A/N: Hey guys! Yeah I know I haven't updated in a while just coz I had a lot going on and didn't have any time. And besides I was distracted all summer worrying about exam results, you know, considering I had been on here updating every day instead of studying...oops. But, still, I passed them all with really good marks so, no problem. Just proves Merlin's good for you! Back at school now fo my sixth and final year of high school (yay) and I've got loads of free periods so I might be updating quicker, but then again, I'm really lazy.
Anyways, I just HAD to update tonight! Merlin season three! OMG! Not going to give any spoilers here for those who haven't seen it yet, but the first episode was EPIC! This is gonna be a great series! And Merlin's new haircut! Anyways...getting distracted here. The first episode just totally made my whole story non-canon, but I don't really care considering how amazing it was :D So anyways...enjoy :D
Chapter 25- Emrys
Merlin strode through the courtyard of Camelot without a single doubt in his mind. He knew exactly that this is what he was supposed to do. It seemed right, as though this had been the thing his whole life had been leading up to. He was going to meet Byrne head on.
The last few days had been trying to say the least. His anger at everything Byrne had done had dimmed slightly, but now it was as strong as ever, a raging fire in his mind. Merlin did not usually seek vengeance, but this was an exception.
Once again he tried to contact Brim or Lyft on the hillside, but was once again met with silence. It seemed to reverberate in his mind, that deathly silence. It seemed as though a part of his mind were missing. He felt as though a cold hand was clutching at his heart and slowly covering it.
Brim and Lyft.
They could not be dead, not those proud, strong Druids he had lived alongside for almost a month. True, he had never always got on with Lyft, but he was a good man, kind and willing to do anything to help others. Brim was even worse. Only a few years older than Merlin himself, he always had a smile on his face, easy going, always laughing. They could just not be dead.
Merlin shook his head of these thoughts. Dead or not, they could not help now. This was his time to help.
He'd been in Camelot all morning, organising the battle from the battlements, raising the shields, attacking the sorcerers with magic, but he hadn't felt a part of the battle. He had to be down there, fighting with those he knew, alongside Arthur. He knew he was less than useless in a fight, but he couldn't bear to stand up away from the fighting, and not in the action protecting the city.
Still, that was about to change.
Druids watched him as he made his way towards the gate, resignation on their faces, with heavy hearts. They knew what he was planning to do. Some of them supported his decision, some thought he was mad. Nevertheless, Merlin was determined to do it. He had to face the man who had caused so much death and misery.
The gate came into view, a shimmering shield just barely holding. Debris had been piled up in front of it, a desperate last attempt to defend the city. It was feeble at best, Merlin knew it would never hold up against the sorcerers. He was now more determined than ever to stop this once and for all.
Now he was this close to the walls the sounds of the magic that was hammering them was deafening. The walls shook and dust and stones cascaded down them. The Druids had no chance to reinforce them. He would give them that chance.
He noticed his fingers were shaking. Not out of fear, he didn't fear death when it was in aid of protecting those he cared about, but with adrenaline. Once he got out there and faced Byrne, nothing would stop him.
He had faced death plenty of times before, but this was different. He was risking his life to save everyone in the city. He couldn't think of a worthier cause. He thought of everyone in the city who he cared about, Gaius, Gwen...he was going to do everything in his power to protect them.
He came to a halt before the gates, or what was left of them. The once proud oak gates were swinging from their hinges, scarred and scorched.
There was a slight gap in the fortifications he would be able to squeeze through. Through it he could see a mass of sorcerers, their hands held in front of them. The blue-tuniced soldiers were scarce, scattered here and there amongst the sorcerers. There wasn't much they could do now, but wait until the walls were down. At least there seemed to be a great deal less of them than before. Either dead or fled.
Merlin closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. He felt his magic rushing through his veins like a wild thing, as though ready for a fight he was not.
He opened his eyes and prepared to leave the city into the paths of the sorcerers.
"You didn't honestly think you would be going alone did you?"
Merlin spun around and saw Arthur making his way towards him, determination set on his face.
"Yes that's precisely what I'm thinking I'm doing." Merlin said warily.
"Well, that just proves you're as stupid as you look."
Arthur came to a stop before him, his arms folded over his chest.
Merlin suddenly understood.
"Arthur you're not coming with me!"
"And why not?"
"It's crazy! You'd be killed!"
"So could you."
"I can protect myself Arthur, you can't! It's too dangerous."
Arthur's face hardened and he looked straight in Merlin's eye.
"I fully understand the danger Merlin. I know I won't be able to do anything, but I refuse to let you stand alone, after everything you've done for me." His features were set in a firm resolve. "You've always been by my side Merlin, despite the danger. I'm not going to abandon you."
Merlin shook his head.
