Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the song Love Like Winter
Finally getting this chapter up, I've been trying since before noon and now it's past 7! My internet went dead, but at least its going up now :D
As promised, I finished the whole story whilst on holiday, the remaining chapters (inc. epilouge) will be posted as I type them, it will be slow (I'm blaming coursework, new teachers and play rehearsals) but they are done, only need typing and editing (which will be mimimal since I'm sick of reading them). Incidently the word count for this and the next chapter are the highest i've ever done, (I'm judging by amount of pages for the other since its not typed yet, I happen to write 300 words approx. to an A4 page you know (I had to count!).
Yay, for season three of Merlin, coming soon!
So, anyway, hope you enjoy, ON WITH THE FIC.
Chapter 11
Merlin was the first to hop into action; he leapt out of Morgause's arms and stumbled to his feet in an array of long limbs. Then he merely dithered near the cave entrance, wary of joining Arthur since it would take him closer to Erec.
The next to regain their senses was Morgause, she also sprang to her feet, she stood by her cauldron and whilst turning to check on her potion she waved her arm at Merlin. Instantly shackles appeared and latched onto his ankles; he was trapped.
The sorceress inspected her brew, stirring it once then extinguishing the flames. She turned back towards the scene, Arthur sat slumped against the wall as before, his face was flushed with fever and his breath came in quick pants. Erec was next to him, sword drawn and held under the neck of the defenceless prince. Lastly, Merlin stood at the cave entrance, hand singed from testing the enchanted doorway and head bowed.
Morgause fixed her gaze on him, such power in that lithe body.
She had seen him both tensed in anger and pleading under her stare. She sees him humbled and helpless now and she remembers him helpless in a different fashion, writhing in snow beneath him and her atop him.
As far as you can like a hindrance and an adversity, she rather liked him. So far in fact as to think she would almost regret promising him to Erec, she didn't though, but only because she hadn't anything else to offer that the knight would want.
She waved her hand, forcing Merlin to sit down and then stand up again. Another hand movement and he was held in place, standing to attention. The witch turned around. She drew a goblet from her cloak, it was crystal and rimmed with gold.
When she tilted it to dip it into her cauldron and fill it with potion the occupants of the room could see a silver pentagon on its base. It was crafted with platinum and each point had a small ruby embedded in the metal. An emerald rested in the centre of the piece.
Morgause set it on the floor to cool, careful not to let any of the black liquid touch her fingers. She walked over to Merlin, purposefully stepping on Arthur's fingers, and stood directly in front of Merlin. She reached out and stroked the tips of her fingers down the side on his face then rested her palm on his cheek.
"I don't dislike you, Merlin, in fact, I'd keep you if I could. I'd have you right beside me, but I know it wouldn't work. You're loyal to him," she said, nodding at the unconscious prince "though I can't think why. Perhaps his looks?" She turned to study the potion. "Or maybe the dragon got to you," she continued dismissively whilst releasing the spell on Merlin, allowing him to move, he was still shackled after all.
"Purple, it's not ready yet." She concluded before she crashed against the far cave wall.
She lay slumped on the floor and blood stained a spot in her hair.
"Good."
Erec's head snapped round to face the direction of the whisper and his eyes widened in horror.
Merlin stood, legs still shackled, leaning against the cave wall. He was weak from the drugs which still coursed through his system but most importantly his arms, through trembling, were outstretched in Morgause's direction and his eyes were still glowing.
Presently, Merlin's strength failed.
Erec thought through his options. The best thing to do would be to bind Merlin's hands but Erec wasn't sure if he was still a danger. Maybe he could use magic before I had finished tying them or whilst I crossed the room. Is it possible to cast a spell without using your hands?
As a non-magic user he couldn't know for sure.
He'd heard incantations spoken before but neither of the pair had used them recently so there was little point gagging him.
The knight was out of his element.
-oOo-
Outside the cave it was late afternoon. There was rubble blocking the entrance to the cave. Dry autumn leaves were strewn over the forest floor. They lay in piles and sheets around, beneath, but not on top of the rubble.
There were no recent signs of a landslide and moss clung to the boulders, yet not one leaf was in sight.
Further on, three Camelot horses rested beneath a large tree, sheltered from the rain – just starting. It created dark spots on the dry leaves.
It also woke up the dark-haired seer who lay a short distance from the horses.
She gasped and sat up abruptly, left hand holding up one sword in defence and right at the hilt of a second. She blinked water out of her eyes and got to her feet to sit by the horses. Morgana looked over at the cave through the intensifying rain and smiled.
The rubble was as dry as bone.
-oOo-
Inside the cave approximately one hour had passed. Erec had settled on laying Morgause on her back and then getting something to eat. He sat with his back to the witch, the better to watch Merlin. He was less worried about losing his life than losing his prize.
Erec let his gaze travel down from the wizard's face, onto the pale neck, down to the silver of skin showing where Merlin had ripped his tunic and then further...
He licked his lips and it had nothing to do with the plate in his lap.
-oOo-
Merlin ignored Erec's staring. He was now faking sleep, he was happy the man hadn't tried to join him, he had a feeling it was something to do with his magic.
