A/N: Hello everyone!... I'm so sorry for the long wait, but I kind of had a writer's block. But on the brighter side, I now have a beta reader. It have had a bad experience with a beta reader before, but I think that this time it will all work out. So the chapters may come later, but they will probably be way better.
But back to the story... I'm sad to say that the next chapter will be the last one. So I hope you have enjoyed the story so far and I will try to get the next chapter up way sooner than this one. Enjoy!
xxx
Merlin heard Robin gasp next to him as he stared straight ahead, frozen in place... It wasn't possible... it couldn't be.
It was as if his heart broke seeing the limp body lying in front of them, on the cold stone floor. Death eyes stared at him and he felt tears appear in the corner of his eyes, how cruel was fate!
The warlock slowly sank to his knees as Robin said in a soft voice. 'I'm sorry... He was a good man.'
They stared at Sir Robert's body for a few more seconds before they heard a loud wicked laugh. Robin immediately pulled the raven up as he turned to face the man standing behind them. 'Sheriff.' The brunette hissed as he pulled the warlock further inside the room, away from the wicked man.
'Long time no see.' The sheriff said with an amused smile on his face. His dark eyes shifted only slightly to the cold corpse in the room. 'It seems that you found my little surprise.' Another laugh spread through the room.
Merlin felt sick just hearing those words, was this all just a joke for him, playing with peoples' lives. It was clear that he was the one spreading the rumor of Robert still being alive, but... He now realized that the knight had died the day he came to save Merlin and Gwen. The warlock closed his eyes, they had walked right into a trap.
The man grinned at them. 'So where are your other little friends? I really want to welcome the queen back to the castle.' The raven's eyes shot upwards, he would do everything in his might to protect his friends from falling into the hands of this... monster. The sheriff was just amused with the glares he received and he snapped his fingers. Within seconds guards ran through other doors in the room, trapping the brunette and the raven, keeping them from escaping.
'So what shall we do with the two of you now?'
'Haven't you done enough?' Robin hissed back as his grip on Merlin tightened.
'Oh, don't be so rude, little Robin.' He winked at two of the guards. 'Let's just have a little fun.' With that said the two guards ran forward, their swords ready to strike the two outlaws. The archer reached for his knife, but he wasn't fast enough and he saw metal lunge for him.
At the same time Merlin narrowed his eyes as he let out a deep breath, he wasn't going to let that monster kill another one of his friends! His eyes turned deep golden as a stream of words left his lips. His magic reached for the two swordsmen just in time to stop them, throwing them back against the wall. He glared at the remaining guards, the men all stepped back in fear as they remembered the raven's power just a few days before.
Merlin straightened his back, trying to hide the fear he felt in his heart. His eyes shot towards the sheriff, he would end this... once and for all. He cast a spell, sending his magic towards the man.
But as he saw those eyes he knew something was wrong, they weren't the eyes of a man that feared for his life. The older man just simply lifted his hand, showing a large ring with a black stone in it and as his magic reached the man he felt how it was sucked away from him, into the ring.
He gasped in shock, feeling the sudden emptiness in his heart by the loss of his magic, but unlike the bracelet he felt the magic return to him.
A wicked grin spread over the sheriff's face. 'Do you like it? I thought it was only fair to prepare for our meeting.'
'What?' Robin asked in surprise as he seemed to be the only one that didn't know what was happening.
Merlin opened his mouth to comment, but was interrupted. 'Just an old piece of jewelry I found. I wasn't really sure if it would work, but it definitely protects against his magic.' He smiled at his guards. 'Now, get them!'
As quick as he had said this Merlin and Robin stood back to back as the brunette said. 'I will handle the sheriff, you the guards?'
'Sounds like a plan.' Merlin answered, knowing that he couldn't do much to the sheriff with that ring. He lifted his hand, casting another spell that slammed a few of the guards to the ground, he didn't want to kill them... but if he had no choice he would definitely do it.
'Duck!' He heard the archer yell and he was just in time as he felt the edge of a sword fly over his head. He was glad that Robin had his back.
