Chapter 34

Out of The Flames

Brand let the hammer fall for the hundredth time. The swords were glowing red with a magical fire: they no longer needed the flames of the forge. The two swords blades were melding into one but the stones were still split and hovered above each other. The incantation was failing and Brand was growing tired.

Lillian rose from her seat, she was frail and moved slowly. She leaned heavily on a stick. Gwen went to her and held her arm as she made her way past Merlin to Brand. When she got to him she placed her hand on his back and whispered to him. The fire of the forge flared up as though a new life had entered it. And in this new light they were aware of a change in the room, Merlin no longer stood alone but another figure appeared as if embracing him, the figure of a knight.

'Arthur!' exclaimed Guinevere.

The two men were immobile at first then they broke apart. Arthur staggered away form Merlin clutching his chest where his breastplate had been sheared away. Merlin did not move, he took no notice of Arthur but turned to look at Brand. The blacksmith called out to him.

'I cannot keep this up much longer Merlin. You must finish it!'

Merlin spoke, but his words were drowned out by a frantic hammering on the walls of the forge.

'Sire, Prince Arthur!' It was Rupert, his voice full of desperation. You must come! Sire, It has begun!'

Arthur lifted Gwen's hand and pressed her to leave him. He cast a brief look at Merlin, then at Gaius who stood pale and tired, his eyes still closed, his lips still murmuring the same incantation.

Arthur called Morgana…'can you help them?' he asked nodding towards Gaius and Merlin,'

'Yes Arthur I will try.'

'Gwen, can you look to Lillian?' Gwen silently assented.

Arthur opened the door to Rupert who stood with a bloodied Gawain at his side. He did not need to speak to his men or they to him. Arthur turned back and called into the forge. 'Merlin! It is all up to you now!'

Merlin put out his hand to Morgana. His touch flooded her with light. He opened his mouth and let the words out. The words that he had driven into the core of the earth itself now rose up through him, the trees of the forest of Heaf wailed, they screamed in indignation and anger to be so untimely ripped from the earth. Their branches shrunk from the sky, their roots fizzed downwards into the soil. Merlin said the words, and turned his golden eyes to the stones, shimmering under the smith's hammer. With every blow his heart jolted, with every blow he gave it up, all that was left in his heart. Outside in the courtyard of the castle a battle raged. The knight's of Camelot fought, blind to reason, only knowing that something drove them to it, turned everyman into a mortal enemy. Three stood in the thick of the fight, defending each knight against the other, holding the massacre at bay and fighting the growing murder in their own hearts. Arthur spoke in his mind to his friend. With the last morsel of his own will Arthur said goodbye to Merlin.

*

Morgana held onto Merlin, she did not know how or what she was doing but she felt a shock through her and something settle in her, an intense feeling of love. It sat in her heart sure and steady and she looked at Merlin with tears in her eyes. She knew now what he was doing and she felt the overwhelming power in him, a power that was not abating but growing, growing into something impossible. Morgana had magic, but had not yet learned to contain it. She willed her power now, she willed herself to him, as vessel.

'No said Merlin turning to her, it will hurt you.'

Morgana smiled and did not let up. Her eyes glowed golden her skin burned as though it had caught fire, She gasped with it and let go. Gwen rushed to Morgana and caught her as she stumbled away from Merlin. Her black hair streaked with white.

Under the smith's hammer the shimmering stones began to meld, began to take a solid form. The flames of the forge began to die and in their faltering flames the figures of Brand and Lillian shifted, their age fell away and they stood as before, one dark, one fair and he towering above her. Gaius staggered, his eyes opened. He saw Merlin, transfigured by light that seemed to come from his very soul. The Smith's hammer rose one last time and with its final blow Merlin's light went out and he slowly sank to the floor.

*

The King is dead, long live the King

A silver morning light rose over Camelot. From the towers a hundred black flags fluttered and a mournful bell tolled through the town. A tall fair man dressed in black appeared on the castle steps. He strode across the courtyard and ran quickly up the flight of stairs to the physician's room.

Gaius had not long woken, He was dressed in dark robes, his face bore the traces of his recent ordeal and he seemed more stooped than ever. He had not got much sleep. There had been so much to deal with. Many of the knights had sustained serious injuries, they were after all, the finest warriors in the kingdom and pitted against each other they inflicted some damage. He would soon have to return to the lower halls where the Gwen and Morgana were nursing them. As yet they had not lost anyone. He was determined that it should stay that way.

As Gaius opened the door he stepped back in surprise, Arthur was standing there about to knock or walk in. Gaius did not look directly at him but turned away and allowed him to enter.

'Forgive me Sire.' said Gaius, 'I must leave to tend to the wounded.'

'I just came to see him, is he in there?' asked Arthur nodding towards the door.

'No Sire, he left some minutes ago. I believe he plans to ride out to the lake, but in truth he does not confide very much in me.'

Arthur sat down in Gaius chair and leaned forward, looking down at the floor.

'What are we to do Gaius? How do we get him back?'

Gaius closed the door and joined Arthur at the fireside. 'I fear Sire that this is who we have in our lives now, that boy we knew is lost forever.'

'That cannot be Gaius.' said Arthur feeling a sudden burn in his side where a wound still pained him.

'If he does come back to a normal life, it will take time Sire and then he will not remember us they way he used to.'

'Have you seen a hint of it yet Gaius, any change in him? Lillian said he might return, that he himself had told her Aidith began to return to herself.'

'I have not Arthur, I must be honest, Merlin is not inhuman or unfeeling he is just not the same man. He can make new relationships of course…'

'I can, can I?' came Merlin's voice from the doorway. 'Are you two going to spend all your time surmising what I can and cannot do?'

Arthur got to his feet. 'I came to ask you something Merlin,' he said, hurriedly changing the subject and taking on a slightly officious tone.

'Yes?' enquired the warlock with a benign smile.

'I wondered if you would do me the honour of becoming my chief advisor.'

Merlin nodded, 'that would make sense and yes I will Sire, thankyou.'

Arthur went to the door. He looked at Gaius. 'Gaius have you spoken yet to Morgana?'

The old man shrugged. 'Not about anything significant Sire.'

'Would you come to my chambers in an hour then?'

Gaius nodded

'And you too Merlin?'

'Yes Sire, I was going to visit the lake but in view of your appointment I shall stay here. I remain at your pleasure Arthur.'

Gaius also took his leave of Merlin. The wounded had need of him.

*

Merlin knocked at Arthur's chamber door. Gwen answered it and stood aside. As he came into the room Gaius and Morgana rose from their seats

'This appears to be quite a reception,' he said. 'What's going on?'

Morgana approached him and took his hand. He allowed her to lock her fingers into his, but a slight confusion stirred within him and he suddenly felt uncomfortable.

'Merlin,' she said, her dark hair, still streaked with white, fell across her face and she lowered her eyes.

'You must take it back now Merlin,' she said. 'It is yours and not mine. Morgana looked across to Arthur and then to Gaius. 'Take it now Merlin.' she said and her eyes flashed with gold.

Merlin closed his eyes. He felt his heart stutter as if it would stop and all his breath escaped him. Morgana had opened her heart to him and buried there curled and waiting was his own heart bearing the seeds of his forgotten loves, his memories of kindness and devotion, the warmth of friendship and the ember of his passion. Morgana willed it all back to him and as she did so Merlin came again into himself. Not entirely as the man he had been. He was re made, just as the blacksmith King and his wife had been at last restored in the dying flames of the forge, just as the knights of Camelot were unlocked from their torture of greed and just as Uther was freed by his atonement, so Merlin now regained his love and his life.