Warning: A disturbing image or maybe not depending on your personal tolerance... And thank you for reviewing!
Chapter 19: A Friend Named Fear
"Hi Gaius." Merlin greeted the physician absentmindedly when Gaius remained silent.
The warlock was scanning the texts for words like 'control', 'curse' and 'loyalty'. It couldn't be a coincidence that a spy was one of the four persons that escaped Caerleon's fate discounting Elyan and the rest of the knights. Annis was the vessel. That much was certain. So could Hréonhes twist loyalty? Merlin turned the page of yet another heavy tome. If he could break whatever spell the dragonlord used to control his army of 'loyal puppets' as he had called them, then Hréonhes would lose whatever manpower he had. Then it would just be him and Morgana and Aithusa which had to be more manageable. Merlin fought the urge to rest his head on the book in front of him. Right, manageable. He almost snorted.
Gaius still hadn't spoken and Merlin tried not to squirm under this surprising scrutiny. That would send out the message that he was hiding something. Fortunately the physician finally broke the tense silence.
"It's ten minutes till the meeting." Gaius informed him as he kept standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. "So put that down and walk with me." Merlin sighed and reluctantly got up. He recognized that tone of voice. It meant Gaius had planned a lecture or a series of questions and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Didn't mean Merlin wouldn't try though.
"Are you going to tell me what happened out there?" Gaius asked as they walked up the stairs.
"Where?" Merlin asked evasively.
"Don't be difficult, Merlin."
"I had an encounter with Hréonhes, but I'll tell the whole story in a couple of minutes." Merlin answered and it did appease Gaius, but the physician had more questions.
"Earlier this evening you were about to tell me something before you ran out."
"Can't remember, mustn't be important." Merlin quickly waved it off. Too quickly, because Gaius furrowed his brow in suspicion.
"It didn't sound-" The physician argued.
"I said it wasn't important." Merlin snapped but regretted it immediately. He chewed his lip and sighed, "I'm sorry, Gaius."
"All right, my boy, all right," He said as he patted Merlin's arm. "But please come and see me when you remember."
"I think I can speak for all of us when I say it was a busy day." Arthur greeted them as all the members of the Round Table took a seat. Everyone nodded in agreement. "But firstly, Galahad," Arthur turned to face his youngest knight, "I didn't order you to go with the scouts. It was dangerous-"
"Don't start lecturing me, Arthur." Galahad scowled irritated, "Merlin and Gaius already chewed me out. Sir Rowan, Sir Corbin and Sir Orrell died." He stated bluntly and then coughed to clear his throat. The smoke had done no lasting damage, or so Gaius assured him, but it still hurt. "I could have died. I know that. But when you knighted me that was a sign of trust, wasn't it? You can't shield me from the ugly sides of knighthood."
"If you die the treaty with your people-" The king disagreed, but Galahad interrupted him once more.
"My life or dead isn't part of that treaty. I have no desire to die soon, but if it is my fate I'll accept it and so would my people. Speaking of danger," Galahad stood up angrily and firmly planted his hands on the table, "Why did you sent Lauren to spy on Weylan and Linwood. She could have died!"
"Galahad, sit down." Gwaine tugged the druid's sleeve at his elbow, "I get it: a lot of danger, a lot of near deaths. Arthur do continue." The knight inclined his head towards his king.
"I'm sorry," Galahad said and sagged back into his chair rubbing his face with both of his hands, "I'm just really tired."
"No apology necessary." Arthur kindly dismissed Galahad's sudden outburst.
"How is she now?" Leon asked.
"Sleeping." Gwen replied, "You don't need to worry about her Galahad, she much stronger than you think."
"I know that." Galahad huffed.
"The sentries at all the gates were informed but Linwood hasn't been sighted yet." Leon said.
"I doubt he will." Arthur remarked and told them what Annis had said about the man. He pointedly refrained from looking at Merlin during this brief retelling.
The rest of the meeting proceeded without any interruptions while one by one everyone informed the others about how the fortifications of the wall were progressing or how at least a third of Camelot's citizens was already save inside the castle. It wasn't until Arthur asked how Merlin was coming along with plan to deal with Hréonhes that the atmosphere heated up again.
"Will someone please point out to the oblivious prat that I can do magic, have been doing it for years and am rather good at it?" Merlin answered dryly.
