On the back of the huge dragon Merlin and Arthur rose into the sky. Aithusa's wings shimmered in the sunlight and she roared as she rose higher and higher into the sky. Arthur held onto Merlin tightly, too afraid to look down, but also too amazed to close his eyes. Merlin could feel him shiver in fear and excitement as they continued to ascend and the land of The Fade expanded below them with the cool evening air over their faces. Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that he had done this before.
Aithusa perched at the opening of a large tunnel in the side of the mountain. Arthur and Merlin clumsily slid off and landed on the soft dirt of the mountain, when Merlin then bowed his head in respect.
"The ones you seek are in there," she said after bowing back at Merlin. "Make haste, their lives are not bound for this world much longer."
Merlin held up his hand. Night was setting in and the darkness was growing deeper by the minute. He muttered a few words and his hand ejected a small white sphere, emitting a wide beam of light in front of him that illuminated the entrance of the tunnel.
This time it was Merlin who took Arthur's hand. He was too tired to worry about him coming across as affectionate, because right now, he was afraid of what he might find. Will, dying. Kilgharrah, dying. How many friends would he lose before this fight was over, before everyone could sleep in peace again?
Together, hand in hand, Merlin and Arthur entered the dark tunnel, ready to face the horrors that lied within.
Nimueh clutched her chest, feeling Richard's power seep into her, begging her for her soul. Even the strongest witches and warlocks were falling now; it was only a matter of time before she fell too. She leaned over the counter of her kitchen, trying to will Richard's magic out of her.
"Hurry..." Nimueh whispered into the cold air of her house. "Please. Please hurry."
"What does Gwen have to do with anything?"
Merlin scoffed and shook his head.
"I see the way you look at her. I'm not daft, Arthur."
"The way I – of course, she's my girlfriend. Merlin." Arthur sat at his desk and randomly pulled a piece of paper up, doing his best to concentrate on what the words said, trying to ignore the fact that Merlin was being stupid, like usual.
"What am I then?" Merlin asked, voice raised.
"You're my bloody servant, that's what you are. What kind of question is that?"
"That's it then... just a servant?" Merlin asked.
"Can you become pregnant?" Arthur sarcastically inquired. He lifted his head from his work and stared deep into Merlin's eyes. "Well?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "No, Arthur, of course –"
Arthur got up and grabbed Merlin's arm, dragging him to the door.
"Then you are useless to me. Do you really think I can be with another man. If you could produce me an heir then maybe, but, really Merlin. You're just a servant."
Merlin recoiled at those words. Arthur had drug him to the door by now and he opened it for Merlin, swaying his hand, signaling him out.
"We can never be together. Get that through your stupid head or I'll find another servant."
"But you said you lo –" Merlin was interrupted by the door slamming shut in his face, causing him to flinch. His shoulder's fell and he took a step back.
"You said you loved me." he whispered as he quickly began to walk down the hall.
Arthur leaned against his door and slid to the floor, he rested his head in his hands. He spoke softly into the night air, confessing only to himself.
"I do, Merlin. I do, we just can't be together."
The room was huge but dark, fires along the walls barely illuminated the dark dry cave that Kilgharrah was resting in.
"Kilgharrah?"
The weak dragon lifted his head. His scales were no longer brilliantly red like they once were. They had become tinted with sin and disease. He weakly turned his large body to face the young magician, scales of his falling off in the attempt.
"Merlin. I'm glad you're here," Kilgharrah whispered lifelessly. He let out a few coughs, raspy and thick. Merlin reached his hand out, his fingers gently grazing Kilgharrah's snout.
"I was hoping you would find me. I had searched the Earth world for you, but I came up empty."
Merlin retracted his hand.
"You're here because you need to know what you do not, yes?" Kilgharrah asked.
Merlin could only nod. The once powerful dragon was slowly rotting away in front of him. Merlin could see the disease spread through his large body, turning his scales gray and his eyes black. Merlin couldn't stand the sight of him. Another casualty due to the horrible tyranny of Richard.
"How... How did you hurt him?" Arthur asked.
"Ah yes," Kilgharrah responded. "His magic is not so absolute. I was able to use a powerful dragon hex on his mortal body, encasing his spiritual magic inside of him. Had I not, this world would be in shambles, disintegrating even as far as out here, where no magic has ever before pierced. He, however, was also able to get the upper hand on me, hitting me with a very powerful blast and infecting me with his disease."
Kilgharrah lifted his wing to show a large gash in his side. The blood had crusted over and was black and the wound was seeping purple puss, a colour which was spreading through his body.
"Before we continue, I must inform you of something terrible, young warlock."
