Alaia Skyhawk: Part three! And yeah, I'll be adding more little bits to this one too :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: N/A
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: Famine
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Chapter 63: The Labyrinth of Gedref ~Part 3~
Merlin stared at Arthur, a sinking feeling in his gut, but he couldn't bring himself to be disappointed in the prince right now. Telling the prince he was would be pointless, Arthur was clearly punishing himself enough as it was.
"What happened?"
Arthur pushed himself to his knees, still in some sort of horrified shock.
"It was Evan, the villager I spared. He was here, with a mass of stolen food, and he taunted me for sparing him. He taunted me by saying my father would be ashamed of me, that I was took weak to be a good king. I fought him, and when I struck a blow that would have killed him, he just vanished right before my eyes."
Merlin sighed, going to the prince and pulling him to his feet.
"I heard the last couple of things Anhora said, and... I could have told you that your pride has always been a bit of a problem. Especially recently."
Arthur looked at him, a hint of anger showing.
"And what do you mean by that?"
Merlin sighed again.
"Remember when I got mad at you yesterday? About you 'pointing fingers'. You've done a lot of little things lately, blaming others for stuff that happened rather than wound your pride by accepting the one at fault was yourself. Even the rat comes under that to a certain extent, since you blamed me for it getting into your chambers during the three days we weren't even in the city. Your actions meant I wasn't even there to stop it. When you told me off when you found the droppings, that was the first time I'd set foot in your room since before we headed out. I hadn't had the chance to even know the rat was there, never mind catch it."
He couldn't help the tinge of resentment in his tone as he spoke, and he could see his words had had an effect on the prince.
Arthur looked ashamed of himself.
He straightened up and walked away, heading in the direction of the city.
"Come on, we'd best head back."
Merlin followed along behind, and chose to remain quiet for the rest of the trek, and he certainly didn't say anything when they arrived back to find there was sand in the wells again... and that all the grain left in the stores had mysteriously rotted.
~(-)~
How could he have been such a fool? How could he have done something so stupid? If even his servant could have told him the mistakes he was making, then why hadn't he been able to see them himself? Standing here, with the weight of what he'd caused sitting squarely on his shoulders, he knew why. He hadn't seen them because he hadn't wanted to, because he'd been too proud to admit he was making them.
Arthur waited in the council chambers, waited for his father to arrive, thinking those things. The footsteps of his father's entrance made him turn, and speaking to him he tried to give at least some light to the situation. Some hope that there may be time to fix this.
"There are some supplies left in the palace stores; we are distributing them to the people but... there is not enough to live on. It will not last for long."
Uther stood there, regarding his son in grim silence, and nodded. His expression one of resignation to the situation at hand.
"Then you must stop distributing food to the people."
Wait? Stop? Arthur frowned.
"They will starve, Sire."
"We must conserve the food we have, for our army."
Arthur began to feel disbelief and anger rising at his father's words.
"We cannot let our people go without food."
"We must defend the kingdom at all costs."
"What the point of defending a kingdom if everyone starves to death!"
Father and son had raised their voices, each seeking to override the other, Uther storming past his son to stand by his throne.
"What would you have me do!"
Arthur turned to face him, the answer clear to himself.
"Ask the neighbouring kingdoms for help." Uther let out a harsh laugh at that, his son still trying. "They may be able to spare some supplies."
"Out of the question!" Uther turned, scowling. "As soon as they realise how weak we are, our enemies will strike against us. Besides, I would rather starve than beg my enemies for help. What of our kingdom's reputation? Have you no pride?"
Arthur felt an icy jolt at those words. Pride? He pulled himself up straight, his tone as cool as that feeling.
"I cannot think of my pride when our people go hungry. They are all I can think of."
Uther advanced towards his son, frowning.
"Give the order to stop distributing food to the people. Is that understood?"
Arthur continued to stare at him coldly, before turning and walking away in disgust.
"You'll have to give that order yourself."
He ignored his father calling out after him, ignored the way his father was almost trying to blame him by saying if he'd caught the sorcerer he wouldn't have to. None of it mattered to anything except pride, and pride was what had caused this. He headed to the walkway at the base of the castle roof, the highest point possible where he would be directly over the central courtyard, and there he stood watching the people who knew not what further hardship they were to face.
