Okay, first of all I had a great vacation and I didn't get a sunburn this time. XD And one of the best parts was when, at the hotel after I managed to finally get online (the internet reception was horribly complicated and weird), I checked my story and found that I had 44 reviews! Holy Crap, you guys are awesome!
So, I would like to thank: Revenge of the Red Pen, Boxerbee, readernurse (4 hugs for the 4 reviews), and TheReinbachDragonlord (2 hugs for the 2 reviews).
This chapter is full of Arthur-Merlin banter and slight bromance. Nothing really extraordinary happens here (like the world coming to an end or anything like that), but the information here is still important and worth reading (and I know I left everyone hanging last chapter, so on with the story).
Disclaimer: I still don't own Merlin.
Chapter 12 - Realizations
"What?!" Arthur shouted. Did he really just say that?!
"Arthur..."
"Like hell I will!"
"Arthur, you don't understand".
"Oh, I think I do Merlin and I will not kill my best friend".
"And I will not put my friends' lives in danger!" Merlin roared impatiently. The warlock was almost too frustrated to realize that he had unknowingly snarled at the prince, thus effectively shutting him up. Calming himself, Merlin dropped his head and continued. "This is the only way Arthur. I would rather die than risk being a threat to anyone, especially those I care about...and this way, I wouldn't be controlled at all"
At this, Lancelot's words came back to mind. Everything you do, you do for others, never once taking your own well being into consideration. Now, Arthur truly realized what he meant. Every aspect of Merlin's life revolved around helping others to the best of his ability. He didn't go looking for praise or recognition. No. He always put others' well being before his own and, in turn, they always knew they could rely on him in any situation.
And the prince had definitely relied on his friend many times in the past.
If Arthur needed someone to talk to, Merlin was there. If he needed advice on anything, Merlin truthfully gave it. When all seemed lost, when there was no hope for the light to shine through the darkness, his friend was there to enkindle the flame of hope that had always brought him out of those difficult times. So when it came down to it, it would be no surprise that Merlin would do anything to protect those he loved, even at the cost of his own life.
"Merlin, it's not just that I won't kill you, it's that I can't." The wyvern's head snapped up. "You have always been there for me, through thick and thin. You were and are my first true friend and I..I..I just can't do it." Arthur paused.
"There must be a different way and I will find it Merlin" Arthur finished determinedly.
"But Arthur, Kilgharrah said there isn't..."
"Actually, there is" the dragon's voice cut in. That got both of their attentions. Apparently, the prince and warlock seemed to have forgotten that Kilgharrah was still there.
"But you said..."
"I never said there isn't a way to break the curse. I only told you of a possible outcome" Kilgharrah said with, what can only be described as, a smug look. From time to time, the dragon did find amusement in messing with his Dragonlord (why else would he speak in pointless riddles?). Despite the severity of the situation, the expression on Merlin's wyvern face was priceless.
"So there is a way though?" Arthur asked hopefully.
"Indeed. For a curse this strong, this deeply rooted in dark magic, there is only one way to fully break it...and that's its one weakness. True love".
There was a moment of complete silence. "What?! Are you saying that Merlin here has to be...kissed by his one true love?"
"Yes"
"But Merlin doesn't love anyone. I mean, we could have every girl in Camelot kiss him I suppose, but that would take forever not to mention that I don't think any girl would probably want to kiss him in the first place."
"Ha ha. Very funny Arthur" Merlin commented dryly.
"I'm not joking Merlin, this is serious. We have to find your one true love right away or you'll be stuck like this forever"
"Arthur..."
"What Merlin? Can't you see I'm trying to work this problem out?! Now, do you know of any girl in Camelot who might", Arthur shuddered, "like you at all?"
"Well, the truth is..."
"We already know who Merlin's one true love is" Kilgharrah interrupted, annoyed at how dense the Once and Future King could be.
This statement proved to be too much for Arthur to handle, so much so that he was lost for words and was left with his mouth almost dropping to the ground.
"...um...ah...but..."
"If you really try hard enough Arthur, I'm sure you'll eventually figure out how to form actual words" Merlin teased.
"...You've been courting?!"
Merlin tried rolling his eyes, but it wasn't really effective since the wyvern's were completely white. So, he settled for the next best thing. WHACK
"Ow Merlin! What was that for?"
"For being an obnoxious prat. Why is it such a surprise that I found someone to love?"
"Because... you're... Merlin." Arthur stammered. "I just thought...OW! Merlin!"
The warlock didn't realize how beneficial a tail could be until that night. "Yes Arthur, I found love, though I wouldn't call it 'courting', per se" he then turned to look at the dragon. "What I wonder is how you knew Kilgharrah. I haven't told anyone about her, well except for Gaius but even he doesn't know all the details."
"There is much written about you, young warlock, that you are not yet aware of. Many prophesies speak of the relationship you and the Lady of the Lake have -how you broke the curse placed on her and set her free to rule over the Lake, how she would aid in bringing about the time of Albion alongside the Once and Future King. And most importantly, how she would be the light for Emrys in his greatest hour of need. I have always known."
