Queen of the Wild Magic—Chapter 9
"You know, Merlin," Arthur was saying, "I must admit, I was quite impressed back there."
Merlin rolled his eyes, and did his best to focus on the drive.
Arthur stared out the car window, watching the countryside fly past at speeds he couldn't yet comprehend. "Yes. Quite. She was really quite beautiful, and-"
"Don't you dare say it!" Merlin fumed, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"What?" Arthur said, offended. "That I can't believe you have such great luck with women?"
"Luck? Luck?" Merlin cried indignantly. "It couldn't possibly be because they happen to find me attractive and charming and smart and humble and-"
Arthur waved him off. "Oh well, now you're just pushing it."
Merlin growled, "Listen, Arthur, as soon as we get Addy back, I swear I will-"
Something hit the car with a loud thwack, forcing to swerve off into a small snow bank, where it stalled.
Arthur was the first to respond, gripping Excalibur and plunging out of the car before Merlin could even turn off the engine. He called after him, but Arthur was already running back to the road. Throwing off his seatbelt, he raced from the car, briefly registering the huge dent in the passenger side.
Arthur was waving the sword around defensively, while the other motorists swerved and honked. Oh gods, Merlin thought, just my luck to let King Arthur get hit by a car on the M4. Fortunately, the road was suspiciously uncrowded.
Merlin grabbed Arthur's arm, pulling him from the road and away from immediate danger. He shouted, "What do you think you're doing? Do you want to get yourself killed?"
"Didn't you see it?" Arthur said, looking around at the overcast sky frantically.
"See what?" Merlin followed his gaze. Other than the very imminent threat of heavy snow, there wasn't anything that he could see.
"I don't know. It...it looked like a... dragon." Arthur said weakly, following Merlin back across the now empty roadway to Addy's car.
Merlin froze. "A dragon? Really? Are you sure?" He scanned the skies again, excitedly.
Arthur shrugged. "Maybe. It was so fast. Like a blur. I just saw red eyes and wings."
There was a kind of magical hum in the air. Merlin could feel it building. Perhaps if the other magical creatures could return now, maybe the dragons could as well, he reasoned. He hadn't felt this hopeful about anything in a very long time. Then, he spotted it. High above, circling overhead. It seemed smaller than he remembered. Suddenly, the winged creature dove straight for them, murder in its dark red eyes.
"It's not a dragon!" Merlin called, backing up towards the car. "It's a Wyvern!"
Arthur readied his sword in front of him. "What should we do?"
"Don't worry," Merlin said. "I can handle this." He closed his eyes, summoning the power of the Dragonlords locked within him. The creature was still barreling straight down and would be upon them in moments. With a great, deep voice he boomed, "Dragan, tá mé do mháistir. Ní bheidh tú dochar dúinn. Saoire dúinn féin!"
The Wyvern squinted, and kept coming, beating the powerful wings even faster.
"What did you do?" Arthur shouted angrily.
Merlin watched the approaching creature with rising fear. It hadn't worked! Either his powers as a Dragonlord were gone, or the creature was not quelled by them. He felt rooted to the spot, unable to move. In his heart, he knew he couldn't kill it. It was his kin, no matter how distant.
"Merlin!" Arthur was calling desperately, still holding the sword before him and looking confused.
He couldn't turn away, he was held captive by the beast's red gaze. In seconds he would be its meal. He closed his eyes and hoped it would at least be over quickly.
There was swishing sound, followed by a loud splattering crash. Merlin's eyes flew open. Arthur was standing just in front of him, the sword Excalibur dripping with dark blood. On the ground lay the hideous head of the Wyvern. The creature's body was behind him.
"Thanks," Merlin gasped, bracing himself unsteadily on the car.
"Thanks? You nearly got yourself killed! What were you thinking? It seems as though I am always having to save you from yourself." Demanded Arthur, pointing Excalibur threateningly.
"There's a lot about me you still don't know, Arthur." Merlin argued. "And being a Dragonlord is one of those things."
"A Dragonlord? You?" He chuckled.
Merlin growled. "Yes. I-"
The ground made a noise like a beached whale and rolled beneath their feet.
"What was that?" Arthur shrieked, grabbing for the car and trying to hang on.
"Earthquake?" Merlin suggested, looking like a surfer try to ride a killer wave.
"What is going on around here?" The ground was coming back to a standstill, the undulations slowing.
Merlin shrugged. Something was wrong, but he couldn't yet find the source. That feeling of errant magic was getting stronger. "Where's all the other cars?" He said, suddenly noticing how alone they were on the road.
Frantically, Arthur looked around. "Wait. What's that sound?"
Merlin could hear it now. It was like the sound of wind rustling through dry leaves magnified tenfold. He looked for the source, but it eluded him.
"Perhaps we should go, Arthur," he suggested nervously.
Arthur nodded and hefted the sword over his shoulder. "Yes, I'm not sure we should stick around to find out what is making that noise. It sounds sort of...hungry..."
