The Lost King—Chapter 12
The people watched in horror as their hero was struck down. They, too, felt Arthur and Addy's anguish. And when the fair-haired King hopped the barricade, sword held high and proud, the crowd took up Arthur's cry. It started softly at first but it grew with frenzied fervor. "FOR MERLIN!" They chanted. "FOR MERLIN!"
"ANOTHER PUNY WARRIOR, COME TO MAKE MY DINNER," the Afanc hissed, as Arthur rushed towards it. "YOU SHALL DIE LIKE THE OTHER." As it opened its razor-lined mouth, it felt a strange sensation. Pain coursed through its head. It had never felt pain like this. Nothing could hurt the Afanc, and yet, it was losing its power. With watery yellow eyes it scanned the growing crowd of people. They were yelling something, together. Face after face was set in grim defiance, and suddenly the Afanc knew what was wrong. They weren't scared. Fear was its greatest weapon, and they were not afraid.
Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in its gut. It looked down. The blonde warrior was standing below, his sword thrust up inside its cavernous belly. There was a look of unflinching anger in the warrior's eyes. The Afanc screeched and reeled, tossing the warrior to the side. It batted at Arthur, but he was too quick for it. Ducking under the swing, he rolled aside and grabbed the sword from the creature. He stabbed again, aiming higher now, and the Afanc screamed as the blade struck home just beneath its ribcage. Black, thick blood gushed forth, wetting the sloshy snow-covered ground.
The people were no longer just chanting now. Seeing that the Afanc could be harmed, they rushed at it in an crazed frenzy. They brandished whatever weapons they could find: scraps of metal, chunks of rock. It was all over now for the creature. As the mob of angry desperate people descended, the last of its powers fled and it was left utterly defenseless. But it was Arthur, who ended its reign upon the earth. With a mighty swing, he brought down his sword and plunged it deep into the Afanc's dark, corrupted heart. The gigantic black beast shuddered, the light in its yellow eyes dimming. Arthur climbed down from atop its scaly hide and planted the sword into the ground.
Then, a new chant rose up through the crowd. "Arthur! King Arthur!" And as they cheered, they lifted him into the air and carried him about on their shoulders. "King Arthur has returned!"
-(0)—(0)-(0)-
Merlin lay face down, surrounded by the clouds of snow. Addy had flown to him as fast as she could, using Arthur's attack as her distraction. I can't lose him, she pleaded to the heavens. He must live.
She fell at his side, and rolled him carefully over. The snow around him was stained in crimson and blood covered his sweater. Huge, deep claw-shaped gashes were imbedded into his skin. Trembling, she placed a hand to his neck and took his pulse. There was none.
A deep, grieving cry escaped her lips. "Nnnnnnnoooo!" She wailed, and pulled the lifeless Merlin to her chest. He can't die, she thought over and over, her heart bursting in pain. He can't die!
But there was no response. He was gone, and there was no coming back. She laid upon his neck as her body was racked with shuddering cries.
He can't die.
He can't die.
HE CAN"T DIE.
Just that thought, over and over. It swam through her pain-soaked heart and rippled over her soul. How could she lose him now? Now that she had fallen so hard, had given so much of herself? She could feel the shreds of her soul and knew that, without Merlin, she would never recover. It was her desperation that awakened something deeply dormant within her. Some strength, some power, lying in the very core of her being. With no conscious thought, she placed her left hand upon his heart. Meanwhile, she plunged her right hand deep into the snow, heedless to the bite of cold. She needed to touch the earth. She needed to feel the life in it. Her hand hit frozen ground and she closed her eyes. She reached out to the earth, trying to find its lifeforce, and it came to her like the heartbeat of a giant; slow and lumbering. She could feel the energy of it, the power of life locked in the very core of the earth itself. There was the source of all magic. With all her strength she pulled it to her. Merlin can't die, she demanded of the earth.
She looked down at Merlin's chest. Her hands were now washed in a rosy pink light, spreading out from her and across his lacerated body. Soon he was completely encompassed by the light. She had no idea what she was doing or how she was doing it. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was him.
She became aware that someone had joined her. They were standing just off to the side. It was Arthur. He wasn't saying anything, just watching. But she was glad that he was there. She turned to him, and said painfully, "Merlin can't die."
Arthur knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Merlin was dead? Why was there a weird pink glow around him? The girl was huddled up next to him, her hand upon his chest. She had a wild, fierce look in her eye that Arthur dared not question. He closed his eyes, saying a silent good-bye to his dearest, truest friend.
Suddenly, the glow became a brilliantly blinding light. Even though his eyes were closed, Arthur shielded them with his hands. And then, it was over, just as quickly and mysteriously as it had began.
"What-" Arthur began, when Merlin shot up, sucking in air with tremendous gulps. "You-you're alive!" Arthur cried and embraced him.
Merlin gaped wide-eyed, unsure of anything. Arthur was hugging him and he had come back from the dead. Had the world gone mad? "How-?" He looked to Addy, who was kneeling by his side, head bowed.
Addy simply lifted her head weakly and breathed, "Merlin can't die." Then, she collapsed into the pillowy snow.