on her and betrays her, without any explanation why.
What have I done?
The hurt he felt betraying someone that was so dear to him was unbearable.
But there was also a part of him that was torn between Quinn and Elitherine.
On one hand Quinn had been through what he has been through, so she understood the hell perfectly. But Elitherine had saved him from that hell, gave him a purpose. But was that enough?
Elitherine wanted to rule the world, and she can't do that without neither one of them.
Yes, Elitherine saved him from his foster parents, she killed them and took him under her wing, taught him everything he knew, she showed him that he shouldn't be afraid of what's inside.
But Quinn was his first and only friend, she stood in front of him when his foster father came after him with a knife, she put herself In Harm's way for his sake, and she did it again. Can he truly turn his back on someone who risked their own life for his?
River locked away the thoughts for the time being. Right now he needs to concentrate on what Elitherine needs from him.
But Quinn's face simply wouldn't leave his mind, he kept thinking about that moment over and over again.
And the thoughts that were constantly replaying in his mind simply wouldn't leave.
What had I done? What am I about to do? Why am I doing it? What am I doing? Do I want this? Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this? Why can't I stop myself? Do I want to? Why do I want to? Why? Why? Why? Why?
"River" Elitherine's voice broke him out of his thoughts once again.
He looked at her. She was smiling warmly at him, holding out her hand for him to take it.
But he hesitated.
For a moment he wanted to turn and run, he wanted to go back to Quinn and beg her for forgiveness.
But for reasons that he can't explain he found himself moving forward a towards her, taking her hand, and allowing her to pull him to the middle of the circle.
No! No! No! I don't want this! I don't want this! Stop her! I have to stop her! I have to stop this! I can't let this happen! Have to stop this!
"This world needs to be cleansed" said Elitherine, walking around him in a circle. "This world needs a ruler, this world needs to be burned and then raised from the ashes. Do you agree River?"
Everything inside him screamed at him to tell her no, to run away! To run away and not look back.
But he found himself agreeing and yet disagreeing with her at the same time.
"Yes"
No! No! That's not what I wanted to say! What's wrong with me?! What is wrong with me?!
Elitherine stood in front of him, and smiled warmly, as if she was smiling at her son.
No! No! Stop her! Stop this!
She placed her hands on his chest, and began to chant something in a language he didn't understand.
"Risan forthcomen néadhæs mec, curna fram hall tó néadhæs mín gewill"
The moment she stopped speaking and when her eyes flashed gold the ground began to shake and crack.
River stepped out of the circle and was amazed and terrified what he saw.
Elitherine begin to laugh when people but not people started to crawl from the crack that just formed within the earth.
What have I done?
Merlin felt like somebody punched him in the gut, for a moment he couldn't breathe, as if all the air was sucked out of his lungs.
Gradually everything came back, he could breathe again, but the constant presence didn't go away.
He was vaguely aware of mumbling above him.
"Merlin" he opened his eyes and was met with concerned face's looking down at him.
Was he laying on the floor?
"Merlin! You okay?" Quinn's beautiful unusual eyes came into view, and suddenly he didn't feel too bad.
"All is well. But, what happened?"
"You just passed out" explained Arthur as he helped him to his feet.
Which was a bad idea because each little movement made the whole room spin. He swayed a little.
"Hey, Merlin" Arthur studied him so he wouldn't fall. "Are you sure that you're all right?"
Merlin met his friend's concerned filled eyes.
"Yeah"
"Maybe you should sit down" suggested Gwaine. "You look like you're about to fall over"
"Right"
Quinn brought over a chair from the table, Arthur helped him sit.
After the room went back to normal he explained what happened.
Elitherine had opened a portal, he could feel it. And he felt the power of her magic. He felt the earth trimble, as if she was crying out, screaming out to him.
The only time he had felt such a thing was when Morgana open the portal between world's. But this time was different somehow, and that thought unsettled him.
"You sure about that?" Asked Arthur skeptically, folding his arms across his chest.
"Have I ever been wrong before?"
