The Dominican Labyrinth… at the same time…
What is prose?
It's the type of writing wherein it lacks song or poetry. Prose lacks rhyme, style, and sometimes reason. It does not have the flowery tone of which to decorate stories with flavour and melodies its character. It is concise and blunt. Nothing can be done to bend the simplicity Prose has to offer. It is simply… something that Merlin is not quite used to.
The lack of Prose is what Merlin thrives in. He finds beauty in the fact that he can wield the power of wordsmithing with great proficiency. Creating and transforming wonderful songs, poetry , and stories for whatever purpose he wants and needs. Be it for joy, laughter, anger, sadness and so much more. He is as much of a talented storytelling bard as he is King Arthur's greatest wizard.
Unfortunately for him, Merlin has no choice but to use prose at this moment. Prose is an uncomfortable thing to use, yet he has no other way to explain what he's seeing before him that is not it. For prose forces the writer to create genuinely simple sentences that show all and conceal none. Something that the lack of prose tries to do; which is to hide the thorns behind the pretty roses. If we look at this description in a deeper sense, it shows why Merlin is such a great storyteller. Could it also be the reason why the man is called the Mage of Flowers, perchance?
Now what is this that he must create of which he must also acknowledge? It is… A sentence. One sentence. Short, simple, and true. Hard as it may be, Merlin now has to create it now. And so in his mind the gears began to spin. His heart began to churn while his soul aches in pain for what it's about to realise. Still, he has to do it. As said before, he has no choice. And finally, he weeped in silent sorrow.
"They turned my friend into a monster."
Stilicho. The long time friend of Merlin himself looked towards the mage with eyes that wished nothing more but to catch up with each other and vice versa. Both men remembered their gallivanting days a couple of decades ago. The beers they drank, the beasts they killed, and even the women who threw flower pots at them as they passed by. All those memories started flooding the front of their minds. It is… truly a shame that they reunited under these circumstances.
"What have they done to you, Stilicho?" Merlin's question echoes in Stilicho's mind. A simple, yet complicated question. It would be easier to explain what hadn't been done to him. All the times he's been awoken, all the things that he's done and been done to him. Even the torture sessions done to 'pacify' him, he remembers it all… But there is only one answer that popped up in his head as the question finally registered.
"Aurelius Dominicus happened to me." Stilicho said bitterly. He looked towards his ashened hands and clenched them. He fought against the pain to do so. He can't remember what it was like to not feel pain as he moved his limbs. Ever since they cursed him with this unnatural life - no, this is too malevolent, downright despicable for it to be called as such. Ever since they cursed him to remain in this state of being, they did everything they could to stitch him back together. Not caring for the soul that lies within.
"I watched you die…" Merlin whispered out loud. And it was here that Stilicho left the inner parts of his mind. He will not hesitate to explain. It's the least he could do for a good friend.
"I did die. That storm destroyed my ship and my body. Torn apart by the monsters of the sea." Stilicho said as he felt the stitches on his face. "It's convenient that they reinforced my skin to stick together. I can't get a lovely lady with an ugly face, now can't I?"
"Hahahaha…" Merlin painfully laughed before turning serious once again. A rarity for an old friend. "I am not joking, Stilicho. What did he do to you?"
Stilicho's slightly jovial expression turned morose at the mention of the former ruler of Londinium. His mind suddenly flooded with pictures of the rituals, the battles, all the blood he was forced to spill during these horrid years. He clutched his head as a wave of flashing pain came over him. But he forced himself out of it.
"He… he found me. In the depths of the sea. He had what was left of his father's mages and had them scavenge the wreckage for my limbs. What they couldn't find, they took from my passengers. Organs, bones, and muscle. Aurelius was not kind to their corpses. I don't know what they did to bring me back… but all I know after that is war. Constant, endless war…"
Stilicho gritted his teeth as the memory of him drowning and burning Aurelius' memories came to mind. He had no say on whether or not they got to live back then and even now he lacks the choice.
"You were his tool to win the Aurelian wars." Morgan thought carefully. Having spent this entire time in silence as she patiently analysed the information being given to the two of them. "The masterful craftsmanship put into the Four Gates in just a short time can't just be attributed to him. You must have played a part in it as well."
"Not just a part. I am the most powerful asset he has. Had it not been for me, this city would have already been overrun by his enemies. He made me build him an army out of the dead and used it to conquer his way throughout the lands around Londinium. After using me, he put me back to sleep. He always puts me back to sleep…" The Mage of Flowers and the Witch Queen sensed that there was something in his words that made them not want to explore the topic even further.
"What has Aurelius' done now to get you two involved?" Stilicho said as he changed the subject. He then looked towards Morgan, "I remember meeting her when she was still a young princess. Time must have flown from where I'm standing."
Morgan and Merlin looked towards each other, both surprised at what they had heard. Morgan clearly has no idea who this man is, judging by the fact that this is the first time she's hearing this. Merlin on the other hand,
"What's the last thing you remember?" He asked hesitantly.
"What, the last time we met or-"
"The last thing you remember. Before you woke up again."
"Oh," Stilicho nodded in understanding. "I had been sent by Aurelius to Durobrivae to assist in the defence of the town. It was the most vulnerable of the Four Gates and the Saxons diverted Aurelius to a settlement far away. I remember killing half of the enemy before they retreated. Why do you ask?"
"Durobrivae was the last battle of the Aurelian War… it ended 9 years ago…" Merlin slowly drawled out as he watched with sadness as Stilicho burned with rage at the news.
"9 years…" Stilicho said as he dryly chuckled. "9 godforsaken years! I would have rather died. I should have died. No, that's not right either. I should be dead by now." He then looked up and stared at the duo pointedly.
"What has he done to get you two involved, then?" Stilicho asked again as he realised that Merlin changed the subject before he got the answer.