"I'm not oblivious, just a little preoccupied sometimes…" Arthur defended himself because Merlin crossed his arms and looked, well he looked rather smug. "But that's beside the question! How are going to defeat him?"
"Not sure yet, but nobody is undefeatable."
"Not even you?" Percival asked suddenly.
"…No…"
"Okay," Gwaine cleared his throat rather forcefully and changed the direction of the discussion quickly, "So what happened when you went to rescue Galahad?"
"I had a conversation with Hréonhes. He was very confident."
"You had a conversation?" Elyan asked.
"Actually, it was a very one-sided one." Merlin commented, "Hréonhes knows I'm Emrys and he practically told me I was insulting Magic by being a mere servant and that it would be better if I joined him."
"And be his servant?" Leon remarked slightly amused.
"Probably." Merlin merely shrugged at this.
"Do you think Morgana knows?" Gwen asked him next.
"Could be, but I wouldn't surprise me if Hréonhes purposefully withheld that piece of information just to taunt her. I got the feeling he didn't like her very much," Merlin paused briefly and shook his head in annoyance, "Or anyone for that matter. He's very unstable. I mean he actually twirled around in front of me."
"I want to know how he find out about you being Emrys." Arthur said.
The young knight raised his hand tiredly, "That would be my fault."
"Galahad," Merlin started and looked sympathetically at his friend, "It wasn't your-"
"But it was, Merlin and now you lost that advantage."
"It wasn't your fault he ripped through your memories." Merlin insisted. Galahad opened his mouth to protest but stopped. He leaned back against his chair and massaged his temples. The king worriedly observed the druid until his eyes widened in remembrance. He swerved to his right to confront his servant.
"When he was in my head, did he...?" Arthur asked unsure.
"Possibly, I don't know." Merlin sighed.
"Then he'll know our defences." Leon said worriedly.
"If I can't stop Hréonhes then all our defences and plans will be for nothing. It wouldn't matter if the villagers took shelter in the caves below the castle or that Arthur manned the Wall with hundreds of volunteers. It's my responsibility to stop him and right now I have no clue whatsoever to accomplish that."
"Have some faith Merlin, you'll figure it out in time." Galahad said utterly convinced of that fact, "And we'll help."
"Only if I can shield you all from another attack to your minds. Otherwise he'll just find out what I'm planning." Merlin argued, "And he's controlling the whole of Caerleon. He could do the same for the people of Camelot. I need to find some way to fortify the city against him. Gaius, do you recall anything about shielding whole groups of people against magic, possibly the whole area of Camelot?"
"There are some enchantments, Merlin, but they need a tremendous amount of power." Gaius took a moment to arrange his thoughts, "In the days of the Old Religion wealthy families depended upon the help of sorcerers to protect them during magical feuds especially against fertility curses. But it isn't so much the scale of the area but the amount of people you're suggesting that worries me." Gaius said and clasped his hands in front of him as they rested on the table. "Merlin, it takes tremendous power to conjure these shields and to hold them against an attack. None of those past sorcerers were ever up against an enemy like Hréonhes and most of the time they needed the combined power of several to uphold such a shield for a longer period of time. I don't think it is feasible." The physician admitted gravely.
"I must try. You've always told me I'm very powerful, Gaius." Merlin countered.
"Then trust me when I say this would be too much." Gaius insisted but he already knew his words wouldn't meet the desired response.
"I still have to try..." Merlin said softly, but in the silent chamber he was heard nonetheless.
"You can't fortify the whole world against him." Arthur suddenly snapped, "It will surely kill you."
"I won't stand at the sidelines and watch him slaughter thousands of people." Merlin raised his voice this time and the other knights groaned.
"You will when I order you." Arthur said it in such a way that he left no room for anything else but complete compliance.
"I never followed you orders in the past." Merlin snarled stubbornly, "Why should I start now?"
Arthur briefly closed his eyes. He had listened to Gaius' explanation and correctly interpreted the determinant even fierce look in his servant's eyes. The recklessness he showed worried Arthur tremendously. Merlin, when I said you were a coward I really didn't mean it, but now I wish it was the truth. But of course he didn't say that.
"Fine! Go off and kill yourself, see if I care!" Arthur snapped instead. Merlin jumped up fast almost making his chair smash on the floor. It didn't though and wobbled for a moment until it stilled. Merlin leaned on the table and took a deep breath to calm down.
