2/14
Merlin
The Darkest Knights
Alistors hovel was crumbling around her, the shade eating away at the wood, rotting it away, and Morgana despaired, for she knew if it reached her she would suffer. She closed her eyes again, then opened them.
"Talsita" she intoned, feeling the pain lance through her. The earthen wards too powerful for her to even hope to combat. She looked around, seeing nothing of any use, nothing that would or could aid her, which was when she suddenly shuddered. She gasped, looking up where the Shade had finally covered the wooden beam she had been string from.
"No I will not die this way" she sneered, struggling in her bonds, twisting, even as the Shade began to creep down the rope. Two minutes, no more, and it would be on her. She struggled even harder, rocking backwards and forwards, when with an almighty snap the beam split, sending her crashing to the ground, she landed with a thud, aware that she was free from the beam, but the rope still held her wrist. She crawled quickly out of the ward's influence and held her bound wrists in front of her.
"Inflagrie" she said, the ropes catching alight, burning away with a foul stench that made her gag, even as the heat seared her wrists, but she had done it, the rope fell away. She gasped as she touched her blistered wrists, turning and running from the hovel, surprised her horse was still there. Without a second thought she mounted it, and galloped away from the Hovel, even as it collapsed behind her, the Shade finding new purchase on the forest floor.
Arthur looked at the four men in front of him, his eyes showing what his mind could not comprehend, what his heart refused to believe. Merlin, Leon, Percival and Thomas, most certainly alive, yet so different in their manner it enraged him to even watch them. His gaze found the dead guards lying in a heap on the floor. In the corner of the room Balinor still cried, pressing into George as if to escape the four men. Beside Arthur Gwen had got to her feet, taking his hand gently, even as Freya stood as well. Elyan and Kyle helping Gaius to stand. But try as he might Arthur could not take his gaze away from the men for long.
"Oh come on Arthur, admit it, you missed me" said Merlin stepping forwards before glaring over at George, who held the screaming Balinor in his arms.
"Shut that child up!" he suddenly roared. Balinor screeched and George stepped back, rocking the boy, doing what he could. Merlin turned his sneering face back to Arthur.
"Well? You didn't answer my question" he said amiably. Arthur felt his bile rising, anger raging for dominance, but it was Freya who stepped forwards, glaring at him.
"You are not welcome here" she said dangerously. Merlin looked over at her.
"Oh, you're alive, I thought you might of, I don't know, died again by now" Merlin said. Behind him Leon grunted a laugh. Merlin slowly moved towards Arthur, smiling.
"I take it this means you're not pleased to see us" he said, almost sadly. "That hurt's Arthur, it really does" Merlin said, as he turned to Gwen.
"And you, no words of support for you king?" he asked.
"I have nothing to say to you" Gwen said.
"Leave her alone" Arthur suddenly snarled, reaching for his blade. Merlin caught the action and stepped back, holding his hands up.
"Oh, I have no wish to harm Gwen. Not yet at any rate" he said, turning around. Thomas suddenly tilting his head.
"Thomas?" asked Merlin, looking at him.
"the witch is free" Thomas explained.
"you can't know that, you never had magic" said Rory speaking up suddenly. The four men turned to look at her, and she stared back, defiantly.
"You be surprised what can happen when people are brought back" Merlin said. Then he turned to Arthur and gave a jaunty little wave.
"We'll see you later" he said.
"No!" Roared Arthur even as the four men vanished in explosive whirlwinds of magic. It took several minutes, but slowly Elyan looked over to Arthur.
"Sire?" he prompted.
"Get out" said Arthur.
"Arthur?" asked Gwen, looking at you.
"All of you get out" he ordered. The people in the chamber bowed, then left, but Arthur stood up and looked at Gaius.
"Not you Gaius" he said. Gaius stopped and waited as the others left the room, some limping as they stepped over the remains of the doors. Finally the two were alone.
"Sire?" asked the old man. Arthur held up his hand as he collected his thoughts, Gaius waiting patently. Finally Arthur looked over at him.
"What do I do Gaius?" he asked simply. "how do I fight those… things?" he asked.
