Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
A Camelot Calamity
While Arthur and the knights were recovering from their near miss (a rare chance for the servants to actually get some work done without their masters getting in the way), and Gwen dealt with affairs of the state, Merlin was busy keeping an eye on Kay. The kid seemed nervous and jumpy, which he supposed was a reaction to suddenly being promoted to the position of knight. However, while he hoped that that was indeed the case, he couldn't get the warning Morgana had given him out of his head. Kay certainly didn't seem to be a magic user. But as Merlin kept an eye on him from afar, he was beginning to wonder if all the little signs that he kept leaving around the place were as obvious as the ones he himself left. Strange things kept happening, like a noble who gave Kay a sneering greeting suddenly tripped and fell flat on his face. A girl who he blushed upon meeting suddenly found a bouquet of flowers in a vase addressed to her. And while this things appeared harmless enough, and they certainly were, they were the very things that were likely to get the young kid discovered as a sorcerer, and both he and Morgana agreed that too many of their kind had been put to death because of that stupid law. And it was fear of the boy being caught that had brought both Merlin and Morgana to Gaius.
"You think he's a sorcerer?" Gaius asked worriedly, and Morgana nodded.
"Yes. Yesterday when he saved Arthur his eyes glowed, which is rather dangerous for a magic user around Camelot as we know. The worrying thing is, the kid didn't even seem aware that he was doing it." She said darkly, and Merlin looked at Gaius curiously.
"Could he not know that he was using it? Or is he just reckless?" he asked, and Gaius frowned.
"Well from what Morgana has said, he seems unaware that he's using it. And from spying on him, you reckon he's just carrying out his emotional desires, which makes me think he doesn't know he's doing it, which of course makes it all the more likely that he will do something and be discovered." Gaius said musingly, and Merlin shook his head.
"I'm not going to let him be discovered. But how can he not know he's doing it though, that just doesn't make any sense!" Merlin protested, and Morgana shrugged.
"Not necessarily, I didn't know I was a sorceress until Morgause found me, I suspected I had magic but I wasn't sure." She said, and Gaius frowned.
"Yes, but that is in part because I was suppressing your powers to keep you from Uther. Your powers have been part of you since birth, but there's a chance Kay's haven't." Gaius said, and she looked at him worriedly.
"Could he be a latent sorcerer?" she asked, and Gaius considered the possibility.
"Yes, that might just explain it." He said and bustled over to get one of his books.
"A latent sorcerer?" Merlin asked and Gaius explained as he came over with a book.
"A latent sorcerer is a sorcerer that doesn't discover their powers until much later in life. People like you and Morgana, you in particular, were born with your powers. Latent sorcerers have the ability except it doesn't manifest itself until much later on. And if that is what Kay is, we are in trouble." Gaius said as he read the book, and Merlin craned his neck to read the passage.
"The forty eight hour window of opportunity?" he asked, and Morgana nodded.
"In which a sorcerer who has just discovered their powers must choose how they will use their powers, which basically breaks down to good and evil. The choices Kay makes now will affect the rest of his life." She said, and Merlin frowned.
"Will what he's been doing affect it?" he asked and Gaius shook his head.
"No, the forty eight hour window is more than just making a casual choice and then sticking with it. What Kay is doing is just emotional responses, like when you get angry with Arthur for being an idiot."
"That's just a permanent state of mind then." Morgana said with a grin and Merlin glared at her.
"Yeah, but hard though it is, I don't risk turning him into something when I'm in a bad mood. Which is just as well I suppose. The point is, how do we help Kay?" he asked, and Gaius frowned, mulling it over.
"Well as the boy isn't even aware of his powers, we could easily just try and suppress his powers." He mused, but the dangerous look in Morgana's eyes told him that was a bad idea.
"No. Suppressing powers, even if done for the right reasons, is still wrong. It only makes the person in question terrified and then they make poor decisions out of fear. No. We just have to teach him that's all." She said, and Merlin, while he agreed with her on the not blocking his powers bit, looked at her sceptically.
"That's fine but how? Arthur will go nuts if he finds out the kid who just saved him who he made a knight also happens to be a sorcerer. And Kay's just a kid he probably won't want it bandied around that he's a sorcerer." He said, and she frowned.
"Maybe you and I should just go and talk to him." She mused, and Gaius looked at her worriedly.
"What if he doesn't take to it well? He might expose Merlin." He said nervously, and Merlin looked so sad and scared about that fact that Morgana's heart melted a little bit.
"He won't. If we help him, he could actually be a great help." She theorised, and Gaius nodded musingly, the thought of Merlin having less to do was a good one.
"Gaius, we have to help him. I could have helped someone once before and didn't and look where that got us all. If we do this, we can help him and actually might be able to get something right for a change." Merlin said pleadingly, and Gaius nodded.
"Very well Merlin, but be careful. If Kay is indeed a latent sorcerer you can bet someone out there will know and will be seeking to use him to their own advantage. Be careful." Gaius warned and Merlin grinned.
"When aren't I?" he asked cheerfully, and Morgana grinned.
"Oh I don't know, rumour has it a certain sorceress got her hands on you not that long ago because you weren't careful enough to stay beside Arthur." She taunted and Merlin glared at her while she and Gaius laughed.
XX
Alvarr watched as Morgana and that ever present pest Merlin headed for Kay's rooms. He could still scarcely believe that Merlin was the all powerful Emrys, and here he was, shacked up with his former arch-enemy no less. The entire thing didn't make any sense.
He would need to be careful about this. The last time he was here he was confident that he could easily have defeated Morgana, and back then he could effortlessly killed Merlin in a duel. However, now that the circle of people who knew the truth about Merlin was expanding, he was bound to become more confident in using his magic, and along with that Morgana was a High Priestess. With Nimueh able to resurrect people, which took a hell of a lot of power, if Morgana commanded anything within the same region of that power he would be in grave danger if anything went wrong.
But, the boy, Kay, the one he was here for, he may very well be of great use in getting to Merlin and Morgana.
"Hey, can I help you?" a voice called, and Alvarr turned to see a man with long brown hair and a beard looking at him suspiciously.
"Can I help you sir?" Alvarr asked, bowing respectfully to the knight.
"I asked first. What are you doing snooping around here?" Gwaine asked, and Alvarr smiled.
"Forgive me, I only wanted a look at the witch of Camelot, it's hard to believe." He said smoothly, and Gwaine narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah it is. I think you better be going. I doubt the king would take well to anyone ogling his sister. Get out of here." Gwaine said, and Alvarr bowed once more before retreating, cursing his carelessness silently as he did so.
It would not do to make the knights suspicious of him. No, he would find some way to get it. After all, there were only forty eight hours in which he could act, but the same was true for Merlin and Morgana. He would think of something.
And if not, he would kill them all.
