Well, here it is on Saturday...just like I promised! Thank you all for the reviews and favs/follows!
A lot of historical research went into this chapter, so I hope it pays off with filling in a bit more recent Merlin history.
Huge round of applause for Nance! She is the best beta I could ever ask for. And for IcarusLSU, even if he was a bit tipsy while trying to flow read LOL
Review response:
Flamie: Thanks! Half the fun in writing this is fitting everything together :)
Paradox Predator: The footnotes for 31 should be fixed. Thanks for pointing it out!
Leah0812: I get just as excited seeing the reviews!
Nance: I wouldn't be the writer I am, without your help. As for Jack's real name...no one knows it.
CarolynneRuth: Thanks! This chapter might answer some things, or might create more questions. hehehe
IcarusLSU: Thanks, there will probably be more tension in the future, but for now...things are being set aside.
Tholey: Naw Perce is still a Knight of Camelot, despite his new friends hehe. The clues are going to start coming together soon.
Fai's smile: I can't stop the Monty Python bits from coming through...it's a weakness of mine hehe. Torchwood is a great show...I will warn you though, it gets rather dark and angsty.
ANYHOO...Thanks again, everyone. Your reviews make me smile! Now, on with the fic!
Dark stained, wooden bookshelves lined every wall, except the one covered with glass panes on the north. This allowed for natural light to filter into the room during the day, without getting the problematic direct sunlight that could ruin the books. Although wanting to hear about dragons, Jack's observation of the decorations on Merlin's mantle had successfully sidetracked Arthur's thoughts. He had demanded to know more about the man he had just knighted...even if the ceremony had been abrupt, and didn't involve the complete recitation of vows to the king.
Merlin had sighed and began with that tale instead, privately thankful that he could avoid the heartache of bringing up the little dragon for at least a few more hours.
It wasn't long after the end of World War II, when Merlin received an invitation to dine with the king. He had thought seriously about declining, but he was a bit arrogant about his ability to be able to fool people into thinking he was the son of the man from the first war. King George VI wasn't so easily fooled...especially since he had served alongside Merlin, during the merger of the Royal Navy Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps into what became the Royal Air Force in 1918. Afterwards, they had seen each other on occasion as Merlin took up work designing and building aircraft, eventually going into ownership of the factory as well.
That was, until the late 1930's. With a new war on the horizon, Merlin faked his death. He had aged himself since the late 19th century and had appeared to be in his late fifties. No one questioned when his son, a gangly young man of eighteen appeared for the funeral. The boy's mother was a French National, and old Merlin said he had met her during his service, while stationed in France. Reluctant to leave her family, they never married, but Merlin had been sending money to support his estranged girlfriend and their child, and occasionally went to visit.
The 'son' was brought into the folds of his father's business and adapted to it quickly, before he decided to follow in his father's footsteps and joined the RAF at the start of the war with Nazi Germany.
The king had laughed as they enjoyed an after dinner port together, celebrating the end to the war and younger Merlin's plans for his father's factory. Bertie, as he was known among those who knew the king before he inherited the throne, turned to Merlin, and accused the 'twenty-eight-year-old', of lying.
Merlin nearly choked on his port, as the king began to list off various points of Merlin's past.
In 1879, after an incident at Torchwood Manor involving alien DNA and werewolves, Queen Victoria had established the Torchwood Institute as a way to study and keep tabs on oddities...mostly The Doctor.[1] As their mission broadened, it started to include more anomalies found in and about the U.K. Somewhere along the way, Merlin had come into their sights, and a file had been started on the man who kept reappearing in history, from time to time.
It wasn't until Bertie had met the young son of the man he had known during a tour of the Royal Forces, that the king suspected anything. After a bit of badgering, Merlin finally gave in. He told King George VI who he really was.
They met many times after that, when scheduling would permit. Merlin recounted to the king, and his daughter, who was brought in on the secret, stories from his life. In 1948, Merlin knelt in front of the king and was granted the honors of knighthood. Although...as Merlin pointed out to his friends...the knights of the twentieth century held little resemblance to those of the sixth.