Merlin had made Arthur as comfortable as he could, laying him down, covering him with the blanket he had been dragged on, even asking Erec for water and ripping his tunic so he could mop the blond man's brow. He had done all he could be it wasn't enough and he knew it.
The prince had been asleep since Morgause had filled her goblet and though Merlin was worried for his prince he couldn't help but hope that he stayed that way.
The day Arthur discovered his manservant had magic was not one said manservant looked forward to.
Merlin 'awoke' shortly and absentmindedly stroked Arthur's hair. He could feel the drugs wearing off and knew he'd have access to his full power again soon. He could get them out of here.
He would
Merlin looked down at his hand in the prince's unkempt and rather greasy hair. I promise.
-oOo-
Erec stood up abruptly and marched over to Arthur, grasping him under the armpits.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking your little boyfriend here, seems to me that if you could do anything you would have done it already."
"No..."
Erec dropped Arthur and knelt in front of Merlin. "I don't care how it happens, Merlin, I will have you."
Merlin raised his arm to hit the older man away but his hand was caught; Erec laced their fingers together. Erec kissed him quickly, when he tried to do so again Merlin's other hand came up and slapped him. The knight only chuckled, rubbing Merlin's thigh before getting up and removing Arthur from the room.
As he strode past where Morgause lay Merlin cursed his suppressed magic whilst watching Arthur go. No one noticed a small pale hand clench weakly into a loose fist as intense eyes, outlined in black, blinked open.
-oOo-
Merlin played. There wasn't really another word for it, though he didn't do it for amusement.
He conjured flames, first in orange, but then in red, purple and green, he spoke incantation after incantation, forming fiery flowers, snakes and even a dragon. The likes of which almost got him killed when some woman saw it in the woods above the tree line.
Occasionally his magic faltered and the flames spluttered out.
These times Merlin would curse, Erec would smile and Morgause would covertly test another limb. Arthur just slept.
-oOo-
Outside, the rain had stopped and Morgana got to work using the information her dreams had given her. She was searching for a keystone, not only did it allow access to the cave but destroy it and destroy the cave's defences.
This was because it was a spell which needed a constant stream of magic to maintain it; therefore it would fail Morgause at her most vulnerable, when asleep with Merlin. She locked the spell and some of her power into the keystone, using it as a battery of sorts. The spell Morgause used was similar to one that's been written and spoken of for centuries, surviving the ravages of time.
A witch's curse. Sleeping Beauty's castle was kept protected and isolated with brambles that should have failed once the casting witch died, instead it was near impenetrable, the spell contained within the princess herself, its longevity twisted like a weed around her fate.
Morgana didn't know any of this, what she knew is that when dream Morgana had destroyed dream stone there were very real fireworks.
Oh, and the cave was open.
-oOo-
Inside, two things had happened at the same time. Erec found himself tied up and blindfolded; the restraints had come from Merlin who let out a sound, half scream of frustration, half of pain.
For when Merlin had loosed his magic on Erec at the same time Morgause had chosen to roll over and attack Merlin. She used the same Merlin had on her and with around the same force, she was sure she was concussed and didn't want to strain herself.
Since it was aimed from below the force of the attack blasted Merlin back and up. It was enough that one of the shackles was actually ripped from where it was bolted into the rock, the other however, held, his ankle went instead. Then came the scream, as pain lit every nerve ending when he crumpled back to the floor. Even if he defeated Morgause how could he carry Arthur or run or ride for assistance? He needed help.
Merlin felt even worse when he realised he didn't even know how to get out of the cave.
-oOo-
Erec was sawing through the ropes around his wrists with his sword. Morgause was going to take it but saw that he was using it and allowed Merlin time for his internal monologue. She would craft her own.
Morgause called the metal to her and it streamed into the cave from all around, she gathered it into a ball which hovered between her hands. She swung it wildly, curving to the left, screaming a spell. She let her body follow the ball of metal chips, chunks and dust. She seemed to dance with death, the two watched and she twisted and undulated, the ball turning to a curved stream surrounding her and going smooth and shiny. Molten.
Then it glowed red, she began to gather it again, it was orange and she held a perfect sphere before her. It had glowed yellow; the hot metal elongated then sparks flew in a white explosion like burning magnesium. When the smoke cleared and their eyes adjusted Erec and Merlin saw a warrior.
Morgause stood, dirtied cloak discarded, eyeliner smudged and blood-stained hair, wearing a charred dress, sky blue with silver trim, chainmail and holding an ornate sword which still glowed with the evidence of its creation. The hilt was magically cooled but the white hot tip pointed at Merlin. He gulped.
"Bring it, lover boy."
O.o Epic swordfight to come (well, something like that...) NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY! There's an M rated one shot up, relating to this story called 'Mine', my first ever so please read, feedback would be immensely appriciated.
Please REVIEW, imagine me tirelessly sweating over my notebook under a hot equatorial sun! I deserve one (I think so anyway).
Remember, vote in the Merlin pairing poll, though it'll likely be up forever.