Author's Note: You will find that this story is eerily similar to a story written ten or so years ago. Do not worry this is not stolen or anything. I wrote the original version along with several others that are being rewritten. I've decided to combine my two magical freedom stories and make a whole new series out of it
Please before you read this, I recommend reading Price to Be Free and A Kingdom's Sorrow before reading this story. You need to know what happened in those two fics to understand what's happening in this one.
Anyways enough of my rambling: Here's chapter 1 of Threats Within A Hollow Kingdom.
Mordred walked into the royal kitchen for a late-night snack and found Merlin as he was filling a tub on the stove with water. The Magical Advisor moved at a slow pace due to having to use a cane while he recovered from a pretty nasty injury.
"Couldn't you have just used magic for that?" he asked, making his presence known.
"Too tired. Can't hold my concentration long enough," Merlin replied, looking over at the knight. Despite magic being free and Morgana being aware that he had magic, he was still wary of the Druid. Sure, he'd come to trust him and consider him a friend, but in the back of his mind, he worried about the possibility of betrayal.
"Would you like some help, then?" Mordred offered, stepping closer to Merlin, holding his hand out for the bucket. "Because at the rate you're going, our Hollow Queen will have you arrested again for treason."
Merlin shuddered at the memory of his recent trip to the prison cells. It had been far from pleasant. Everyone knew he was innocent, yet none could defy the queen. She was, after all, in charge since her husband was busy dying at the time. If it hadn't been for Mordred and Gaius, he wouldn't be here.
The young warlock handed the bucket over to Mordred. "Sure. I'm going to sit down for a bit then."
"Have you told Arthur yet?" Mordred asked, taking the bucket yet. "I mean we all know she's been bewitched by Morgana. Shouldn't he know as well?"
Merlin sat down in a nearby chair. "I've been waiting for the right time, but she's never gone long enough. And we have no real proof that she's in league with Morgana."
"We could-" Mordred began to say, only to be cut off by the sound of a door creaking. Both men looked at the offending door and saw nothing but knew something was amiss.
"We're being watched," Mordred stated as he crossed the kitchen towards the other door. Merlin stood back up and followed him.
"We know you're there," Merlin said as he stood behind the Druid.
There was no reply except for what sounded like feet trying to shuffle away. Mordred flung the door open to find a young boy, no more than fifteen years of age, standing there "Who are you?"
"My name is Daegal," the boy replied in a small voice.
"What do you want?" Merlin asked.
"My sister, she's sick," Daegal answered.
"Take her to see Gaius," Merlin said as he stepped in front of Mordred and began to close the door.
"It wasn't safe to keep carrying her. I had to leave her so I could get here quicker. Please help?" Daegal pleaded as he showed them a Druid tattoo.
Merlin looked at Mordred for a moment. Both of them thinking the same thing.
"In," Merlin said as he opened the door wider. Once he shut the door, he looked at Mordred again, then at Daegal. "Where's your sister?"
"In the Valley of The Fallen Kings. Please, she has the sweating sickness," Daegal answered.
Merlin sighed as he tried to decide what to do. It was clear that boy was not a Druid. If he was, he'd know that magic was legal again in Camelot. Ever since the ban had been repealed, the Lower Town had been filled with Druids, who were buying and trading almost every day.
"That place is full of bandits," Mordred stated.
"I know, but if I continued to carry her, it would have taken another day," Daegal said. "Will you help her? She's only six."
Merlin stared at the boy for a long moment before saying. "Meet me at the entrance to the Darkling Woods at first light."
"Thank you," the false Druid said before he left.
Once the boy was gone, Mordred took the opportunity to speak up. "Have you lost your mind? You're in no condition to travel on your own. Especially when you know you're walking into a trap."
"Probably," Merlin said as he sat back down, doing his best to hide his pained expression.
"You know that he's not a Druid. That part is very clear. Everyone, even Morgana, knows that magic is free here," Mordred exclaimed, glad that they were the only two in the kitchen. "This could be some kind of elaborate ruse to make you come to her. To get you out of the way."
"If he is working with Morgana, we need to stop her," Merlin pointed out.
"So you're going to risk your life?" Mordred guessed.
"Nope. I'm going to risk both of our lives. You're coming to," Merlin said.
Mordred let his mouth drop open. "You can't be serious? The Sarrum of Amata is coming tomorrow. I have to be here."
"If Morgana really is behind this, I'm going to need all the help I can get. You're the only sorcerer I know who's good with a sword," Merlin explained.