"Problem Gwaine?" Dagonet asked, coming up behind Gwaine as the elder knight looked at the retreating servant.
"Just an odd servant." He said dismissively, and Dagonet grinned.
"Odder than Merlin?"
"Definitely. Come on, you can buy me a drink." Gwaine said, and Dagonet rolled his eyes and followed Gwaine from the castle.
XX
They arrived at Kay's room, to hear all sorts of metal clanging noises, swear words, yelps of pain and moans of fear and panic coming from inside.
"You reckon he's got someone in there with him?" Morgana asked nervously and Merlin winced as there was a particularly vehement curse from inside.
"If he has, the cat's already out of the bag. You really think I should just expose myself to this kid? What if he panics, and then gets me made a head shorter?" he asked nervously, but Morgana shook her head.
"He won't. Sounds like he's the only person in there anyway. Alright, we go in, shut the door right behind us, then talk to him." She said, and Merlin nodded, grasping the door handle.
"Ready?" he asked, as Kay swore loudly.
"Yep. Go!" she encouraged and they barged into the door, and for the first time the two sorcerers saw exactly what would happen if they had no control at all over their powers.
Everything that was not bolted down was on the move. The bed covers were continually twisting themselves into knots and then untwisting themselves again, while floating in mid air. The fruit bowl and all its contents was hovering in mid air, the fruits doing a sort of dance around it. The cupboard doors were opening and closing of their own free will, clothes of all sorts flying here there and everywhere. Kay's sword was zooming through the air with a sinister whooshing noise, his little dagger was embedding itself randomly in the walls and even a deadly looking hammer was moving around as if being swung through the air. Plates were slinging through the air, goblets moving with the pace akin to that which Arthur threw them at Merlin. Cutlery however seemed to be Kay's main problem, he seemed to be in the middle of it all, with knives, spoons and forks all zooming at him murderously, and he yelped or swore every time he was beset by something. Cursing as a spoon whacked him in the back of the head, he suddenly noticed the astounded Merlin and Morgana and let out a whimper of fear, and with a great crash everything came tumbling down to the floor and the young knight started to back away in terror, looking completely terrified as he did so, coming against the wall and sliding down to the floor.
Merlin advanced forward hesitantly as Morgana made sure the door was shut, and Kay's wild eyes were looking as if to find a weapon to defend himself with, looking at Merlin with abject terror in his eyes, his entire body shaking in fear and denial, his face pale, his breath coming in short, frightened gasps.
"Hey, we aren't going to hurt you, I promise, we won't tell anyone." Merlin said in a soothing voice, and as he did so Morgana couldn't keep from feeling a twinge of annoyance, if the blasted dragon and Gaius hadn't stopped Merlin telling her a few years ago, everything might have been different, and she might have been the one to have been gently approached by Merlin, calmed with a soothing voice. And besides, she would rather have liked Merlin to calm her down even back then, not that she was going to admit that to him.
Kay looked at him suspiciously, and around the room in terror before his eyes landed on Morgana, who he looked at with a mixture of fear, respect and pleading.
"I'm...you're...you can do stuff like that can't you?" he asked in a shaky voice, and mirroring her lover, she crouched down in front of Kay, her face surprisingly gentle.
"Yes I can. Although with a little bit more control than that." She said, and Merlin grinned.
"Not much more though, she tried to burn down the castle once even before she turned evil." He said and Morgana glared at him, but it did seem to calm Kay slightly so she supposed she could let it slide.
"I don't understand, I'm not a sorcerer, what's happening to me?" he asked, his voice trembling and looking at them urgently, and everything started to vibrate and start to fly into the air again, and Merlin exchanged a worried look with Morgana.
"Kay, you need to calm down." Merlin said anxiously, as a metal plate zinged above their head, making Morgana curse as it came close to taking her head off.
"Calm down? I've suddenly turned into a sorcerer! I'm a sorcerer and now I'm a knight of Camelot, they kill sorcerers here, I don't want to be one, I just want to be normal! I don't want to be burned at the stake! I just want to be a knight and I don't even know how I got that! If the king finds out I'm a sorcerer..." Kay prattled, becoming more and more hysterical, and Morgana looked at Merlin desperately, until Merlin whistled, cutting Kay off in the middle of his rant.
"Kay, you have to calm down ok? Listen to me. Calm down. Believe it or not, the two of us know what you're going through better than anyone else in the world. Watch." He said gently, and with a flash of his eyes, a small dragon made of fire appeared in his hand.
And strangely, that seemed to calm Kay. He looked at the fiery dragon, and then at Merlin in awe, and, not wanting to be outdone, Morgana, smiling as she did so, conjured a dragon of her own, this one made of water and attacked Merlin's one, and he yelped as the cold water quenched his fire.
"How do you two do that? Well I get how you do it princess, everyone knows about you, but Merlin, what...?" Kay asked nervously, and Merlin grinned half-heartedly, though Morgana noticed his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I'm a sorcerer too. Like I said, Morgana and I get what you're going through more than anyone." He assured the boy, and Kay looked at him, hesitantly trusting.
"Do you know what's happening to me?" he asked nervously, and Morgana nodded kindly.
"Yes we do. And we can help you." She promised and Kay began to look at them with hope in his eyes.
XX
"So, you're saying I'm a sorcerer like you?" Kay asked timidly, after they had given him the bare bones of the situation, and Merlin nodded.
"Yeah, only not quite like me, you're more like Morgana, I've had my powers since birth, she only found out about hers later on. You're only discovering yours now." He explained.
"But why? Can't I stop them?" he asked nervously, and Morgana shook her head sadly.
"No Kay, they're part of you. You're a latent sorcerer, which means unlike me, who's powers developed all my life I just wasn't aware of them, or Merlin who's had and been aware of his since birth, you're only coming into your powers now. The theory is that a grandparent or something had magic and it then skipped a generation, hence why it took so long to manifest in you. They're part of you, you're a sorcerer." She said, part sympathy, part understanding, and Merlin was struck by how much her previous kindness and compassion, something he had long since assumed lost due to Uther and Morgause, had returned, and only Kay's presence was keeping him from kissing her as she looked so kind and beautiful.
"The king will have me killed if he finds out I've got these powers." Kay said fearfully, and Merlin shook his head.
"No, he won't. Because he won't find out, we won't tell him. Believe me the two of us are used to living in fear, but that will change. Arthur isn't nearly as narrow minded as his father was. Look at Morgana, despite everything she's done with magic at her disposal he still took her back in and forgave her. Look Kay, I know you're scared. Arthur doesn't know about me yet either, and I'm terrified of telling him. I don't know what he'll do to me. Morgana was the exception that proved the rule, because of everything that sorcerers and magic have done to him, he hates it nearly as much as his damned father. Nimueh, Morgause, Morgana, even stuff I've done to him however unintentional I'm terrified I've turned him against magic forever. There've been times that he was close to reconsidering his views on magic, thinking it wasn't always as evil as his father taught him, but to protect him I've had to turn him against it even more. One day magic will be free again, but until then we just have to be careful." Merlin said kindly and Kay scowled.
