Author's note: Yes, I am alive. And I am back. Sorry for this ungodly long hiatus. Let's jump right back to The story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or Goblin: the lonely and immortal god.
Chapter 47
The awakening of the king
Arthur's mind was still spinning around. His mind couldn't comprehend what he heard a moment ago.
" You have to kill me, " Merlin's words still echoed in his ear. They were like a thousand arrows shredding his heart into thousand pieces. His Royal friend didn't say anything else after that. Giving a sad smile, he just vanished into thin air. Or should he say that Merlin teleported himself back to the warcamp.
He was just begining to understand the principles of magic with the help of some of the masters of Arcaenia. Although his progress was slow, he now understood magic a lot better than he used to one year ago.
He might not be an expert on magical knowledge but he knew that there was no other way. If there was any other way, Merlin wouldn't have asked him to do such. He was the best sorcerer in all of Albion or maybe the whole world with the land's best master sorcerers as his councillors. If they couldn't find any way to save Merlin, then was there any way to save his friend?
Why was fate so cruel to him? From his childhood, he lost his loved ones. He lost his mother just as he started breathing, he lost the girl who he treated as his sister, lost his father; killed by the same sister who was twisted by her quest for revenge, lost his uncle even before knowing he was lost, who went blind for a grudge he held over which Arthur had no control. He lost Lancelot, his best knight, Elyan, his brother in law and now it was going to be him.
The unthinkable.
The one who had molded him into the king that he was now today. The one who had given him clarity, through him he found his queen, all his closest friends. And now he was telling him he was going to lose him. Again. He knew he had been a despicable friend to him. He didn't deserve Merlin's unwavering loyalty and friendship.
But to kill him by his own hand. To ask such thing of him was cruel. Too cruel. And Merlin didn't deserve it. Nor did Freya. They deserved happiness, they deserved love.
As he thought about it more and more, he found himself more and more towards the pit of hopelessness. He wanted to break down. To let it all go. To be erased from existence.
Once and future king, indeed. He couldn't even save his friends for once , what good he could be to the future generations?
It would be easier if he could just give up his so called destiny right then and there. He had enough of it. Knowing fate, if he tried again, no matter how hard he tried he would fail again. And the next time might be Guinevere or Aren. So why even try?
" You can't. " Arthur was brought out from his reverie by a voice he had never heard before.
A young boy sat atop one of the rocks garbed in a blue tunic and a woolen trousers. His long silver hair almost covered his eyes, his white skin which almost glowed in moonlight made him look like a ghost.
The boy looked to be in his late teens. Even though he didn't look at Arthur, the king had a feeling this stranger had been here for quite some time and had been observing him.
" You can't, Arthur. " The boy said again. Arthur was going to say something but he was intercepted.
" Bloodshed, Darkness, Death, more death, pain, more will come. They will come. All lost. " The boy said as if he were in a trance. Arthur was becoming confused. Who was this boy? What did he want?
He didn't stop.
" You can't give up. Not now. All depends on you. Fate and destiny on a thread. You give up, it breaks. You can't give up. Can't give up. Can't give up. "
He said the same thing again and again like reciting a mantra. Arthur was not someone who could be scared easily but this boy... something was different about him. He was not a human of that Arthur was sure. But what was he then?
And how did he know his name? How did he know what he was thinking? What kind of magic was this? He needed to know.
He began to approach the boy. His steps careful and steady.
Suddenly the mysterious boy stopped chanting and looked towards Arthur. For the first time since his appearance, Arthur looked at his eyes. They were plain black. But in those orbs, he could sense power.
Great power. He knew then and there, this boy was not someone who could be trifled with. Then again, who could he be?
As if to answer Arthur's questioning thoughts, he said, " I am of no consequences. I just help. I can help you. So, I was sent. "
This time his voice was more humane but that did little to ease Arthur's uneasiness. Rather it gave him more questions. Sent? Sent by who? How did he know he needed help? How could this boy help him?
" You can save him. "
That one sentence skidded Arthur's train of thoughts to a full halt.
What did he say?
" You can save him. "
He said it again. Arthur knew who the boy was talking about. So the next question was...
" How? "
" Come with me. " He extended his hand with a smile etched on his face.
Arthur's mind was going through a malestorm. There was a way. He could save him.
But...
Could this be a trap?
He looked at the boy, his hand still extended still smiling.
Arthur erased those doubts. If he had a chance, he would take it. No matter the consequences. He was reckless like that. But should he trust this boy capable of doing something. Something Merlin with all his councilors couldn't achieve.
He didn't even know his name. Still, something primal inside told him to trust the boy. Something was pulling him towards the boy. As he reached out for his hand.
The young boy's smile widened. His spoke again.
" Call me Cole. "
And then, Arthur Pendragon was sucked into a vortex of magic.
00000000000000000000000000
Sparkling blue light was what made Arthur awaken from the realm of unconsciousness. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an abyssal void, only it was not as dark and gloomy as he had read in fairy tales or religious scripts, it was alight with soft blue light with glowing crystals dancing around here and there. As he looked around to have a clear grasp of his surroundings, he realized he was standing on air as if he were flying.
At first, he panicked thinking he would soon plummet to his death. But after a few moments, he found himself still hovering over nothing.
So, I am not going to fall, it seems. He thought to himself.
But, where am I ?
As if to answer his question, something began to stir in the void. The crystals that were glowing softly began to become brighter. And soon, their light became blinding. Arthur had to raise his hands to protect his eyes from the bright light of the crystals.
When he lowered his hands, he was greeted by someone, he didn't expect. Someone of whom he had read and seen only in the books of legend.
Clad in blue garb, with a golden crown atop his head, his short black hair, and trimmed beard complemented the strong features of his face which was marred with a pair of scars crisscrossing his left cheek like the letter X.
