It's been a while (I'm really sorry about that) so a short summary is in order:
Day 1: Kilgharrah warns Merlin and tells him he's going to die. Arthur and the rest of the Round Table find out Merlin's a dragonlord.
Day 2: Letters have arrived and Leon, Gwaine and Merlin depart towards Nortcliff while Percival rides to Caerleon.
Day 3: On the road with a late night arrival in Nortcliff.
Day 4: The trio search Nortcliff for Tristan and find him dying.
Day 5: Merlin magically transports them back to Camelot, Bayard is lurking at the border, Percival arrives at Caerleon, Morgana is in way over her head and yes, then there is the REVEAL.
Day 6: Hréonhes attacks at midnight, the knights of Camelot flee Caerleon with Queen Annis, Merlin tries to find a solution and his temper isn't improving.
And day 7: Starting right now... with a warning. I'm tying up some loose ends in this chapter so it may and probably will be confusing. Oops.
Chapter 16: The Messengers Return
"Elyan!" Percival called out as he caught up with his fellow knight at the head of the column, "We need to rest. The boy can barely keep his head up." Elyan looked back and sighed.
"We'll rest at the border." Elyan said and urged his horse to go faster. An half hour later they came upon a small stream. Hurriedly the knights led their horses and the spares to the cool water. It was fortunate they had the presence of mind to empty the royal stables in Caerleon. It had allowed them to ride throughout the night and most of the following day without a break. But even the most hardiest of riders need a rest.
Elyan cracked his neck and stretched his legs, "Eat and drink but hurry, I want to leave within three hours. Maybe we'll reach Camelot before nightfall." The sun was slowly rising above the slopes trying hard to pierce the watery clouds.
"You'll think we get there in time?" Sir Brickem asked and took in their surroundings. It was a subdued party that travelled on these deserted roads. He hadn't spoken much with the other knights of Camelot so Brickem didn't know anyone besides Elyan and Percival. Linwood thankfully didn't ride next to him, if he wanted someone to disappear the lord would have been on top of his list…
"I can only hope, but yes, I think we will." Elyan answered truthfully and followed Sir Brickem's gaze. The men looked tired, hell they were tired and yes, Linwood. How that worm managed to remain was unfathomable. Even so, why were they immune to whatever was going on in Caerleon? Why them?
"Sir Brickem," Elyan watched as the young prince walked towards them, "Can I go fetch firewood with Sir Percival?"
"And leave your aunt alone? She'll need someone to guard her." The knight answered and motioned Lothian back to Annis. The boy nodded tiredly and yawned, "Okay."
"The prince's fascinated by your friend." Sir Brickem observed as the prince walked back towards the queen and sat down next to her. He could see her smile despite the distance as she wrapped the prince in a blanket. The boy was asleep before he could protest.
"He's at an age where he's fascinated with everything." Elyan agreed and motioned his friend to follow him, "We better get something to eat as well."
"You think we get to talk to the king himself? The castle seems well guarded, don't know if we can sneak in."
"Tom, we're here as messengers not as fishermen. We don't need to sneak in." Gerard rolled his eyes and walked up to one of the guards leading his horse behind him, "Excuse me dear fellow, do you think we can enter? We've a rather urgent message for your king in there."
The guard frowned and looked across his shoulder for help. His colleague shrugged, "And you are?"
"Oh, we're nobody important, just Tom and Gerard, but we need to speak to the king."
"I suppose you can go in but you best hurry. He holds his weekly audience today until midday. Ask any servant for directions at the stairs."
"Helpful little fellow, wasn't he?" Tome commented as they left their borrowed horses in their rightful place and scurried up the stairs, "I think if we asked him for direction to the treasury he would have drawn us a map."
"What did your scouts say?" Sir Brickem asked curiously when Elyan sunk down next to him. He had just woken up after a quick nap and the first thing he had seen was Elyan conversing seriously in hushed tones with two of his red cloaked knights.
"They passed three villages." Elyan answered and tiredly rubbed his eyes, "All empty."
"No bodies?"
"Nothing."
"Just like in the castle." Brickem muttered.
"It's coming closer." Percival suddenly said and sat down across of them, handing them two bowls of soup. The three men looked over their shoulder in the direction of Caerleon. Black smoke whirled up in thick pillars from where the castle was. It built up just like storm clouds and reached out across the land slowly but undeniably following them.
"I noticed." Elyan said as he accepted a spoon and started eating.
"It's not the wind." Percival remarked uneasy.
"I know." Elyan concurred and kept his gaze fixed on the horizon. A sudden scream made the three men jump.
"Sir Brickem, there's something wrong!" Lothian yelled and ran towards the knight. Brickem was already on his feet discarding the soup without care and ran. Elyan and Percival were right behind them.
The Queen was lying on the ground twitching and turning in agony, grabbing leaves and dirt in an attempt to claw away the pain. Linwood franticly tried to keep her still.
"What did you do!" Brickem yelled angry at the shocked lord as he kneeled down beside his sovereign.