"Wha-what do you mean?" Merlin asked. His mind was racing, what bad news could Kilgharrah have for him, everyone he had ever loved, ever been with was dead – Will. His mind flashed back to the morning, when he felt Will's energy leave The Fade. He was hoping that he was masked by the dragons or just sick and saving his energy. It was a common trick, to stop radiating magical energy, it kept you alive for weeks without food or water, slowing down the body's energy consumption, but Merlin had been wrong.
Kilgharrah saw the expression change on the young boy, turning from confusion to sorrow and anger.
"Yes, you assume correctly," the mighty dragon whispered. "But, I hope it comforts you to know that he did not die in vain."
"Who died?" Arthur asked, confused. He turned to Merlin and could immediately read the sorrow on his face, the sorry that one feels when they've lost a lover.
"Wait... Will?"
Merlin turned to him, his eyes rimmed with tears and nodded in response.
"I've – I've known – err... I assumed," Merlin confessed. "T-This morning, when I could no longer feel his life here. I was... I was h-h-hoping that," Merlin held back a sob, "that he was just weak... or... or something but, no..."
The dragon purred, extending his wing and gently, with more compassion then Merlin thought a wing could produce, stroked Merlin's cheek, catching a tear as it rolled down his face.
"As I said, young warlock, his death was not in vain," Kilgharrah repeated. "Before he died, I was able to extract his soul and place it in this. Richard's magic corrupts and destroys the body, and then steals the soul, adding it to his power, destroying it in the process. I was able to save his soul before Richard's magic could take it."
Kilgharrah extended his large claws and dropped a small blue crystal in Merlin's hand.
"W-What?" Merlin held the small jewel. He couldn't feel Will, but he could feel life. The crystal was brimming with power, pulsing and humming in his hand. "W-What... am I supposed to do with it?"
Kilgharrah chuckled. "It is one half of a whole, with it you will be able to bring down Richard, but first..." He coughed again, and more scales fell. Merlin could feel his life slipping away. "First, you must know about Richard, and how his magic works."
"But," Merlin began to argue. "We don't have time—"
"Please, Merlin, you must listen."
Merlin closed his mouth and sat on the dry rocky floor of the cave.
"Thank you. Now, Richard is a creature like no other. He is not man nor is he demon or warlock, but something else entirely. His magic is poison, pure poison, and his existence is a travesty to all life. Do you know how one gets to The Fade if they are not magical and are unaided by an inhabitant of The Fade?" Kilgharrah asked.
Both Merlin and Arthur shook their heads.
"You must sacrifice lives, many of them. The sinful nature of the ritual and the innocent lives that are lost creates a rift, a dirty tear in the fabric of space and time."
Kilgharrah cleared his throat and he looked down at Merlin with sorrowful eyes.
"But these spirits he did not let free. When they were done with their sacrifice he bound them to his skin, an unholy armor. His poison and his armor are two sides of the same coin, as are you and Arthur, the sword and the staff, the brains and the brawn, swift and the strong. Do you understand?"
Merlin nodded, turning to Arthur who had his eyes pinned on him. They were tender but concerned, heavy with the weight of their task.
"Arthur, do you have your sword?" Kilgharrah asked.
"Yes," Arthur replied. He quickly pulled out his compact blade from his pocket. With the flick of his wrist it unfolded into a long thin blade. Arthur wasn't used to one handed swords but since his old sword was still in Mordred's ruined dungeon, it was all he had.
"Merlin, hold out the crystal I gave you," the dragon said.
Merlin extended his hand and held it flat, the blue crystal resting in the middle of his palm. Kilgharrah leaned in and licked the crystal into his mouth. Merlin heard a soft crunch and Kilgharrah consumed the soul.
"Merlin, hold the sword up with your magic," Kilgharrah commanded.
"But... you just—"
"Please! Just do as I say!" Kilgharrah roared.
Merlin closed his eyes and extended his hand, slowly lifting Arthur's sword out of his hands, levitating it a meter off the ground. Kilgharrah took a deep breath and then exhaled directly onto the blade. His breath was fiery and golden, with streams of blue twisting and circling Arthur's sword.
The sword fell from Merlin's grasp, too heavy for him to hold anymore, and it gently landed in Arthur's. Arthur noticed the weight difference, the sharpness of the blade, and the light engravings on the side.
"I have given you the power to break his unholy armor," Kilgharrah stated. "But to slay him, you need one final component."
"What, what is it?" Merlin cried. He was so tired of these riddles, these games. He was too tired.
"My own soul."
"What?" Merlin screamed, defiant. "What? No! Kilgharrah!"
"Young warlock! Did you not hear me? This disease will consume my soul, and with all my magic in that blade, my soul will soon be taken. Young William's soul is already in the blade, and mine must join him or you will not be able to kill Richard. I promise that once the task in complete, I will exit the blade and take William with me, into the afterlife."
