Sorry I forgot to post this. I had this chapter ready before the previous one but I wanted to wait a couple days before I posted this because more people seem to read it if you do. The next chapter is actually the last one which makes me sad. I have most of it written already so Deviner Captive will be done within the next week.
Today is actually my Birthday and I'm turning 23. Born June 15, 1991.
It is also Father's Day. Every couple years my birthday lands on it and I have to share my day with my dad. Only realized last week that this was one of those years. At least their is a double reason to celebrate. let everyone eat cheese cake.
Deviner Captive
Rain and Lightning
...
They landed in the field where they fought Kilgharrah all those years ago so as not to be spotted by Morgana.
"I'll be around if you need me, young warlock." The dragon's deep voice spoke.
"Thank you Kilgharrah. Stay out of sight till then." Merlin smiled at his kin. The dragon took off causing capes and hair to blow in the strong wind.
"Camelot is so far away." Elyan complained. "How are we going to get there?"
"We'll walk of course." Merlin exclaimed as he started off in the direction of the city. The knights shot looks of disbelief at each other. Not wanting the boy to get to far away they ran to catch up.
"How do we even know if Morgana's actually here?" Arthur asked as they made their way closer to their destination. They could just see the towers of Camelot from their position. Their was no smoke in the sky and everything looked normal.
"It's better to be safe than sorry. We'll have to sneak in through the back." Merlin suggested. He headed off the path and into the forest. They had to dodge around trees and the ground was muddy because it had rained recently. It didn't make the ground very sturdy to walk on so there was a lot of feet sliding.
Arthur started to pant from the exertion. He had to grab onto trees to help him make it up a hill. Armor was not meant for long walks like this. It didn't help that it was a pushing the middle of the summer. He glared at the back of the warlocks head as he effortlessly walked ahead of them, not even breaking a sweat. "Don't you wish we had horses." Arthur panted as they walked up another hill. "It would be so much quicker."
"It's good for you to get some exercise." Merlin said sarcastically over his shoulder.
"Not another word." Arthur look at the back of his manservant's head in annoyance. He just knew what his manservant wanted to say.
"I'm just saying that if you didn't go everywhere on horseback, that you might be in better shape." Merlin replied with a smirk from far ahead of all the armor clad knights. He stopped to wait for them to catch up.
"Hey, I'm having just as much trouble." Gwaine complained from just behind the prince.
"You just need to stop drinking so much ale." Merlin poked the common knight in his stomach once he reached his position. "Your body may be able to handle it now, but if you aren't careful you're going to end up with a beer gut." He did a hand movement in front of his own trim stomach to represent a bulge.
Gwaine just thought it looked like he was pregnant.
They started to walk again.
Merlin ended up tripping over a branch because he wasn't paying attention to the ground. "At least I know for sure that your clumsiness wasn't a front, at all." Arthur mocked as he helped him up.
"I have better things to concentrate on than where I'm going." Merlin replied as he brushed the dirt off his outfit with a smirk. "Come on. We're almost there." Merlin exclaimed as he pushed through some bushes. He remembered how many times he had sneaked back into Camelot this way before.
"Finally." The knight's sighed in relief when the castle wall came into view ahead.
"This way." Merlin walked along the stone wall until he came to the grate. "Stand back." The knights looked at each other before taking steps away to get out of harm's way. The warlock whispered a spell under his breath and instantly the grate was blasted off the stone.
Their mouths dropped open. The knights hadn't actually seen the manservant perform any magic till this moment.
"That was harder than I remember it being." Merlin mumbled to himself and wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead. Usually he could perform that spell effortlessly but this time he felt a dip in his energy, It actually made him feel tired.
"Are you all right?" Arthur put a hand on the boys shoulder. He noticed the strain the spell had had on his manservant. "You aren't back up to your full strength yet." he stated with narrowed eyes.
"I'll be fine." Merlin knocked the hand off his shoulder defensively. "We don't have the time to wait around for me to recover." He climbed into the passage to get away before Arthur convinced him otherwise.
Arthur frowned at the reaction but he knew there would be no arguing with Merlin. He'd always put others needs before himself. "Self sacrificing idiot." He grumbled under his breath as he followed his manservant into the tunnel.