"Nothing! We were talking and then she fell."
"What's wrong sir? Why is she screaming?" The prince asked unsure and grasped his aunt's hand. Suddenly Annis relaxed and opened her eyes.
"Your Highness?" Elyan tried carefully because he wasn't sure she could hear or see them.
"I'm not well. My hand." She murmured weakly with pale lips and closed her eyes in fatigue, "Can you see?"
Elyan and Percival exchanged worried glances while Brickem immediately reached for Annis' right hand. There was nothing there. He sighed relieved.
"It's not supposed to be black, is it?" The prince asked with a frail voice and turned Annis' left hand upwards so the older men could see. A dark black spot was etched in the palm of her hand. Black lines tentatively reached out like the veins of fallen leaves. "She's sick, right?"
"We leave now." Elyan decided as he got up again and his voice resounded across the small clearing, "Dowse the fires, get on your horses. Our next stop is home."
You can say a lot of things about Gaius but he definitely knows his potions, Merlin thought as he blearily blinked his eyes open. He quickly turned around as the light was stinging his eyes even if the rain made it a glum day.
"Gaius, I think you overdid the valerian." Merlin said accusingly as he stumbled down the steps putting on a fresh shirt.
"Mm," The physician acknowledged him and poured some liquid into another bottle before shaking it. "Did you not sleep for twelve hours straight?"
"I did what?" Merlin exclaimed in horror, "Oh no, Arthur's going to kill me."
"Don't exaggerate, Merlin. If he doesn't kill you for being a sorcerer I think you're save for forgetting breakfast." Gaius commented drily and handed him a vial. Merlin spontaneously turned up his nose at the oddly coloured liquid, "For the woozy feeling. And the dose of valerian was perfect. Now be gone and stay out of trouble!" Gaius yelled as Merlin dashed out of the room.
When Merlin entered the vaults he came upon a strange sight that instantly brought a smile upon his face. Gwaine and Galahad were busy rummaging through the books, actually Galahad was reading and taking notes while Gwaine was rearranging the vaults crystals according to their various sizes.
"Ah, Merlin up already." Gwaine greeted him a bit surprised, "Gaius told us not to expect you before noon."
"It's noon."
"And that's how time's flies. Didn't you tell me something about time earlier, something about bending and twisting and hitting a wall?" Gwaine turned around and asked Galahad.
"I did and wasted half an hour of my life trying to explain it to you." The druid answered without looking up.
"I didn't expect company." Merlin quickly interrupted the friendly argument that was about to start when he saw Gwaine open his mouth.
"I was bored, it's raining so a bit of comfortable reading is just what I needed." Galahad explained and waved at the books in front of him. Merlin reckoned he looked pretty smug as the druid dipped his quill in the ink before annotating the page.
"Druids have this superstition that when it rains on the third day before the full moon they are more likely to get sick than on the other 'normal' days when it rains. He's particularly frail, see those arms? So-"
"We do not!" Galahad protested and rolled his eyes. Gwaine grinned and went on as if he wasn't interrupted, "So being a chivalrous knight of Camelot I offered him a dry spot."
"Oh, I'll get lunch then." Merlin offered happily. Apparently Gwaine didn't need an apology for yesterday's outburst nor did the knight needed to clarify why Galahad was here. Merlin knew.
Gwaine actually listens sometimes.
"So you're saying Sir Leon, Sir Gwaine and Merlin disappeared in Nortcliff and that's why you're here?"
Tom nodded enthusiastically but remained silent. Even Gerard failed to comment, otherwise he would have said something about repeating the obvious. But being in the presence of the one and only king of Camelot left even them rather speechless. He looked so regal and stern. His mail shined as if it were made of liquid silver, the golden dragon stitched on his brilliant red cloak looked ready to spit fire at them.
Arthur folded his hands together and brought them in front of the lower half of his face, just to hide his grin. It wouldn't come across very kingly if he burst into laughter because of his 'missing' knights. Oh, if only Merlin were he. He would snicker for sure, he-
He quickly regained his bearing when he painfully remembered why exactly Merlin wasn't beside his side. The two men still looked a bit awed by his presence as they awaited his response. Better put them out of their misery...
"I thank you for bringing this message to me. I imagine you're tired from your long ride." Arthur spoke solemnly feeling genuinely grateful. He was about to dismiss them when the smaller one of the two cleared his throat.
"Your Highness," Gerard said, "maybe you're already aware of it, but Bayard has posted a couple of dozens of his soldiers right next to the border. More were arriving when we sneaked past them."
"How many exactly?" Arthur asked sharply. Great, just what we need. Bayard's proven to be more boldly than I thought.
"Fifty, sixty is my guess."
Arthur was silent for a moment while Gerard and Tom patiently waited.
"Bayard is your king, why tell me this?"
"The winds are changing, Sire."
Arthur waited for the rest of the explanation, but the men obviously thought this was sufficient. He sighed and motioned a servant forward to take them to the guest quarters.
