Hi again!
Many thanks to the reviewers though it were less than for the chapters before. So I guess 'Torch and Fire Stones' wasn't good. Maybe you could give me a hint what was wrong with it. It would really help me to improve.
However, to cut a long story short here's the next chapter. Please enjoy reading and please review.
"So you have come, Arthur Pendragon, Prince of Camelot."
Arthur was similarly surprised as Merlin about the fact that the old man knew who he was.
Sharing a short look with each other both gazed back at the old men. Finally Arthur responded irritated.
"Do I know you? Have we met someday?"
"No, we have never met."
"So how do you know who I am?"
"Easy. I am a seer. I knew that you would pass this underground today so I came to meet you."
"What for?"
Arthurs voice clearly stated that he had his doubts about believing that the man was a seer.
But the old man didn't allow himself to be deterred and continued.
"I have to tell you about an important secret."
Again Arthur and Merlin shared a likewise irritated look. This time Merlin continued the questioning.
"What kind of secret?"
The sorcerer paused.
Arthur got impatient.
"Come on, we don't have all day. Either you tell us or we'll leave. We're in a hurry."
With a mysterious voice the old man continued.
"It is my destiny to tell the son of the ruling Pendragon that there is a powerful weapon hidden deep within the walls of Camelot's castle."
Arthur showed his doubts openly.
"A weapon?"
"Yes, indeed. It will be needed urgently in order to protect the land and its citizens tonight as attackers will otherwise take over the rule and destroy all of Camelot."
"How do you know that Camelot will be attacked tonight?"
"As I said, young Pendragon, I'm a seer. I can see the future and I keep the old knowledge passed on to me from my ancestors who were honourable servants of your ancestors. It is my duty to pass this knowledge on to you so you might use this almighty weapon to fulfil your destiny."
"My destiny?"
"Precisely! If you don't find this weapon in time you will never be able to become king and lose your life even before your father loses his."
"Pathetic, I don't trust in the words of someone declaring himself a seer." 'Because it's too close to magic and thereby evil.' Arthur thought by himself.
"You better should. There were times when your ancestors trusted in people like me. I just fulfil what they ordered me to do."
Arthur sighed, of course he wasn't persuaded at all but he knew that they had to go on.
"So what should this weapon be and where would I find it?"
"I have never seen it with my own eyes, so I cannot tell you what it looks like. All I know is that this weapon is mightier than every possible attacker, no matter if magical or anything else. Look for it in the room resided west of the main entrance of the castle. When it is needed the most, you will be able to find it."
Merlin knew that the man most likely talked about a big storing room. It would take hours to search through all cupboards. And on top of this the place had storing rooms under the floor, no easy task to get the weapon up if it would be a heavy one. So Merlin added another question.
"Don't you have any more details?"
The old man paused again until he finally continued.
"This is all I can tell you, young Pendragon. I suggest you hurry along before it is too late! Just take this way. It will lead you out of this underground, right in front of Camelot within a few minutes."
The old man waved behind himself, revealing a second path which Arthur could have sworn that it had not been there before. But maybe it was just the thin light of the torch that prevented him from spotting it earlier. However, there was no time for caring about this now. Indeed they had to move quickly, no matter if the old man's words were true or not.
"Thank you ... what was your name again?"
"My name is of no importance. Quick, you must leave."
"Right. Again, thanks for the information. Come on, Merlin."
Arthur passed the old man and turned into the second path.
Walking on quickly he suddenly realized that there were no steps to hear behind him. What the heck was Merlin doing again? There was no time for delays!
Turning around to yell at his servant Arthur suddenly heard Merlins irritated but demanding voice.
"Why are you blocking my way? Just let me get through as well!"
When Merlin wanted to follow his master the old man suddenly stepped into Merlins way and wielded a dagger at him to prevent that he would pass him. Just in time Merlin had managed to dodge it and stepped back a little, looking at the old man in total confusion.
As Merlin demanded to be let through as well Arthur stopped and turned around, wondering what was going on.
Seeing the old man attacking Merlin, Arthur just realized it. The old man had only spoken to him but never to Merlin. So what was this all about?
„What are you doing old man? Let him through!‟
„I must deny getting away from this place to anyone who doesn't have the royal blood of the Pendragons. The secrets with which I have entrusted you may not be heard by anyone else but the Pendragons, the rightful rulers of Camelot. And I can feel that this man has not such blood inside of him, so he is not allowed to live on with knowing of the holy secret.‟
Merlin was nearly speechless.
„Then why have you even talked about all that while I was around? You could have sent me away.‟
„It doesn't matter to me what happens to a lowly person like you.‟
Arthur had enough of all this and interrupted them.
„This is ridiculous. Merlin is my servant and if I say it's all right with him knowing about this then it is. So let him pass, I order you to as the rightful successor of the Pendragons.‟
„I don't take orders from anyone, no matter if Pendragon or not. I have vowed to protect this knowledge with my life. This creature has no right to be here or to go through with you. I will deny your proceeding as well, Pendragon, if you don't kill him right away.‟
„Don't make me laugh! I don't listen to your orders as well. You can't prevent me from going through with Merlin. If you still try you leave me no other choice but to make you change your mind.‟
Arthur stated his intention by getting out his sword.
