Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter three: Plans in motion.
Merlin and Arthur walk close together as Arthur uses the stolen knife to cut the ropes around his wrists. Merlin could have just used magic, but if any of the group even suspected he had magic they could be in serious trouble.
The enchantments here were strong, he shouldn't have made it this far. He'd be killed on the spot, if they worked out who he was. Morgana didn't want sorcerers getting to close to Ismere. Plus Merlin was conserving his energy, he didn't know how long the charm Tristan had given him would last, or how much of his magic it could withstand.
Arthur suddenly nudges him and Merlin glances round before taking a quick step forward and pulls one of the ropes hanging from the back of the wagon. Half of the wagons supplies tumble loose and roll across the snow.
Ragnor rides back upon hearing the noise and stares at the sight before him for a moment. He glares at the prisoners, anger filling his eyes and a look of rage crossing his face.
"Who did this?" He bellows. "Who?!"
He gaze falls on Merlin and Arthur and Arthur nodes towards Merlin.
"We need to rest." Merlin speaks up, meeting Ragnor's gaze.
Ragnor jumps down from his horse and storms towards Merlin, stopping a foot in front of him, he draws his sword.
"Right, you can rest forever!" He growls.
He goes to strike Merlin, but Arthur suddenly swings his bound hands, hitting Ragnor straight across the face and sending him crashing into the back of the wagon. With a quick twist of the dagger his hands are free and he throwers the knife into the chest of one of Ragnor's men, who was approaching, sword drawn.
Merlin's eye flash gold and one of the horse suddenly rears up, sending its rider crashing to the ground. Arthur grabs a battle axe from the back of the wagon and throws it to Merlin, before drawing his sword and fighting off the approaching men.
Merlin grabs their things which Ragnor had taken while, Arthur grabs a cross bow and the two of them run, whilst the other prisoners over run the rest of Ragnor's men.
Merlin slides to a halt as the come to edge of a large crack running as far as the eye can see in both directions. Arthur grabs the supplies and throws them over, whilst Merlin looks down to see how far down it goes.
"You've got to be joking..." Merlin mutters in disbelief.
"Do you have a better solution?" Arthur asked, moving back and preparing to run and jump.
Arthur runs and jumps, making it across, as Merlin glanced back to see some of Ragnor's men chasing after the through the snow.
"We haven't got all day, Merlin!" Arthur called across to him.
Merlin glanced at Arthur, before moving back, running and jumping across the gap. As he lands his foot slide and he falls forwards as the snow before him almost gives way. Arthur quickly moves forward and pulls Merlin up.
As the two of them kneel behind a snowy drift, two of Ragnor's men approach. Arthur shots the first one, but the second makes it across before. Reloading the cross bow, Arthur shots the second and he falls backwards into the gap.
"I'll make sure they can't get across." Merlin explains, moving forwards and rushing towards the gap.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaims.
Merlin raises the axe and brings it down, cutting away at the snow and ice. He glances up briefly and sees Tristan and a third man approaching. Arthur raises the cross bow and shoots the third man.
'Tristan,' Merlin speaks into Tristan's mind. 'Stay back!'
With a final swing of the axe a large piece of snow and ice falls away.
Merlin turns to Arthur to see he has the cross bow trained on Tristan.
"Arthur don't," Merlin calls. "He couldn't come after us."
"He was leading us to our deaths." Arthur points out.
"He showed us kindness." Merlin replied. "Plus it's not his fault. Morgana has Isolde."
"What?" Arthur exclaims. "How?"
"I don't know," Merlin answers. "But you can't kill him."
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Gwaine groans as his eyes flutter. He had been unconscious for a good few hours, those Saxons really knew how to hit a guy! Noticing a slight glow through his eye lids, Gwaine blinks his eyes open and tries to focus on the glowing figure above him.
Gwaine tries to move back in alarm, his hand automatically going for his sword, which had long since been at his side. The creature places a hand on Gwaine chest, it gaze firmly fixed on Gwaine.
"You have nothing to fear..." The creature speaks, turning its attention to some of Gwaine's wounds. "Your wounds are not yet healed."
"You…" Gwaine begins. "You saved me. Thank you."
