3/14
Merlin
The Shade
Arthur had been silent for most of the day, after Thomas's 'gift' to them had been delivered. He held the crown gently, staring at it, unable to face the complications this added. Quietly the doors at the end of the audience chamber opened, Gwen entering with a small plate of food. Slowly she walked over to him, kneeling next to him.
"You have to eat" she whispered to him. Arthur's eyes moved to look at her, but that was all.
"Thank you, I'm not hungry" he said limply. Gwen put the food down and took the crown from him.
"Please" she said softly.
"Gwen, I appreciate what you're doing, but I just want to be left alone now" he muttered. Gwen suddenly threw the crown across the floor, startling Arthur.
"Gwen?" he asked, concerned.
"Do you think you honour his memory by sitting here moping?" she demanded. "Arthur you are the king of this land, the one true king, so start acting it!" she said, before she turned away, Arthur slowly cupping her chin in his hand, slowly turning her frightened, tear filled eyes back to him.
"Don't you think I want to?" he asked softly.
"Arthur I-"
"Gwen, of all the horrors in the past that we've faced, they're nothing to this, to what's begun now" he said. "and yes, I admit it, I might be King Gwen, but I am scared" he said quietly, the admission shocking Gwen, slowly he let her go and took a deep breath.
"I lost my mother to magic, my father, my sister, and my brother, and now I'm in the position of having to find a way to possibly kill him again, and I don't know how, I keep thinking that, I'll wake up in the minute and all of this will have been just a terrible nightmare, but I know it, I know its real, and I miss him Gwen, his stupid jokes, his wise little comments.. all of it, and I don't know what to do, where to turn" he said so quickly the words almost tripped over each other. Gwen letting him talk, realising his need to unburden his grief, know he needed not a queen, or a lover, but just someone who would listen, someone who would not prejudge him. She would give him that, it was the least she could do.
"And Leon, and his loyalty to me, always willing to put himself in danger, even if ordered otherwise and Percival, and Thomas, Gwen, I thought, I hoped that the past year had allowed me to move on, to begin healing, but this situation.. its opened old wounds and I want to close them, I want to shut my eyes and know this is a nightmare" he carried on, Gwen gripping his hands tightly, the plate of food, and the crown forgotten, slowly he looked up at her, letting tears fall.
"And I don't know how, how to move on from here" he said. Gwen shook her head sadly, kissing his knuckles.
"Arthur, no matter what the future holds, no one is infallible, no one is to blame for this. But you must get past the blame you place on yourself for their deaths. They served you willingly, and each of them knew one day a battle might take their lives, but they fought anyway, they fought for Camelot, but most of all they fought for you" she said. Arthur looked at her, now gripping her hands tightly, "But you must also convince yourself, these men, they look like your friends, like people you cared about, but you know, you know they are nothing but twisted evil images of what they once represented. And Arthur, if you truly love them, if you truly honour their memories, then you know that whatever they are now, above all else, they must be stopped" she countered.
"But-"
"No Arthur, no buts or whys or wherefores. There is just the truth, and you know it" she said, tapping his temple "in here you know it, even if you do not" she said, now tapping his chest above his heart. "know it in there" she finished. Arthur looked at her, and then she pulled him into a hug, holding him tighter than she ever had.
"You know, I'm almost tempted to cry" said a voice from the shadows. Arthur stood suddenly, breaking the embrace, gripping Gwen's hand tightly as Merlin stepped out, watching them.
"But only almost" he admitted, then sighed as he began to move around.
"Oh, Arthur, how the mighty have fallen" Merlin said.
"Get out" Arthur whispered.
"come now, don't be like that, after we're all friends here aren't we" Merlin said.
"I have nothing in common with you, not anymore" Arthur replied.
"Strong words, but you need to work on your pitch, you still think you can save us, make us like we were before, there's no way back for us Arthur, you know that" Merlin said.
"why are you here?" demanded Gwen, speaking up finally.
