Sorry guys, I actually started this a couple days ago, but I had prom and then I got sick the day after. So, now I'm finally getting back to work. I'm going to try and finish this story up rather soon, mostly because I don't get nearly enough work out with the amount of time I've had. At least I feel that way. Okay, I'm thinking of starting a new story soon. Don't worry, this one will still continue. I have a couple ideas that I'll just list here. Tell me which ones you like, and I'll get right on them. Merlin/Zelda crossover. Harry Potter/Merlin crossover. And an avatar the last airbender/merlin crossover (I can make it work) Happy reading. Please review, your feedback is what keeps me going, and motivates me to write more. So, here we go.
Gwen hesitated. Her heart pumped dangerously in her chest. Clammy sweat seeped over her olive colored skin. A response froze halfway out. Would telling the truth of the crowns origins come back to haunt her? Apart from its masterful craftsmanship, there seemed to be nothing special about it. But the Pilgrim had requisitioned it for Arthur…meaning that despite what it seemed to be now a greater purpose certainly awaited it. The fire in Morgana's palm surged brightly. Sparks burst from a fingertip, drifting lazily downward, kindling the fluffy straw tinder that layer the ground. Small flames began to gnaw hungrily at the straw. Spiraling smoke wreathed its way around the room, shrouding everything in a grayish veil.
Gaius, still sleeping, coughed dangerously. His wrinkled hands clawed desperately at the air. Morgana positively giggled.
"By all means don't answer me, Gwen. Gaius will die, but that certainly won't bother you, will it?" she giggled again. Her voice was almost child-like in its expression. Like a young girl teasing a close friend, then breaking down into a rapturous fit of laughter at her own brilliance. "Refusing to answer won't get you anywhere though. I know what the inscription says, it's written in a form of Latin mixed with the old tongue. 'Arthur the bear, for now and always'. Very good workmanship," she ran a supple finger over the crowns edges, stopping at once of the starred points.
"Did your father make it? Yes, it looks to be the quality of his work. Though why would a simple peasant blacksmith forge a crown, and one of pure gold at that? He must have been hired by someone very wealthy and very rebellious to make a crown for someone other than one of Camelot's kings... Telling me who would be wise, Gwen. Though it would bring me no great pleasure to do so, I would be perfectly willing to melt the flesh from your bones to persuade you. So, if not for Gaius' sake, then for your own, answer the question."
A movement of her hand made the flames wire in a curtain of swaying orange and red that surrounded the prisoners in a hot ring. The fibers of straw had been reduced to nothing more than blacking piles of soot.
Gwen found herself staring through the smoky veil despite the growing heat, eyes wide in disbelief.
Above her stood not Morgana, not the employer and friend she had known since she was a small girl, but a demoness, with black pits instead of eyes and obsidian talons in place of fingers. Who was this woman that she had become, consumed by a hatred so deep that she would watch all she had ever loved burn to prove a point, to secure a place of power for herself? Would a pair of harpy's wings erupt from her shoulder blades and fire from her lips? Was the old Morgana trapped somewhere deep within that twisted shell, or was she truly such a monster?
"My father made it...yes." The flames receded somewhat. Morgana took a single step forward, throwing her beautiful face into full view. She titled her head to the side, considering, appearing no less intimidating.
"And why was it buried?" came the next question.
"The...the Pilgrim requested it be buried after it was finished." The regent's brows crawled upward, past her hairline.
"So it was the old man who had it made," she whispered to herself, turning on a heel to look away. A pondering hand rose to finger her chin. "What for?"
Gwen's gaze fell to the floor. Flames danced across the chocolate brown irises.
"Arthur...he had it made for when Arthur is to be king." Makes sense, thought Morgana. All the old bat ever seemed to talk about was Arthur's destiny, and how all he had ever worked for was to see him to the throne. These thoughts continued, returning to the similar cycle they'd ran for the last two days, consuming her being with ravenous curiosity. Who was the Pilgrim? Why was it that he had dedicated himself so fervently to Arthur, speaking the words of cryptic songs not as vagaries of the imagination but as concrete truths?
"Did he now? Does one of his oh so precious prophecies speak of it?" her tone suddenly grew darker, harsher. Each syllable became sharper, with an edge of venom to their sounds.
"I don't know," said Gwen.