"I don't want to be magic, I just want to be normal, I've managed all my life without magic so how come I've suddenly been landed with it?" he asked irritably.
"I know it sucks, and there's times that I wish I wasn't magical, I could do with the rest." Merlin said irritably, and Morgana smiled slightly.
"We won't let anything happen to you alright?" she assured him, reminding herself to make sure Merlin relaxed a little later.
"But why now?" Kay asked nervously and Merlin shrugged.
"We don't know. But you are a sorcerer. But you aren't alone. The two of us are too, and we'll help you. I let someone deal with what you're going through alone once before, and all it did was destroy everyone I love. We'll help you Kay. You don't have to be afraid." Merlin assured him, and Kay grinned ever so slightly.
"Bet it's worse for you, after all, you're the king's servant and you're a sorcerer, it must drive you mad." He said with sympathy and Merlin smiled slightly.
"I'm not going to lie to you Kay. Being a sorcerer in Camelot is a nightmare, you can't let anyone know who you really are, and then everyone sees your mask because it's easier. They see you as a simple fool, or a loving ward because it's easier than admitting to themselves that there's something more to you. You don't get any thanks, well you will, you're a knight, but everyone overlooks you and everyone you care about doesn't care about the real you because you can't be the real you because if you are, you get your head chopped off. But you have something Morgana and I never had, someone who can help. I've stood by and let too many sorcerers fall, and I'm not going to let you go the same way. And odd though it sounds and as horrible at times though it is, your magic is a gift, one you can use for good. Your magic is a gift to be protected and used for others, not for yourself or to get what you want. And you need to be careful, because for now it has to remain a secret. But trust me Kay, you are special, and we're going to make sure you stay that way." He vowed fiercely, and Kay smiled slightly.
"Wow, you really care about this stuff." He said, and Morgana smiled.
"No, he just has a thing for causes. Look at Arthur." She quipped, and Merlin looked at her smugly.
"Not the only cause I've got. Also got one everyone else thought was lost." He reminded her tartly, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
"So what do I do?" Kay asked nervously and Merlin smiled at the young man.
"You learn how to use your magic, we'll help you." He assured him and Kay sighed, giving them one last desperate look.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do? I never wanted to be magical and the king, you're not like me, he won't kill you he knows you, but me..."
"I'm not so sure he won't kill me. Whatever happens when he finds out, it won't be pretty for any of us. But the king isn't going to find out about you any time soon because we're going to be clever about this. Morgana and I will train you if you want, we'll help you come to terms with your magic, learn how to use it properly. You up for it?" Merlin asked, and Kay frowned, and Merlin felt his heart sink.
"Yeah. But I'm only doing this because I have to, I don't want to do it. I never wanted to be magical and I've gone my entire life without it so I can do without it now. And I'm a knight, in Camelot no less, I don't want to risk that, or my life. So can you just tell me how to control it?" he asked hopefully, and while the sad and disappointed expression on Merlin's face broke her heart, Morgana nodded.
"Of course we will." She assured him and as Kay relaxed, a thought crossed her mind.
Gaius was right, there was every chance that someone out there wanted to get their hands on Kay, and also every chance that it was a powerful sorcerer who was out there and plotting against Camelot. And with the forty eight hour window still open then Kay, and by extension her and Merlin, were going to be prime targets. So now, the most powerful sorcerer in the world, combined with a high priestess, tutoring a young but powerful latent sorcerer, while some unknown sorcerer plotted against them all.
Wonderful.
XX
"MERLIN!" Arthur bellowed, and Gaius cursed as he heard the king stomping along the way to his rooms.
Merlin and Morgana had left a while ago to go and see Kay, to try and find out exactly how much the young lad knew about his magical abilities. However, because Merlin, no matter how good he was, couldn't be in two places at once, he now had a rather irate king looking for him. Gaius cursed under his breath. He could hardly tell Arthur that his servant and his sister were away tutoring a neophyte sorcerer. However he also couldn't give Arthur his usual excuse that Merlin was in the tavern. The reason for which was twofold. First of all, Gwaine had opened his trap once and that had led to Gaius and Merlin having to answer some very tricky questions. The second reason was that Merlin had threatened to murder him if he told Arthur he was in the tavern again, because if told that Merlin was in the tavern instead of doing his job, Arthur then proceeded to make Merlin's life hell, and Gaius was rather fearful that Merlin would make good on his pledge if he had to clean the stables out with a toothbrush again.
"You rang sire?" Gaius asked as Arthur banged open the door.
"Where is that useless servant of mine?" Arthur demanded, and Gaius cocked his eyebrow.
"He isn't with you? Then I have no idea where he is? Perhaps he is helping Percival with the training?" he suggested and Arthur scowled.
"No he isn't, otherwise I'd have found him by now. How hard can it be to find him, where does he go when he vanishes like this?" he asked irritably.
"Perhaps he had an urgent reason to vanish sire. He rarely does anything without a reason, so I suspect that whatever his reason for vanishing it is a good one." Gaius chided gently and Arthur sighed in annoyance.
"Fine, but if you see him, tell him I want him." He said grumpily and stormed out.
"My, he's in a bad mood. Glad he's not my boss." Gaius muttered, feeling sorry for what Merlin would do when Arthur found him.
Sometimes Gaius did have to agree, Merlin's magic and his associated duties really were more trouble than they were worth.
XX
"I've got it!" Morgana said in a panic, stomping out the fire Kay had accidentally set off on the bedspread.
"Hmm, I don't think I'm much good at this." Kay lamented and the witch smiled a little as smoke raised around her in wisps.
"Don't worry, I was like that once too." She assured him and Merlin grinned.
"You still are." He said with a grin and Kay started to share it, making her look at them as if they were both mad.
"What are you two both grinning at?" she demanded, and then smelled smoke and looked down to see the bottom of her dress was smouldering.
As Morgana cursed and swore (much more fluently and elaborately than Kay had) Merlin looked at Kay, pondering. They had been at it for hours, the sun had risen all the way up into the sky and now the moon was following it in the time they'd been in here helping Kay. They'd heard Arthur's not so dulcet tones ripping apart the castle as he looked for his servant (Merlin was going to flay Gaius alive if he told Arthur he was in the tavern) and still they had continued on, pressing ahead with Kay's training and they had made some progress. His magic was no longer bursting out of him at random intervals, the things in the room (which had included Merlin and Morgana once or twice) had stopped flying around and he had accomplished some control over some basic spells (healing the bruises he'd accidentally inflicted on himself was a bit beyond him) and had some degree of control. But when they had moved onto more powerful magic, offensive magic, they had ground to a stop.
