Chapter 20
Merlin's head hurt like hell. How many drinks had he had last night? It couldn't have been that many... right?
A bright red hit his eyes, forcing him to close them. He knew what that light meant, and for a second he was tempted to just ignore it until later; he was in no mood to argue with Morgana. He sighed and reached for the book. At least he would see what it was about.
"Merlin, are you there? Answer me. It's important."
That grabbed Merlin's attention; Morgana wasn't one to use that word lightly.
"I'm here," he wrote.
"Finally. Mordred and I are going towards Camelot. Kara is ahead of us and Mordred thinks she intends to kill Arthur."
Merlin had to read that twice. "Why?" he asked.
"Really, Merlin? Do you have to ask?"
He still recalled the encounter Arthur and him had had with Kara. Merlin knew she was angry, but he never thought she would do something like this.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked Morgana.
"You have to stop her before she tries anything so she doesn't get caught. And Merlin, don't tell Emrys."
He almost started to argue with her about that last line, but there was no time to lose.
"I'm on my way."
He opened the door and rushed out of the physician's quarters, only to bump into someone who was coming in.
"Merlin! I was looking for you!" said the man, without even flinching.
Merlin, on the other hand, touched his face to ensure that was nothing broken and then looked at the man.
"Gwaine! Good, have you seen Arthur?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah, he's getting ready to go hunting", Gwaine said. "Listen, I wanted to tell you about last night, it was great!"
"Good, but you can spare me the details," Merlin said, stopping what he was sure was going to be one of Gwaine's 'too much information' stories.
"No, idiot, not like that. We just stayed up talking. She's amazing! We talked about our families and our pasts. And she has the most hilarious stories. She told me about one time when she—"
"I'm happy for you Gwaine, really, but right now I have to find Arthur," Merlin said, interrupting him.
Gwaine looked at Merlin for a second before talking.
"What's wrong?" Gwaine asked.
"Wrong? Why would there be anything wrong?" Merlin asked back.
"Come one mate, I know you and right now you have your problems face... what's wrong?"
Merlin looked at his friend. He had no idea of what Kara was planning on doing, or if he would be able to stop it on his own. He could use the help, but could he trust him not to tell Arthur? He took a deep breath.
"I have to stop a female druid from killing Arthur without harming her and without Arthur finding out," Merlin said, as if it was an everyday thing.
"Alright, I'm in," Gwaine quickly replied.
"Wait, that's it?" Merlin asked, with disbelief. "Aren't going to ask why at least?"
"I trust you Merlin, you must have your reasons. This druid... is she Green?"
"No, she's Kara, Mordred's girlfriend."
"Arthur told me about him; isn't he supposed to be your friend?"
"Yes, he is; I don't exactly know what is going on here, but if we don't stop her it won't matter."
"Let's get some horses then."
.
.
"You know Merlin? I'm surprised you came, you hate hunting."
"I'm here just to stop you if you feel tempted to shoot another unicorn."
"Are you never going to let that go?" Arthur asked.
Merlin pondered for a second.
"I don't think so."
"Well, you don't have to worry about me doing that again," Arthur said, "and I'm not just saying it because last time it set a deadly curse upon all Camelot."
"Wait... are you actually telling me that... that... that you learned something?" Merlin asked, sounding astonished.
"You idiot!" said Arthur, smacking him in the back of the head.
Merlin laughed for a bit, but a sudden gust of wind reminded him that he wasn't there to chitchat with Arthur. He looked at Gwaine and nodded. The plan was simple, Gwaine would keep Arthur busy while he checked the surroundings, and use his magic to stop any threat. He hadn't told Gwaine about that last part.
While Gwaine and Arthur were talking about the best place to hunt, Merlin stood back and closed his eyes. He had been practicing this whole 'mind's eye' business. He didn't actually see things with it, but more like he knew them, just like right now he knew that Arthur's horse was stepping on a trap which would make a giant log fall on him.
