Leon felt his head spinning and took a seat on a convenient rock.
"No more arguments, Leon," Gaius said sternly. "Take off your armor. I need to take a look at your wounds."
"The chainmail blocked it. It's really nothing," Leon assured him, even as Merlin helped him off with his hauberk.
"Defending myself, my daughter and Gaius from Odin's men nearly single-handedly is not what I'd call nothing," Rodor said.
Gaius had discovered Leon's broken rib and was wrapping it tightly when the other knights reappeared.
"Thank God, you're all safe," Elyan exclaimed. "We thought for sure Odin had killed you by now." Gwaine clapped Merlin on the back in secret congratulations.
"He tried." Arthur grinned. "But I won."
"You killed him!" Percival said with a smile.
"I made peace with him."
Merlin hid a grin as everyone stared at Arthur again. This was likely to be the reaction every time he made this announcement, he reflected.
000
There were still several hours of daylight left, so they left the ruins and headed toward Camelot. They traveled at a much gentler pace for Rodor and Leon's sake: riding a horse with a broken rib was no joke.
As the sun went down they made camp. Merlin went, as usual, to gather firewood, and Gwaine went to help him. "You never told me how you managed to get Arthur out of the tomb," he said chattily as they began to fill their arms with firewood.
"Earthquake," Merlin said distractedly.
"You can do that?" Merlin nodded, but was looking away, into the woods. "Merlin?" When he didn't answer, Gwaine asked, "What is it?"
"There's something over there." Merlin began to wander southward, and Gwaine tossed down his firewood, drew his sword, and followed him.
Merlin led him, apparently by some sixth sense, to an opening in a seemingly impenetrable thicket. He stepped forward to walk through, and Gwaine grabbed his arm. The movement shook Merlin out of his trance.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Gwaine said. He was no wizard, but even he could feel something strange about the place.
"I have to," Merlin answered. "Someone is calling me."
"At least let me go first," Gwaine said, raising his sword.
Merlin shook his head vehemently. "You have to leave that outside."
"What? You want to go unarmed into that place?"
"It's a sacred grove. You can't take weapons in. Besides," he grinned, "I'm never unarmed."
Gwaine narrowed his eyes, but reluctantly thrust his sword point-first into the sward and followed Merlin into the grove.
It had been overgrown so thickly with vines and thorns that very little sunlight filtered in. Gwaine wished they'd brought a torch. Merlin led him forward, and as his eyes adjusted, he realized they were approached a robed figure, her features entirely hidden in the shadow under her hood. Gwaine swallowed hard.
"Ah. Emrys," she said, and he stopped, as if he did not dare to come closer. "You have come at last."
Who's Emrys? Gwaine thought, but Merlin was already answering. "You called me. Who are you?"
"I am one of the Disir—the mouthpiece of the Triple Goddess, who sees all, who knows all. I come with a message for you: a message of the future will come to pass if steps are not taken to avert it."
"What future?"
"The destruction of everything you value. The end of Arthur's reign. The fall of Camelot itself."
Gwaine sucked in his breath, but Merlin was silent for a long time. "I have foreseen that Mordred is destined to play a part in Arthur's death," he said at last. Gwaine turned to stare at him.
"Perhaps," the Dís answered, "perhaps not. The future has many paths. That is only one. There is a way to avert the future you fear."
"What is it?" Merlin asked eagerly.
"Arthur must repent of his crimes against his people."
Gwaine stepped forward angrily. "Arthur has been an honorable king! He has made Camelot a fair and just kingdom!"
The Dís looked at him for the first time, and Gwaine felt a shiver run down his back. She looked at him like he was a cockroach who could be crushed.
"So much is true. But Arthur has waged war on the people of the Old Religion. He and his father before him have slaughtered the Druids, have killed many who wished only to do good with their magic. And as Camelot flowers, the seeds of her destruction are being sown." She turned back to Merlin and Gwaine stepped backward shakily, relieved to be released from her gaze. "Arthur must repent of his crimes. His repentance must be a turning away from the slaughter he and Uther have perpetrated upon us. He must allow magic into Camelot. If he does not, his violence will fall upon his own head."
"I know that one day Arthur will allow magic—that we will live in freedom again," Merlin replied. "But the process of changing his mind is slow and subtle."
"And have you really tried to change his mind?" the Dís said, and even Gwaine could feel the gimlet stare she leveled at Merlin. He shivered. Merlin dropped his gaze. "You must try harder, Merlin Emrys. Arthur must repent soon."
"How soon?"
"Soon." The Dís turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
"Come on," Merlin said, taking Gwaine's arm and leading him back out of the thicket. Once more outside its walls, Gwaine leaned over and put his hands on his knees, panting as if he had run a mile. Merlin pulled his sword out of the ground and handed it to him. "We need to get back, or they'll be worrying about us," he said quietly, and picked up his bundle of firewood once more.
TBC
AN: Sorry about the longer-than-usual break between updates. I spent all weekend at my five-year college reunion! I can't believe it's been that long already.
But I'm back and ready to set events in motion in Camelot! Please review!
