Hello readers! I just wanted to make it clear that I fully intend on adding some major Merlin whump. I just haven't gotten to that point yet. However, feel assured when I say it'll come soon enough. My guess is I'll be beginning the whump in chapter 7 or 8. So until then, just bare with me! Anyways, this is the newest update – Hope you enjoy, and please review!
The group reluctantly neared the cave, none of them sure what exactly to expect. Arthur road in his usual up front position with Merlin and Leon following close behind. It was merely mid-day yet the clouds overhead blocked out the suns rays allowing a dark shadow to be cast upon the land that made it seem as though night was soon to be upon them.
There was a chill in the air that had the hairs on the back of Merlin's neck stand on edge. The warlock could sense something was off – whether it be the presence of some unwanted force, or the fact that is was too quiet, didn't matter, just that it felt wrong. However, knowing he was always turned down in the past whenever he suggested to Arthur that something was wrong, Merlin kept his mouth shut. That did not stop him from being couscous, of course, so he was constantly shifting his gaze and paying close attention to everything that surrounded them.
"If you're too afraid, you can always turn back, Merlin." Arthur blurted out. The king was always teasing his manservant about being frightened. The knights chuckled and glared at Merlin who, with an annoyed shake of his head, continued to study the environment.
"I'm not afraid, sire. I'm just simply taking in the wonderful view."
Arthur let out a quick laugh, "stop being such a girl, Merlin, and pay attention to the task at hand." With that the king urged his horse to trot ahead. Soon enough though, a large cavern at the base of a small mountain appeared before them and Arthur raised his right hand to inform the rest of the group to halt. He dismounted his horse and began tying the rains onto a nearby tree; all the knights did the same. Merlin was caught in a trance, staring at the mouth of the cave; he could sense the magic within its depths as if it were reaching out to him. It was powerful indeed.
"Merlin, mate, are you coming, or not?" Gwain shouted from ahead – Merlin was still sitting upon his horse. The young warlock was shaken from his thoughts and dismounted, tightly tied the reins of his horse near the others, and ran to where the knights waited for him.
Leon and Elyan held the torches as they began their trek through the cold, damp tunnels of the cave. Water dripped down from the ceiling and slid down the rocky walls forming small puddles on the ground. Merlin already didn't like this.
They walked slowly and safely around every corner and finally made it to an opening. The tunnel they were just in opened up into what was like a large room. There was a small bed in the corner and books scattered out on the floor. In the center of the room was a pile of coals remaining from what was once a fire. The group searched for a sign that whoever once occupied the cave, was still there.
"It was definitely the sorcerer whom was here. These are books of magic." Leon stated as he picked his way through the old books. Merlin just stood in awe. He could feel the power resonating from the room. It was if the very place was created with magic.
Then the warlock noticed the sigils carved into the stone walls. Whoever this 'Radulf' was, he held a great deal of knowledge when it came to the magical arts. Merlin recognized the symbols upon the sides of the room from somewhere, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. They had something to do with fire.
"No one is here. He must have fled." Arthur let out a frustrated sigh that was interrupted by an eerie voice coming from the entrance to the room, from which they came.
"Why would I leave when the fun has only just begun? I merely wanted to surprise you, king Arthur. It's not often I receive guests." Radulf was tall and dark skinned. He had a head of black hair and his eyes were a cold blue. He was dressed in long, torn robes that were made from a brown fabric and laced with a navy blue trim. He had an evil smile planted on his lips, but even that could not take the the groups gaze off the two diagonal scars placed across the sorcerers face. It wasn't just Merlin who sensed Radulf's power.
"You will pay for the crimes you have committed. You have killed innocent lives and destroyed a peaceful village. There is no fun hidden within your actions!" Arthur spat out harshly.
Radulf just lifted his head a little higher, "I do not intend to be slaughtered by a Pendragon nor his knights like my many of kin have over the years. It is your turn to die." He sneered.
"How dare you speak to the king in such a tone?!" Elyan stomped forward, his sword raised to the sorcerer's chest. Radulf smirked and raised his hands.