"This is sort of surreal, me sitting in the vaults eating lunch with two knights of Camelot on top of books filled with magic." Merlin said after he swallowed a mouthful of stew and glanced at the book next to his plate.
"You're forgetting about the druid part and the fact that Gwaine's reading." Galahad grinned in agreement.
"Oi!" Gwaine protested and took a bite from an apple, "But you're right, it's rather weird. I mean you hovered my plate to me."
"Did you read this about magical theory?" Galahad asked holding up a book.
"No, it didn't sound important."
"Merlin, it's about the fundaments of Magic itself." The druid breathed offended, "There's a reason why the both of us could feel Hréonhes' power. I think you should focus on that. I know why I felt him, but what's his connection with you?"
"I'm a dragonlord?" Merlin suggested.
"Or because you're Emrys." Galahad argued, "Have you never questioned why you could wield magic as easy as taking a breath of air while others have to study months to master a new spell? Why you react instinctively in the face of danger even if you're conscious mind doesn't know what it's doing? Why you-"
"Okay, okay I get it. Fundaments are important. Hand me that book then, will you?" Merlin caved and accepted the heavy tome, "How do you know about this? Is it part of your training?"
"All druids understand the nature of Magic. It flows and creates or stomps and destroys. It's powerful and it's doesn't pick sides."
"Which explains all the resurrected evil sorcerers." Merlin mumbled failing to notice Galahad evaded his question.
"If you knew anything about it, you know it's not possible. The dead can't come back to life. Not in the same way they lived."
"Hréonhes did. At least I think he did." Merlin sighed trying to find words to explain this feeling, "I don't know why I know that, but I think I do know." Gwaine sniggered at this poor attempt, but Galahad nodded in agreement. "And that's why you're reading that. Find the loophole, Merlin, because Camelot can't withstand an attack from this evil."
"Thanks for the confidence." The warlock mumbled and carefully examined a few pages.
"His citadel almost endured the onslaught of hundred dragons." Galahad countered and turned the page of his own book, "My father told me before I came here that you needed to read up on the essence of things. I never understood why he said that until just now."
"You're father's probably a blast at parties." Gwaine commented amused and inspected another shelf.
Galahad didn't answer that but smiled knowingly as he absentmindedly bit on his quill. Merlin shuddered in an attempt to cast away his sudden vision of partying druids among the dolmen under the moonlight.
"I've said it already probably but seriously what is this? Did Uther have some sort of magical fetish? Why would he ever keep this around?" Gwaine suddenly exclaimed as he held up a twisted bronze pin. It just screamed magical artefact as it faintly glowed golden in the torchlight.
"No idea." Merlin answered at the same time Galahad said, "To gloat."
"Uh, what?"
"He waged a war against magic, not just sorcerers."
"I'm not following." Merlin said.
"He didn't kill Kilgharrah but locked him up. The last dragon locked up by a mortal king."
"Are you saying these objects are like prisoners?" Merlin asked incredulously trying to clarify Galahad's statement. The druid ran his hand through his hair before answering.
"Essentially yes, but Merlin remember Uther feared magic more than anything else. However if he appeared in control, he sends out the image he can control his enemies no matter how enduring they are. Destroying doesn't equal control."
"Uther was messed up." Gwaine commented a bit awed as he picked up another artefact.
"Fear distorts one's judgment." Galahad concluded wisely. Merlin sighed. Those two and they aren't even drunk.
Gwen paused outside the door. She should talk to Arthur again, but he was completely obnoxiously stubborn about this whole mess. Still, the audience went well today. Thankfully those masons finally made peace.
She entered their chamber and gently closed the door leaning against it. Arthur was standing across the room holding some papers and a quill, ink spots adorning his hands. His mail was hanging on top of his chair and his hair was still messy from an impromptu training session an half hour ago.
Suddenly he stopped writing and turned around.
"Hi." He smiled and Gwen smiled back.
"Hi, I didn't see you this morning." She answered and slowly walked towards he husband.
"It's been hectic. I had the weirdest audience just now."
"I heard about it from Lauren. She said you sent her down the vaults to collect Gwaine but to ignore everything else. Naturally she was curious."
"And?"
"She did what you asked, but told me that keeping a secret in this castle is rather difficult."
"Oh, I don't know. Merlin managed."
"You know you have to talk to him sooner or later, right?" Gwen gently caressed his jawline.
"Do I have to?" Arthur almost whined, "It's much more quiet now."
"Arthur." Gwen chastised sternly but smiled at her husband's behaviour. Good, she thought, he's already starting to joke about it. "I'll see about some lunch. You can listen to some of the stories he told me yesterday. I bet they'll change your mind."
A bit later they were sitting across from each other eating contently. Arthur leaned back feeling relaxed for the first time in days as he watched her talking animatedly. Her eyes sparked when she got passionate about something. I really should be listening as well instead of staring only.
"... but he had to hide from your father of course. Now fearing you would do something drastic like take over your father's kingdom by force Merlin thought a disguise would work best. He really has some imagination, doesn't he? I mean, I can't believe none of us realised it at the time. You told me yourself that the old sorcerer planted the poultice under your pillow and then insulted everyone when he was arrested. Honestly, only Merlin- Arthur? Arthur! Where are you going?"