"I'm not questioning your bravery Arthur. But I can't let you come out with me when there's an extremely likely chance you'll be killed."
Arthur's eyes flashed.
"I let you come with me when me and my Knights went out to face the dragon. I thought it was hopeless then too, I thought none of us would stand a chance against it, especially you. Obviously I was wrong, but it doesn't change the fact that I let you stand by my side when we faced that danger."
Merlin had no answer to this. He couldn't think of any other argument to stop Arthur, but he couldn't just let him follow him to his death.
Arthur spoke again:
"Please Merlin. I don't care what will happen. It's the only thing that would make me feel any better, knowing that the two of us faced it together, and I didn't stay in the castle like a coward and let you face this alone. It should be the two of us. Well, preferably it should be two of you out there, you'd stand a better chance, but I'm the next best thing. We'll stand together Merlin."
Merlin felt his resolve weakening. He really couldn't think of any other way. Arthur was speaking the truth. The prophecies had always said Pendragon and Emrys would stand together. He remembered what Morgana had said in Ealdor, the voice in her dream: Pendragon must trust Emrys." He knew Arthur now trusted him completely.
Then an idea hit him.
He thought furiously, wondering whether it was too crazy to work, but then again, all plans had to be crazy to work. It might not hold Byrne off for long, but it would give them a little time at least.
Arthur frowned at Merlin's silence.
"What is it?"
"I've just had an idea."
"Well, nice to know you're thinking."
"It's a bit of a crazy idea."
"My favourite."
Merlin paced forward and back, running over the plan in his mind. Would it work?
"You said you'd prefer it if there were two of me out there, that I'd stand a better chance."
Arthur looked confused.
"Yeah, so? Are you honestly telling me you can make a double of yourself?"
"Not exactly, but I can give the appearance that there's two of me."
"I don't understand."
"Well, there's two of us right? And we need two of me..."
Comprehension dawned on Arthur's face and he looked at Merlin as though he were mad.
"You want to disguise me as you?"
"Yep."
"Are you completely crazy?"
"Not quite."
Arthur rubbed his temples, and thought intensely.
"All right, what exactly are you planning?"
"Well, I'd make you look like me, and then we'd both go out and face Byrne, and then he'd be confused and not know which one was which."
"Wouldn't it be kind of obvious when one of us started using magic and the other didn't?"
"Ah, but we wouldn't be using magic. I'd shield us both before we went out. We'd keep his attention completely on us. He wouldn't be able to tell which of us is the real Merlin and the shield would protect us both. We'd keep him talking, you know how bad guys like to talk and feel important. That would give the people in Camelot a chance to rebuild the shields and get the armies ready again to attack."
Arthur frowned again.
"Do you honestly think that'll work?"
"For a while at least. He'd eventually figure out which one of us is is using the magic to keep the shield going. But hopefully by that time Camelot would have had enough time. I'd end the spell and then...well, I suppose the real fight would begin."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"And what would I do then? Stand and watch you both try and kill each other?"
"I'm not sure exactly, I didn't get that far. You could probably get back into the city and join the armies. By the time one of us is defeated, you should be ready to attack again."
Arthur still looked stunned.
"You're right, that is a crazy plan."
"You've came up with much worse."
Arthur just stood and looked at Merlin in disbelief.
"How many mad and dangerous plans are you going to come up with this week?"
"Oh I'm just getting started." Merlin managed a weak smile. "But in my defence all the plans you or the Druids told me was crazy has turned out pretty well so far."
Arthur sighed and bit his lip, deep in thought. Then he sighed again and looked at Merlin.
"What do I have to do?"
Merlin smiled.
"Just stand completely still. I'm going to do the spell."
Arthur didn't looked too happy about this, but did as Merlin asked and stayed completely still, albeit his eyes closed and face screwed up in anticipation.
Merlin summoned his magic.
"Besēon gelīc mec."
Arthur's features began to distort. A shimmering mist fell over his face, obscuring him from view. Merlin could see Arthur's very appearance alter before his eyes. His hair darkened, he shrunk in height, his muscles disappeared. Even his armour was changing into the simple Druid attire, an exact copy of what Merlin was wearing.
After what seemed like longer, although it was probably only about ten seconds, the mist faded from sight, and an exact replica of Merlin stood in front of him.
Arthur-Merlin slowly opened his eyes and looked down at himself, examining his hands, holding them up before his eyes, peering at the locks of dark hair that now fell over his face. He looked in astonishment down at his body and clothes, before looking up at Merlin.
"You've no idea how weird this is, or how strange that felt."
Merlin's voice came out of Arthur-Merlin's mouth, and his eyes were wide in astonishment. Merlin flinched slightly at hearing his own voice come back to him.
"Yeah, I think I have some idea."