"I don't know sire. Merlin is powerful in his own right, but Morgana was foolish in the choice of who she returned. Leon is an excellent fighter, almost on par with yourself, Percival far stronger than a lot of people we know and Thomas is an excellent strategist, One of them alone would be a dangerous threat to us, but all four of them together…" Gaius allowed his voice to trail off.
"But Merlin, he's the Leader" stated Arthur. Gaius nodded at him.
"Yes, as is natural, he is the most powerful of them after all" Gaius said. Arthur nodded.
"And the others?" asked Arthur.
"Personally I would put Thomas as his right hand, Then Leon and Percival, Merlin did send Thomas in first" Gaius said. "but I fail to see how this helps us" he admitted.
"Same, I was hoping you would notice something glaringly obvious" Arthur said.
"I have no answers sire, I'm sorry" Gaius said softly. Arthur looked up at him.
"Then you need to find them my friend" Arthur said. Gaius bowed.
"I will try" Gaius said. Arthur nodded and watched as the old man left the room.
Up in Arthur and Gwen's chambers George rocked Balinor softly, the child finally succumbing to sleep as he watched Gwen, Freya and Rory talking quietly.
"It's all so unnatural" Gwen said softly. Beside her Freya nodded her head.
"But we were stupid, we knew this was possible, yet we, all of us, let our emotions cloud our judgements. Merlin knew what he was doing by coming here so soon" she said. "He's not stupid, he knew our emotions would be in turmoil at seeing them all again" she continued. Beside her Rory looked stricken.
"I feel sick" she said softly. Gwen leant out, putting a comforting arm on her shoulder. Rory looked up at her, then, tears in her eyes, turned.
"I'm sorry, I just.. I can't do this right now" she said, hurrying out. Gwen went to move after her, but Freya shook her head.
"I will speak to her" she said. Gwen looked at her, then nodded, understanding that Freya knew, possibly more than Gwen could, what Rory was feeling at the moment. Freya smiled at her, then looked over to George who still held Balinor, giving him a brief smile, before she walked out. Gwen sighed and sat down, then looked over at George, who was still rocking the child, humming to it softly.
"I thought you disliked him" Gwen said with an affectionate smile. George looked up at her, frowning.
"My lady, sometimes he can be a huge pain, but no, I could never hate him, and despite his growing fascination with floating me around the room, I would die before I see something happen to him." George replied. Gwen smiled at him.
"He certainly seems to feel safe with you" she admitted. George nodded as he stood, putting Balinor in the crib.
"And I will make sure I will do what I can to keep it that way" George told her.
Freya found Rory on the newly repaired battlements, looking out, tears on her face. Slowly she walked forwards, placing a hand on the other woman's shoulder.
"I've wanted… for so long to see Thomas again" Rory said softly. "When he died, I had only just got there, to the battle. I never got to say goodbye. And now he's back, and.." she broke off, as tears began to fall again.
"I know, it was true of me as well, wanting to see Merlin again. And its strange, a part of me, a dark twisted part is so happy he is back, no matter in what form. But I fight it. I fight it knowing that sooner or later we will be forced into battle" Freya admitted. Rory looked up at her, shaking her head.
"I can't do it Freya, I can't go to war with the man I love" Rory said crying. Freya pulled her into a hug.
"I know, but This is not Thomas, any more than it is my Merlin" she said, her tears joining Rory's.
"Then what do we do?" asked Rory, looking up at her. Freya shook her head, wiping tears away.
"There is nothing we can do except support Arthur as best we can, and pray, pray to all the gods that we can, that one day we will have them again, we will have the people we love back" Freya said. Rory looked away, back down into the courtyard, Freya standing with her in silence now.
"She's gone" admitted Percival as they looked at the ruins of the hovel. Night had fallen and the four men now stood in the patch of Shade that had already spread from its remains.
"Well, that's a bitch" muttered Merlin. "Oh well, she'll pop up sooner or later, we can kill her then" he said.
"So what now?" asked Percival. Merlin frowned and then sighed, then smiled.
"First things, we've had our fun, now it's time to work. And we need somewhere to stay" Merlin said.