"Just thought I'd see my beloved friends before…." He suddenly smiled and looked away.
"Before what?" asked Arthur, stepping forwards. Merlin looked back at him.
"the shadows are starting to mass against you Arthur, I'd prepare for the worst, for that is yet to pass, and its not from a twisted witch. No, its from something far more dangerous" he said, as he exploded away in a tornado of magical energy.
"It's from me" Merlin's voice echoed around the room. Slowly Arthur looked at Gwen, then back at the spot where Merlin had been standing.
"So this is it" Arthur said softly. "He declares war" slowly he turned to Gwen.
"Then he can have it" he said, all trace of doubt gone from his voice.
"Arthur?" asked Gwen as he strode away. "where are you going?" she asked.
"To see Gaius" he said. Then he paused. "Then the knights of Camelot ride. Merlin will die" he said, before he walked out. Gwen gripping the back of the chair at his declaration.
Merlin, Leon, Percival and Thomas watched the Brief exchange from where they stood around the scrying font.
"So Arthur goes to war" muttered Thomas. Merlin nodded then looked over at Lady Vivian who was standing by the door.
"You know what to do?" he asked.
"My lord" she said with a bow.
"Then go" he ordered. Vivian bowed, turned and left the throne room. Thomas slowly looked at Merlin.
"You're sure this will work?" he asked. Merlin nodded sharply.
"Oh it'll work" he assured him.
Arthur walked into the Pharmacy, where Gaius and Freya were tending to an unconscious Morgana. They looked up as he entered, but otherwise remained silent in their work.
"Gaius?" asked Arthur, stepping forwards.
"We are doing what we can sire, but it is not easy" he said. Arthur frowned, looking at him.
"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.
"The wounds were magically inflicted" said Freya, not meeting his gaze as he switched to her.
"we can help with the pain, but these will never fully heal" she said softly.
"Do what you can" Arthur said.
"we are my lord, we are" Gaius said, Arthur nodded and turned. "although" Gaius continued, not looking at him. "I wonder why you are being so lenient with her" he said. Arthur looked back at Morgana, and then turned away, walking out without answering. Slowly Gaius and Freya looked at each other, before carrying on.
"We should be ready to wake her soon" said Gaius softly. Freya nodded.
"Not yet" she said. Gaius looked up at her.
"Why ever not?"
"I need to prepare something first" she said. Gaius frowned at her, but did not argue.
Arthur was moving down the steps towards the courtyard when Rory, rushed around the corner.
"Rory?" he asked her, grabbing her by the armour on her shoulder.
"Sire, there's something happening at the villages" she said breathlessly.
"What?" he asked.
"You'd better hear for yourself" she said.
The woman was maybe in her twenties , a sun bleached face, hands worn by years of hard honest work, Gwen was standing with her, her hand on her arm and back, steadying her. Elyan handing her a goblet of water, all looking up as Arthur walked in with Rory. They all bowed as he took his seat, regarding the woman.
"Sire" she greeted, her voice was raspy, almost like a cough. "Forgive my intrusion" she continued. Arthur held up his hand.
"It is no intrusion, please what is the problem?" he asked. She cleared her throat and then nodded, as if to some unasked question.
"Sire, our village, and the one closest to ours, something is happening there, a mould, a fungus like growth, it is spreading through our villages, into our homes" she said.
"Sorry, but I fail to see how this is relivant to the current situation" Arthur said.
"My liege, it is growing everywhere, the cattle are dying. People are becoming sick" said the young woman, looking at Arthur.
"I understand your plight, but as I said I fail to see-"
"Sire, you must listen, this growth, whatever is it, it was not there when we retired for the night" she said. Arthur blinked, and then stood up.
"This appeared overnight?" he asked slowly.
"Yes my liege, and it continues to spread" she said. Arthur looked at the group in the room then nodded.
"where is your village?" he asked.
"A quarter day travel west from here" she said. Arthur nodded then looked to Gwaine.
"Gwaine, Kyle, get me Gaius, we'll head there now" Arthur said. The two men bowed and left the room.
