Helloooo my dear readers!
Surpriiiiise! I thought that as a thank you for being so good to me you deserved a double update over this Christmas!
So, basically, once again, Merry Christmas to those celebrating! And also, slightly in advance... Happy New Year! I hope 2017 will be better for you than 2016 and that your dreams will come true! I know that some of mine are definitely going to!
Again let me thank you all for following me and supporting me especially with those random updates! You are all precious to me! And even more precious is my wonderful Beta! THANK YOU!
And now, I'll just say that this is one of the biggest chapter I ever wrote and it is definitely moving the story forward!
Without further ado, ENJOY!
Chapter 37:
Merlin woke up with a start to a darkened room and Gwaine's snores. He gingerly pushed himself into a sitting position, pleased to notice that none of the previous aches and fatigue remained. Only a slight pain in his stomach told him that he should eat something. His eyes fell on the plateful of food next to his sleeping mat and he smiled. Gwaine could be such a mother hen.
Preparing the magic enhancing potion was every bit as complicated as Merlin had expected, the warlock reflected as he ate. He had to work his hardest to focus on what he was doing and not make any mistakes. He knew the perils should he do anything wrong. A falsely pronounced word, a bit too much of this leaf or that root, too much or not enough heat and he would die. In extreme pain.
He repressed a shudder. He knew he would succeed. No need to worry.
Once his plate was cleared, he stood up and went to the window. He saw the red hues of the new day beginning to appear in the east and knew it was almost time to get back to the potion. He took the time to reignite the fire and make sure Gwaine was comfortable before leaving, small magical light in hand, literally, to guide his way.
The ambient magic seemed to greet him when he arrived in the courtyard and he lost no time getting back to the potion. He checked that its consistence and colour were the same as described in the book and then began chopping the next batch of herbs that would need to go in, humming softly in the quiet.
Hours later, when the sky was bright, he heard Gwaine enter the courtyard but didn't acknowledge his friend. He couldn't get distracted. Diligently, he counted the number of times he stirred the potion before saying the required incantation, feeling a small portion of his power drain into it.
At midday, Merlin reached for one of the last ingredients. The one he feared the most if he was honest with himself.
Carefully, he opened the flask of water for the Crystal Cave and with precaution let some of it fall into the slightly bubbling potion. He could feel the power shift around him with the addition of the water from magic's birthplace. It made his hands shake as cold sweat erupted on the back of his neck.
He closed the flask again, put it down out of the way and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to focus on the magic all around him. This was by far the trickiest part.
When he finally felt in control, he pronounced the incantation he had made sure to learn.
Immediately, the magic around him seemed to rise up and submerge him like a tidal wave. Against his will, he let out a cry and fell to his knees as power stronger than he had ever felt before painfully passed through his body until he felt like his skin was too small.
It felt like he couldn't breathe.
And then, for a terrifying moment, it felt like all of his own power was sucked into the potion.
He heard Gwaine call out to him but couldn't answer it as he struggled to workl his lungs.
After a long time, he finally managed to answer his friend's more and more desperate calls.
"I'm okay Gwaine." He said, cringing at his breathless voice.
"Like hell you are! Come back here!"
Merlin shook his head, now was not the time to be weak. He still had some work to do and he was so close. He forced deep breathes into his lungs to help clear his head and stop his limbs from shaking so much.
"Can't. Have to finish this."
He didn't turn to watch but he could imagine Gwaine's angry expression.
"Bloody hell mate! You're in no shape right now!"
Once more, Merlin forced himself to ignore both his friend and his body to instead pull himself up. He felt lightheaded but resisted the almost unbearable need to sit back down by leaning his weight against the stone altar.
"I have to finish this." He repeated, willing his body to just cooperate a little longer with him.
Forcing his shaking hand into as much stillness as he could, he once more began slowly stirring the spoon in the cauldron.
After a quarter of hour, he added the last roots, making the potion sizzle. Another half hour of agitation and it was finally ready.
Pouring the potion into a medium sized glass vial was a difficult feat when you were shaking and still mildly light-headed but Merlin managed it. He was relieved to see that his potion was the right consistence and colour and that he could feel the power radiating from it.
He had done it!
Despite the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him, he let out a small laugh and grinned.
He was now one step closer to bringing back the dragons.
He slowly turned back and was faced with Gwaine's partly worried, partly angry expression. His smile fell. He didn't enjoy putting his friend through that but it was necessary. Shakily, he pushed away from the stone altar and walked the few steps it took to cross out of the stone circle.
The usual shift in the air made him wobble and he would have fell had Gwaine not immediately reached for him and helped him sit down.
"God Merlin you look awful! Are you alright?"
Merlin closed his eyes, trusting Gwaine to take care of him and nodded.