Arthur stepped forward. Merlin was in tears, he couldn't, he could not take a life. Too many had been lost to this war, too many-
"I will do it."
"What? Arthur? No!"
"Did you not hear him, Merlin?" Arthur yelled back. His eyes were fierce with determination. He gripped the blade with white knuckles. "If we do not save him from his body, his soul will join Richard's. Do you know what he could do with that kind of power?"
Merlin said nothing. His will was broken, and his body was standing with just the last bit of strength he had left. Arthur walked closer to Kilgharrah and held the sword high. The dragon bowed his head.
"Thank you, sire," Kilgharrah whispered.
Arthur plunged the sword deep into Kilgharrah's skull. The mighty dragon retracted his head and roared to the roof of the cave. The sword began to glow and pulse a golden yellow. The aura traveled over the dragon's body, turning his gray scales red, stitching his cuts, his wounds, places the infection had ripped open. Kilgharrah roared again as he spread his wings in triumph, his body glowing in gold.
I give you now my soul, my strength.
Kilgharrah's body shattered into a million tiny golden sparks. They swirled around the blade, fast and true. The blade humming as his soul became one with it, the sparks binding with it until there were no more sparks and only the blade, golden and brimming with power.
Use it well.
The sword dropped into Arthur's hand and he folded it back up. He turned to Merlin who was sitting on the floor, unmoving.
"Merlin—?"
"I can't."
"What?" Arthur asked, confused. "What do you—?"
"I just can't!" Merlin screamed. "Gwen and Morgana and Will and Kilgharrah and m-m-my family and... Arthur... I-I just can't... anymore." Merlin was rocking back and forth, his knees brought up to his chest. He was breathing shallowly, chokes and sobs escaping as he tried to speak. "So... so much death... Arthur!"
Arthur sat next to him and wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. Merlin rested his head on Arthur's collarbone, nuzzling in close.
"Shh... Shh... It's alright Merlin," Arthur cooed. He ran his fingers through Merlin's dark hair and Merlin sobbed into his chest. "We're going to kill the bastard, Merlin, we will. We're going to set the world right again."
The morning harbored no relief for Merlin. His mind was foggy, immediately returning to the events of the previous night. His heart ached, but his mind had returned to its rational position. He had a job to do, he had lives to save. Merlin's attention was quickly pulled by the rustling beside him and the weight of an arm being removed from his chest. The bed he was laying on was not his own, and even with last night's memories still in his mind, he had forgotten where he was. Merlin hadn't slept with Arthur, he'd know that, but it was still uncomfortable having him so close. After losing Kilgharrah, after losing Gwen, after losing – Will – he had felt dirty, dirty and guilty. If only he had been a little stronger, then maybe, just maybe he could have saved –
"Good morning Dragon Lord."
Merlin's attention and gaze shifted to a small man standing at the foot of his bed. His stature was short and his clothes we're tattered, but his face was cleanly shaven and his posture astute.
"Who... are you?" Merlin asked the small man.
"I am a... servant to the dragons." The man confessed. "I have come to tell you that the dragons have departed for lands beyond The Fade."
Merlin cocked his head and Arthur gently rolled over in his sleep. "Then why are you still here." He asked.
"I, sadly, cannot cross realms, Dragon Lord."
"Merlin, call me Merlin, please."
"Yes – ahem – Merlin. You're going to have to make it back to your home land on your own. Aithusa was going to take you herself but the disease is spreading. Soon this entire place will be engulfed in it's... in it's sin." The short man's eyes shot to the floor then drifted gently to the right. Merlin could see his mind falling back to a sadder place, a place tainted by Richard's dark magic, much like Merlin. Merlin could feel his own memories sliding into place in his head, Morgana, Gwen, Lance, Will, his friends, his family, all succumbing to the darkness. He thought towards his mother, he wondered where she was now. Surely she had gotten away, escaped, but little did Merlin know that Hunith was searching for them now, in the skies above the fade.
Merlin shuffled out of bed, careful not to disturb Arthur and walked over to the man.
"I will not let that happen." Merlin whispered and he pulled him into an embrace. The short man's arms slowly wrapped themselves around Merlin.
"I lost my – my mum and..." the short man cried.
"I understand."
"And you will – Richard?"
"Yes, I will. I'll take care of him. It. All of it."
The short man pulled back and wiped his nose with his tattered sleeve. His eyes were blood shot but they were also full of faith, faith in Merlin. Merlin felt his heart lift with hope, hope for the future, hope for The Fade, and hope that he and Arthur can work this – them – out, when its all done.