"Fiscdéah Fyrcynn!" His eyes flashed a brilliant gold as well as the symbols upon the walls. A purple smoke began emerging from the cracks in the stone of the cave and everyone but Radulf moved to the center. Soon he was laughing a crazed laugh and glaring at the helpless knights. Elyan dropped his sword and let out an agonizing cry as the purple smoke came in contact with his hand and burned him instantly. Gwain was next to touch the deadly stuff. It was as if it reached out to him and took hold of his arm. He stumbled away falling to his knees and shouted in pain. Percival quickly rushed to his side and put out the fire that was burning through Gwain's tunic. Even the chain-mail had melted down to nothing in the heat and the knight was left with a devastating burn all the way from his elbow to his shoulder.
"You are pathetic! You thought you could prance on in here and defeat me? Think again!" Radulf let out another menacing laugh before gaining eye-contact with Merlin. Suddenly the evil sorcerer sensed the warlock's power. It had been blind to him at first, but now as he stared into the deep blue eyes of the raven haired boy, he felt the color drain from his face. Merlin's eyes flashed gold and a rough wind blew the burning smoke away from him and the knights. Radulf backed away in shock. Arthur stood in confusion as to why the sorcerer had suddenly stopped the attack, never noticing the glare Merlin was giving Radulf.
'If you summon back the smoke, I will destroy you where you stand' Merlin said to Radulf through his mind. His voice was strong and commanding, so the sorcerer froze before him.
'Are you the powerful Emrys? The one the druids tell stories of?' Radulf responds, voice shaky.
'Yes.' Merlin's answer is blunt, but it gets the point across. Radulf is stuck in his own thoughts, trembling in fear of the great warlock who was standing before him, but before he said another word a sword suddenly pierced through his chest. Arthur had had enough and ended it then and there. The sorcerer fell to his knees and padded his hands over the gaping wound, where now his blood was pouring out. Then Radulf took one final gasp before he fell into darkness – never to awaken again.
"What happened?" Arthur turned to Merlin whom was now assessing to the injuries of Gwain and Elyan.
"I don't know, sire. Perhaps his magic failed him at the last minute." The servant made up the stupid lie. Arthur was not longer worried about that, however, but to the health of his knights.
"We must get them back to Corinth." Arthur stated before grabbing the still burning torch Elyan had dropped to the floor.
Once outside Merlin bandaged their burns after cleaning around them with water to help prevent infection until they could receive medicine. Corinth was not too far, but the state of the burns was serious and would most likely leave scars.
Once back to Corinth the village's physician saw to Gwain and Elyan, giving them medicine to ease the pain and stop infection. The group was also kindly given a large room for the night where they could rest before heading back to what was left of Avarian, in the morning. It was Arthur's plan to help rebuild the small village so the people could move back into their homes.
That night Merlin lay on a mat on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. Arthur and Gwain got the two beds, Arthur being royal and all, while Gwain got the luxury from being injured. Elyan was sprawled out next to Merlin and Leon and Percival were on the floor at the other end of the room.
"Did you carve it?" Elyan whispered, glaring at the wooden dragon in Merlin's hand.
"No," Merlin said, not taking his eyes away from the ceiling, "someone special gave it to me…"
"A friend?" The knight questioned.
"Yeah, something of the sort."
There was a short pause before Elyan continued, "It must mean a lot to you, the way you hold it."
"It helps me think of what could have been if my life turned out a little different," another pause before Merlin finally turned his head so he could look at Elyan, "of course, if my life had turned out that way, I would never have this much fun getting into to trouble with all of you." He smiled.
"Well, in any case, I'm glad you're around, Merlin. A lot of us would miss you… and don't tell him I said this, but, Arthur would probably miss you the most."
Merlin laughed silently, "Who else do you suppose would miss me?" The warlock was curious as to who else considered him a good enough friend to actually miss his presence. He never really thought about it before. Who would he never of met if his life turned out the way he wished it to be.
"Well that's an easy one; my sister, of course. You two are close enough, if I didn't know any better; I'd say you had a thing for each other." Elyan carried on about how Merlin and Gwen were best friends and how some of the knights thought of him as a little brother, until eventually the servant fell asleep.
A life with with Balinor, Hunith, and Freya would have been amazing, but it would never come close to the adventurous life he had in Camelot with all his friends, such as Arthur and Gwen. So as he dozed off into a deep sleep, Merlin stroked the small dragon in his hand knowing as much as he wanted that life, his place was where he was and deep down he knew he was happy with that.
Still… It didn't hurt to dream a little.