Merlin knew Kay didn't want to be learning magic. He knew he didn't want to be magic, just like Morgana hadn't. But his actions had destroyed one person who was afraid of their magic and he wasn't going to let it happen again if he could help it. And now he was faced with a dilemma. Was Kay's difficulty with offensive magic because he simply didn't want to learn it and be magical in the first place, or was it because they hadn't managed to do it right yet? Was he just struggling to find his feet? Merlin didn't know. After all, he'd had to learn specific spells over the years, usually with the thought of something bad happening to Arthur if he didn't, but usually everything else just came to him. Morgana on the other hand had been taught many offensive powers, and her instruction under Morgause had prepared her and she'd been given enough of a basis that her own cleverness would help her figure out the rest of it. However, defensive magic and healing magic she hadn't been taught and her knowledge there was lacking. Or maybe Kay was just like Merlin and had a lesser proclivity for one aspect of magic, like Merlin had with healing.
He just didn't know, and he couldn't help Kay if he didn't.
"Maybe we should just give up." Kay said irritably, but Morgana, the bottom of her robe still smoking, shook her head.
"Kay, this is part of you, and while it may not seem like it now, this does mark you, powerful beings will be after you, after your power, and you need to be able to defend yourself with something more than a sword!" she insisted, but Kay abruptly got to his feet, looking angry.
"What, so now powerful sorcerers are going to be gunning for me? I don't want this, I didn't want any of this! Arthur made me a knight, which is more than I ever hoped I would be, and now you're telling me I'm a sorcerer and will get myself killed if anyone knows what I really am! I don't want to be a sorcerer, I only ever wanted to be a knight, and now I am, I don't want the magical aftertaste! I can't do it, I don't want to be able to conjure fire or lightning, I just want to be normal, so just leave me alone!" he yelled and stormed out of his own room, but to their relief and his credit, his magic wasn't exploding out of him as he did it, so they must have made some progress.
Merlin sagged sadly as the boy stormed away, seething. Morgana came up beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"We can't force it on him Merlin. I know where he's coming from. He's only sixteen, younger than you were when you first came here, he's bound to be overwhelmed. His family hasn't long died, he's too young to fend for himself no matter how good a smith he might be. He's suddenly been elevated from a mere blacksmith to becoming a knight of Camelot after saving the king and all his knights single handedly and now the twice conqueror of Camelot, the resident witch and her secret boyfriend appear out of nowhere and tell him that on top of everything else, he's a latent sorcerer so he's now getting all of his powers and learning he truly is and has had no time or knowledge to prepare himself for it. It's bound to be a lot to take in honey." She said softly and he sighed.
"I know. And I get that he's a kid and it's a lot to take in, but I don't want to go through the same hell we went through with you if we can help it. I just want to help him." He said sadly and she stroked his cheek.
"He's just overwhelmed my love. Give him time and space, and we can try again in the morning. And, if he is convinced he doesn't want to be magical, then so be it. If he doesn't want to use his magic, we make sure he's safe for the next forty eight hours and then we support his decision. Seem fair?" she asked and Merlin nodded.
"Yeah it does. I just wish that he could see that it is a gift as well as a curse." He moaned, and she kissed his cheek.
"You need to learn to relax honey. Come on. You can walk me back to my room." She said seductively and Merlin grinned.
"Lady Morgana are you trying to seduce me?" he asked and she smiled.
"Yes. First of all, you need a break. Second, you need to relax. Third, there isn't much we can do about Kay at the moment, he needs to cool down, and he's hardly going to fall to the dark side over night. And besides, the longer we keep you away from Arthur the better." She said, taking his hand as he groaned and leading him to her chambers.
XX
Kay, still angry, barged into the tavern, and upon seeing that he was a knight, the bartender immediately got him a drink, though a little watered down as he was younger than the others. Then, ignoring Lucan, Alymere, Elyan and Tristan who were arm wrestling in the corner he threw himself into a booth and clutched his pounding head.
He didn't want to be magical, especially if using his magic gave him a throbbing headache like this. He knew he shouldn't take it out on Merlin and Morgana, after all, they were just trying to help him. And Merlin in particular was taking a grave risk in helping him with his magic, because he could easily be exposed but the young serving boy seemed to think Kay was worth it, despite him not wanting to learn magic. Kay didn't want this. He'd seen the rampages Uther had gone on, hunting down innocents just because he feared their magic. And now, despite not having magic all his life he was suddenly a sorcerer, which was something he certainly didn't want. Kay hissed. All he'd wanted when he was growing up was to become a blacksmith like his father and uncle had been. He'd never even had an interest in becoming a knight like his father had been, until now. Now, he was a knight, appointed by the king after he had saved him, and he loved it, it was more than he had ever wanted.
Magic wasn't.
He knew it wasn't fair to blame Merlin and Morgana, after all they were only trying to protect him, but he couldn't help but resent them slightly, despite Merlin and Morgana's words they couldn't quite grasp what he was going through. Morgana got it more than Merlin did, but that wasn't anyone's fault.
Why was this happening to him? He had never wanted this, he didn't want to live with life in constant danger. He didn't have a clue how Merlin managed it without going round the twist. And now the rules and warnings the two of them had given him were echoing in his head. They said they understood, but he couldn't keep using his powers emotionally, he had to learn control. But that was one thing he had never understood about magic users. Morgana had explained about her sister Morgause, and Kay couldn't help but wonder if she was so powerful and such a skilled warrior, why didn't she just charge into Camelot and kill him when she had challenged Arthur rather than mess around like she had?
But they were sorcerers, something he had been told he had to despise in Camelot growing up. But while everyone knew what Morgana was capable of (not that she or her actions had ever harmed him) Merlin seemed too nice and caring to threaten anyone, whether he was a sorcerer or not. He didn't know what to do, he was suddenly vested with great power, and now he had to hide it, when he could use it to help.
Or to punish. Arrogant fools like those on the council, Carrigan in particular, ought to be taught a lesson, so why didn't Merlin and Morgana make them pay for their actions, the way some of them treated others? And Carrigan was dangerous anyone could see that. He had magic now, but he couldn't do anything about all the injustice around him. If they had magic they ought to be able to do something positive, change the world and make it better, not be forced to hide for fear of their lives.
"You seem troubled friend." A voice said and Kay looked up to see a man approaching with two tankards of mead.
He was a fairly tall man, with sandy coloured slightly blond hair. He had a small beard, his eyes were sharp, quick, brown and intelligent. He was clad in leathers akin to someone who did a lot of travelling and a sword was hanging at his waist.
"I'm fine thanks." Kay said, rubbing his head.
