Merlin
Love By Any Other name
Part 7
He awoke to the sound of water, the smell of salt in the air. The chill breeze as it whipped around him, through his hair. Slowly he opened his eyes, looking around, seeing crumbling stone walls, a fine mist beyond then and then the sea stretching off into the distance. He turned, realising his hands were tied behind his back, his legs tired in front of him, and he could feel Morgana tied to his back by the same ropes. He struggled silently for several minutes.
"I see your awake at last" said a woman's voice from his left. He turned looking up, squinting at the sun high above.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"A long way from Camelot" she said as she moved into the shade, he followed her movements, he was taken aback momentarily by her beauty, but quickly put it out of his mind. "A place called the isle of the blessed" she said.
"I've heard of it" he said, neutrally. She laughed, not a pleasant sound in the least.
"I'm not surprised, there are not many people with… your gifts who haven't" she said.
"Why are we here?" he demanded. She moved closer again, into the sun, kneeling down by him.
"Lets say I have, an old score to settle with Uther" she said, even as behind him Morgana began to waken.
"Merlin?" she asked.
"I'm here" he assured her, gripping her hand as best he could.
"Oh how touching, really" the woman said.
"Merlin who's that?" asked Morgana.
"That would be our kidnapper" he said, glaring at the woman, she frowned and laughed.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that Merlin" she said. "you see this is just as much a test for Uther as it is your ever lasting love" she spat. "Now picture this, you two are snatched away from him, and the person he calls for, is Morgana" she said, "and imagine my utter lack of surprise when he doesn't mention you at all" she added, pointing at Merlin.
"She's his ward, of course he'd be concerned for her" said Merlin.
"Who are you?" demanded Morgana.
"Nimueh" she replied, moving out of Merlin's vision and into Morgana's
"And that means what?" asked Morgana.
"I see Uther never told you" she said. "But far be it for me to deprive him of that particular pleasure" she said.
"So if this is a test for Uther, then what part do we play?" asked Merlin. Nimueh laughed.
"Its actually quite an easy part, you see, It is Uther who will decide which one of you lives and which one dies" she said.
"Then I die, why drag it out?" Merlin demanded. Nimueh slowly smiled.
"Because I want to see his face when only one of you returns, only to learn he has deprived the other of their true love" she said, then she stood, "For every choice he makes regarding one of you, the bonds will lessen. But for the other, they will tighten, until one of you is free and one of you is dead" she said. "Oh and I must add, that if you attempt to leave the confines of this space then the bonds will tighten on both of you, and we really wouldn't want that now" Nimueh added as she walked through a nearby arch.
Oh and Merlin, the same is true of your magic her voice echoed in his mind. Merlin snarled slightly then closed his eyes.
"Well get out of this" Merlin said softly. Morgana clutched his hand tightly, but remained silent.
Uther watched from his window as Arthur rode out with the knights of Camelot on their search. Turning as Gaius walked in.
"Sire?" he asked, with a bow. "You wished to see me?"
"Gaius, yes please" he replied, gesturing him into the room. "I take it your aware of what transpired, and that Morgana is missing" he said. Gaius inclined his head.
"And Merlin as well, if I'm not mistaken" Gaius added. Uther looked at him, then nodded.
"Quite right" he said. "What I need to know is why we were attacked, theory's possibilities, anything that many help in our search for Mo- them" he said.
"I don't know Sire, I could throw up a hundred theories, none of which could be true" he said. "The only clue we have is that Wyvern's are costal creatures, they can come inland, but to come inland and attack, let alone kidnap people, that in itself hints at magic" Gaius said. Uther nodded.
"I had much the same thought myself" he admitted. "But who and why?" he asked.
"That I cannot answer, but I shall see if I can find some clues" Gaius replied. Uther nodded at him.
"Thank you Gaius" he replied, turning back to his window. Behind him Gaius bowed, then left the room.
"Be safe Morgana" he muttered.
Merlin yelped in pain as the bonds gave a savage twist on his legs.
"Merlin?" Morgana asked concerned.
"Nothing" he lied. "My leg decided to spasm" he added.
"Don't lie Merlin, I felt the bond on my legs loosen a little" she said. "It's Uther, worrying about me" she snarled.
"Don't be so hard on him, he cares a great deal for you" Merlin said.
"Uther cares only for what he thinks he should care about. He only thinks of me because of what he owes my father" she replied.
"Which is what precisely?" he asked, tilting his head back slightly.
"Galorious, my father, he was Uther's strongest ally, we went to war or something like that, I was very young, anyways, my father did not return, and Uther took me in, because he promised my father he would" she said.
"What about your mother?" asked Merlin. Morgana went silent for a moment.
"I never really knew her" she admitted. "She left just after I was born" she said.