"Aurelius Dominicus is dead. He has been for 4 years now. His son, Lucius had been overthrown and is now seeking to regain his throne once more." Morgan explained as she crossed her arms in impatience without a single ounce of care to how Stilicho reacted to the news.
"Shit…" Stilicho sighed as he looked around despondently. "I'm being controlled by a damn child…" He looked straight at Merlin and said, "I can feel my soul bound by some sort of contract. I'm being pulled by it, but it's not powerful enough for it to force me to do anything yet."
Both Mage and Witch stared at each other after realising Stilicho's insinuation. He is under their control… He could be controlled anytime soon. Due to their shared past, Morgan can tell how her teacher ticked. How his faltering eyes and slacked shoulders told her that he knew what they had to do, but was unwilling to let his old friend be killed just like that. She could just wipe the floor with Stilicho and probably get away with it unscathed. But her former teacher's uncharacteristic reluctance might force him to do something unexpected. What that is is beyond even Morgan. Merlin's unpredictability was the trait that infuriated her ever since she was a child.
"I know that look." Stilicho spoke out and got the attention of the two. His eyes filled with understanding and a small hint of sadness as he gazed at Merlin who looked at him with false ignorance.
"Hm?" Merlin said in confusion. But he knew he was fooling no one. Stilicho looked at him unimpressed while Morgan just rolled her eyes.
"You have to kill me, Merlin. And I accept that." Stilicho said as he looked at his surroundings. He was calm like the coming storm. His mismatched eyes turned a violent shade as the barely hidden emotions surfaced.
"You can be saved, Stilicho!" Merlin insisted as he raised his staff that started to glow. "I have a spell that can-"
Fwip.
A raised hand with something in it was all that stopped the mage from speaking any more. He knew that look. That was a sign of a broken man. Stilicho had all but given up any chance of saving his own life. He wants nothing more but to die.
"Look at me! I'm an abomination. I'd rather be killed now than let myself live through the pain of being someone's slave." He exclaimed with rage as he opened his arms wide. The stitches and different coloured skin that dotted his figure practically shone under the fire of the fallen chandelier.
"I can't live another day without her, Merlin." Stilicho said as his glassy eyes finally broke into tears. He was unblinking. He let the tears fall without reproach. Merlin was surprised. Of course he was.
"How?" Merlin asked with a breathless tone.
"We are soulmates, Merlin. I can tell…" Stilicho said as he clutched his heart. He looked down towards his chest, as if he still did not accept the fact.
"Besides… I was there."
….Decades ago….
"You're late."
A hooded man looked up from inside his hood towards a man wearing a seafarer's outfit. Standing beside that seafarer was a woman who smiled gently at the sight before her. The hooded man smiled in turn. It was a small smile, yet it was enough to convey his joy.
"A wizard is never late, my friend." The hooded man said as he removed his hood. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.."
"Is that something you've written for one of your stories?" The seafarer chuckled as he hugged the man with glee. "It sounds too rehearsed for that to not be, Merlin."
"Oh it will be written soon." Merlin joked with a knowing smile at the seafarer. "And I'd wager you'll see it someday."
"It is good to see you, Lord Merlin. " The woman bowed before the Mage to which he hastily stopped her from doing so.
"Oh, no no no. Please don't do that, Ioana. I'm not a Lord." Merlin chastised lightly with a quick wave of his hand. "I'm just a servant of a Lord. Besides, we've met quite enough for you to call me in a casual manner."
"Alright then, Merlin." Ioana smiled as she hugged her husband's arm. "We are delighted to have you here today." Stilicho nodded at this as well. But the couple became confused when a frown beset the Mage's face.
"What's wrong?" Stilicho asked with a worried look.
"Well, I thought I was satisfied with being just 'Merlin'. However, it seems that I am not." Merlin explained with a serious look. Suddenly, he donned a cheeky smile as he asked.
"How about calling me, 'Handsome', instead?"
The trio laughed at this exchange and began catching up as they walked through the pier. It was a big pier. Larger than most in this side of the Isle. And rightly so, for this is the port of Penfro within the Kingdom of Dyfed. It is a sandbank inlet that will be used by the Norse under the name of Melrfjodr and the Normans as Milford for their seaward ventures and campaigns throughout the Viking and Medieval ages. After the War of the 12 Lords, seafaring has once again become the most viable mode of transportation be it goods and people. In accordance with this trend, the King of Dyfed turned his eye to bolstering the Kingdom's naval capabilities. But he needed a port suitable for the job. And so, came the creation of this growing port that will be important for the Mage of Flowers' needs.
"How are the preparations?" Merlin asked curiously as they walked past the hustle and bustle of the local townsmen. The air was filled with the smell of fish, seamen's abhorrent stench, and the promise of a new life.
"The volunteers have done everything needed for the journey ahead." Stilicho said as they looked towards the ships anchored not too far away. "They changed the ropes, repaired the damages, and prepared 3 weeks worth of food supplies."
"Good, good. All is well then." Merlin said as they neared the closest ship.
The design of the ship was taken from the Romans as well as the Gallic peoples in the south. It is big enough to accommodate a top deck and a lower deck for storage and rowing crews of up to 50 men on both sides as well as 2 masts for the sails. All 5 ships under Stilicho's command are of the same make. It is small in comparison to what Camelot is developing at the moment, but that's all Merlin could gather together in haste. He should be glad there were ships in the first place.
"I have to say," Merlin said as he looked towards the woman happily speaking with her husband. "I'm very surprised that you wanted him to continue on with this mission."
"Well, the High King's greatest wizard wanted to give my poor -albeit accomplished- husband a well paying job. What would you have us say? That we'd love to stay penniless until death?" Ioana said with a teasing tone much to the pain of Stilicho. A cloud of sorrow hung over the poor man as he felt a string of arrows pierce his back.
