A hidden threat
Chapter 8
Looking at my stats, I've just realised I have at least one reader on every continent! That's so cool! Today-fanfic, tomorrow-the world! Mwah ha ha! Anyway, enough of my plans for world domination. I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has stuck with this and I hope you're still enjoying it. So here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
The sorcerer walked straight up to Arthur, he was nose to nose with the prince. Arthur could feel the magic bleeding from the sorcerer's eyes.
"So," The sorcerer began, a morbid enjoyment dripping from his words, "Now the real fun begins."
Arthur raised his sword another inch so it was now under the sorcerer's chin. He stared deep into the monster's eyes and felt nothing but blackness staring back at him. Looking into those eyes made Arthur feel so cold, as if he was looking at the personification of all the evil in the world.
His hands had begun to shake.
His heart beat so hard it hurt.
His breath rattled in his chest.
He couldn't even think straight.
The sorcerer saw this all.
With this the familiar twisted grin spread across the villain's face. He looked down at Arthur's sword with disdain. By this point Arthur was more than unnerved, he was Camelot's greatest warrior. Over the years he had been dealt challenges by the deadliest foes, fought terrifying creatures, faced every single one of his fears and insecurities, he was famed as one of the bravest men of the five kingdoms. Yet this sorcerer had the power to make him shake with fear, Arthur was losing control.
The sorcerer spoke up, "You wouldn't try and kill me," he spat his words drowning in venom, "You've got too much to lose."
"You're wrong," Arthur replied with a surprisingly calm voice, "I will kill you."
Arthur leant forward giving the sorcerer his famous glare. This look was famed for terrifying warriors and magicians alike.
But this time it had no effect at all.
"No." the sorcerer stated simply. Arthur leant back again, shocked. "You won't."
Suddenly the sorcerer's face softened to a smile, it no longer bore the cold malicious expression. He looked over Arthur's shoulder and began again.
"It's Merlin isn't it?" Merlin was shocked to be addressed, he was still resting his head against the wall exhausted. The movement it took to look up made him nauseous. "How are you?" The sorcerer continued, his voice sickly sweet, "You look like death warmed up." and with this the darkness reappeared, sending a chill through the room. He looked back to Arthur, "Like I said, you have too much to lose."
Arthur narrowed his eyes, trying to read the sorcerer. What was he doing? Arthur had a suspicion he knew what the sorcerer was going to do next, he prayed he was wrong. After a moment that felt like an hour Arthur got his confirmation.
"So," the sorcerer reasoned, "I'll give you one last chance. Give yourself up now and nobody else has to die."
Arthur just stood there, resolute. Cold defiance drowning the room. He didn't need to answer, the reply was there in his eyes. The sorcerer saw the prince's decision and a cruel smile played across his face, which then melted into an unbalanced wrath.
"Fine." He spat, "If that's how you want to play it."
The sorcerer raised his hand.
Arthur knew what was coming.
Coldness wrapped the entire room.
The stranger clicked his fingers.
Arthur thought his heart would stop.
The next few seconds seemed to move in double speed. Arthur closed his eyes as the sorcerer raised his hand, expecting to experience the all too familiar pain just as before. He heard the sharp noise, felt it ricochet through his head and… nothing. He opened his eyes. And smiled. It hadn't worked Arthur didn't know why but for some reason the sorcerer's plans had failed. Without his magic he was powerless, Arthur raised his sword.
"You have no power over me anymore." Arthur stated, feeling in control for the first time in a long time, "So I suggest you give up and walk away."
He looked at the sorcerer, but the sorcerer wasn't looking at him. He was staring over the prince's shoulder. Suddenly the smile fell from the Arthur's lips and reappeared on the sorcerer's. Arthur turned round, he wished he hadn't. He saw Merlin leaning against the wall, struggling to stay upright. With a scream of pain Merlin fell to the floor clutching his head. And with this the sorcerer turned back to the prince.
"Oh, I think you'll find I have more power over you than ever." The sorcerer replied, his voice cancerous and cruel.
…
Merlin felt the pain rip through his chest, like a contagion it spread up into his throat and head. He couldn't see, he couldn't breathe. He collapsed unable to support his own body weight; he felt Arthur's hand on his arm and heard his voice but couldn't make out what he was saying. His voice was the last thing he remembered before he lost his battle with consciousness.