They knights chose not to comment on the disagreement as they followed them into the dark tunnel. Percival had to lean down or risk hitting his head because he was too tall for the tunnel.
"I wish we had a light." Elyan exclaimed as he tried not to run into anyone because they couldn't see where everyone else was. Case in point he walked directly into Percival's back. "Sorry." The large knight grunted in acknowledgement.
Suddenly the passage way illuminated by a pale blue light. "Problem solved."
"Put that out!" Arthur cuffed his manservant lightly on the back of his head in reprimand. "You're not fully recovered yet. You need to save all of your energy for your fight."
"Fine." Merlin huffed as he distinguished the light throwing them back into darkness.
They continued to shuffle carefully until they turned a bend in the path and they could see the outline of a shield that was letting light leak through its cracks. Merlin pushed the open and they all climbed out after him into the armory. "Coast seems to be clear." The room was dark and most of the weapons seem to be still in its place.
"Where do you think Morgana is?" Gwaine asked generally.
"She's more than likely in the throne room." Arthur spoke up as he swung the door open and peaked out into the hall way. "Morgana never could resist sitting on the throne."
"Once we take out Morgana everything should be ok." Gwaine said to comfort himself.
"Don't forget Morgause." Merlin reminded them that they had more than one sorceress to worry about.
They made their way out into the hall way and snuck along the wall. Hiding in a side passage when they heard footsteps. When the purple cloaks swished past them they knew that Merlin had been right. Morgana had taken over once more.
"What do you think happened to the guards and knight's we left behind?" Elyan asked once the coast was clear. Lancelot had volunteered to stay behind because he didn't want Gwen to be left unprotected.
"I think they're in the dungeon. Which one of you wants to go and break them out?" Merlin whispered. It was his job to get Morgana. He was worried about Gaius, Gwen and Lancelot though. Hoping they managed to escape instead of being captured.
"We'll all go." Elyan gestured to all of the knights. "We could use the back up." He was referring to all the knights and guards that were left behind to protect the city. Not enough against Morgana it would seem though.
"I'm coming with you." Arthur stepped closer to the warlock.
The emotion the prince put behind the words Merlin knew he wasn't talking about freeing people from the dungeon. "No Arthur." Merlin put his hand on his hips. " I need my full concentration to take out Morgana and Morgues, having you there will just distract me."
Arthur glowered at his manservant. "I'm not going to leave you alone to take down two powerful sorceress' by yourself." They glared at each other.
"Time to give the two some alone time." Gwaine herded the other two knights down the hall way. He knew where this conversation was headed. Soon it was just the warlock and the prince left alone in the hallway.
"I'll be too worried about you if you come." Merlin said adamantly.
"I won't be able to concentrate on what I'm doing with you out of my eye sight." Arthur replied back. He always felt like if his manservant wasn't in yelling distance he was getting in trouble. Now that he knew he was more than just a servant he still felt that way. It actually made him worry more. A warlock could get in a lot more trouble. Arthur pulled him in for a kiss.
Merlin melted under his hold. When they leaned back for air he was a little dazed. "Your still not coming."
The prince groaned in defeat. "Don't be too reckless." He warned.
"Me, reckless, never." Merlin said with good humor. He smiled and leaned in to give the prince one last kiss before dashing off to the throne room.
Arthur sighed and went to follow the direction his knights had disappeared in.
...
Merlin snuck into the balcony above the throne room. He saw the familiar sight of Morgana on the throne. This was the second time in a few months that the ex-ward had managed to take over Camelot. Observing the occupants of the room he noticed that Morgause was absent.
He noticed that the sorceress seemed to be waiting for something. She was tapping her polished nails on the arm of the throne. Watching the light move across the floor as time moved forward and the suns location moved.
Suddenly Morgana's eyes snapped to his position. With a flash of her eyes he was flying off the balcony. He hit the stone floor of the throne room with an oomph. With shaky legs he push himself back up to his feet. 'Well, that was a good start.' Merlin thought sarcastically to himself.