"You know somewhere?" asked Thomas looking at him.
"Oh yes, I do indeed" Merlin said with a malicious grin, and his eyes glowing the four men vanished again.
They reappeared on a grassy knoll overlooking a mist shrouded valley, at its centre a huge fortress rose from the mist, even as the mist floated around and through dilapidated and crumbling buildings that had once served as a town.
"The city of Kalaros, home of the dead" Merlin said. "and the place that we shall call home" he continued.
"Why here?" asked Thomas.
"Because, hidden in this city is the one thing that can defeat us, we have to find it and destroy it" he said, walking forwards, down into the valley. The other's falling into step behind him. The mist grew thicker around them as they advanced, until finally buildings began to appear around them as they reached the outskirts of the city.
"You feel them?" asked Merlin in wonder.
"I feel cold" Percival snarled in reply. Merlin smiled and shook his head.
"All around us, the dead, the despondent, the insane and the murdered, all of them crying out in despair" Merlin stated.
"No. I feel cold" Percival reiterated. Merlin smiled again.
"don't worry, you'll fell them in time" he assured him, before setting off again, the closer to the fortress they moved, the thicker the mist became, but there was enough light to make out the skeletons that littered the ground, some in armour, some not.
"What happened here?" asked Leon softly.
"War" replied Merlin.
"This was not war, this was slaughter, on both sides" Thomas said with disdain.
"Fifty, fifty years ago, this city was once the most concentrated source of magic, it held tomes, items, everything really one could need for magic" Merlin said.
"So what happened?" asked Leon.
"A war broke out, between those who followed the old religion, and those who embraced its newer incarnation. The High priestesses of the old religion used this city to command their forces from, but it was no use. Far more embraced the new version than the old, which expunged many of the old beliefs and magical incantations. Eventually they fought their way here, and a great battle took place, and the Priestesses, realising they were losing unleashed the power of the elements all at once" Merlin said.
"So?" asked Thomas, as he kicked a skull out of his way, sending it crashing into a crumbling wall.
"The attackers retaliated, and by the end of it they were all dead, attackers, defenders.. all of them" Merlin explained as they reached the base of the fortress, and it was true, this was indeed a fortress.
Arthur sat in the audience chamber, brooding. Gwen next to him, Freya looking over at them. To say Arthur was fuming was an understatement. Barely contained rage vibrated from him.
"I don't understand" said Gwen suddenly. Arthur looking at her. "Why did Merlin reveal himself so soon? He could have waited, but instead.." her voice trailed off, and Arthur looked away.
"To do exactly what he has done, throw us all into turmoil" said Freya. "He knew the effect of seeing Him and the others so changed would have on us" she said. Gwen looked at her and nodded. But Arthur shook his head.
"He deliberately showed himself, openly taunting me" said Arthur as he spoke with Gwen and Freya.
"Why would he do that?" asked Gwen, confused.
"To show he isn't afraid of us… of me. The ultimate insult" he spat, then stood.
"I HATE THIS!" he suddenly roared, kicking the chair away, Gwen went to him, grabbing his wrist.
"You see?" said Freya softly. "your emotions consume you, your heart rebels at what the mind cannot comprehend" she said.
"Don't pretend to know me Freya!" Arthur snapped at her. Freya held his gaze, her own voice steely.
"And don't presume you are not the only one being affected by this, you do not have that right!" she shot back.
"ENOUGH!" screamed Gwen. "Any more of this and Merlin won't need to kill any of us!" she yelled. Arthur took a deep breath, looking at Gwen then back at Freya.
"I'm sorry" he said at length. "I hate feeling so helpless" he admitted. Freya nodded, watching as Arthur moved over and picked up the chair, slowly he sat down in it and took another deep breath.
"Did you know this might happen?" Arthur asked looking at her. Freya shrugged.
"Anything is possible with magic Arthur, but did I know Merlin and the others would be returned to us as dark twisted shadows of what they once were? No I did not" she said. Arthur stared at her, then nodded.
"How do you believe I should proceed?" Arthur asked at length. Freya shook her head.
"I have no answers, what is happening here, now, this was never meant to happen" she said.