The decorations on the mantle, and the honor of adding the letters 'KBE' to the end of his name, were pretty much all it entailed.
"Originally, I could go to State dinners and the meeting,s and such...but those got boring after a while, and I got tired of aging myself." He groaned as a thought occurred to him. "I am probably going to have to call Lilibet at some point, about all of this."
"Lilibet?" Jack questioned with unconcealed surprise. "You're on a nickname basis with Her Majesty?"
A crooked smile, filled with feigned innocence, contorted Merlin's face as he turned to Jack and asked in a simple, and humble tone. "Yes...aren't you?"
The leader of Torchwood snickered and held out his hand. He was amazed to finally learn so much about the man, and he hoped now, that the warlock had been able to voice his irritation about Jack out loud, they could begin to work past it. "You are too much, Merlin! As much as we would like to stay and hear more stories, I promised Rhys I would have Gwen home before she turns into a pumpkin." His smile widened when Merlin, after seeing his wife's look, accepted his handshake.
Everyone shared a warm farewell, as three of the five members of Torchwood Three headed outside, and began the drive back towards Cardiff.
Mickey had moved from the chair he was on with the laptop, over to the ornate desk with Merlin's main computer. He explained briefly, that although the translation program was running, it needed the higher computing power to smooth out some of the finer details. Everyone else began settling in, as well.
Coming back in, Merlin moved to a stack of shelves along the far wall. A wood and lead box resting on one of the highest shelves, slid off and floated down into his waiting hand. Coming back to the center of the room, Merlin sat next to Martha on the main settee that was directly across was the fireplace. With a whispered word from the warlock, the fireplace roared to life.
Merlin's impish grin was contagious. The glow from his eyes appeared to linger, as the flames reflected in his blue orbs. An expectant hush settled over the remaining people in the library of the manor. He sat the box on his knee and again, seemingly without hesitation or worry, used his magic in front of them all.
Guinevere and Leon didn't appear to even bat an eye. The years they had spent with Merlin, after Camlann, had allowed them to become familiar with Merlin's magic. Gwaine stretched out on the floor and smirked, enjoying the spectacle, while Mickey and Percival...used to weirdness from working with Torchwood...nodded in appreciation. Martha smiled. She had known of his magic, and seen him use it...although never quite so effortlessly as he did now. Whether it was because of the sword, the friends, or something else, she didn't know. It gave her a sense of peace though, to see his worries from the night before, put to rest.
Arthur stood nearby and watched his friend with a mixture of fascination and fear. He kept his lips sealed tightly, and tried to be patient and observe. He was still unused to the casual way in which Merlin used magic, and waited to see if he would waiver.
The box glowed with an aura of golden dust and the latch unlocked with a click. Merlin's face fell when he saw the item inside. A flood of memories assailed him. Carefully, he plucked the item from the box and held it up.
Arthur's eyes widened and Guinevere gasped, "Morgana's bracelet..."
Merlin nodded, setting the box aside. He fingered the silver and gold cuff. "It was one hundred years exactly, after I laid you, Arthur, to rest in the boat, and sent your body to Avalon." He told Arthur. "...The last time I summoned Aithusa, and one of the darkest times I had ever known...even worse than when I thought you died..."
"Why is that?" Gwaine asked with interest. While he didn't wish make his friend relive the emotions of the past, he wanted to know more about the man and what he had been through.
"I'd already lost Mithian...about fifty years earlier...Gawain fell in battle a few years before his mother died...with no child of his own left behind. Blasine was gone...Her children grown, and their children...I allowed myself to be hopeful that Arthur would return, but the way the world had begun to change around me...it frightened me. If you were to have returned then...what would there be left for you?" Crystal blue eyes darkened into midnight pools, clouded with history.
"By the time night fell, and the moon began to rise, I summoned Aithusa...the white dragon. Nearly all creatures of magic, by then, had either died or..." He shrugged, not knowing how to explain how or why the magic disappeared. "Within the first five years of his life...I had summoned him only twice, and sent him away three times...I was rather uneducated in how it was all supposed to work, and the only advice I received from Kilgharrah, was to let Aithusa grow and experience things on his own.