"Thank you sire" the woman said bowing.
Thunder rumbled over the fortress, Merlin watching the scrying font, while the others waited in silence.
"The shade is spreading" Merlin said, not looking up.
"As we knew it would" Leon replied.
"And now, the brave noble Arthur goes to see for himself, to offer help to those affected" Merlin said, he clucked his tongue and turned away, looking at the others with a grin, "Utter fool that he is" he said Suddenly the room filled with the forms of Spectres.
"At last" muttered Merlin as one of the spectres handed him a large book. "The tome of Aliskon" he said as he opened it. "Now, Arthur will truly become a broken king" he said.
"That is the thing that could destroy us?" asked Percival looking at it. Merlin looked at him and nodded.
"Indeed, and this is what we will use to bring Arthur to his knees" Merlin said.
"Destroy it, if it's that dangerous" said Thomas. Merlin shook his head however.
"We will, but not yet, you see there is far, far more in this tome than just how to defeat us" he said.
"Such as?" asked Leon.
"Such as some of the most powerful, destructive magic's ever known, and some that were never even taught" he said.
"How do you know so much about it?" asked Percival. Merlin looked at him and just smiled, before he opened the book and began to look through it. Thomas sat down in the throne, closing his eyes, Percival and Leon leaving the room. Slowly Thomas opened his eyes and smiled.
"Our army begins" he said, looking at Merlin. Merlin looked over at him, then smiled.
"you see them?" Merlin asked. Thomas shook his head.
"No, but I feel them, the Shade does its work" he said.
"As I said it would" Merlin replied. Thomas inclined his head.
"I never doubted it" he said. Merlin grinned and turned back to the tome.
Morgana awoke to pain, screaming briefly as a hand touched down on her shoulder.
"Do not move too quickly, the pain will subside in a moment" Freya said. Morgana looked at her.
"Merlin?" she asked, fearful. Freya shook her head.
"He is not here" she assured her. Morgana slowly laid back on the mattress. "Merlin, he was the one…?" Freya asked gently. Morgana nodded.
"Aren't you so proud of your lover?" Morgana sneered at her. Freya looked away.
"I had dealt with losing him Morgana, and this thing you brought back, that is not the man I loved" she said. "Why did you come here?"
"Where else could I go?" Morgana replied, wincing.
"Anywhere, but you came here, to Camelot, to Arthur, why?" she said. Morgana looked up at her, then turned away.
"Perhaps you were hoping Arthur would take pity on the poor battered sister?" Freya carried on. "or perhaps you are working with Merlin and the others and all this is some kind of elaborate trap" she guessed. Then she leant forwards, whispering.
"Or just maybe, you're scared enough to know that without help you won't ever defeat Merlin" Morgan turned her head sharply, looking at the woman, but still remaining silent. Freya sighed and stepped back.
"So that's it" she said.
"You think you have all the answers don't you" Morgana finally sneered. Freya shook her head as she turned away.
"Oh I have some answers, and a great many questions, such as what necromancer you convinced to bring Merlin and the others back, and what you neglected to tell him, for a start" Freya said as she moved away.
"It will do you no good! The necromancer is dead" Morgana called after her. Slowly Freya stopped and turned back to face her.
"You can truly say that with what has happened" she stated. Morgana simply stared at her, remaining silent.
Arthur held up his hand bringing the group to a halt on the outskirts of the village of Tyrilas. The group, consisting of himself, Elyan, Gwaine, Gaius and the young woman looked around. Arthur's mouth opened in silent shock. The trees were dead, the grass, crunched beneath their feet, but that wasn't the worst thing. No, that was the putrid moss that covered everything here.
"Gaius?" prompted Arthur as he took in the devastation. Gaius stepped forwards, standing next to him, his own eyes taking in the vista before them. Houses crumbling, cattle dead, covered with the same moss, trees brittle and snapping under their own weight.