Arthur thought a moment, biting his bottom lip than said. "No"
"Wow, did you actually-"
"Oh shut up Merlin"
Merlin looked over at Quinn, who was sitting on the floor next to him extremely quiet.
He took her hand. She looked up at him.
"We don't know if River had anything to do with it"
She smiled sadly. "But I do"
"What do you mean?" Asked Gwaine.
"I can just feel it, I know he had a hand in whatever happened"
She fell silent, and her gaze settled once again on the floor. Merlin was yet again at a loss of what to do.
"Merlin you and Quinn stay here. Gwaine Leon Percival and I will go out and see what's going on" Arthur suddenly declared.
"I'm fine"
Merlin tried to stand but his dizziness forced him to sit back down.
"No! You are staying here!" Arthur ordered.
"Yes, your highness" Merlin said sarcastically.
Arthur patted him on the shoulder before him and the knights left, leaving him and Quinn alone in the room.
"I'm sorry" said Quinn breaking the silence that fell above them. He looked at her, confused.
"For what?"
"If I never came to Camelot none of this would be happening"
"Quinn, if anyone is to blame it's me"
"No!"
"You are too stubborn"
She smiled, then looked up at him.
"That's part of my charm"
"And extremely brave"
"How so?"
"How you stood up to Elitherine, no fear"
"Well, I learned from the best" she patted his knee.
"And that's why I love you" the words left his mouth before he realized it.
Quinn's smile faded slightly. "I'm sorry?"
"I-"
Merlin's heart was pounding. Did he just- say he loved her. But it was no lie, he is in love with her.
"Merlin" Quinn got to her feet then set in front of him. "What did you say?" She asked, her unusual eyes never leaving his.
Merlin never meant to blurt it out like that, but he's supposed it's too late to take it back, even if he wanted to.
Should he say it again? Quinn seemed to be waiting for him to repeat it, but not for the first time he was lost for words, the words were there but they got caught in his throat.
And if he was being honest he was a little nervous. He had never confessed his love to anyone before.
But the moment he looked into her eyes he finally found the courage to speak.
"I said I love you"
There was a few moments of silence, then Quinn smiled brightly.
"That's what I thought you said"
Before he had time to think, Quinn was kissing him, soft and gentle at first, but then it quickly turned heated.
Their first kiss was gentle, this was filled with heat and passion. He returned her passionate kiss as he snaked his arms around her waist. Quinn's hands rested at the back of his head, then on his shoulders, her fingers knotted in his shirt. All that could be heard was his pounding heart.
He placed his hands on the back of her head deepening the kiss, his fingers twining in her hair.
Her hair was as soft as silk, she smelled like jasmine. Her lips were soft and warm.
She moaned into the kiss, as he pulled her into his lap. Her arms snaked around his shoulders, her fingers running through his hair.
His hands rested on her hips then slowly moved up to her lower back. It amazed him how perfectly she fit in his arms, as if she belonged there.
When Quinn pulled back, he opened his eyes and looked into hers.
They both were breathing heavy. Her cheeks were flushed.
When Merlin finally found his voice he asked. "Does that mean that my feelings are returned?"
She laughed, then placed her forehead against his.
"Guess so"
Merlin was the who started the kiss this time. She melted into the kiss.
They were wrapped in their own world that they barely noticed the door opening.
They were only broken out of their haze when Arthur's urgent voice finally reached their ears.
Quinn jumped to her feet. Merlin was immediately irritated for the interruption, and was about to give Arthur a piece of his mind when he saw the look on his face, and immediately something was wrong.
He got to his feet. "Arthur, what's wrong?"
"Sorry to interrupt. But you both need to see this! Now!"
Quinn took his hand as they followed Arthur and the Knights outside.
Only to discover Elitherine and an undead army to greet them. Merlin had a bad feeling about this.
Do tell me how you guys liked the kiss.
"Risan forthcomen néadhæs mec, curna fram hall tó néadhæs mín gewill"
Translation "Rise comeforth obey me from come hell to my will"
If I got any of that wrong please tell me.
With love to all.