"You don't look it. Here, get this down you, I saw the tender water down your drink earlier, obviously doesn't think you should be drinking at your young age." The man said with a strong, silky voice and he sat down opposite Kay.
Alvarr studied the young man as he sat down. Tall and gawky, now he was training with the knights his gawkiness was already starting to wear off, and muscle was beginning to be developed. His face was young, bright and eager, with blue eyes that looked incredibly tired. His hair was slightly long on top but short at the sides, giving his hair a spiky appearance. And today he looked very drawn, but now that Merlin and his wench had gotten to him, Alvarr could feel the powerful magic pulsing under the surface. Yes, this boy couldn't be entrusted to Merlin and Morgana. If he did not see sense and join Nimueh then he would have to be destroyed.
"Thanks, but I'd really rather be left alone." Kay said, as the knights over on the other side of the room seemed to content to ignore him, he just wished this guy would as well.
"Come now. I see you're young and hence uninitiated in the ways of the tavern. This is how it works my fine young friend. You find a random stranger, tell him what's bothering you, he does the same, you both get totally wasted and the next morning all you can remember is that you talked your problems over." He said jovially, and Kay looked at the man curiously.
"Who are you?" he asked, as the man's melodic voice was beginning to make him listen to him.
"My name? I'm just a passing stranger, but if you must know my name is Alvarr. So friend, what troubles you?" he asked, and Kay frowned at him suspiciously.
"As I'm new at this, why don't you go first?" he asked, and Alvarr smiled, saluting Kay with his glass as he did so.
"Certainly. Do I get to know your name first though?" he asked and Kay smiled.
"Kay."
"Very well Kay. Well my problem here is this. I've recently been press ganged into the service of shall we say a noblewoman. She isn't very nice and expects perfection. I'm here on an errand for her and I dread to think what will happen if I fail to meet my expectations. She has a bunch of sycophants moping around after her, and she keeps a pet beast that she's been known to feed failures to. So you see, I'm in fear for my life. If I fail, she'll either kill me, have one of her minions kill me, or feed me to her pet, and I'd rather avoid all of the above problems. And in order to avoid this, I need to get someone to go and join her, but as she's a rather unpleasant boss, it will be very hard to convince said person, especially as he's already had another offer." He explained and Kay shrugged.
"Well, make your offer. If it's better the other guy might join you. And if he doesn't, just don't go back to her, simple as that." He said, and Alvarr smiled.
"It's not nearly as simple as that my fine young friend, she would track me down, torture me and then kill me. Either way she is not a nice person." He explained, and while he weaved the story, he realised that least some of it was true.
If he failed, Nimueh probably wouldn't kill him but she would be far from happy and would most likely torture him, especially since she had been conjuring a nathair the day before, and he had no desire to go up against one of them. However she would most likely torture him for failing and she would be less than impressed if she didn't get her hands on Kay. He suppressed a shudder as he looked musingly at Kay, beckoning him to make his own contribution.
"Well my life's changed a lot recently. I used to be a blacksmith and then I saved the king, and got made a knight. And I love that, I really do, I kind of always wanted to be a knight I just couldn't. But ever since then my life has changed in other ways, ways I'm not no fond of. I mean I have people helping me, but I don't think they really get it, and there's all these rules and not all of them make sense and I just don't know what to do about it." He said sullenly, and Alvarr frowned.
"Rules? Well I understand the knights have rules, but these others, are they forcing these rules on you without your consent?" he asked softly, and Kay frowned.
"No, I know they're only trying to protect me and look out for me. But some of the things just don't make sense. I don't see why I can't punish people who deserve it if I'm careful. Or help people who need it. He does at least, try to help out when he can. She can't because of who she is." Kay muttered to himself and Alvarr affected a look of curiosity.
"Who would these people be, and why do you let them control you?" he asked, and Kay shrugged.
"Well she's used to it. No matter where she's been, she's always had someone to tell what to do, she probably expects to be obeyed. And he seems to know what he's talking about, and he's cleverer than the king gives him credit for, I can see it. He dismisses him and the others sort of don't see all of him, but I do." Kay said softly, and Alvarr looked at him with genuine curiosity, he wanted to know what the boy saw when he looked upon Emrys.
"What is it you see that makes you treat this two with such respect? You sound like you disagree with their restrictions, but you certainly admire them." He explained and Kay nodded.
"Yeah, they've both done a lot. She's like...I don't know, looking at a snow covered mountain, bright, cold and powerful but alluring in some ways. And he's like looking at the sun." Kay explained and Alvarr sat back, interested.
"You are loyal to them?" he asked cautiously, and Kay shrugged.
"I don't really know. I mean I only really saw her in passing until today when she appeared out of the blue to help me with my problem." He admitted lamely, barely catching himself before he revealed he had magic.
Was this what his life was going to be like? Forced to keep quiet, forever be on his guard in case someone found out who he was?
"I hate this! I know they think it's good but it's wrong, and I can't even use it the way I want to use it because of their stupid rules. I don't want to be like this, I never did!" Kay grumbled, downing the last of his ale.
"Well why be like this then? I'm sure whatever you are can be a gift as well as a curse. But if you are truly unhappy with it, then ask your friends to help you get rid of it. Surely they will." Alvarr said, and Kay scowled.
"No, they think it's a gift. She could probably do it, but she wouldn't, she thinks its a gift, a hell of a lot more than I do."
"Hmm...far be it from me to criticise your friends, but it seems to me like they might not have your best interests at heart. It seems like they're doing what they want, what they think you ought to do rather than what's best for you. And these rules of theirs, all they seem to be doing is making you miserable. Don't stand for it." Alvarr encouraged and Kay looked thoughtful.
"Well, I know they only want to look out for me, but I didn't want this, and the rules, some make sense but others just seem to stop me using my powers for anything good." He said, then wincing but Alvarr appeared not to notice that he had said powers.
"There are always other ways. There way is not the only one. Forge your own path friend. You can make your life your own, to hell with them." He whispered desperately, and Kay looked at him suspiciously.
"Why are you so interested?" he asked suddenly.
He may be slightly inhibited by the drinks alcohol he had consumed, but Alvarr suddenly seemed all too interested in him, too curious, and now he was worried about just how much he had given away.
"Calm yourself friend. You want to know why? I'll show you." He said, and his eyes flashed gold and refilled their tankards, and Kay's eyes widened.
"You're a sorcerer too?" He gasped in astonishment, and Alvarr grinned.
"Yes my boy. And your mentors way is not the only way, I can assure you of that. How do you fancy showing me what you can do?" he said, but Kay still looked suspicious.
"What have you got against them?" he demanded and Alvarr put his hands in the air peaceably.
"Nothing. However, there are other paths. They're trying to train you to hide in the shadows, to deny who you truly are. Not with me. I can help you Kay, show you the true meaning of what you are."