"I'm fine Gwaine."
He had to admit that even he wasn't convinced by his answer.
Now that he was sitting down, he just wanted to sleep.
"Hey! Hey! Stay with me!"
The urgency in the knight's voice made him open his eyes again.
"I'm right here." He answered.
Gwaine shook his head.
"Come on, let's go back to the camp, you need to eat something."
"I just want to sleep."
Merlin had not meant to let that escape but it was the truth. He'll be fine after some sleep. A lot of sleep.
He let himself be half-carried by Gwaine. He honestly wanted to walk on his own but just couldn't get his feet to cooperate.
He could feel the knight mumble under his breathe but couldn't bring himself to pay attention. He felt drained.
He hadn't notice they had entered their room until Gwaine made him sit on his sleeping mat.
"Don't fall asleep on me again. You need food." The knight ordered.
Merlin thought of a snarky reply but it never made it past his lips. He fought to obey. Objectively, he knew his friend was right. He needed food.
"Here."
Merlin looked up to see Gwaine holding out a plate of fruit and dried meat.
"Thanks." He said before beginning to pick at the meat.
He had to admit food made him feel better.
"Did it work then?" The knight asked after a moment of silence.
Merlin nodded with a grin before yawning.
"Now, sleep." Gwaine ordered.
The warlock was only too happy to oblige and let himself fall back on his sleeping mat.
The next time Merlin woke it was to the light of a setting sun. He could have thought it to be only a few hours after settling down but the heaviness in his limbs told a very different story.
"Look at that! Sleeping beauty is finally awake!"
He turned around to see Gwaine entering the room, arms full of wood, satchel bouncing against his left hip. Even if his tone was cheery, the warlock could tell his friend had been dreadfully worried about him.
Guilt flowed through him like a wave.
"Yeah." He had to clear his throat, only then noticing how parched his mouth felt.
A flask of water appeared in front of him and he gratefully took and emptied it.
"Thanks Gwaine… Sorry about that."
He made a vague gesture at himself that made the long haired knight snort.
"Yeah…. Here, I kept food for you."
"You really didn't have too." Merlin said standing with a wince. He had gotten used to sleeping in a proper bed far too quickly.
He settled near the fire to eat the plate Gwaine gave him, feeling the man's stare surveying his every move.
"God Gwaine!" He cried out after ten minutes of silent observation. "I'm fine and you're giving me the creeps."
The knight answered with a quiet growl and came to sit in front of him.
"Sorry to worry about your well-being Merlin."
The warlock sighed, settling down the now empty plate.
"Gwaine… I… I didn't mean it like that. I appreciate your concern. Really. But… I can take care of myself. I know what I'm doing."
Another snort answered him.
"Okay, yes, I mostly know what I'm doing. But that doesn't mean you have to worry so much. It won't change anything."
Gwaine seemed to deflate too.
"I know. I know. I can't stop myself."
Merlin nodded.
"Well, it seems we're stuck. Truce?"
He extended his hand and Gwaine gripped it tightly.
"Yeah, whatever."
The warlock knew that it wasn't optimal but at least it had stopped Gwaine from unblinkingly staring at him.
"Now, I think I'll go back to sleep. Big day tomorrow."
"What do you mean?" Gwaine asked.
"Well the enhancement potion was the longest most difficult potion to make. Tomorrow I can brew the ritual one and attempt the calling."
"What?" The knight exclaimed. "But… But… Surely you need more rest…"
Merlin shook his head, even if it was true that he still felt somewhat weary he also knew that the more he waited the less potent the enhancing would be, thus the riskier the calling.
"Which is why I'm going back to sleep right now."
Gwaine opened and closed his mouth as if to say something but he had obviously understood that Merlin would not be deterred so he just shook his head.
"Fine. Goodnight then."
"Goodnight Gwaine. Get some rest too."
The next morning, Merlin felt almost back to normal and itching with impatience.
This was it.
This was the day.
He stood up and stretched silently, careful not to wake the still slumbering knight.
He prepared a copious breakfast and then went to wake his friend. He had no wish to further anger the man.
Breakfast passed quickly and, soon, knight and warlock found themselves back in the courtyard.
"Brewing the potion will take me most of the morning." Merlin explained. "I'd tell you to go your own way but I have a feeling you won't listen, will you?"
Gwaine smiled as he sat down in front of the stone altar just outside the stone circle.
"Not a chance, mate."
"Don't complain that you're bored then." Merlin joked as he went to his new workplace.
He first began by checking the enhancing potion and was relieved to feel the power still emanating from it in gentle waves and then he once again settled everything out for the second potion.
Three hours later and he poured the clear potion into a vial, feeling proud of his work. It had felt so much easier to brew this potion as he had gained the knowledge from Kilgharrah. It had felt…. natural.
