Chapter 15

Crazy stuff is happening my readers!

Merlin didn't know what to do. Mordred had been seriously injured during the trip to see the Disir. The wound was a severe one. Arthur had been rushing them all back to Camelot since it had occurred. His worry over his newest knight was strong, but Merlin could only look at this one way. Yes, Mordred was a friend and a fellow sorcerer, but he was also destined to be the death of Arthur. Merlin's job was to help magic users, but also to keep Arthur safe. What was he to do?

And then there was this whole thing with Alyssa. What could be so terrible that she couldn't tell him? He had been truthful with her about everything. How could she not return the favor?

He pondered all of this while they rode back. When they made it to the gates though, he wasn't able to think about much. He and two of the knights had to rush an unconscious Mordred to Gaius's rooms. But, the scene they found there was not what they had expected.

Gwen was there, next to the couch. She was holding the hand of someone. She was whispering quiet, calming words to whoever it was. They weren't responding very loudly though.

Merlin set Mordred down on the table for Gaius to check him out and he turned to the couch. From this angle, he could see the face of the person. He froze when he realized he was looking at an exhausted Alyssa. She turned her head toward him.

Her face was red and glistened with sweat, showing the exhaustion she obviously felt. Her eyes were red and it looked like she'd been crying. She forced a small smile onto her face when she saw him, but then she winced in pain. Merlin was across the room and grabbing for her hand before he knew what was going on.

"Alyssa, what happened?" She breathed in shakily and spoke in only a whisper.

"I don't know," she paused and breathed for a few moments before continuing. "Came down to talk to you last night," she paused again. "Sudden, severe pain in my chest. Like I was stabbed."

Merlin's mind was reeling. What was wrong with her? He turned to Gaius with a questioning look on his face. Gaius nodded at him signaling that they'd talk later.

"Alyssa," Gwen spoke up from the door. "I'll be back later alright?"

Alyssa nodded and Gwen left. Merlin looked around and noticed that everyone was gone from the room except the two of them, Mordred and Gaius. Merlin turned towards him, his questions already forming on his lips. But Gaius spoke before he could.

"Merlin, I do know what's wrong now that you and the knights have returned, but I cannot tell you unless Alyssa explains the whole situation first. I promised her I would say nothing."

Merlin turned to look at Alyssa. She was staring at him fiercely.

"I will tell you Merlin, but you must keep quiet until I am finished."

He nodded and promised he would keep quiet. She started talking and when she was finished, Merlin couldn't speak. He looked between her and Mordred and wondered how he hadn't seen it before. Then he looked back at her. There was a fear in her eyes. She was afraid of how he would react to all of this. To tell the truth he didn't know how he was reacting. He thought he might be in shock.

Alyssa was hurting too much to react to Merlin's silence. He was just sitting there at this point. All she could do right now was stare at her injured brother.

"Gaius," she spoke as loud as she could so he could hear her. "What's wrong with me? And what's wrong with Mordred?"

"Mordred was stabbed by a Disir-made dark magic weapon. The dark magic is flowing through his body right now. You are in a similar situation."

"What are you talking about Gaius?" Merlin spoke up, breaking the silent streak.

'Her connection to Mordred is causing her to feel the pain he is in and she is feeling it very strongly."

"Has my brother woken up yet? If the dark magic is weakening me so considerably, maybe it will have an effect on Morgana's spell."

"I don't know if he will wake up Alyssa. He hasn't woken since he was hit last night according to the knights."

Alyssa had an idea. It was crazy and mad and she didn't know if it would work the way she wanted, but she had to try it. The only problem was that she was going to need Merlin's help.

"Merlin, I have an idea, but you're not going to like it."

"This doesn't sound good at all."

"Merlin, I'm going to try to take on more of my brother's pain, so he will be able to wake. If he is able to get past the spell controlling his mind, then I need you to do the spell that will counter Morgana's. Can you do that for me?"

Merlin thought about it for a very long time. Alyssa started to get worried that he wouldn't do this for her, but eventually he nodded.

"Merlin, Gaius can show you the spell. All you have to do is get Mordred into the circle and get it closed. Once it's been closed he wont be able to back out, even if the spell takes control again."

Merlin looked at her strangely, as if he was contemplating something. He had the same look in his eyes that had been there the day they'd almost kissed out in the hallway. That time, Gaius had stopped them. This time, Alyssa wasn't so sure that he would.

"You're not allowed to take on too much of the poison. Okay?"

He spoke seriously and she knew what he was thinking. If she took on too much, she might not be able to wake back up afterwards. She nodded and he stared at her again, with that same look. She wanted him to kiss her. As wrong as it would be for them both in the end, she wanted him to kiss her. If he did there would be immense pain when she had to go back to 2012, but if he didn't, there would be more pain and even more 'what ifs?'

He leaned in close and she could feel his breath on her face. He smelled like earth. The scent she'd always loved. It was like she was sitting in a tree in the forest again and she closed her eyes as the scent washed over her. Then his lips were on hers and the spark of magic electrified their kiss. It was like being struck by lightening, but there was no pain here; just magic and love.

He pulled away before she did, but both of them were out of breath. They nodded to each other again. Her's was a silent promise of 'I'll be careful.' His was a 'You better be.' Alyssa closed her eyes and drew the darkness she could feel coming from her brother. She pulled away enough that he would wake up. It was slow work and the pain it was causing was excruciating. She could feel the dark magic grabbing at her very essence. It ripped and tore at her, but she kept going until, eventually, she succumbed to the darkness that beckoned to her with promises of rest and safety and the absence of any pain.

So who's freaking out over the cliff hanger? What do you think will happen? What do you want to happen? READ AND REVIEW PEOPLES!