"What are you going to tell Arthur?" Mordred asked.
"Nothing," Merlin said with a shrug.
"Nothing!?" Mordred exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air. "You really have lost your mind. He's going to notice when his Magical Advisor isn't there."
"Fine, I'll think of something," Merlin offered.
"Or instead of lying, actually tell him what's going on," Mordred suggested. "But leave out the part about his wife being bewitched. We can hold off on that. For now."
While Gwen got ready for her hot bath, Merlin pulled Arthur aside to talk in private and away from listening ears.
"What's going on, Merlin?" Arthur asked worried something was wrong.
"I'm not going to be here to help you get ready for the Sarrum's arrival," Merlin answered. "And neither is Mordred. We have to go meet with a young boy about a possible trap."
"What kind of trap?" Arthur wondered.
"I'm not sure yet," Merlin said. "It might have to do with Morgana or someone else who wishes to harm the kingdom."
"When will you be back?" Arthur questioned. He didn't like this one bit. He didn't want to let Merlin leave on what sounded like a dangerous mission, given his current condition.
The Magical Advisor shook his head. "I don't know. Hopefully, we'll be back before the Sarrum leaves."
The king studied the younger man in front of him. He was constantly pushing himself beyond his limits, acting like he had to prove himself. Arthur wanted to grab him by his shoulder sometimes and scream that he nearly died, and he was allowed the space and time he needed to recover. He also knew that Merlin was going to go whether he had permission or not.
"Fine," Arthur said. "But only on the condition that once Mordred stays with you the entire time and as soon as you get back, Gaius takes a look at you. You've had enough setbacks."
"Agreed," Merlin replied. "Mordred and I will be leaving at sunrise."
As Merlin was finishing packing his bag, Mordred knocked on the door as he walked in. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, just about," Merlin said, grabbing a couple of pieces of fruit from the bowl on his table and the medical bag he'd gotten from Gaius.
"Good," Mordred said. "The horses are ready and waiting at the main gate. I just want to go on record saying that this plan is completely insane and I'm insane for going along with it."
"Point noted," Merlin replied. "Let's get going."
When Merlin and Mordred rode into a clearing that marked the beginning of the Darkling Woods, they saw Daegal pacing around a tree stump, looking down at the ground.
"How do we plan on approaching him with the topic?" Mordred asked.
"By being blunt," Merlin replied under his breath.
Daegal looked up when he heard the sound of hooves coming toward him. "You came."
Once close, enough, Merlin carefully dismounted from his horse and grabbed his cane that hung off the saddle. Once he was properly balanced he reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a loaf of bread tossing it to the boy. "Here. We brought you some breakfast."
Daegal caught the bread as he looked at Mordred. "What's he doing here?"
"Let me see your tattoo," Mordred ordered as he dismounted from his horse.
"Why?" Daegal asked.
"He's a Druid, and he's to help me confirm if you're lying or not," Merlin stated.
Reluctantly, Daegal held out his arm and showed the false tattoo to Mordred. The Druid knight grabbed the young boy's wrist as he opened his waterskin and poured water over the tattoo. The black ink mixed with the water and began to drip onto the forest floor.
"Who are you?" Merlin ordered, anger flowing through him. He didn't like being tricked. "What is going on?"
"Morgana sent me," Daegal replied, hanging his head, shame washing over him.
"What does she want?" Mordred asked, letting go of the liar's wrist.
"I think she and the queen mean to kill the king," Daegal answered.
Merlin turned and looked at Mordred, making a split-second change to their original plan. "Go and warn Arthur. Make sure Gwen doesn't try anything."
"What about you?" Mordred asked. "I'm supposed to stay with you."
The warlock looked over at the young boy, who looked like he wanted the earth to open beneath his feet and swallow him whole. "I'll be fine. Arthur is more important."
"Do you have a death wish?" Mordred questioned, wondering if his friend had lost his sanity.
"According to Gwaine, I'm too stubborn to die," Merlin stated. "Now go, Mordred. Arthur needs you."
Mordred wanted to argue, but stopping Merlin was like trying to stop a bull from charging. He just sighed and placed his hand on the warlock's shoulder. "Just be careful."
"You too," Merlin said.
Mordred jumped back onto his horse and took off as fast as he could, back to the castle.
Merlin stared at Daegal for a long two minutes before saying. "You lied to me."
"I didn't have a choice," Daegal pleaded.
Merlin sighed. "Let's get going. Best not to keep the witch waiting."
Author's Note: