I know it's been a while, and i'm sorry, but translating to me is a big deal. I'm not a native english or something. I know it probably sucks, but I swear i'm trying to get better. Despite everything I hope you like it :)
P.S.: Oh, and please tell me what you think, ok?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The cold was intense. The freezing wind blew, reaching the small camp. Merlin sat in a further spot - hands tied up, trying not to shiver - while Arthur was lying down not too far from him, fast asleep. He couldn't understand how the king had the ability to fall asleep in the most unlikely places. Perhaps it was the severe training Arthur had to get used to since he was a child; perhaps it was his royal laziness, as big as his ego. Or maybe both, he didn't quite know.
Merlin tore his gaze away from Arthur and intensely eyed Mordred, who openly stared back. The saxon leader caught Merlin staring at the both of them, next to the fire, and pointed his sword at him, a smug smile on his face, "What are you gawping at?"
The young warlock averted his gaze. The saxon's twisted smile got even wider and, still clutching his sword, he stuck a bread from a plate that has been laid on the snow. He looked up at young one again, raising the weapon, "Is this what you want?" he questioned wickedly. Then he threw it in Merlin's direction.
"Catch." the saxon laughed.
Merlin, starving, instinctively propelled himself forward, but watched with sorrow when the food landed halfway, unreachable for him.
"Maybe we should feed them." Mordred suggested his eyes still on the warlock.
"What for?" the leader retorted, examining his sword.
"They'll be skin and bones." Mordred tried to reason.
"Morgana wants slaves, not hogs for the fire." the other discussed, annoyed.
Mordred eyed the saxon sternly, "Then slow the pace." he said through gritted teeth.
Pointing Merlin with the sword, as if to illustrate the situation, the man explained, "The quicker we get there, the quicker I get my money."
The discussion was abruptly interrupted by an explosion in the sky, drawing everyone's attention - including Arthur, who awoke with a start. The resulting brightness spread in the air, overcoming the darkness of the cold night. Seconds later, the center of the explosion tore the firmament, approaching more and more the Earth, getting bigger.
Merlin felt his eyes widen as he watched the silver fireball. Suddenly, all the events in the cave flashed before his eyes, and the uneasy feeling took over him one more time. The star was there, falling before his eyes. He hastily got up, stretching as far as the ropes allowed him to.
"Beyond those who desire their divine power, there is risk of them being corrupted." a shiver ran down his spine ashe remembered Kilgarrah's words. He needed to get to her before others with less noble intentions did. But, how? He and Arthur would have to find a way to escape, and quickly.
The warlock narrowed his eyes to Mordred who, just like the others, had gotten up and looked intently at the sky, oblivious to the meaning of that. He had to watch the young druid out, Merlin internally agreed. For some reason, he felt that Mordred would eventually get on his way. He also felt it was not a coincidence that Mordred was there just at that particular moment.
Noticing Merlin's uneasiness, the saxon leader turned to him, laughing, "Today is your lucky day, boy." he mocked and pointed to the sky, "Do you see the shooting star? Come on, make a wish. Because only a miracle like that can help you now." he advised with a smug smile.
Merlin suppressed a laugh, because the saxon didn't know how close he was from the truth. Yes, she would be the miracle especially sent to save them. If he could just reach her...
He turned to look at the sky again - feeling both Mordred's piercing gaze and Arthur's confused gaze on him - and tried to look innocent and oblivious. He didn't need to arouse any suspicions.
With a look of despair, he saw the star quickly pass over the camp and disappear into the horizon. It was still far away from the surface, so he figured that she would fall somewhere very far from them. He felt stupid for thinking it would fall somewhere near. Of course it wouldn't be that easy, it never was.
After a while, everyone lost interest in the sky and went back to what they were doing before the sudden appearance of the star, chatting and drinking, or simply sleeping, like Arthur and some others.
Dozens of miles away, the sound of the impact was deafening. However, hidden by the desert of snow and by the heavy snowstorm, the crater and the noise could easily go unnoticed.
The first thing she realized was the cold. She was freezing. Trembled uncontrollably, only wearing that delicate dress. She was weak too. The simple thought of moving made her head throb. The star had already been warned about the negative effects the "fall" could cause, of course, but she didn't think it would be that bad. As if to prove her wrong, she felt limp and numb. The cold was so intense it was doing a great job lessening the pain, and she was thanked for that small fact.
Moaning, she opened her eyes for the first time. She saw the sky, so distant, unreachable. Beautiful. "So that's how the firmament looks to humans", she vaguely thought. It was something the star always wondered. And there was the snow. White, soft under her skin.
She looked around, daring to raise her neck to take in her surroundings. The crater was huge, maybe dozens of meters of diameter.
After a few seconds, the pain came back to life, overcoming the analgesic barrier of the cold. Groaning, she gave up, lowered her head, not wanting to push her body too hard. The star just lied down there, completely still, trying to decide what to do next. She had been stupid. Miscalculated and there she was, too far away from where she intended to. Of course, the star didn't plan to fall upon them, exactly, only distant enough so she could easily reach them without arousing suspicion. She grunted. She was lost and had to overcome the weakness and the paralyzing effect of the cold.