"I-it's not just about the money dear…" Stilicho tried to reason with a nervous tone. "It's just me doing an old friend a favour. That's all!"
"Oh, then I can just take back the money I gave you then." Merlin quipped as he brought up his hand as if expecting a coin bag from his friend. "You do owe me quite a lot from our misadventures long ago-"
"I'm not giving it back!" Stilicho panicked as he smacked the Mage's hand away. His panic turned to annoyance as both his wife and friend burst out in their shared attempt to mess with him.
"Hahahaha… Well, on a serious note." Ioana said as they stopped before the portside of the closest ship. "We really need the money." She did not need to say anything else for Merlin to figure out why. The slightly bulging stomach is everything he needed to know.
"And I already forwarded the payments. One half in acceptance. And the other-" Merlin handing a hefty bag to Stilicho. "-right before the voyage."
"I can't thank you enough, Merlin." Stilicho said in earnest as he gave the bag to his wife. He then hugged the man one last time before letting go with a broad smile. "One hundred and thirty years I've known you, and not a single moment have you been unkind to me. "
"Don't think much of it." Merlin said with a small smile. "We've been through a lot together, so you should expect this from me."
"Still, I am grateful." Stilicho then looked away from his friend. As if unsure. He is hesitating. But why?
"Merlin, can I ask something from you?" Stilicho started slowly. He looked towards his wife for reassurance, and what he got was a firm hold on his hand.
"What is it?" Merlin asked curiously. A strange sensation coming into his gut.
"We've been thinking…" Stilicho said as if anxious of the incoming reply. "...to ask you to bring Ioana with you back to Camelot… You know… to take care of Ioana while I'm gone."
Oh. Thank goodness that it was just that. He was worried he was going to become some sort of godfather figure for the child. Again. A quasi-guardian role while Stilicho's gone is enough for him. He's had quite a handful with Arturia already, so he doesn't want another one to take care of.
"Of course!" Merlin beamed at the relieved couple. "If it's in my power, then I'll do it. After all, you are spending your time helping me in my own time of need. Why wouldn't I return the favour?"
"I can't thank you enough." Stilicho smiled as he got onto the ship. He turned his head towards them one more time before saying one last thing.
"Goodbye my love. Take care of her, my friend."
A lover's kiss was made afterwards. Merlin had the audacity to shower the pair with flowers as it happened. Merlin and Ioana watched as the ships were set loose from their moorings and were slowly directed towards open waters. The journey would lead them north to the lands of Anglesey, the Kingdom of Rheged, the Isle of Mon, and finally Ulster. The land of the sons of Cu Chulainn.
A blip in the horizon was the last thing Merlin saw of his friend alive.
….
Of all the times to be late… Why did it have to be this time?
Merlin found himself in the town of Glouchedon at this ungodly hour. It is the dead of night. Not even the crows are awake. All he had in hand was a used up torch and his staff. When he got the letter from the town with a stranger's mark upon it detailing what was happening, he had done all he could to get here as soon as possible.
But it wasn't enough.
Merlin found the house that he was meant to be in. It was a simple, one floor house that had no rooms save for the hall. A small dining area being the most significant thing inside it. He hasn't entered yet, but the mage already knew the layout of the place because it was he who offered it up to its current tenant.
Or should he say former tenant?
A midwife heard his knock and opened the door to find her vision dimmed by the shadow of the mage's stature. He neither smiled nor frowned at the woman. Just… silent… until the midwife spoke up.
"Lord Merlin? You've come." The midwife said with an ashen expression. Her head hung low as she sought the will to tell the news.
"How is she?" Merlin asked with a blank tone. His eyes were empty and lacking.
"…"I'm sorry… Lord Merlin… she's…"
As a half-incubus, Merlin found himself mostly detached from the humans he swore to protect. He was not one of them, in his point of view. He understood the meaning of mortality and found himself desensitised when it came to their short lives. But when he heard the news that she died… that was enough for something in him to snap.
She was the last remnant left to remind him of Stilicho.
Merlin had promised to protect her. To take care of her while he was gone. But he was too overcome by his denial to properly tend to her. Days, weeks, months were poured into his fruitless attempts of finding Stilicho. He tried to approach Arturia for help. But with the ravages from the War of the 12 Lords as well as the ongoing mission to aid the survivors of Stilicho's command, Camelot found herself straining from the weight of it all. It couldn't help Merlin even if he asked.
But all of that went to waste as he was pushed inside the house. There, on the floor, lay the pale skinned Ioana. She had breathed her last not too long ago, yet Merlin was too late to see it. Her lifeless body lay there unmoving. She had a gaunt look. It was there ever since she heard the news of her husband's demise. She had lost the will to see life for what it is and gave it all up once the pain was too much to bear.
"The baby is healthy, Lord Merlin." the midwife said as she handed him a bundle of cloth. He was mildly concerned that he hadn't heard the baby's incessant crying until now.
"If only I had done more to convince her to stay with me in Camelot… She did not want " Merlin said as he comforted the newborn with a spell that dazzled the little one into slumber.
"She was a pleasant woman." Merlin said to no one but the midwife whilst staring into oblivion. "Always kind. Before Stilicho met her, he had more of an appetite for women than I. Always the drunkard who sought power, riches, and so much more… In a blink of an eye, he had changed for the better once he was smitten by this simple caregiver."
"To think that this will be the last time I'll ever see her again…" Merlin then knelt on one knee and with a whisper summoned a purple flower to be placed on her hands which rested on her chest. It was a Hyacinth. A flower of sorrow and grief. A sign of regret for not fulfilling his promise to his longtime friend.
"What is the baby's name?" Merlin asked the midwife as the Hyacinth grew into a flowery coffin for the dead mother.