Merlin found him there, coming to stand beside him and watch as well.
"How are you feeling?"
The prince didn't answer, not right away, still looking down at those below.
"They do not yet know there is worse to come."
"What do you mean?"
Merlin looked sidelong at the prince, who could barely bring himself to regard his servant in return.
"My father is going to stop distributing food to the people. They are to be left to starve. I had the chance to lift the curse, and I failed them."
"You weren't to know you were being tested."
Arthur shook his head.
"My people are starving... Camelot is on the verge of collapse... And it is all my doing."
He turned and walked away, retreating back into the castle, and watching him go Merlin knew he couldn't leave things like this. Arthur didn't know where to go, what to do... and that was what he was supposed to be for him.
His guide.
Merlin took a deep breath and made his decision, heading out of the city and to the woods where they had been just a few hours before. It was getting late, but with luck that wouldn't matter. Arthur understood his responsibility now, he understood what it was he had done, and if he could do that then he deserved the chance to make things right.
"Anhora! Anhora!"
Merlin's shouts echoed through the woods, gaining no reply except the cries of startled birds and otherwise silence. How was he even to know if the sorcerer was still here? Would he be, when Arthur had already failed the test?
Refusing to give in, Merlin closed his eyes and forced his breathing to slow, reaching out his senses for the feeling of life around him that he'd discovered when grieving for Will. He was vulnerable while he did this, his mind separated from awareness of his body and any danger it might be in, but he had to know if there were any people, possibly Anhora, nearby.
He found only animals, insects, trees, and plants. Uncountable and almost indistinguishable from one another. Within moments he'd reached so far, too far, that he saw so much that everything became a chaotic blur. The bombardment upon his senses blinding him and drawing a pained yelp from his throat.
Merlin staggered as his eyes flew open, before his face screwed up in pain and he pressed his hands to his head. That had hurt, really hurt, and he felt like he'd stuck his head inside the Great Bell before someone had then rung it.
"You wanted to talk with me, life seer?"
The words were quiet but they brought him to alert, Merlin lowering his hands to find the Keeper of the Unicorns standing before him.
"Life seer?"
Anhora tilted his head in acknowledgement.
"It is a rare gift, to be able to see beyond the web of magic and view the life and land that sustains it. Those who possess it are always strongly tied to the Old Magic. I see it no wonder now that the unicorn Arthur slew would not walk away from you. It sensed a kindred spirit."
Merlin felt a flash of guilt that he hadn't been able to protect it, feeling responsible at least in part for what Arthur had done.
"I've come to seek your help. The people of Camelot are starving, the water is gone... They will soon be dead."
Anhora bowed his head, truly regretful for that which was occurring.
"You must believe me when I say it gives me no pleasure to see your people suffer."
"If it pains you, put an end to it."
"It is not in my power to lift the curse."
It was Merlin's turn to tilt his head, confident and pleading both.
"I know, only Arthur can... But you have the power to give him another chance. He has accepted it is his responsibility, and he will prove himself worthy and lift the curse. Just give him another chance."
Anhora regarded him searchingly.
"You have faith in Arthur? The son of one who would see you dead for your gifts?"
Merlin nodded.
"I trust him with my life. Why else would I stay by him when his father is as you say?"
The Keeper of the Unicorns lowered his head in thought, before nodding once and answering.
"Very well. Arthur must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref, and it is there that he will face his final test. What is it, will be for him alone to discover."
Anhora vanished before Merlin could utter another word, the warlock left alone in the forest. But he wasted no time looking for the old man again, instead rushing back to the city as fast as his legs would carry him.
He practically burst into Arthur's chambers when he reached them, the prince looking up as though to scold him before frowning at the urgent expression on Merlin's face.
He rose to his feet from where he'd been seated near the hearth.
"What is it?"
Merlin started to smile.
"I've just been to speak to Anhora... He's agreed to give you another chance."
"What?"
Merlin hurried over to the stand in the corner, where he'd put Arthur's armour after cleaning it a few days ago.
"You're to go to the Labyrinth of Gedref. What the test is, he wouldn't say, but you've got the chance to end the curse."
Arthur stared him.
"You went and asked him for that? Why? I've already failed once!"
He found himself being manhandled out of his jacket, the quilted tunic that was worn beneath chainmail being put on in its place. Merlin glanced at him as he did that, and he began to fasten the ties that held it closed at the front.
"Because you've admitted your mistakes, and I believe you can do it. For Camelot and its people, you can do it." He quickly finished getting the prince into his armour, following him when he headed for the door. "I'm coming with you. You don't know what form the test will take, and I might be able to help."
Arthur stopped, shaking his head.
"You're not coming. You've already done enough. I brought this curse upon Camelot, and I will be the one to break it or die trying."
"And how does you dying help anyone?"
Arthur sighed.
"Then I'll die knowing I did everything I can."
Merlin tried to follow him again.
"I'm coming with you."
"Merlin." Arthur put a hand on his servant's chest to stop him going any further, his tone boding no refusal. "You are to stay here and help look after the people as best you can. Is that understood?"
Merlin let him walk away, as if he'd accepted that order, and then followed him anyway. This wasn't the first time he'd disobeyed an order like this, and he knew it probably wasn't going to be the last. Something about all this just told him he needed to be there, to see this through. It would be a day's hard ride to the labyrinth, which lay on the shore of the ocean to the south-west. There was no way he was letting Arthur go alone.
He let Arthur ride ahead, keeping him in sight yet keeping enough distance not to be noticed. Arthur kept his horse riding hard, taking it slow only in the forest where the footing was poor, and sending it into a headlong charge as soon as he reached the moors beyond it. The prince didn't stop, didn't rest, continuing through the night and the following day. The sun was westering when the labyrinth came into view, and staying atop the hill overlooking it, Merlin waited until Arthur had entered before descending and leaving his horse with that belonging to the prince.
The winds of the moors and coastline ceased, replaced by eerie calm once he entered the maze. The boom of the waves beyond faded to silence, and there was nothing but his own footsteps to prove he could hear at all.
He sensed Anhora before he saw him, turning to find the old man standing behind him, and then the Keeper spoke.
"I knew you would come, despite my words. You who would trust in the strength of Prince Arthur's heart, must be the one to test it."
Merlin frowned, a little confused.
"You need me to test him? Why?"
Anhora gestured for him to come closer, explaining.
"You trust him with your life, but it must be established if he trusts you with his. If he does not, then there is no hope of the destiny I can sense around you two succeeding."
Merlin stiffened.
"You know about our destiny?"
The old man shook his head.
"I know not what it is, I merely sense that it is there. Your ties to him are clear, and the Old Magic resounds about you. If one such as you is by his side, then it can only be destiny. Now come."
He walked away, Merlin following. He didn't need Anhora to tell him that Arthur failing this test would mean failing his fated path. If Camelot fell, then that path would fall with it.
It didn't seem to take long to reach the far side of the labyrinth, not with the Keeper as his guide, and passing out of it to the rocky shore beyond he was led to where a small table waited.
Anhora indicated Merlin should seat himself on one of the pieces of log placed as stools at the low surface, the warlock doing so and eyeing the two silver goblets placed upon it. He then looked to the Keeper warily.
"What now?"
Anhora stepped off to once side and remained there.
"We wait for the prince to arrive."
The sun continued its progression towards the ocean horizon, the shadows lengthening and Merlin becoming ever more anxious. When Arthur did at last arrive he wasn't sure to be relieved to see him or not, but the unhappy way the prince looked at him said that Arthur was just as unsure.
"Merlin..."
"I'm sorry, I just..."
He let the words peter out, knowing there was no point in saying what Arthur already knew. The prince now looked to Anhora, frowning at what was going on and assuming Merlin was some sort of prisoner.
"Let him go. I'll take your test, but not until he's released."
Anhora shook his head, now looking at the warlock meaningfully.
"That is not possible. Merlin is part of the test." He turned back to Arthur. "Please, sit. If you refuse the test, then you will have failed, and Camelot will be destroyed."
Arthur grudgingly sat at the table, laying his sword down beside the goblets and frowning at his manservant.
"I thought I told you to stay at home." Merlin didn't answer, and Arthur looked at Anhora. "Let's get on with it."
The old man nodded, and pointed to the table.
"There are two goblets before you. One contains a deadly poison, the other a harmless liquid. All of the liquid from both must be drunk, but you may each drink only from a single goblet."
Merlin felt a jolt of shock inside him, even as Arthur shouted out the very thing he himself had been about to ask.
"What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does it prove?"
Anhora was solemn.
"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted."
The words sunk in for both of them, Merlin staring at the two goblets in thought.
"Let's think about this. What if I drink from my goblet first?"
Arthur shook his head.
"It it's poison, you'll die."
"But if it's not, then you have to drink from yours and you'll die." He leaned forward to examine them closer, seeing only that both cups were only half full. "There must be a way around it."
Arthur sounded grim.
"It's perfectly simple, one of us has to die. We have to determine a way to tell which one of them contains the poison, and then I'll drink it."
Merlin had started to nod, but now stared at the prince in disbelief.
"I will be the one to drink it."
"This is my doing. I'm drinking it."
Merlin started to protest.
"It's more important that you live. You're the future king; I'm just a servant."
"This is no time to be a hero, Merlin. It really doesn't suit you."
Merlin sighed, still staring at the goblets.
"What if I drink from mine first, and if that's not poisoned then I will drink from yours."
Arthur glanced at Anhora.
"He said we're each only allowed to drink from a single goblet." Merlin was pulled up short by that, and sighed again as he resumed trying to think of a solution. Seeing how serious his servant was being, Arthur felt a note of irrational humour rising. "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me."
Merlin snorted a little.
"Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself."
Arthur laughed, almost sadly, his eyes lowering as he realised this would be the last time they would ever see each other.
"I'm glad you're here, Merlin."
Hearing the prince sigh, realising the same thing himself. Their two paths together had come to an end, and only one would continue. He knew it had to be Arthur's; two people allowing one future... Two into one...
He raised his head a little in inspiration.
"I've got it. We pour all the liquid into one cup and then we can be sure it's poison. Then all the liquid can be drunk, and it will be from a single goblet."
Arthur regarded him in surprise, shaking his head a little.
"You never cease to surprise me. You're a lot smarter than you look."
Merlin gave him a small annoyed look for that statement, before starting to smile.
"Is that actually a compliment?"
Arthur seemed he was about to answer, before he suddenly frowned and pointed behind the servant.
"Look out."
Merlin turned instinctively to the idea of danger, Arthur taking the opportunity to grab both cups and pour everything from one into the other. The servant turned back in shock when he realised he'd been tricked.
"No! I will drink it!"
Arthur kept hold of the now full goblet.
"As if I'd let you."
Merlin tried to grab it, but his hand was slapped away.
"You can't die, this isn't your destiny!"
Arthur looked into the cup.
"It seems you're wrong."
"Listen to me!"
Arthur looked at him, as a man who had accepted he was about to die.
"You know me, Merlin. I never listen to you..."
He put the goblet to his lips and drained it, Merlin jumping to his feet in denial.
"No! What have you done? Arthur!" Arthur set down the cup, regarding his servant with a strangely serene smile. He then went limp, his eyes drooping closed, and he slumped sideways off his seat at the table. Merlin rushed to his side, shaking him in desperation for him to wake up. "Arthur! Come on! You have to wake up! Come on!" He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, tears that became more anger than sorrow as he turned and glared at Anhora. "You've killed him! You told me you just wanted to test if he'd trust me with his life! How is this supposed to prove if our destiny had a chance? I have no destiny now!"
The old man didn't move or react to the young warlock's fury, instead uttering the words that swept that anger away into surprise.
"It was no poison, only a harmless sleeping draught. He will wake up in an hour or so." Merlin stared, and the old man smiled. "You can sense life, can you not? What do your gifts tell you?"
Merlin looked down at the prince beneath his hands, only now feeling what his anguish had blinded him to. Arthur's life was still there beneath his fingers, it was not fading away as the unicorn's had done.
"...He's alive."
Anhora walked over, coming to a stop beside them.
"He has shown he is willing to give his life to save yours, just as you are willing to do the same for him. He has proven he has a pure heart, and because of that the curse upon Camelot will be lifted."
Merlin stared.
"What?"
The Keeper explained.
"A unicorn is pure of heart. If you kill one you must make amends by proving that you also are pure of heart. Arthur was willing to sacrifice his life to save yours. He has proven what is truly in his heart."
Anhora thumped his staff on the ground, and in the blink of an eye Merlin found himself with Arthur beside their horses at the other side of the labyrinth. He wasted no time slinging the prince across the saddle of his mount, deciding that he might as well start back towards the city while the prat continued his nap.
There was also the fact that leaving him slung face down in that undignified position atop the beast was small revenge for the scare he had given him back there. Truly, in that moment, Merlin had known the terror of believing that Arthur was dead. It was something he never wanted to feel again.
Night had fallen by the time Arthur woke up, to find himself laid near a camp-fire and Merlin cooking foraged food by suspending them on sticks around it. He sat up groggily, confused as to where he was.
"What's going on? Where am I?"
Merlin glanced at him, most of his fight from the scare now gone, replaced by irritated sarcasm.
"Glad to see you awake. Don't thank me for carrying you out of that labyrinth and going to the trouble of starting to take you home. Especially since you scared me into thinking you were dead."
Arthur grimaced at the reminded of what had gone on, wincing and wondering why he felt so stiff. It was as well for Merlin he didn't think to ask how he'd been transported.
"I thought it was poison."
Merlin passed a roasted Burdock root to him, explaining.
"Sleeping draught... By 'sacrificing' yourself so I wouldn't have to, you proved you were pure of heart and passed the test. The curse has been lifted from Camelot."
Arthur jolted.
"It has?"
His servant started to smile.
"Yes, it has."
It was proven when they arrived back at the city late the next day, having ridden through fields of golden corn and other crops ready to be harvested. An almost festival air pervaded the city, a slight pause being before Arthur's reply to his father when the king greeted them asked if the sorcerer was dead.
"...Yes. It's all been dealt with..."
The king gazed at his son proudly, directing him to see the grain reserves were restocked before walking away. Merlin then nudged Arthur, just as proud.
"You did it."
The prince looked at him, smiling at the praise and indicating his servant follow him.
"Come on, there's something we must do first."
"Do what?"
A short while later found them out in the woods, Arthur building a grave of sorts into which he placed the horn of the unicorn he'd slain.
He regarded it solemnly, and with regret.
"I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry."
Merlin watched him, approving, and began passing stones until they completed the small cairn. He then sensed it before he saw it, Anhora's presence flickering by before a stronger sense of purity appeared and his voice echoed around them.
'When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart... then the unicorn will live again.'
And it did, both of them rising to their feet in awe of the beauty and majesty that stood before them, the reborn unicorn watching them quietly. Merlin could not resist it, the urge to step forward and make an apology of his own. To place his hands on its head and through that touch make amends that his presence before had lured it to danger.
Arthur watched, unable to fathom what felt so significant by that gesture, yet still smiled at the moment. Merlin looked so happy, so blessed to be accepted by the creature, and he took a step towards the pair to join them.
The unicorn snorted and looked at him, nudging Merlin one last time before turning and trotting away. Arthur stared at it for an entirely different reason now, then looking at his servant in confusion.
"I don't get it. Why does it like you more than me?"
Merlin started to chuckle coming up with another excuse than the one he knew was the truth.
"Well I stood up for it when we first saw it... You shot it..."
Arthur clipped him round the back of the head in retaliation, striding off in the direction of the city. Merlin laughed again at the look on his face and then followed. Arthur had learnt an important lesson... In fact, they both had.
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Alaia Skyhawk: Yeah, I changed the context of how Merlin ended up in the test. I just can't see a 'Keeper of the Unicorns' holding a sword and setting a trap. It's kinda too opposite the idea he's the guardian of something so pure. And the end, I just had to add that lol XD
As for the 'Merlin sensing life' thing, that's foreshadowing. If you're to be able to chose who lives and dies... wouldn't you need to be able to sense what is living and what is dead?