"Did prophecy also speak of sending you, a powerless wretch defenseless into the city to retrieve it? Seemingly the Pilgrim's mission to help Arthur includes sending you to your doom. Where did he send Arthur off to, the Isle of the Blessed itself?" True anger flared in her face.
"I don't know," Gwen repeated quietly.
"What do you know? Where Merlin is, perhaps?"
"No...I don't know." Morgana sneered disgustedly.
"Well," her tone and features suddenly becoming those of diplomacy. "Then I suppose I'm done with you, for the time being at least." She turned to Gaius and snapped her fingers. Gold flashed, and the physicians bonds went taught. Another snap of the fingers. Red heat glowed off the steel of the shackles.
For a moment all was silent, and then a light hissing purred into life. In the darkness of the room it was barely visible, nearly blending into the background. A column of smoke, gray and miniscule, rose steadily from Gaius' wrists and ankles. The skin beneath the shackles was being burnt, seared away by the heat.
Suddenly Gaius' eyes flew open. He shrieked like a banshee, nerves all but melting, marrow turned to liquid magma. His cries reverberated around the stone chamber, magnifying their volume ten-fold.
"Stop it!" Gwen screamed, tugging vainly at the chains binding her. It was no use. "Why are you doing this?" her voice was feeble, mostly drowned out by Gaius' pain. Still, Morgana heard the question.
"To wake him up of course," she answered lazily. She didn't turn to say it, gaze intent on the elderly man writhing on the floor. Her eyes were wild, euphoric.
"You're torturing him!"
"Am I?" Morgana queried as if she hadn't noticed, giving a small jump in surprise at the sight of it. "Oh, I suppose I am. Thank you, Gwen. One mustn't inflict too much pain so quickly, or there'll be no secrets to be gained from it at all."
The shackles orange glow faded. With a bump Gaius slumped to the ground. His head lolled onto his shoulder. Lifeless looking.
"He doesn't know anything-leave him alone, please!"
"Why should I, Gwen? What else am I to do with a pair of traitors but torture them for information? Are you good for anything else?"
"T-traitor?" Gwen stammered. " We're the traitors here?"
"Yes Gwen you are. Part of me always knew you'd turn on me one day. I hoped against hope that you would see reason and remain faithful to me, but it seems the day has come at last. I hoped too much. By allying yourself with Merlin and this 'Pilgrim' character you so readily take orders from, you've made it perfect clear that your loyalties lie only with the foolish lust Arthur feels for you."
Sad little tears dripped her perfectly pale cheeks.
"Why've you done this me, Gwen? Haven't I been a good mistress, a good friend?" The handmaid stared, aghast. How dare she? This insane, monstrous woman, who had proven herself to be more than power hungry, accused her of betrayal and treachery?
She's gone completely mad, Gwen thought fearfully. In no more than a few second Morgana's demeanor had shifted from fiery anger to sorrow filled and pitiful. Which was true? Could the old Morgana be reached somehow, hidden deep inside?
"Of course you have," she replied gently. "Please Morgana, I never meant to betray anyone. You least of all. I love Arthur yes, but you're my best friend. Nothing could ever make me turn. Not ever."
"Then why did you turn on me?" Morgana shot back nastily. Her eyes were red and puffed. "My magic raises me above the common folk. You fear me. Is that it?"
"Of course not," Gwen said almost too quickly. "I've thought for ages that Uther's views on magic were skewed. My father died because of them, remember? Arthur and I accepted Merlin's magic; we would have accepted yours as well."
"Would you have?" the sorceress sneered. 'Arthur accepted Merlin. He agonized over his impending execution. But why? Out of genuine friendship and affection, or out of fear of sorcerers like my sister and I? His pet sorcerer kept him safe for so long. How much longer would he have lasted had he let Merlin die? He couldn't have wished to save him to protest his father's policies. Were that so, why then did he not rise to defend the countless innocents who burned before his eyes?"
"Arthur and Merlin are like brothers," Gwen replied carefully. "They love one another, whether they'll admit it or not. Arthur sought to save Merlin out of love and a wish to see him live. He'd have done the same for you. You're his sister. He loves you."
"He would not, and does not," Morgana whispered. Her fingers twitched like a pair of tiny crabs. They twisted the clothe of her skirt, rippling it like the waves of a fitful sea. "Arthur is a far better man than his father. He always has been. Yet he is still far from righteous. Even now he likely sits with Merlin and his comrades plotting my demise. No. If my brother truly loved me he would have seen what Uther really is long ago. He would join my cause, my crusade to bring magic back to these lands."