"She was named Janice before…" The midwife paused. Merlin could not fault her. She is still grappling with death and so was he. He need not question it.
Merlin was about to leave the house when he was held back by the midwife rushing towards a chest in the far corner of the room to pull out a satchel made of leather. The midwife said that these are the heirlooms of which to pass on to Janice once she's grown. He studied the items inside the satchel. A dagger that fit neatly inside its own holster, and a vial filled with…
Merlin had too much in his mind to complete that train of thought. He will prioritise taking care of the young Janice first, and only then will he dive into this conundrum.
Once Merlin entered Camelot, he sought the house of Lady Leila. A young woman who had served the King as a maid for her first years. Now, she will have the task of raising this baby as her surrogate mother. And as he had originally intended for her Parents, Janice will be afforded a position within the castle grounds. Safe and secure from all harm that will soon beset her once the time comes.
Weeks later…
A hooded man left the shadows of the trees. He can't tell what day it is. He can't tell most things nowadays. His senses are lost to him ever since they bound his soul into this wretched body. He doesn't eat, can't smell, can't touch, and whatever sleep he was granted was in the form of imprisoning his consciousness inside his comatose body. Weeks at a time, he's been kept in lock and key. All while the Bastard lived luxuriously in his palace.
No one can boast of having experienced staying awake while your body. He can remember everything. Every. Single. Minute. It was torture. They used him as a weapon and stored him as such. He was told that he was 'lucky' that they kept sanity in place as it was easier than letting him go berzerk when he's needed. Hah.
He'd rather die.
But unfortunately, he was cursed to be unable to do the deed himself. Aurelius was cunning and created a countermeasure to that problem with a simple spell. Stilicho knew that. It's another reason why he wanted nothing more than to add that man into his collection of undead.
Speaking of… to this day, he cannot forgive himself because of that. Necromancy was not his primary skill. It was architecture. It always was. Necromancy was a side hobby that he took interest in when he was discovering the secret to immortality. He did not mean to use it to this degree. He did not mean to use it at all! He was forced to by that wicked man. Yes, he was. He would never have desecrated the graves of all those fallen soldiers from Aurelius' wars. He would never have thought to use the enemy's own dead against them.
He wouldn't have.
But all that is in the past. He cannot undo the crimes he's forced to commit. Damn it all to hell. Damn himself too, if it means dragging that Bastard with him to the deepest pits.
A snapping twig was what brought him out of the depths of his consciousness. It was the light of day. His eyes strained as it barely adjusted to its luminescence. He was only used at night time, when the enemy was at its most vulnerable. This is the first time since being resurrected did he ever see daylight.
Which brings the question…
How is he even here in the first place?
A well timed change up with a fellow undead disguised to look like him in the middle of a big battle when everyone who had control over him is busy was all it took to get here unnoticed. This is the only time he could do this. He will be chained, spiked, and kept conscious for the whole of it after this. But he doesn't care. He has nothing left. His own body couldn't even truly be called 'his own' at this point. He can't give a shit about it. Besides, what's another torture session when you've never known relief?
Stilicho found himself in front of a run down house. It was collapsing slowly. Uncared for after its last tenant died. The neighbours left it alone because they feared that it was haunted. Strange stories of how a man whose face was hidden by the dark of night came here and wrapped its insides with abominations that would kill anyone if they neared it. They said that it was alive. Wrangling about as if waiting to just burst out anytime soon.
Heh. The stupidity of the common folk. It never changes.
But the house itself wasn't what he's here for. Rather, what was inside of it. He entered it and found that the door was already off its hinges. He simply threw it aside and took a step. It was enough for him to see the tomb that was made for his wife.
Trust Merlin to make such a beautiful tomb using only flowers. The walls were decorated with it. The floor itself was covered to the point that none of the stony ground could be seen. But as much as he adored his old friend's handiwork, that is not what he is here for.
Stilicho knelt down towards his wife. She looked so much thinner than the last time they met. Her warmth was now gone. It was replaced by the chilling cold death only had to offer. The once present bump is no longer there as well. Damn it all… first his wife, now his child. Bless Merlin once more for allowing him this one mercy. His magic allowed Ioana's body to last longer than it should have.
But that one reprieve could not stop his anguish from coming out. He bowed his head towards his wife's chest. He let himself go. Sobbing, weeping, and yelling. He did it all. He mourned for his wife and his child. He mourned for the family he could have had. What was once a promise of a new life, a better life, now squashed under the boots of reality. Stilicho stayed there for minutes, hours maybe, until his mismatched eyes turned blood red and all the tears were wept.
He could not answer how he knew she had died. It might have been because of love. Yes, that's it. Love. That boundless, effervescent, vivacious love that he had with Ioana. It could have been the reason. For a love so strong, so powerful that it can transcend all reason and rational thought is possible. Stilicho found comfort in that thought: that the love he had for his wife was enough to connect them in this way. He also found sorry, for he will have anything like it again.
"ARGH!"
Stilicho clutched his chest in searing pain. He was caught. He will now be forced back to that monster's kingdom. He wanted to fight against it. To rebel. But he cannot. The very power he called to summon his strength is being used against him. Golden etchings formed on his torso. It glowed more and more as it expanded into a magic circle. It was a teleportation spell.
"DAMN IT ALLLLLL!" Stilicho yelled at the top of his lungs.
And just like that… He remembered no more.
…
Merlin and Morgan just stood there. Both of them just absorbed the story that was told to them. Stilicho only for a few minutes but… it seemed like eternity had passed. They looked towards Stilicho's hand and found that same Hyacinth that his wife held in her deathbed all those years ago. It is… a most pitiful story. One great tragedy caused by one wretched, deplorable man.
"Merlin… something's happening to me…"
Suddenly, Stilicho whipped his head around. They all panicked. That movement was not of his own volition and it shows. He still has the power to speak and think, but his body is under the influence of something else. A crawling dread overcame the man as he lost control of himself.
