Mordred burst into the king's chambers just as a servant was finishing tying the cloak around his shoulders.
"Mordred," Arthur exclaimed, unhappily, "what's going on? Where's Merlin?"
"Morgana... Merlin... Assassination," Mordred said as he tried to catch his breath after running from the stables all the way to Arthur's chambers.
"What?" Arthur asked as he stepped over to his young knight.
Mordred gulped down a mouthful of air. "Morgana is planning an attempt on your life. Merlin sent me back to warn you."
"What!?" Arthur repeated, but this time with worry and urgency lacing his voice. "And you left him alone?"
"He didn't really give me a choice," Mordred said.
"Get Gwaine and Percival. I'll have someone ready the horses. You leave at once," Arthur ordered. "You are to stop Morgana and bring Merlin and the boy back here."
"Yes, Sire," Mordred said as he bowed his head in respect before rushing back out of the chambers.
Merlin carefully examined Daegal's arm, looking for signs of infection, but found none. "Nothing to indicate any infection, but I'm going to apply a salve to be on the safe side. After that, I'll wrap it up in a bandage."
Daegal only nodded. He said nothing.
"You're awfully quiet," Merlin said as he began to apply the salve.
"I lied to you," Daegal said quietly.
"I figured that out when you said you were Druid," Merlin stated.
"Morgana said that magic's illegal in Camelot," Daegal explained.
"Magic is free in Camelot. Arthur repealed the ban six months ago. She knows that" Merlin pointed out as he began to wrap a bandage around Daegal's arm. "Question is; why didn't you?"
"I've been living in the forests for a few years now," Daegal answered. "I only go into villages and towns when I haven't eaten in a few days. I don't really pay attention to the people talking. I just get what I can carry and leave before anyone notices me."
"Where are your parents?" Merlin asked.
"Never knew my dad," Daegal replied. "Mom was killed when I was seven. Lived with my aunt until she died. No one wanted me, saying I was a curse on the living, so I ran."
"Not cursed. Just unlucky," Merlin said as he finished tying off the bandage. "There, all done. Let's get going."
"How could you know if I'm cursed or not?" Daegal asked.
Merlin packed up the medicine bag before standing up with the help of his cane. "Because I'm a warlock. I'd be able to sense if you were cursed. And all I can sense off of you is pain and guilt."
Daegal just nodded before changing the subject. "Why did the king free magic?"
"Because," Merlin began as they started walking back over to the horse, "an angry spirit told Arthur I had magic after trying to kill me. After they were sure I was going to live, Arthur began the process of changing the law."
"He must care a lot about you," Daegal said as he climbed on the horse first before holding his hand out for Merlin.
"Good servants are hard to find and without me, he wouldn't be who he is today," Merlin replied as he hooked his cane to the saddle and took the young boy's hand.
"I hope your friend gets to him in time," Daegal said.
"Knowing Mordred, he's probably already there," Merlin hoped. "We need to try moving faster. Morgana is not a patient person."
Just as the Sarrum was arriving at the gates of Camelot, Mordred, Gwaine and Percival were leaving. The Sarrum wondered why King Arthur would allow his knights to leave at the same time as his arrival.
As the Sarrum and his men came to a stop in front of the castle's main steps, Arthur began his welcome speech. "We are most grateful to the Sarrum for accepting our invitation and gracing our palace with his presence. We welcome him and his warriors with friendship."
"I see you feel confident enough in your safety, that you'd let some of your men leave," the Sarrum stated, hoping to rile the young king.
"A matter had arisen that couldn't wait," Arthur explained not going into detail.
The Sarrum nodded, accepting the answer for now. "I see. The last time I was here, you were ten years old. Uther held a tournament in your honour."
"I fight in my own tournaments now," Arthur replied.
"Well, we shall enjoy putting you to the test," the Sarrum mused.
Standing behind the knights, Gwen played her role as the loving, dutiful queen, watching as her husband conversed with the Sarrum. Her and Morgana's plan would soon come to fruition and both men would die. And with Merlin out of the way, there would be no one to stop them.
As Merlin and Daegal rode through the entrance to the Valley of the Fallen Kings, the warlock noticed bandits coming toward them. He quickly redirected the horse toward an embankment to hide, hoping they weren't seen. "Bandits, duck down. Don't let them see you."
Merlin carefully watched as the bandits moved past them. "We can't continue on horseback. It's too dangerous."
"I thought we needed to get there as soon as possible," Daegal pointed out.