"So nothing in Merlin's great destiny said this would come to pass?" Arthur asked, almost sarcastically.
"Arthur, Merlin's destiny was meant to end when his life did" Freya replied, blinking away tears. Arthur looked away, chiding himself for his hurtful question. Slowly he sighed, and looked back, his eyes red. Gwen shook her head sadly and gripped his hand tightly, slowly he stood, Gwen holding his hand all the while,
"How am I meant to do this? I can't kill them, no matter what happens I know I can't kill them" he said. "So someone tell me what the hell to do!" he roared, as he collapsed to his knees, sobbing. Gwen knelt next to him, as did Freya.
"Arthur" Gwen said, pulling him close, Freya's hand on his back.
"First we must find them" Freya said. "then we can figure out what to do" she said. Arthur looked at her.
"How?" he asked.
"We will find a way" Freya assured him.
The Throne room of the fortress was empty, layers of dust covering everything, puffing up as after so many decades of being undisturbed, four men now walked among over it.
"Conflagry" Merlin muttered holding out his hand, the torches on the walls lighting. He grinned and looked around then looked at the others.
"Welcome home" he said, the men nodded and then spread out, looking around. Percival into a small antechamber, that held the remains of several knights, in red and black armour. He smiled and went over to the remains, prying the armour off, and putting it on himself, before walking out, picking up the black and red helmet from where it had been discarded, or rather where the head had fallen to when it had been removed by blade. He picked the skull out of it and examined it, then tossed it over his shoulder, putting the helmet on.
"Now this" he said to the others who were looking at him. "this is armour" he grinned. Merlin nodded, appreciating the dark, almost blood red tint to the armour, which, even after all these years was rust free. Slowly he reached out, placing his hand on it, then smiled, turning to Thomas and Leon. They looked at him, nodding.
Two hours later they all wore the armour, and Merlin smiled as he looked around.
"Arthur has the knights of Camelot. Then we shall be the new Death Guard" he said, and as he spoke those last words, the shadows came alive around them, hissing and spitting. Merlin smiled.
"What are they?" asked Percival, watching as the creatures flittered from shadow to shadow. Merlin laughed as he watched them.
"Our loyal subjects of course" he said, then he narrowed his eyes as he looked at the spectres.
"Find the tome of Aliskon" he ordered suddenly, the spectres vanishing back into the shadows. Merlin smiled and then with the others following, they moved to the highest part of the fortress, stepping out, looking over the mist covered town below. Merlin raised his arms and his eyes glowed brightly.
"Sistorn Solice Tyver Ograda!" he screamed. The palms of his hands split open and droplets of blood began to whirl away, a moment later Thomas held his hands up, the same happening to him. Merlin looked at him, grinning, then Leon joined in, followed by Percival. The blood that flowed from them soon stopped, the droplets that had been carried away on the magical gust falling invisible over the town below. The four of them looked back out over the city where, slowly, shapes began to form, ghostly lights flittering about in the mist, that had suddenly begun to recced, until, below them were massed hundreds of the spectres.
"Behold, Kalaros reborn" Merlin said, breaking into a laugh, even as a rat, disturbed by their machinations scurried out of hiding, Leon swooping down and picking it up, crunching the head off the squealing creature.
"Chew with your mouth closed" muttered Thomas.
Freya sat up in bed, tears running down her face. It had to have been a nightmare. It had to be. She took a steadying breath, and then frowned, hearing Balinor crying from the kings chambers. No. It was no nightmare.
"So what's next?" asked Percival, looking at the others. Merlin was talking quietly to Thomas, before both looked at him.
"Percival, how would you like to join me on a little trip?" asked Thomas as he pulled the helmet of his new armour on. Percival slowly nodded, doing the same.
"Have fun" said Merlin as he transported them away. Leon looked over at Merlin and frowned.
"And what are we to do?" he asked. Merlin's eyes lit up as he grinned.
"We, my friend, are going to say hello to Morgana" he replied. Leon nodded his head, then laughed.
Morgana had hidden for several days, showing herself sparingly, for fear of what might happen. Now, this darkest of nights, she quickly, but quietly returned to abandoned house she had found during her travels. Of whom the occupants were, she had no idea, and frankly, she did not care. All that mattered was staying out of sight until she could reverse what had happened, and then she could start anew. Slowly she opened the door, shutting it quietly behind her. She turned around, and jumped as Merlin stepped out, even as Leon grabbed her arms.
"You know, I thought that of everyone, you would have been some kind of challenge" Merlin said as he stepped forwards.
"What do you want with me?" she asked, her voice shaking. Merlin didn't reply, just ran his fingers across the dust covered surface of a support beam, before rubbing his fingers together.
"If you mean to kill me then do so!" she suddenly screamed.
"kill you?" Merlin asked sounding amazed, going into a nasty chuckle, before fading out. "You will die, that I admit" Merlin said, then he smiled, a menacing grin on his face.
"But don't think it will be a quick and painless death" he assured her. Morgana snarled, her eyes glowing, and Leon was hurled from her to the ground, but even as she turned to run she felt the whip across her back, cutting deep. She screamed as she fell to the floor, even as Leon stood up. Slowly Merlin walked over to her, the magical tendrils of energy that whipped at her going again, slowly he knelt down, stroking her hair gently, as a lover might. She pulled away, and he grabbed her hair roughly, pulling her head back.
"No Morgana. You are going to beg me to kill you before I let you die" he whispered
Lord Godstone had been sitting in his throne room, speaking to his advisor for most of the night, and truth was, he was tired, but matters of state came before personal luxuries, like sleep for instance. So he wasn't fully awake when the door to the throne room slammed open, a large knight wearing armour he recognised from long ago storming in.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded shooting to his feet, grabbing for his sword. The large knight was far too fast however, bringing his own sword to bare on the old king.
"Kneel" said the knight, Godstone blinked, he knew the voice, but from where?
"Never" he replied through gritted teeth. The knight suddenly swung around, and in one swift motion gutted his advisor, before turning back to Godstone.
"Who are you to think you can invade my very castle!" demanded the king, shock on his face. Slowly the knight reached up and removed the helmet, and Godstone gasped.
"Sir Percival?" he said softly. Percival narrowed his eyes and moved closer.
"I said… Kneel" he whispered. Godstone remained defiant.
"You are a dead man" Godstone stated. "I do not kneel to dead men" he stated. Percival nodded, then suddenly whipped his blade up, cutting the king's arm.
"Come now Percival, that is no way to treat such a valued ally of Camelot" said Thomas stepping into the throne room of Godstone's castle.
"I will never kneel to you!" Godstone spat at them.
"A pity" said Thomas, suddenly Pulling Vivian into view and holding his sword up to her throat.
"You might however want to rethink that" Thomas said with a malicious grin. Godstone looked over at him, seeing his daughter held there roughly.
"Father" she said softly.
"Now… I suggest you kneel, before the Lady Vivian meets an unfortunate end" Thomas suggested.
"What's happened to you?" Godstone asked.
"Are you deaf and stupid?" asked Percival. "KNEEL!" he roared, and with a savage kick knocked him to the ground.
"FATHER!" Vivian screamed, Thomas holding her tight.
"Do you yield?" asked Percival kneeling down. Godstone looked up at him, hatred in his eyes.
"I yield!" he spat, before he looked over at Vivian. Thomas smiled and dragged Vivian over, where he pushed her into Percival who grabbed and held her tightly.
"Oh father" she muttered softly. Thomas knelt down next to Godstone.
"See, was that really so difficult?" he asked, almost pleasantly. Then his face went cruel and hard. "Shame I don't believe you" he added as he raised his sword, bringing it around in a savage arc.
"FATHER!" Vivian screamed, before Percival knocked her unconscious. Thomas looked up at him and Percival nodded.
Dawn had broken and Arthur, the council and the knights were in the audience chamber. The discussion was heated, about how best to proceed, even after Freya had explained her nightmare from the previous night.
"Can we just stay on topic?" called Rory, looking around the room at the other knights and the council members.
"Agreed" snarled Arthur. "I know everyone wants to do something but we need to focus not a mass debate!" he yelled.