Merlin quickly fixed his eyes on the log and it stopped midair. He looked around him, but couldn't see anyone else. He intended to move the log slowly towards the ground, as to make the less noise possible, but Arthur turned to see where he was, so Merlin had no other choice than to stop his spell, which set the log free to crash to the ground so hard that tens of birds took flight from the nearby trees.
"That was close! How did that happen?" Arthur asked, startled.
"It's an old tree, it must have broken," Merlin explained.
"It doesn't look old," said Arthur, looking at the tree. "Besides, where did it come from?" he added, looking around.
"Of course it's old. You know nothing about trees, Arthur," Merlin said.
"Me? What do you know about trees?" Arthur asked.
"More than you, that's for sure."
"Mates, can we carry on before more trees fall on us?" Gwaine asked.
"So you agree that's an old tree," Merlin pointed out.
"Really?" Gwaine asked, giving Merlin a disbelieving look. Since Merlin didn't say anything, he kept on talking. "Alright, I agree that this is an old tree, happy?"
"See, I've told you," Merlin said, looking at Arthur.
"Wait a second," Arthur said, "Gwaine, are you sure about this, it may be that—"
"Look, a deer!" exclaimed Gwaine, and started galloping away, while the others followed him. There had never been any deer, but Merlin and Arthur's stupid arguments could last forever.
"It must have gotten away," said Gwaine, when he stopped after a while.
"So, what now?" asked Merlin, looking at Arthur.
"We'll go that way," Arthur said, pointing to their left. "There usually are some boars in part of the forest."
Arthur signaled his horse to move, but nothing happen. He tried once more, but the horse stood in place. He looked around and saw that the others were having a similar problem.
"They seem to be asleep," said Gwaine, confused.
"We should go back to Camelot," Merlin said, "this isn't normal."
"Come on guys! We can't go back empty handed," Arthur said. "Just let the horses rest for a bit while we check that spot."
Arthur dismounted from his horse and urged the others to do the same.
Gwaine was off the horse almost immediately, while Merlin only did so after taking a deep sigh and shaking his head in disbelief.
While following Arthur, Merlin looked all around them, but he couldn't find anything suspicious.
"Kara, are you there?" he asked, telepathically, trying to mimic the way Mordred once used to call him. "Why are you doing this? Can you hear me?"
There was no answer, but Merlin didn't know if that was because she didn't answer or because she hadn't heard him. What he did hear, however, was the sound of twigs breaking, and it was getting closer.
"There is something ahead of us," Gwaine said, before he could speak. "Get ready," Gwaine said, drawing his bow. Arthur followed his lead and did the same.
The brushes in front of them moved and a beast jumped forward. It looked like a boar, smelled like a boar and grunted like a boar, so it was probably a boar, but the three of them were shocked by the mere size of it. Even if they would have been still on their horses, they would have had to look up to see the creature's eyes.
"Alright, this could be a problem," Gwaine said.
"Shoot!" yelled Arthur.
The two arrows left the bows and went into the animal, but it didn't even flinch.
"Definitely a problem," said Gwaine.
The boar made a loud grunt and starting charging forward.
"Move!"
At Arthur's command, not that it was really needed, the three of them moved away from the boar's path, who clash into a tree, breaking it in half.
"I'm open to suggestions," Arthur said, catching his breath, while the boar turned around.
"Try to hit its eyes," Gwaine said, readying another arrow.
While Arthur and Gwaine were shooting another round of arrows, Merlin hid behind a nearby tree and extended his hand towards the boar.
"Scrincan," he said, trying to make the boar normal size, but nothing happened. "Swefn," he tried once more, but the boar was still marching towards his friends. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the animal. As he suspected there was a spell being cast on it, which explained why his magic didn't seem to affect it. It took some work, but eventually he was able to see, or know, where that spell was coming from, and he followed it to its source.
