A/N:
Full honesty. Been meaning to post this for the last three weeks. But my laptop died and I got a new one and was figuring that out. Then I was procrastinating and life got in the way. But I finally got there today.
As always thanks to all reviewers (I always look forward to them when I post), big thank you to new followers it's always a pleasant surprise and its makes me all warm and fuzzy to know people are interested.
So without further ado.
Enjoy!
Ilandrae
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin but wouldn't that be nice.
CHAPTER 21 – MAGIC'S HOLLOW
Merlin's Chambers, Camelot Castle
Merlin wondered why his mouth was so dry. His skin felt dry and tight over his bones and he felt the sticky remnants of sweat still coating his skin.
Also, his magic levels were much higher than before. He felt like jumping out of his skin. That was odd.
Then before.
The events from the Gwen's speech came rushing back. The knife, the curse, the nearly dying.
He cracked open his eyes and croaked out of his dry throat, "I'm assuming I didn't die then."
He recognised the now familiar sight of his chambers, and the unfamiliar sight of a big brown-haired knight sitting in a nearby chair.
"Not for lack of trying Sir" his guest smiled.
Merlin sat up in his bed reaching for the pitcher of water that was beside the bed.
"You're the knight from yesterday, aren't you?" the warlock gulped down the water to sooth his parched throat.
"Yes Sir. I am Sir Bedivere. Knight of Camelot."
"I gathered as much about the second bit, red cloak and all. Is there a reason you're in my room?"
"The Queen has appointed me as your personal guard until the threat to your life has passed."
"That could be a long job" as the earlier events became clearer, he recalled how Bedivere had initially deflected he cursed blade. "Also, no offence, but most of the knights don't like me, something about manipulating the Royal Family as ridiculous as that is. Why'd you save my life?"
Merlin swung his legs out of the bed, again surprised at his own levels of energy, he made his way to the dining table where a breakfast was already laid out.
"I suppose I'll have to explain why I volunteered for the position" Bedivere leant against a nearby wall.
"Volunteered? Interesting career move."
The knight laughed before saying matter-of-factly, "I was there at Camlan. I saw you carry Arthur from the battlefield and I followed."
Merlin froze, a bit of sausage halfway to his mouth, "You followed?"
"I followed. I saw you trying to heal him. I saw you take him to the lake. Saw you kill Morgana's soldiers followed by Morgana herself."
"I was using magic that entire time, and you only watched?"
"You were helping, not harming. Why would I intervene?"
Merlin was surprised but went back to his breakfast. This was one open minded knight.
"I saw Arthur die. And I saw you leave. And I told no one. Still haven't."
Merlin found himself frozen again, "You told no one?"
"It wouldn't have helped anyone. What's done is done. But I can help now, by protecting you. Again, you are here helping, and someone doesn't like that. So, I think I would like to be in the way if they tried it again. So, I volunteered."
Merlin took a moment to process this. He got the feeling that the knight was telling the truth, about everything. And even as ridiculous as it all seemed, it probably wouldn't hurt to have someone watching his back so he could focus on other matters.
"In other matters, how was I healed? I know my magic was corrupted, so I assume it was Alice who fixed it."
"Yes and no."
"Continue…" Merlin finished off the last of his breakfast, standing to start rummaging in a cupboard for some clothes.
"She came, summoned by Art I guess, just like you told him. But when she figured out what was wrong, she said she didn't have the power to heal you. Something about incompatible magic."
"Seriously?" Merlin ducked behind the screen and began changing, "How the hell am I still breathing then, if Alice can't heal someone no one can."
"Art again" Merlin practically heard the accompanying shrug, "Warlock magic for warlock magic or something like that."
"Suppose we're even then" Merlin shrugged on his jacket and stepped out from the screen, "Now who can tell me what's been happening when I was out? How long was I out anyway?"
"Two days."
"WHAT!"
It took a matter of seconds for Merlin to be clothed and out the door.