"Yes," Merlin agreed. "But the forest is full of bandits. We'd be able to hide and get away easier on foot."
"Okay," Daegal nodded as he got off the horse first. Merlin followed suit as he grabbed his cane.
The warlock led the horse over to a tree and tied its reins around the trunk. "Whoever Arthur sends out to find us will see the horse and know which way to go. Grab the saddle bag and let's go."
Mordred stopped at the clearing where he last saw Merlin and Daegal. "This is where we met the boy. Must have left as soon as I did. Two people riding on one horse, maybe an hour or so ahead of us. Shouldn't be too hard to catch up."
"Which way?" Percival asked as he came up next to the younger man.
Mordred shut his eyes and tried to call out to Merlin telepathically, but got no response. He opened his eyes and said. "He's too far away. I can't reach him."
"Did the boy say anything about a location last night?" Gwaine asked.
Mordred thought for a moment, thinking back to the night before. "He mentioned the Valley of the Fallen Kings."
Now with a destination in mind, the knights turned their horses towards the path that would lead them to Merlin.
As Merlin and Daegal rode through the entrance to the Valley of the Fallen Kings, the warlock noticed bandits coming toward them. He quickly redirected the horse toward an embankment to hide, hoping they weren't seen. "Bandits, duck down. Don't let them see you."
Merlin carefully watched as the bandits moved past them. "We can't continue on horseback. It's too dangerous."
"I thought we needed to get there as soon as possible," Daegal pointed out.
"Yes," Merlin agreed. "But the forest is full of bandits. We'd be able to hide and get away easier on foot."
"Okay," Daegal nodded as he got off the horse first. Merlin followed suit as he grabbed his cane.
The warlock led the horse over to a tree and tied its reins around the trunk. "Whoever Arthur sends out to find us will see the horse and know which way to go. Grab the saddle bag and let's go."
As they approached the clearing where the trap was to be sprung, Merlin immediately felt Morgana's presence. He looked around and pinpointed her exact location behind a tree. "I'm here, Morgana. Might as well come out."
Morgana slunk out from behind her hiding spot, staring daggers at Daegal for betraying her to this worthless servant. She then looked at Merlin. "Quite powerful you are for a crippled pest. I would commend you for a job well done, but I hate you, so I won't."
Merlin did his best to come off as more intimidating than he probably looked, but he was exhausted and hurting too much to put a lot of effort into it. He needed to conserve what strength he had left to hold her here until help arrived. "What do you want? Why are you doing this?"
"I want my throne," Morgana replied.
"It's not your throne. It's Arthur's. It always has been," Merlin stated.
"He cannot rule over a kingdom filled with magic" Morgana claimed. "I am meant to be on that throne."
"He can and he has, Morgana," Merlin argued. "He is a fair and just king. But you are so blinded by hatred you can't see that."
"You think that just because you know a couple of spells, you understand what is have magic," Morgana taunted. "You don't understand what it is to hide who you are."
"Yes I do, Morgana," Merlin said. "I've spent my entire life hiding who I was and what I am. I wanted to tell you, but couldn't. I couldn't tell anyone."
Morgana opened her mouth to speak, but the realization of who Merlin really was finally dawned on her. "You're Emrys."
"Yes," Merlin admitted, his voice barely above a harsh whisper. Deep down he didn't want to hurt her. He wanted to save her from all that Morgouse did when she twisted her mind. "And I want to help you."
"No, you want to destroy me," Morgana screeched, letting out a burst of angry magic. "I won't let you."
Merlin fell back against a tree as Morgana's anger shook the earth. As the quake came to an end, Merlin tried to stand once more, but couldn't. His body ached and felt heavy. "Morgana, please."
"No," Morgana said. "I'm putting an end to you, to Arthur, to Camelot. It's over." Her eyes flashed a rustic gold, keeping Merlin pinned against the tree. As she moved closer to her mortal enemy, she pulled a vial out of her handbag and uncorked it
"Let me help you," Merlin pleaded weakly, trying to fight against her magic, but he had no strength to fight her off. If he still had his cane, maybe, but it was several feet away.
Daegal stood to the side frozen in place, terrified as he watched Morgana move closer to Merlin to pour whatever was in the vial into his mouth.
"Your magic can't save you now. The agony you'll feel," Morgana taunted as she rose to her full height. "You'll be glad when death comes." The witch then kicked Merlin in his injured side, causing him to down the cliff.
"Why are you doing this?" Daegal asked.