"As you wish." He said unemotionally still staring at a spot on the table between his white knuckled hands and then he stormed out, again.
The rest of the Round Table were still frozen in shock by this surprising turn of events until Gwen leaped into action. "Gwaine, Galahad, get after him and stop him from doing something rash." She said exasperated, "Arthur, we need another talk."
Merlin leaned against the cold stones in some deserted corridor and tried to get his breathing back under control. He hadn't cared where he ended up as long as it was quiet and far away from anyone. He didn't really know why he had ran because this wasn't working. He had to keep himself together. Arthur was just being Arthur and he knew that. It shouldn't get to him so much. He let out a deep breath and brushed his hand across his eyes. He blinked. He couldn't do this. Kilgharrah basically told him he couldn't. And his friends, they looked at him with so much faith especially Percival and Galahad. He couldn't let them down. He couldn't let Arthur down.
So I'll just act as if I know what I'm doing? Maybe it will work out in the end. Maybe...
Merlin straightened his jacket and ran his hand across his face. He took a few deep breaths and watched how the slight tremble in his hands lessened. Finally satisfied and looking more composed than he felt, he stepped out of a dark alcove and headed back to the vaults.
"I have been patient, Arthur, we all were. But this has to stop." Gwen said firmly when Leon departed last after receiving new orders. The king and queen were alone now. "Didn't you see how hurt he looked?"
"Guinevere, there's an powerful enemy marching towards my city. I don't have time to consider everyone's feelings." Arthur countered vehemently and sauntered to the other side of the room.
"Then don't talk to him at all." Gwen insisted, "You don't see how difficult this is for him."
Arthur sighed and leaned against a pillar rubbing his face with both of his hands. A moment later he looked up, "I do see it, Guinevere, but I don't know how to fix this." He raised his hands in defeat, "He doesn't react like I expected. He ran away again." Arthur emphasized and sighed once more. "I don't know what to do."
Gwen walked up to him and gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek, "I can't help you with that. Just figure it out soon before things get even worse."
"I love you Merlin." Gwaine murmured satisfied as he leaned back against this extremely soft pillow.
"What?" Merlin asked amused and brushed his quill across his lips without taking his eyes of the book he was currently trying to decipher.
"This bed is so soft." Gwaine as if it was self-explanatory letting out a content sigh and looked to his left. Merlin for some insane reason had deemed in necessary to move three beds into the vaults. He had levitated the large wooden table to the far side of the room right next to the door that led to the other vaults. The opposite wall was now lined with three comfortable beds. Gwaine had loudly demanded the middle one, Galahad took the one next to the door and Merlin was currently sitting cross-legged on the furthest bed and leaned against the wall. The shelf next to him was packed with books and four candles that were dripping wax onto the floor lit the semi darkened vault.
"If you're going to be stubborn, you can at least be comfortable." Merlin remarked absentmindedly and turned yet another page.
"You're one to talk. You cut another meeting short." Gwaine grinned.
"I know. It's just I had to get out of there." Merlin tried to explain, "I'm not used to discuss my plans with someone other than Gaius or Kilgharrah. And most of those times I end up doing it my own way."
"Stubborn." Gwaine coughed and blinked innocently when Merlin glared at him.
"I still don't get the beds." Galahad said muffled by his pillow and the warlock smiled softly when he saw the druid was fighting to stay awake.
"He's feeling bad about leaving me out in the corridor the other night." Gwaine said happily and kicked off his boots.
It was silent for a long time and was only interrupted by the rustling of parchment or the scratching of a quill. The druid had ordered Merlin to hand him some books and was looking for relevant paragraphs on shields or anything about smoke and magic. Gwaine had crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling which seemed to move in the flickering candlelight. He was thinking.
"Where are the Druids?" Gwaine asked out of the bleu.
Galahad shrugged, "Doing what they're best at I presume: hiding."
"You don't agree?" The knight asked surprised.
"No, although I understand my father's choice." Galahad thought about it for a moment, "He wants to keep everyone save. As do I, we only differ in our methods. Druids are notoriously peaceful."
"Then how did you end up being such a good swordsman?" Gwaine cocked an eyebrow.
"I begged unrelenting." Galahad grinned and his eyes suddenly twinkled, "Apparently even my father has a limit to his patience."
