Irony of Secrets
Galaya
Well, here's the next chapter! Three left! Then TheSearch for Emrys!
Starting from Gwaine's point of view.
Chapter 17: Merlin?
"You seem to have gotten into a spot of trouble, Marchogion ffôl," Aiden grinned evilly. "We guessed you would try to escape. Now, Emrys. Help us. You could have it all. We only want Ebycul. You wouldn't have to hide. You could rule over those who dared to persecute our kind."
Gwaine worried Emrys would comply as he stayed silent.
"And lose my friends and family?" Emrys challenged quietly. He raised his head defiantly. "Lose all that I care about? Be forced to carry the guilt that innocents would die?"
"None in Camelot are innocent, Emrys," Keiyva retorted.
"Revenge accomplishes nothing. Acceptance, friendship, love, kindness… those four things are all that is right with this world. Yes, I don't want to have to hide. But if it means losing everything if I do as you say, I'll gladly give up my happiness."
Everyone was shocked at this statement.
'Who is Emrys? He seems to be very loyal. And he said he's someone we know in Camelot we know him in Camelot. He is familiar, but I can't place him.
"And just as I won't join you, I won't allow you to hurt anyone!" Emrys declared.
"Then we shall destroy you all," returned Aiden. "Gosod rhydd y clogwyn!"
There was a tremble above the knights and Emrys. They looked up to see that the rocks above them were falling. All of the knights braced themselves for certain death.
"Run!" Gwaine yelled.
"Arhoswch! Alwad eich lawr!" shouted Emrys.
The rocks slowed, but didn't stop.
The knights took the chance to run. Jécelyn, Castrwy, and Elyan went right. Arthur, Leon, and Percival dashed to the left. Gwaine was shocked by what Emrys's had done and stood still. Emrys noticed this.
"Don't stand there like a dumbstruck blockhead! Run!"
'That sounded like something Merlin would say,' Gwaine thought dully.
Emrys grabbed the knight by the shoulder and jerked him back towards the dungeons. Then, the boulders crashed down. Gwaine was the farthest form the rocks. One of the smaller one crushed Emrys's leg. He cried out in agony as the bone shattered. The cowl of his cloak slipped off his head, revealing his face.
Gwaine was stunned. Merlin was kneeling in the debris, desperately trying to get his injured leg free.
"Merlin!" Gwaine exclaimed.
His friend's pain riddled face turned towards him
"Gwaine. Please, I need help," the warlock pleaded.
The knight needed no further prompting. He went over and lifted the rock as far as he could. The space was just large enough for Merlin to drag his ruined leg out. Gwaine set the rock down and looked over at his injured friend. Gwaine had seen many injuries, but this one made him shudder. It was made all the worse that it was on Merlin. His friend. The sorcerer Emrys. To say that piece of information shocked the knight was an understatement.
"You're Emrys," he said.
Merlin looked up. "I told you that you knew me."
"But... you're Merlin!"
"Yes. Ow! Oh, this hurts!" the warlock groaned.
"And you saved our lives."
Merlin didn't appear to hear. Seeing Merlin in pain worried Gwaine.
"Can't you just heal yourself with... with magic?" Gwaine inquired. It felt strange to ask Merlin to use magic. It felt strange to see Merlin at the moment. He was supposed to be back in Camelot, recovering from an injury.
"I need a moment. Could you not ask anything until I've healed myself?" requested Merlin.
Gwaine nodded, resigning himself to having to stand by whilst his friend lay injured. For a couple minutes, all that could be heard was the sound of the two breathing. Then Merlin lifted himself slightly off the hard, cold ground.
"Atgyweirio y difrod a wnaed," he incanted, then cringed as the magic repaired his leg.
Gwaine was amazed by the magic. He, of course, had seen magic many times. But not like this. There was something different about it. A more innocent, kind,gentle feeling.
"Why do you have magic, Merlin?" he questioned.
Merlin, feeling better, chuckled humorlessly.
"You could say I was born with it," the warlock replied.
"That's possible!"
"No. Well, yes. But, oh, how do I explain this? Basically, it should be impossible. I'm the only one like this. Most sorcerers either chose magic or find out they can use it at some point in their lives. I've been using it since the day I was born."
"Then why come to Camelot?"
"I truthfully didn't know about the ban at first. The day I arrived, there was an execution. My mother sent me to Gaius hoping he would help me control my magic," explained Merlin.
"Oh. Bet that was a great welcome(!)" Gwaine joked.
"Yeah. 'Hello. We kill your kind here. Have a nice day!'"
Gwaine laughed, glad to see that Merlin had indeed healed himself.
"I guess knowing that you're Emrys makes me… well, trust you more. As Emrys. And I guess as Merlin," the knight admitted.
"Glad to hear that you aren't going to kill me in my sleep," Merlin said. " Come on, we'd better make sure the others are okay."
The warlock once again donned the cloak of Emrys and faced the rocks.
I've been really looking forward to doing this chapter. I was original going to have them talk and Merlin reveal himself after Gwaine partly worked it out. But… sometimes the events just write themselves!
Sorry, I forgot these in the last chapter.
Chapter preview: Two characters have second thoughts and one of them dies.
Next chapter: True Loyalties and Betrayal
Reviews? Please?