When he got there, Kara was sitting on the floor with her eyes closed, while holding a small figurine of what Merlin guessed was a boar and chanting something that he didn't understood. He didn't waste any time and, as his eyes glowed gold, the small figurine broke in half, with startled Kara. She moved back and stared directly at him. She didn't look as the feisty girl he remembered. Instead she looked... sad.
"Why?" she asked, with big teary eyes. "Why did you stop me?"
"Kara, what's going on? Why are you doing this?" Merlin asked in return.
"You know why!" she yelled. "How dare you stay with him after what he's done? You are even worse than him," she said, pointing at Merlin.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Merlin said.
"Merlin, who is that?" asked a voice behind them.
He turned around to see Arthur and Gwaine walking towards them.
"Is the boar gone?" asked Merlin.
"Yes," answered Gwaine, "it shrank and ran away."
"Is that... Kara?" asked Arthur. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?" he asked her, seeing how she looked.
He offered a hand to help her stand up, but she cowered away.
"YOU! How dare you talk to me!? You are the reason he's—"
A screech filled the air, forcing everyone to cover their ears.
"What in God's name is that?" Arthur asked, looking up, where something was hovering above them.
"Kara, stop this, now!" Merlin told Kara, telepathically.
"This one is not mine," she answered, shaking her head slightly.
Merlin didn't know why but he believed her; it probably had something to do with the terrified looked on her face. So, either this was an incredible coincidence or someone was playing with them. He would figure that out when a giant... whatever it was that was flying over them... weren't threatening to kill them all. Merlin thought that it kind of looked like a bat, except for the fact that bats doesn't have three pairs of arms, nor two heads.
"I'm starting to get the feeling that these attacks aren't random," Arthur said, in a blast of genius. "We have to get out of here."
The creature screeched one more time and started making its way to the ground.
"Run!" Merlin, Gwaine and Arthur yelled at the same time.
They were moving fast through the forest, but the creature was getting closer. There was another screech and then Merlin saw as a nearby tree just exploded.
"Apparently that screeching isn't just to annoy us!" he yelled, to anyone who could listen.
"We have to get to Camelot," Arthur said, "we'll be able to fight it there."
Merlin nodded and kept on running. A screech. The tree in front of him started to fall. He moved towards his right and crashed with Gwaine, who helped him not fall to the ground. Another screech. The ground beneath them started to shake and crack.
"This way!" yelled Gwaine, while dragging Merlin out of that spot.
Two screeches. The trees around them exploded into splinters. Merlin took advantage of the deafening noise to cast a protection spell to deflect the splinters coming towards them and he kept on running alongside Gwaine.
They ran through the dust and then some more, until they were sure that nothing was following them. It was weird to hear the silence once again.
"I think that we made it," said Merlin, catching his breath. He straightened up and looked around. "Gwaine, where is Arthur?"
.
.
He and Kara were running from the creature. For a while it had focused its attacks on the Merlin and Gwaine, but now it was coming after them. Arthur hoped that didn't mean that something had happened to the others.
The trees around them kept exploding one after the other. How was he supposed to fight something like that?
"Kara, is there something you can do about this?" he asked.
She stopped cold. "Why? So you can kill me too for using magic?" she asked, in an angry tone.
"What do you mean?" he asked, looking at her.
Stopping to talk wasn't probably a great idea, because the next tree that exploded sent them both flying.
Arthur's world literally turned upside down, but he eventually regained his bearings and stood up. He was sore, but mostly unharmed. Kara ,on the other hand, had one large splinter stuck into her leg.
"I'm going to have to carry you," said Arthur, "we have to keep moving."
"Just leave me here Pendragon, you know you want to," she said, in a spiteful tone.
"Kara, I don't understand. Just let me help you."
"I'll die before I let you carry me!"
"Alright then," Arthur said. He turned around and unsheathed his sword.
"What are you doing?" she asked, in a confused tone.
"If you are not leaving then neither am I."
"Why?"
"You are my friend's girlfriend and that makes you my friend, either you want it or not, and I don't leave my friends behind," Arthur explained.
"You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"Mordred has been killed... by your men."
