"We've suffered fifty dead." Agravaine reported.
Arthur paced the room to try and work out his stress, Merlin stayed by Gaius's side, seemingly inspecting the floor.
"Maybe more, mostly in the lower town." Agravaine continued
"And there is no way of fighting them?" Arthur asked
"Our only weapons are torches and the light doesn't kill them, it only repels them." Agravaine answered sounding frustrated.
"What are they?" Merlin asked quietly
"The Dorocha sire," Gaius answered, "The spirits of the dead. On the eve of Samhain the priestesses of the Old Religion would perform a blood sacrifice and release them."
"But who would do such a thing now?" Agravaine argued
"Morgana." Merlin answered, all eyes turned to him.
"How do you know?" Arthur asked.
"Leon told me she was traveling to the Isle of the Blessed." He shrugged, "Morgause was raised by the High Priestess, it makes sense that she'd teach Morgana."
"How do we defeat these creatures?" Agravaine pipped up, almost too eager for Merlin to be out of the spotlight.
"I do not know." He admitted.
"No mortal has ever survived their touch." Gaius added.
...
The moon was high in the sky, but instead of pale white light, Camelot was dotted with bright red flames. Torches littered every dark corner possible, yet in the lower town there was still chaos. Most of the city was gathering in the brightly lit courtyard, the area was filled with enough fires to keep away the creatures but their screams still echoed through the too cold air.
Merlin and Arthur sat on the edge of the castle walls, leaning against the higher parts of the wall with their backs, facing one another with their legs ever so slightly tangled together. They each held a torch even though they had a fire burning brightly next to them. A particularly loud scream pierced the air making both the princes glance around nervously, Merlin felt himself tremble.
"You're not scared." He said finally.
"Oh I am Merlin," Arthur replied, "Maybe more than you."
"When my magic failed, last night..." Merlin looked to the sky as he spoke, "I...I didn't know what to do, I just froze. I've never felt so powerless."
"Neither have I." Arthur admitted much to Merlin's shock.
"What?"
"Merlin, what if I hadn't been holding the torch?" He muttered, "What if I'd decided to search the house on the other side of the road and hadn't gotten there in time? You'd be dead right now."
"But I'm not." Merlin pointed out.
"I lost you once, I wont let it happen again." Arthur said firmly, "Your magic is your greatest strength, I'm not letting you go after these creatures if your without it."
"And I'm not letting you go alone." Merlin glared, "You know that."
Arthur did. The elder prince reached into his pocket and drew out a small round piece of metal, a seal crested with a hawk of all things.
"This belonged to my mother," Arthur told him, "It's her sigil. Here."
He handed the seal to Merlin who ran his fingers over it.
"Arthur I can't-"
"Just, take it." Arthur smiled.
...
Gaius had obviously been up all night researching if the dark circles around his eyes were anything to go by.
"If I m right," He began, "And the veil between the worlds has been torn then there is only one path open to us."
"And that is?" Agravaine asked
"We travel to the Isle, and repair it." Gaius said flatly.
"How do I do that?" Arthur questioned.
"I do not know," Gaius admitted, "But to tear the veil required a blood sacrifice, to repair it, will require another."
An audible silence fell over the room for a few precious seconds.
"We'll ride before nightfall." Arthur said quietly.
"And who will be the sacrifice?" Merlin asked harshly, he knew what Arthur was planning.
"If laying down my life will spare the people of Camelot then that is what I must do." Arthur said, before turning and walking away.
...
Both princes were in their armor and chain mail, red cloaks donned their shoulders. They were ready to go, their horses were being saddled this second. Arthur was sitting in the chair across from their father, he was in a bad way today, just staring blankly out his window.
"There is so much we have to thank you for." Arthur said quietly, "You showed us so much."
"Like how to be a prince." Merlin smiled weakly.
"I hope," Arthur continued slowly, his voice cracking ever so slightly, "This time you will be proud of us."
Uther didn't speak, Merlin could see Arthur blinking back tears as he stood and placed a light kiss on their fathers forehead. They turned to leave by Uther's hand suddenly flew up and captured Arthur's arm.
"Don't leave me." He whispered
"I have to father." Arthur half spoke half sobbed.
"Please." Uther begged.
Gently, Merlin took Arthur's shoulders and lightly pulled him away. As they exited their uncle waved them off, Agravaine was wearing the ring that bore the seal of Camelot. He was going to run the kingdom while they were gone, it gave Merlin even more incentive to keep Arthur alive. There was something about Agravaine he didn't trust and the last thing he wanted was him to be king.
...
They rode all day until the sun began to set, knowing that soon they would need to find shelter and start a fire if they were to live through the night. The round table knights were with them of course, Lancelot was sticking unusually close to Merlin. The younger prince sighed.
"My brothers ordered you to keep me safe hasn't he?" He said finally, Lancelot nodded.
...
Merlin decided to spite him by collecting firewood as far away from his new body guard as possible. It didn't work. Soon they were all huddled in he ruins of a long destroyed castle around a fire pit that was slowly dying. Gwaine picked up a thick log, spinning it in the air before dropping it in.
"Last log, who wants to go get some more?"
"I'll go." Arthur announced
"I'll go too." Merlin added, Arthur gave him a look, "Well since when do you know how to collect firewood?"
The group chuckled as the two princes wandered off with their torch to gather more wood. Luckily it didn't take too long to find a small area scattered with wood, probably the remains of a smashed cart of some barrels. Arthur held the torch while Merlin gathered the wood in his arms, they almost had enough to head back when a scream filled the air.
"Merlin look out!" Arthur cried knocking him to the ground. The dorocha passed dangerously close to them. Grabbing his brother they bottled through the halls of part of the castles base. Their torch had gone out they had no choice but to hide inside what appeared to be a cellar.
They huddled together in the corner of the small room, Arthur could feel himself trembling, his body was betraying him.
"Are you alright?" Merlin whispered.
"It's cold." Arthur half lied, it was cold, but that wasn't the reason for his shaking.
"Right." Merlin nodded, he was still.
"You know you're a lot braver than people give you credit for." Arthur joked trying to cut out the sound of the screams coming closer to their hiding place.
"Was that a compliment?" Merlin grinned
"Don't be stupid." Arthur laughed. Another cry echoed through the halls making both brothers jump.
"Don't worry, the others will be here soon. They'll go looking for us." Merlin insisted, "Then we'll defeat the dorocha together."
"I'll appreciate that." Arthur smiled and for a moment, everything was okay.
Then the dorocha cries became louder, it was coming closer!
"They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn." Arthur muttered
"It's pretty dark right now..." Merlin added
"Can't be long then!" Arthur replied quickly
They looked toward the door, the white mist of the monster was soaking through, then it's face and i rushed for them. Arthur went to stand and fight but something grabbed his shoulder, throwing him back down against the ground. Merlin was on his feet, running forwards to meet the dorocha.
"Brother no!" Arthur cried, frozen in horror and Merlin leapt straight through the ghostly body of the creature and was flung backwards, slamming into the stone wall before slumping down onto the ground, his back facing Arthur.
At that moment the knights arrived, torch in hand as they burst through the door. The creature was repelled almost instantly and the cries faded to silence.
"What happened?" Lancelot asked hurriedly, Arthur didn't answer.
Instead he rushed to his brothers side, gathering him up in his arms flipping him onto his back. Just like he had mere weeks ago when he'd found him asleep in his crystal coffin. His face was pale and coated with frost, his eyes were wide and staring, mouth slightly agape.
No...
NO!
I'm doing my best to make sure this story become popular again :) I can't expect many reviews after my hiatus so I'm doing my best to catch up.