Queen of the Wild Magic—Chapter 4

"No! No way!" Arthur declared, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets and planting his feet firmly where he stood. "I am not going back in there!" He nodded to the friendly white building in front of him.

"Stop being such a baby," replied Merlin with a roll of his eyes. He pulled open the large glass door and shoved Arthur through.

Arthur spun around and hissed, "They locked me up! I barely escaped with my life!" His eyes darted nervously around the reception area, checking to see if anyone was about to make a hostile move.

Merlin scoffed. No one was paying the slightest bit of attention, despite the fact that Arthur was wearing one of the most hideous kitten and puppy jumpers ever created. Merlin was still quite proud of himself for that one. "No one will bother you, you great royal clot. Now, come on!" He snapped and strolled right past the guard at the reception desk.

The guard looked up with a confused scowl, but Merlin's eyes flashed gold, and after a few whispered words, the guard returned to his duty, paying them not the slightest notice. "See?" He said to Arthur, pulling his stunned friend along with him. Merlin had an appointment with the Doctor, and he wouldn't wait.

They jogged quickly down the corridor to the lifts. Once inside, Arthur turned to Merlin and said, "Do you really think he will know how to get Addy back?"

"I don't know," answered Merlin. He stared at the metal doors and tried not to feel worried. "But he definitely knows something. I have to try."

Arthur clapped him on the shoulder, just as the doors chimed open. "Then, let's go find him."

-(0)-(0)-(0)-

It didn't take long to locate Doctor Bretir's office. It was in a hallway, just past the sign for Wing D. The door was shut tightly, and Merlin prayed the Doctor was at work today. He approached the door and knocked purposefully.

A voice from within answered with, "Come in."

Engulfed behind a normal-sized desk, was the bespectacled doctor. He smiled as they entered and crossed his diminutive hands in front of him. He did not look shocked to see them in the least. Rather, he seemed as though he had been waiting for them to arrive for some time.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty." He said cheerfully to Arthur.

Before Arthur could reply, Merlin interrupted, "What did you mean by this?" He said, tossing the coin squarely upon the desk in front of him.

Doctor Bretir did not even glance at it, he merely motioned to the two chairs in front of the desk. "Please, have a seat."

Defiantly, Merlin continued to stand.

The Doctor shook his head. "Well! There's no need to be rude. You youngsters, always so impatient!"

"Do you know who I am?" Merlin blasted. "I have walked this earth for over a millenia!"

"Yes, yes. I know." He rebuffed firmly, "Now sit. Please." Merlin, followed by Arthur, took a chair and sat. The doctor smiled. "Thank you, Emrys. Now..." he picked up a stack of bundled papers and peered through them over his gold glasses. "...Oh yes, that's right. I know you are upset about losing Miss Singleton, but I assure you she is perfectly safe with the fairies. At least, for now."

Merlin was steamed. "For now? And how can she be safe with the fairies? They are evil, scheming, little-"

"Come now, Emrys." He shook his head. "That was a very long time ago, and only one small faction of a much larger group. The Sidhe that have Lady Addy are quite friendly and helpful. They were only trying to protect this world."

Arthur, who had pretty much been lost the moment he stepped into the office, was now completely stumped. And he hated feeling stupid. "Save the world? By kidnapping a girl? Explain yourself, little man!"

The doctor's smile grew a fraction of an inch. "Sire, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of a formal introduction, well, at least not in a very, very long time. My name is Bretir."

Merlin whispered in Arthur's ear. "You've met him once before, but I doubt you would remember."

Arthur brow was so wrinkled, it was a wonder he didn't hurt himself. "What are you talking about, Merlin? Of course I remember him. He and that witch woman locked me up in here!"

Bretir laughed long and heartily. "Well, yes, I suppose I did, But I assure you it was only for your own safety. As for Dr. Drummett, she possesses no magic that I know of, except the innate magic that all women possess to make men weak in the knees." He winked surreptitiously at Arthur, causing him to fly into a barely suppressed rage.

"No," Bretir continued, as if he didn't notice the alarming shade of red Arthur had just turned. "What your friend was referring to was when we met long ago at the border to my kingdom. You were on a quest, I believe, to find the trident of the Fisher King."

The memory tumbled back into place, forcing Arthur to abandon his outrage temporarily. "You were on the bridge!" Arthur gasped. He looked back and forth from Merlin to the doctor. "Wha-? How?"

"Yes, I would like to know 'how' as well. You should be dead, magic or no."

Bretir nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, by all rights I should be. A funny thing, destiny, don't you think?"

"Somebody had better tell it to get some better jokes. The ones I've heard haven't been very funny." Merlin muttered in response.