Arthur-Merlin continued to examine himself in amazement. Merlin rolled his eyes and quickly conveyed to Fyrmest what the plan was in his mind. He didn't wait for an answer or for Fyrmest to argue. He couldn't be distracted now.
"Right, we'd better be going then."
Arthur-Merlin looked at him and nodded.
"How do I look?"
"Just like me."
"Fantastic."
Merlin rolled his eyes again, and made his way towards the opening in the fortifications ignoring all the soldiers and Druids who were gaping in astonishment at this demonstration of magic.
He and Arthur squeezed themselves through the narrow opening.
"Thank the gods you're so small Merlin, I would never have fit through here."
"That's what happens when you're fat Arthur." Merlin could see the sorcerers on the other side getting closer. "Remember Arthur, we're only supposed to be distracting them, taking Byrne's attention away from Camelot. No heroics. When Byrne finds out which is which you need to leave, get back into the city immediately. Leave Byrne to me."
Arthur nodded. "Right. And how are we supposed to distract him?"
"Just provoke him. Tease him, you know how people like him are. He's clever but arrogant and egotistical. A bit like you Arthur, you should know how to aggravate him. Keep him talking. Remember, you have to act like me. Don't get all cocky and superior. Don't get all smart and try to outwit him, he'll realise what's happening. Don't refer to anything that happened before-hand, he'll catch you out on something."
"I'm not completely stupid Merlin."
Merlin sincerely hoped so.
He raised a shield for them both and together they emerged from the debris blocking the gateway and faced the sorcerers on the other side.
The sorcerers stopped in shock at the sight of them. They looked at each other in confusion, wondering what to do. There were now about forty of them, all wearing black robes. The few of Cendred's soldiers who were nearby backed off, staring in horror at the sight of the two Merlins. There were was such confusion, the barrage of the walls had ceased. Merlin could sense the Druids behind the walls summoning up their magic for the shields. So far it was working.
He smiled, with a slightly smug expression at the shocked looks on the sorcerer's faces. He wanted to infuriate them, distract them. He flicked his eyes sideways for a moment and saw Arthur was doing the same thing, staring them all down.
Arthur spoke:
"Well? What are you going to do now?"
The sorcerers cast wary looks about them. It was evident they had no idea what to do. Merlin was comforted by this. This time he spoke:
"We want to talk to Byrne. We want him to face us on his own and not hide away. We need to see him for what he has done."
Then there was silence. Arthur and Merlin continued to stare at them, no expression in their faces.
Then the crowd of sorcerers began to part and Byrne strode out from the back of them and came face to face with Merlin and Arthur, a kind of curiosity on his face.
"Well, what have we here?"
Merlin's face remained stony, but Arthur replied:
"I managed to duplicate myself. Impressive isn't it? Now it's two of us you have to defeat."
Merlin barely managed to stop himself from wincing. What was he thinking?
Byrne regarded them closely.
"Duplicated yourself? I had always heard that was impossible."
Yes it is, thought Merlin, which is why I would never have said it. If Arthur continued to talk about magic without knowing the first thing about it he was going to give himself away.
"Not impossible Byrne, for those who have the power to do it." Merlin responded, trying to repair the damage. "You obviously don't know the full extent of my power."
Byrne considered this, but then shook his head.
"No, it goes against the laws of magic. A single essence cannot be duplicated exactly, magic cannot be replicated. One of you must be an imposter."
Arthur and Merlin remained silent.
Byrne looked more closely at Arthur.
"You seem to be ignorant of the laws of magic. Emrys would surely have known that particular feat of magic was impossible."
Arthur stared straight back at him.
"Obviously. Unless I was trying to trick you of course."
Byrne looked from Arthur to Merlin and also examined him closely.
"Emrys would not have been so arrogant to boast of his power."
"Obviously. Unless I was trying to trick you of course." Merlin echoed Arthur's words.
Byrne's face contorted in frustration.
"Do not think I do not see your plan. You are only trying to distract me from attacking Camelot. You will not succeed."
"It seems to be working pretty well so far." Arthur pointed out.
Byrne's eyes flashed in anger, and raised his palm but before he could utter a spell Merlin stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Byrne turned to look at him.
"And why not?"
Merlin hurriedly tried to think of an answer but Arthur gave one instead.
"Because you'd only be demonstrating your own cowardice."
Byrne glared at them both.
"Cowardice! You have the cheek to call me a coward?"
"What else can we call you? Here we are, risking our lives for Camelot, ready to fight you face on in exchange for leaving Camelot alone and you're completely ignoring us. Are you afraid?"
Byrne turned to glare solely at Merlin.
"You call me a coward? I am the only one of the Druids who were strong enough and brave enough to rise up and do something about our situation. I alone realised we could not continue to hide away like frightened animals. I alone led our people to take back what is ours: our freedom. I was the only one brave enough to stand up against our enemies and let justice prevail!"