"Merlin you're going to kill me… they've taken over my body!" He exclaimed with a painful screech. He began to glow a malevolent red. His mismatched arms stretched out to force the mana in the air into his bidding.
"Morgan!" Merlin yelled as he started to glow a lavender shade as he brought his arms up in front of him to use his staff.
Morgan did not say a single thing and simply brought up her crystal shields. This time, she also summoned three dozen spikes and aimed them at Stilicho. Who used this time to brandish his own weapon.
Stilicho then summoned the ruins of the chains that were used to bind Merlin and Arturia just moments ago and reforged them into what they were before. That was not the end of it though. For the spikes and sharp remnants of the chandelier that fell from Morgan's appearance levitated to merge with the chains to create a deadly and powerful weapon.
"What the hell are the Chains of Tetricus doing here?!" Stilicho asked incredulously as he involuntarily let the chains hover around his being.
"Regulus." Merlin answered. As if that one word explained everything Stilicho needed to know. To give credit to Merlin, Stilicho just did an 'oh' face and nodded in understanding.
There is good reason for Stilicho to be concerned about this particular set of chains. During the Crisis of the Third Century, there were three pretenders vying for the Roman Empire. Aurelian, the most known and the victor. Zenobia, the brilliant Queen of Palmyra and loser who was paraded in chains within Rome itself. And finally, Tetricus. Leader of the Gallic Empire and traitor who betrayed his own people to save his own skin.
Two sets of chains were commissioned by Aurelian to contain the powers that his enemies wielded. Zenobia, the strongest opponent, had golden chains made for her that can not only negate her powers by absorbing her mana and time perception distortion for the one trapped within it, but also has the ability to subdue her personality. Thereby muting it to leave only a silent, nearly emotionless woman who only had value as a trophy to decorate Aurelian's triumph.
The Chains of Tetricus, on the other hand, are a different story. They were made with the same idea as with Zenobia's but because of a deal Tetricus struck with Aurelian - resulting in the Gallic pretender's betrayal and defection into the Roman's camp - the chains were never used for its intended purpose. Tetricus was not chained, but was still shown around as a Gallic Barbarian who wore the attire alongside his son and fellow nobles. He was given the rank of Governor of Southern Italy afterwards. With the unwritten history stating that the Chains meant for him were given to him as well. He used it to control the unwieldy lords under him and gave it to his son, who passed it down until the Chains were found back into the Imperial Armory and sent to Gaul to quell the Vandal and Frankish invaders there.
Now the Chains are here. It is a powerful and deadly artefact in the right hands. And that's what made Stilicho exclaim in worry. Because he knows how to wield the damn thing.
Merlin brought up his staff to block the spiky chains coming for him. The chains hit dead in the middle of the staff before it retracted to deal a swift slash towards the Mage's right side. Morgan took this time to enact her counter offensive by launching her crystal spikes. She bit her tongue when a sickly green magic circle drawn on the floor summoned two Roman undead legionaries to protect Stilicho from the incoming attack. As the magic circle vanished, the rotten fleshed, bone thin soldiers rushed towards the Witch Queen. Though they were easily repelled when Merlin used a powerful wind to force the Chains towards the pair. Thereby shattering them into oblivion.
"I'm summoning thirty legionnaires!" Stilicho exclaimed as his hands glowed green. As soon as he said so, a large group of soldiers appeared from a sickly inferno and started charging towards the duo in full force. Stilicho himself charged alongside them. His target being Morgan.
Morgan bit her lip before conjuring three giant stone golems to combat the undead and weakened the incoming enemy. She grimaced as the middle golem was impaled in the chest. She just watched with anticipation as the rest of her creations were single handedly destroyed by Stilicho. A dust cloud from the rubble covered her vision in the aftermath. And like lightning, Stilicho appeared before her. Trying to ensnare her into his chains. He was so close, yet was stopped by an array of flowers binding his foot in place. Soon enough, Stilicho's entire left leg was covered with it.
"I didn't think you would need saving anytime soon, my young apprentice." Merlin teased as he watched his pupil summon a large fireball to throw his friend towards the wall that hid the entrance to the palace.
"I had it sorted." Morgan growled before encasing the enemy with her crystalline walls. She did not hesitate to impale the man's limbs and torso as the crystals grew around him. Merlin found himself frowning at the sight.
"You raised a great student, old friend." Stilicho wheezed as he felt his lungs straining from the pressure of his new prison. "Terrible, but great."
Stilicho looked down to see his hand on fire once more. The heat grew more and more until it was too much for the crystals and exploded into shards. Merlin cast a spell that turned the incoming projectiles into flowers. Not a single one hit them. Stilicho meanwhile, shook off the large chunks that were still impaling his body. The gaping holes were gradually being stitched up until not a single wound was left on him.
"You are going to have to try harder than that." Stilicho said in worry. He then felt a familiar pulse in his chest. He was being called. But where?
"Merlin, something's pulling me out of the Labyrinth." Stilicho warned the duo. "I don't know who's commanding my body or where it's telling me to go. But you're better off killinG MEE!?"
Merlin and Morgan watched as a surprised Stilicho found himself flying towards the highest point of the room. They could not do anything as Stilicho burned through the area where the chandelier used to hang. He was drilling towards the surface!
"Do you think you can use my teleportation orb to get us to where he's going?" Merlin cheekily asked. He knew how Morgan was able to teleport herself here, and that is through the orb that she stole from him when she decided to go against him all those years ago. If she's mastered the ability to transport herself, could she now do the harder task of bringing another with him?
"It's my orb now." Morgan said as she took hold of his wrist with a mighty grip. "And don't think that this is out of the goodness of my heart. When we're done with this mess, I won't hesitate to cut you down."