"Aithusa wanted nothing to do with me, though, because I was responsible for Morgana's death. I had tried to make amends...tried to heal him over the passing years, but my normal magic didn't work on dragons. I never understood why...
"He still refused to speak to me, and I didn't wish to command him to, but I had a feeling that night...I would never see him again."
The only sound in the room was the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Each man and woman focused on their own internal thoughts.
Finally, Merlin seemed to gather his thoughts together and spoke again. "A few days later, I decided enough was enough. I went to find his cave, but Aithusa was gone. The only thing of value left, was this." He said, holding up the bracelet.
"Morgana loved her...I remember that, now..." Guinevere stated in a soft voice.
"Him." Merlin corrected.
"No...her."
"When Aithusa was hatched, Kilgharrah said I named HIM after the Light of the Sun, in the Dragon Tongue."
Guinevere smiled patronizingly, "I distinctly remember Morgana referring to the dragon as a 'her.'"
"Well, did you or Morgana ever actually look under the tail to find out?" He asked sarcastically.
Shooting back, with an equal amount of snark, Guinevere asked, "Did you?"
Mickey snickered from the desk. "You're both wrong...and right. Dragons are hermaphroditic."
"How the hell do you know?" Arthur questioned, amused by the young man's timing.
"...Because it says so. Right here." The dark-skinned man pointed to the computer screen, with a triumphant smile.
(*~*~*~*)
Merlin shifted restlessly in the bed, trying to be careful to not wake his wife. His mind was reeling with all the information that had come through. Mickey's program was doing its job. However, for the amount of information contained in the file, he admitted he would like to set up a larger computer, and even with that, it could still take a while to decrypt all of it. Once Merlin had gotten over the shock that he may finally learn about his heritage as a Dragon Lord, the conversation had moved on. That Mickey had found that one translation so quickly during the debate over Aithusa's gender, had been a fluke.
Leon had explained about the Cup of Life and what Heimdall had told him of it being an alien technology. Merlin stored the information away in his mind for later, and listened as both Leon and Gwaine began describing more about the Ori and their Priors. The Virus now had a cure, but that didn't mean the Priors were out of the fight...not by a long shot.
"Their staves are rather intriguing." Leon said at one point. "I could swear I'd seen something similar, somewhere before..." The knight began describing the dark wood, with the odd blue stone set at the top.
Something inside of Merlin's memory had given a tickle to his subconscious. He had quickly dismissed it at the time. He began flipping through the Book of Origin that the two men had brought with them, hoping something in it would help draw the memory forward, but he found his concentration lapsing.
When they all finally had decided to turn in for the night, about the only thing that had been decided, was to help Gwaine with his grandfather's funeral...the rest could be left until after that.
A warm presence pressed against the skin on his back, and a shapely arm wrapped around his chest...fingers tracing across the muscles of his abdomen. He felt the trail of kisses across his shoulder blades and turned his face to meet his wife's lips. He lifted his arm, and invited her into his embrace.
Martha snuggled down into her husband's arms, her face resting in the hollow of his shoulder. "You are thinking too loud, my love."
Merlin chuckled apologetically. He nuzzled against the top of her head, pulling her closer to him. He inhaled deeply the smell of her hair, enjoying the scent of the flowery essence left behind by her shampoo.
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you so alive, as just after you touched the sword. I've watched you use magic, and lately I've been a bit concerned with how you were handling it. Then, after that, it was like it was as natural as breathing for you." She turned her face towards his, resting her chin on his chest. "Did it work?"
"Did what work?" He asked, meeting her eyes.
"Did whatever magic was on there, heal the hole inside that you've been worried about?"
"No..." He finally confessed. Inside, he felt the emptiness that had plagued him for centuries still there. "Something in the sword, was like...a drug, almost. It gave me a rush, and halted the pain, but I can already feel it beginning to wane." Merlin smiled and recalled the sensation of his hand touching the hilt. "It didn't seem to start growing to a consciously noticeable level until recently. I thought when Arthur returned it would heal...but that is when I began to feel it more..."
"That was also around the time these Priors began showing up in the galaxy...Could it also have something to do with that other sword piece, the one that nearly killed Arthur?"
