Hello everyone !
Here is a new chapter! Yay! I hope you will like it!
And if you must know, the good news is I am really progressing on this story! So I am confident that I may soon update more!
In other news, you may remember that I have spent some time writing a original one shot for a writing competition and, well, I wasn't selected. But if you're interested in it, you can go check my account on FictionPress (same username) I'd be very happy because I really loved this story and I would love for more people to read it!
In any case I'm thanking you all for keeping up with me and reading!
Enjoy !
Chapter 25:
Merlin didn't know why he hadn't told Gwaine of the contents of his discussion with Kilgharrah. He just felt as if it was something he had to do alone. Like some sort of quest that would validate him as a dragonlord.
And, for perhaps the first time, he truly felt like he had a responsibility as a dragonlord. It felt like a real duty and not just an obscure title passed down from his father. He really did feel like he had the power to change things for the better.
It was an exhilarant and scary feeling. He had the power to bring back a whole race of mighty beings. No matter what Kilgharrah said, he knew he could do it. Or at least do his utmost to try. Because Aithusa deserved to have others like her. And Kilgharrah deserved an end to his loneliness.
It was already late but he was feeling too energized to sleep. And he hadn't lied, a lot of was awaiting him. He had to find a way to enhance his powers, temporarily obviously, and also had a lot to prepare for the ritual in itself: plants to find, a golden cauldron, a silver dagger forged in the fire of a dragon…
But first: research. He turned towards the vaults. He had seen some books there that might have some answers.
At this time of the evening, the castle halls were already fairly deserted and he only crossed a few patrols on the way, nodding politely at them.
After a quick look around, he used his magic to light the torches on his way down. He wrapped his cloak closer to himself to fend off the dampness that had become colder with the night and more prominent with the depth.
He found the key to the main vault still in his pocket and entered, again lighting torches against the darkness. He shivered slightly at the feeling of power emanating from the magical objects kept there and walked to the books stored to his left.
He had categorized them a few weeks earlier so knew what to look for. He selected some and began browsing through their pages.
He would have stayed there all night had Leon not interrupted him by clearing his throat. Merlin jumped and turned sharply towards the noise, almost knocking his candle to the floor.
"Leon!" He exclaimed. "You scared me!"
"Sorry Merlin, I didn't mean to. I saw the lights and wondered if you had forgotten them earlier. I wasn't expecting you to still be here."
He sounded a bit too suspicious for Merlin's liking so the warlock quickly closed the book he had been studying and bent down to retrieve the other two he needed.
"Yes, I was just coming to fetch these, I noticed them earlier and wanted to study them some more. Lots of protective spells in them. Thought they would be useful."
Leon's raised eyebrow showed clearly that he didn't really believe Merlin but was too polite to make any further comment.
"I'll go back to my chambers then." Merlin added after a few minutes of awkward silence, rushing to the exit.
"Didn't you forget something?" Leon asked with an amused smile.
Merlin turned back towards the vault with a frown.
"Oh yes! Of course! Garjzia letta." He whispered and the candles inside flickered out.
He locked the gates again and made his way back towards the ground level, the knight following him with clanking armor.
"Well, I wish you a goodnight then Leon." The warlock announced as they reached the main corridor.
"Yes Merlin, goodnight to you too." The knight answered before turning left towards the courtyard, probably to check on the guards there.
Merlin let out a relieved breath. He knew he had nothing to reproach himself but he still felt guilty at hiding the real reason of his presence in the dungeons.
He just knew that should the knights or Arthur learn of his plan, they probably wouldn't be any happier than Kilgharrah.
Back in his chambers, Merlin relit the fire with a flash of his eyes before changing out of his cold clothes into warm night ones. He then settled again in the high-backed chair next to the fire and re-opened the book he had begun reading in the vaults.
Soon he found the section he needed and levitated a scroll of parchment and writing tools to him so he could note down what was important and what he would need to find.
Without him noticing hours passed and, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, he found himself listening to the midnight bell.
He looked around, a bit dazed at the darkness that had taken hold of his room and decided he should probably retire and continue his work the next day.
He carefully put his notes and books away in the hidden chest at the back of his wardrobe before locking and hiding it with a spell.