"And here I thought I was the menace." Merlin quipped as a bright blue flash overcame his vision for a second there.
The Barracks… the fort northwest of the City.
As if gaining another fresh breath of energy, Lancelot and his men rushed them with a ferocity akin to a pack of wolves. The Knight of the Lake spearheaded the charge. Breaking through their ranks while Bart and Joshua took care of the disarrayed men. In just 2 minutes, the Camelotians killed 32 men - a whole testudo formation's worth. But, save for Lancelot, they were exhausted. Joshua got nicked in the back while Bart was barely holding on. Lancelot wanted to get out of this compromising situation.
So far, Lancelot's holding his own against the renewed onslaught of the Roman soldiers. But the cavalrymen with him - Batholemew and Joshua - are struggling to even stay on their feet. They could not keep up with him as he cut through his way towards the closest exit. Winning was not his main goal now, it is making sure that all of them come out of this alive. Currently, Lancelot and his men were facing the Fort commander and the mages. The commander was still inside the shields that the mages put up. And surrounding that shield were the soldiers that were enhanced by the mage's strengthening magic. They are on guard. Shield in front of their body and swords close to their person as if waiting for an attack.
"Commander! IT's here!" Lancelot heard one of the mages exclaim. The mage pointed towards the sky and caused all of their attention to be directed to a flying figure that was wearing a cloak of some kind. Lancelot unconsciously took a step back and noticed that he bumped into Bart and Joshua. They were protecting his back. It was at this moment that Lancelot realised that they were now encircled by the soldiers. The only reason why they haven't killed them yet was either because of the being flying above them or due to their fear of the Knight of the Lake. But Lancelot himself believes that the real reason is the former.
The being landed right in front of the fort commander. Lancelot noticed that the magic field was lowered just for that thing. A closer look showed that the being was a man whose face had mismatched skin colour and stitches. He was gaunt. As if he had not eaten in days. For some reason, as the Knight looked straight into the man's different coloured eyes, a distant thought suddenly came to the forefront of his mind.
"Stay sharp, men. This man is the Necromancer." Lancelot said in a hushed tone meant for the cavalrymen. He prepared himself for anything that was soon to come. But not quite ready enough for the brilliant flash of light that engulfed his vision for a second there. As soon as he blinked, a man and a woman appeared near his left side. Where Bart was. Bart yelled in alarm as the cold eyes of the woman penetrated his being. But the woman soon moved away from the cavalryman and towards the stupefied Knight who found himself lost for words.
"Lancelot du Lac." Morgan le Fay uttered with contempt as Merlin made his presence known to the cavalrymen. "And here I thought this day couldn't get any more disappointing. How's your son? He must be missing right about now."
"Stay back!" Lancelot said as he pointed Arondight towards her chest. "What are you doing here?!"
"Merlin, tell this moron to stop shoving Vivian's toy in front of my face." Morgan said as she flicked Arondight away and looked around to see the sea of red that was the Romans. She grinned sadistically before turning to face Lancelot once more.
"Don't tell me you were going to die to these insects." Morgan said with a humourless chuckle whilst covering her mouth. "How could you? I thought you were meant to be the best of Arthur's motley crew?"
"Merlin, what is she doing here?" Lancelot said as he darted his head towards the mage who was healing his men. Merlin looked up from Joshua's wounds with a hint of confusion and realised that he had not told Lancelot what had happened.
"Morgan's here to help us against Lucius." Merlin said as if that answered everything.
"That doesn't explain anything! How could you trust her just like that! Didn't you think that she might be here for some ulterior motive?" Lancelot hissed as he struggled to decide whether he should turn his back towards the soldiers or the Witch Queen.
"I know the risks. I know what I'm doing. I also know that Arthur is in agreement with this temporary pact. We will take care of her once the time arrives." Merlin said with a pointed stare. He was dead set in this course of action. And like the times when he had to deal with an irate Arturia, Merlin used his clairvoyance to find the right words to dissuade Lancelot from attacking his former student. It works like a charm.
For his part, Lancelot knew that there was more to it (at least, there should be), but he realised that this is his only shot at getting out of this with his men in tow alive. So might as well wing it. Besides, he has the best shot at killing this ever present thorn on his King's side after this mess is done with. Might as well be patient.
Meanwhile, the Fort Commander's camp was at a pause. He raised his hands to signal his men to stay on guard and stop their onslaught. Judging from the conversation he had just overheard, these two new faces are the single most dangerous threat he's ever had the misfortune to be in the same area as. Even with the weapon and some mages at hand, things could go ugly if he didn't play his cards right. At least he's buying enough time for Lucius and the First Legion. If he could stall these two just enough, not even they could stop That Bitch Nero from having her head lopped off of her.
"You!" the Commander yelled at the mages who were reinforcing their hold on Stilicho. "Get it to attack them now! And withdraw your support for the men. Focus your might towards making it stronger!"
"I have a name." Stilicho growled in unrestrained anger. He might not have a hand to cave that man's chest in, but at least he still has a voice he can use.
"Sew its lips together while you're at it." The Commander said in haste. "It doesn't need it anyways."
"Oh you son of a b- MMMPHHHH! MPHH!" Stilicho panicked as his mouth closed on its own. The 10 mages that were present force fed him with a ton of mana after that. The Chains of Tetricus glowed a ghastly red as the wielder became overloaded with the amount of mana he was getting right now.
"What do we do?" Lancelot deigned to ask Merlin. After seeing the monstrosity that was starting to look a bit stronger than what he's used to, Instinct's telling him Merlin has a plan. And rationality telling him that it's more than a good idea to follow it. But his heart of hearts are screaming at him for his stupidity.
"We take care of mages first, then we take on Stilicho." Merlin explained as he walked to the Knight's side with his staff in tow. "Morgan will use her golems to deal with the soldiers." The mage then looked towards the cavalrymen, "The two of you will fight behind us. Lancelot will keep you safe while I face Stilicho."