"Any idea when Gwaine will be back?" Galahad asked lighting up another candle.
"Not a clue." Merlin answered without taking his eyes off the scribbles in front of him. "And can you hand me that penknife? My quill's not cooperating anymore. No, don't throw it." He yelled indignantly hiding behind his book as the knife clattered on the table in front of him.
"Oops."
"Geez, you're becoming as bad as Gwaine." Merlin complained. Suddenly he startled when the door behind him slammed open. The sound reverberated throughout the vaults as Arthur stormed in. The king strode to where he was sitting and before the warlock could utter a sound of protest Arthur grabbed him by his jacket and pinned him forcefully against the wall. The bookcase there cracked and slowly collapsed on its side sprawling sheets of paper all over the floor.
"Arthur! What are you-" The druid jumped up in shock still processing what happened in just a few seconds.
"Leave us, Galahad." Arthur ordered, his voice laced with anger.
"Now!" He shouted over his shoulder when the knight hesitated at the door. Galahad left with a sigh but Arthur knew better than to assume the druid went far. He turned back and glared at his dark haired servant before him.
"Dragoon?" He asked slowly savouring each vowel.
Merlin's eyes widened and he swallowed guiltily. He looked to his right, away from Arthur's unforgiving gaze.
"Yes." He says it so softly Arthur couldn't hear him clearly, but he sure could read Merlin's lips as they formed that one word he dreaded since he rushed out of his room. It can't be...
Arthur suddenly let him go and turned around rubbing his eyes. Merlin struggled to stay upright and leaned against the wall debating what to do next. He straightened his jacket ignoring the pain in his back and warily looked at his friend as he started pacing in front of the table.
"You should have told me!" Arthur suddenly yelled grabbing one of the crystals Gwaine left and threw it at Merlin. As always the aim was off, but still Merlin cringed when it inescapably shattered.
"You said it didn't matter." Merlin defended himself, remembering he had tried to explain, to tell what he had done. He had planned to come clean from the very second he decided Arthur needed to know.
"Of course it matters!"
"Well, don't confuse me then! You want me to shut up, you want me to talk. You want me to go and you want me to stay and save all of Camelot and your sorry ass once more. Make up your mind, Arthur and don't keep me hanging. So yes, I am Dragoon. And yes I caused your father's death, but it didn't come to pass with only my involvement. Morgana made a nice little trinket which reversed all the good I was doing. Agravaine planted it on your father. Hell, even you're partly to blame for being such a tempting target for assassins. The man was after you after all, Uther just got in the way." Merlin draw a deep breath when he finished his rant.
Arthur just stared at him, shocked into silence by these words. And then Merlin's mind caught up with what he had said. He cursed silently. He shouldn't have said that. He should not have said that. It was cruel even by the lowest of standards.
"I'm sorry Arthur, I shouldn't have said-" Merlin rattled off, cautiously stepping forward to offer some comfort how ever late it may be.
"Don't." Arthur forcefully held up his hand and Merlin froze, "Just don't."
It was silent for a few uncomfortable seconds before Arthur looked at him again. There was so much disappointment in his eyes Merlin wished Arthur would yell at him again, "Try to be discreet. I'm not going to change any laws in the middle of a crisis. I just wish things were simple again." The king sighed tiredly.
"Things were never simple. At least not for me, but don't worry about your laws." Merlin said with resolve, "Once it's over I won't be here long enough for them to matter."
"You're leaving?" Arthur asked surprised. He hadn't expected that.
"Didn't you want that?" Merlin retorted, "After what you found out?"
"I thought..." The king mused, "Never mind. I'll send Galahad back in. Two men from Nortcliff, Tom and Gerard, are here by the way. You gave them quite a scare disappearing like that. You should have told them you were leaving. Going without saying goodbye...You shouldn't do that."
At with that Arthur exited the same way he came in making the vaults echo the sound of slamming doors once more. He left without a backwards glance, vaguely wondering how it happened that he came down here demanding an answer and ended up having a total different conversation.
Actually Merlin made a point, maybe it's time to reconsider past decisions, Arthur thought shaking his head in deep contemplation. He was so wrapped up in his own musings he didn't spot Guinevere across the hallway as he walked back up.
"You're all right?" Gwen asked when she entered the vaults. She had let Arthur pass because she knew he needed to clear his head before they talked. Otherwise it was like talking to a stone wall: utterly futile and unwilling to budge. Unfortunately Merlin's posture wasn't very promising too.
Her friend was already back in a chair, staring a hole in the page of some ancient book. He looked better than yesterday, psychically that is, because she could hear him tapping his feet from her spot in the doorway.
"Oh, Gwen, didn't see you there." Merlin evaded the question, "Galahad, this stuff is it fact or merely conjecture?" Merlin pointed at the dusty old book. In truth he wasn't reading and he suspected Galahad knew that. For the last few minutes his eyes gazed upon the same page, but he wasn't really looking at it.
