Chapter 3
The sky was dark. In the distance, the ominous clouds rolled over each other as if caught in the midst of a battle. The faint rumble of thunder in the distance caught Merlin's attention and he looked up just in time to see a bolt of lightning streak across the sky. The bright flashes of light branched out, reaching from one corner of the sky to the other. The storm rained down with fury. The rain was warm and the thunder increased in intensity.
"O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes" Merlin yelled at the skies.
Within minutes a loud roar echoed through the trashing clouds. A winged creature shot out of the skies and circled the skies before landing roughly in the clearing. The mighty dragon folded his large wings and bowed down to the dragon lord. "Ah Merlin, and to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I need your help. Arthur had been wounded and my magic cannot heal him" Merlin started. He goes on to explain what had happened in his encounter with the woman and the amulet.
The dragon stretched his neck as he pondered about Merlin's problem. "It sounds as though you had an encounter with the priestess Marasis and her Forsworn legion." Kilgharrah replied. "She dwells in the realm of desires and the amulet is her instrument she uses to create a world of desires for its wearer."
Merlin stood his ground as the vicious storm winds began to pick up speed. "What do I need to do to save Arthur" Merlin said just as a loud boom of thunder bellowed in the dark grey skies.
"Desire is attachment. If Arthur fulfills his desires, he will become forever attached to the fantasy. If Arthur suppresses his desires, he will become weak, and the desires will eventually overcome him. No mortal has ever escaped their desires."
"Then there is nothing I can do?" Merlin looked up at Kilgharrah with anguish. "It is my destiny to protect him."
Kilgharrah opened his wings to shake off the rain. "She creates the world but she doesn't control them. They work in their own way, in their own time. No one has been able to escape alone" Kilgharrah hinted. "Perhaps, with help, Arthur may survive and return to reality."
Gwen sat quietly by Arthur's side, afraid to leave him alone. The hot, humid night air clung to her skin like a damp wet cloth. Beads of sweat ran down both Gwen's and Arthur's forehead. His body laid motionless in his bed.
Gwen struggled to hold back her tears. She her weakness, she hated the helplessness she felt as she continued to stare at her husband. But most of all, she hated herself for being unable to reamin strong for both Arthur and Camelot during this crisis. A few tears of frustration broke free from her eyes and fell onto her gown.
She grasped his hand tightly in hers. "You need to hold on Arthur. Camelot needs you. I do not have your courage; I cannot rule Camelot alone."
Carefully, she takes a cloth and wipes the sweat from Arthur's brow. "Come back to us. I love you" she said as she bent over to kiss him on the head.
There is more to come... major WhumpArthur scene coming soon, meeting Gwen and the others in the AU. and so much more...
Please review.