"Oh please, I find it quite amusing" said Thomas from the doorway. Everyone in the room turned to face him, drawing their blades. Thomas laughed and looked around the room.
"Do you honestly think I would come here unprepared to face you?" he asked, stepping forwards.
"But you will have to face us" Arthur snarled. Thomas shook his head, and sighed.
"Guess I'll just give you this little gift and message and be on my way then" he said.
"I want nothing from you" snarled Arthur. Thomas rolled his eyes and then smiled.
"Oh, and I was looking forwards to this moment" he said chuckling.
"What have you done?" demanded Rory, Gwaine holding her arm in support.
Thomas just glanced at her, then turned back to Arthur, tossing a blood stained crown onto the floor, it rolled around several times before clinking down at his feet, everyone watching it.
"This… this is just the beginning of what's to come" Thomas told the assembled group. He then gave a mock bow "until next time" he said, before he vanished in a whirled wind of dark magic. Arthur looked at the crown, recognising it as being Godstone's. Slowly he knelt and picked it up then screamed in rage.
"If war is what they truly want, then war is what they will get" Arthur said dangerously.
"Sire…" said Gaius stepping forwards.
"No Gaius, If they can do this then they are truly gone" Arthur said, looking up as someone stumbled into the room from outside.
"Oh my god, Arthur" said Gwen as Morgana stumbled into the room battered and bleeding.
"Help me…" she whispered before she fell forwards, several deep and bloody cuts across her back. Gwen looked at Arthur, who closed his eyes.
"That was twisted" said Merlin, smiling at Thomas. Thomas shrugged.
"We all do our bit" he said, looking over to the chained up Vivian. "What about her?" he asked, ignoring the large bruise and cuts on her face. Merlin looked at him and smiled.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something" he said with a grin, looking up as the Shade began to creep onto her skin, Vivian suddenly screamed, trying to pull away as something awakened her. Merlin stepped forwards, watching as the shade crept over her knuckles, onto the backs of her hands, slowly he turned to Thomas, the older man watching impassioned. Merlin took Vivian's hand and his eyes glowed, she screamed even harder.
"Can't you at least shut her up?" asked Percival, where he stood with Leon, watching the Shade take Vivian, their eyes going wide as the Shade on her body began to expand with a sudden ferocity and within the space of a few minuets she was enveloped in the sickly looking moss. Thomas folded his arms and raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Forgive me, but I was expecting something more that a half dead plant" he said, Merlin looked at him and smiled, when Vivian began to squirm, the moss peeling away, other bits flaking off, until she was left hanging there, her skin untouched. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at them.
"My lords" she said bowing.
"Our first convert" said Merlin, then he laughed. "And our first weapon against this land" he added, "after all, who can truly resist the pleas of a lady distressed?" he asked.
Far from them, the village of Tyrilas slept. Spelt in bliss ignorance of the shadow that crept upon the very doorstep of their village…
3/14
Merlin
Shade
"My liege, it is growing everywhere, the cattle are dying. People are becoming sick" said the young woman, looking at Arthur.
"Will she live?" asked Arthur as he watched Gaius tend to his unconscious half sister.
"She will live Arthur, but she will never heal" Gaius replied softly.
Morgana pulled away from the monument, the list of names of all who had died in the battle with Morrigan. Turning her head away, she whirled on Freya.
"Why show me this!" she screamed, half in rage, half in sorrow.
"Because you had to see it" Freya told her.
Arthur arrived at the edge of the village, to find crumbling houses, and people lying on the ground gasping fro breath even as the putrid moss overtook them.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded.
"At last" muttered Merlin as one of the spectres handed him a large book. "the tome of Aliskon" said as he opened it. "Now, Arthur will truly become a broken king" he said.
"Lady Vivian?" asked Gwen as she stumbled into the courtyard, bruised and disorientated, Gwen ran to her, and took her by the arm to steady her.
"My lady, let us in" Rory called.
"No, please just leave me alone" Gwen called out.
"Gwen! Open this door now!" yelled Elyan, and with a shove forced it open, staggering in to see Gwen, collapsed on the floor, the Shade on her hands and arms….