Chapter 2 is ready! I really hope you guys like where the story is going so far.
I would love any ideas, criticisms, or reviews. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this story.
"Merlin? Is that you?"
"huh? Oh yes, Hello Mother"
"When did you get in?"
"Late last night, I was visiting Camelot and I stayed later than I anticipated."
"Ah, well I am glad you've come I've missed you so."
"I've missed you too mother, greatly."
"So how long before you are off then? As I remember he's not a very patient man."
"Ah, so you're right, however he's not expecting me back until tonight."
"You're sure he won't come to see me?"
"He's far too ashamed mother, I've tried to convince him, but he still suspects you to be angry with him."
"Well I have been angry with him for a very long time, but in these recent months I have only grown to miss him greatly."
"I understand mother, I was angry with him as well, but now that we've come to bond I have easily forgiven him."
"I know you have, my son. You seem so happy. I am glad you are learning so much, and finally able to let your powers grow. I just wish you could tell me what it is you are doing, so I wouldn't worry so."
"I'm sorry mother, I just can't I fear you would worry far more if you knew."
"Yes, I suppose you are right, well have some breakfast. You must be hungry."
"yes mother." Merlin replied, before sitting to eat his breakfast.
With A flurry of wind, and a loud thud, Kilgharrah landed in the clearing near the White Mountains. "Why have you called me here?" He hissed.
"I need to speak with you Dragon."
"Obviously. What is it you will ask of me now?"
"I believe to have found evidence of a dragon hoard. I believe that I may have located another dragon."
"Impossible, the only left of my kind are I and the young Aithusa."
"How can you be sure after being locked away for so many years?"
"I would have sensed another dragon, surely."
"Not if they didn't want to be found, after the great lengths Uther went to have them destroyed, and survivors would surely have themselves hidden."
"I suppose you are right, but they would have found me by now."
"Not if they no not of your existence, you have been gone for decades."
Kilgharrah remained silent, obviously considering the possibility. "Now, What is you you need of me?"
"Well if you will I will need the aid of your magic and wisdom once the time comes."
"Ah, as I would have guessed well if the time comes, I suppose you shall just call for me as my compliance is not a choice."
"You should know by now I do not abuse the gift."
"Yes, well I will aid you, until then I bid you farewell Balinor."
"Goodbye, Kilgharrah, and thank you. I will call when I need you."
With a quick swoosh the Great Dragon was off, still contemplating the possibilities.
"It's been nice having you home, my boy." Hunith said to Merlin, as she watched him preparing to leave.
"Yes, I must admit it is very tempting to just remain here, and not have to worry about all of this destiny stuff anymore."
"Why don't you? Why does it have to be you? There are plenty of other magical people in this realm."
"I wish it were that simple, but I have seen what is to come, and if it is going to be as bad as it looks Camelot will need me."
"I understand, I just hope you will be okay, I don't know what I will do if I ever lose you."
"I promise you mother, that will never happen, I plan on living a very long time."
As Merlin finished his packing Hunith only watched as she reveled at the man he had become, and the things she knew he would accomplish. "I know." was her only reply and she truly did know that no matter what was to come her son would be able to get through it.
Merlin smiled and hugged his mother before leaving and heading for the woods. As soon as he was out of sight again, he disappeared. Reappearing in the last spot he had been with his father, he began walking to catch up to him before nightfall.
Arthur had just finished briefing the knights on training, and patrol, when he felt himself getting very tired. This was normal for Arthur, but not when he'd only been awake for around 2 hours. He then realized he had been almost constantly tired since he'd taken the draft Gaius had given him.
"Sire? How can I help you? Has the potion helped?"
"Ah, hello Gaius, I'm not really sure if it's working, but does that potion you gave me have any lasting effects? I have been feeling constantly tired since I first took it."
"Hmm, well the effects usually only last for the night, maybe your extra duties are making you tired sire?"
"I don't know, I suppose that could be it, I was just curious, well is it possible for me to get another draft for tonight?"
"Ah yes, right away Sire."
Gaius gave Arthur the potion and as soon as Arthur left he went to work researching the possible causes of Arthur's tiredness, because he knew that it had not in fact been the extra workload, but he feared that his potion would have some kind of alternate effect when paired with Merlin's spell. Arthur took the potion and went to perform his duties for the day.