Ignoring him, Bretir continued, "Yes... Anyway... Long before you and Camelot were even dreamt of, I was a servant to a great king. Much like Merlin is to you, Your Highness. And as such, I was tasked with ensuring the restoration of my great and mighty kingdom."

"Wait a minute!" Merlin shouted, jumping to the edge of his seat. "I thought I had restored it when I freed the Fisher King."

Bretir shook his head sadly. His eyes had gone pale. "You healed it, but it was not restored. That task you failed to accomplish. But nevermind that," he said. What was he hiding? Merlin wondered. How did I fail to restore his kingdom? Quickly, the doctor changed the subject with a wave of his hand. "What is important now is for you to rescue your lost love, is it not?"

"Yes." Merlin requested eagerly. "Can you help us?"

Bretir drummed his fingers on the desk. "Yes. I can help you. But there is a cost."

"A cost?" Arthur demanded. In his experience, sorcerers who demanded a price were never to be trusted. "What is it?" He growled.

Eyes hidden behind his glasses, he replied. "You must travel to the Lake of Avalon. There you must reclaim the sword that was lost. But, you must also seek advise from the Lady herself. Only she can tell you how to enter the Otherworld."

Arthur had no idea what the doctor was talking about, but by the way Merlin's face had turned to ghastly white, he was pretty sure it was something terrible.

At last, Merlin squawked, "And what is the cost?"

"That when you find the door to the Otherworld, only one of you will be able to enter."

"Why?" Arthur commanded.

"Great and terrible things are at work in the world. Have you been so blinded by love that you have failed to notice them, Emrys?" Bretir stood, and began pacing behind his desk. His voice had taken on an ominously flat tone, and he kept his hand clenched behind his back. "Where did the Afanc come from? Surely you have thought about it."

He was turned away from them, so that he didn't see the sharp look in Merlin's eye. He hadn't thought about it, he realized. Not really. Was he that blinded by love? Is that why he failed to see Addy's magic?

Bretir continued, "It was not alone. Many things have been stirring. Things that are best left in the past. The world has moved on for a reason, it is not ready to face the onslaught of Wild Magic that is about to engulf it. Or did you not think there was a price to pay for your resurrection?" He raised his brow at Merlin. "The fairies removed Addy from this world before she could do further harm. But it is up to you to restore the balance. So, one must go, the other must stay and fight in order to save the land of Albion. And for that, you will need a great weapon."

"Excalibur." Merlin whispered. Bretir nodded. Arthur merely sat, looking puzzled. What did his old sword have to do with anything?

Meanwhile, Merlin felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. Albion was in danger. A land he had sword to protect with his life. And it was all his fault. Yet, why was getting Addy back all he could think about? Was his loyalty really so easily dismissed? And what of all the other questions Bretir had failed to answer. The Wild Magic? He wasn't even certain he knew what that was. A great stirring in the world? How would a sword fight off magic? And then...then there was the Lady...

Bretir was clearly done speaking. He had buried his nose in his paperwork and offered no further answers. Arthur thanked him curtly and took a dazed Merlin's arm, hoping to escape without any more mind games. But as he went out the door, Bretir called out to him. Arthur came back warily, leaving Merlin just outside, lost deep in the recesses of his own mind.

"Here." He flicked the golden coin straight for Arthur's hand with a practiced ease. "Give this to Addy when you see her." Light flashed briefly off his frames, as he returned to his work without explanation.

Arthur gathered Merlin at the door and left hastily, hoping that he was done with these sorcerers for awhile. What he wouldn't give for a regular old tournament of strength and braun instead of all this mental jousting! Sorcerers, pfft. They never give you straight answers. Give me a dozen knights over one sorcerer any day. Then, it occurred to him that, despite all that he had seen Merlin do, he had a hard time seeing him as a sorcerer. He might be odd sometimes, Arthur thought, but at least he was honest and loyal. He amended his previous thought. Maybe one Merlin was worth more than a dozen knights. Maybe.

Author's note-

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Keep it coming!

Next up: Morgana's return.

I'm a bit curious to find out what you think will happen with her return. I've made a quick survey here. Just put your guess in the review box. I wonder how many people will get it right? If enough people answer, I may post the results with the next chapter.

When Addy brings her back, will Morgana-

A. Immediately threaten Addy to a duel to the death?

B. Not remember who she was or what has happened to her?

C. Be sweetness and rainbows, telling Addy that all is forgiven?

D. Disappear and hunt down Merlin and Arthur?

Post your guess, you may be surprised by the answer (or at least you will if I'm doing my job as good writer) :)