"I know that you are worthy of my help." The creature answers, it glow seeming to get slightly brighter as it moves. It reminded Gwaine of moonlight being reflected off the lake of Avalon, Merlin had taken him there one night to show him something.
"I don't understand." Gwaine replies.
"You think kindness is the preserve of humans?" The creature answers.
Gwaine shakes his head. "No…I've never seen a creature like you before."
"No." The creature answers. "You would not have, Strength."
"Who are you?" Gwaine asks, remember being called strength before.
"I..." The creature seemed slightly taken aback by the question. "I have been called many things by the Children of Men."
The creature pauses for a moment. "I am the last of my kind. Once we were revered by all... but those days are long... gone."
Gwaine wasn't sure what to say. He wished Merlin was here, he'd know what to do and what to say, and he was the last of his kind too. He was the only dragon lord left.
"For hundreds of years, we were shunned and hunted till I found myself... alone." The creature suddenly started speaking again. "And now, even this last refuge is safe... no more. You are weak, fair knight. You must rest and heal yourself."
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Jared slowly creeper through the underground passages, towards Camelot's dungeons. He had his sword drawn and held ready to strike any knights or guards who happened to see or find him.
"Stop!" A knight behind him calls, having entered the tunnel on patrol. "Reveal yourself."
Jared spun and before the knight had chance to react, Jared had stabbed his sword through his midsection and he fell to the ground dead.
Continuing on his way, Jared hurried along the tunnel, until he came out hidden in the shadows of the dungeon. A guard stood nearby, helmet and armour glittering in the fire light from the torches lining the dungeon walls.
"AGGHHH!" The guard yells, as his was thrown across the dungeon as Jared eyes flash gold for a second.
Jared hurries through the dungeon until he reaches the cell Rachel was being held in.
"Onluce the!" Jared mutters, holding his hand over the cell doors lock.
"Come on!" He orders as the cell door swings open and the alarm bell starts ringing.
Rachel got to her feet, a smile on her face and follows Jared out of the dungeons.
Elsewhere in the castle, Gwen turns from where she was watching out the window as Leon enters the room followed by a couple of guards.
"Is it Ruadan?" Gwen asks.
"Almost certainly." Leon replies.
Back in the tunnels under Camelot, Jared lead the way as he and Rachel run. They reached a metal gate and Jared raised his hand.
"Onluce the!" He mutters and the gate swung open.
The two of them run, yells and shouts echoing behind them as knights and guards chase after them. As they enter the forest, Jared grabs hold of Rachel's hand and leads her towards the place where she had meet up with days before.
"There!" Elyan yells from behind them. "Give yourselves up there's no escape."
"Jared!" Rachel cries in alarm as more knights and guards close in around them.
"Bael onbryne!" Jared yells throwing up his hand.
The knights and guards were thrown back, but not before Elyan managed to land a deadly strike.
Jared collapsed to the ground, holding his wound as blood seeps through his fingers.
"I need water." He gasps out.
"Jared..." Rachel pleaded helplessly, at a loss of what she could do. "The fight must continue. You must cure yourself..."
"I do not have such powers." Jared answers, his strength slowly leaving him.
"Try." Rachel begs. "Please."
"Cum-eh mech. Href-n-wan!" Jared whispered, before handing a small roll of parchment to Rachel. "Attach this to the bird. You've done very well. You should be proud, Rachel."
"You can't leave me." Rachel pleads, as Jared presses the roll into her hands.
Jared raises a hand to Rachel's cheek. "You must be strong."
"Jared, please." Rachel begs again.
"I will always love you." Jared smiled weakly, pressing a kiss to Rachel's lips.
He falls backwards onto the ground as his life leaves him.
"No. No. NO!" Rachel's cries, resting her head on Jared's chest. Beside her a raven lands on a low wall and caws.
Slowly sitting up Rachel reaches across and ties the roll of parchment to one of the raven's legs. It turns its head to the side, looking at her before flying off.
'I bring bad tidings. Arthur did not return to Camelot. He makes his way to Ismere. 'But you must not despair, Morgana. Soon you will have the Diamair and Arthur's Bane will be with you. Soon the Pendragons will be no more...' Jared's note read.
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Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading that chapter. Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I was on holiday. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLIfe1997.