He was getting increasingly angry now, his face as turning red and his eyes were popping. The plan seemed to be working, he had forgotten completely about attacking Camelot and the other sorcerers were too engrossed by the scene to do anything.
Arthur burst out:
"Justice? You call killing innocent women and children justice? That isn't bravery, taking on those who don't stand a chance against you!"
Byrne turned to look at him.
"They are all our enemies. They stood by and did nothing while our people suffered. They were the cowards. Do you honestly think Uther is brave? He also murdered innocent women and children!"
"We aren't condoning Uther's actions, but revenge isn't brave either. Do you think your family would have wanted you to slaughter other families?"
Byrne stopped in rage.
"You dare to-"
"Yes we dare," Merlin glared back at him. "Your wife and sons would not have wanted you to avenge their deaths by murdering the people who used to be their neighbours. Your actions just prove that underneath your hard exterior, you are a coward."
Byrne seemed too angry for words. With a jolt Merlin was reminded of how Uther had looked when the Druids had joined the fight. Both had lost family members either before or during the Purge, and both were set on revenge. It seemed they weren't too different after all.
"You're just like Uther." Merlin told him.
His face was wrenched in fury and pain and outrage at this statement. Byrne looked at them both.
"You have no idea of what you speak. You Emrys, and whoever you have roped in to be your double. You can never understand."
Byrne remained silent, just glaring at them both. Merlin used this time to try and concentrate on what was going on in Camelot. He could tell by the magical energy in the air the walls were being strengthened and fortified. This time was proving invaluable. He could tell by the noises coming from behind him the temporary fortifications at the gateway were being shifted and removed, to allow the army out once more. He just needed to distract Byrne a little longer...
One of the sorcerers who Merlin vaguely recognised spoke up timidly.
"My lord? My lord? They're rebuilding the defences, you're allowing yourself to be distracted my lord. This is their plot. We have to keep attacking the city."
A fire came into Byrne's eyes. He wheeled around and shot a ball of fire at the sorcerer who had spoken. The sorcerer crumbled into a pile of ashes.
Arthur's eyes widened and he looked alarmed. Merlin silently prayed he wouldn't look so surprised at the magic in front of him.
But fortunately Byrne was not looking at him. He had turned to face his sorcerers.
"No one is to do anything. I will deal with this myself. Leave Emrys and Camelot to me!"
Merlin felt gratified. The plan was going perfectly.
Byrne once again turned around.
"I will face you Emrys, and I will destroy you and all the other Druids."
Merlin felt anger rise up inside him.
"Just like you did with Brim and Lyft?"
Byrne looked puzzled for a moment before smiling to himself.
"They are not dead. No, I thought of a better punishment for them. I extracted their magic, every last bit of it. All their knowledge of magic, every magical fibre in their being, every magical drop in their blood. They are less than useless." He continued to smile. "It is of course possible to live without magic, but after having magic running though your body for so many years, you become dependent on it. It is what keeps you alive, more so than blood or oxygen. Without magic their bodies will waste away, slowly dying from the inside out, that is of course if they don't go mad first with the shock of their sudden loss of magic."
Merlin blinked. He felt overjoyed that Brim and Lyft were not dead, but what Byrne was talking about seemed like a fate worse than death. He remembered vividly what it had been like when his magic had been taken from him, weaker than anything he had ever experienced. It would be a horrible existence. And if Byrne had taken this magic and absorbed it, along with the magic of everyone else who had been on that hillside, his power would be phenomenal.
Byrne smiled.
"I see you both realise your mistake. With that much power I cannot be defeated. It was foolish for you to come out here. I will destroy you Emrys, take your magic and then destroy your precious city and your prince and his father. You will lose everything."
For the first time, Merlin felt a flicker of fear. But that was soon gone. He would do all in his power to save the city. He would not be daunted. If he could take on a dragon, he could take on Byrne.
"Just try." Merlin said, in his most menacing voice, which wasn't particularly menacing at all, but still made him feel braver.
Byrne's eyes shone a gold colour and a huge torrent of energy was released from his palm which hammered against his shield. Merlin took a step back from the sheer force of the spell upon the shield. He staggered as the full power of it almost overwhelmed him.
Unfortunately, Arthur remained entirely still, unaffected.
Byrne's eyes shone.
"So this is the imposter!"
He let loose three more equally powerful blasts, completely directed at Arthur who stepped back in anticipation. Merlin knew this was the time for them to split.
"Arthur, go! Back into the city!"
Arthur looked at Merlin and a silent understanding passed between them both. Arthur had to go back to the soldiers and rally them for the inevitable final contact. Merlin had to face his destiny.