"It much the same with my father, except he didn't even wait for me to be born, just left one day" Merlin said.
"you've never seen him?" Morgana asked.
"I don't even know his name, I tried asking my mother about it but she would go quiet, or change the subject. I think it's because it's still painful for her" he said.
"Surely his name wouldn't have hurt to know" Morgana replied. Behind her Merlin shrugged.
"I'm never going to see him, so what's it matter?" he asked her. Morgana remained silent, but he could feel her shivering, unlike him she was facing the sea and the wind that swept in from it, where as he only had the crumbling stone walls to view, but they also afforded some small protection from the wind.
"You're cold" he stated. Morgana shivered again.
"Just a little" she admitted.
"I wish I could do something" he replied. She laughed at that.
"You are, you're here" she replied.
"And a fat lot of good that's doing" he replied with a chuckle of his own, then they fell into silence for several moments.
"Merlin" she said softly.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"Last night, when you came to see me, was it because you were concerned or because you wanted to see me?" she asked.
"I wanted to see you, I couldn't sleep without letting you know how I felt" he said.
"And the crutch?" she asked.
"to show you I wasn't just some injured man looking for sympathy" he replied.
"why would you think I would believe that?" she asked him.
"I guess, its just what I thought" he admitted.
"and when we were fighting the Wyvern? Your leg seemed okay then" she said.
"I was more worried about you" he replied. "Of course when it was killed it caught up pretty damned quickly" he added, then felt her hand tighten around his.
"Always my champion" she said.
"I do my best" he replied.
"Sightings put the Wyverns heading west" said Sir Leon as he rode up to Arthur, it had gotten late, but Arthur didn't care, instead he turned his horse in that direction, aware of the villagers watching them from their homes.
"How many more villages lie that way?" Arthur asked.
"Three" replied Leon.
"Then we go them, do a house to house search, question everyone in them" he said.
"Sire, perhaps we should camp for the night" Leon cautioned. Arthur shook his head.
"My half sister and my friend are missing Leon, I have no intention of resting until I know where they are" he said. Leon looked like he was about to protest but then nodded.
"Yes my lord" he replied, then looked back at the other knights, shouting orders, before he fell into place next to Arthur.
"You seem troubled my lord" Leon ventured.
"This is my fault, that's why" Arthur said. Leon frowned.
"how?" he asked.
"I said something very… stupid yesterday, and I think that if I hadn't then Merlin wouldn't have felt the need to go to Morgana" he said.
"Sire?" Leon was clearly confused. But Arthur nodded.
"Those Wyvern's they didn't attack for the hell of it, they wanted Morgana and Merlin" he said.
"How do you know that?" Leon asked.
"Because they had ample opportunity to snatch me, or My father or both of us, or just Morgana at any time they wanted, but they waited until Merlin and Morgana were together, and then took them both" he said. Leon nodded in understanding.
"Someone who disagrees with their… courtship?" Leon ventured.
"I don't know, but whoever it is has magic" he replied. Leon nodded, but remained silent as they moved into the darkling woods.
Uther looked up from the chair as Gwen entered the chamber. She stopped short, bowing to him, when she saw him.
"My lord" she greeted. "forgive me, I did not expect to see you here" she said. Uther nodded at her.
"Why are you here?" Uther asked her.
"My mistress may not be here sire but I still have duties that I have to perform, her chambers must be kept tidy for her return" she said.
"So you believe we'll find her?" he asked. Gwen smiled and nodded.
"I believe we will yes" she said. "I have to" her voice suddenly faltered.
"Your dedication is commendable" Uther told her gently, standing. Gwen nodded and smiled at him.
"Forgive me my lord" she said wiping a small tear away.
"There is nothing to forgive" he replied. "Go about your duties" he said softly. Gwen bowed again and then moved behind the dresser, picking up her discarded clothing. Uther watching her.
"Please Morgana, return to us" he said softly.
Merlin gasped in pain again as the magical bonds tightened yet again, but they had pulled his injured leg, quite sharply.
"Merlin?" Morgana asked, feeling his hand grip hers tightly.
"Its okay" he said as the pain slowly subsided.
"no, your hurt, I know you are" she replied.
"I'm fine, just got a little jolted that time" he admitted. Morgana let out a sigh stroking the back of his hand. The sun had set a long time ago, and now the moon shone above them brightly. But if it had been cold earlier, now its was almost freezing and both of them were shivering.
"I wish Uther would hurry up" Merlin muttered. "Rather I die then we freeze to death" he said.
"Don't ever say that, never again" Morgana hissed from behind him.
"I'll try to remember that" he replied through chattering teeth. "Just promise me one thing" he said.
"What's that?" she asked.
"when we get back, remind me never to moan about how cold my room is again" he said. Morgana laughed, the response he was hoping for.