"Well if it isn't the bane of my existence." Morgana sat back further in her throne while the guards went into the attack position.
"How'd you know I was there?" Merlin asked confused. He hadn't made ant noise to give his position away.
"I saw it in a vision. I knew you were coming days before now." Morgana revealed with a smirk. "I had enough sense of mind to note the time of day."
"The shadows?" Merlin said contemplatively. So he didn't have the element of surprise that he was hoping for. He knew that the seers visions only showed small things so she didn't know everything. Arthur and the other knights were safe for now. "You don't know the outcome of this fight." The warlock said with confidence.
"I'm confident that I can beat you." Morgana replied with spite in her voice. Before she knew he was one of them she wanted to kill Merlin for what he'd done. Now she was furious when she thought of all the times he must have ruined well thought out plans without their knowledge. "As if a servant with a few tricks could beat me."
"I can't allow you to continue this." Merlin announced. With a flash of his eyes the guards flew back into the walls. It caused the sorceress to frown and stand up to her feet. He could hear the sound of her heels click on the stone floor as she moved closer to his position.
"Your powers may be great but you aren't powerful enough to take me out." She hadn't even begun to guess the extent of Merlin's abilities. Morgana sent a fire ball at him and he caught it. Her eyes widened when Merlin threw her attack back at her. She had to throw herself out of the way knowing she'd have no chance to repeat the feat he performed.
"How's that even possible." Morgana snapped once she made it back to her feet.
"I'm Emrys." Merlin revealed. He'd never felt comfortable when the druids said he was destined to be the most powerful sorcerer ever. Never really understanding what they meant until now. Merlin was able to do things that other magic users could only ever dream of.
Morgana screamed and the room shook with her anger. "You can't be!" The sorceress' attacks became more frantic in her anger. She started to become sloppy and left many openings for him. She shot another fire ball at him since it was the strongest attack.
Merlin's hands shot up and the air seemed to shimmer blue around him. He decided to follow Arthur's example and he waited for Morgana to tire herself out. Using only shield charms that didn't require a lot of power and dodging when it was physically possible. Morgana's breathing was harsh and her attacks had slowed to trickles.
It looked like he was going to easily win until Morgause showed up with more soldiers. He wasn't strong enough yet to take on two people at once. The fight he'd just participated in took up most of his energy. His power wasn't back at full strength.
Merlin hissed in pain when he was hit in the side while he was concentrated on the other sister. He turned back to see Morgana smirk. She wasn't strong enough to kill but she still had enough power left to wound him. She threw another fire ball aiming at his head.
The warlock threw himself out of the way causing himself to fall to the ground. He felt something dig into his side. Reaching into his jacket and pulled out the collar that had locked away his powers. When Morgana stomped over and reached down to grab him by the front of his shirt he snapped the collar around her neck.
Morgana gasped and stumbled back away from him. "What did you do?" she grabbed at her neck. "It's gone." She mumbled to herself. The collar had locked Morgana's powers away from her use so she was only as good as a normal human.
Merlin pulled himself back up to his feet placing his hand over his burnt side. With Morgana neutralized he was able to focus his full attention on Morgause. The blonde was glaring daggers at him with her eyes. He moved into an attack position ready for it.
When Morgana realized her magic was locked away from her use she growled. Grabbing a sword from a nearby knight. She was going to run Merlin through the back while he was distracted but another sword blocked her. Turning to see the culprit she growled. "Arthur."
"Morgana." Arthur replied as he pushed her back away from Merlin's position. He couldn't imagine if he'd showed up a second too late. He'd only got partway down the hall away from the warlock when he got a really bad feeling. Turning on his heel he ran towards the throne room.
Morgana growled and slashed at his chest. Arthur managed to block the attack easily. He remember how good his half sister was with a sword. The blades clanged as they tried to disarm the other. This was way harder than the champion fight he had fought in earlier that day.
Merlin managed to block almost everything that the high priestess was throwing at him. A few attacks managed to graze his arms and legs. He was slowly being pushed back though. His powers felt weaker by the minute.
The master and servant both ended up standing back to back, facing their respective opponent.
"I told you were going to be needing me." Arthur jested as he blocked an attack and tried to push her away from the warlock. He knew that if Morgana saw an opening to injure Merlin she would.
He rushed her with his full force. their blades clashed. Morgana left her side open and Arthur hesitated in taking it. She was still his sister no matter what she had done. Thinking about killing her and actually doing it were two different things. Arthur hissed in pain when her blade managed to slice through his upper arm. She had no misgivings about injuring him if that smirk of accomplishment on Morgan's face was true.
Morgana was just as dangerous with a sword as she was with magic.
Merlin just managed to throw up a shield when Morgues threw another powerful meant to kill, he felt his feet slide against the force. He couldn't do this much longer. Merlin never enjoyed killing but he knew that he couldn't allow Morgause to live if he ever wanted Camelot to be left alone. Preparing himself he spoke a spell that he'd only once used before. It was only fitting.
Raising his hand towards the ceiling he called upon the elements.
Dark clouds started to form and thunder rolled. Everyone looked up in surprise when it started to rain indoors. It was something they'd never seen done before. Merlin's eyes flashed gold as a ball of lightning rained down from the ceiling and struck the sorceress dead on.
All that was left behind was a pile of ash.
Morgause and Morgana's men ran for their life's. Knowing the battle to be lost before it ever really begun. They let them leave not having the energy to give chase right now.
Merlin slumped to the floor in exhaustion. His clothes were soaked through from the rain he had conjured. That last spell had taken all of his energy to complete. He knew that nothing less was going to take Morgues out. Lightning seemed to be the only way to take out a high priestess of the old religion.
Arthur's sword stopped its momentum when Morgana collapse to the ground in tears. With her sister dead all of the fight had left her. He didn't have the drive to hurt her anymore when she was already so broken. He noticed Merlin's collapsed form then. Running over he slid to kneel beside him. The rain soaking into his breaches. Collecting his slim body to his chest and shook it. "Merlin, come on. Open your eyes."
"Arthur?" Merlin's eyes peeled open. His eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.
"Are you all right?" Arthur asked, pushing his wet hair out of his face. Searching his manservant for any fatal injuries. Other than the burn on his side he didn't see any worrying wounds.
"Tired." Merlin slurred. All his energy had been sucked dry from him.
Arthur sighed in relief that Merlin had just overexerted himself. "You can go to sleep." He nodded that it was ok. The warlock's blue eyes closed and his breathing evened out. He hugged the unconscious boy closer to his chest.
The throne room doors banged open.
"Someone call for reinforcements?" Gwaine asked sarcastically with his sword in the air. He dropped it when he observed the rooms occupants and current state of health. "We missed the whole battle didn't we?"
"Yeah." Arthur said around a dry throat. Suddenly he was parched and ready to drop to sleep right then and there. Just like Merlin had already succumbed to.
"Out of the way." Gaius pushed himself to the front of the crowd of soldiers and servants that had been rescued from the dungeon. He stalked quickly over to their position and practically pushed the prince out of the way to get to his ward. "Let me see him." The physician fretted over the boy. He checked his temperature and pulled up his shirt. Tutting to himself about how the boy was going to give him a heart attack.
Arthur huffed after being pushed out of the way. He was injured too. The blood from the cut on his arm was dripping on the ground. 'What am I, chopped liver?' He thought to himself. He knew that Gaius had a right to act this way. He hadn't seen his ward in weeks and the first time they are reunited Merlin's unconscious and injured.
"Help me get these two to back to my quarters." Gaius asked Percival and Gwaine.
'Oh, so he did notice I was injured too.' Arthur thought to himself as he was helped to his feet.
Percival picked the warlock up in his strong arms. Merlin looked so small compared to his large form.
"What about her?" Gwaine asked pointing towards the distraught sorceress as he helped the prince to his feet.
"Don't worry. Her magic has been bound. She's harmless as long as you keep her away from a sword." Arthur explained. "Though she does have a pretty good right hook." He said remembering a time that she had punched him back when they were still on good terms. He missed those times.
Gaius walked over and whispered a spell and stroked her black hair. "Sleep." He received shocked looks for his open use of magic.
...TBC