Instead his mind went over all Arthur had said and what he had implied. It was obvious Arthur was already thinking about what would happen after they defeated Hréonhes, after Camelot was saved once more. For some reason the king hadn't outwardly questioned that. This strange faith was in sharp contrast with his own thoughts. Until Arthur mentioned the laws he himself hadn't thought about them, not in the way he should have. Changing the laws? Was it possible? If he answered it honestly the answer would have been affirmative. Arthur would eventually allow magic to return once more. Merlin knew or hoped it was inevitable since the day Arthur had sworn to help the Druids. Of course Kilgharrah had said it again and again. But somehow this little thing had slipped his mind.
Merlin swallowed hard and closed his eyes. When did I stop planning for a future? Oh yeah, Kilgharrah's stupid announcement.
"It was written ages ago. What do you think?" Galahad answered after a pause and the sound of his voice immediately brought Merlin back to this world. What had I asked again?
"That's an evasive answer." Merlin mumbled annoyed.
"And you're ignoring Gwen." Galahad countered and gallantly pulled out a chair for her, "You must forgive him, he's skulking."
"I'm not," Merlin started but both Galahad and Gwen shot him a knowing look, "All right, I'm skulking. But why did you tell Arthur that story?" He asked miffed because Gwen should have known better. In fairness that disastrous picnic actually shed a favourable light upon himself with the all rescuing the damsel in distress part, but of course Arthur chose not to be thick anymore and connected the dots.
"I admit it wasn't the best of stories, but the sooner the both of you get passed these secrets, the sooner everything will return to normal."
"You can't fix everything, Gwen."
"I hate to see you two at odds with each other, Merlin. It's unnatural and I don't like it."
"Nobody likes it." Galahad chipped in.
"And if I can't find a way to stop Hréonhes we won't have a change to be normal. So let me focus on that, okay?" Merlin tapped the book and started reading again translating the ancient scribbles as he read them, completely missing the worried glances Galahad and Gwen shared.
To my opinion the matter of origin is overshadowed by the question of what they are and not where they are from. I fear that this question would forever be left unanswered as the answers are protected by the veils of Avalon itself. I pray that when I'm granted save passage there at the end of my life my eyes truly see. But I'm not despairing nor spiteful because what magic is and what magic does is everywhere around us. Magic at its very base is balanced or neutral. It doesn't judge or cares –which is what only the more spiteful practitioners believe. But they have lost faith. If magic did choose, or it had purpose in itself then where would it leave us? Dogmas and doctrines are a mortal creation. Magic is not. It rises above us all and grant us therefore the most beautiful gift, the gift of free will. So yes it does not love, but it also doesn't hate. It simply is and it's up to every soul to decide how to wield it.
And how is this going to help?
Bayard savoured his deep red wine as he reread the letter once more. Surely this was good news?
Sir Leon did leave Camelot six days ago with another knight and Pendragon's manservant, but they returned on the morning of the fourth day. I have not acquired any information about their destination, but I'm certain the distance between Camelot and Nortcliff is too far to travel in the aforementioned period of time.
I did witness something that might favour your plans: a falling out within the Pendragon's privy council. A metaphorical crack in the Round Table that hasn't been bridged at the time of writing. I had to guard the hallway and heard angered shouts. Afterwards Arthur Pendragon started to prepare the city for siege. The lower parts of the castle have been made use of as well, its sudden attraction is not yet clear.
Whatever happened affected the very centre of the court. Pendragon appears out of sort. Expect another missive soon.
Bayard grinned. Pendragon appears out of sort. Was there ever a more beautiful sentence? The bloody Round Table finally cracked? It's about time with those commoners defiling the very sanctity of ruling.
But the rest of the letter was cause for careful consideration. Camelot's preparing for a siege? Against whose army? Surely Annis wouldn't change her mind, but maybe her mind was in fact as fickle as the rest of her gender. And Odin doesn't have the guts to face Pendragon himself. He couldn't understand that weakling. Arthur killed his son for crying out loud. And Odin just hires assassin after assassin. Annis for all her flaws at least had the decency to declare war.
Mmm Nortcliff, Bayard pondered. He hadn't received a second letter from that bumbling fool. In fact he hasn't received any news from that nuisance of a town. His Caerleon spy was silent as well. All things considered it was very tempting to assemble is own army and meddle in perfect Camelot, very tempting indeed...
Tom and Gerard were admiring their room in disbelief. The servant had to have led them to the wrong one. Why would a king bother with them or was he really that grateful? So wrapped up in their surroundings they missed the faint chuckle at the door.
"I can't believe you guys are really here." Gwaine said as he leaned against the door holding a bottle of liquor and three glasses. The two men turned around in utter shock gaping like fish.
"You're here?" Tom whispered.
"What happened?" Gerard asked, "How did you get back so fast? Did the witch do something?"
"Can't tell you that, Round Table secrets. But we're all here, Leon and Merlin as well." Gwaine smirked and handed them each a glass as he sat down across them, "Duncan's doing all right?"