Arthur turned and headed back to the gateway which had now almost been cleared of the debris behind which the soldiers of Camelot and Druid warriors were standing side by side.
Merlin shielded him long enough for him to get within the newly forged shields of Camelot, watching as Arthur turned slowly back into himself, before he transferred the energy back to his own shield. This was it.
He looked long and hard at Byrne. This was the man responsible for what had happened. He was the one who had started everything. He had caused so much pain. But without him, Arthur would never have found out the truth about Merlin. Byrne had ensured Merlin's destiny would indeed come to pass, he had set these events into motion.
Merlin wasn't Merlin any longer. He was Emrys. The one in the prophecy. This is what he had been destined to do. He could feel the change taking over him, changing the way he thought, changing his perceptions, changing who he was. He took on a new identity.
"Mægenþise" Emrys screamed. A huge torrent of light erupted from himself and shot through the air.
Byrne looked shocked at the force of the spell. His shield wavered in the air. But he soon recovered.
"Acwellan!" He yelled. The green light rushed towards Emrys and filled up his vision. He felt it break upon his shield. But instead of feeling the force of the spell and feel the fatigue of sustaining the shield, Emrys only felt stronger. The killing spell had not felt any more dangerous than a feather brushing along his skin.
Byrne's eyes widened in fear as he saw how little the spell had affected Emrys.
Emrys smiled to himself.
"Anweald!" Byrne screamed in frustration.
But once again, the spell had no effect on Emrys. He barely even felt it.
"Micel wæl geslēan!"
Emrys frowned. This was one of the most powerful spells a sorcerer could use. It was capable of killing every living thing in a five mile radius. It seemed Byrne was getting desperate to risk such a risky and dangerous spell.
He saw the spell rushing towards him, he held out his hand:
"Gestillan," he almost whispered.
The spell stopped in mid-air and hovered there, burning brightly with suppressed rage, illuminating Emrys' face.
The sorcerers visibly gasped. Some turned and ran, awed at the sheer power. Byrne's eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets.
Emrys smiled, relishing the effect he was having on them.
"Becuman." The spell came towards him, and he held the glowing orb of energy in his hand. He turned it over and felt the immense power it concealed. The white orb glowed so brightly it hurt his eyes.
" Becuman tō hilderand."
The white orb changed to a fierce red colour and Emrys sent it high into the air, from which it diversified. Sparks shot out from it and and spread through the air as showers of light. The shoots of red light hammered the walls of Camelot. But this time it wasn't a destructive spell. The defences on the walls glowed a blinding red as this magic was added to it. Emrys knew now nothing could penetrate those shields.
Byrne watched this in awe.
"What are you?"
"I am Emrys."
Emrys summoned up a huge amount of magic and focused intently on Byrne:
"Wācian"
This blue energy bolt flew straight at Byrne, blasted directly through his shield and hit him squarely on the chest. Byrne was sent flying back several feet before he landed sprawled on the ground, twitching, moaning in pain and gasping for breath.
Emrys strode towards him, the other sorcerers backing off.
Byrne looked up at Emrys, his eyes slowly dying of their fire. His body twitched and shook uncontrollably as he stared into Emrys' eyes.
"Well? Kill me then."
Emrys wanted to. But as he looked down at this pathetic ruin of a man, he found his resolve wavering. He felt a disgusting feeling of pity rise up inside him, and as much as he tried to ignore it, it overcame him and refused to go away.
Emrys bent down to Byrne, hatred in his eyes.
"You don't deserve anything as merciful as death."
Byrne regarded him with caution and worry.
Emrys knew what he was going to do. He placed his hand over Byrne's temples.
"You can live the rest of your life with the knowledge of what you've done. If anyone deserves to live without magic, it's you."
Byrne looked fearful now.
"You wouldn't-"
Emrys was decided.
"I will. I will give back the magic I take from you to the people you stole it from."
Byrne tried to move, squirm away on the ground but found he couldn't. Emrys closed his eyes and concentrated deeply. He felt the presence of Byrne's magic, powerful, but tempestuous. A dangerous mix of other people's magic combined with his own, Emrys was surprised he hadn't been overcome by it.
Byrne once again tried to move when he felt Emrys absorbing his magic, but it was futile. Emrys was slowly absorbed the magic within Byrne, adding it to his own. The magic was dangerous, more powerful than anything he had encountered before. He struggled to integrate it to his own magic, but he slowly worked at it, consuming the magical energy within the struggling man in front of him. Emrys felt it rushing through him gathering in strength and power. It was exhilarating, like he was seeing everything anew for the first time.
He felt the flow of magic being to cease, and realised the magic was running out. He kept going, determined to get every last drop of magic left within Byrne, but suddenly he had gone too far.
Flooding his mind now, was not magic, but images, images of what appeared to be Byrne's past.