"Sire, this… this goes far beyond anything I've ever even heard about" Gaius said. Arthur stepped back, looking around again.
"Where are the people?" Gwaine suddenly spoke up. Arthur looked at him. "The cattle is dead, but where are the people?" Gwaine said again.
"could this… moss, whatever it is have dissolved them somehow?" asked Elyan.
"Without running tests I could not say" Gaius said. "but in truth I doubt it, after all the cattle is still intact" he offered. Arthur nodded and then looked over at the woman.
"How far is your village from here?" he asked.
"About an hours travel" she replied, looking away from the devastation, at Arthur. He nodded, then remounted his horse.
"Then we make haste" he said, and once Gaius had gotten onto his own horse, they set off at a run.
Just under an hour later Arthur arrived at the edge of the village, to find crumbling houses, and people lying on the ground gasping for breath even as the putrid moss overtook them.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded as a man lifted a hand feebly towards them. The woman who had been quiet up until now turned away, crying. Slowly Arthur knelt down, examining the moss.
"Sire, I would advise caution" Gaius warned him. Arthur looked up, and nodding, stood, across from them, the man who had reached out fell still.
"Merlin" Arthur muttered.
"Sire?" asked Gaius as Arthur strode past him.
"You think it's a coincidence this stuff appearing at the same time as him?" he demanded. "And he told me the shadows were massing"
"You think this is what he meant?" asked Gwaine.
"I have no idea, but-" Arthur began.
"Sire!" Yelled Elyan, rushing forwards, Arthur spun around to see the woman running onto the moss, falling to her knees by the man, holding him gently.
"My love… oh my love" she whispered, then looked over at Arthur, even as the mould began to creep onto her.
"GO!" she screamed. "Leave this damned village!" she screamed. Arthur went to move forwards, but Gaius gripped him shaking his head.
"Sire, the most we can do for them at the moment is to research what this is" he said. Arthur looked at him, then back at the woman, knowing she was, for the moment, now beyond help. He pulled away from Gaius, and got back on his horse.
"I need answers Gaius, and I need them before this gets much further" he said.
Freya had taken Morgana to the courtyard, the woman crouched over like an old crone, hobbling along behind her, the guards giving her a wide birth.
"A monument, how impressive" sneered Morgana, before looking at Freya, the other woman remained impassive.
"Read it" she said. Morgana's eyes narrowed, and she turned to the monument.
"Dedicated to those lost in the battle against the lands enemy, Morrigan, oh how sweet" she said looking over at Freya. Freya lifted an eyebrow, and Morgana turned back to it.
"Sir Anthony, Sir Andrew, Sir Brian, Benjamin Stacks, What is this nonsense?"
"Just read it" Freya stated.
"Sir Davis, Sir Fredric, Sir Gilroy, George Rupert, Sir Ian, Sir Justin, Sir Merlin" she chuckled, a sound that died in her throat. "Morgause?" she whirled to Freya.
"Now you know why Arthur has left you alone this past year, now you know" Freya said.
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.
"you think by showing me this… this thing would bring my guard down!" Morgana demanded. Freya slowly shook her head.
"No, Because deep down, you are as tired of fighting Arthur as he is of fighting you" Freya said.
"Then Arthur is a fool"
"Is he? Is he really?" Freya asked in a knowing tone.
"If he believes this… 'honour' will sway me then he is" Morgana spat back.
"We'll see" said Freya, turning away. Morgana chancing one last look at the monument, before following the other woman into the castle, her mind reeling so much she did not even notice Gwen at the end of the corridor. The queen watching her former mistress and long time enemy hobble after Freya, a part of her, a tiny part, feeling sorrow to see her struck so low. She shook her head, Morgana was an enemy, proven time and again, she didn't deserve sorrow or pity. So, Gwen wondered privately, why did she feel it? Suddenly finding the castle too stuffy, she went outside into the courtyard, feeling the sun on her face, welcoming its warm touch in these cold times.
