Helloooooooooo!
Can you believe this? Two updates in less than 1 day! (I just spent two hours writing this non-stop!)
I have to admit that I felt (not so much, but still) guilty about last chapter's end, even more so when I read your reviews (Mwahahaha). Thanks to Superwholockingers (ahah), Daughter of Death and Magic (I am a Time Lady in disguise xD), Emmee (I hope less than one day is not too long a time to be teethering on a cliffie :D) and Sparky199 (Thanks for reviewing again! You are totally right!).
Okay, I know you all die to read this, so I stop torturing you.
…and looked at the manservant.
Just before he saw him, though, he was tackled to the ground.
"Sherly!"
Merlin's nickname for Sherlock resounded in the room in a flurry of laughter and tears.
"Sherly! I remember you!"
He hugged back his little brother, as tight as he could.
"M-Merlin!"
Sherlock felt the huge pressure that had built up inside him since he had left Camelot turn into pure joy. He could not stop his tears from falling - and could not care less about not acting princely.
His little brother was alive and laughing in his arms.
"Merlin…I-I"
He burst into tears, relieved sobs rattling his body. He could feel far away his brother caringly rubbing circles on his shaking back.
"I am so so-sorry for not being there. I-I missed you so m-much."
Merlin tightened his hug, then let go to look at Sherlock. The Prince met his brother's bright blue eyes, the ones he had believed he would never see again.
"And I y-you, Sherlock."
Gaius could finally hear the faint echoes signalling a druid settlement. He had been hiking in this accursed forest of Essetir for hours on end, seeking the druids.
Back in Camelot, after the rude man that looked so similar to Merlin had broken the spell and freed him, Gaius had ran to the library. When he had reached the good row of shelves, he had pulled the dusty red book and, after looking behind him, had entered the secret part of the archives. The one concerning magic.
After a few hours of sneezing because of all the dust that had been accumulated by the long years of non-use, he finally found it. Hálignes bocfél, the enormous parchment containing the most powerful charms of the High Priestesses. As Gaius had expected, the spell Camelot was under was only wieldable – and hence breakable- by the High Priestess, Morgana. But the Court Physician guessed that Emrys would also be able to stop the magic. It was the only hope the people of Camelot had.
After half a moon – commonly known as fifteen days-, the spell becomes irreversible.
When Gaius had read that line, he had closed the book, gone to the stables and rode to Essetir as fast as he could. And then he had lost precious time wandering in the forest. But now that he finally approached the druids, their camp fire seemed to shine with hope – Gaius blinked. He really needed to rest.
He passed the magical barrier only allowing magic-users in the settlement and entered the druid camp.
A nod to Iseldir, the druid chieftain, was enough to make him understand the seriousness of Gaius' visit.
"Join me at the blue tent. We shall speak there."
Gaius nodded again and followed the druid.
As he went to the tent, other druids elders stood up from around the camp fire and walked alongside him, seemingly alerted by mind-speech of the sudden gathering.
After Gaius exposed the situation and took out Hálignes bocfél of his bag – awed whispers acknowledging the book – Iseldir hurriedly sent a rescue party to Essetia. It would hopefully reach the city within two days - the druids could not simply teleport there as it would drain them of the magic they needed to keep to heal King Arthur and Emrys.
Not so far away, Hunith was mounting her horse and leaving Ealdor.
She was heading north, to Semloh, to inform King Mycroft of the situation. She was the only one that knew Prince Sherlock was walking right into a trap. She had to do this.
Thankfully, nothing stopped her race against time, and she reached the capital of the Northern Kingdom within three days. She got an audience with the King right when she arrived and nearly stormed into the throne room – she had lost enough time as it was.
"Your Highness, my lords." She bowed.
Mycroft, informed of the importance of the audience, gestured her to speak quickly.
"Camelot has been taken by the witch Morgana Pendragon and King Moriarty. The entire kingdom is under the witch's spell. Your brother reached the castle and met Moriarty, who let him go under a threat. Sherlock had to go to Essetia where King Arthur and his manservant –my adopted son- are held prisoner, otherwise Moriarty would kill them. Prince Sherlock shortly stopped in Ealdor, my village, during his ride and told me of the situation. Your Highness, your brother is knowingly walking into a trap."
Mycroft sighed, and was about to speak when Hunith continued.
"I believe that King Moriarty wants King Arthur to hand him over Camelot. And Moriarty will use your brother as hostage to force you to give up the throne."
Hunith looked down before speaking louder.
"And he may well have two hostages against you. I have every reason to believe that King Arthur's manservant, my adopted son, is Prince Merlin."
The court, already appalled by the news, gasped at her words.
King Mycroft himself paled but managed to keep his voice firm.
"What proofs do you have to support your claim about my youngest brother?"
Hunith did not break eye-contact with the King, and breathed deeply.
"I found my adopted son in the forest the day Prince Merlin disappeared. The five-year-old boy I found was unconscious, wet, and had a bleeding gash to the temple. When he woke up, he had no memories. After a month, I decided to name him Merlin after the Lost Prince I had heard about. He also has raven-black hair and clear blue eyes, just like Prince Sherlock whom I met three days ago."
A lord stood up.
"This is hardly-"
"This is not all." Hunith said, keeping her voice strong. "My son Merlin has powerful magic, and is called Emrys by the druids."
More gasps coming from the Lords. In Semloh, all knew of the legends, and remembered the little Prince had had exceptional magic.
"He is also a Dragonlord, the only one left."
Some Lords nearly jumped from their seats.
"This is preposterous, Your Highness. How dare she pretend Prince Merlin is alive after all those years!"
Mycroft raised his hand calmly – but his brown eyes betrayed his anguish.
"Be silent, Lord Anderson. She tells the truth."
He stood up and walked down the stairs that separated his throne from the rest of the assembly of Lords.
"I shall send an army to Essetir. Moriarty has gone too far and will be stopped. Sir Lestrade, gather the knights and prepare the troops. We ride at dawn."
Yay! The plot thickens!
I hope this chapter was up to your expectations!
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