Author's note: Hey there, guys! For last chapter, I got only 6 reviews. Come on, guys! I know I am an evil writer. But still 224 followers and only six reviews. Don't get pissed at me for my evilness, please. I love talking with you and know your opinions. Your feedback is priceless to me. So, please be a dearie and leave a review, okay? Otherwise, I'll have to start blackmailing. ( Gives evil grin )
Okay, I have some very good news. The next chapter is the chapter I was so desperate to write from the begining. Merlin and Arthur will finally meet and TALK. I will try to update on 25th of December. Or maybe earlier if I get enough time to write. Happy holidays to the people of west.
Alright then. On with the story.
Chapter 31
Single Combat
" My king, the commander of Saul's Fortress has confirmed that the Amatan army's activity has significantly increased near our border. Some of their scouts even dared to set foot at the outskirt of Perilous Woods. I strongly believe that their intentions are not good. Maybe they are planning to attack. " Councilor Aachen said to Merlin in his concern filled voice.
The king of Elmet had called an urgent Round table meeting concerning the recent alarming news near the southern border. The entire elder council was gathered and now they were all discussing the urgency of the situation inside the ' Forest Chamber ' ( As Merlin had dubbed it ).
" No they can't be that stupid. No army can breach the magical security of our capital. They won't even be able to cross the lake. " Nayem said confidently while swinging his hand. He always did that when he was over-excited about something.
Merlin shook his head in disagreement.
" Don't be so sure, Nayem. We know that the Amatan army has sorcerers among them. Even their king is a strong sorcerer. According to Maes, he is more powerful than Alator and Iseldir combined. "
Merlin looked at the spy who had recently returned from Amata. Maes Henseg nodded in agreement while rubbing the right lens of his spectacles.
" Even if they cross the lake, no army could ever breach the two great walls of our city. " Nayem continued insisting that they were in no actual danger from Amata.
" They don't know that. " All the councilors looked to the man who spoke the last words.
It was Groshem, the recently rescued Druid.
" They don't know how high and wide our city walls are. They don't believe that any city can be more fortified than Camelot. "
Daegal snorted hearing the comment.
" Is something funny, Daegal? " Merlin asked raising his eyebrow.
" Sorry. It's just that Camelot is only thought fortified because of you. That city would have been burned to the ground by renegade sorcerers, if you hadn't been there to protect it. Still, it got captured twice. Imagine what would have happened, if you hadn't been there. "
Merlin nodded. " Thank you for your words. Now on to the subject again. Our city may be encircled by the best wall of the world but don't forget that this same city once fell to ruins because of it's people's over-confidence and laziness. "
" Are you implying that the cursed one is with Sauron, Merlin? " Alator asked while rubbing his thumb on his cheek.
" We don't know that. The chance is very slim. He can't be powerful enough so soon after his last defeat. But one can nev... "
What was Merlin going to say was interrupted by the loud noise of the opening of the large door of the council chamber. In came a young man at his twilight of teen years. He was sweating profusely. He was panting as if he had run a long distance. He wiped the drops of sweat from his brow with his right hand.
" He... He's go-t hi..m. He's got... " He said between quick breaths.
Everyone was so dazed at his sudden entrance that no one fully heard what he had said.
" Oh! Calm down, Fuery. Sit and take a breath. " Merlin's eyes glowed gold and a stone chair rose from the floor of the chamber.
The young man, Fuery sat down on the recently conjured chair and after taking some deep breath, his breathing became slower.
" You alright there, little brother? " asked Roy Aerion from his seat of the round table looking at him with a little worried gaze.
" Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for asking. "
" Now I believe you have news for me, Fuery ? " Merlin gave the young man a questioning look.
" Um... Oh yes. While I was in the encampment, I was impersonating various persons to hide my true identity. The last one I was impersonating was the Amatan General Ehrant's squire, Rhuben. I went with him to a tent when a messenger brought him the news ' The fish is caught '. At first, I thought that it was some Camelot scout the General wanted to interrogate.