"I feel reassured." Bart said as he looked around the mighty host of the enemy. Joshua steeled himself for the chaos that was about to come.
"Attack them now!" The commander yelled with a raised sword. The roar of the legionnaires rang through the Camelotians' ears as nearly two hundred men rained down on them with sword and bow.
Morgan did not waste time summoning her stone golems. The ground underneath the soldiers cracked and groaned as 4 metre tall behemoths rose. Some of the men were flung to great heights before falling gracelessly into red paste. A good few turned into mush after the fully surfaced giants squished them with their mismatched feet. The rest were doomed to live through the incoming clubs. They would come to envy those who died first. For they died instantly.
Merlin and Lancelot took this moment to move as well. Stilicho formed a large army of undead warriors and had them charge at the duo. Lancelot sliced them into bits while Merlin smacked them with his staff and turned them into flowers. Bart and Joshua took on the ones that the Knight left to them. At this point, the mages summoned a wave of magic that forced the Camelotians back. Lancelot and Merlin were fine, but Joshua almost fell to the ground were it not for Bart catching him. Stilicho then swung his chains towards the unsuspecting cavalrymen. Merlin shielded them with a flowery wall just in time. The chains retracted to target Merlin himself.
Lancelot knew that the mage knew how to counter the attack, so he went on to do his own. He pumped a lot of prana into his limbs and propelled himself towards the enemy with Arondight gleaming with power. Stilicho jumped away and tried to avoid the Knight, but he was too slow. One upper slash later, a twitching leg found itself far away from its owner. The mages were agape at the suddenness of Lancelot's slash that they failed to register that the Knight was cutting down their numbers one by one. One of the mages looked to be on the older side. Must have been the leader. The leader found himself facing his own feet after Lancelot was done with him. But it seems that it didn't matter much, because the rest of the enemy mages regenerated Stilicho's leg in a second.
"2 down." The Knight of the Lake told Merlin who was standing behind him. The mage nodded and was about to assist in taking down another pair of mages, but he thought of another idea - a brilliant idea - instead. He began a restraining spell to keep not just Stilicho, but the rest of the enemy mages in place. Lancelot saw the invasive flowers creeping up onto their legs. Even the Fort Commander and his guard - who were trying to run away from the battle - fell victim to this spell. It was this moment that Lancelot knew, Merlin was setting him up.
"You can thank me later!" Merlin chuckled as he watched an insurmountable amount of prana pump into Arondight.
Lancelot clenched his teeth as he focused all his might on timing it just right so that everyone before him would be in the splash zone. For the Knight, it felt as if time slowed down for him. Everything looked so slow as he swung his sword from his side. And suddenly, everything returned to its normal pace. A golden light erupted from his swing and decimated all those that touched it. The Commander lost his upper body while his guards left no trace. Half of the remaining enemy mages somehow survived, though they did not have much life left in them because they too were cleaved in half. A few of them still had breath to cry out in agony. Stilicho, meanwhile… he lost the right side of his body and a portion of his face. He fell unceremoniously on the ground like a slab of meat. There was no sign of him being alive.
"It is done." Morgan sighed in impatience. She had wiped out the garrison and let the survivors just escape from here. She could care less about them now. They were broken, and that was that. She walked past the frozen cavalryman who feared her and towards the Knight of the Lake. Who was standing beside a silent Merlin who looked down on the body of his old friend.
"The battle between the Second Legion and the King's Army is still underway." Lancelot reminded not just Morgan, but Merlin as well. He placed a hand on the Mage's shoulder and added, "we need to save them before any more unnecessary death befalls our men."
"I already sent a few of my creations to aid them." Morgan dismissed the Knight's concern with a wave of her hand. "You should be more concerned for your King. There are two Legions conspiring with Lucius in this coup. They are probably encircling the whole palace right now."
"Your aid is welcome, but to a certain limit." Lancelot said with a hostile tone. "How can I be sure that your golems would restrain themselves when it comes to our men?"
"You cannot." Morgan smiled sadistically before the conflicted man. "Unless you would wish to hazard the life of your King, you have no other choice but to trust in me saving your pitiful troops."
"..." Merlin did not acknowledge the conversation between the Knight and the Witch. Not a single word register in his head. He just… stared. His eyes did not leave his dead friend's body. He had spent so much time mourning for him. He only recently decided to let go of the remorse he felt from failing to keep his promise. But to see his friend turned into… no. Now's not the time to mourn. Stilicho wished for death. He wanted this. He would probably hate on Merlin if the mage thought of a way to keep him alive.
But to see his mangled corpse… it doesn't lessen the pain at all…
Creak. Crack.
"What devilry!" Lancelot exclaimed as Morgan readied her crystal spikes once more. Stilicho's head turned towards the Mage of Flowers. His mismatched eyes glowed that same sickly red from before. His cut off body parts flew back into its original place. The moment it connected to its rightful place, fire appeared to cauterise them back together. Merlin and co. took a step back as the renewed Stilicho slowly got up to face them once more.
"I thought he's dead, Lancelot." Morgan growled as she glared at the man with contempt. "You had one task, and yet you failed in it spectacularly."
"The undead do not lie back in its coffin so easily, le Fay." The Knight responded with a tone that showed how taken aback he was right now. "All I know was that my attack should have killed him."
"You did kill him." Merlin said as he stoically summoned a simple steel sword while slowly forming a soft, solemn look.
"What you're seeing before you is just the body." He explained as 'Stilicho' levitated the dead corpses around them. "Originally, Stilicho could act on his own. But after rebelling, he lost the ability. Aurelius was smart. He had his mages turn Stilicho into a puppet. Yet somehow, Aurelius thought ahead and realised that if Stilicho died, then all the effort poured into making him the perfect tool would be wasted. So, he forced his mages to turn him into the perfect puppet too. One capable of going on even though the man himself is long dead. All to serve Aurelius' needs."
