Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter nine: One step closer to a united Albion.
"This way!" Arthur yells, leading the way through the tree behind them the running footsteps of Odin's men could be heard.
And it didn't take them long to catch up. Arthur cut through them with ease, blocking their weapons and ducking under their strikes. Merlin threw up a hand and his eyes flashed gold and one of Odin's men was sending flying back through the air, while Mithian hid behind him her hands gripping Merlin's cloak tightly.
Rodor, who had stolen a weapon from one of Odin's fallen men, quickly joined the fight to. He may have been reaching the later years of his life, but he was still a king and had been trained to fight since he was a prince hardly older enough or strong enough to even pick up a real sword.
"Don't look so surprised," Rodor faces Arthur after cutting down a man who was going to strike him from behind. "I commanded an army in my time."
"And you will do so again," Arthur promises placing a hand on Rodor's shoulder and gripping it lightly.
As the shouts of more men sound in the distance, they carry on moving and it doesn't take long for Rodor to start falling behind. Mithian keeps a tight grip on her father's arm as she helps him along, but the shouts of Odin's men were getting closer by the second.
"Leave me!" Rodor wheezes slightly as Merlin and Arthur stop beside him.
"Well that's not going to happen," Arthur informs while he tries to make up his mind about what to do next. "You're the reason we're here."
"Leave me," Rodor repeats his voice stronger this timed. "Save Mithian."
"No!" Mithian exclaims. "I will not leave you father!"
"You must if you want to live," Rodor answers, taking his daughter hands in his own. "I promised I would keep you safe, so I need you to go. Don't worry my daughter, you will make a great and honourable Queen."
"Father, no," Mithian pleads. "I cannot lose you!"
"Follow the ridge line," Arthur interrupts them. "Get as far from here as you can."
"What about you?" Rodor questions.
Arthur glances at Merlin who nods. "We'll lead them the other way."
"No!" Mithian shakes her head slightly. "They'll kill you!"
"This is between me and Odin," Arthur answers. "You need no further pardons."
"Plus," Merlin grins slightly. "Odin had no defence against my magic now Morgana is dealt with."
Merlin knew it would be a while before Morgana showed her face again. The spell Merlin had used had been quite powerful, more powerful than the once he had used to knock her out all those years ago when he had been forced to destroy the Fomorroh.
Mithian nodes with tears in her eyes, before she and her father hurry off in the direction Arthur had pointed them in. Both Arthur and Merlin wait until Odin's men are within view before running off in the other direction, with Odin's men now hot on their heels.
XxX
Merlin and Arthur stop running as they find themselves faced with a dead end. Slowly Arthur turns round to face the approaching men, while Merlin studies the landscape around them. The steep rocky ridges which surrounded them were perfect for creating landslides and rocks falls. While the trees high above them had plenty of branches which could snap and fall.
As Odin's men move to surrounded them a yelled order stops them in their tracks.
"No!" Odin bellows. "I want to do this myself."
Odin's men quickly part to let their king through and he draws his sword as he sneers at Arthur. Without warning he lunges at Arthur, who skilfully blocks the strike but the shear strength of Odin's attack nearly knocks his sword from his grip. They battle on and eventually Arthur gets the upper hand and the fight concludes with Odin on his knees and Arthur's sword at his throat.
"Arthur!" Merlin yells as Arthur goes to kill Odin, he had stood by and watched knowing it wasn't his fight. It was something Arthur had to do on his own, but he wasn't about to let Arthur kill Odin.
"Stop," Merlin orders and Arthur does but his blade was still at Odin's throat. "Think about what you're doing. What good will this achieve? How many times have you talked about uniting this land completely? Will killing this man make that dream any closer?"
Arthur turns his head slightly and looks at Merlin for a second before stepping back and lowering his sword.
"He is right." Arthur informs Odin. "This is not the answer."
"Finish it," Odin demands. "Finish it and be done."
"And what then?" Arthur demands. "Your people will seek they're revenge. That will only lead to a war without an end and the deaths of innocent people."
"There is no other way," Odin growls.
"There is another way," Arthur shakes his head slightly. "In return for your life, you must restore Rodor to the throne of Nemeth-"
"Even if I agreed it solves nothing," Odin cuts Arthur off. "What about us, Pendragon?"
"A truce," Arthur answers. "Binding our kingdoms to peace and uniting one more of the lands of Albion."
"Never," Odin snaps in reply.
"Is this what you want?" Arthur demands, a hind of disbelief colouring his tone. "To die here, now, knowing you condemn this land to war… Odin, you cannot let it end like this. The blood will never wash off."
Odin glares at Arthur. "You killed my son."
"And you killed my father!" Arthur snaps back. "We have both lost much at the others hand. Let us loose no more, I am offering you the chance to end this. Take it!"
Arthur throws his sword to the ground and holds out one of his hands to Odin as offer of peace.
"Take it." Arthur repeats.
"So be it," Odin finally answers taking Arthur's hand. "A truce it is."
XxX
"Your wounds are painful, sire, but superficial," Gaius informs Rodor as he finishes treating the King's wounds. "You'll heal in time."
"Thank you, Gaius." Rodor answers with a kind smile.
Gaius bows slightly and moves away as Arthur approaches.
"Odin has withdrawn his army from Nemeth and its lands," Arthur informs Rodor.
Mithian who stands beside where he father was sitting, smiles slightly before glancing to where Merlin was talking to Gwaine and helping one of the injured knights, who had a nasty cut from a dagger which had been wielded by one of Odin's men.
"All thanks to you," Mithian answers, finally looking back at Arthur.
"Well," Arthur replies. "Everyone played their part."
"In other words you would never have made it out alive if it were not for your court sorcerer," Mithian smiles playfully, before turning serious. "I know I played mine. Arthur…"
"Mithian, you don't need to apologise," Arthur informs her. "You had no choice. I'd have done the same thing if it were my father."
Mithian smiles slightly. "I'm not as fortunate to have a King such as you."
"It is I that is fortunate," Arthur smiles in return. "Camelot would be nothing were it not for the courage and loyalty of its friends."
"My apologies for interrupting, sire," Leon interrupted appears at Arthur side. "But we must leave now if we are to reach Camelot before nightfall."
Arthur nodes. "Give the orders, we ride out in half an hour."
"Yea, sire," Leon bows, before hurrying away to give the order.
"I'm afraid we must leave," Arthur informs Rodor and Mithian. "We would stay longer, but we are expected back in Camelot."
Rodor nodes and gets to his feet. "Farewell, King Arthur and may your journey be safe."
Arthur and Rodor shake hands.
"Merlin," Mithian stops behind Merlin, having left her father's side while he and Arthur said their farewells.
"Princess Mithian," Merlin turns round and greets her, as cheerful as ever.
"I wanted to thank you," Mithian explains. "And I am sorry you got hurt. I should have found a way to warn you sooner."
Merlin smiles and takes one of Mithian hands, bowing he raise it to his lips. "Don't worry about it, princess. I'm am glad you were able to warn me when you did and to have tried before would have done more harm than good… Morgana is dangerous."
"I am still sorry though," Mithian answers as Merlin let's go of her hand and straightens up. "I would never have been able to face Freya again had you not woken up."
Merlin laughs slightly. "All of forgiven Mithian, but I wouldn't be surprised if Freya invites you to dine with us soon. She wanted to be here, but there were… Complications, you could say, regarding a certain King."
"I look forward to it," Mithian answers smiling.
"You won't be the only one. I'll be sure to make sure a certain admirer of your is there," Merlin answers with a wink and Mithian blushes knowing who Merlin was talking about.
XxX
Hey, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.