" 'S keeping Nortcliff save." Gerard assured him.
"Camelot seems fun." Tom commented drily and downed the contents of his glass in one gulp.
"You have no idea. After all this time they're still surprises left inside these walls." Gwaine grinned mimicking the tall man. He poured another round. "Are you staying here?"
"Couldn't help but notice the city's preparing for a siege, so 'course we're staying." Tom said and shared a look with Gerard Gwaine couldn't quite place. The other man smirked back knowingly.
"So can we guess who of your friends used magic?" Gerard suddenly asked. Gwaine almost dropped his glass, but that would be a waste...
"My money's on Merlin." Tom smirked and took the bottle out of Gwaine's dumbfounded hands, "Can't let you spill that."
"Tom," Gerard whined, "I wanted to bet on Merlin."
Time passes while Merlin reads on. He doesn't notice Gwen leaving, or that Gwaine came back with some dinner he pointedly ignored nor that the knight left again after a while. He needs every ounce of focus to keep reading.
"Merlin?" Galahad tries again, but the warlock was oblivious. Time for drastic measures.
Trust is one of the intrinsic areas in which magic is visible. This characteristic on its own is again neutral, such as all the other fundaments but requires a force of strength to uphold. It...
"Merlin!" The young knight snatches the book out of the warlock's hands.
"What?"
"I was telling you I'm leaving. Arthur needs an update before nightfall which is now in case you were wondering."
"Mm." Merlin commented and snatches back the book.
"Are you going to stay here?"
"I already spent two days buried between these books and haven't even made a dent in the pile. What do you think I'll be doing?"
"I'll send Gwen back in here if you don't get some rest." Galahad threatened.
"I'll barricade the door if you guys don't stop ganging up on me. I'm fine, I'll rest. Now let me read this very interesting book so I can concoct another foolproof plan to save everyone from complete and utter destruction again." The warlock snapped.
"At least eat something."
When Galahad left Merlin rubbed his strained eyes. Who am I fooling? I hope power is enough to halt Hréonhes because knowledge isn't working. I didn't even know there were magical oaths at the base of every treaty made in the past century until that masons' debacle occurred. And now I found out there's a whole book, scratch that, two books about magical binding oaths in here. There are things out there I don't even know they existed and I've no time to catch up.
Because Hréones was a ripple in a lake, one that would never weaken, never alter its course and never ever stop. He was forged by the Old Religion and it apparently was up to the Old Religion to reinstate the balance. But how do I accomplish that?
"Let us pass!" Someone yelled. The guards barely jumped out of the way when a barrage of horses stormed into the torch lit courtyard.
"What's the meaning of this?" Leon shouted as he ran down the stairs. Suddenly he stopped, "Elyan? Percival? But how-"
"Leon," Elyan said out of breath as he descended from his horse, "Get Gaius here, get the King. Caerleon's lost I had no choice." The older knight steadied his friend when he swayed with fatigue. Leon looked upon the tired knights until he spotted Percival cradling a young boy in his arms. An then an unfamiliar face caught his attention. The man was carrying a unconscious woman. But that's...
"That's Queen Annis." Leon whispered in shock.
"Gaius, Leon" Elyan urged the knight and tugged Leon's shirt motioning to follow him. "We have a story to tell."
If a sorcerer steps out of bounds Magic will right it with the power available. Again this brings up the question of balance which has nothing to do with magical power alone. The intent of a spell will invert back only if that intention is still adequately present. For the laymen among us, magical power is nothing without a valid intention behind it.
"Round Table meeting, fifteen minutes. Elyan and Percival are back." Galahad announced just peaking his head around the corner.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Fifteen minutes later Merlin made his way to the Round Table. He turned around the last corner and stopped just in time almost running into Arthur. The king was as surprised as him, grumbled something and forcefully strode towards his chair. Merlin dallied a bit in the doorway until it became ridiculous so he sat down. The two of them shared an awkward silence for several long minutes both pair of eyes thoroughly fixed at the door in front of them when finally Leon and Galahad entered, closely followed by Gwen and her brother. Percival was next talking animatedly with Gwaine who closed the door behind him.
"Where's Gaius?" Arthur frowned.
"With Queen Annis, he'll come later." Percival clarified.
"Annis is here?" Merlin asked surprised.
"We had to flee Caerleon two nights ago." Elyan answered now.
"Two nights ago?"
"Merlin, is everything going to be a question today?" Arthur remarked annoyed, the conversation was already turning irksome.
"Doesn't that …?"
"See what I mean? But we're running ahead of ourselves. Elyan, Percival I'm glad you're here and save. Now for a fast update I propose we play a game. It's called 'guess who's been lying for years and made his king look like a fool'."
"Arthur." Gwen admonished harshly while Merlin just buried his head in his hands in helpless frustration.
"Guinevere." Arthur countered thinly.
"You're really not making this any easier." She continued.
"Give me one reason why I should."