Raising his eyebrows, Merlin focused on the ceiling above him. He thought about both things she mentioned. The Priors and the Sword..."Why would you think one has to do with the other?"
"I've seen enough of how time and the universe works, to know that there is very little that is actual coincidence."
"Even us?"
"Would it bother you if it wasn't?"
"No...no. You are probably the most amazing person destiny has ever brought into my life." He admitted. After a pause, he asked, "What would you think...if I could find a way to keep you with me?"
She sat up to look him square in the eyes. "What do you mean?"
He squirmed under her gaze. "Nothing...forget about it."
"No...You don't just get to say something like that, then tell me to forget about it."
He pursed his lips, wondering if he should tell her one of the things that had been on his mind all night. "I love you." He looked deep into her eyes as he said the words, trying to convey just how much she really meant to him. "I loved Mithian with all my heart, as I did Ning...and many others through the years. You are the first one though, who truly gets me. I can't explain how amazing you are to me, Martha...and even though I try my damnedest not to think about the future...I still do. I don't know what is going to happen to me when I lose you."
"That's still a ways off though, right?" She said, her voice shaking. "Merlin...what's wrong? I've never heard you speak quite like this."
Sighing, he shook his head. "What Leon said...about the properties of the Cup, and what it can do..."
Martha gasped. The look he saw on her face told him that she had put the pieces together. Although she meant it as a question, what she said came out as a statement. "You know where the Cup of Life is."
The crooked, and less than innocent, upturn of his lips confirmed her suspicions. "Isn't there supposed to be a price for using it?"
Merlin shrugged, "Perhaps, but maybe that was the way it was used. I really don't know." He took a deep breath and asked her sincerely. "Think about it, though...please."
(*~*~*~*)
A call from Laney had Gwaine hitching a ride with Leon back to the States the next day. His grandfather's body was being released for burial. Merlin put in a call to a friend, and by that evening, Percival was standing at the bottom of a narrow set of stairs, looking upwards into an oval-shaped hole on the side of an aircraft.
Mickey was staying behind to work on the computer thing. Gwen and her son had already climbed onboard the metal monstrosity, with Martha. Cassie was also riding with them back to her home in Colorado. Merlin had been bouncing in and out of the thing, checking to make sure it was ready. That left just him and Arthur, staring up at the unnatural beast.
Clearing his throat, Arthur patted Percival's shoulder. "We should probably go in there."
"Of course, Sire. After you..."
"No...that's quite alright. You can go first."
Percival's face was white as a sheet. He didn't want to argue with his king, but he also did not want to be confined in something so frightening.
Merlin popped his head out of the door. "Oy! Will you two just get your arses in here?! We've got about seven hours over the Atlantic, then another four 'til we reach Colorado. I would like to get in the air as soon as possible."
"How can you be so sure this thing is safe, Merlin?" Arthur asked, trying to maintain an authoritative tone.
Peeling the sunglasses off his face, Merlin made a smacking sound with his lips. "Probably because I've designed more than a few of these during my time, and also, I was flying before most anyone else on this planet...granted, it was only a few times on the back of a dragon...but that's besides the point. I understand how the science behind this all works. Now, will you both just get in here? Gwaine is waiting for us."
The two sixth century warriors looked at each other, holding their breaths. Percival finally released his with a defeated sigh. He placed his feet, one in front of the other, and cautiously made his way up the steps. He sensed Arthur behind him, but resolved to himself to not look back. He had faced many things in this new world, and came out just fine. He knew he was able to do this.
The inside was roomier than he had expected, although he did have to duck slightly to avoid hitting the ceiling. Merlin called this vehicle a Gulfstream, although the name meant little to him. He took a seat near Martha, while Arthur sat across from him, next to his wife.
They watched as Merlin sealed and locked the door. He appeared completely at home, surrounded by the streamlined aircraft. The warlock came over and squeezed his friend's shoulder. "It really will be just fine, Percival. I'm a pretty good pilot." His calm and self-assured presence helped the large knight to feel a little more at ease.
Martha grinned, "He is definitely much better at flying, than he is at driving."