"Is it done?" He heard Gwaine ask from behind him.
"Almost." Merlin answered "Just need one final ingredient."
He kept the vial in his hand and went to stand next to Gwaine.
He took a deep breath and called Aithusa to him. He knew it was useless to ask for Kilgharrah to come as the old dragon had made his opinion of the calling very clear.
It didn't take long before the sound of flapping wings disturbed the peaceful quiet of the island and then the young white dragon was standing in front of them. She respectfully bowed to her dragonlord before jumping closer to rub against Gwaine's side and Merlin's thigh.
"Hello Gwaine. Hello Merlin." She saluted in her still not quite confident voice.
"Hello darling." Gwaine answered, petting the dragon lovingly.
Merlin rolled his eyes. Those two had formed a weird bond in the few times they had spent together.
Merlin kneeled down so he was level with the white dragon.
"Do you know what I have to do Aithusa?" He asked the creature.
He had to admit that this was probably the worst part for him. The dragon nodded.
"I do."
Merlin bowed his head and reached into his pocket for the small silver knife.
"I'm sorry I have to do this."
Aithusa warm snout bumped his shoulder, her big eyes observing him trustfully.
From the corner of his eye he saw Gwaine observe the scene curiously. Merlin sighed.
"For the potion to be completed I need drops of dragon blood given willingly." He explained.
He took a calming breath and turned back to the dragon.
"Better do this now, yeah?"
Aithusa nodded and extended her left foreleg. Merlin gently took it and slid the knife between the dragon's smallest scales on the inside of her paw.
The dragon flinched slightly making Merlin's heart squeeze painfully. He hated to hurt the innocent creature.
Immediately, bright red blood welled up and Merlin reached for the vial next to him and let five drops fall into the potion, tinting it pink.
It made Merlin slightly sick.
When the potion had the right texture he let go of Aithusa's limb. She breathed on it and Merlin watched as the wound closed.
"Thank you Aithusa." He said, bowing to her.
"Do not." The dragon whined, nudging him.
Merlin smiled at her then clapped his hands.
"Okay, let's do this! You may want to step back." He advised his friends.
Gwaine looked very reluctant but he gingerly pushed himself up. He hesitated a moment before surprising Merlin by pulling him to a quick but strong hug.
"You better get this right."
"Don't worry Gwaine."
He smiled at his friend, nodded at his dragon and then turned his back to them, walking purposely towards the stone altar.
He felt like he was at the edge of a huge change, his whole body tingling with anticipation.
The closer he got, the more the world seemed to stop around him.
Expecting.
Waiting.
He took his time focusing his power, breathing calmly through his nose, eyes closed, feeling the island's magic around him.
When he was ready, he reopened his eyes and reached for the vial of magic enhancing potion.
With a last backward glance at Gwaine and Aithusa, he drank the whole potion.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. And then he felt a wave of power like he had never felt before rise inside him and engulf him so totally it blinded him, once more stealing the breath from his lungs.
With a gasp he fell to the ground.
He could feel everything around him.
It felt like the whole world was pulsing.
It felt like his skin was too tight for all this.
He felt scattered and lost in the magic. Completely out of control.
"Merlin!"
The cry only barely registered but it was enough to help the warlock focus again.
Clenching his fists, he forced himself to his feet again and reached for the dragon potion.
Even the texture of the glass vial felt different. It was fascinating.
It was also frightening.
He wondered what he could do with all this power at his disposal.
He shook his head.
He uncorked the flask and drank the second potion without giving himself more time to think.
Almost immediately a fiery pain hit him.
It felt like his blood was set ablaze, burning through his veins, scorching his muscles.
He cried out, once again falling down.
He felt Gwaine and Aithusa move towards him thanks to his newly expanded powers and hastily erected a shield to stop them.
Tears fell from his eyes, mixing with the sweat pouring off his skin.
The pain wasn't decreasing and he struggled to concentrate.
He let out another cry, fists clenching the earth beneath him.
He couldn't think.
And then he felt the soothing brush of Aithusa's mind in his.
It was the first time she had ever reached to him like that.
"Merlin." Her voice soothed. "It's okay Merlin. Just focus. You can do it."
And with that the warlock remembered what he was doing all of this for.
He forced another deep breath into his burning lungs, threw his head back to the heaven and screamed out the incantation Kilgharrah had burnt into his mind.
At the end of it, he felt the newfound power inside him rise and expand, exploding from him in seemingly endless waves.
It felt as if he was shattering in the wind.
He couldn't have said how long it took but then, as quickly as it started, he could feel all the magic disappear leaving only pain behind.
For a terrifying, heart-stopping moment he felt empty.
And then darkness claimed him.
And that's it for me this year! Tell me what you thought in a little review!