Kay scowled.
"I don't want to know the true meaning, I don't like being like this." He complained and Alvarr grinned.
"Then I can help you my young friend. But are you sure you wish to cast your magic aside so easily?" he asked, and Kay did hesitate a little. After all, he had to admit it that learning with Merlin and Morgana had been fun. And the two of them, teaching him, it had been nice, he had never had a teacher before, and the two of them were so different magically that they could both help him in so many different ways. But he still didn't want magic. He'd seen what it had done to Camelot over the years and heard of the damage it had wrought on people in the kingdom. How could something so bad be good?
"Come Kay, and I will tell you everything you need to know." Alvarr assured him, and in his curious and fearful state, he followed.
XX
The next morning dawned as it always did, and Morgana, waking up alone to her great irritation (Merlin hadn't been able to stay last night Gwen had popped by and had warned Merlin that Arthur was on the war path for disappearing the day before), allowed herself to relax. After all, Kay had made good progress the previous day, he could now control his powers, and so far it seemed as if he hadn't been tempted and what was more there was no sign of interference from anyone trying to turn him to the other side. Morgana smiled as she donned her royal blue dress. No council sessions, Kay was alright, no imminent threats and she'd thought of several ways she could get Merlin to relax (boy did he need it). Figuring her first course of action ought to be to find out if Kay was indeed alright she headed down to the training field, where Percival was continuing to put the new recruits through their paces. However, as she headed for the stairs and looked out of the window, the blond head of Kay was noticeably absent. Frowning slightly, but figuring it was too early to worry either Merlin or Gaius, she swept along to where the boy had been assigned quarters, a few doors along from Gwaine, not that she thought that was a good idea.
"Kay? Are you in there?" Morgana asked, knocking on the door.
"Morning Morgana." Tristan said cheerfully as he whistled to himself heading up the corridor.
"Have you seen Kay?" she asked curiously, and he shook his head.
"Not since last night, he came into the tavern looking rather annoyed so we left him alone. Why?" he asked and she smiled easily.
"I don't know, because he's new I think. I want to keep an eye on him. If he was in the tavern he'll have a hangover, I'll send him down once I fix him up." She assured him and Tristan gave her a searching look and a small smile.
"I never thought I would say this but you're a nice person Morgana." He said as he headed off, and she smiled slightly. Odd though it was, she had missed people telling her that.
Flicking her hand at the door, she opened it and then yelped as it was nearly slammed shut on her fingers.
"Ow son of a!" Morgana cursed, sucking her skint finger angrily as an alarmed looking Kay, already dressed in his armour, came out, looking angry, shocked, slightly apologetic and ever so slightly nervous.
"Sorry." He said uncertainly as she sucked the small bit of blood that had appeared on her finger.
"You realise you're meant to be on the field?" she asked and he nodded, and then he glowered at her, and she was quite taken aback by the venom in his gaze, the last person who looked at her like that she had slept with, but then Merlin was different.
"Yeah I'm just going there now. Why were you trying to get in my room?" he demanded and she looked at him patiently.
"I was worried about you of course. And why the hell did you slam the door so hard on me?" she asked and Kay narrowed his eyes.
"I like my privacy. Especially from you and Merlin." He said snappily and she arced her eyebrow at him.
"What's wrong with you today? Look Kay, we're just trying to make sure you don't get into trouble and that you're safe, can you really blame us? Merlin and I have seen enough people like us dead, we don't want to add you to the list." She said but he continued to glower.
"Yeah well maybe I don't want you to. Maybe I don't want to follow everyone of your stupid rules. Maybe I want to make my own way. Why should we hide? We're stronger than they are, you could easily have taken down Arthur yet you didn't because you're not strong enough. And Merlin's not brave enough, I've seen him follow Arthur around, he's like his little puppy and no matter how much Arthur mistreats him he still comes back with his tail between his legs. He's pathetic!" Kay snapped, but so did Morgana's control over her temper.
"Enough!" she said, her eyes flashing gold and he slammed against the wall, pinned there by her powers.
"Let me go Morgana." Kay hissed, and she could tell something was seriously wrong here, yesterday he had been terrified of his magic, he hadn't wanted it, and while he had been eager enough to learn control he clearly wasn't much interested beyond that. And now all of a sudden he had changed, become a much darker personality, and she could feel his magic, still largely untamed, boiling beneath the surface. Something had happened to him, someone had got to him, and now, the power inside him and the injustice around him was getting to him.
After all, she ought to know the signs. They had happened to her as well.
And she was damned if she was going to let this kid go the same way she did.
And Merlin sure as hell didn't need to watch someone else he cared about, another magic user no less and someone he trusted already despite hardly knowing the kid to turn on him.
She wouldn't allow it.
"No. Now, you were perfectly fine when you left us last night, a little angry and stressed sure, but not like this. And all of a sudden you're extolling the virtues of magic and telling me we should take over? What happened to you?" she demanded angrily and he glared at her.
"I woke up to the truth Princess that's all. We shouldn't be hiding, I was wrong to be scared of my magic. Now, let me go." He snarled angrily, and Morgana suppressed a shudder at how much the boy had changed in such a short space of time.
"Kay, what..." she began and then shrieked as her bracelet covered wrist suddenly burned as his eyes flashed.
"Leave me alone Morgana. I don't need you or Merlin anymore. I'm doing this my way. Oh, and if you want your precious little Merlin to remain undiscovered, you'll keep this to yourself." He snarled and shouldered past her, knocking her into the wall.
Morgana watched in shock as Kay strode away from her, shock, fear and hurt radiating off her. She hadn't been shaken like that in ages. She couldn't remember the last time someone had made her that frightened. She wasn't afraid of Kay, he was too young and too new to his powers to pose a threat to her or Merlin, at least magically. And she was fairly confident that because he was so new she could easily beat him in a swordfight. But if he did say something, who knew what could happen?
While Arthur was less of a pig headed idiot than Uther had been, that didn't mean that he wouldn't listen to a knight over a servant. He would hear them equally. But, her fear, along with Merlin's, was that if someone did indeed spell the magic beans about Merlin, someone may put two and two together. While Arthur, though he wouldn't admit it, would be more likely to listen to Merlin than Kay (if for nothing else than to keep his wife and sister happy) and while she personally thought Arthur wasn't clever to enough and was oblivious enough to think Kay would obviously be wrong about Merlin, others such as Gwen for example weren't quite so dense. And that was their fear. Between Gaius, her and Kay too many people knew about Merlin already, the more found out the angrier Arthur would be when he found out, then the more heartbroken Merlin would be when it became time for the inevitable backlash.