After that he let himself fall onto his bed, underneath his warm blankets and despite his still buzzing mind, quickly fell asleep.
It felt like he had only been asleep five minutes when Jonathan woke him.
He groaned and tried to turn away from the offending morning light, tugging on his blankets. His servant, however, knew him well and just took hold of his blankets and tugged harder.
God, this is annoying! Merlin thought, feeling a new level of comprehension at Arthur's morning grumpiness.
"Sorry Si- Merlin. But the Council meeting is in an hour and you have to get ready for it."
As if that was a good enough reason to get Merlin up, listening to nobles complain about silly unimportant matters…
"Breakfast is ready for you." Jonathan added after a few minutes. A very polite way to remind him that he had to get up.
"Fine, fine, I'm up."
With a yawn he walked to his table were the usual food was presented in a perfect way.
Merlin helped himself to sausages and bread and at the first mouthful truly noticed how famished he felt. He realized that he hadn't eaten dinner the previous evening.
"Well, you're hungry this morning." Jonathan commented before blushing at his impertinence.
Merlin laughed at his servant's shocked look and interrupted the oncoming apologize with a shake of his hand.
"I missed dinner." He explained. "Come sit down, there's still enough for both of us."
The servant was still self-conscious but was finally getting used to being invited to his master's table every morning.
Half an hour later and Merlin was ready, making his way to the royal chambers to catch up with Gwen and Arthur before the meeting.
He chose to ignore the king falsely shocked expression at seeing Merlin actually on time as he greeted Gwen with a friendly hug.
"Well, it looks like miracles can happen." Arthur commented. "You are on time."
"Very funny Arthur." Merlin answered.
"Boys." Gwen interrupted before things could get out of hand. "I think we should go to the council room to wait for the other councilmen."
"Yes, of course."
Both men dutifully followed the queen through the castle halls. One thing leading to another, conversation fell to Gwaine's injury and Merlin was reminded of the fact that he hadn't told the king that Alice knew of his magic. He cringed inwardly.
He waited until the three of them were sat alone around the council table before speaking up.
"There was something I had to tell you actually."
"Oh, I don't like it when you begin like that." Arthur said, already pinching the bridge of his nose. "Don't tell me you broke another magical crystal that released another magical creature into my castle."
"That happened only once!" Merlin exclaimed. "Well, okay, twice, but it wasn't just my fault!" He amended at Arthur's raised eyebrow. "And it isn't that."
He interrupted himself to clear his throat.
"Merlin." Arthur said, clearly getting impatient.
"Alice knows I have magic." He finally announced, bracing himself for the king's reaction.
For minutes, complete silence fell on the room as Arthur stared at Merlin.
"You told her?" He finally asked.
"Well… Hum… Not really but she knows anyway. And she's taken it really well." He added for good measure.
"What do you mean not really? Did she catch you using it? I thought we agreed on the fact that you had to stay discreet about it so our enemies wouldn't know!" Arthur exclaimed, getting worked up at the thought of the warlock's carelessness in such an important matter.
"No! No! Look, it doesn't matter how she found out! She did and she's okay with it and I would have actually told her soon…"
"Merlin…" Arthur insisted.
The warlock sighed. It was too much to hope for Arthur to let the matter go so easily.
"Gwaine told her." He muttered lowly.
"What?"
"Gwaine told her." He repeated a bit louder, making Gwen gasp.
"What! How could he?" Arthur asked, anger flooding his eyes as he got up. "I'm going to throw him in the dungeon and throw away the key!"
"Arthur!" Merlin cried out, also getting up. "He didn't mean to and, as I said, I would have told her anyway so it really isn't a problem!"
The king opened his mouth to answer just as the door opened to let a guard enter. He froze at the sight of the two men standing nose to nose, angrily staring at each other before physically shaking himself.
"I'm sorry to interrupt my Lord but the councilmen are here."
Arthur kept glaring at Merlin for another minute before taking a deep breath and turning towards the waiting man.
"Find. Let them enter." He then sat dramatically down on his chair.
Gwen put a hand on his arm as she sent Merlin an apologizing look. The warlock shrugged before settling himself down just as the councilmen enter the room, unaware of the tense atmosphere.
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I also take this opportunity to send my love to any Belgium reader out there 3.
Read you soon !