Gaius had been reading books all day, trying to find something, anything that could be of use. But finally he had to admit defeat. Slowly he stood. There was of course one thing he hadn't tried. But he would need Uther's permission, so with a purpose in mind he left his chambers and may his way hastily towards Uther's own chambers.
"Enter" Uther's voice sounded from the other side. Gaius took a breath, then stepped in.
"Gaius?" asked Uther, standing, his eyes searching for some clue to see if anything had been discovered.
"Sire, I have scoured all my references, but there is far too many places that Wyvern's roost, let alone anywhere they would take hostages" he said.
"And you have exhausted all avenues of research?" Uther asked. Gaius nodded.
"I have my lord, all but one" he said. Uther looked up at him, not understanding.
"then by all means, see to it" he snapped.
"sire it is not that easy. The source I speak of is not a book, it's the Dragon" he said. Uther visibly deflated and sank back onto his bed.
"The Dragon?" he asked softly.
"It is the only other option if we wish to see them again" Gaius admitted.
"How do you know it will help?" Uther asked looking at him. This time Gaius looked away.
"I do not, but even if that is the case, we are no worse off then we are now" he admitted. Uther sighed and looked away.
"And there is no other recourse?" he asked.
"none at this time sire no" Slowly Uther nodded, then stood.
"Very well, but I assure you I will not bargain with it" Uther said as he walked past.
The cavern beneath the castle was vast, stretching out for quite a distance, but it was also well lit, the platform they stood on was at any rate. But for the moment it was empty, or at least it seemed that way.
"I know you're here! Show yourself" Uther called out, seeing the chain that bound the creature stretching out far above them. They was a sudden flap of wings and the Great Dragon landed with a thud in front of them, both men stepping back.
"Well, well, Uther Pendragon, I wondered if I would ever see your traitorous face again" it said. Then glanced at Gaius.
"And how old you have become" it said.
"You know why we're here?" Gaius called out. The Dragon leant its massive head forwards.
"The Lady Morgana I would presume" it stated.
"Of course" Uther said.
"But you forget, Uther, she is not the only one missing" the Dragon stated. "But tell me, why should I help you?" it hissed.
"I told you this was pointless" muttered Uther.
"If that is what you believe then the Lady Morgana and Merlin will die" the Dragon said.
"Is that a threat?" demanded Uther.
"Take it as you will, I speak only the truth" it replied.
"What do you demand in return?" asked Gaius, Uther's glare falling on him.
"I would see them here, They have a great destiny ahead of them, as does Arthur, but for it to be complete there must be the four, Merlin, Arthur, Morgana and the maid, Guinevere"
"you would see them so you can burn them!" roared Uther.
"If you think so little of me, then why did you come here?" the Dragon said.
"Why should we believe a word you say?" demanded Uther.
"Because Pendragon, unlike you, I do not have to resort to trickery and betrayal" it replied.
"I will send Merlin to you, will that suffice?" asked Gaius. The dragon looked at him, then back at Uther who slowly nodded.
"It will be a start at least" the Dragon said. "The Lady Morgana and Merlin are closer than you think, yet further away then you realise" it said. "Go west to the isle of the Blessed, there you will find what you seek" it said, then took flight, vanishing into the darkness above.
"The isles of the blessed?" muttered Uther. "Why would that take them there?" he said looking at Gaius.
"Sire, only one person lives on the Isle of the blessed" said Gaius. Uther blinked and looked at him.
"Nimueh" he snarled. "But why now?" he demanded.
"Why indeed" agreed Gaius. "That is something only she can answer" he added.
"Oh she will most certainly answer" Uther vowed. "If she has harmed one hair on Morgana's head then she will pay very dearly" he snarled as he moved back up the steps.
Behind her Morgana felt Merlin tense again, he had.
"Uther please, stop" she prayed, suddenly the bonds on her loosened again, and Merlin cried out.
"Merlin?" she asked, he didn't answer, instead his breathing was in ragged gasps.
"Oh poor boy" muttered Nimueh as she approached. "Pain too much?" she asked, kneeling down.
"Why… don't you go for a swim" Merlin muttered. Nimueh laughed at him.
"But such spirit" she said, standing. "not long now Morgana and you can be free" she said, then stalked away.
"I'll kill you… I'LL KILL YOU!" she screamed. Slowly the priestess turned to face her.
"You're welcome to try, but not today" she said, then turned and continued through the arch.
"Merlin, hold on, please" Morgana whispered, gripping his hand.
"I'm trying" he replied. Morgana sniffled, feeling the tears falling down her face, even as behind her Merlin yelled again.
"Uther, Please…. Stop" she cried again, even as behind her Merlin finally fell mercifully unconscious….
To Be continued.