Author's note : From now on, this fic will be updated weakly on monday like the amazing story of Teekalin : The rising of Merlin. You guys must read it. By the way, sorry for being late. I was watching Testament of Youth, The fall, Parked ( All of them starred Colin Morgan ) etc and forgot to write. Thanks to all my reviewers for their encouraging words. You guys are the best. At last , in this chapter we'll see the long awaited duel . I hope you'll like it.
Chapter 10
You cannot kill darkness
" Excuse me. But I thought this place is called The Isle of The Blessed. Or have you taken liberty to change it's name just like you have taken liberty to play with other people's minds ? " Merlin said mockingly. Although he knew it would be a bad idea to piss the Djinn.
The goddess ( Ajajil ) smirked and said , " Mocking now , are we ? Well, that was expected from the fearless Emrys. As for your questions, The Isle of The Blessed became a cursed place when Morrel, Karen and Aisa sold their souls to me all those years ago when I took hold of their minds.
It's also my central base in Albion. As I am the cursed one, it is only fitting that my base is called the Isle of the Cursed. And you can't blame me for playing with those foolish women's minds. They were willing to make a deal with me and should have thought that I was not a being to be trusted.
Now that I have answered your questions , we should get into business. I would have proposed you to join me but I know that you would refuse. " He ( she ? ) ended with a charming smile.
" Oh ! You are no fun. I always love the dissapointed looks on bad people's face, when I refuse. " Merlin said with a hint of fake dissapointment and he was trying his best to remain calm at the presence of the creepy Djinn.
" You are indeed a brave one. Many powerful humans tried to defy me but none were successful. You won't be a different case , I assure you. " Ajajil said. Then a dark light covered the vessel body of Ajajil. When the light dissappeared, Merlin was horrified to see what was standing before him.
A tall ( nuch taller than Merlin ) dark skinned creature was standing there where a few moments ago, the beautiful woman was standing. The creature's entire body was wrinkled and pus was leaking from several part of it's body. It's eyes were glowing red. It's head was bald and it was holding a giant scythe in it's right hand. To Merlin, it looked like a troll only a troll looked much less hideous and intimidating.
" This is my true form, young warlock. What say you? Aren't I attractive ? " Ajajil cackled ominously.
" Argh ! Maybe to a troll. And I was preferring the preety lady. All my nemesises were devilishly sexy except you ; the mastermind behind all of them . What an irony ! " Merlin said with a mocking tone.
This time Ajajil's face darkened with anger. ' Maybe he was serious about him being attractive. ' Merlin thought to himself.
" Enough with your mockery, Emrys. Now be one with the dark. " Saying this, Ajajil lunged forward to attack Merlin with his scythe and thus the duel began.
Merlin dodged the attack as he was prepared for it when he noticed the angry look on the Djinn's face.
Another attack followed the first one and this time Merlin managed to evade it barely. Ajajil didn't stop. He was sweeping his giant scythe with ferocious agility . Merlin was having a very hard time . But he was wondering why the Djinn was not using magic.
As if in answer, the Djinn raised his left hand and a dark ball of energy shot out from his palm.
" Scilden , " Merlin cried raising his own palm . A blue shield covered Merlin and the dark ball bounced off the barrier.
" Not bad, Emrys. But I expected more from you. Is that all you have got ? " Ajajil asked in a prattish tone much like Arthur.
' Stop thinking about him. ' Merlin reprimanded himself. ' Concentrete on your enemy or you are toast. ' He said to his mind.
' I can't win if I fight defensively. To win, I must attack . ' Merlin mused. So , he closed his eyes but held the shield . He began to feel the magic bubbling under the surface of the earth. The amount of that magic surprised him . The magic of the earth seemed infinite to him. The warlock suddenly felt one with that huge amount of magic as if it was a part of him . He commanded that magic and it obeyed . It began to seep into his body making him feel more powerful than ever.
This power was more ancient than the power of the dragonlords. A power ancient as the time itself.
" The power of ' the calling ' . " Merlin whispered.
So, this is what Uriel meant. The greatest power a human can ever hope to achieve. The power of summoning the magic of earth itself. The power of Emrys.
Merlin was exhilerated at the power he felt coursing through his veins. He lowered his shield and opened his eyes. It was glowing fully golden like it was glowing when he saved Aren. He looked at Ajajil and smirked , " No. I was just getting warmed up. " He said in an un-earthly tone.
Ajajil stopped smiling. And for the first time Merlin saw fear in his dark eyes.
Merlin lowered himself and pounded on the ground using his right fist. The ground shook and trembled as if it was proclaiming the might of Emrys. Ajajil lost his footing and fell falt on the ground . But the djinn held his scythe firmly in his right hand. His swipped his weapon and his eyes turned deep black . " Hikken* . " Ajajil screamed and an etheral black phoenix came out of his scythe and flew right towards Merlin .
Merlin simply raised his hand and stopped the bird mid-air. He clapped once and the bird turned into a golden phoenix. It changed it's direction towards the fallen Djinn and flew towards him.
Ajajil raised a shield. But the phoenix pierced through the shield and hit the djinn square in the chest. He cried in pain and clutched his churred chest.
Merlin walked towards his fallen nemesis and raised his hand to give the fatal blow. But then something unexpected happened. Ajajil looked up to Merlin but it was not a rotten face of a damned djinn but a face of a girl whose skin was pale , whose hair was black as ebony and had brown eyes which conquered Merlin's heart a long time ago. It was Freya's face.
" Merlin, please don't ... " The face pleaded. Merlin was taken aback by this sudden development. He lowered his hand and said , " Is it really you , Freya ? " His voice was shaking.
" No. " Freya's face gave a hideous smirk and Merlin realized he made a terrible mistake. He was fooled and a moment's distraction was all that Ajajil needed. " Yasakani no magatama . " The djinn cried.
A violet beam of light shot out from Ajajil's hand and hit Merlin's midsection before he could dodge it.
Pain shot through the warlock's entire body. It was worse than the nathair's bite. The pain was destroying him from the inside like a vampire sucking blood out of him. He was thrown back ten feet away by the spell and landed on his back.
Ajajil stood up and walked towards Merlin . The young warlock was thrashing in pain on the ground and screaming. The djinn smirked and said , " Even with all the power in the world, you are still weak. You let your emotions cloud your mind. That's the problem with all you humans. You all are pathetic emotional creatures. But I am a spawn of fire and I don't let any emotions rule me.
That's why I am superior than you. That's why we djinns are better than you humans. The One is just too proud to admit his mistake. But today I will prove The One wrong by killing you . After today, no one will ever question my power in this earth. After today, if any speak of you, they will only speak how you begged for death and I , being a merciful being obliged. "
Ajajil raised his scythe, ready to bring down it on Merlin . The warlock closed his eyes and readied himself for the inevitable. ' After all this, this is how it ends. So, much for being a king. ' He thought through agonizing pain.
But then a voice spoke in his mind. A voice more powerful and deeper than Uriel. A voice which soothed Merlin's pain both physically and mentally like magic but it was not his magic nor the magic from the earth . Rather it felt like coming from the high heaven itself.
' Don't lose hope, young one. Darkness can't win against light. The time of the truth has come and the false will perish for the false is destined to be perished. You are the champion of The One and you will fulfill your destiny. A renegade djinn won't be able to stop you.
Don't despair . And never lose hope. This task was appointed to you, Merlin of Ealdor. And if you do not find a way; no one will. '
The last words shocked Merlin. Those were the same words Freya told him on that day near the lake of Avalon . He felt ashamed of himself. How could he give up when his beloved had so much faith in him ? How colud he give up when he has a mother who loves him unconditionally ? He questioned himself.
' No. I can't give up. I am not going down. I am going to fight. I am going to fight. ' He tried to answer that mysterious voice telepathetically.