"Morgana summoned an evil dead guy with wicked powers to kill you and Merlin is the only one who can save your ass because he has wicked powers himself." Gwaine supplied helpfully.
"And I thought we had a story to tell." Elyan said baffled after a long pause in which he exchanged glances with Percival. He was about to ask what exactly had happened in their absence when Gaius entered the room.
"She's sleeping peacefully now. But I'm quite in over my head I'm afraid. There's powerful magic involved."
"When isn't there?" Arthur sighed tiredly and turned to face Merlin, "Well?"
"Well what?" An irate Merlin retorted and gestured widely, "I have no idea what's going on, but as you so brutally interrupted me earlier it can't be a coincidence that they had to flee Caerleon on the same night the 'evil bad guy' as Gwaine calls him attacked your mind."
"Can someone please just tell us what happened?" Elyan almost cried.
"Merlin's Emrys." Leon answered taking pity on their ignorance, "He told us two days ago. The night you fled Arthur was attacked in his mind by someone powerful and Merlin pushed him out. Since then we've been preparing the city for siege because whatever Morgana's planning involves the citadel of Dalbeth, which has something to do with dragons. Tristan, before he died, warned us of that place and told us to warn Emrys."
"Okayyy, that's a lot to take in." Elyan gaped at Merlin recounting the story Percival had told him about the last Round Table meeting, "You're Emrys?"
"The one and only." Merlin grimaced and waved tiredly.
"Now you're more or less filled in, what happened in Caerleon? Was the city attacked?" Arthur questioned Elyan and Percival.
"Yes and no." Elyan answered, "Everyone disappeared, Arthur. The entire castle was emptied and the villages on our way here were deserted as well. Only four others beside the knights were left: the Queen, the young Prince, Sir Brickem and Lord Linwood. We rode as fast as possible but whatever it is, it's following us here."
"Black smoke's gathering like storm clouds." Percival said suddenly. Merlin instantly sat up straight.
"Hréonhes." He whispered and was met with puzzled faces, "His name means 'storm'. He's the one Morgana called back from the dead and he's not to be taken lightly." He explained echoing the dragon's words.
"She summoned someone who died?" Leon repeated, "Isn't that impossible?"
"She did it before." Merlin mumbled.
"When?" Arthur asked intently.
"Doesn't matter now, all that matters-" Merlin quickly evaded.
"No." Arthur slammed his hand on the table and leaned back, facing his manservant, "No more secrets, Merlin. When?"
"Lancelot."
"What!" Arthur gripped the table fast while Gwen gasped.
"It wasn't his fault." Merlin gestured widely, "He was a shade, a mere shell controlled by Morgana."
"And you kept that from me?" The king asked not believing what Merlin just revealed. How many more secrets had he kept?
"What was I supposed to do? It's not as if you would have believed me then. I told you Agravaine wasn't to be trusted."
"It's-"
"Not relevant at the moment." Gwen interrupted in mild exasperation before the two started to shout again, "Merlin can you tell us anything more about Hréonhes? What can we expect?"
"Raising the dead comes with a prize, but I - and Galahad tends to agree with me - believe Hréonhes came back for real. Without the usual weak spots."
"What weak spots?" Leon asked because Arthur was unusually silent while he listened intently staring wide-eyed at some spot on the door.
"The immortal army Morgause summoned. They were destroyed by emptying the Cup of Life."
"Cup of Death does it more justice." Gwaine muttered.
"And the skeleton army when Cendred attacked? I destroyed what summoned it. It was a wooden staff."
"He could have a weak spot, just one you don't know yet. From what I hear, you have to figure out how she summoned him." Gwen said reassuringly.
"She had help from Aithusa." Gaius raised.
"Aithusa's not an option. It would take too long to search for him. Elyan, how long before that storm gets here?"
"I guess two days, maybe three if we're optimistic. I honestly don't know." Elyan shrugged his shoulders, "Why?"
"I'm wondering what kind of army she summoned now. It isn't a coincidence that everyone just vanished in Caerleon."
"Wait, just to sum this up." Arthur finally moved, "Morgana summoned Hréonhes, the 'storm' your dragon referred to. And then she assembles an army in Caerleon to attack Camelot, which by the way doesn't make any sense. And you're trying to find out how she summoned him back from the death, made that army, all so you can magically reverse what she did."
"Impressive."
"How do you kill someone undead?" Leon asked curiously.
"Arthur can." Merlin answered offhandedly.
"What? How?"
"Your sword can kill someone undead."
"So that's the plan? I stab Hréonhes when he gets here?"
"No, you're not going to come near him. I won't allow it." Merlin snapped vehemently.
"Did you just give me an order?" Arthur coldly raised his voice. Both men didn't notice as they stubbornly stared at each other, but a collective sigh echoed across the room.
"Did I stutter the first time?"
"Stop it." Gaius ordered, "Both of you are behaving like bickering children."
"Fine." Merlin huffed and he stood up immediately walking around the table towards the door.
"The meeting isn't over." Arthur protested angrily.
