*AUTHOR'S NOTE* sorry I haven't updated in a while, I'm juggling two other fics and also it was mock exam week, so I've been really busy! Also it snowed and I kept getting distracted by sledging (aka nearly dying by throwing yourself down a hill with no breaks to save you from the trees at the bottom) but hey, its here now and I'll try to get back on track with the updates, please forgive me for the long gap and enjoy the next chapter!
Morning came, and it was the usual wintry grey, sleety drizzle that greeted Cardiff in early December. The grey light filtered in through the windows. Merlin rolled over and opened his eyes. He smiled when he saw Arthur's face next to him, still deep in sleep. He gently pulled the duvet further up, and snuggled closer to the prince. Soon, he fell back into a light, warm sleep.
An hour later, Merlin woke again, and saw Arthur's deep blue eyes staring into his own. He smiled and snuggled closer. "Hello sire."
"Morning, warlock." Arthur smiled and wrapped his arms around Merlin in a warm, comforting and heart-melting hug.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Better with you beside me." Arthur planted a light kiss on Merlin's cheek, and it sent warm tingles running through him. Merlin blushed and smiled some more. "You're so cute when you blush." Arthur chuckled.
"Shut up" Merlin stretched and yawned. "We'd better get up soon, I'm sure Gwen and Rhys will want to use the kitchen."
"Boys, is it ok for me to come in?" Gwen's voice sounded at the door. Merlin looked at Arthur and they both burst into laughter.
"Wait a minute." Merlin got up and threw Arthur his tunic. Quickly he pulled it on and got out of bed. Merlin pulled his own tunic on and sat down on the bed. "Ok, you can come in now!"
Gwen opened the door and smiled. "Morning."
"Morning" Merlin and Arthur replied at the same time, and then burst into laughter once more.
"You two seem happy." Gwen gave Merlin a knowing smile. Merlin smiled back. "We're leaving in about half an hour. Have some breakfast." Gwen handed them a bowl of cornflakes each, which Merlin tucked into and Arthur inspected before putting one in his mouth. He chewed it for a while, nodded and took a spoonful. Rhys came in and smiled at the two boys, who were sitting looking at the television, watching BBC breakfast. "Morning!" He walked over to Gwen and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Morning, beautiful."
"Morning" Gwen's phone buzzed on the counter. Gwen saw the caller ID was jack, looked apologetically at Rhys and answered it. "Hello? Yes…yes…okay, yeah….yeah they're fine…oh, ok…yeah we'll be there….yep….see you then, bye." She hung up and put the phone in her pocket. "We need to go." She announced to Merlin and Arthur, who both got up and placed their half empty bowls on the counter. Gwen kissed Rhys and walked to the door. "Bye, Rhys!"
"Bye!" Rhys replied from the kitchen. Arthur and Merlin quickly pulled their boots on and followed Gwen to her car, walking hand in hand.
Jack was already waiting in the SUV, and the team were assembled on the bay. Gwen parked the car and then ran over to Jack, Merlin and Arthur following.
"What's happening?" Arthur whispered in Merlin's ear.
Merlin looked up at the prince and smiled. "I think we might be going home!"
Gaius woke with a start. Something far away was rumbling, like the far off sound of an approaching storm, and there was a building pressure in the atmosphere. The rumble got louder for a second, and the castle seemed to shake. Gaius got up and opened a window. Outside the pressure was almost electric, and it raised the hairs on the back of Gaius' neck. The pressure was growing now, and the shakes were getting stronger, the energy growing. Something was wrong, and he could feel it. As he watched, the sun slowly rose, cutting through the pressure with its bright and warm light, turning the sky into a beautiful mix of pinks and reds and oranges, but the heavy feeling seemed to take from it. Another shudder of energy rippled through the valley and a growing feeling of unease followed. Something was about to happen, and something big.
Arthur and Merlin stood by the SUV, shaking hands with Ianto and Owen, and Arthur very gracefully kissed Tosh's hand, and did the same to Gwen, making them both blush and giggle. "Thank you" Merlin gave Gwen a quick hug and smiled, "for everything."
"You're more than welcome, Merlin. It's been a real pleasure." Gwen smiled. "Be safe."
"I will be. I won't forget you." Merlin smiled at each member of the team. "Thank you."
Tosh handed Merlin a strange looking, round object. "You'll need this when you get to the other side."
Merlin held it at eye level and inspected it. "What is it?"
"Portable Rift Manipulator. It will shut down that part of the rift to stop anything else coming through."
"Oh, I see, that's clever, thank you."
"It's okay." Tosh smiled.
Merlin smiled back and turned to get into the SUV. "Hey, Merlin!" Owen called. Merlin looked up.
"Yes?"
"Think about that pointy hat and beard combination, you never know, it might suit you!"
Merlin snorted. "I will!" He smiled at the team and leant on the open door of the SUV. "Thank you, all of you, for everything. I never imagined anything like what I've seen here." He smiled again, raised a hand in a half wave and then got into the car. Jack turned towards the back and smiled at Arthur and Merlin.
"You ready to go?" They both nodded and Jack smiled and tuned towards the front.
"Let's go then!" He pulled the car away from the curb and drove away, towards the outer fringes of the city.
A few hours had passed, and the sun was now shining high in the sky. The pressure that had hung over Camelot in the morning had escalated and was now pulsating, washing over the castle like waves. It had everyone at an uneasy panic, and several guard groups had been sent out into the surrounding forests to find the source.
Uther paced in the court room, face set in a firm mask of worry.
"Sire, I'm sure-"
"Gaius, I don't need reassurance right now, I need this stopped and now!"
"Uther, this is the strongest magic I've ever seen. The sorcerer who did this is more than likely a formidable and strong one."
"So we do nothing?"
"No! We need to-" suddenly the castle shook so violently Gaius toppled to the floor and Uther had to grab the side of the throne to keep steady.
"This is getting worse." Uther sighed. "I don't know what to do!" He sat down, head in his hands. "I'm the king! How am I supposed to lead if I don't know what to do?"
"Hey, it's okay" Gaius put a hand on the king's back. "We can do this together."
Uther sighed. "I need to pull myself together." He stood up. "I've lost my son, but I refuse to lose my kingdom or sanity."
The SUV sped through the residential streets until Jack slowed it at the entrance of a bumpy looking alleyway. He stopped the car and Merlin and Arthur climbed out. There was a tension in the air, and it could be felt all around them, trembling and vibrating, and it raised the hair on Merlin's neck. He squeezed Arthur's hand and smiled at Jack.
"Come on, it's through here." Jack led them up the alleyway and after a few minutes it opened out onto a deserted looking park. In one corner there was a rickety looking shed, and a swing blew eerily back and forth in a breeze. The tension was stronger here, and cold. Merlin shivered and gripped Arthur's hand tightly as they followed Jack. Eventually, they came to a stop beside the shed and Jack pulled the door open with a creak. A golden light glowed and Merlin and Arthur felt the familiar pull. Jack stood steady and took a small object from his pocket. Holding it up to the rift opening, he turned a few dials and pressed the central button. The rift suddenly flared, engulfing the shed with a golden, blinding light. Jack grabbed the boys and together the three of them stepped into the centre of the rift opening.
Merlin flailed in the blinding light as colours zoomed passed his eyes and he gripped Arthur's hand as strongly as he could. It felt like they were falling for eternity when suddenly the light faded and all three of them landed with a harsh thud on the familiar woody ground of the forests that surrounded Camelot. Slowly, he picked himself up and turned to see Jack shutting off the rift with the manipulator. The light pulsated for a second, and then disappeared altogether, leaving a rippling wall of air that was visible for just a few seconds, and then it also disappeared. Jack closed the manipulator, put it in his pocket and patted it. "There, that should solve it." He turned and smiled at the two boys, who were both standing, staring wide eyed at the spot where the rift had been. "You're home!"
"Jack…" Merlin got to his feet and Arthur stood behind him. An arrow whizzed past Jack's ear and embedded itself in the trunk of a nearby beech tree. Jack turned to see a party of ten Camelot knights, all mounted on horses that snorted and jostled uneasily at his presence.
"Oh, hello!" Jack smiled. "Look you two; we've got a welcome party!"
"You, sorcerer, shut up or I can do it for you!" The lead knight lifted his bow and nocked in another arrow.
"Hey, what's with the hostility? I brought your prince back." Jack nodded at Arthur, who was standing awkwardly.
"Arthur?" The knight immediately lowered his bow and dismounted the horse, which snorted and pawed the ground.
"Hello, Sir Leon." The prince stepped forwards. "Leave Jack, he's my friend."
Sir Leon kept his shock disguised. "Friend? But he's a sorcerer!"
"That may be true, but he saved me, and Merlin. If it wasn't for him we would both still be missing. And I would be dead." Arthur looked at Jack and smiled. "I will be eternally grateful and in debt to him."
Sir Leon shifted his position. "But…What about Uther?"
"Uther doesn't need to know."
"If you don't step up to your duties, Arthur, I will." Sir Leon gave him a frosty glare and mounted his horse. He signalled the rest of the group to wait. "We need to get you back to the castle. Arthur, you have the pleasure of riding with me. Your manservant can ride with Sir Ernest and Jack with Sir Thomas." He turned his horse to the side so that Arthur could mount. Arthur begrudgingly got behind him. Merlin and Jack did the same with their allocated rides, and the group galloped at full speed back towards Camelot, towards home.