"Arthur knows magic isn't evil now, Merlin showed him that. He'll be king one day. Things will change."
"Indeed," Morgana agreed curtly. "Things will be changing very soon. As we speak all of the five kingdoms ride to war. Together Uther and the other kings will die, and all of Albion will fall under my rule. A witch queen will take her rightful place of authority. Lancelot, you remember him of course, the commoner knight? - has taken possession of a dragons egg, and stands at Merlin's side. They will ride out to stop the battle, delivering the egg directly to my sister."
"So she can perform you demonic ritual," Gwen finished, head hanging low in defeat.
Again, Morgana giggled.
Just then, Gaius stirred against the wall. He coughed violently, chest heaving, head thrown back. Bloody rivulets dribbled down his chin. Scarlet smeared his teeth. A warm substance splattered across Gwen's cheek. Though she could not see it, the harsh smell told her it was blood.
"Y-y-you," he croaked blearily. "Y-you will not...win. M-Merlin...will s-stop you."
New blood gushed readily from his nose. Morgana gave a shrill cackle. She turned to her former handmaiden.
"Have you any flimsy justifications for Gaius' actions? All these years he knew about my powers. Ever since I was a child plagued by prophetic visions, thought to be nightmares. He must have known. Did he help me? No. All he did was fill me with useless drugs and watch as I lost my mind with fear, not knowing who or what I was. He knew, yet, like Merlin, did nothing to help me. Can that be justified Gwen? Can any cryptic parable really make that right?"
Gwen found she had nothing to say. While Arthur and Merlin's actions over the last several days had been for the greater good, these sounded nothing the king if sometimes cold physician. Why hadn't he or Merlin helped her?
"N-never meant to...to hurt...wanted you...s-safe..." Gaius moaned.
Again the sorceress laughed.
"Safe, eh? Well as you can see I'm perfectly safe now. My sister was kind enough to teach me, and now I'm more powerful than you could ever hope to be. Merlin will stop me, you say? He's Emrys? By allowing Uther to live, Merlin let hundreds die. Men, women, children. Merlin's no messiah. His blood will bathe my hands."
"Darkness...t-to his light...the hatred, to h-his love," the physician mumbled, lantern like eyes boring into those of his captor. "Emrys...the black dragoness... So it was said, so...it shall be. Morgana...child, I'm so s-sorry. Please...don't doom yourself to this fate..." the declaration hung in midair. No one spoke.
Then-
BOOM!
Around them the room shook. Cobwebs fell from the high ceiling. Loose bits of stone and spackle tumbled with them. Below their feet the floor cracked and split. Deftly Morgana leapt back towards the cell door, fastening her fingers around the door frame. Along the far wall a jagged line formed at the point where wall and floor met. That part of the floor groaned under the pressure it could no longer hold. And then it fell, giving way to the weight of the walls, becoming a straw littered ramp to the entrance of a rocky tunnel.
"Damnit Merlin! We don't want to kill her!"
A blonde head, dusted with debrief, poked through the tunnel's mouth. Moments later Arthur emerged fully, looking rather annoyed.
"Sorry!" a voice squeaked after him. "At least we're in the right place." Merlin emerged followed closely by two other men. Lancelot, who held an egg with webbed cracks covering its shell tightly to his chest, and a huge Druid man, at least seven feet tall.
Arthur craned his neck upward, gaze moving from Gwen, to Gaius, and finally to Morgana. The prince's half sister however, was focused on Lancelot. More specifically, what he carried.
"GaniarLevates!" She slashed her hand through the air in a wild gesture, casting the crown aside as she did so. The narrow tunnel collapsed. Leaving the invaders without an escape route.
"Thank you so much brother dear. You've brought what I need. Saves me so much trouble. Agnis!" Fire jetted from her finger tip straight at Lancelot's chest. However, her shot missed, instead hitting the egg just a few inches lower. Watching from the sidelines, Merlin knew instantly that this was why they'd needed to bring the egg along. For this exact eggs cracks flashed with an inner light. Heat filled the shell. Then, the egg split open.
So how was that? The rescue will have at least one more part, and then we finally get on to the big battle that I've been waiting for months to get to write. That the part I've had planned pretty much since the beginning. Please Review