Merlin blushed (which was hard to tell in his wyvern form) and refused to make eye contact with Arthur. The prince, who still couldn't get the words 'Merlin' and 'love' out of his head, stood in a deeper state of shock (if that's even possible).
Kilgharrah took the ominous silence as his cue to leave. The two pawns of prophesy* had all the information they needed so the Great Dragon figured his assistance wasn't required anymore. Turning around, he prepared to fly away when Arthur called out to him.
"So where can we find her?"
"Where she resides of course. The Lake of Avalon"
"Where's that?"
"Merlin knows where it is. He can show you the way."
"Why can't you just take us there?"
Kilgharrah suddenly stopped and turned his head around slowly. Seeing the anger in his eyes, Arthur took a couple of steps back. Lowering his head so he was eye level with the prince, the dragon snorted hot air on Arthur.
"I have said this once and I will say it again. I...am not...a horse. Merlin has a perfectly good set of wings. If you want to get there faster, ride on him, not me" Kilgharrah declared indignantly before leaving the field.
Arthur was trembling for a bit (though he would deny it later) after the dragon left. He didn't mean to offend him. The prince just thought that his idea was a reasonable question and solution. Merlin roared with laughter after the dragon took off, causing Arthur to give his friend a quick glare.
"What's so funny Merlin?"
"You. How does it feel getting scolded by a dragon?"
"Shut up Merlin" Arthur said, barely regaining his composure. The prince looked up to the sky and saw that the sun would be rising soon.
"So where is the Lake of Avalon?"
"Not too far from here actually"
"And why couldn't the dragon fly us there in the first place? I mean, couldn't you have just commanded him to"
"I suppose I could, but it wouldn't feel right. I hope you realize Arthur that Kilgharrah's still my kin. I have already commanded him against his will before and I felt horrible for forcing him in such a way. Besides, I would never hear the end of it from him afterwards"
Arthur laughed. "Dragons hold such petty grudges?"
"Oh, you have no idea".
This time, both of them laughed heartily. "Is there any chance you could give me a..."
"No Arthur. I'm with Kilgharrah on this one. I'm not a horse either"
"It would be a faster way to get to the Lake of Avalon" Arthur suggested.
"We both have a perfectly good set of feet. We can walk there. Besides, I'm not sure I know how to fly and you would probably end up weighing me down before I could take off."
"Merlin I am not fat. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"And yet no matter how many times you tell me this, I don't see you getting any lighter"
"Shut up Merlin. Let's just go" Arthur huffed in anger. So Merlin slowly led the way out of the open field in silence. "So, what's her name?"
"What?"
"You're lady-friend. What's her name? Have I met her yet?"
Merlin would have bitten his lip if not for the fact that in doing so, his teeth would've probably cut him. He really didn't want to have this conversation now. "You have met her before. As for her name, it's Freya".
"Freya. That's a pretty name. What's she like?"
"She has black hair like me and the most beautiful brown eyes you've ever seen. I could get lost in them forever. She's a kind, gentle woman yet strong-willed, kind of like Gwen but different still. Her life was full of hardships, but she never put that burden on me, despite that I wanted to help."
"She sounds nice"
"She was"
"Was?"
Darn it. Merlin really needed to be careful of what he said. He didn't want Arthur to find out that he had killed Freya. He had already forgiven his friend and he didn't want to deal with an apologetic prince all the way to the Lake and back.
"I don't want to talk about it now"
"Are you sure you don't..."
"No". The tone in his voice told Arthur to drop the subject. Surprisingly, he did. Just then, Arthur realized they had forgotten something.
"Merlin"
"What now Arthur?"
"I think we forgot something. Where's Lancelot?"
If Merlin was back to his human form, he would've smacked his head. "Oh. Yeah I completely forgot him". At this point, both of them came to a stop fifteen or so yards from the edge of the forest.
"I blame you Merlin" Arthur said nonchalantly, pointing a finger at the wyvern's face. "If it wasn't for your hasty departure to get a kiss from your lady friend, then I would've remembered that Lancelot went to look for the horses".
"My fault! Arthur, you were the one who sent him off in the first place. If anyone's to blame, it's you."
"And who scared the horses to begin with?"
So both warlock and prince stayed there bickering. It was an amusing sight had it not been for the lurking figure hidden in the forest.
Yeah, Freya's back. Sorry, but she's my favorite female character - I had to include her. (Yes, I know I've said this so many times) XD
Like I said before, sorry about the lack of action. We should definitely see some next chapter.
*I took the phrase 'pawns of prophesy' from Book 1 of the Belgariad by David Eddings, the Pawn of Prophesy. The phrase kind-of fits Merlin and Arthur's link to destiny and plus, I'm a huge fan. I just couldn't resist. :)
One other thing. The Great Dragon, Kilgharrah himself, will NOT be saving the day. Sorry all you 'Great Dragon' fans out there, but if Kilgharrah was the answer to every problem our favorite warlock faced, then there would be no Merlin BAMF. So it's unlikely that we will see him again for the remainder of this story.
Also, it's my birthday...so please review (and if anyone caught the Pawn of Prophesy reference, let me know). Also, I'm planning to update twice a week instead of once so you'll probably see a new chapter by Friday.
Until later,
-STL13