It was his memories.
Emrys hurriedly pushed these memories back into Byrne's mind, but not before he had caught a glimpse of them.
He saw a man on the streets of Camelot. He was standing outside a blacksmiths shop, talking to a customer, smiling as he sold his wares. He looked young and happy. A woman appeared from a doorway, her laughing face looking at the man with adoration. The man turned to look at her, smiling even more broadly as he kissed her on the cheek, and ran his hand over her swollen belly. A young boy ran out of the shop and the man lifted him and swung him around and the child squealed with laughter. The woman looked stern and disapproving, but soon laughed again as the man lifted her up also, and spun her about.
Emrys barely recognised the man as Byrne.
Another image came. The same scene but now with two young boys, playing in the street, chasing a stray cat, trying to lure it towards them with offerings of meat. Byre looked on and smiled at them. A call came from within the shop, the mother looked out of the window and the two boys rushed in.
Another image. This time of the older boy helping his father in his work. Byrne's face shone with pride as his eldest son successfully completed his work, while the younger boy sulked and pouted, devoid of attention until his mother came to him with an offering of sweet things.
The next scene however was different.
It was Camelot, but not as Emrys knew it. The streets were full of frightened people, their faces livid with fear, running here and there, panicking. Red-tuniced soldiers moved among them dragging people out of their homes, pulling them away from children. Tears. Pain. Suffering.
The next scene. An execution podium in the main courtyard. Around fifty people stood huddled in a corner, crying, their hands in chains. The crowd watching were barely suppressing their own sobs, whilst armed soldiers prevented them from leaving the square.
They had to watch.
They watched as people were led to the three execution blocks. Three of these were Byrne's family. Emrys watched as the young boys approached the blocks, their tear-stained faces white with fear, their mother trying desperately to hold their hands. The ensuing scene was too much for Emrys to watch.
A heart-wrenching cry rang out and everyone's faces turned towards the small huddle of people still awaiting their turn. Byrne stood, his face wrenched in pain, his agonised moans were too terrible to hear. He looked like a deranged man. A man who had lost everything.
"You'll pay Uther! You'll pay some day!"
The man screamed with a terrible cry. His eyes flashed and his bindings were released. He ran with a furious cry at the soldiers, unarmed, with no magic, just desperately trying to hurt them as much as he could, he didn't care if he was killed in the process.
But at that moment, a man ran out from the crowd of people in the square. He pushed back the soldiers with a wave of his hand, his eyes turning gold and grabbed on to the man, uttering a Transportation spell. Before the two of them vanished Emrys was able to recognise the man as Fyrmest.
Merlin reeled backwards as he emerged from Byrne's memories. He breathed heavily as the emotional impact hit him. He felt sick.
He looked down at Byrne, who was still crawling on the ground, unable to move. He was pathetic, a wasted and ruined man. Merlin felt true pity for him. All these years, he had been suffering. Fyrmest and Byrne had both suffered the same loss, but it seemed that Byrne was just not strong enough to move on.
A part of Merlin wanted Byrne to die, either to make him pay or end his suffering, he wasn't sure. But something stayed his hand. Byrne's piteous eyes continued staring at him, waiting for the final blow, but it never came.
Merlin stepped back, and lowered his hand. He felt the excess magic pulsing within him. He was sharply reminded of the enormous power now residing within him. He hadn't realised his transformation from Emrys back to Merlin. He was grateful for it. He hadn't like the immense power he had felt as Emrys. But he was Merlin now, and he would not kill a defenceless man.
"You won't die Byrne. You'll be kept alive, given a chance for remorse. I pity you, I truly do."
Byrne looked disgusted.
"I don't want your pity!"
Merlin simply stared.
"You have it any way."
"Kill me!" Byrne spat.
Merlin shook his head.
"There's been enough blood spilled on your account."
Merlin heard the armies of Camelot, the soldiers and warriors emerge from the city gates. They dispersed among the people outside the walls, easily mowing down what was left of Cendred's forces. The sorcerers tried to fight back but it was useless. The Druids managed to overcome them and many fled.
But Merlin only had eyes for the man in front of him. What had Uther done to turn a man who had a full life and happiness into a cold-blooded murderer? But then, Merlin thought, Uther himself had once been happy and peaceful, until his own family was lost. They weren't so different.
Merlin heard Arthur come up behind him.
"You did it! I can't believe you actually did it! That was pretty amazing magic Merlin."
"Thanks," Merlin mumbled, still engrossed by Byrne.
"Uh, Merlin?"
Merlin turned to look at him.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing? I thought you were going to kill him!"
Merlin looked at Arthur for a moment.
"I was. But more killing isn't what we need."
Arthur looked outraged.
"You're going to let him live? After everything he's done?"