As if echoing Arthur's feelings, there was another screech and a tree ahead of him exploded. He turned his head and could see the creature coming fast towards them.
Arthur was still shocked about what Kara just said, but there was no time to think. His training kicked in and he started running towards the creature with his sword ready to deliver a blow.
"Let's see what you've got!" he yelled, just a few paces away.
He was about to hit the creature when his sword started to shine as bright as the sun itself, and when the shining sword touched the bat, it exploded, just as had once happened with the skeletons.
Arthur didn't understand what was going on until the moment when the ashes, or what he hoped were ashes, cleared and he could see Mordred coming running towards them. He was happy to see the druid alive, and wanted to thank him for helping him destroy the monster, but, as expected, Mordred just ran past him and went directly to where Kara was resting.
"Kara, are you alright?" Mordred asked, looking at the wound on her leg.
"Mordred," she said with wide eyes while her hand touched his face, "you... you are alive!" She couldn't help to smile.
"Of course I am," he said, returning her smile. "Kara, what did you do?" he asked, in a calm voice.
She looked at Arthur and backed at him. "I... I thought you were dead... the knights... I saw them take you!... He told me that they had killed you!"
"Who? Who told you that?"
The sound of steps made Arthur looked back. Merlin and Gwaine were running towards them.
"I can't, Mordred... I'm sorry," Kara said, looking down.
"Kara, listen, those men weren't knights, they were just impersonating them to make us fight with each other. Whoever told you that, it's the one behind all this. Please Kara, tell me."
She opened her mouth several times, but nothing came out.
"Alvarr," she eventually said, "it was Alvarr." She looked away and back at Mordred. "I... I've been working with him for a while now." She must have seen the look on Mordred's face, because she said, "I know what you've told me about him, but he explained me everything. He's truly sorry of what he did to you and that's one of the reasons he is raising an army. He promises a future for druids, a world when we don't have to hide no more, where we can be ourselves," she explained. "Someone must have told him that you were dead. He wouldn't have lied to me. I know it."
"Kara, he just tried to kill both of us," Mordred said, stroking her cheek.
She froze for a second. "No!... no... that's not... that's..." Eventually her words were lost and she started crying on Mordred's shoulder.
The other three were close enough to hear all that she had said. Arthur signaled them to move a bit farther so they could talk in private.
"Merlin, the boar was her work, wasn't it?"
Merlin was so surprised by Arthur's insight that he didn't lie to him. "Yes, but the bat wasn't, and you heard her, she thought you had killed Mordred."
"Still, she did try to kill me. Any other would be executed for that, no matter the reason. It's the law. I can't show any favoritism for being her, not after what happened with Morgana."
"And here I thought that you were the one who made the laws," Merlin said. "Arthur, the question is simple, do you think she deserves to die?"
"Of course not," he answered, "but I have a right to my people. How can I expect them to follow the law if I don't do it myself?"
Merlin stood silent for a second.
"Wait!" he exclaimed, "I understood your question wrong. She wasn't responsible for enchanting the boar. No! She was the one who broke the spell. I think you were asking me about that!"
"And what about all she said?" Arthur asked, seeing where Merlin was going.
"What?" asked Merlin. "The only thing I heard is that Alvarr was trying to kill everyone using enchanted animals. Right, Gwaine?"
"That's what I heard," he answered.
Arthur looked at Merlin, weighing the situation. Eventually he snorted and smiled. "Alright then, let's thank my savior."
The three of them approached to the couple. Mordred gave Merlin an inquiring look, to which he replied with a small smile.
"We should take her to Camelot, Gaius will be able to heal that," Arthur said, pointing at her leg.
"No!" she exclaimed. "You want to lock me up!"
"Why would we lock up the one who save him from an enchanted boar?" Merlin asked.
"But that's not what—" Kara started, confused.
"That exactly what happened," Arthur interrupted her. "Don't worry, I swear that nothing bad will happen to you if you come with us."