Maybe, just maybe, happiness is right around the corner.
They we're half way through their journey back when Merlin had heard the sound. Arthur was quietly fidgeting with his new blade, running his hands along the imbued script on the hilt, passing his hand along the side of the blade, feeling its form, its texture. Arthur had accidentally let his hand slip, running the blade's edge along his hands. He had expected the blade to slice through his palms, but unexpectedly he felt no pain, there wasn't even a mark.
"Did you hear that?" Merlin asked.
Arthur turned his attention to Merlin and then to the sky. He had heard something, it was like the sound of a eagle or some type of hawk.
"I heard... something, why is it bothering you?" Arthur asked.
Merlin shushed him. He could feel a presence. It was familiar, it was homey. Merlin's eyes we're drawn to the near by forest, he could feel something there.
Something.
Hunith.
Merlin took off running at full speed to the edge of the woods. He leaped off the beaten dirt path and into a dense meadow, knocking over various plant life as he bolted closer and closer to the energies of his mother. He knew she had been alive, he knew it.
"Merlin? Merlin! Where are you going?" Arthur yelled running after him.
"Its my mum, Arthur! I'd-I'd know her feel anywhere!" Merlin picked up his pace as he ran across the flourished field. Arthur was right behind him, running as fast as he could. Merlin stopped just a few feet from the edge of the forest, looking deep into the darkness, the sun barely penetrating the dense canopy above.
"Mum! Mum!" Merlin yelled, cupping his hands around his face, trying to throw is voice as hard as he could.
"Merlin are you sure –"
"Shush!" Merlin commanded. "Mum! Mum! It's weak up, I can feel her, she must be hurt!" Merlin took a few steps towards the forest but stopped abruptly at the sound of Hunith's voice.
"Mer – lin."
"See, Arthur, see!" Merlin exclaimed, a bright smile filled his face, extending to his ears, "I told you! I told – Mum! Mum!"
"Mer – lin"
But something was wrong, her voice, it was distorted, dark, slow. Arthur cautiously stepped back, squinting, trying to see into the forest. He could feel emptiness and corruption.
"Mer – lin."
Merlin felt something along side his mother, something disturbed, something sinister. He enchanted his eyes so they could penetrate the darkness of the forest.
"Mer – lin, Merlin!"
Merlin's eyes locked on to his mother, and his smile quickly turned from happiness to fear. Arthur took a step back in horror and quickly grabbed Merlin's arm, pulling him back with him as a huge black creature slowly walked out of the forest and into view. It spread it's wings spread wide, it's mouths open. Together, the heads continued to chant.
"Mer – lin."
"Mer – lin."
Arthur unsheathed his blade and extended it out, pulling Merlin's small body behind him. The creatures heads cocks and their eyes locked on to Arthur's body. It reared on its back legs and screamed into the sky, wings extended. Merlin's hands grew brighter as he saw him mother in this abominable form.
Merlin's eyes filled with tears, his mother, the only woman he ever loved, was only meters from him.
"Mer – lin"
He could feel his mother's trapped soul inside the creature in front of him. His hands began to glow with magic as he held them up defensively in front of him. Hunith screamed again, scratching at the ground with her hooves, she snorted.
Merlin could not touch her or talk to her.
"Mer – lin"
Merlin could not hold her, or comfort her, or tell her everything was okay.
"Mer – lin"
Merlin could only kill her and set her soul free.
"Mer – lin!" Hunith screamed again and began to gallop towards them. Merlin raised one hand and a large blue bubble formed around them. Hunith rammed into the wall and recoiled back, small splatters of blood on the exterior of the shield, a small crack forming at the point of impact.
Merlin began to pant, his mind in shock. He quickly regained his resolve and held the other hand up, sealing the hairline cracks that we're spanning across the only thing stopping Hunith from killing them both.
"Mum!" Merlin screamed as he tried to pull her out of her trance. He felt his body fill with rage. How did she become like – Richard... of – of course.
"That's not your mother!" Arthur yelled back, his sword was pointed in front of him.
"Yes... yes it is." Merlin looked to Arthur who took his eyes off of Merlin to look back. Arthur could see the truth in Merlin's face and felt his knees become weak. He had known Hunith only for a little while, but she was one of the nicest women Arthur had ever met. Arthur's knuckles turned white as his grip on the blade tightened.
"Mer – lin! Merlin! MER – LIN!"
He turned his attention back to Hunith who was slowly circling the blue barrier. Each head was panting and screaming Merlin's name. It's body meticulously moving, stalking, hunting its prey; each step calculating how to best kill its target. It was feral and corrupt and it made Merlin feel sick to his stomach.
My God, Mum... what Richard do to you?