Okay, here's the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and added me to their faves and alerts lists. I really appreciate it.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
The Influence of Hades.
Chapter 6 – Talk.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Morgana, Arthur and Merlin looked at Hades. Evadne was sat on a rock near the veil to the Elysian Fields, looking calm and collected.
"I haven't got time for pleasantries. So here is how this works. There is a challenge to face, and there are three parts to the challenge. You fail even one and it's over. You pass them all and Merlin can go back with you to the land of the living." Hades said. Morgana and Arthur looked at Merlin as he smiled at them.
"I can't believe you're doing all this to get me back." Merlin said. He looked at both Morgana and Arthur. "I thought you'd be so angry about me using magic Arthur. As for you Morgana, I never thought you'd have any forgiveness in your heart after what I did to you." Merlin said.
"I'm here because there are things I want to know Merlin, and only you have the answers." Morgana replied. Hades smirked at the two living beings.
"You may each speak with your friend alone for an hour. In my infinite kindness I've decided to give you what might be the only chance to speak to your friend again. You only get an hour each so make it count. If you complete the challenge, Merlin will be free to return with you to the world of the living. But only if you complete the challenge." Hades stated. Arthur looked at Morgana.
"It's alright. You can speak to Merlin first." Morgana whispered to him. "You can pretend but I know how much he means to you." Morgana added. Merlin and Arthur went for a walk. As they walked past the cocoons of people, Merlin turned to look at Arthur.
"So are you angry with me?" Merlin asked.
"I'm angry you lied to me. Why did you never tell me the truth Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"Because telling you was not only dangerous to me, but dangerous to you too. If I told you, I'd not only be asking you to go against your father, but I'd be asking you to break the laws of Camelot. I never wanted to ask you to do that. It wouldn't be fair." Merlin replied. Arthur spent most of his time asking questions and Merlin answered each one. Where Merlin had saved his life? When? How? What sorts of things Merlin could do with his magic. How long had Merlin been able to use magic? Merlin answered all these questions patiently. When their time was up, Arthur looked at Merlin carefully.
"What will I do if I lose?" Arthur asked. It was a rare moment of insecurity and Arthur would never have allowed anyone else to see it, but Merlin was different. He always had been, Arthur realised.
"You'll go on and be a great King, and I'll watch over you all from wherever I end up." Merlin replied.
"How can it be that simple for you?" Arthur asked. Merlin grinned that big goofy grin of his.
"Because it has always been that simple. Whatever hard decisions I've had to make, I did because the reason for those decisions was easy. It's my destiny to protect you. So just... don't be a prat." Merlin replied. Arthur laughed at the familiar words as Morgana came forward. Arthur watched as Merlin and Morgana walked away, having no idea what they would talk about. Arthur looked at Evadne, who was smiling.
"What are you smiling at Evadne?" Arthur asked. Evadne looked at Arthur and smiled more widely.
"Ah, Arthur, if only you could see what I could see. You would understand why I was smiling." Evadne replied.
"You could tell me." Arthur stated. Evadne laughed.
"I'm sorry Arthur, but I can't. It might cause chaos in the future." Evadne shot back. Hades smirked. Arthur wasn't sure whether to glare or pout at the strangeness of this situation.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Morgana looked at Merlin carefully. He looked the same as always. His deep blue eyes shone brightly, his black hair flopped over his forehead, his ears stuck out endearingly. But his expression was serious. They sat in the opening of a small cave and Morgana turned to look at Merlin fully.
"You know what I'm going to ask you." Morgana said.
"Why I didn't tell you about my magic, or why I poisoned you that day. One of the two." Merlin said. Morgana nodded.
"Both actually." Morgana said. Merlin licked at his lips.
"I didn't tell you about my magic for a lot of reasons. One of them was fear for my life. If you had told Uther I would've been dead. Another was that I didn't want to burden you with the responsibility of knowing about my magic. I know that you and Arthur cared about me. But I would've put you both in a terrible position if I had ever told either of you about my magic. Gaius is already burdened with it, I didn't want to burden anyone else, it wouldn't have been fair." Merlin explained. "As for why I poisoned you, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. You were the vassal for the sleeping curse spreading through Camelot. The only way to stop it, and to stop everyone else being killed, was to kill you. I didn't want to do it and I've been plagued with guilt ever since that day. I'll never forgive myself for what I did. I never expected forgiveness from you either. But I had no choice. If I could've done it any other way I would have." Merlin finished solemnly. Morgana looked at Merlin carefully, assessing whether she felt Merlin was being honest, but she knew she didn't really need to. She knew Merlin was always honest. She licked nervously at her lips.
"There's something else I want to ask you Merlin." Morgana said.
"Well now's the time for questions." Merlin replied.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Arthur looked into the veil and saw his mother talking with Morgana's mother and Merlin's father. It was strange seeing the dead conversing.
"They are happy you know." Arthur looked at Hades. He looked back at Arthur seriously. "Those spirits who come to me with goodness in their hearts have a right to happiness. That is what I provide them. That is what I will always provide them." Hades said sternly.
"If we fail, if we can't take Merlin back with us, will you make sure he is happy here?" Arthur asked. Hades blinked.
"He is different from all others of your kind. Merlin was born with magic. He was born with the greatest power to ever be bestowed upon a human being. It is a heavy burden to bear. He cannot rest until he knows that you're safe. You, Arthur Pendragon, are his destiny. He was born to protect and serve you, to advise you and be your friend. He has not fulfilled that destiny. So he will be constantly waiting for you until you meet him here. I cannot make a man happy if his life's ambition remains unfulfilled." Hades replied. Arthur wasn't sure what to say to that, so he waited for Merlin and Morgana to return.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Merlin and Morgana came back to where Hades waited with Evadne and Arthur after the hour was up. Hades smirked at the pair.
"Now it's time for the challenge." Hades said cheerfully. Arthur and Morgana waited for Hades to tell them what they had to do.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Okay so that's the end of this chapter. Yes I've purposefully left out what Morgana asked Merlin. There is a reason for that which you will all learn about later on. Please R&R and let me know what you think and I will update as soon as I can.