Work is getting me down again. Probably doesn't help that I am ill for the second time this month.
Anyway, I am posting this and then going to try and write the next chapter, or otherwise, I won't be posting anything next week. This is annoying me now. I want to get this story out to you as fast as possible. I just want to get back to my old posting schedule.
Chapter 12
The feeling that they had when they were in the forest didn't change the closer they got to the Isle of the Blessed. Both Merlin and Arthur turned to each other at the same time. With a look, they knew that they were feeling the same thing. This was where they were going to be tested and Merlin could just feel the dark magic at work. It would make any other man want to turn back and run away from it. But they had a mission. A mission to find Morgana. Merlin was certain that she was here.
As soon as their feet collided with the cold hard ground of the Isle, Merlin and Arthur shivered. It was like the game had begun for them. This was the test.
As he said, Merlin allowed Morgause to lead them around. The fog had fallen fast across the Isle, making it hard to see who or what was about. Merlin had almost tripped over a number of stones that once made up the castle. Everyone felt jumpy.
When they found Nimueh, Merlin thought there was something odd about it. It was like she was waiting for them to arrive. Just that thought scared him. He wanted to pull Morgause back as she took a step towards the older woman.
"Been up to much since I left for Drugonia?" Morgause asked.
"Not much."
"Uther and Balinor are dead, but I presume that you already knew that. You did seem to know about everything that happened to them."
"Of course I know that they are dead. I watched Uther march out of Camelot. I stood and watched as the army marched towards of the Drugonian one. I had a feeling that both kings will fall. Just didn't realise how right I would be. And now you bring me the next two."
Morgause took a small step forward. "Both of them are better men than their fathers. Arthur especially."
"But this is our time. We have an advantage."
"What might that be?"
"You might not want to be by my side but I might get another. Someone stronger than you." Nimueh smirked at them. "Or maybe you will join me again. We can make magic be what it needs to be. It is already feared. It just needs to be on top."
"I think I know what you mean but you could never find them."
"But I know who it is now. It couldn't be any better than I could have imagined."
"Morgause?" Merlin said, knowing that he wasn't the only one wanting an explanation.
Morgause just ignored him. "So she is here then?" She said, sounding a little panicky.
Merlin caught on to who they were on about and took a step forward. "Where is she?"
"And so the uncrowned King of Drugonia is the first to catch on. You would be because you are your father's son. He was always the brightest in Camelot. Always thought more than the others. Always more likely to have his head in a book rather than a sword in his hand. No wonder he didn't like to go to war."
"There is nothing wrong about advocating for peace."
"And the history of Drugonia never winning a war. Part of me wanted to see what would happen. I wanted to know whether this would be the first war Drugonia would win. He didn't tell you the true reason behind it though, did he? I doubt he did."
"We just haven't won a war," Merlin said.
"The origin of Drugonia was probably drummed into you as a child but there is always one part that they leave out. Because of the bloodshed that the dragons caused, Basileus and Regina, on their deathbeds, meet with the dragonlords. There it was decided that bloodshed like that would never happen again. The only way to stop that bloodshed would be to advocate for peace. On that so precious mountain of yours, a spell was cast. Because it is always the losers that ask for a surrender, isn't it?"
The realisation hit Merlin. Of course, they should be able to win any war. There must have been something more behind it. It would make sense that something magical was behind it.
Merlin shook his head. He knew what Nimueh was doing. She was trying to distract him from what was important.
"Where is Morgana? Where is my wife?" Merlin demanded.
When Nimueh just smiled at him, he felt his stomach drop. She had her. She had Morgana. He just knew it. He wanted to shout out her name but he knew that wherever she was, she wouldn't be able to hear him. He knew that he was panicking but when he saw an open door out of the corner of his eye, he knew that she would be there.
He did hear Morgause tell him no but all logical thinking left him as he turned to the door and ran towards it. He could only imagine what Nimueh's face looked like. He knew that he was running towards a trap. He knew that it felt all set up. But that didn't stop him as he made his way to the door. He could hear someone following him but he didn't know whether he wanted them to stop him or not.
He knew he was being stupid but he wasn't thinking. He ran through the door and stopped immediately as it slammed shut, leaving him in darkness. He waited to hear if the person following would bash on the door. He reached back to where he thought the door was to find nothing. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he turned to see that the door was no longer there. Just the walls of the corridor.
Merlin gulped as he realised what he had put himself into. This may be the way that he was going to find Morgana, but he had placed himself in danger. He said a quick spell making a light appear to expel some of the darkness. He looked down each way of the corridor before opting for the way that he came through the door. He would find Morgana and then he would find a way out of there.
