Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter six: True loyalty
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As Arthur walked through the tunnels looking for Merlin, he would never admit he was worried. Merlin may have been a dragon lord, but the dragon was clearly working for Morgana. Plus what if something happened? Merlin had no weapons and the charm Tristan had given him wouldn't last forever. Arthur had seen first-hand what happened when the charm stopped working or broke.
"How good of you to save me the trouble of finding you." Morgana smirks as she stepped out of the shadows behind Arthur.
Arthur froze for a second before spinning on his heels and reaching for his sword, only to realise it wasn't there.
"Oh, dear how remiss of you." Morgana mocks. "Your bravery is matched only by your stupidity. What on earth did you think you would achieve by coming here?"
"I'm here to free my men." Arthur answers.
Morgana just smirks. Before drawing a dagger from her belt and throwing it at Arthur.
"Fleoge." Morgana commands and the dagger stops in front of Arthur neck.
Arthur goes to grab the dagger, but Morgana eyes flash and the dagger cuts at his neck. Arthur drops to the floor and rolls to avoid it. As he rolls back to his knees, Morgana steps closer.
"This time it seems there really is no way out." She brags.
Tristan comes up behind her and stands at her shoulder, watching Arthur as he tries to get back to his feet, but Morgana's magic keeps him on his knees.
"I'm sorry for what our father did to you." Arthur mutters and he truly was sorry.
"Uther was never my father." Morgana snaps, enraged.
"But we are brother and sister." Arthur answers.
"Funny how you choose to remember that with my dagger at your throat." Morgana hisses.
"What happened to you, Morgana?" Arthur asks, finally getting to his feet. Merlin had trained him and the knights in resisting magic, but it was still hard to do. "As a child, you were so kind, so compassionate..."
"I grew up." Morgana snaps.
Morgana's eyes flash and the dagger strikes Arthur in the stomach, lucky the Saxon armour takes most of the damage. Arthur falls back landing against the rocks, he groans not even bothering to move, it would do no good.
"You are right to cower before my hand." Morgana smirks. "I am more powerful than you can imagine."
"And yet with all that," Arthur replies. "You choose to do nothing but hate."
"Uther taught me well." Morgana answers, a mocking laugh in her voice. "Goodbye, Arthur Pendragon."
"Arthur!" Merlin exclaims, appearing from one of the tunnels.
Tristan draws his sword, but Morgana throws Merlin into a wall of the tunnel and Merlin collapses to the ground.
"No!" Arthur yells.
Arthur tries to force himself up as Morgana smirks at the fallen Merlin.
"Morgana..." Arthur gasps. "Please..."
"Don't speak, dear brother." Morgana snaps. "It's too late."
"Hine..." Morgana begins, but is cut off as Tristan runs her throw with his sword.
"Tristan!" Morgana gasps. "Isolde will pay for this."
Tristan draws his sword, and Morgana falls to the ground. He quickly rushes over to Arthur, pulling him with one arm over his shoulders. He glances at Merlin as he leaves. He get Arthur to safety then he'd come back for Merlin, if Merlin hadn't already recovered and made it to them. But at the moment Arthur was more important.
Reaching the end of a tunnel, Tristan comes face to face with Gwaine, Percival and the other knights.
"Arthur..." Percival gasps, rushing forwards and taking Arthur from Tristan.
"You have to get…" Tristan begins, but he sways on his feet and Gwaine quickly steadies him.
It was only then Tristan realises he hadn't eaten since Merlin and Arthur had escaped before he'd arrived here. Gwaine began leading him after the other as they made their way to fortress above them.
"No!" Tristan tries to pull away. "You have to go back for…"
Tristan sways again, but this time he passes out. No food mixed with walking through arctic conditions, with little to no sleep plus the stress of Morgana threatening the love of his life weren't a good mix for Tristan, as he finally gave into unconsciousness.
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"Ic the thurhaele thinu licsar." Euchdag enchants.
Merlin stirs as the healing magic does its work. He blinks his eyes open and looks up at Euchdag, he tries to move back, but Euchdag places a hand on his chest to still him.
"Emrys." Euchdag speaks. "Lie still."
Merlin shifts slightly, as Euchdag leans closer to him.
"Much blood has been shed this day and all for something few wise men would ever want." Euchdag informs him.
"You mean the Diamair?" Merlin asks. "Morgana never found it?"
"And she never will." Euchdag answers mysteriously.
Merlin stares at Euchdag for a moment.
"Because it is you." Merlin replies, slightly surprised. "You are the Key to all knowledge?"
Euchdag nodes.
"There are times, I feel the weight of my destiny crushing me, but... that is nothing to what you carry." Merlin mutters in sympathy.
"It is both a blessing and... a curse." Euchdag answers. "Is there anything you wish to ask me?"
"No." Merlin answers, shaking his head. "I don't think it would be good."
"You are wise, Emrys." Euchdag smiles. "Your wisdom will live long in the minds of men."
"Wait!" Merlin calls as Euchdag begins to move away. "There is one question. Who is Arthur's bane?"
Euchdag meets Merlin's gaze. "Himself."
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Isolde sat in the cell the Saxons had thrown her in. She had begged and pleaded for them not to hurt her Tristan, but they had simply laughed at her and grinned wickedly every time she winced as a male scream echoed through the place. She had no idea if it was Tristan or not, so every time she watched them burn bodies from her cell window, she prayed it wasn't Tristan.
A noise outside her cell made her tense. Maybe it was the Saxons or worse Morgana. She had heard the alarm bell ringing earlier, so if it was Morgana she wasn't going to be in a good mood.
"Isolde?" A voice called.
Isolde knew the voice, but she couldn't place where from.
"Isolde?" The voice calls again. "Are you down here?"
"I'm here." Isolde coughs, it had been a full day since she had last had water and then it had only been half a cup.
A silhouette of a man appeared in front of her cell and Isolde squinted to try and see who it was. The man raised a hand over the lock and suddenly the cell door sprung open. The man walked towards her and as they stepped into the low light coming from the cell window, Isolde finally worked out who the man was.
"Merlin!" She chokes out.
"Shh," Merlin mutters, kneeling in front of her. "Talking might damage your throat. Hold still a moment."
Merlin holds a hand over the shackles around Isolde's wrists. His eyes flash gold and the shackles fall to the ground with a clutter. Merlin quickly pulls Isolde to her feet, put one of her arms around his shoulders and one of his arms around her waist.
"Tristan's safe," Merlin reassures Isolde as they leave the cell. "He's with Arthur and the others. Tristan's just unconscious, it's nothing serious, Gwaine believes it's just from exhaustion and from the sounds of it I think he's right."
They walked up the steps and along a corridor. Nearing the end of the corridor, Isolde catches sight of a man with brown hair leaning against the wall of the corridor. It takes her a moment to place a name to the face.
It was Gwaine.
"Gwaine!" Merlin calls. "No wonder Arthur fears for Camelot every time you're on guard duty!"
Gwaine laughs. "The princess has nothing to worry about. No enemy of Camelot is getting past the wards you put up!"
"Gwaine, they only detect known enemies of Camelot." Merlin answers. "It doesn't just stop everyone… I don't think any spell is capable of that."
Gwaine grins at Merlin, before nodding to Isolde. "You found her then."
"Oh no," Merlin mutter sarcastically. "This is just an illusion of Isolde, I thought I'd try and trick you."
"Really?" Gwaine asks, in a joking manner. "It's incredibly life like… No wonder you're the greatest sorcerer to ever live."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Do you have any water?"
Gwaine holds out a water skin. "Here."
Merlin raises an eyebrow. "Is that really water?"
"I wish it wasn't," Gwaine replies. "But Arthur won't let me anywhere near the Saxon ale."
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Hello, I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.