"What did he say your father?" Merlin was suddenly interested.
"Fine." The druid summarized with glee.
"Fine?" Merlin echoed. Galahad nodded amused, "You two would get along pretty well."
A bit later it was Galahad that broke his concentration. "Merlin, you've been staring at that same page for almost half an hour." So, okay he wasn't concentration on his book.
"Is this your subtle way of asking me if something's wrong?"
"I know something's wrong. I want to know what." The druid insisted.
Merlin took a deep breath, "Hréonhes told me exactly what was wrong with Queen Annis."
"Really? Why would he do that?" Galahad frowned confused.
"To rile me." Merlin stated flatly and shrugged.
"And?"
"And it's working." Merlin said shifting uncomfortably and then gulped when he noticed that Galahad was looking at him strangely.
"I was asking about Hréonhes plan." The druid clarified.
"I... ri-ight," Merlin stuttered, "I knew that. You saw for yourself that Hréonhes has a hold on the people of Caerleon." Galahad nodded. "Well, he's somehow using Annis as the vessel to imprison them in their own mind." The druid winced.
"He likes messing with people's minds: Arthur, Morgana, me..." Galahad grumbled.
"How's your head?" Merlin asked feeling a bit guilty for not inquiring about it earlier. Really the boy should be asleep now, not peering at some dated texts.
"Manageable." Galahad yawned and rubbed his forehead, "I just keep remembering stupid little things like how I used to stir my soup four times to the right and then four times to the left just because one of the older children made me believe it would turn into glass and show me my future. So silly and I actually believed that for a very long time." Gwaine snorted at this and Galahad briefly scowled at him before he shook his head and sighed. "The thing is, I had forgotten that and now I suddenly remember. It's weird."
"Can't you do that?" Gwaine turned his head and looked at Merlin curiously.
"What? Stir my soup?" Merlin said and ducked his head just in time to avoid the pillow Galahad threw at him.
"Look into the future." Gwaine chuckled as he explained, "And see how you defeat him."
Galahad nodded in agreement, "You could always look into the Crystal. You do have the power to wield it."
Merlin paled at the suggestion. It will only show me what I already know. He shook his head, but then paused. Maybe it was time to try something else? "Later perhaps." He said settling for that vague answer, "You two should rest, we've all long day ahead of us."
"Forget it, Merlin." Gwaine said offended when at the same time Galahad said, "Only if you get some rest too."
The two knights shared a glance and both sat up straighter to strengthen their point. "You can't force us." Galahad said adamantly.
Merlin smirked and grinned mischievously as if he was saying 'Really?'. Galahad's eyes widened in comprehension but he was a second to late because Merlin already raised his hand, "Swefe nu."
Both of them were asleep instantly and fell back onto their beds with a strange mixture of betrayal and surprise etched on their faces. Merlin stood up and walked towards the table. Now, where did Gwaine end up putting those infernal crystals?
It took some rummaging and swearing before he finally found the accursed thing. He lifted the crystal and held it in his cupped hands. It felt heavy and Merlin tried to remember what he had done the last time. Just look, he told himself when he realized he had shut his eyes. He really, really didn't want to do this. It never ends well, but he was feeling desperate.
Just show me what I need to know. He opened his eyes and immediately noticed something wasn't quite right. He felt dizzy and a spike shot through his body as images swirled across the crystal's surface. But it was too fast, he didn't see anything. A deep guttural noise erupted all around him and his ears were ringing. Merlin gasped when a sudden tug pulled him closer. In a futile attempt to stop whatever was happening he closed his eyes again.
When the ringing in his ears finally stopped he carefully opened his eyes. He cursed and turned around. Thick mist encircled him. He didn't know what happened or where he ended up, but one thing was certain: he wasn't in the vaults anymore. He raised his hands hoping he would feel something, anything, but then it dawned on him: the crystal had vanished.
Suddenly the mist rolled back and Merlin recognised Camelot's main gate. He was standing in the middle of the street. It appeared to be a normal dreary autumn day. Merlin frowned as he tried to figure out what was happening. The peopled along the side of the road didn't look surprised at his sudden appearance. Close by an old man was leaning heavily on a cane, supported by a small girl, presumably his granddaughter since he saw some similarities. Merlin waved trying to catch their attention but they just stared ahead.