"Yes. Who's to say we wouldn't have turned out the same way of we'd been through the same thing? I've neutralised his magic, he isn't a danger any more."
Arthur still didn't understand.
"He doesn't deserve to live!"
"It would be a greater punishment to let him live Arthur. And besides I won't kill a defenceless man."
"Then I'll do it."
Arthur raised his sword, but before he could bring it down, Merlin enchanted it to make it red hot. Arthur dropped his sword with a cry.
"This isn't like you Arthur. You're usually the merciful one, at least compared to your father."
"This isn't the time to be merciful Merlin! Look at what he's done! How much pain and death has he caused. Just look at Camelot! Look at the dead bodies littering this field! This was all because of him!"
"No Arthur, this was all because of your father. It's a vicious circle, never-ending. It has to stop somewhere, and you have the power to do it."
Arthur looked down at the man in front of him. Merlin could see the indecision on his face. But then it was gone.
"Don't you see Merlin? He has to die. He has to be punished for what he's done. We can't let him get away with it!"
"He won't get away with it. He'll be left with these tormented memories the rest of his life. There are worse things than death."
Arthur was distracted from answering at the arrival of Fyrmest and Morgana. Fyrmest looked down at Byrne with pity and sadness on his face. Morgana looked angry.
"Why don't you kill him Merlin?"
"The killing has to stop somewhere Morgana. He's suffered in his life, killing him won't make any difference."
Morgana was outraged and launched into a flurry of reasons why he shouldn't live, supported by Arthur, but Merlin didn't hear them, instead he was looking at Fyrmest.
Fyrmest had a heavy resigned look on his face, but it was plain he was pained by what he saw.
When Morgana and Arthur's arguing continued, he held up his hand. They both stopped immediately.
He looked sombrely at Merlin.
"Please give your reasons for keeping this man alive."
Merlin gave them, ignoring the snorts of disbelief of Arthur and Morgana.
"We just can't kill him Fyrmest, you know what's happened to him."
Fyrmest sighed deeply.
"Indeed, I understand better than any of you. We have both suffered the same things, unfortunately he chose the wrong path. I won't deny however, that I was also once tempted by revenge. I wanted dearly to make Uther pay for what he had done to my family. But I overcame it, with great difficulty and found solace in the Old Religion. I do not blame Firen in the slightest. Yes, that was once his name," he said, noting Merlin's surprised expression. "Firen was his name when he lived in Camelot with his wife and children, when he was a peaceful blacksmith. I have known him for twenty years, I will not kill him when I could so easily have made the same choices."
Arthur and Morgana voiced their outrage, but Fyrmest silenced them.
"I am aware of what he has done. But sometimes mercy is better than punishment. He might not thank us for it, but at least my conscience will be clear."
Morgana shouted at him.
"Your conscience? What does that matter? Think of the crimes he has committed! He murdered countless people, not least of which are Brim and Lyft! How can you forgive him for that?"
"I do not forgive him Morgana. I simply want him to live. To dwell on what he has done and give him a chance for remorse."
"He will never feel any guilt or remorse Fyrmest!"
"Nevertheless, we all deserve a chance to change ourselves."
"He doesn't! He killed them Fyrmest!"
"He didn't," interjected Merlin. "Brim and Lyft are still alive. He removed their magic and added it to his own."
Morgana and Fyrmest looked at him in shock for a few moments. Morgana recovered faster.
"Then they are better off dead! He has ruined them forever!"
Fyrmest looked troubled, but did not voice his opinion. Merlin continued:
"I removed Byrne's magic, I have it all inside of me. Countless different forms of magic, magic he stole from people, magic he stole from you Morgana," he added, looking her in the eye. "I intend to give it back to them. Brim and Lyft aren't lost yet."
Fyrmest looked astonished.
"You're holding all of that magic within you?"
Merlin nodded. Fyrmest looked impressed.
"It appears the legends are right. Not many could hold all of that magic without being unstable."
"What does that matter?" Asked Morgana furiously. "How on earth is he supposed to give them back their magic?"
"The same way I took it from Byrne, but in reverse." Merlin said simply.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous-"
"Yes I do Morgana. But I'm still determined to do it."
Morgana regarded him critically for an instant.
"Very well. We'll find them and 'give them back' their magic. Then we'll have a vote. Druid style. Whether Byrne lives or dies. Considering how they were directly affected by Byrne they have a right to decide on what to do with him."
Merlin wanted to argue, but realised she had a point. It had been rather selfish of him to make the decision for so many. There were many people who had been directly affected by Byrne's actions, they deserved a chance to make their opinions heard.
"Fine."
Morgana looked satisfied.
"I don't want any of your pity! I'd rather die than accept mercy from you!"Byrne spat at them from the ground. "I would rather die than accept pity from my enemies."