Morgana frowned. Something wasn't right. Kay was a sweet if shy kid, nervous and scared, not dark and bitter, that had been her forte. No, something had happened to him last night, something had got to him to make him like this. And she couldn't take the risk that he would tell about Merlin, she'd come too far to lose Merlin now because of something like this.
Glowering at Kay's door as if it had done her a personal wrong, she swept away to get Gaius to look at the burn Kay had made on her arm, and then to find Merlin.
And as the princess swept away from the door, Alvarr, having been unceremoniously stashed in the cupboard by Kay when Morgana had tried to come in, edged out of Kay's room, grinning triumphantly.
Everything was going according to plan.
XX
"Kay did this?" Gaius asked in surprise as he tended to the burn he had created on Morgana's wrist.
"Yes. Something's wrong with him Gaius, he wasn't like this yesterday, I think someone got to him." She said darkly as he finished wrapping her wrist in a bandage.
"Yes but who? It makes sense that someone powerful is trying to get their hands on Kay seeing as how rare latent sorcerers are even when Uther isn't killing them, but who could have got to Kay in the middle of Camelot?" he asked and she shrugged.
"I don't know. But the way he seemed this morning he could expose Merlin and I refuse to let that happen. See you later Gaius." She said as she swept out to find Merlin while Gaius frowned worriedly in his chambers.
Morgana headed for the training field where she could see Merlin observing the training with the knights, where Kay was currently battling Arthur. Forcing down the feeling of worry in her stomach that he might try and harm Arthur (she didn't believe he would) she nonetheless hurried down the stairs to the training yard to see Merlin and Gareth conversing, Gareth picking apart Arthur's technique to Merlin's great delight.
"Merlin we need to talk." She said, smiling in greeting at Gareth.
"Sure, what's up?" he asked as she dragged him off to the side, Morgana not quite liking the knowing grin on Gareth's face. Deciding she would deal with him after the current crisis was over, she showed him her wrist and his eyes widened in alarm.
"Who did this?" he demanded angrily, and she had to admit, it was quite nice seeing her get angry on her behalf.
"Kay." She said darkly and his eyes flashed in anger.
"Kay did it? What the hell did he do that for?" he growled angrily and she frowned.
"That's the thing I don't know. He's become a lot darker all of a sudden Merlin, extolling the virtues of using his magic, angry, bitter and reckless. Something's happened to him Merlin." She said worriedly, and Merlin had to agree, Kay suddenly having such a change in personality, along with branding his girlfriend seemed to indicate that something very bad had happened to Kay overnight.
"We should never have let him go when he was so anxious. Hang on, didn't you say he couldn't turn to the dark side overnight?" he hissed and she scowled.
"I stand corrected. Merlin, I don't know if he's enchanted, overwhelmed, angry or just plain crazy but we need to deal with this before he opens his trap and gets us all into trouble. You need to talk to him." She said, and he frowned.
"Alright, maybe we shouldn't have just let him go last night but that doesn't explain his sudden role reversal. Why's he changed so suddenly, what happened to him last night?" he asked curiously, and she nodded over at Tristan who was talking with Lucan.
"He went to the tavern apparently, but kept away from the others. But if you're thinking he's hungover I doubt it, he seems fresh as a daisy, besides he's giving Arthur a run for his money, look." She said, pointing to where Arthur and Kay were still training, and Merlin could see that while Kay's style was unorthodox, he was truly a master at it, as it was messing up Arthur who was a much older and much more experienced swordsman. His reversed grip was making it hard for Arthur to use most of his normal attacks, but Merlin could tell the king was enjoying this. Figuring he himself was in more danger than Arthur, he and Morgana headed over to Tristan, Morgana determinedly avoiding the grin on Gareth's face, and judging by the slightly nervous and guilty expression on Merlin's he too had noticed Gareth's uncalled for delight.
"Tristan, can we have a word?" Morgana asked and the former smuggler nodded, leaving Lucan to polish both their swords. Smirking at the dirty but affectionate look the young man gave Merlin, he turned to Tristan and narrowed his eyes.
"What's up?" he asked curiously and Merlin ploughed right in, the thought of losing another neophyte sorcerer to darkness was not one that was sitting well with him, especially when said sorcerer was busy training against the once and future king. Besides, Kay was a good kid, he knew he was, he was just scared (or so they had thought), and all of this didn't make sense. And he seriously believed that once he came to accept what he was, he would be more than willing to learn. And this time, Merlin wasn't going push someone away who needed help because this time they might not get so lucky.
"Did Kay seem alright to you when you saw him in the tavern last night?" Merlin asked, and Tristan frowned.
"He seemed a bit worked up when he came in, we didn't even notice him until later. We thought it best to leave him alone until he cooled down, and by that time he was talking to some other guy." He recounted, and Merlin and Morgana exchanged a nervous look, there was no telling who the person Kay was talking to could have been.
"This other guy, what did he look like?" Merlin asked desperately and Tristan frowned.
"Why are you pair so worried? I know he's a kid but he proved he can take care of himself." He said defensively, but Morgana shook her head.
"Tristan we know he can defend himself, what bothers us is that guy might have been up to something. Everyone's heard about Kay now, and he's the youngest knight Camelot's had since Arthur became one, which to many people will mean that he is young and impressionable. And while I'm sure Kay isn't stupid enough to fall for anything," she said smoothly in response to the angry look Merlin was giving her, "we're afraid that if there is indeed someone like that around they might try and use him to their advantage and might not stop if he doesn't listen." She finished and Tristan seemed to accept this, frowning as he recalled the man from the night before.
"He was quite tall. Thin too, but he still had the look of a fairly well trained warrior about him, but one who doesn't have regular meals, you can tell that sort of thing. Blue eyes, long brownish blond hair, a goatee, seemed quite bright as far as we could tell. And we was there before we got there, had the entire bar enraptured by whatever he was saying, charismatic I think is the word." He recounted and while Merlin looked puzzled, Morgana suddenly seemed very tense.
"Morgana?" Merlin asked hesitantly, seeing the calculating look on her face and the growing alarm in her eyes.
"It makes sense, if anyone was still out there and able to do it, it would be him, he vanished after that. Tristan, is this the man you saw?" she asked worriedly, and conjured a face with magic, and Merlin's jaw dropped, impressed by the beauty of the spell and the accuracy.
"That's him, how on earth did you know that?" Tristan demanded and Morgana swore while Merlin looked at her in shock.
"Alvarr?" he demanded incredulously, and Morgana nodded.
"Think about it, if anyone out there was still dedicated enough, crazy enough and powerful enough to pose a threat to Camelot, it would be him. And we already know someone is getting in and out of Camelot and is proficient in magic, it makes sense. Tristan, sound the warning bell!" Morgana ordered and as the knight ran off she and Merlin dashed over to Arthur and Kay's sparring match.
