A/N:

Second last chapter!

Enjoy!

Ilandrae

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CHAPTER 38 – THE WALL COMES CRUMBLING DOWN

Darkling Woods - Merlin POV

The Darkling woods were beautiful. Quiet. Serene. A stark contrast to the mind of Merlin, who stared at a face he'd thought he'd left far behind in his nightmares.

The Black Sorcerer smiled at the warlock's frozen face. "I'm very happy to see you again Emrys. I was most distraught to find my captives gone all those years ago, when I still had so much planned."

Everyone was looking at him. Merlin knew that much. Wondering how he knew the sorcerer. Wondering what the hell he was talking about. But it was all Merlin could do to stay standing. It was as if his bones had turned to liquid. He couldn't move. Couldn't do anything but blink.

At his silence the Black Sorcerer continued. "I thought you had to of died Emrys. No human could have coped with the tortures that I put you through, that you somehow endured. Not that I even got what I wanted out of it anyway. From you or that white rat, who also barely survived might I add."

The Black Sorcerer paused. Looking at Merlin like a specimen. Just the same as he'd used to. "Even if you did manage to escape…" he contemplated for a moment. "I broke you, Emrys. Just like I do all of my projects. Makes for easier clean up. Your mind should be shattered into a thousand pieces…how do you still stand? How do you still breathe?"

Merlin took a deep shuddering breath, attempting—and failing—to still his pounding heart. His voice didn't work, not a sound came out. All he could do was stare at the man who he had seen in his nightmares for the past four years.

He thought he had escaped, he thought he had outrun him and his tortures. But here he was, right in front of him, his past come back to haunt him.

Merlin's fear consumed him, he felt it radiate from him in waves that spread out far across the kingdom and all the lands. He felt a presence perk up as she felt his terror and Merlin simply whispered one word out loud.

"Mirudan."

He was barely audible, but he knew she heard. He felt her answering fear and anger.

Mirudan nearly clapped in glee. "So, you do remember me! That's great, I wouldn't want to have to start again."

Art's shield flickered but held, the boy sinking to his knees in exhaustion. But Merlin's eyes were glued to Mirudan as he crept closer, the sorcerer's attention now firmly on Merlin.

"So Emrys…what is your secret? How are you still sane? Those three years we spent together… the fun I had tormenting your body and your mind. Doing the same to that deformed rat all the while the secret to your immortality evaded me. No matter, it seems the heavens have blessed me with another chance."

Mirudan waved one hand while the other lunged forward to seize hold of Merlin's shirt. Thrown off balance and still frozen with fear the warlock stumbled after the turning sorcerer while Gwen and Bedivere were magically shoved towards the other captives. It was only then that Merlin saw Caedor, Diara, and another boy, likely Mirudan's third apprentice, standing by them. Merlin was thrown to the ground and he scrambled back in the dirt. Mirudan stared down at him.

"I have always wondered though, how it was you escaped the Dark Citadel," Mirudan mused, tapping a finger on his jaw. "No one has ever succeeded and there's enough enchantments on the building to corrupt a priestess."

"Not to mention," the apprentice Merlin didn't recognise smiled, "all perish by your hand before they can even think of getting away."

But Mirudan's eyes didn't leave Merlin. "Or they die in the attempt as I assumed you had." The sorcerer waved a lazy hand. "Never mind, I'll find out soon enough."

A gleeful glint entered his eye. "There still that immortality you have. With you dead I had thought it out of my reach, but it seems I have another opportunity. Not to mention I can't have you continuing to interfere. It will be fun to relive our time together." His eyes turned hard. "Though I won't be letting you escape this time."

Mirudan took a step towards him, but Merlin's palms were still rooted to the ground where he'd fallen. Paralysed in fear he couldn't do anything but listen to his own racing heart, as loud as a raging battlefield in his ears. His friends looked at him, afraid and confused from where they were captive.

Merlin had to do something. Anything. He swallowed. "O-our time to-together is in the past M-Mirudan," he stammered, trying to find some vestige of courage even as his heart threatened to escape his chest.

Mirudan smiled. "Oh no. It seems it was only j-"

A resounding roar sounded in the coming night and a great shadow was cast over the clearing, drawing every eye up to the sky. Up to the sound of leathery wings and the buffering of trees all around. The horses bolted and the ground shuddered when the great white dragon landed. Aithusa snarled at Mirudan, hatred in her dragon's gaze.

"Oh," Mirudan smirked even as all three of his apprentices retreated to his side in fear. "The crippled white rat has come to your defence Emrys."

Aithusa snarled again, louder, and took a step forwards. Her eyes took a second to glance at Merlin, but Mirudan stood between her and the warlock.

Mirudan scoffed, "Oh come on you overgrown lizard. You don't even like him."

Merlin finally managed to move, peeling his hands from the ground and shakily pulling himself to his feet. Every muscle trembled. Everything inside of him said to curl into a ball and hope it all went away. But he knew it wouldn't. It hadn't before at least.

Aithusa growled again, deep in her throat sparks, dancing between her teeth. "Just because family doesn't always get along doesn't mean they enjoy seeing each other suffer."

Mirudan's eyes widened, and Merlin wondered if that was a flicker of fear in the sorcerer's eye as he realised something had changed since he'd last seen the dragon.

In contrast, a small smile nearly crept through Merlin's fear as he recognised the words. The words he'd said to his kin when he'd healed her injuries and given her back her full physical abilities.

Sparks flew from Aithusa's teeth again. "And watch who you call cripple, sorcerer."

Once again, the dragon glanced at Merlin, who looked back this time. As always, something about the dragon stilled his heart a fraction, the feeling of not being alone. It was enough that he started trying to think of some sort of plan.

The patrol, Gwen and Bed were still huddled together, but at least the apprentices were now with Mirudan. And all four of them were standing between Merlin and any hope of escape. Merlin tried to signal to the others that they should run. He'd hold Mirudan's attention and they could flee. But each and every one of them shook their head. Didn't they understand that he was powerless here? They had to run. He didn't know what he would do if Mirudan got his hands on them.

Mirudan recovered from his shock, any fear gone and masked with arrogant indifference. "Don't you remember what fun we had you two? Me digging through your minds…through your magic. I very nearly figured out what made the both of you tick. But then you up and disappeared before I could finish. I remember when..." His head jerked to look at Aithusa again.

"But Emrys doesn't...does he Aithusa?"

The warlock and dragon shared a terrified glance. Mirudan nodded as his suspicions were confirmed.

The sorcerer laughed. It was an unpleasant sound and even his apprentices looked up at him in shock. "Aren't you a talented lizard Aithusa. Untrained and growth stunted yet you managed to build a mental wall to keep your Dragon Lord sane. Block just enough of his memories that he could function."

Another snarl started building in Aithusa's chest.

Mirudan scowled at her. "But I think I would like Merlin to remember our time together, don't you?"

"NO!" Aithusa lunged forward.

But she wasn't fast enough. The sorcerer took that last final step towards the warlock, tapping a finger to a frozen Merlin's forehead and his eyes flaring a murky gold.

Merlin felt his body seize. A part of his mind crumbled as the wall the dragon had placed fell to pieces. He barely felt the hard ground he slammed into. Barely felt the warmth as the dragon curled protectively around him, spewing flames at the sorcerer and his apprentices.

As darkness clouded his mind the last thing he heard was Mirudan's call. "Until next time Emrys! If you last that long!"

Then the memories engulfed him.

A/N:

Cue evil laugh.

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