"Then what can we do against this thing?" Lancelot asked as he watched in hidden horror as the corpses around Stilicho merged with his body. All witnessed the transformation of the man into something big. Really big. 'Stilicho's' newfound height and size could dwarf any golem that Morgan has created at this point.
"Unless you're willing to take out half the fort with everything you got…" Merlin paused as a large leg made of many legs swung down to take them out. They dodged aside and it was at this point did Merlin finish his sentence.
"...Not Much, I'm afraid." Merlin said as he watched Morgan summon her golems once more.
Brigadier General Morien Arthian… on the banks of the River Fleet…
He was on the wrong side of the damn river.
The River Fleet was a formidable foe but easily traversable by swimming even without the right equipment and knowhow. Thank God the King reformed the training regimen to add intense swimming after that disaster at Caerdydd. That's how half his men managed to wade across it so quickly.
But the enemy was too quick. They figured out what they were doing and attacked the second half who were left behind. Morien stood by them. Barking orders at the commanders to steady the line and brace for more attacks. He has no choice but to face the enemy head on. He has 1200 or so men with their backs against the river defending against a Legion 3,500 men strong. He's praying for some sort of miracle to happen here. Otherwise, they're dead men walking.
"General!" one of the senior commanders shouted from his right. "There they are coming right towards us."
Soon enough, a sizable force supported by cavalrymen and archers at the rear came out of the forest they set their camps on. If the smoke in the horizon had anything to say, then it would tell Morien that they were ransacking their camp. A most dishonourable thing. Nevertheless, he steeled himself and commanded the first line of defence to form a shield wall.
"Brace for it, men!" Morien bellowed with all his might. "They will rue the day they come out to battle against us!"
A powerful roar of rage erupted from the ranks of his men. The pikemen at the front knelt down with their spears positioned straight forward while the swordsmen protected them with their shields. The archers rained down arrows against the foe thereby weakening the first wave before they hit the pikelines. After a few seconds, the Romans were close enough for hand to hand combat.
The pikemen thrusted their spears. Some hit their marks. Impaling the soldiers who dared to run close towards them. But the others fell because they were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. The swordsmen charged to support their brothers in arms. Killing about 30 men in just a few seconds. But they were forced to go on the defensive when enemy reinforcements came. The enemy was relentless. There were no tactics. No swift and clever manoeuvres. No. This was a slaughter. A grinder of a battle. Morien had seen this scene before and he does not want another remaking of history. He was about to command his men, but a loud sound shook the ground under them.
BOOM..
The soldiers were alarmed. The enemy especially. It came from their rear, after all. The commanders of the Legion ordered their men to stop their attack and retreat a few metres back. Morien used this time to strengthen his shield formation by reforming it with the archers who do not have any arrows left. The rumbling of the ground stayed. But it was faint. For about a few minutes.
Thump.
Thump..
Thump.. thump..
It was like a heartbeat that was slowly getting louder and faster. As the sound grew, another was heard from a distance. It was screaming.
"Run!"
"What is that thi-!"
"H-help us-!"
Thump.. Thump… thump.
Thump.. Thumph.. thumP..
"Is this your doing, Merlin?" Morien whispered to himself. He does not know what is truly going on. Nor does he really know if the Mage of Flowers was aiding them in their time of need. What he does know is to keep his men up and alert for anything that might happen should the enemy decide to continue their attack. But after seeing the fear in the legionnaire's eyes, an incoming attack might not be in their minds right now.
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!
"Retreat! Run for it, men. It's coming towards us!" a horse rider exclaimed. He was carrying a bag of loot and wearing bloody armour of Camelotian make. He must have been a looter from the ransacked camp. The soldiers who were attacking them just minutes ago now fled like children. Their shields and swords left on the ground as they panickedly tried to outrun the very thing shaking the trees as they walked.
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!
"General!" the men exclaimed with great jubilation. They were screaming at the enemy with their weapons high up in the sky. "The bastards broke, Sire! Give us the command to chase them off."
Thump.
Morien was about to agree with their idea, when suddenly, the thing that routed the enemy appeared from out of the trees. It was easily more than 4 times taller than any of his men's pikes. It was made of stone. Large, mismatched stone. A living boulder whose eyes glowed a haunting blue. Its feet were covered in organs, muscle, and dirt. The hands are the same as well. But the mouth of the thing was what most of them looked at. Because in its mouth was a dying man. His limbs are barely held together by strings of skin and his chest was impaled by the giant's teeth. Morien knew at that moment… Merlin had no hand in their salvation. Whoever sent this beast… they sent it to crave for blood.
Morien and his men cowered in fear. Their joy is long gone. If this… thing… was what killed their enemy, would it stop its bloodlust when it came to them? They were shaking in their armour. The thing before them did not move in the slightest. It just… stared. Morien wondered why it was taking so long for it to move. Then, it did.
"OOOO AAAA RRRR!"
It ran away from them. It chased the Roman stragglers that were left behind. A few thumping sounds of the same kind were heard in the forest slowly getting weaker until it's no longer there. A collective sigh of relief rang through the ranks of Morien's army. And after regaining himself, Morien gave a single command.
"Get all you can from the camp." Morien told the commanders to his left. "Find a way to reconnect with the other half of the army." He told the commanders to his right. "The faster we get out of this place, the better."
The Army moved in haste. Everyone ran without a break in their step and stayed cautious just in case those things came back again. Morien turned around to check on the other half of his army that was recovering near the opposite riverbanks. And as he did so, he spoke out loud with a voice of exasperation.
"Merlin has a lot of explaining to do once all this is done with."