"You best stay out of this. Be glad I'm letting you even live after betraying me," Morgana said as she tossed him a money pouch.
Daegal let the pouch fall to the ground. He made no effort to pick it up. "I don't want your money."
"Suit yourself. Just remember I still have a few drops left if you breathe a word of this to anyone else," Morgana threatened as she walked away.
Once the witch was out of sight, Daegal started making his way down the embankment toward Merlin.
As the three knights ventured further into the valley, it was beginning to get dark.
"We'll have to make camp soon," Gwaine announced.
"Merlin might not have that kind of time," Mordred insisted.
"There's no way to travel in the dark," Percival stated.
Mordred held out his hand and incanted a spell. Floating above his hand was a single burning flame. "Make camp if you must, but I need to find Merlin and stop Morgana."
"We'll go with you," Gwaine decided. "Just light the way."
Daegal sat next to Merlin, waiting for the man to regain consciousness. It had been hours since Morgana had administered the deadly poison and kicked him into the embankment. The sky was now blanketed in darkness, clouds covering the moon and stars.
Merlin's breathing had become slow and shallow. Daegal could tell he was in pain, but he didn't know how to help the older man. Just as he was about to get up and leave to find help, two knights and the Druid, Mordred, he recalled, from earlier arrived on horses just above him.
"Daegal, what happened?" Mordred ordered as he dismounted his horse.
The young boy looked up at the three older men. "Morgana poisoned him. I couldn't stop her."
Mordred began climbing down the embankment as fast as he could. "How long ago to this happen?" he asked.
"It was still light out," Daegal answered. "He hasn't woken up."
Mordred knelt down next to his fellow sorcerer and began shaking him. Merlin only groaned but did not wake or move. "Daegal, get a fire going. If he develops a fever, we'll have to keep him warm."
Just as Daegal ran off to collect wood, Gwaine and Percival had made their way down and were at Mordred's side.
"Is there anything we can do?" Gwaine asked.
"I don't know any healing spells," Mordred admitted. "And the only person who probably knows what kind of poison was used and its cure is unconscious."
"Can't you try that mind-talking thing you two are always doing?" Percival suggested.
Mordred looked at the bigger knight, wondering why he hadn't thought of that before. He looked back at Merlin. Wake up, Emrys.
What are you doing here? was Merlin's reply. Despite communicating through his thoughts, he sounded tired and in pain.
Arthur sent me. Don't worry he's safe. Leon and some other knights are going to be with him at all times. Mordred reassured. What happened?
Morgana found... out I was Emrys. There was... an earthquake, I lost my balance and I couldn't... couldn't... get back up. She poured... something into my mouth... then kicked me... over the cliff. Merlin answered. Everything hurts.
Do you know the cure for the poison? Mordred pressed. Yes, it was bad that Morgana learned who his friend was, but that could be dealt with at a later time. Right now saving the life of said friend and mentor was more important.
Rue... milfoil... and yarrow. Ground them... into a tincture, Merlin answered.
Mordred looked up at Percival. "Rue, milfoil and yarrow. They need to be grounded into a tincture. Hurry."
Percival nodded as he left to get the herbs. He was the only one among the three knights who had an understanding of herbs and what to look for.
"Gwaine, look for Merlin's cane and pack. It has his medical kit and a bedroll in it," Mordred said looking at the bearded man kneeling on the other side of Merlin. "With luck, it'll be up where we left the horses"
"On it," Gwaine said as he stood and made his way up the slope.
Mordred began looking over Merlin, checking for other injuries. He quickly spotted a bleeding gash on his right leg as well as a gash just under his hairline. It wasn't until after he touched the blood from the leg wound and looked at it, did he realize that it was black. You're bleeding black blood. Mordred pointed out.
Not good, Merlin responded.
No, it's not, Mordred agreed as Daegal came back with wood for a fire. He looked at the young boy, forcing down the urge to tear into him for allowing his friend to get hurt. "Get it going as fast as possible."
Daegal worked fast to get the fire started. Once it was burning brightly, illuminating the area, Mordred took the opportunity to examine Merlin's midsection to see how his old wound was fairing. Upon lifting the injured man's tunic, he recoiled at the sight of it. Surrounding the many scars was huge blackish-purple bruising that seemed to still be spreading.
He knew he shouldn't have left the warlock alone. But he didn't have a choice, Arthur needed to be warned about the threat to his life. For a moment he considered letting Merlin know about the bruising, but decided against it. The man was already suffering enough at the moment.
Author's Note: