Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter seven: The source of the spell
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Gwaine walked beside Percival as they slowly made their way back to Camelot, in front of them Isolde and Tristan were asleep on a wagon wrapped in blankets. The wagons and horses they had taken from the fortress were for the sick and injured, with one wagon at the back for the dead they had lost in the battle with the Saxons.
Arthur, who was currently leading them, still hadn't noticed Merlin wasn't with them. Merlin had explained to Gwaine, he had to find and destroy the charm Morgana was using to suppress sorcerers magic and could Gwaine pass that message on to Arthur, so they didn't feel the need to wait for him, as he could simply magic himself back to Camelot when it was over and the charm was destroyed.
Not that Gwaine needed to pass that message on, as Arthur seemed to have completely forgotten about Merlin. Gwaine was somewhat curious as to how long it would take Arthur to remember about Merlin. He was also looking forward to seeing the king in a blind panic as he realised he'd left his friend behind.
Not that Arthur would ever admit to that.
It was that sort of light entertainment that made it worthwhile to Gwaine. When Merlin wasn't around to help him pull pranks, it was fun to watch the king panic about Merlin's whereabouts. Of course Leon would have disapproved, but Leon wasn't here, so again Gwaine was losing out on some of his usual entertainment, but he'd take what he could get.
Percival had noticed Merlin wasn't with them as soon as Gwaine returned with Isolde alone, so he'd been forced to fill him in on the plan before he alerted the king and ruined all the fun. So now Percival was walking along with a knowing smile, which Arthur had questioned once or twice. Percival was looking forward to the show just as much as Gwaine was.
But a small, part of both of them were worried about Merlin, he was at the fortress alone. Morgana had disappeared shortly after Tristan had carried Arthur away, so what if she returned? She was the one who had cast the spell and her magic didn't seem affected by it, so if Merlin was forced to fight her, she'd have the upper hand.
Gwaine knew Merlin was immortal, but that didn't stop him from getting hurt or suffering. In that moment Gwaine made a vow, as soon as Merlin got back to Camelot the two of them were going to down to 'The Rising Sun' in the lower town and they'd drink until Gwaine got kicked out or Gwaine found a rather nice bar maid to go home with.
It was then Gwaine often envied Merlin. No matter what happened, Merlin always had a lovely lady to share a bed with at night and Freya, Gwaine would admit was a lovely lady. She was defiantly Gwaine's type, but she was married, to his best friend no less. And they made a charming couple and were by far the best parents Gwaine had ever seen.
But that life just wasn't for him.
Maybe one day, but not today or anytime in the foreseeable future. Merlin had once told he was destined to find true love, but Merlin had never told him when or who it would be. All Merlin had told him was to be careful and to never judge someone on looks alone and love is not simply about what you want, it is about what the other wants too.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Why do I do this?" Merlin mutters to himself as he walked through the fortress.
He had looked almost everywhere for the charm Morgana must have been using to keep the spell in place. Morgana's disappearance had proved she wasn't using herself as the spell's source, so where could she have hidden it?
Merlin had started on the ground floor and was slowly making his way upwards, checking every room, passageway and possible hiding place he could think of. But still he had found nothing. Walked up a spiral staircase, Merlin made his way up to the next floor, he couldn't be far from the top floor now.
Merlin almost stumbled backwards, as an invisible force seemed to slam into him. Merlin placed a hand to his chest has he tried to regain his breath. He smiled to himself, he was definitely going in the right direction and by the feel of it, he was close. The charm around his neck that Tristan had given him was heating up and burning his flesh.
Merlin winces slightly.
He just hoped the charm would hold, as it seemed to be getting hotter the closer he got to the source of the spell. Walking along the corridor, it felt like he was walking through a swamp, the air seemed so thick and constricting it was becoming hard to move.
This was most definitely dark magic.
Reaching a door the feeling seemed its strongest around, Merlin pushed the door open and lucky it wasn't locked. Merlin wasn't sure what would happen if he tried to use magic this close to the source, even with the charm he had on.
The sight which greeted him, wasn't what he expected. In the middle of the room was a small work table and in the middle of the table was a small bubbling bowl. The mixture was a dark purple mixed with hints of dark green, which smoked every now and again, giving of a foul smell.
Merlin slowly made his way towards it, the charm around his neck getting hotter and hotter with every step. Reaching the table, he stared at the liquid.
He had no idea how to destroy it.
It would help if he knew what spell Morgana had used, but he had never come across a mixture like this before in all his studies. Fire seemed to destroy most things, but Merlin had a feeling fire wouldn't destroy this, underneath the feeling of dark magic was something familiar, but it was too distorted by the dark magic to make out what it was.
Merlin held out one of his hands and shut his eyes. Summoning as much magic as he could, he mutters the words of a spell. A flash of blinding white light fills the room and the charm around Merlin's neck shatters into hundreds of pieces. But nothing changes, it was almost like the charm hadn't broken.
Merlin opens his eyes, in his hand is the staff of Emrys, the only object he could think of summoning which would be powerful enough to destroy the mixture, without knowing the exact spell Morgana had used. And it seemed the staff stopped the spell from effecting him too. It was the most powerful magical object of all time, so it wasn't too much of a surprise.
Pointing the staff towards the mixture, Merlin's eyes glow and the bowl explodes as a blast of pure magic destroyers the mixture within. Lowing the staff Merlin breathed deeply, the air around him felt normal again and the sudden disappearance of the pressure made Merlin feel lighter.
Summoning a glass vial, Merlin scoops up the small pool of liquid that remained. If he was going to be prepared a face a spell like this again, he'd have to work out how Morgana had created it and what ingredients she had used. Gaius and Alice would no doubt be able to help him on that front.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Freya paced up and down as she run her hands through her hair. A scout had seen Arthur and those who had escaped Ismere returning to Camelot, but Merlin had not been with them. Normally Freya wouldn't be as worried as she was now, but she had heard no word from Merlin.
When ever Merlin was away from more than a couple of days, he sent word to her, via his messenger owl. But no letter or note had been delivered to her. Merlin was immortal and couldn't die, but that didn't stop her worrying about him.
"My lady." A voice behind her made her jump.
It wasn't often people could sneak up on her, that simply proved how distracted she was. Freya turned to see it was the dark haired young man who had accompanied her to Camelot.
"Oh, it's just you." Freya sighs in disappointment, for a second she had hoped it was Merlin, he could always somehow sneak up on her.
"You had hoped it was Emrys." The young man answers.
Freya nodes. "I don't usually worry this much… But I have heard no word from him and Arthur and his company were seen returning to Camelot without him among them."
"I am sure Emrys is well, my lady." He replies.
"I know he is," Freya answers. "In my heart of hearts I know, no matter what happens he will always recover and he'll always come home… I just wish I knew what was happening. Why would they leave Ismere without him?"
"Maybe he had a reason to stay behind, my lady." The young man offers. "Morgana has been occupying the fortress, who knows what spells or enchantments she has cast there. Emrys wouldn't leave unless he was sure the place was safe… King Arthur had sick and injured with him, Emrys most likely sent them ahead, so they could receive treatment in Camelot."
"You're probably right," Freya smiles. "Merlin wouldn't risk the lives of men, just so he didn't have to return home alone. He's probably just so busy he hadn't had the time to send word."
Freya walked over to the window and stared out, watching as a couple of birds danced through the sky. Suddenly she turned to face the dark haired young man.
"You consider Merlin your friend not just your king, yes?" Freya asks, with a smile already knowing the answer.
"I do, my lady." He answers.
"Then it would not seem strange if you went to Ismere to find him." Freya smiles.
"Indeed it would not, my lady." He replies.
"Oh, stop with the 'my lady'. I am your friend too." Freya rolled her eyes. "How long have we known each other?"
"Four and a half years, my-"
Freya cuts him off with a glare.
"Four and a half years, Freya." He amends.
Freya smiles. "You're family. Merlin sees you as a brother, not just a friend. Our children call you uncle, you need only call us 'My lord' and 'My lady' while in court."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading that chapter. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.