But when I entered, I saw someone I didn't expect. "
" Who? " Merlin asked. He suddenly felt very anxious. All of the occupants in the room were silent waiting with bated breath to hear what Fuery had to say.
" Arthur Pendragon. " He said loud and clear.
No one said a single word. Whatever they were all expecting, it was not this.
It was Merlin who broke the silence.
" You're sure about this, Fuery? "
" I am positive, my king. " Fuery said confidently.
" Did the general call him Arthur Pendragon? "
" No. But the prisoner king told him that Guinevere would repel Amata. I deduce he was talking about Guinevere Pendragon. And the general called Lady Pendragon his wife. "
Merlin took a deep breath and began to ask.
" What's his hair colour? "
" Golden. "
" What's his eye colour? "
" Blue. "
" Fair or tanned? "
" Fair. "
" Age? "
" Around your age. Maybe a bit older. "
" Have you seen his sword? "
" I saw the general taking it. It was a runed sword and it looked like one of those fabled swords forged in dragon's breath. "
Merlin interlocked his fingers, placed his chin on his hands and said, " That's him. Arthur Pendragon. One hundred percent certain. "
" There's more, my king. " Fuery said.
" What? "
" King Sauron is keeping King Arthur as his hostage. Queen Guinevere has sent an army to join the Amatans on their invasion against us. "
Numbers of murmurs and gasps were heard throughout the room.
Merlin raised his hand and all became silent again. He narrowed his eyes when he spoke again to Fuery.
" Join the Amatans? Not fight them? "
" No, my king. The general said that the king would kill Arthur Pendragon if Lady Guienevere doesn't co-operate. She has agreed to his terms. The Camelotians will soon march to Perilous Woods with the Amatan Alliance. "
Every people looked at Merlin to hear his response.
Merlin sat still on his chair for some moments and then stood up.
" Listen to me closely. I am going to stop this battle even before it starts. But if worse comes to worst, we'll have to be prepared. Assemble the entire army except the city guards. We're going to meet them head on. "
" But sire, the enemy will outnumber us four to one. Not to mention they also have magic and Camelot's knights on their side. Don't we have better chance to win if we prepare for siege here? I thought you would send in a rescue team to abduct King Arthur not going outright into battle. " Fuery said frantically.
Merlin walked up to the young spy and put his hand on his shoulder.
" Don't worry. The Camelotians are going to be no problem. I am going to try resolve this matter in honorable ways first in order to give Sauron the benifit of doubt. "
Many of the councilors were begining to protest but their voice died down instantly when Merlin raised his hand.
" But if he proves himself to be a dishonorable person, then I wil send a clear message to him. Our enemy will know what happens when you mess with the ' King of Magic '.
Sound the horn of Erumal. We're going to war. "
Saying this, Merlin left the room. The councilors, the Queen and Queen Mother was dumbstruck by Merlin's sudden reaction. They never heard Merlin using the title ' King of Magic ' on himself.
While they kept on pondering, the loud sound of the horn of Erumal began to echo through the city signaling that a war has come to Elmet.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
" You want me to fight an one to one duel against Elmet's champion? You are serious? " Arthur asked Sauron with disbelief clear in his voice.
" Dead serious. I don't joke with my fellow king. " The Amatan king said with a poker face.
" But you keep them in chains? " The blond king asked in a sarcastic tone.
" Silence. I should execute you for your queen's backstabbing. " Sauron said loudly.
Arthur frowned hearing this. " What did she do? "
Sauron clapped and several guards entered the tent. They brought in seven knights clad in red cloak. They were knights of Camelot. All of them were chained.
Arthur looked at them in horror specially at one dark skinned knight. It was his brother-in-law Elyan.
" What is the meaning of this, Sauron? My army came here to fight for you. Why are my men in chains? " Arthur demanded. He kept the facade of a strong and arrogant king. But inside, he knew he was in a big mess without a way out in sight.
" Your army? Your peasant queen... "
" Don't call her that. " Arthur growled.
Sauron didn't even seem to notice Arthur's anger. He continued.
" ... only sent five hundred men. A complete joke compared to my own army of thirty thousands. I knew something was wrong from the begining. But I kept watching your so-called army from background. And I was proven right. "
Sauron pointed his finger to the knights of Camelot.