Gwen stood in Morgana's chamber staring out the window at the courtyard as she folded clothes. Completely lost in thought she, she didn't even realize the Morgana had come in and was watching her trying to read her thoughts, quite literally trying to listen in using her magic.
"How could I... forgotten... worried..." Random pieces was all Morgana could get, but she knew it was something Gwen was really worried about.
"You all right Gwen?"
"Huh? Oh yes. Sorry, I was just lost in a thought."
"So I could see, something you wanna talk about?"
"Oh I couldn't bother you with it, it's really nothing miss."
"Gwen it's obvious something is bothering you, you know I consider you a friend. You can tell me anything."
"Ok, well it's just there are things, like the thing with Arthur, I've been forgetting things and having odd flashes. I'm sure it's nothing Gaius can't help with."
"Oh I'm sure he will be able to help you, I doubt it's anything serious." Gwen reassured her when she knew it was just the spell.
"Yes. I suppose I will go see him tonight."
"I think that's a good idea, and stop worrying Gwen everything will be fine."
"Thanks Miss."
Gwen finished up her duties in Morgana's Chamber before Morgana gave her the rest of the night free. And Gwen decided to go to Gaius who gave her a false potion so as not to create the same effects as Arthur's had.
As Gaius read he began to feel more and more nervous. Mind block... induced comatose... permanent. The effects of mixing a potion with Merlin's spell could put Arthur into a permanent sleeping state. Looking out side Gaius realized he had read well into the night and that it may be too late to keep Arthur from taking the second dose. He checked Merlin's room and found Franklin asleep meaning he had definitely finished his duties, so he made his way to Arthur's chambers hoping Arthur had neglected the potion, but he was not so fortunate, the empty vial was sitting on Arthur's bedside table and Arthur was fast asleep. Gaius could only hope it wasn't permanent.
"Ah my boy, you've finally returned, is everything well?" Balinor greeted Merlin as he approached the campsite."
"Yes, everything is fine. How are things here?"
"I've spoken with Kilgharrah and he has agreed to help us when we need him, but we still have much to accomplish before we get to that point."
Merlin looked at the ground nodding, a look of longing sadness on his face.
His father noticed this and had to think of something to say. "I'm sorry, I know this is all very hard for you, and that it was hard to do what you did, but Uther would send every knight in Camelot after us. But once this is over, I'm sure Arthur will forgive you, you have saved his life countless times. Uther is gonna be the biggest obstacle once you reverse that spell.
"Thank you." Was all Merlin could say for fear of crying in front of his father. He hoped his father was right and that Arthur would truly forgive him. It had only been hours after everyone discovered Merlin's magic, that he performed the spell to erase himself from memory. Arthur had seemed more hurt than angry, and some of the Knights were reluctant to try catching him, Sir Leon had even created a diversion for him which is why he'd gotten away. Uther however had been a completely different story, unsurprisingly ordering his immediate death. Merlin did not regret revealing his magic, he needed Arthur to know.
"Well we should be on our way we have to pass through this city unseen." Balinor said pulling Merlin from his thoughts.
"Okay." Merlin replied as he got himself ready for the trek.
Arthur woke up, and looking out the window realized Merlin had failed to wake him on time. He knew his father would be leaving for Mercia today and now he would be late, so he jumped out of bed and made his way to scold Merlin. When he reached for the door handle however, his had went right through it, and looking back at his bed, he saw that his body still lay in it, he ran to the bed and once he noticed he was still breathing he calmed down. "This must be some sort of sorcery, wait. Merlin! I have to find him, he'll know what's going on." Arthur thought to himself as he remembered Merlin and his magic. "Where the devil is he?" Arthur spoke before realizing that Everyone must be looking for Merlin "Unless he's been caught!" The thought suddenly plagued him, and suddenly he was in the dungeons. He figured he must be able to do things like this outside of his body, so he checked all the cells and once he realized Merlin was in none, he began to worry, and to really think. "Why was I sleeping, I don't even remember going to bed, or anything after father set the search for Merlin." As Arthur searched the castle and listened to a few conversations he realized he had missed a few weeks of time and that his father was already gone. But what of Merlin?
Gaius made his way to Arthur's chambers after being informed by Franklin that Arthur would not wake up. His fears were coming true, and now he would have to find a way to wake the prince from his coma, but he knew it would be almost impossible.
"Gaius what's going on?" Morgana asked as she entered the room "Franklin said you needed to see me?"
"Yes, Morgana. I fear something has gone very wrong. A sleeping draft I have given Arthur has reacted with the spell and now he may be stuck in a coma."
"What? How can that be? Surely you can fix it?"
"I don't know, from what I have read it is irreversible. We may just have to wait for Merlin to return, if anyone can fix this he can."
"But we don't know when Merlin will be back again, it could be weeks! Months even! What if Uther returns first?"
"I'm afraid waiting is all we can do, if I try to administer any more potions the reaction could be worse."
"What will we tell the council?"
"We will tell them he is in a temporary coma, and you will need to take over for him."
"Me? But I can't ta..."
"Of course you can, you have every ability to lead as Arthur. It will only be until he awakens."
"I suppose I will have no choice, I just hope this doesn't last very long."
"Spell, what spell could they be talking about? It obviously has something to do with Merlin. I don't remember taking any sleeping potion either." Arthur's thoughts went wild at the conversation he had just overheard.
"We should go now I'll call for a council meeting, be in the council room in an hour." Gaius said to Morgana as they left the room.
Arthur went to the bed and stared at his body willing himself to wake up, He reached down to shake himself when he felt a tug, and he was pulled back into his body.
Arthur was in a long hallway full of doors, he had just been in his room he was sure of it. He just needed to find a way back. He went to the nearest door, but it was locked so he started down the hallway trying door after door and every one of them was locked. He tried for what seemed like hours before he came to a window. When he looked out the window he saw an empty courtyard, and just as he went to try more doors he saw someone come out from behind a wall. He realized it was Merlin, he was with someone and they seemed to be sneaking through. Arthur tried opening the window, but it wouldn't budge, so he tried yelling and even breaking it, but nothing would was working. And then Merlin was gone. Arthur gave up on the window and went on down the hallway when he came to a different looking door, it looked old and oddly inviting. So he went to it, and it opened with ease. When he walked through it he was in the woods and there was a campfire burning, and 2 people sleeping. He approached and soon noticed one of them was Merlin, and he went to shake him, but his hands went right through him, so he tried saying something but Merlin couldn't hear him. He sat there anyways just watching Merlin sleep and listening to his steady breathing, it was strangely comforting and Arthur didn't know why, but he laid down and listened until he felt himself being pulled again, and then he was back in his room. Arthur knew he had really been with Merlin, "But what about that hallway full of doors? Where the hell could I have been?" Arthur thought to himself As he pondered what it could have been.
Merlin was in his room at his mother's house in Ealdor, he got dressed and went for a walk, not exactly knowing why. While walking through the village he noticed that there wasn't anyone around, he shrugged it off and kept walking until he felt someone touching his shoulders, he turned and saw Arthur, as soon as he turned Arthur bent forward and kissed him. Merlin almost began fighting it, but instead gave into it and started kissing back he heard Arthur moaning his name as their lips met, and their tongues danced. Then just as suddenly as he came Arthur was gone, and Merlin couldn't help but feel very upset at his absence.
"Merlin! Wake up" Balinor called out as he heard his son grunting in his sleep.
Merlin woke from his dream feeling even more upset than he had before, not only was Arthur constantly on his mind while he was awake, but now he was dreaming about him too.
"Today we have to cross those mountains and then we will be out of Albion, that's where the real challenges will begin." Balinor addressed Merlin as they prepared to leave.
"So have you ever been to... where is it we're going exactly?" Merlin asked
"It doesn't really have a name, as no one has discovered it and lived to report it. And no I've never actually entered, but I know it is full of every magical creature you can think of Dark and Light, just wandering around waiting to be summoned or just staying away from humans. Most of them won't take to well to the 2 of us, but some of them might be willing to help. "
"I see." Merlin replied both excited and terrified of the place they were headed to.
They made their way over the mountains and as they descended Merlin could feel the magic. He knew they were getting close. Once they reached the bottom there was a large river and a bridge made from a large carved out tree which would be their only way of crossing. Merlin looked across the river but at the other edge there was a dense fog blocking the view of anything. So they made their way to the bridge and when they got to it they were greeted by a large fiery red bird perched atop the tree, it's tail feathers blocking the hole into the tree bridge.
Are the longer paragraphs too much? I thought about that a lot while writing, but I dodn't know how else to do it. Thanks for reading guys!