Percival chuckled at the outrageous look on Merlin's face. "Buckle in. I'll get us in the air soon. Hey Arthur, want to join me in the cockpit?"
Blue eyes widened; Arthur looked nervously at the others.
"I would invite Percival, but I'm not sure..."
"I would love to join you, Merlin." Guinevere said suddenly. Aurie was already buckled into a travel seat, and was sound asleep. "Martha...would you mind watching him?"
"Not at all."
Arthur sputtered and started to argue, and much to his dismay, was completely ignored as his best friend escorted Guinevere forward to the cockpit.
(*~*~*~*)
Guinevere strapped in with Merlin's help, and sat up straight in the seat. She was careful not to tap the floor pedals with her feet, nor touch anything around her. Her hands stayed folded neatly in her lap. Merlin sat next to her, securing himself and placing large cup-like things over his ears. A thin, bendable, tube came down in front of his mouth. He pointed to her right elbow and she saw a similar contraption. Fitting the thick strap over her head, she was a bit startled when she heard Merlin's voice through the headset.
"You get a front row seat here. Once the guys figure it out, they might get a bit jealous. I think you're going to love it, though."
She smiled, and took a pair of sunglasses, when he offered them.
"We're going to be seeing the sunset from the air, so you might need those."
In between each sentence, it felt like a vacuum over her ears, when all sound suddenly ceased.
"I'm going to start it up, and talk to the Control Tower to get us airborne."
She nodded and watched him skillfully flip various switches, and push colorful buttons. It was truly amazing how simple he managed to make his movements seem. He flicked another switch and began speaking to an unseen man. Most of his words sounded like some odd sort of language. She felt her heart stop with the initial whine of the engines firing up. Her stomach lurched a little, when the whole world outside the window began to move...It took her a moment to realize she was the one moving.
Merlin glanced over at her and pushed a button. "Are you ok? Not going to get sick on me or anything, are you?"
The former queen swallowed down her fear and shook her head. She was determined to enjoy this opportunity. "I will be fine."
He switched back to speaking with the disembodied voice. The airplane turned and faced down a long stretch of tarmac. Merlin sent another look over at Gwen, who smiled and took a deep breath. She watched the world beginning to rush by. Faster and faster...she felt gravity pressing her back into her seat. She had a fleeting thought, wondering how her son was faring, but then decided that Aurie was more than likely still asleep. Her husband, on the other hand...Well, she hoped Martha and Cassie were able to manage.
A soft scream of excitement erupted, as the plane lifted off the ground and began its ascent toward the clouds. She squealed again, when they punched through the cloud. It was almost like going through a thick fog bank...except, instead of contrasting shadows from trees or buildings, it was accented by brief pockets of light and of blue sky.
Levelling out after a while, she looked out the window below to a white ground, that resembled the softest snow she could have ever imagined. Ahead and all around was clear, blue sky.
"That will never get old." Merlin chuckled, sitting back and unbuckling his harness.
Gwen was left in breathless agreement. "I can see why you like it."
"Shall we go back and check on the others?"
Shaking her head, Gwen was still watching the clouds in complete fascination. After a few moments, she asked, "Can they hear us?"
"Nope. It's just you and me up here. Why? Are you planning to take advantage of me?...Because I don't think my wife would like that very much." He winked at his friend.
She laughed, "No. Actually, I was hoping to speak with you."
He waited for her to continue.
"It's about the swords." She started absentmindedly playing with her harness strap. "Arthur told me about how you made his out of the one I gave you."
"Ah...yeah, about that..."
"Merlin, it's alright. I'm not upset or anything, but I did wonder...and I haven't mentioned this to him...about the other one. I remember when I was on the island, and the man was taking Aurie and myself to his workroom...I think I saw it on his table. I remember wondering why he would have it."
"Martha's right...there are too many damn coincidences...and not a single one of them makes any sense."
She reached across the center console, in the tight space of the cockpit, and took his hand. "Anything I can do to help, you know I will, Merlin. We all will. I know you believe that we are here for Arthur, but you're wrong. After all I have seen and heard...I think we're here for you."
[1] Doctor Who episode 2x2 "Tooth and Claw"