Merlin observed them a bit more thoroughly. Their clothes were clearly not warm enough for the cold. The biting wind blew their hairs adrift as they stood shivering in front of a peculiar looking structure. Behind them, Merlin concluded, were the remnants of a house. The ruins were patched up in a sorry attempt to turn it into something habitable. He circled around and noticed that most houses were in similar decayed states. The people were eyeing the road towards the castle with fear and trepidation. At least the castle looked the same, he thought relieved. It stood tall and proud as the epitome of hope. Then the warlock noticed what everyone was staring at.
A cart was pushed forward by five or six filthy men. Merlin took a few steps back until he was leaning against a wall as the approaching troop filled him with sudden dread. As the cart came closer its content made his stomach turn. It took all of his willpower to push back the nausea as he buried his nose and mouth in his jacket's sleeve, but he couldn't look away. Carefully stacked upon each other were at least a dozen scorched bodies burned beyond any hope of recognition. Burnt flesh and blackened bone, he knew no matter how many times he blinked, that image was etched onto his retina forever. He watched how the cart passed by and left the city, the turning of its wheels the only sound to be heard.
Suddenly fog encircled him again. The image jumped and Merlin was pulled along. I'm in Camelot's dungeons, he concluded when the mist evaporated again. He was standing right outside an empty cell. Or it appeared to be empty on first sight because when his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw a lone figure huddled in the corner on his bare feet. Merlin tried in vain to catch a glance of the man's face, but unlike last time he couldn't get any closer or move aside. It appeared he was frozen on the spot. But what he saw was enough to still his heart.
The prisoner's right hand was shackled to the wall, the scars on his wrist giving testimony to the long time he'd been chained down here. His hair and beard were both filthy and long but didn't hide those hollowed cheeks completely. The man was clutching something in his left hand, pressing it to his chest and whispering to it as he crouched deeper. Merlin couldn't make out what the man was saying. He desperately wanted to reach out, to do something to help this man, but he couldn't. His feet were rooted to the dungeon floor. He could move his arms though so he tried to clench the bars in front of him, but his hands only met air.
"What happened here?" Merlin murmured out loud, but the man ignored him or didn't hear him. I'm not really here, he thought and tried to look around some more. This immobility was getting on his nerves. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was waiting for something to happen.
Suddenly a noise behind him alerted Merlin to another presence in the dungeons. The prisoner heard it as well and he tried to huddle even further into the wall. If this behaviour was any indication of what or who was to come, this would be bad. Merlin heard the footsteps approach and when they finally came to a stop the visitor was standing right behind him. If he wasn't certain before that he was invisible, this would confirm it as the man almost breathed down his neck. In the cell the mumbling had become louder as if the man needed the words to protect him. They became loud enough for Merlin to hear. He frowned in confusion.
"Guinevere, Gaius, Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Guinevere, Gaius, Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad,..." The prisoner kept repeating over and over again in a hoarse voice in an attempt to drone out whatever the man had come to say. The prisoner shook his head as he did so, clearly showing he didn't want to hear anything.
His captor or guard spoke up not in the least unnerved by his prisoner's ranting, "I want you to know that I located Gwaine's pathetic little rebel nest." He said in a disturbingly amused tone. He sounded exactly like Hréonhes, Merlin thought and paled. Does this mean I'll fail?
"... Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Guinevere, Gaius,..."
"It seems like trouble finally caught up with him. A gift," The man threw something inside the cell. It flew right through Merlin and landed a few feet away of the prisoner. "I hope you at least appreciate the irony. Gwaine wasn't that pleased. He screamed all sorts of things at me, none of them nice, until he ran out of breath."
With a shock Merlin recognized the remnants of Gwaine's necklace, black with soot. The prisoner stopped mumbling and stared at the necklace. He quickly crawled towards it and snatched it away before retreating to his safe corner. Then the mumbling started again, while he held the necklace protectively in his left hand along with a ring.
"Guinevere, Gaius, Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Gwaine." Merlin covered his mouth to stop himself from crying out. This was not happening, it hadn't happened yet, it was not real. He closed his eyes and his breathing quickened. He understood now and he wished he didn't. Merlin tried in vain to shut out the prisoner's ranting as it kept getting louder and louder. Tears prickled in his eyes when it didn't work.
"... Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Gwaine, Guinevere, Gaius, Leon,..."
