Disclaimer: As much as I would like to, I don't own Merlin!
As soon as Merlin stepped off the staircase and onto the flat rock jutting out into the huge underground cavern, the dragon came spiralling out of the darkness. It landed before him, its jaws bared in a huge grin.
"Merlin! These very walls have been singing with magic!"
"Nimueh is dead," Merlin said flatly. "Everyone in Camelot knows my secret, and I have a really, really bad feeling. How was your day?"
"Nimueh is dead?" the dragon repeated. "Are you sure? She is a powerful sorcceress."
"I'm sure," Merlin replied. "Its not her I'm worried about anyway. Uther is about five minutes away from executing me."
"Is Arthur with you?"
"Yes, but-"
"You and Arthur will find a way," the dragon told him, nodding. "You are two-"
"Alright, alright!" Merlin said quickly. "I know all that. But Uther is going to make my life hell for as long as he can. He wants to destroy me and he always will, no matter what I do."
"Uther will not be a problem for you," the dragon said flippantly, picking at his teeth with a claw. "There is very little he can do to you with Arthur behind you. What of this feeling you mentioned?"
"I don't know," Merlin muttered, shaking his head. He sat down, leaning back against the wall, twiddling the torch between his fingers. "It started in the forest on our way back. I just felt... felt like something was wrong. Like we were being watched. And ever since I stepped within the gates of Camelot there's been something..."
He raised a trembling hand to his head, cradlling his head in his palm. He felt suddenly drained, as if he had not eaten in days. Come to think of it, he couldn't remember the last time he had had a good nights sleep.
"You must learn to tell the difference between a magician's instinct and the paranoia of an exhausted boy, Merlin," the dragon said. "You have had a long journey, and yet you are the most powerful being to walk the earth for years. Do you believe your 'feelings' are more than just products of a tired mind?"
Merlin thought for a moment, and then sighed and leant his head back against the wall. "I don't know. How should I know?"
"Only you can know."
Merlin shut his eyes. "One day, I will come to you with a question, you will give me a straight answer and I will faint with shock."
The dragon laugh. "Ah, how can you expect to learn if you do not follow my teachings?"
"I'll sleep on it," Merlin decided. "Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to tell what these feelings mean. But Nimueh is dead, you can be sure of that."
The dragon frowned, but said nothing. A sudden chill ran down Merlin's spine and he looked up, as if he could see straight through the rocky cavern and into the castle above. The dragon watched him quietly.
"If you are debating whether to run back or not," he said after a few moments. "I would go now. I feel it too."
Merlin rose quickly to his feet, his eyes narrowing. "You felt that? So it isn't just me?"
The dragon returned his gaze with amber eyes. "What did you feel?"
Merlin hesitated. Then he spoke. "That Arthur is in trouble."
"Then why are you still lingering here?"
Merlin blinked at him for a moment, and then span around and sprinted back up the steps. He slammed the torch back into its hold on the wall and ran out into the courtyard. It was nearing evening now, the sun sinking towards the horizon. Merlin ran across to the castle, leaping deftly up the steps. Arthur had been going to Gaius's chambers to have his head wound looked at. Would he still be there? Merlin pushed his way through the doors, and two guards leapt to attention. He shot them a scowl and raced down the corridor. By the time he reached Gaius's chambers, however, the chilling feeling of unease had vanished. He slowed down outside the doors, frowning, and then shook his head and pushed the door open anyway.
"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed. "There you are! Gwen was here looking for you earlier. Where did you get to?"
Merlin looked around. "Where did Arthur go?"
"Arthur?" Gaius rose to his feet at the table, arching one eyebrow questioningly. "I don't know."
"He hasn't been here?"
"No, but-"
Merlin turned and strode back out again. What now?
Arthur's chambers.
He made for the stairs. He reached Arthur's chambers a few moments later, and felt a rush of alarm to see the doors hanging open. Calling Arthur's name, he quickened his pace and moved through them. Arthur lay on the floor on his back, his forehead still bleeding a little, his eyes closed. Merlin's eyes widened - he darted forwards and crouched down beside the Prince, grabbing his arm.
"Arthur! Arthur, answer me!"
Arthur's eyes slid open and he blinked owlishly before turning his head to look at Merlin. "Oh... its you," he said.
Merlin let out a short laugh of exasperation. "Yes, its me! Now what are you doing on the floor?"
Arthur looked around, and then slowly eased himself upright. Merlin put a steadying hand on his shoulder. He scanned the room, and then looked again at Merlin.
"Where did he go?"
"Who?"