With another spell three of the guards fell paralyzed on the ground, damn there were way too many guards... not that he couldn't take them.
But just when he thought they had the upper hand he heard Robin yell in pain and his head snapped around. Robin lay on the ground, his left hand holding his other arm, blood seeping through his fingers as he hissed in pain.
'Robin!' He yelled and he stumbled to him, leaning protectively over his friend as he let his magic spread out to stop the sheriff's sword. But as his magic reached the sword it immediately lost its power. Even when the speed was partly slowed down it still cut his shoulder rather deep and he screamed in pain, blood streaming out of his shoulder.
His vision blurred from the pain as he sank through his knees, he could barely feel how Robin pulled him on his good arm, trying to get him away from their wicked enemy. But instead of being dragged back he was pulled forward, the sheriff's strong arms holding him tight against his chest.
'Guess you're my pawn again!' He hissed in a dark voice in his ear before shouting to the archer. 'You don't want your little friend to get hurt, right?'
Shivers spread through his body as he realised what was happening to him. He was being used as a hostage, again!... No... no,no,no! He couldn't let his friends get hurt again because of him, he didn't want to be used like this again... not again...
A tear ran over his cheek, but at the same time that his mind was filled with fear and sadness also anger rose. His eyes ran over Sir Robert's body, he may not have known him for long, but he hadn't deserved this fate. He breathed deep as more pain spread through his shoulder... he had had enough of it!
He closed his deep blue eyes as he spoke low words. His magic flowed out of his slender body, engulfing himself and the sheriff in a bright gold light. He could feel the sheriff shiver slightly, but the man didn't back away, knowing that his so trusted ring would protect him. Merlin could feel the resistance of the ring, blocking his magic.
He pushed back, ignoring the racing pain from his shoulder and the pressure of the ring. Another magical word left his lips and a loud crack spread through the room. The sheriff stumbled back, releasing Merlin as at the same time the power of the ring disappeared.
'What?' He heard the sheriff shout in pure shock as the man stared at the small black shards on the ground.
Merlin himself fell forward, barely able to stand upright as he clenched his hand around his wounded shoulder. He emitted a blue light and his flesh started to close before he turned his attention back to the sheriff, the gold never leaving his eyes. '... I have had enough of you, don't you dare hurt any of my friends ever again!' His voice was dark and demanding, something that he wasn't familiar with, but he was sure that it was intimidating.
He glared at the man, seeing fear spread over the other man's face as he lifted his hand, his own eyes sparkling with gold. Behind him he heard most of the guards flee as his magic caused part of the ceiling to collapse.
'Don't run!' Their boss shouted, but they didn't listen as most of them feared for their lives.
'What is your plan now?' He hissed, but at the same time he knew how close he was to passing out.
'I will never give up!' The sheriff spat as he reached for his knife. The man was clearly desperate.
Merlin clenched his teeth together, he really didn't want to kill, but if he had to... He saw the wicked man running towards him and as he reached him Merlin created a sword of magic, slamming it deep into the sheriff's chest.
There was a loud scream, until the whole room fell silent. The sheriff's eyes turning dull as the man slowly sank to the ground, glaring one last time before leaving the world of the living.
Merlin just stared down at the man, blood slowly coloring the floor. His mind going blank as he realized that he had just killed, he had killed before, but still...
'Merlin?'
He glanced shocked back, blinking at the brunette behind him as his eyes shifted to the man's arm. Robin was still hurt. 'You're hurt.' He just mumbled placing his hand over the wound.
Robin himself pushed the hand off, but not before it was mostly healed, and squeezed it. 'Are you alright?!'
'I'm fine.' He said giving the other a fake smile that he knew didn't reach his eyes. He glanced around and noticed how they were the only ones left in the room, the guards must have run off. They were safe, he didn't have to be strong anymore... he could just let the tiredness overtake him. Merlin turned back to face Robin and grinned. 'Maybe I'm not that fine...' With that said everything turned black.