…
Arthur watched as his friend choked. He threw a look at the sorcerer, if looks could kill then Arthur would not have needed to worry about his opponent. But what could a look do? Arthur felt the panic rise in his head as he watched Merlin fall under the sorcerer's spell. He sheathed his sword and fell to his knees next to his friend.
"He's struggling to breath." Gaius stated.
Arthur did not need Gaius to illustrate this, Merlin was doing a pretty good job himself. His breathing was strained and his chest was barely moving. Arthur looked to Gaius for help.
"Gaius, you have to do something!" Arthur demanded it may have come across abrupt but now was not the time for manners.
Gaius was at a loss to do anything. He was a physician, there was no way he could counteract the sorcerer's actions.
"I can't, I…" Gaius replied helpless.
"Gaius he's dying!" Arthur pleaded. Gaius had known the boy since he was a child yet he had rarely seen Arthur so scared. It was somewhat unnerving to see a man so strong exposing his vulnerable side
"Yes he is." Came the reply, but not from Gaius's lips. On hearing the voice something snapped inside Arthur. He unsheathed his sword and pounced on the sorcerer, pinning him to the wall, pressing his sword to the sorcerer's throat.
"Let him go!" Arthur growled his voice could have cut through iron.
"Like I said," the sorcerer replied his voice cold and steely. "Give yourself up and no one else has to die."
Arthur looked over to Merlin, he was deteriorating fast. He had stopped fighting and his breathing was barely visible. He had to make a decision he couldn't watch Merlin die. He felt the cold grip of fear wrap around his throat. Sense willed him not to but since when did Arthur listen to sense?
"Fine." Arthur uttered. He lowered his sword and bowed his head, he couldn't bear to look upon that face again. He couldn't bear to look upon that smile. But no sooner had the words left his lips Arthur heard a sharp gasp from across the room, Merlin was conscious and breathing again. He couldn't look. He heard Merlin call his name but he couldn't meet his gaze. He didn't resist as the two members of the brotherhood grabbed him roughly by each arm. He heard Merlin's protest.
"Merlin, stop." The prince said, defeated.
The sorcerer stalked up to Arthur, this time he had to look the villain in the eye, he had no choice. The sorcerer plucked the sword out of Arthur's hand.
"Shame." The sorcerer stated, genuinely disappointed, "I expected so much more." He then turned to hooded men "Take him away."
The men went to lead Arthur out of the room but Merlin was now standing and if Arthur was not going to fight back then he'd have to.
"Stop!" Merlin shouted, "You can't do this. Who are you?" Merlin demanded, it was the first time he'd felt in control since the sorcerer had arrived, he was planning on making the most of it. Little did he know that this sensation would be short lived.
The sorcerer spun round, his eyes burning with an age old fire. Anger dripped from every pore, Merlin felt the sorcerer's eyes boring into his soul, searching every inch of his heart for all of his hopes and fears. And he found them.
The sorcerer advanced towards Merlin. Merlin could see the evil in his eyes, he could feel it emanating from his skin. He felt it as the sorcerer grabbed him by the throat. He saw Arthur tense as he choked.
"Leave him alone." Arthur demanded
The sorcerer ignored the prince instead he leaned in and whispered in Merlin's ear.
"It doesn't matter who I am." The sorcerer hissed, "What does matter is that I know who you are, I know what you are, and I know who you are going to become. And believe me I will stop at nothing to drain you of every last drop of power you possess. So if were you I'd stay out of my way."
With this he threw Merlin back, flashed him a smile and lead Arthur and the two members of the brotherhood out of the room.
As if it was an afterthought the sorcerer turned round and addressed the two of them.
"Oh and don't follow me, or I will kill you both."
…
Arthur was lead out of the physician's chambers. It took all of his reserve not to react when he saw the knights and Carmen out cold. He knew that there was no point in lashing out, he was no longer in control. Besides the sorcerer was looking for another chance to hurt the people he cared for. And the next time he may not have been able to save them. He noticed a nasty looking gash across Gwaine's head. "Ignore it" he told himself, "He's faced worse, they all have. They'll be fine" He only hoped he was right.