"Please… help me" the voice was a whisper, a cry of one in dire need, and Gwen looked around for the source, seeing it as Lady Vivan practically crawled into the courtyard.
"And now, let the show begin" said Merlin with a grin, as he, Leon and Percival watched through the scrying font. Thomas standing out on the balcony away from them, waiting for their first arrivals.
"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. Vivian held her arm tightly, as if clinging to life.
"My father… Arthur… I need to see Arthur" she said, her breath catching.
"He's not here, please, come inside, I'll have Freya treat you" Gwen said.
"No… Arthur, I need to see Arthur" she repeated, then began to cough.
"Vivian?" asked Gwen concerned as the woman fell to her knees.
"What's happening to her?" asked Leon, looking at Merlin.
"She's broke up about her father" Merlin replied. "Really broke up" he added with a laugh.
"Vivian, please what is wrong?"
"Merlin… Tell Arthur… Merlin" she said.
"Tell him what?"
"Saved.. he can be saved, they all can" she said.
"Guards! Find Freya, find her now!" screamed Gwen, the guards on duty running into the castle, calling out.
"The city… the city of Kalaros" Vivan said, now gasping for breath.
"Vivian, you must rest" Gwen said.
"too late" Vivian said.
"No, its not, we will do what we can"
"No me… you… too late for you" Vivian whispered, then fell still, even as Freya ran over to her. Gwen let her go, stepping back, both woman turning away in disgust as Vivan's body began to decompose before their eyes, the stench alone forcing them back.
"You told them where to find us!" roared Leon, looking at Merlin.
"Just part of the plan" Merlin replied.
"You stupid Warlock, you've doomed us all!" he roared, suddenly raising his sword and swinging it around, only for it to be deflected by Thomas's blade. Leon glared at him, hatred seething in his eyes, Percival glancing from one to the other.
"Attempt that again and you will suffer" Thomas said, the picture of calm.
"You would defend the one who has set about our downfall!" Leon yelled at him.
"Leon, calm" Merlin said softly. Leon looked at him and Merlin tilted his head. "I have done what needed to be done" he explained.
"All I saw was Vivian telling that bitch of a queen where to find us!"
"Then you were not looking" said Merlin, "By touching Vivian we have ensured that Arthur is about to lose the thing he treasures above all else. The shadow has now begun its decent upon Camelot. Within three days Gwen will be just as Vivian was" he said. "Arthur will be forced to come to us, on our terms. And he will come. And when he does. I will be waiting with just what he needs" Merlin stated.
"And if Arthur wants the knowledge, then he will have to pay a very heavy price" Thomas said. Leon looked from one to the other, then lowered the sword.
"Fine, but I promise if this does not work I will kill you, before he turns us back into corpses" Leon said sauntering away. Percival watching the exchange.
"And Leon" called Merlin after him. The man turned back.
"You ever threaten me again, I will burn you so slowly you will be in agony for weeks before you die" He said. Leon narrowed his eyes, then stormed out of the room. Merlin glared after him then looked at Percival who moved out onto the balcony, before Merlin turned his glare onto Thomas. The other man simply folded his arms.
"You know he would do that" Merlin said, a statement, not a question. Thomas shrugged.
"I knew he would try something, but not this soon. He was, after all, the Kings right hand, to have to bow to you must rankle him" Thomas said. Merlin nodded, considering the statement.
"should we kill him?" asked Merlin at length. Thomas frowned.
"Kill one of our own, no, but I would watch him if I was you" Thomas advised. "And then when all this is finished. Then you can kill him" Thomas said.
"You really do have a sadistic side" said Merlin with a grin. Thomas shrugged, but then Merlin frowned.
"Perhaps you're the one that bares watching" he said. Thomas chuckled, and turned away.
"Now, you're learning" he said as he walked away. Merlin turning his gaze back to the scrying font.
Gwen had retreated to her own private chambers, not giving reason, and had been there for several hours. Arthur had returned a few minuets earlier, sans the woman, and he and Gaius had immediately gone to the Pharmacy, Elyan was tying up his horse when Rory ran over to him.