She would have to use something extreme. Weak as she was, assume her true form, even if not completely, would be dangerous. If, with her body in perfect condition, using its original form would require a lot of energy, she did not even want to imagine what would happen to her, her body weakened as it was at that moment.
But it was her only chance. The star doubted she could stand up and just walk away, or that someone would come and rescue her. Not in that middle of nowhere. No, she had to move, she had to try. She knew that, once finding Emrys, everything would be fine.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, focusing on the last spark of heat and energy left on her body. All warmth almost obliterated by the cold. With a little effort, she felt herself floating, her body becoming weightless, changing shape. Within seconds she was completely transformed. Regaining a little more consciousness, like someone who becomes stronger and alert after an adrenaline rush, her small and luminous form sprinted through the cold air, leaving the signs of the fall behind.
The star hastened the pace; she knew wouldn't stand that for much longer. And it didn't last longer. After the energy rush ran out, she found herself too exhausted to go on. She believed she was going in the right direction, and hoped the distance was enough for Emrys to find her. Otherwise, she would be doomed. Her "mission" would be over before it even starts.
The bright dot flickered once, reducing its speed and height, until it gently, slowly landed, changing shape one more time. She opened her eyes, hoping to find something that said she had made it. Nothing. Only miles and miles of pure, cruel snow. The world got dark, and she fought to keep herself awake, to make a slightest sound. But to no avail. Desperate, she felt herself falling more and more into an abyss of unconsciousness.
It was late at night and Morgana was having uneasy dreams. Tossed and turned, in a cold sweat, her fingers firmly grasping the blankets. The curtains violently whipped, and the candles had been extinguished long ago. Aithusa was lying prostrate beside the sorceress, making soothing sounds, as if to bring her back from the bad dream. Stretching his wings in a sign of stress, he lowered his head, gently nudging Morgana with the nose. He was worried about the sorceress; it had been a while since she had such violent dreams.
"Morgana found herself in a desert of snow. Miles and miles of snow, it did not matter which direction she looked. Despite her long dress and thick coat, she felt very cold. Unwittingly, the sorceress hugged herself. She just stood there, completely still. She looked around: it was night, and the fact that the snowstorm was harsh at that white desert prevented her from seeing far ahead. Morgana wasn't sure, but that place looked familiar to her.
Suddenly, an explosion in the sky blinded her for a few moments, illuminating the frozen hell below. Quickly recovering, Morgana looked up at the sky just in time to see the explosion condense at one point and fall like a comet, its silvery tail drawing in the air a downward trajectory.
Dazzled, Morgana felt her eyes widen, and she intently observed while the silver dot passed over her head. She saw when it ferociously crashed to the ground, wiping everything out in a radius of dozens of meters. Finally able to move, she carefully moved towards the crater, curiosity getting the best of her.
When Morgana reached the edge of the precipice, she gasped, her mouth hanging open. Lying in the center of all the destruction, there was a human form. All she could see was that it was way too small and curvy to be male. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to clear her vision, but the snowstorm and the darkness weren't helping at all.
Slowly, as if the snow wanted to form a wall between her and the human form, the snowstorm began to get harsher in front of her, getting stronger and more solid. The sorceress tried to use force, magic to get rid of the bloody snow, all to no avail. The snow kept on piling up, oppressing her."
Morgana opened her eyes abruptly, sitting down. She gasped for breath, and her beautiful eyes widened. She stared at the opposite stone wall, the dream still too vivid in her mind. She barely registered Aithusa beside her, trying to draw her attention. He looked worried and at the same time relieved that Morgana was finally awake. Turning to the young dragon, she opened a small smile. Morgana had long ago lost the ability to open a true, happy one, unless you were Aithusa. He was her only joy.
She turned the attention to the wall, her expression thoughtful and calculating, distant. Would be that dream one of her "prophetic visions"? She thought so. For several times her visions had been proved correct. And Morgana wouldn't dare to doubt her powers anymore. Not after what she learned from Morgause.
Morgause. Morgana closed her eyes, visualizing a lost memory. It happened in the year, they supposed, Morgana had been "kidnapped". She learned so much from her sister that year. On one of her lessons, the sisters had been arguing about all kinds of magical creatures. When Morgause began to speak about the stars, that specific topic drew the attention of the younger sorceress. Morgana was surprised to find out that, indeed, the stars were intelligent beings and they observed humans. Especially when her sister mentioned that they, though rarely, came to Earth in human form and the one who captured them and ate their heart would get their powers.
Morgana, at the time, was horrified with the perspective of tearing someone's heart, especially of a star, and eat it. Now the idea didn't seem so bad to her. After all, Morgana knew she was willing to do anything she could to destroy Emrys and take the throne of Camelot.
The sorceress smiled in a twisted way. If her dream was right, there was star on Earth in human form. And, judging by the shape she had seen, Morgana knew it would look like a woman. She dug her nails on the palm of her hand. She had to find her. Using the powers she'd get from the Diamair and from the star, Morgana would finally be able to achieve everything she had been fighting for.