Fyrmest looked at him sadly.
"Unfortunately that is not your decision to make, old friend."
Fyrmest looked around the battlefield and his eyes filled with tears.
"So much death...are we really right to add to it?"
He looked down at his feet and sighed before looking at them all again.
"We need to decide now what to do. Obviously we must find Brim and Lyft and the other Druids on the hillside and restore to them their magic, and make our decision on Byrne's fate. But we must also think of what to do now after the battle. Morgana, you'll be coming with us for the vote, but before you do organise some warriors. Send them after the soldiers and sorcerers who fled the battle, make sure they do not return. I will organise the Healers to come to the battlefield and begin their treatments, of the Camelot soldiers and the Cendred ones. We will not discriminate. Arthur you need to organise some sort of plan within the city. Providing for any civilians left there, finding supplies and beginning some of the repairs, your Knights should be able to do that. Are we all agreed?"
They all nodded.
"Very well. We shall take Byrne into the city and place him under guard until such time we can make a final decision."
Fyrmest looked at Arthur, and then meaningfully at Byrne. Arthur grimaced and stepped forward, seizing Byrne under the arms and lifted him to his feet. Byrne tried to struggle but Arthur kept a tight grip on him. He began to make his way back into the city, dragging Byrne with him, none too gently.
Merlin made to follow him, but Fyrmest stuck out his arm and stopped him, turning Merlin to face him, looking at him intently.
"What really made you stop yourself from killing Byrne?"
Merlin squirmed uncomfortably, Fyrmest always had a way of reading him like a book.
"When I fought him, I wasn't myself. I wasn't Merlin...I was-"
"Emrys." Fyrmest nodded, as though something had been confirmed.
"What happened to me?"
Fyrmest sighed.
"It is hard to know. You were born with the name Merlin, you've lived your whole life as Merlin, yet your destiny is the name of Emrys. You can be Merlin the servant your whole life, but your destiny, is to be Emrys the sorcerer. When you came out to fight Byrne, when you risked your life for Arthur and everyone else in Camelot, you realised your true destiny. You realised who you truly were. You assumed the identity of Emrys."
Merlin felt his head reeling.
"But, I was still sort of me. I could still remember everything that had ever happened to me. I was Merlin, but my whole way of thinking was different, and I was much more powerful."
Fyrmest smiled wryly.
"You and Emrys are the same being Merlin. You are one, you just have to learn to connect the two. That power always resided within you, you just never realised it was there. Only once you had truly embraced your destiny you knew who you truly were."
Merlin listened, worry increasing.
"I was frightened. After I became, well, me again, I was frightened of who I'd become. It just wasn't ...me."
"It was you Merlin. You have the capacity for both parts of your personality to be there. The loyal and brave servant, and the powerful sorcerer. That is who you are. And now you've finally realised it. You became Emrys when you needed to be stronger, when you needed your power, but you became Merlin when your compassion was tested. That is exactly the way it should be. Don't you remember anything I have taught you over the last few weeks? It's the whole balance of nature again. A she-wolf can be compassionate when with her cubs, yet fierce when it comes to protecting them. We all need to find that balance within ourselves."
Fyrmest smiled once again, and followed Arthur, Morgana and Byrne who were slowly making their way back into Camelot.
Merlin considered what Fyrmest had just said, but found it hurt his head to try and deal with it all at the moment. So much was rushing around in his thoughts it was painful to try and distinguish what was happening.
He looked around him, seeing that Druids were already making their way through the wounded on the field, helping wherever they could, no matter who they had served. Merlin admired them for their compassion, how they could still help those who had been their enemies. He admired them purely for turning up. They had all rushed to help Camelot in her hour of need despite all that they had suffered at the hands of Uther.
Again, Merlin wondered if he was doing the right thing, sticking up for Byrne, a man who had tried again and again to kill him. Was it mercy or folly? Or both?
Wasn't all mercy just a weakness? Or was it a strength?
All of Merlin's logic told him Byrne had to be punished, he had to lose his life for causing the deaths of so many others. But his heart told him this was not the way. Perhaps he was being an idiot.
But Merlin remembered the sight of Byrne as a younger, carefree man, playing with his children, joy on his face, almost completely unrecognisable from the ruined man he was now. Byrne was not an evil man, he had suffered, and been twisted by hate and pain and a desire for revenge. If he had not lost his family, would he have remained a good man? How much can a man suffer before he is driven to committing such acts?
How many others would support him in this? How many would hate him for it?
He just had to wait and find out.
A/N: Sooo...I don't much like this chapter, I feel it's kinda weak, but I just had to write something after that episode! What do you guys think? Should Byrne live? Or should Byrne die? Really need your opinion as I'm not completely decided myself yet. :D
As always...review please! :D