"Arthur, stop!" Merlin shouted, and Arthur easily blocked Kay's swing and turned to Merlin irritably.
"Is this you volunteering to be a practice dummy Merlin? You know better than to interrupt when I'm training." He scolded and Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Yeah like I would want to otherwise. We have a problem." He said and Arthur frowned, not noticing the resentful look that Kay was giving his manservant.
"What sort of problem?" Arthur asked patiently and Morgana recreated the image of Alvarr, and Kay's face went pale behind Arthur as he beheld the image.
"Alvarr is in Camelot, I've told Tristan to sound the warning bell. We need to find him, there's no telling what he might be capable of now." She warned and Arthur nodded, looking nervous.
"No kidding, but what the hell is Alvarr doing here? He has to know we're still after him since he escaped us last time, no thanks to you." Arthur pointed out and Morgana glared.
"He won't care about that, Alvarr managed to get into the citadel once before without any help he can do it quite easily again. We think he's here for Kay." Morgana said, hating herself and Kay's eyes widened in alarm and he shot her a look of betrayal.
"What? No, sire, I swear, I've never seen this man in my life!" Kay protested, but Merlin saw that Kay wasn't quite looking at Arthur. He grinned slightly, the kid was too young and innocent to be an accomplished liar yet, he had a tell.
"Kay, I'm sure Morgana has a very good reason for accusing one of my knights." Arthur said with a hint of warning and Morgana, who hadn't thought that far ahead, quickly cast around for an excuse but Merlin got there faster.
"Well it's obvious. Everyone in the kingdom is talking about how he saved you from the Hassassin. Everyone knows you made him a knight. Everyone also knows how young he is. Some people think that that's handy, makes them impressionable, susceptible to manipulation. I don't believe for a second that Kay would betray you," he said, and Kay's hostile glare softened a little, thanks flitting in his eyes, "but Alvarr is a known enemy of Camelot, and a knight would make a brilliant agent, that's probably what he's thinking."
Arthur frowned and nodded, then saw Leon and the others run towards him as the bells started to ring.
"Alright. Elyan, find your sister, take Alymere with you and protect her. Gareth, Leon, take Kay back to his room." Arthur said and Kay looked at him in alarm.
"What, sire, please, I can help!" he protested urgently, and Arthur smiled.
"I know you can. But believe me, I've fought Alvarr and he's no pushover. You'll be safer in your room." He said, but Kay still looked angry. Fearing Kay would get himself into trouble, if not reveal themselves, Merlin dragged Arthur slightly away from the group as Elyan and Alymere ran off to find Gwen.
"Look Merlin, I know you like him but..."
"Listen okay? Maybe...we can use him to help." Merlin said quietly, and Arthur looked at him incredulously.
"Merlin you remember what Alvarr's capable of right? And you want me to send my newest knight, my youngest knight, up against him when he hasn't even been fully trained yet? I'd be sending him to his death!" Arthur hissed as Leon gave the other knights orders, while Morgana kept an eye on a mutinous looking Kay.
"Make sure he doesn't die. We know Alvarr's here for Kay. Seems logical to me that eventually he'll go looking for him." Merlin said suggestively, and Arthur, who had opened his mouth to retort, then stopped short and grinned.
"You know Merlin, that isn't that bad an idea. You're becoming quite the tactician." He said, not fully mocking, there was definitely some respect and pride in his voice and Merlin grinned.
"Look at the teacher I've had." He said with a grin and Arthur nodded.
"Yeah, I've done well to get it through your thick skull." He said teasingly and Merlin shook his head.
"You? You've taught me nothing, I meant Leon." He retorted cockily and Arthur grinned and swatted at him, forcing him to duck.
"Merlin, strange though it sounds, has had an idea. Kay, go back to your room and wait for Alvarr to come to you. Leon, you and Gareth wait at one end of his corridor, and get Percival and Gwaine back and they can wait at the other." He ordered and Leon nodded and ran after the others.
"You're using me as bait?" Kay asked in surprise and Arthur nodded.
"Provided you don't have a problem with it, yeah. You alright?" he asked kindly and Kay nodded, smiling a little.
"No, sounds alright to me." He said and sent a thankful look in Merlin's direction.
"Alright, let's get started. We've got a dangerous sorcerer to catch." Arthur said but Morgana held his arm.
"I'll go with Leon and keep an eye on things. If Alvarr attacks he won't be expecting me." She said, and although he looked concerned, Arthur reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, be careful." He said as they all headed off for Kay's rooms, leaving a worried looking Arthur and Merlin behind.
XX
Alvarr swore as he ducked into another corridor. This was getting ridiculous. Ever since the warning bells had blared out over the city this morning, he'd never had a moments peace. The boy wouldn't have given him up, he was sure of that. That could only mean Merlin and his whore were the ones behind this, they were the ones who had discovered his presence. Perhaps he'd turned Kay too well, the boy hadn't yet learned the art of subtlety, otherwise he would have been more restrained in his confrontation with Morgana. Alvarr cursed. The entire city had become a rat's nest, and he was running out of time in which to twist Kay against Merlin and Morgana. And the thought of failing Nimueh was not an entertaining one, she would be furious if he failed and would exact retribution against him in short order. He could not fail to do this.
But unless he did something soon, he was going to be captured, and then he would be imprisoned within the dungeons again, and he doubted Morgana would let him escape this time, and there was no way Nimueh would risk either of her agents for him. Bolting into a room to avoid the clunking approach of more guards, he sighed in relief as they passed the door and found what he was looking for, a mirror.
Quickly casting a spell in a low voice, he breathed a sigh of relief as Nimueh appeared before him, looking irritable.
"What is it Alvarr, I'm busy." She snapped and he bowed to her respectfully.
"I apologise for the disruption my lady but I am discovered. I need help." He said pleadingly and she sent him an angry look.
"How did you manage to become discovered Alvarr? You were meant to be securing for me the loyalty of the latent sorcerer." She growled and he bowed apologetically.
"I am still endeavouring to do so my lady, but I need something to distract the knights and more importantly Emrys and the false priestess while I see to the boy. Do you have any suggestions?" he asked and, while still looking annoyed, she did frown thoughtfully, and then an idea came to her, making her face light up with anticipation.
"Actually yes. Repeat after me Alvarr. And be sure to not fail me, you will not enjoy the consequences." Nimueh warned and he gulped.
But as he learned what the spell she was teaching him was, he didn't care anymore. After all, even the mighty knights of Camelot would be unable to stop this threat.
A very belated Happy new Year to you all!
First of all I cant apologise enough for the massive break in between chapters, what with writing my other stories and my dissertation this chapter took so much longer than it was meant to, but it turns out i was writing two chapters at once anyway. So, I'll say no more here, just apologise some more, and post this chapter, and the second one will be up in a second with my usual writer's drivel!