" Your men was caught red handed by my guards trying to assassinate me in my sleep. I have put all your men in chains. They are going to be my hostage. I have sent a message to your queen not to send any soldiers to try anything else stupid. If she does it, I will send your men back to Camelot piece by piece. "
" You will pay for this, Sauron. I swear you'll pay. " Arthur yelled in rage.
The Amatan king snorted.
" Oooh! Someone's angry here. No, Arthur. I am not going to pay. It's your men who are going to pay if you don't do as I say. You're going to fight Elmet's champion or else your men die. "
Arthur kept fuming in rage for some seconds but then he cooled down after realizing what was at stake.
" What are the terms? "
" Ah. Now you are listening. Good. Good. The king of Elmet's terms are a bit peculiar. If my champion loses, I will have to withdraw and if his champion loses, we'll fight the war. "
" That's like a lose-lose terms for you. Why haven't you disagreed? "
" First of all, he had threatened my guard to blow up my entire army to pieces if I disagree. I almost laughed when I heard it. My army is at least four times bigger than his. I will crush him not the other way around. Still, why not agree with him to give him false confidence? "
" Merlin said that? He said he would blow up your army? " Arthur asked in disbelief.
" Yes. The king of Elme... " Sauron suddenly stopped in the midway.
" Hold on. You know King Merlin. "
" In a way. Yes. It's not important. We met a long time ago. He might not even recognized me now. " Arthur lied.
Sauron frowned but continued his speech. " And secondly, I am not going to keep my word if you lose and if they lose, we will attack them anyway. Thus we can crush them without going into the hassle of entering the perilous woods. In a way, the duel is going to be a form of entertainment for me. "
" I expect nothing else from a person like you. But why me? " Arthur asked.
" You are a legendary swordsman. And the battle is going to be fully devoid of any magic using. Just steel against steel. You are going to be the perfect choice. " Sauron said with a sly grin.
" Who's to say that they won't use magic during the duel? " Arthur asked still a bit skeptical about Sauron's intentions.
" I will know. I have my methods. Now quit sulking. You have a duel to win. General Ehrant? "
The said general came forward and presented back his sword which he had taken from him previously.
A sudden glint of envy in Sauron's eyes while looking at the sword didn't go unnoticed by Arthuer.
He took the sword while two guards unlocked the chains and manacles.
Sauron patted on Arthur's shoulder. " Win this for me, Pendragon. And I promise you will return to Camelot safely with your pathetic army. "
Then his demeanour became serious. He looked Arthur in the eyes, grabbed his chin forcefully and said, " You lose, you all die. "
Arthur was looking at the young ( younger than him ) Amatan king with venom in his eyes. Never in his entire life, he had felt this much helpless. Any wrong move and his men would be dead. And this time, there was no Merlin with him to lift his mood or give him any genuine sound counsel. In fact, this time he was going to fight against Merlin's champion.
What happened to ' The king of magic won't leave you behind '?
Sauron let go off Arthur and flashed a brilliant smile.
" I am already enjoying this even before the start of real fun. I am like a Roman Emperor and you're like my gladiator. No hard feeling, eh? Fight well, my gladiator. " The Amatan king left the tent with his personal bodyguards after saying this.
Arthur was seeing red. His anger was almost at it's limits. He might be helpless right now. But he had always got out of these kind of situations with barely a scratch. . This time wouldn't be any different, right? And when he got out of this mess, he would make Sauron feel every ounce of pain and humiliation he was feeling right now. It was a promise. And far it be from Arthur Pendragon to be known as an oath-breaker.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sorry for the super shortness of this chapter. Next chapter is going to be epic. Please leave a review, my dear readers. Every one of them is appreciated.
Today's question: Sauron Erestris is based on a fictional character. Can you tell who is that? Hint: The main differences between Sauron and that character are Sauron has more brain, courage and boldness. Oh! And Sauron is less sadistic.
Have a good day ( or night ). Happy reading.
Adios.
-Assassin of Syria.