"In who do you have faith now?" The man behind him taunted and continued to watch. Merlin couldn't bear it any longer. He tried to look around for a way to escape but the damn crystal wouldn't let him move!
"Guinevere, Gaius, Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Gwaine, Guinevere, Gaius, Leon, Elyan, Percival, Galahad, Gwaine, MERLIN!" The prisoner suddenly shouted as he got up and limped towards the bars as far as his chain permitted. With a shock Merlin recognized him even if the pure hate that radiated in those otherwise empty eyes was unfamiliar. He gasped, no this can't be...
"You're right, Arthur. Merlin's gone." The man started and took a step forward. The unknown man was now standing on the exact same spot Merlin was. The warlock wanted to rub his skin, because it felt slimy all of a sudden, but he had no control over his body anymore as it seemed to melt with the other man. He felt possessed but somehow, and that scared him the most, it felt familiar as well.
His eyes hardened and narrowed and suddenly he-the man-no he spoke again, "Your pathetic servant's gone for a while now, only Emrys remains."
Merlin screamed, the images kept on burning. The power, the numbness and the pure enjoyment Emrys, no he felt was boiling beneath his skin and threatened to tear a way out. He screwed his eyes shut. I didn't see, I didn't see...
"Merlin! MERLIN! It wasn't real! Snap out of it!" Galahad yelled as he tried to stop the warlock from trashing around. It didn't work. He tried to pin the warlock down, but Merlin kept writhing on the floor, refusing to lay still. Galahad narrowly managed to grasp his wrists and pulled them down so Merlin wouldn't scratch his face.
"Gwaine!" Galahad shouted for help and looked around. The vault was filled with smoke as the rekindled torches blazed high and wide. A bookshelf cracked and collapsed, flying parchment caught fire and plummeted burning towards the ground. Ash and dying sparks littered the vault's floor.
"Kind off busy here!" Gwaine yelled distracted by the half a dozen small fires he tried to put out using his bed's blanket.
"Merlin! Open your eyes!" Galahad shook his shoulders harshly, "Open your eyes now!"
A pair of blue eyes gazed up at him bewildered. The roaring torches died down almost immediately and the smoke started to escape through the cracks between the stones. Galahad sighed in relief and managed a small smile as he slowly released the tight hold he had on Merlin's arms. "Welcome back. Think you can sit up already?"
Merlin nodded silently and let Galahad help him get upright. He looked around in confusion and horror. The vaults were a mess. Papers, books, all were spread out across the floor in various states encompassing everything from slightly singed to useless ash. He even spotted scorch marks on the ceiling. Gwaine was still franticly putting out a fire. Merlin was confused. He must have fallen down somehow. The last thing he remembered... He shook his head in denial. No, I didn't.
"Breathe, Merlin, breathe." Galahad urged still supporting Merlin to stay seated on the floor. The last minutes had been a nightmare. It had been pure luck that he had woken up in time only to see the vaults on fire. He had kicked Gwaine out bed and thankfully the knight was up right away to deal with the chaos. He had to squint his eyes against the bright flames and finally located Merlin screaming on the other side of the room. For a moment the druid had feared that Hréonhes had found a way into Emrys' mind, but then he spotted the crystal at Merlin's feet.
"Just stay calm," He said rubbing Merlin's back soothingly and gradually he saw the tension leave his friend's face, "It wasn't real."
"But it will be..." Merlin whispered and rubbed his sweaty forehead. His breath hitched again. "The bodies. Oh God, Arthur. I can't stop it. The Crystal of Neatid-"
"Is on some other shelf. Gwaine fooled around with them, remember? This isn't it." Galahad interrupted. He held up the translucent stone and then threw it across the room, "It shows your fears not your future. Another favoured toy of the High Priestesses to break their enemies." The druid explained in disgust. He wished that some of these things had been destroyed in the Great Purge.
"It doesn't?" Merlin said disbelieving, "But it felt so real. I could see, I could smell..."
"Fear is real, Merlin," Galahad said as he stood up and offered his hand. Merlin grasped it gratefully and pulled himself up, "It's very real, but it holds no truth if you don't want it to."
"Druid." Gwaine coughed as walked up to them. He had ripped a clean piece of his now useless and scorched blanket and was wrapping it around his left hand. Merlin frowned at this.
