Hello, lovely followers/favourites and the lovely people who are reading this story.
It has indeed been a long time since I last updated this story but I haven't abandoned it nor have I died. My life has been somewhat of a mess and I didn't write on anything for a while. However, here I am again and this time around I'll finish it. That's the plan at least.
I don't own Merlin. And the spells used in the story are from Merlin so I don't own them either. In other words, I own nothing.
Now onto the story. Upwards and onwards!
A year and a half went by. Both sides were preparing for a war that could not be evaded. It seemed that our story was going to end as it started. Two men who could not agree. Though this time the chance of anything changing was slim.
Eighteen years old
In Camelot:
"Make sure everyone is ready for when they arrive," Arthur told sir Leon. The knight bowed down before the new king. "Yes, sire," he said before he left the throne room. It had only been a short time since his father had been killed but Arthur's hatred for magic had grown and he would no longer watch as his men were killed in front of him. Now it was time to go to war. The only thing they had going for them was that they had taken the head of the snake. Balinor was no longer a threat. Though there were rumours that a young man had taken over. The man was supposedly Balinor's son and the last dragon lord. A couple of days ago they had caught a druid trying to sneak out of Camelot. The man had given them the name of the new enemy in charge. Emrys. He was supposedly the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the Earth but those were the words of a frightened man. No sorcerer could stop this war. Not even this Emrys.
In Elador:
Merlin walked through the town. It had grown so much since he was a child but it still had the charm. It had not been long since his father had been killed. He had been the last dragon lord and if he didn't have a son the dragon lords would no longer exist. This was going to be the end of the war. One side would win and it had to be his side. Merlin had hoped that it didn't have to end like this but after what happened there was nothing he could do about it. Arthur had made his choice and now the war was coming to an end.
He had called in a meeting earlier that day and the time for the meeting had come. Merlin went back to his house. When he arrived back home everybody else was already there. "Listen. Uther Pendragon is dead. This is the best time to end the war once and for all. I knew Arthur and even though he shares his father's view he is nothing like his father. He is no Uther. We can beat him. Start preparing the army. We ride in two days, " Merlin announced.
Time went slowly as everyone prepared. He could see the sorrow in the eyes of his people but there was also hope. They knew that it couldn't end peacefully. Merlin knew that it would end with the death of a leader. In the end, it came down to either him or Arthur. One of them would die and Merlin couldn't let it be him. Everybody with magic counted on him to win and he couldn't let them down.
Two days later:
Merlin was riding at the front line. Camelot finally in sight. There was no going back for them. They had heard about how difficult Camelot was to take but they never had one as strong Merlin with them. Now it was time to end this.
In Camelot:
Arthur looked out of his window only to see an army outside his city. "Guards. Get ready for a war!" Arthur yelled and stormed out of the throne room. Those sorcerers were going to attack him in Camelot. The city that nobody was able to take down. How foolish of them. They would never take Camelot not while he was there.
Arthur took a deep breath and went to prepare for the war. This was going to be the end. The war between Camelot and magical people.
Four days later:
The sound of swords clashing and spells being cast followed him where ever he went. Not many of the sorcerers know how to handle a sword and their magic wasn't anything compared to what he had seen back when he saw the true face of magic. Then Arthur caught a bright flash in the corner of his eye. Men flew from the flash screaming. Smoke filled the air making it difficult to spot anything. Then a young man stepped out from the smoke. His black hair covered his eyes but the bright golden colour shone through. "Magic!" Arthur hissed. This one was his. He stormed towards the young man but before he could move more than a couple of steps something stopped him. An invisible force.
"There he is, " the young man said, "Arthur Pendragon. King of Camelot, " Arthur tried moving but he couldn't. This was nothing like the sorcerers he had been up against until now. "I'm Emrys or that's at least the name the druids use. You may know me better as Merlin, " the young man said. Realization fell over Arthur. His former friend. The sorcerer who almost changed his view on magic was standing there right in front of him. "I had hoped it would never come to this old friend but you are just like your father, " Merlin told him, "However because we used to be friends I'll go easy on you to give you a fighting chance. " The force around Arthur disappeared and he could again move freely. "Let's dance your royal highness" Emrys smirked and prepared for the fight.
There was only one thing he had to do. Cut the head off the snake. Without Arthur to lead them Camelot's army would be right for the picking. Then his people could finally be free. But there was still this quiet voice in his head telling him that Arthur was his friend. That Merlin couldn't kill his childhood friend. However, he was no longer just Merlin. He was Emrys. The strongest warlock to ever walk the earth, the warlock who would stand beside the once and future king as they together reunite the kingdoms under one name. Back in the days, Merlin had thought that Arthur might be the king the legends talked about. However, then he had seen Arthur's reaction to magic and that left little doubt that Arthur couldn't be the once and future king.
Out of the corner of his eye, Emrys saw the young king ready for an attack. He knew that without even trying he could rip Arthur apart but Emrys had promised Arthur a fighting chance. Emrys readied for the attack. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Everything, even time, slowed down and when Emrys opened his eyes the young king was in front of him with his sword slowly swinging it towards Emrys. Without even moving his hand or saying a word the sword stopped shortly before it could make contact with Emrys' head.
"Nice try blondie, but you have to think with your head not with your sword if you want to beat me," Emrys told the king. He knew that that the king was skilled with his sword but in this fight, skill wasn't enough. Here the king would have to outsmart Emrys. He would have to use his years of training to figure out Emrys' weak spot or distract him long enough to hit him. However, it seemed that the king wasn't thinking straight. Did he remember the times they had spent together as children? Was there still a chance the war could come to a halt and they could live side by side?
As Emrys seemed lost in thought Arthur took a chance. If he could break the sorcerer's concentration long enough to deal a killing blow this whole war would be over. Peace could finally return to Camelot and continue his father's work and save the lands from the terror of magic. With a quick movement and swift feet, he attempted to trip the sorcerer. As Emrys tried to regain his footing Arthur swung his sword. As his sword connected with the sorcerer's chest. Emrys let out a groan. "Well done your highness" Emrys groaned as he tried to get back on his feet. Once again Arthur swung his sword trying to hit Emrys before he could regain his footing but again his sword was stopped before it connected. "Can't let you do that, " Emrys told him, "I can't let my people suffer under your rule. Not anymore. I wish I didn't have to do this but I can't let this play out anymore. I'm sorry Arthur, "
With those last words to the man who was once his best friend, Emrys' eyes flashed golden and the king fell to the ground. Slowly Emrys knelt down beside the fallen king. "I wish our lives didn't have to be this way. Let us meet again in a time in which we don't have to kill each other, "
Not all stories get a happy ending. Sometimes stories end with friends on the opposite sides and in the end, one had to kill the other. This was our story.