' Praise be to The One who helped their champion to see the light. Go and fight the darkness. You have the blessing of The One and The entire Mall'aka behind you. Believe in your heart and you will never fail. ' Saying this, the deep soothing voice left Merlin's mind but at the same time, the young warlock felt reinvigorated and all his pains were gone like the time when Uriel healed him.
He opened his now glowing golden eyes and saw Ajajil ready to slice him with his giant scythe. ' Oh no, you're not. ' ,Merlin said in Ajajil's mind and with a wave of his hand, blasted the djinn away.
" WHAT ? But how ? You were just screaming in pain right now. " Ajajil cried in horror.
" You underestimate humans, the cursed one. We are the supreme creation because we have mercy , loyalty and love inside our heart of which you have become completely devoid of. You'll never understand it.
And now by the power vested in me by The One , I , Merlin Ignotus Emrys Ambrosius will defeat you and end your wicked game of manipulation. "
Saying this, he raised his and brilliant blue and golden light shot from his hand. The light took the form of a giant dragon and raced towards Ajajil. " Dhalien , " The djinn yelled and a dark hued shield encircled him. But it was useless . The blueish golden dragon tore through the shield, collided with Ajajil and incinerated him.
" No. I am a spawn of fire. This can't be. "
The djinn cried in pain. " The purest form of magic consumes all and you are not an exception. Goodbye, Ajajil, puppetmaster of The Triple Goddess. " Merlin said feeling a little sad for him . It was a painful way to perish and he wished it on no one , not even to his worst enemy. But he knew that he only did it on instincts. At least, it was over.
But he was wrong. " This is not over, Emrys. You may have defeated me. But I am immortal . I am darkness. And you can't kill darkness. I will return. And when I will, you will rue the day, you were born. " The burned djinn screamed and suddenly vanished in a whirlwind.
Merlin was dumbstruck. After going through this much pain and suffering, he still failed. Ajajil is still at large. He went on his knees and began to sob .
" Don't cry, Emrys. You're not a failure. You have saved us . " A sweet voice said . It startled Merlin . He looked up and saw three beautiful etheral women standing before him. They were smiling softly .
" But I am a failure. Ajajil still lives. I have failed again. " Merlin almost chocked.
" Oh ! Dear one. You have always been modest and brave. You have defeated the cursed one and weakened him. But you can't kill him. No one can. Because he is the darkness. And there is no light without darkness. He will return again but as always, the followers of good and light will defeat him like you have defeated him and freed us. " The woman standing at the right said.
" Who are you ? " Merlin asked although he had a hunch that he already knew the answer.
" Morrel, Karen and Aisa. " The three women said simultaneously.
" The triple goddess, " Merlin whispered.
" Yes, people called us in that name when our minds were not our own. We were nothing but a shell when we made the deal with Ajajil long ago. But now you have freed us, Emrys. We will have peace at last after our centuries long imprisonment. Thank you. " The middle woman said smilingly.
" What will I do now ? " Merlin asked.
" You'll go with The Fisher King to fulfill your destiny. Always follow your heart, young one and you'll never lose the right path. Goodluck. " Saying this, The three women dissappeared in thin air.
Merlin stood up and a loud crack was heard behind him.
He spun around and saw Uriel standing. Uriel looked at him and said, " Thank The One , I have at last come to the right place. Is the deed done ? "
Merlin nodded hesitantly and said , " Yes. But- "
He was stopped by Uriel. " Then, come with me quickly. Your friends are waiting. And Sir Gwaine has given me death threat if I don't come back with you. Just take my hand. I will hear everything later. "
Merlin tried to say something but Uriel had already grabbed his right wrist and soon he found himself standing at the cell of the dragonlords. Before him, stood The Queen of Camelot with the crown prince standing beside her.
' Oh ! I have got some serious explaining to do. ' Merlin thought to himself.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
On next chapter : We'll see the reactions of the Camelotians and it will be from Gwen's point of view. And can anyone find the Harry Potter referrence in this chapter ? Happy reading.