"Elyan!" she called. He looked over, Gwaine taking the reigns of his horse.
"Rory?" he asked.
"Its Gwen" Rory explained. Elyan glanced at Gwaine who nodded at him.
"I'll get Arthur" he said. Elyan nodded, and ran into the castle after Rory.
"Is she okay?" asked Elyan.
"She want to her chambers earlier, but the doors locked and she is refusing to let anyone in" Rory explained, as they rounded the corner and went up a flight of stairs.
Gwen was sobbing, kneeling on the floor, her hands held out in front of her. Suddenly there was a loud thud, causing her to jump.
"My Lady!" called Rory from outside.
"It's okay Rory, really" Gwen called out, trying and failing to keep her voice steady.
"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.
"Gwen?" said Elyan softly, moving towards her.
"DON'T TOUGH ME!" Gwen screamed through tears, Elyan faltering, eyes wide with concern, even as Arthur ran in, pushing between him and Rory.
"Gwen?" Arthur asked, stopping short when he saw the putrid moss growing on her.
"No.. please no" Arthur said as he slowly approached her. "How? There is none of this in Camelot" Arthur said confused.
"Lady Vivian" said Rory, Arthur looked at her
"What?" he asked.
"She stumbled in here earlier today, injured, Gwen helped her, then she suddenly died, rotting away in a matter of seconds" Rory explained. Arthur nodded then got to his feet, Gwen looking at him, even as she shade continued its growth.
"I am going to rip him apart" Arthur said, jaw clenched.
"No…" said Gwen.
"You expect me to do nothing?" demanded Arthur, looking at Gwen.
"Vivian, she said they can be saved" Gwen sobbed. Arthur glared down at her, shaking his head.
"You think I care about that? Gwen, no matter who those people are, you are my wife!" Arthur snapped.
"Sire" Rory said.
"No Rory, I'm sorry, but no, they've gone too far now, there can only be one outcome" he said.
"I know that" Rory suddenly snapped at him. He whirled on her.
"you dare-" he shouted.
"YES I DARE!" she yelled back. "Think about it, if they created this, whatever this is, then the chances are damned good they know how to stop it!" she yelled at him, not giving one thought to the fact this was her king she was speaking to like this. Arthur was livid as he gazed down at her.
"Elyan get her out of here" Arthur said quietly.
"Sire" Rory said.
"GET OUT!" he roared at her. Elyan taking her by the arm and gently guiding her away, Arthur glaring at her the whole time. Behind him, on the floor Gwen continued to cry. Wincing as the pain began.
"Gwen?" he turned back to her, wanting more than anything to comfort her, the way she had him, but knowing what the outcome would be if they touched, slowly he sat down on the floor opposite her.
"I'm sorry Arthur" she whispered, but he shook his head.
"no I am. I'm sorry for everything" he said.
"Rory's right, if you save them, you might be able to stop this" she said. Arthur looked at her, then looked away.
"What did Vivian say?" he asked softly.
"They're at the city of Kalaros" Gwen said.
"So Freya's nightmare was real" Arthur said. Gwen nodded, biting her lip to stop from crying out as the Shade moved further up her arm.
"You're in pain" Arthur said.
"I will endure" she replied, before attempting to stand. Arthur went to help, then pulled back at her glare, slowly she sat on the bed, and looked at him. Arthur closed his eyes, then turned away.
"If Kalaros is where they are, then that is where we shall go" he said softly, walking out.
"Rory" She looked up as Arthur stood at the door of her chambers. "May I enter?" he asked. She looked away, nodding, slowly Arthur walked in.
"I wanted to apologise. That was not fair of me" he said.
"It wasn't the shouting" she said. Arthur nodded.
"I know. But still, you were trying to get me to see reason, and I brushed you aside" he said. Rory, nodded and looked at him.
"Apology accepted" she replied, with a sad smile. Arthur returned it, then turned away.