It was him, the king of legend. The first king. Uniter of south Albion. King Bruta Alaremendiam.
Arthur went straight to his knees. To think that he would have the honour to meet him even in this weird place was like a dream come true.
" Rise, Arthur. We have little time to lose. " Bruta said. His strong, gruff voice reverberated throughout the void.
Arthur rose to his feet. To his surprise, he found himself surrounded by more people clad in royal garb. Different symbol adorning their garb made Arthur realize they were all past kings of Albion from different kingdoms.
But, what was this place? And how did he come here? Where did Cole go?
Bruta, as if realizing what's going on inside his mind, gave a smile and said, " So many questions. If you were only this inquisitive and open minded in the past, we wouldn't be having this conversation in Aetherium. "
What? Aetherium? In the here after?
Bruta must be reading his mind for his next response was exactly what Arthur was thinking about.
" No, Arthur. You're not dead. We needed you here to save Merlin. That's why we sent Cole to summon you here. "
All questions fled Arthur's mind. For every other thing was irrelevant. To save Merlin was what mattered most. Every other thing was trivial. Unimportant.
" Is there a way? "
" Yes, there is. And only you can do it. "
Hope fluttered inside his heart. For once, fate would be helpful towards him. This time he would be able to save someone.
" How? "
" Stand still. " Bruta said and without giving a warning, all the kings raised their hand and blue rays came out of their hand in unison encircling Arthur.
For Arthur, it felt invigorating. Like nothing he felt before. He felt his strength increasing, his sense sharpening and perception clearing.
What could it be?
What kind of magic could it be?
Just as suddenly it came, as suddenly it was gone. Arthur now felt nothing out of ordinary. Couldn't feel the surge of magic that used to flow through his veins only mere moments ago.
He looked around him and all the kings of old, except Bruta had disappeared.
" What just happened? " The flabbergasted king asked.
" The power of kings of old. "
Arthur's forehead frowned in confusion. He never heard of such things. Maybe there were some records of them in the archives in the past. But after the purge, nothing associated with magic was spared. So, even if something like that ever existed, there was no way for Arthur to know that. All he was ever taught about magic by his father that it is evil and it must be destroyed.
That's why right now his reaction was nothing but utter confusion.
King Bruta's sigh of disappointment didn't miss Arthur's ear. But the old king didn't try to embarrass Arthur anymore than he already was.
" All that you need to know right now is that we, " His regal voice reverberated throughout the void. " The kings and queens of the old are with you now. When you need us in battle, call for us. We will come."
Arthur didn't know how he should respond to that. To weild such a great power and not losing his mind is utterly inconceivable.
It reminded him of Merlin. His friend is the most powerful man in all of Albion and yet he had been so humble all his life. He didn't know whether he could keep himself grounded with such power in his possession.
" You seem hesitant, Arthur." Bruta asked. As if responsing to Arthur's thoughts, the old king continued, " You fear this power will corrupt you? "
Arthur nodded feeling a little bit surprised that King Bruta could tell what he was thinking. " I have already abused my power as king before. " Arthur's mind reeled back to past when he had made the worst mistake of his life. He still shuddered whenever he thought of it.
" What makes you think that with such power, I won't misuse it again. And this time the consequences could be catastrophic. " Arthur almost sounded angry.
" Do you think we haven't thought about it? " Bruta's voice was almost emotionless but Arthur could sense hints of anger hidden on his poker face.
" To ensure that you don't make the same mistakes again... " Bruta raised his hand while talking and a longsword appeared on his hand. It's blade was silvery white and it's grip was adorned by a figure of golden dragon. A huge stone of sapphire adorned the pommel.
The name Rhymanium was engraved on the sapphire.
The Rhymanium? Arthur couldn't believe it. The legendary sword of King Bruta which felled thousands of enemies on the field, the magical sword which struck fear in hearts of bravest of soldiers.
It's here. In Aetherium. Had been here all these years while the world wondered where it went after Bruta's death.
Before Arthur could say something about the sword though, the Elder king slammed the sword through Arthur's chest and it perforated him through and through.
" Don't be scared. "
Is he serious? He just killed him without any warning. Arthur wanted to scream and curse but he was numbed with fear.
" You are not dead, Arthur. Calm yourself. " Bruta said in his regal tone.
" But you will be, if you misuse the power that you have been granted. "
Bruta pointed towards the pommel of Rhymanium and it vanished.
The sword which was jutting out of his chest just a moment before was nowhere to be seen.
" That sword will be your surety, King Arthur. None but Cole will be able to see it. "
As if summoned by his name, Cole appeared from out of nowhere.
" He will be your shadow, your inspector. We give you the strength of King Somnus, magic of Queen Aranea, the cunning of King Ardyn and the Charisma of mine. But if you misuse it, Cole will pull that sword out.
And with that you, your queen, your son, your kingdom will turn to ashes. Do you agree with it? To have that power to defeat the cursed one and save Merlin? "
Arthur remained silent. His mind processing all the information that was thrown at him in the last minute.
On one hand, he could have a chance of saving Merlin. On the other hand, he could become corrupt and lose all.
It's a huge gamble but what would've Merlin done?
Heck! Is that even a question? He would've gladly exchanged his life if Arthur's life was in danger as he had done countless other times.
So Arthur said what he should have.
" I agree. "
A broad grin appeared on Bruta's face. Then go. He said.
" Save Emrys and bring forth, Albion. "
A ray of white light began to encircle Arthur and soon enough, he was transferred back to The living world from the land of Aetherium.
It's time to show the cursed one what human will is capable of.
Author's note: I am re reading my own story to remember certain plot points. So the next updated chapter might be two weeks later. Review is love. Please drop me some and give your feedback.