"That man, he had long hair..." Arthur was mumbling, lifting a trembling hand to point at the window. "He was right there!"
Merlin frowned, looking from the window to Arthur and back again. "No one's here."
"But... but..."
Merlin sat back on his heels as Arthur spluttered. He wasn't sure what to think. Had someone actually been here, or had it just been Arthur's head wound showing him dissappearing strangers? Shaking his head, Merlin took Arthur's shoulder and pulled him up to his feet.
"Come on. You should see Gaius."
"Merlin, he was there. I think he was... I swear, I saw... I don't know." Arthur sighed heavily, and raised a hand to his forehead to wipe at the blood. "I thought he spoke to me."
"What did he say?"
Arthur's brow furrowed as he tried to remember. "Something... something about being destroyed and pheonixes ruling the world or... I dunno. He said 'now we are one.'"
Merlin shrugged, pulling Arthur along the corridor. "Now we are one? What does that mean?"
"Search me, you're the one who's always going on about magic and riddles."
Merlin turned the words over in his mind. Now we are one. The phrase sent a shudder through him. He brushed it away, shaking his head. "How about we just get your head looked at. Then we can worry about riddles."
The next day dawned cold and crisp, the cool air creeping into Merlin's bed and waking him much earlier than he would have liked. For a few moments he remained still, hoping that somehow he could fall alseep again. However, when sleep refused to return, he groaned loudly and sat up. To tell the truth, it was still the best night's sleep he had had in a long time. He climbed out of bed and began to search for some clothes.
Gaius had almost completely convinced him that Arthur's story of a strange man in his room had been nothing more than a hallucination. Even Arthur himself had begun to agree that it had probably been a hallucination as Gaius had tended to his head. And, since the bad feeling had completely vanished, Merlin, too, was beginning to doubt the story. It could have been nothing.
But it could have been something.
Gaius was still asleep when Merlin emerged from his room, and so he crept through the chamber and out into the corridor beyond. He didn't want to disturb the older man. Instead, he made for the doors of the castle, hoping to get some air. Besides, he didn't want to be anywhere near Uther just yet. He breifly considered going to see Arthur or Gwen, but then decided that it was too early. Arthur had described the man, but had said very little. Apparently it had been a very young man, pale skinned with long black hair and almost completely soaked through. Zombie-like. It certainly sounded like someone out of a nightmare. Merlin reached the doors and slipped outside.
His breath fogged in that air before him, and he shivered as the chilly air bit through his clothes. Hardly anyone was about yet, and for that he was thankful. He didn't really want to have anyone staring at him just now. He headed through the village towards the gates, hoping to take a walk outside where he wouldn't have to endure any of the townsfolk. The few people who were up were too busy making preperations for the day to notice or recognize him. His confidence growing, he took a shortcut between two small houses. He was nearly there now. He could take a left here and-
A sharp gasp and then a crash came from somewhere beside him and he stopped, looking up. A little girl had just emerged from her house holding a pot of water, and upon seeing him had dropped it. It had shattered into thousands of tiny fragments, the water already soaking into the ground. Merlin wavered, unsure of whether to leave or not. She looked down at the ruined bowl and her eyes filled with tears, her hands flying to her mouth. Sympathy beating his common sense, Merlin moved over to her.
"Its okay, don't worry," he said quickly, reaching for the fragments. "Look, I'll fix it for you, okay?"
"Mummy will be angry..."
"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "I'm gonna fix it."
He reached out a hand and muttered a quick spell. The fragments rose into the air and fused together, forming the pot once more in a few seconds. Merlin lifted his other hand, still muttering, and the water surged up out of the ground. It span around in a clear, sparkling arc and dived back into the bowl. Merlin took hold of the bowl, releasing it from the spell, and held it out to her. She took it, wide eyed.
"There. Okay?"
A smile tweaked at her lips. "Do something else!" she whispered.
"More!" another voice cried, and Merlin flinched around to see a boy a little younger than her standing just behind him. "More, more!" he cried, clapping his hands.
A slow smile spread over Merlin's face. "Alright," he said, grinning. He lifted a hand and turned his palm towards the sky, summoning up the magic once more. A tongue of emerald green fire leapt into the air, hissing, and then twisted and became a huge, sparkling crystal. He heard a loud gasp and looked up. His smile faded. A woman had appeared in the doorway and was staring at him, one arm curling around her daughter protectively. Merlin swallowed hard. Then he forced a smile and stood up, clicking his fingers. The crystal vanished, replaced by a single white rose. He held it out, an apology.
"Sorry," he said. "They wanted to see some magic."
She gaped at him, and then slowly took the rose. Her cheeks flushed slightly. Merlin smiled, shrugged and then turned and walked away, trying to keep his pace at a casual rate. The little boy clutched at his hand as he went.
"Show me more!" he begged.
"Later," Merlin said. "Later."
The boy's face fell, but he stood back to let Merlin pass. Merlin moved quickly out of the tiny street and into a larger one. The breif encounter with the children had made him feel strangely elated, as if all his troubles had been stripped away by their innocence. They hadn't seemed to have minded his magic, they had even found it entertaining. Smiling, Merlin reached the gates and a guard stepped into his path, picking at his spear in a bored fashion.
"Our Lord and King requests that anyone entering or leaving the kingdom of Camelot before or after hours should be questioned on the nature of his or her's journey and unless a valid reason is st..." The guard had looked up for the first time near the end of his speech and froze, gazing at Merlin in shock, his mouth hanging open. "I... wha... S-Sorccerer..."
"Actually, my name is Merlin," Merlin informed him. "I was going for a walk. If its some kind of huge problem-"
The guard stumbled back out of the way, waving him on. "N-no, just go! I'm so sorry, I didn't... excuse me!"
He turned and practically ran across the road. Merlin bit back a laugh and nodded, walking out through the gates. On second thoughts, being The Sorccerer did seem to have its perks. He didn't exactly want to strike fear into the heart of the everyday villager, but it seemed that he could get anywhere and do anything he wanted now. He moved across the drawbridge and stepped onto the rough path that ran alongside the forest. He began to walk along it, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. His thoughts turned once more to Uther. He wondered if the King would try to talk to him today, or even set the guards on him. How long would it be before the strained peace broke? He was almost certain that Arthur did not know what he was doing, or at least couldn't handle whatever he was planning. But then, how could he and Arthur ever work together if Merlin couldn't trust him? He wanted to - he truly did - but Arthur was sometimes so reckless and irresponsible, and Merlin was going to get the worst of the consequences of his mistakes. If only he could -
A flicker of movement between the trees. Merlin stopped, looking up. It had been such a fleeting glimpse that he could have imagined it. He frowned, his eyes racing over the shadows. Sunlight streamed between the trees, glittering gold flowing over the melody of greens and browns. Flys flitted lazily through the air and birds sang carelessly from their nests. Flowers nestled between the fallen leaves and in the bushes which rose up out of the ground. Merlin stood still, blinking. It must have been nothing. A trick of the light. So why wasn't he leaving?
Because, deep in his stomach, he could feel that sense unfurling once more and creeping up his spine. He shuddered. Suddenly the beautiful forest seemed too perfect and darkly ominous. Merlin swallowed hard. Then, preparing himself, he lifted his chin and stepped forwards into the trees. At once, all birdsong vanished and the sun seemed to shrink back behind the clouds. Merlin stopped, lifting his hand.
"Show yourself!" he shouted. "I know you're here, I can feel you!"
"You don't dissappoint, Emrys," a low voice said.
Merlin turned, flinching. A young man was standing between two large trees. He was tall but thin and lanky, and his hair hung around his face like dark curtains. His skin was pale, almost translucent, but his eyes were a vivid, glittering green. He stepped forwards. Merlin forced himself to keep his ground, his hands unconsciously balling into fists at his sides.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "How do you know that name?"
"You mean Emrys?" the young man cocked his head. "That's what they call you, isn't it?"
Merlin shook his head, shrugging the words off. "Who are you?" he repeated.
The man smiled. It was a blank, dead smile, as if the expression had been forgotten long ago by the body. "Brilliant as you are, you still don't use your power." He took another few paces forwards. "Don't you remember me?"
Merlin stared at him. "I've never met you before in my life."
"Sure about that?"
Before Merlin could reply, the man lifted a hand, flexing his fingers. A cold, red orb flickered into life between his fingertips, pulsating sharply. Merlin's eyes widened - this man could do magic?
"Maybe this will joy your memory," he snarled, the sudden venom in his voice alarming. His eyes shone golden. Then he thrust his hand forwards, and the orb flew into the air. Merlin was so shocked that he didn't even think about ducking; the orb hit him squarely in the chest. It lifted him off his feet and sent him flying backwards. He hit the hard wood of a tree and his head snapped backwards. Light exploded before his eyes. Then everything vanished.
Yeah, cliffhanger! I thought it was about time for some action. :D Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please REVIEW!!!!
SUPRNTRAL LVR.