"I can't tell you anything new, Galahad can fill in the details. And you summed it up so nicely. I do have to find out how she summoned him before m- time runs out." And with that he left.
The other members of the Round Table were silent until the sound of Merlin's hurried footsteps died down. Elyan finally cleared his throat, "I need to sleep on this if that's all right, Sire."
Arthur nodded, "Both of you get some rest. Gwaine, get after him and make sure he doesn't get lost." Arthur rolled his eyes, "Leon, double the guards at the city wall, I'll relieve you in a few hours. Gaius, Guinevere keep an eye on our guests. I'll talk to them in the morning. And Galahad stay here. You are to tell me everything Merlin left out."
Arthur watched them all leave and briefly closed his eyes. Two days. That was nothing and they had been preparing for something bad for two days already. And apparently that wasn't enough. They had to prepare for the worst now.
He looked up and noted that Galahad and Leon were conversing quietly at the door. Leon was obviously lingering on purpose.
"Didn't I gave you orders?" Arthur said when the two hadn't noticed his gaze.
Leon looked apologetically but determined as he walked around the table towards his king. Arthur noted amused that Galahad did the same from the other direction but he didn't look nearly as intimidating as his second in command.
"My Lord," Leon started and sat down, "Arthur, have you talked to Merlin? I mean really talked to him about what's been bothering you?"
"Leon, the man has been practising magic for years. I know what's been bothering me if that's what you're implying."
"Arthur."
"Geez, you're as bad as Guinevere."
"Well she told me to knock some sense into you. You're distracted."
Arthur sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Normally he talked to Merlin about stuff like this. Realising that hurt frankly. "Can you understand that I feel lost? There's another side to my life, my story that I didn't know. Pinnacle moments, moments I've measured myself on were nothing more than lies. They weren't my past achievements."
"The courage you showed, the leadership, the strength, they were all real. Merlin only tweaked with the odds of survival a bit." Leon reassured him understanding how Arthur felt. He was sure his friend had spent every waking hour these last days recounting every single adventure they went on to come to this glum conclusion. Now they only had to convince Arthur he was wrong.
"No, I was a bystander at best and most of the times I probably got in the way. You don't have to sugar-coat it for me."
"Remember what Gaius said about truth." Galahad suddenly spoke up, "You are a great King, even if nothing you achieved in the past was of your own making, which I doubt will be the case. Measure yourself instead by the people's love, Arthur. They don't love you because you've slain a dragon or conquered a castle. They love you because you care. And that is something you can't conjure with magic, but it is the reason why Merlin protected you all these years."
Arthur turned around and stared at his youngest knight. "You know, Galahad, when I look at you I can see a knight of Camelot . But then you go ahead and say stuff like that. I'm glad you sometimes remind me that you're a druid as well."
Morgana rose up from her chair the moment the door reappeared, "Where have you been? I was stuck here for a whole day and it-"
"Peace and quiet, is that too much to ask for?" Hréonhes brushed her away with a flick of his hand and sank down into a chair, "I had a busy day at work you know."
He pulled of his boots, cracked his toes and put his bare feet on the table in front of him humming some nursery song.
"You're completely insufferable!" Morgana yelled but she was beyond curious. The things she unearthed... She knew Hréonhes wanted her to find out otherwise he wouldn't have left her the books, but the implication of her discovery was beyond anything she had ventured to guess. In between his crazy ramblings he did make sense sometimes. Knowledge was fundamental so almost politely she asked, "What did you do today?"
"Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Stirring up trouble, checking if my old alliances were still in place." He said with a devilish smirk and plucked some floating grapes out of the air. He leaned back and savoured their taste.
"Which alliances?"
"Oh, didn't you read? I used to be some sort of saviour and everyone adored me. I think it was the hair. Being a cute kid really helps to hide your ambitions, so I might have tricked some stuff to grow even more powerful. After all I was destined to stop a bloody feud."
"Which stuff?"
"Magic."
"You tricked magic?" Morgana echoed disbelievingly.
"Yup, wasn't easy but I managed. Unlike you I read between the lines."
Ignore the taunt. She smiled sweetly, "I know."
Hréonhes looked up at her and tilted his head narrowing his eyes measuring the truth of her statement.
"You're not dead." She said triumphantly.
"You don't sound disappointed. Finally succumbed to my charm?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Ignore it.
"No, I mean you didn't die. That's why the ritual didn't work. You weren't dead."
"I wasn't." He conceded and sat up again gazing at her intently daring her to ask the next question.
"What happened then?"
"I got locked up. They couldn't kill me." Hréonhes said darkly before his face cleared up again, "I'm bored. Let's blow something up now. Where did you leave that dragon. Geez woman!" He dodged a flaming book, "Can't you recognize a joke!?"
After last episode I have no scruples with writing Merlin depressed or thinking it's OOC. He deserves a smack on his head for not telling Arthur! Anyway, please leave a review :)
Leonarema: Thanks for leaving all those reviews! I'm happy you're liking the story so far and don't find it to unbelievable. ;)