"Gwaine, are you all right?" He asked anxiously. Gwaine grinned and held up his palm. Merlin saw the red flesh underneath the cloth and paled.
"Of course, just a small burn, that's all." Gwaine said jokingly and clasped Galahad's shoulder, "I'm just glad he was here otherwise you and I would have been roasted, mate."
Galahad rolled his eyes at the knight's antics and timing and opened his mouth to suggest he should go see Gaius. But a movement to his left caught his attention. He turned abruptly and saw how Merlin's face lost all colour and was dangerously leaning backwards.
"Merlin?"
But the warlock didn't hear anything anymore and welcomed the darkness like a long lost friend. His knees buckled underneath him and he was unconscious before he hit the floor.
Gwaine winced and cursed as both he and Galahad just managed to prevent Merlin from smashing his head onto the floor. His hand throbbed painfully. "Switch sides," Galahad said urgently and Gwaine nodded thankfully, "We have to get him to Giaus."
Between the two of them they dragged Merlin out of the vaults.
"Is Merlin alright?" Arthur said and tried to look composed as he skidded to a halt in the physician's rooms. The early and frail sunlight didn't lit the chamber completely and a dozen candles were spread across the room. Gwaine was sitting on a bench in front of the fire and stared at the flames, while cradling his arm. Galahad had made a makeshift bed on the floor to rest although he wasn't sleeping. The druid was keeping a vigil eye on the open door that led to Merlin's room.
"Why the heck do you care?" Gwaine swirled around and got up angrily. Arthur slowly closed the door behind him and ignored Gwaine for now trying to read Gaius' face as the old man stopped grinding some herbs. He had just started his first round of the day when Percival told him something happened in the vaults during the night. He couldn't tell anything more, only said that Merlin was carried to Gaius unconscious. Arthur had tried very hard not to run when he heard that news.
"Gwaine." Gaius warned the knight gently to let it be, but Gwaine ignored him.
"You haven't spoken a friendly word to him since he told you about his magic." He threw at Arthur. The king took a few steps back just to be safe until he bumped against a table. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction.
"Gwaine." Galahad said sharply and stood up ready to intervene.
"No, he needs to hear this." Gwaine shushed Galahad and turned back to face Arthur, "Merlin saw something, saw what he feared the most. He didn't tell us what it was exactly but guess what Arthur? He said your name." The knight said accusingly stabbing Arthur's chest with his finger.
"He nearly destroyed the vaults with himself IN IT! AND YOU DARE TO ASK HOW HE IS?" The knight roared.
"Gwaine!" Merlin was standing in the doorway pale and shivering, but looking very determined and certainly not weak. Gaius hurriedly moved around the table, but Merlin motioned he was fine.
"So sorry Merlin, I didn't want to wake you. His royal pratness here..." The knight said apologetically his anger completely deflated now.
"It's alright, Gwaine." The warlock interrupted, "I was time that I woke up. How long was I out? Not more than a few hours I hope." Merlin kept on talking as he hastily walked towards the door. "We still have a lot of work to do. I hope the vaults aren't completely ruined. That would be unfortunate." His tone was level even somewhat distanced, Arthur noted.
"Merlin, are you..." Arthur trailed off and swallowed harshly as he watched his friend's back make a hasty exit.
Gwaine followed the warlock outside but not before giving Arthur a silent, ice cold warning. Galahad gave him an apologetic smile before he left as well closing the door behind him. The whole affair hadn't even lasted a minute, but Arthur was shell-shocked. He leaned heavily against the table. Merlin hadn't even acknowledged him! And that hurt.
"Gaius, he is well?" Arthur asked after a moment of silence. The old man sighed and put down the beaker he was using to measure a murky looking liquid.
"I honestly don't know, Sire, but I'll find out."
"Yes, please do." Arthur said quietly. He gazed down at his feet and rubbed his sides. He'd only seen a flash of Merlin's eyes before they stared back at the door, but it was enough. Merlin had looked scared and his conscience reprimanded him forcefully telling him it was all his fault. The fact that Gwaine had said it was his fault didn't help matters at all. Gaius didn't comment however and for that Arthur was grateful. With a final nod he exited the physician's chambers and stalked towards the stables. He desperately needed a ride.
If it doesn't make sense, it (hopefully) will in the next chapter. :) Review?