"Thank you Arthur," said Mordred, "but our people knows a lot about wounds like this, I'll take her to them."
"Fine, at least take Merlin, he could help you get there," Arthur said, pointing at the manservant with his thumb.
Merlin opened his mouth to protest that Arthur couldn't just give him away like a horse, but Mordred and Kara could actually use his help, so he let it slide.
"I have to go back to Camelot," continued Arthur, "someone had to notice half the forest exploding. With any luck the horses are awake by now."
"They are," said Kara, and quickly added, "I think."
Arthur smiled. "Good," he said, and started walking away. "Come on, Gwaine."
Merlin waited that both of them were far away before talking.
"Do you want me to cure that?" he asked to Kara, pointing at her leg.
"And leave that girl with a scar for the rest of her life?" someone asked behind him. "Move aside Merlin."
Merlin already knew who that was, but he turned in order to see Morgana walking towards them. He was surprised that she was still wearing the green dress that she had used the night she was captured.
"For your information, I happen to be very good healing injuries; I'm a physician's apprentice after all..." Merlin said, but still moved to let her cure Kara.
Morgana kneeled and pulled the splinter out of Kara's leg with one hand, while she placed the other one on her wound and her eyes glowed gold, all without saying a word.
"Show off..." Merlin said, pointing out that she had no reason to use a silent spell there.
Morgana made a small smile, but hid it right away and kept looking at Kara's leg to make sure that everything was alright.
Merlin looked at Mordred. "I have to thank you again for saving Arthur's life. I didn't know that you could use the enchant spell; you are getting strong Mordred."
Mordred smiled. "It wasn't me," he said, looking at Morgana.
Merlin opened his eyes and looked at her, who was still tending Kara's wound. "Wait, wait, you saved Arthur?" he asked, really confused.
"I didn't save Arthur, I saved her," Morgana said, glimpsing Kara's face and then looking back at her leg. "It's done," she said, standing up.
"Yes, but still, you saved him," Merlin said.
"Merlin, would you shut up!?" Morgana asked, turning around. She looked back at Kara. "You need to rest for a few minutes and you'll be fine," she told her.
"Thank you, my lady," Kara said, making a small bow with her head, "thank you."
Morgana gave her a nod and started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Merlin asked her.
"She could use some food, and I don't see you carrying any," she said, somehow making him feel guilty about not carrying food everywhere he went. "There are bound to be some fruits in this place."
"I'll help you look," said Merlin. Morgana was about to protest when he added telepathically, "I want to give them a little time alone."
She was taken aback from hearing Merlin's voice inside her head, telepathy wasn't a thing she had used that much, but she agreed with what he had said.
"Fine," she said, and continued walking away, making Merlin run a bit to catch up with her.
For a while they walked in silence, Morgana stopping once in a while to check a nearby tree and sometimes grab some of its fruits.
"So... how's everything?" Merlin asked.
"Nothing new," Morgana answered.
"Ahh..." he said. "Did you get to hear who was the one behind Kara's attack?"
"Yes. I've never thought that Alvarr would use druids like that. Now I wonder..."
Merlin waited for more words that never came. "What?" he asked her.
Morgana looked at him for a second before talking. "He was the one who told me that Dragoon was Emrys. Was he mistaken? Or..."
"Or did he want you two to fight?" Merlin said, completing her idea.
"Exactly," she said, slightly surprised.
Merlin took a few steps in silence, pondering. "Morgana, please don't take this the wrong way, but do you think that Alvarr believed that you could beat Emrys? Because if he wasn't sure..."
"I know," she said, sharply.
"But why would he do that? I mean, aren't ... aren't you two on the same side."
"I don't know... maybe he wants to rule Camelot himself." She walked in silence for a bit longer. "I think is time we get back, this will be enough," she said, looking at the food in her hands.
.
.
They were almost back, Merlin following Morgana footsteps, when she suddenly halted and turned around.
"I think we should give them a little longer," she said.
