Hello everyone who is still here and THANK YOU for still being here.
So, I know, this chapter is super hyper late and I apologize deeply. My excuses are limited to : I went to London and then spent the week end after that organizing my photos and after that I spent a week end wrapping presents for a friend/colleague who's leaving work.
Yes, I know, all bad excuses. But what can I say... I hope you'll still like the chapter.
No more talking for now.
Enjoy reading!
And leave a little review if you want. To encourage me. Or scold me for being such a slow writer. I'd totally deserve this.
Chapter 34:
For the rest of the morning, knight and warlock rode at a fast but comfortable pace, enjoying the wind in their faces and the earthy smell of the forest.
When the sun was directly above them, they stopped near a small brook to let their horse drink and graze while they sat down to their own lunch of dried meat and fruits they had picked nearby.
"So, how much did Arthur try to scare you?" Merlin asked, stretching his back as he finished his food.
Gwaine shrugged with a smile.
"Well, quite a bit. But you know me, I don't scare easily. And he didn't say anything I wasn't already thinking."
Merlin let out a small laugh before letting a comfortable silence fall.
The knight observed his friend silently while munching on an apple. Contrary to what he had expected, Merlin looked almost relaxed, even if it was clear he was focused on what was to come by the way his eyes kept sliding out of focus.
"Come on. We need to carry on if we want to reach the border tonight." The warlock finally announced as Gwaine finished his apple.
They mounted again and the knight let his friend lead the way through the forest, enjoying the fact that the warlock was using his magic to keep any low branches out of their way.
They took less time than Gwaine thought they would to reach the border but decided it would be better to pass the night on Camelot's territory before carrying on their way in the morning. Therefore, the knight let Merlin prepare the camp while he went out in the forest to secure it and hunt their dinner.
He came back as the sun was setting with a rabbit in hand to find a fire burning and two bedrolls prepared. Merlin sat on one of them, a dusty old book in lap.
"I've brought dinner!" He announced.
Merlin looked up with a smile, closed the book and put it away in his bag.
"What's the book?" The knight asked curiously as the warlock began preparing the rabbit for eating.
"It describes how to make the enhancement potion and perform the ritual. I was just re-reading it to make sure I don't miss a step."
Gwaine glanced at Merlin.
"What would happen if you did?"
"Well… Nothing good I guess… But don't worry, I've got this. I spent plenty of time making potions for Gaius. This is nothing different."
"Except it's magical.
Merlin's eyes caught him. It almost looked as if they glowed.
"So am I."
The knight couldn't help but laugh.
"Caution warlock or you will end up as pompous as our Princess."
The Warlock stared at him for a moment, looking almost thunderous, but then he laughed too.
"That would be horrible."
"Don't tell me!"
Their laughter carried on for a moment as they settled down, watching the rabbit cook over the fire.
"Seriously though… Are you really sure about this?"
"Gwaine." Merlin moaned. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here."
"But… Are you not concerned about what you saw in the crystals?"
Merlin sighed, eyes darkening.
"I can't say that I'm not. But… If I've learnt one thing about those crystals and their visions is that… Whatever is meant to happen will happen and whatever I would do to stop it from doing so will only make it worse."
"I understand."
After that, they didn't talk for a long time, eating the warm food.
"How long will it take to brew the potion?"
"Well… The magic enhancement one will be pretty quick. But the one I have to consume for the ritual needs a lot of time. Three days I'd say."
Gwaine nodded.
"We'd better get some sleep. I want to leave at first light." Merlin announced a little while later.
"I'll keep watch."
"There's no need for that Gwaine. Magic, remember? I've put wards around the camp. We are at no risk."
The knight stared a bit, silently amazed at the warlock's forethought.
"You know, I really like your magic." He commented and then settled down on his bedroll.
Merlin laughed.
"I hope it's not just my magic you like."
"Well, it is the real useful thing, is it not?"
A ball made of grass hit him square in the face and Gwaine spluttered before laughing too.
"See what I mean?"
"Shut up Gwaine!"
"Goodnight Merlin."
"Goodnight."
A shifting of covers was heard in the quiet of the forest and soon both men were asleep.
Another day of hard riding later and Gwaine and Merlin found themselves on the bank of a huge lake. In the middle of it, the knight could only just make out the Isle of the Blessed, surrounded by thick fog.
He saw Merlin visibly shudder next to him and wondered if the unease he was feeling was also affecting his friend.
"Come on." The Warlock said. "We'll have to leave the horses here."
It took almost an hour for them to build a pen to ensure the horses would still be there for the return trip and then they were off to find the old man who guarded the boat that would take them to the Isle.
Merlin gave him a golden coin before knight and warlock boarded the rickety thing. Gwaine was reminded of the last time he had been on this same boat and felt a sudden sadness at the memory of the late Lancelot.
His eyes fell on Merlin, sitting in front of him, and he knew that his friend thought of it too. He reached out and squeezed the bony shoulder of the warlock, eliciting a small smile that looked more like a grimace than anything.
The lake crossing was done in silence, only broken by the distant cries of what Gwaine knew as wyvern. And, the closer they got to the island, the colder the air became, making Gwaine and Merlin shiver.
Gwaine was only too glad to finally reach the abandoned castle and he lost no time in following Merlin onto dry ground. They just had the time to take their various bags from the boat before it left, rapidly disappearing ino the mist.
They shouldered their bags and Gwaine followed Merlin, trusting the warlock to find the right way. Another distant screech made him jump.
"Won't they be a problem?" The knight asked, gaze turning to the sky, expecting the winged creatures to descend on him like the last time he was there.
The warlock looked back at him, gaze confused, before he caught up.
"The wyverns? No, don't worry about them. They are close cousins to the dragons so my Dragonlord powers work on them. I forbade them from attacking us last time we were here."
"Oh. Nice."
"Come, I'm sure we can find a habitable room to establish camp somewhere."
And with that, both men entered the half crumpling castle, Merlin using his magic to light their way.
It took a good hour before they finally found a room that had a complete roof and windows without being too far from the central courtyard where Merlin planned to prepare his potions and perform the calling rituals.
By then, it was already night outside so they set up their sleeping mats and Merlin used his magic to clean and warm the room.
"Well, this is comfortable." Gwaine commented as he settled down.
Merlin smiled as he too settled down. They shared a small meal and before long decided that they'd better turn in.
The warlock dimmed the fire so the light wouldn't bother them but ensured it would keep burning through the night and Gwaine laid down. He couldn't deny he was tired but he felt too restless for sleep to come easily. He couldn't stop his mind from wondering what would happen the next day. He really didn't know what to expect from his magical friend.
The childish part of him couldn't wait to see the warlock unleash his power even though the brotherly side of him felt immensely worried.
He let out a deep breath and shifted his position, listening to his friend's deep, calm breathing. He could only hope for the best.
So, I hope that even if it is late it is good.
And I'm still not over the fact that I have talked to Steven Moffat and shaken hands with Mark Gattiss. My life is so completed now.