"Be ready at first light, we ride for Kalaros tomorrow" he said as he walked out. The smile on Rory's face becoming less sad.
Night had fallen across Camelot, but Arthur could not sleep. He stood, walking over to the crib where Balinor slept peacefully, asleep on a makeshift bed on the floor beside the crib was George. Arthur found himself smiling at them, then slowly turned away, going to the window, looking out, frowning at the figure that hobbled around the Monument, a magical light in its hand. Slowly he pulled on his tunic, and made his way down to the courtyard, finding the guards outside sleeping.
"couldn't sleep?" he asked as he approached the figure. Morgana turned to him, bent over, unable to stand straight.
"Arthur" she muttered, looking at him. He circled around her slowly, "Such a pity about poor Gwen" she added.
"Don't pretend you care" Arthur replied.
"as you wish" Morgana said, turning back to the monument. "I have to ask, why?" she said, not looking at him.
"If you have to ask you will never understand" Arthur replied.
"Try me"
"Fine, its simple actually, but towards the end, I did start to believe that Morgause and you, no we will never be friends, but there might have come a time when we were not enemies" he stated.
"Until our betrayal that is" she said.
"Even then, I hoped, prayed, that it was all a mistake" he said.
"Ever the romantic, always looking for the good" she said. "Its pitiful really" she said.
"That you chose to see that as a weakness, that is why we will never see eye to eye" Arthur said.
"finally, something we can agree on" she replied. "but know this, you are wrong, they cannot be saved, the only way to free them is to kill them again" Morgana said.
"If someone hadn't brought them back, I wouldn't need to fight them, but this goes beyond just them now" he said.
"Yes, the Shade" she said.
"the what?" he asked, frowning.
"the shade, the creeping death that seeps across the land" she said.
"The stuff that's growing on Gwen?" he asked.
"Exactly"
"You made it?" he asked incredulous. Morgana laughed, painfully.
"As if, that is far beyond my abilities. But not Merlin's. He plans to use it to take over the entire kingdom and every land beyond" she said.
"Do you know how to stop it?" he asked.
"No" she admitted. Arthur sighed, then Morgana spoke up. "But I will search" she said. Arthur looked at her, then slowly nodded, "But despite what you may think, this is no alliance between us, once Merlin and the others are disposed of, then I will be coming for you" she stated.
"I know you will, and I'll be waiting" he replied, turning and walking away. Morgana watching as he entered the castle. After a moment she went in as well.
"The bait is laid, the trap is set, and now all we need is the little prat of a king to come scurrying to us" Merlin said as he stood in the audience chamber with Leon and Percival.
"Merlin" Thomas called from the balcony. They looked over at him and he gestured them outside. They went out, looking down to see the villagers who had been taken by the Shade slowly entering the confines of the city.
"yes. All we need now is Arthur" Merlin said with a laugh.
4/14
Merlin
Rise of the Death Guard.
"The City of Kalaros, legendary home of the dead and the damned" muttered Arthur as he, Rory, Freya and Gwaine stood atop the knoll looking at it in the distance.
"How is she?" asked Elyan as Gaius leant over Gwen's now sleeping form, the Shade now moving to her chin from her neck.
"If Arthur doesn't return soon with some clue as to how to proceed I shudder to think" said Gaius.
Arthur caught the Tome where Merlin had thrown it to him, glancing at it, before he snarled and dropped it as it burst into flames.
"oops" said Merlin with a grin.
"Hello Rory" said Thomas rounding the corner to face her, sword drawn. Rory slowly drew her own weapon.
"Thomas" she said. He smiled at her, then, the same smile he usually gave when they talked about past memories, slowly it turned into a grimace.
"And so much more" he snarled, jumping forwards.
Balinor was screaming when Elyan, Gaius and Morgana run into the room. The small child trapped into the corner as the Shade moved in around him.
"No…" breathed Gaius.
"I want that child" Muttered Merlin, as Arthur walked in, sword bared. Slowly they turned to face each other.
"Well, you took your time" Merlin said.