Merlin was confused until he looked ahead and saw Mordred and Kara making out. He let out a laugh and walked back the way he had come.
"I think you are right," he said, with a smile. "It's weird seeing Mordred like that, isn't it?" he asked her.
Morgana nodded. "Yes," she said, smiling, "I still remember him as the silent little boy hiding behind my screen."
"They grow up so fast," Merlin said, joking.
Morgana replied with a smile and then they fell into silence, until Merlin spoke once more.
"You know, I was very surprised to see you still wearing that," he said, pointing at Morgana's green dress. "I was expecting to see you in your old black self by now."
Morgana looked at the dress and back at Merlin. "It helps me blend in," she explained, not really sure if that was the reason why.
"I guess that's true," Merlin said. "You look nice," he added, looking away.
Morgana was starting to reply when Mordred appeared between the trees.
"Hey, what are you doing standing here?" he asked.
"We were giving you some privacy," Merlin answered, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh," Mordred said, turning red, "I'm sorry, I... I didn't know that you were already here..."
"It's fine Mordred," Morgana said.
He looked at her and nodded. "Alright, then I think we should be going now. Kara can already walk and we have to warn the rest of the druids about the imposters before something else happens."
"Do you need me to go with you?" asked Merlin.
"Thank you, but I don't think it will actually be necessary with Kara's leg already healed," Mordred said. "Unless you want to, of course," he rushed to add.
For a second, Morgana thought that Merlin glimpsed before answering, but it was probably her idea.
"I'm fine Mordred, thank you. I'll should go check on Arthur anyways, he probably didn't even went with Gaius after being tossed around all day."
Mordred gave him a small smile. "Well then, goodbye Merlin, and thank you, I owe you once more."
They were already starting to walk away, when Merlin talked again. "Just one more thing, if anyone of you knows anything of Alvarr please let me know; whatever he's planning, I fear that this is just the beginning."
"Of course," Mordred said. Both Morgana and Kara nodded. Merlin couldn't decide which nod surprised him the most.
"Take care Morgana," he told her, with telepathy, as they went away.
"You too."
###
A/N: I hope you liked it!
We've reached Chapter 20 AND over 100 reviews! Thank you all for this!
Now...
Second part!
It's incredible how much mess Alvarr does for a guy who doesn't even show up in the story!
I was wondering if anyone of you actually believed that Mordred was dead xD (even when you actually know from the story that he isn't).
I keep feeling that the characters are slaves of the situation too much, although to be fair this happens in most stories. In the chapter that I'll post next week I'm trying to make the plot a bit more "decision dependant".
Since hunting might seem cruel, I was tempted to write some kind of dialog making it seem acceptable, in which Merlin talked about how he didn't like hunting and Arthur made a speech about how it was needed for food, leather and all that (which was especially true in those times), but in the end I decided that this would be something that Merlin would already know, so I'm trying to make it seem acceptable by covertly writing this in the comment section telling you that I almost put it in the story. (?)
Thanks CHARLES CHUKU, Patiku, rmatri540, mersan123, Guest, Meri Ley and hithere for the reviews =D
CHARLES CHUKU = I did say that I wouldn't update the story that weekend :p. Don't worry, Dragoon will be back soon, but I wanted Merlin to have some time to make his own decissions xD (more on this and a bit of Dragoon on the next chapter).
Patiku = I skipped that update because I wouldn't get to write the chapter (I did tell you about this in the comment section :p), so double chapter would be complicated xD.
mersan123 = The Gwaine OC was kind of the idea of the chapter, as to show that even him can grow up (now Peter Pan is all alone (awful joke)).
Meri Ley = 10 chapters is actually a lot xD, and I have many of them already "sketched", so I know that the ending will be somewhere around there. Don't worry though, the idea is to tie every loose end and make a good ending; if I need more chapters I'll add them :p.
hithere = Trying to keep them in character while at the same time show some changes is actually very tricky, thanks for the compliment!
Scrincan = Shrink
Swefn = Sleep