Suddenly the old man laughed and his eyes blazed golden. He raised his hand to create a magical barrier around them, blocking off any exit as Arthur and Merlin realized how they were pushed to the middle of the room by a strange power.
Both startled as they realized that the old man was a sorcerer.
Arthur reacted first and placed his sword on the old man's neck.
„You dare performing sorcery in front of my eyes? Put this barrier away at once or I'll kill you!‟
The old man laughed evilly.
„Go ahead and try!‟
Arthur got furious watching the smirking face and performed a strike but his sword ran through the old man's body as if he was just an illusion.
Again the laughter reappeared in the air.
„You can't beat me, Pendragon. I repeat it again, kill your servant and I let you pass.‟
Arthur turned around to face the sorcerer who reappeared behind him.
„I won't kill him.‟
„Oh, why won't you? This is just a lowly servant! But if you are so eager to save his life then just cut out his tongue and make him unable to write by cutting his hands off so he won't be able to inform anyone about the secret. That way he would stay alive and you could pass together.‟
„Stop saying such nonsense and vanish!‟
Again and again Arthur tried to cut through the sorcerer's body but he didn't succeed.
Finally the sorcerer disappeared into thin air, leaving only his evil laughter behind.
„There's no way out for you as long as there's a living being inside who doesn't carry the royal blood of the Pendragons. So you better change your mind or you'll rue this decision forever!‟
Outrageous Arthur shouted after him.
"Come back and stop hiding like a coward! Fight like a man!"
But the sorcerer didn't reappear. So Arthur tried to cut through this magical barrier but his sword wasn't able to damage it. It just bounced back everytime without causing a single scratch.
Suddenly Merlin interrupted him.
„Arthur stop, it doesn't make any sense if you waste your energy. It just won't work.‟
„Then what else do you think I should do?‟
„First you should calm down. We have to think this over and stop wasting time. You heard what he said and you must hurry back to Camelot or the city is doomed.‟
„I know that but I don't really believe in his mumbling about this 'almighty weapon'."
"I can't say if he is telling the truth but it's genuine that we can't remain here. On the other hand why should he make this up and try to protect the secret so eagerly?‟
"So you believe in his words?"
Merlin wavered. Of course he considered that this old man was just one of the evil sorcerers Gaius had warned him of but if he would, why didn't he just kill Arthur. Merlin clearly sensed that this person had the power to do it but all he seemed to want was to tell Arthur of this weapon. Maybe there had really been sorcerers in the past who had served Arthurs ancestors. Maybe they had their own prophecy like the one Merlin had received from the Great Dragon.
"At least I see no reason why he should lie."
"But he's a sorcerer. How could we trust in someone like him?"
Merlin clearly felt a stitch in his heart but that wasn't the time to think about himself. Sighing he answered.
"Being a sorcerer doesn't necessarily mean that he is lying. But that doesn't matter right now. You have to get out of here immediately. Better think about his words later."
"So what do you suggest?"
Merlin remained silent for a moment. He had really tried to find a way out. When Arthur was busy with hunting the old man and trying to cut down the barrier, Merlin had already tried to find a spell which would neutralize the magical barrier but nothing helped. This was a strange and very powerful kind of magic which Merlin couldn't beat.
Finally Merlin had come to a conclusion. The solution was simple. It was his destiny to protect the future king. That was all that matters. And if Arthur would be captured inside this cave, Camelot would be lost and he would never become king. Merlin couldn't allow letting that happen just because he was standing in the way.
Merlin looked back at Arthur who still stared at him asking. Sighing Merlin shook his head.
„You already know the answer.‟
„What?‟
„You have to kill me.‟
Unbelieving Arthur looked at him.
„Are you insane?‟
„No, I'm totally fine. Listen, you have to go back to Camelot at once and if I'm the one preventing this, you should get rid of me.
Arthur snorted.
"Come on, Merlin. Don't try to act like a hero."
"I'm not acting. I'm just telling the truth! You've said it by yourself just hours ago: You wouldn't allow anything to stop you from arriving at Camelot before the bandits do, that's why you actually wanted to pass through here. It's for the sake of Camelot, so I'm begging you to do what is necessary because I don't want to be the responsible for its destruction.‟
Arthur looked seriously at Merlin for a long moment until he finally seemed to understand and nodded. He approached his servant while drawing his sword from the scabbard, obviously ready to do what had to be done.
Even if Merlin had taken in the thought that he must be killed right now, he still was a little bit shocked that Arthur took steps that quickly. Of course, they did have better days and Merlin knew that the prince was quite pissed considering his servants behaviour since the day had started. But still Arthur could at least have said that he was sorry for killing him or something like that.
But Arthur didn't look like he would even try to say goodbye when he came closer.
Though Merlins body wanted to back down he forced himself to stay where he was until Arthur was right in front of him, guiding his sword up to Merlins neck.
'I guess this is it.'
Squinting Merlin awaited the finishing move of Arthurs sword to strike him down.
So, there we are where we've started. As you can see I made some changes to the first chapter to match up with your advices.
Next chapter will have some revelations though I doubt that it will be the last one. I know it's not nice to stop at this point but I didn't want to wait too long with the update. I really need to work over the next chapter before posting it. But I hope it will be worth the wait.
Please review!