"Yes, it does." Merlin agreed. He started the car and tried to maneuver it back onto the road. The ground was beginning to roll again, slower, but in longer ripples. The sound was getting louder. What was it? A million sheets of paper ripping into pieces? And where were all the other cars? The other people? The road should be very busy at this time of day.
As the car accelerated, he glanced back. The world behind him looked as if it were being swallowed up by a green mist. "What-?" He gasped.
Arthur whipped around. "It's like a moving green tapestry...Is that what was making the noise?"
Merlin studied the image in the rearview mirror. "Arthur, that's not a carpet. It's grass!"
He looked at Merlin, then back at the road. "Grass? In the winter? How can it grow so quickly?"
"The Wild Magic. Magic of the earth, of nature and creation. It is swallowing up the world of men." Merlin slammed the pedal down as hard as it would go. "We must get to Addy. NOW!"
-(0)—(0)-(0)-
The hungry grass was far behind them as they drove into Cardiff. Passing almost no one, they made good time back to the street where the empty lot was. It seemed empty as they approached. New snow had fallen and dusted over all of their old tracks. In the foggy twilight, the whole place had taken on an eerie glow.
"Are you sure this will work?" Arthur whispered. He wasn't sure why, but it felt wrong to speak loudly here.
"No. Not really. But its all I've got." Merlin conceded. It felt as if he were being watched by hundreds of pairs of eyes, but he couldn't sense anything out of place. Yet.
Arthur clutched Excalibur at his side, trouncing his way through the drifts of snow. "And what of that grass stuff or the Wyverns? What do we do about all of that?"
"If I can get Addy back, her magic should be able to stop all of this. You'll have to hold the fort in the meantime." Merlin said.
"What fort?"
"Nothing. Just an expression." He smiled weakly at Arthur's naïvety. It had been a rough journey and there had been far too few smiles of late. Everything suddenly felt so final.
They neared the clearing where Addy was taken. Unfortunately they weren't the only ones there.
Quickly hiding behind a large tree, Arthur stared at the pack of strange lizard-like beasts that were guarding the spot in front of them. They had two ribbed fins on their backs and long forked tongs that tasted the air. "I've seen those before."
"I think they're Cockatrice. This is bad, Arthur. Really bad. Their venom is extremely poisonous and they can turn you to stone with a glance." Merlin stammered.
"So, how do we get past them?"
"A distraction? They have one fatal flaw... they're attracted to shiny objects." Merlin gestured toward Excalibur. "I can run out there with the sword and then set up a line of fire, just there past the trees." He pointed. "That will keep them out while you throw the pearl and open the gateway." He produced the opalescent pearl from his pocket and held it out to Arthur.
"Great plan, Merlin." Arthur said sadly. "Except... only one of us can go through the door. Remember?"
Merlin felt as if his heart had stopped. Here it was. His true test of loyalty. Destiny's plan revealed at last. What should he do? Let Arthur try to fight those things on his own while he went after Addy? Or stay and let Arthur go? Arthur wouldn't stand a chance against a dozen Cockatrice, not to mention all the other things the Wild Magic had yet to release upon them. He should have seen it before. He should have realized that he would have to make a sacrifice.
Deliberately, Merlin stated, "You will have to go and rescue Addy. I will stay here."
Arthur laughed quietly. "What? You want me to go to some magical realm of the fairies and bring back your girlfriend while you stay and get yourself killed... again?" He stared down Merlin.
"Yep, pretty much sums it up." He shrugged sadly and stared back. He knew what had to be done.
"You are completely insane. You know that, right?" Arthur said, grabbing the pearl from Merlin's hand and thrusting his sword into it instead.
"Thanks, Arthur. I know you'll get her back."
"I can't believe you're staying and fighting while I go rescue the girl. It just seems so... wrong." He shook his head, mumbling to himself.
The cockatrice were on the move, startled either by a scent or a sound.
"No more time to argue. Go, Arthur. I'll be alright." Merlin said and lifted Excalibur up. He smiled once more at his friend, nodded, and said, "Good luck," before sprinting out into the clearing and waving the sword frantically in front of him.
The cockatrice took the bait and immediately a dozen large, poisonous lizards were charging down on Merlin. He bolted through the trees and was gone, taking all the creatures with him.
Arthur didn't wait to find out it the plan worked. Merlin had given him this chance and he was going to take it. He rushed to the spot where they had last seen Addy, and without hesitation, threw the pearl into the snow below. A soft vapor began immediately to rise from the ground, slowly solidifying into the shape of a door.
As Arthur watched the door to the Otherworld form in front of him, he realized two things: One, that the Lady of the Lake and Doctor Bretir had both known that it would be Arthur leaving and Merlin staying. Both had told him directly that he would be the one seeing Addy. And Two, that maybe, just maybe, Merlin had been right all along about destiny. It was real and it wasn't always what you might expect.
Thinking this, Arthur stepped through the black emptiness in front of him and vanished.
Author's Note-
Okay, it's been a few days since I updated, and it may be a few more for the next one. Hate to leave you hanging, but...it's my birthday this week! So come on, how about some reviews or a favorite or a follow? :P It would be an awfully nice birthday prez, you know.
Next up: Morgana's motives revealed.
THANKS!