"Two days" Merlin muttered as he stalked down the corridor towards the Council chambers, Sir Bedivere somehow an already familiar presence that he didn't really notice, "That's enough bloody time for a kingdom to fall. What the hell's happened while I've been napping."
"I think you're overreacting a little." Merlin heard the smile in Bedivere's words.
"Knowing Camelot as well as I do, I am most definitely not."
"Good to know you have so much faith in us" Gwen was unimpressed as Merlin walked into the Council Chambers unintentionally insulting the Kingdom.
Tactically brushing past the consequential awkward moment, Merlin slipped into the chair that was vacant at Gwen's right, "I will say I'm pleasantly surprised to see nothing on fire."
"Merlin" Lancelot shook his head, "Will you ever learn to curb your words in a room such as this? The last time you said such a thing a Princess nearly demanded your head on a platter."
"And evidently, she did not get her wish because my head is much more valuable where it is. So, what's happened while I was sleeping?"
"We scoured the city for whoever was responsible for the attack" Leon informed, "however, few clues were found."
Merlin's interest was piqued at the word choice, but a look from Leon told him now was not the time to delve into those 'few clues'.
A glance around the nobles that were in the room led him to agree. If there was one who sought to be rid of him, he was likely to be in this room. The eyes that surrounded him held suspicion, some outright hostility and one dark set of eyes above a crooked nose seemed to hold nothing but hatred for a moment.
"If the threat is only to me that does not concern me too much. Especially now that I've got my very own walking, talking tin can to tail me. No offence Bedivere" he cast the words to where his new bodyguard leant casually against the wall.
"None taken Sir" the knight replied.
"Why do you call him Sir when he doesn't even address you as you deserve Sir Bedivere. This sorcerer is no knight and the fact that you are responsible for protecting him is so far below your stature that it is an insult to you" one of the aged councilmen remarked with wide eyes.
"Merlin has earned my respect Advisor Sloan, so I address him so. The fact that he deems me a friend and forgoes my title only makes me realise how much he has earned his own. Also, I volunteered for the job."
Advisor Sloan blinked at the knight, and once again Merlin was astounded at his new bodyguard's candour. To speak so openly to Camelot's Council was something Merlin thought only he did.
"Merlin or Emrys is fine I don't really care" Merlin spoke to no one in particular, mainly seeking to divert the hostility he felt in the room away from Bedivere.
"Of course, Sir" Bedivere apparently didn't get the plan.
"Has there been any word of the Black Sorcerer?" Merlin decided the best course of action was to just move on. His overflowing energy levels were making him skittish, and he was constantly shifting in his seat. His hands fiddled with the leather arm band that was somehow still on his wrist after he'd put it on that eventful morning.
"There's been nothing concrete" Leon seemed relieved to actually get back to Council matters, "All we have heard is rumours from the north-"
Merlin's attention was diverted when a soft voice echoed through his mind.
Emrys ðu aron níedþearfa
The words were accompanied by the familiar image of a clearing surrounded by willow trees, a round stone table covered in ancient vines and big enough to seat ten dominating the space.
Merlin smiled as his focus returned to the present and he saw all the surrounding eyes drawn to the glowing council amulet around his neck.
Not sure whether to be annoyed or relieved that he was yet again leaving a Camelot Council meeting early, the warlock apologised, "Maybe one day I'll actually get to finish one of these things but as you can probably guess I have been summoned elsewhere."
Gwen merely waved her hand, "Go. Maybe they will know more about recent events than we do."
Without further hesitation Merlin fixed the image he had been shown firmly in his mind and spoke the spell to take him there.
He once again revelled in the feeling of his magic surging around him, as it carried him to his destination. When he landed in the clearing, there was soft grass under his boots along with a blanket of flower petals from the surrounding trees. Pink buds had fallen from where they adorned the drooping branches of the willow trees, and the pink carpet was broken only by grass and a splattering of purple from the jacaranda trees that had lost their own flowers.
The quiet keen of the wind through the trees met his ears and the air was nearabout thrumming with magic. It was as if he breathed it with every breath.
A feeling that could only be described as tranquillity flooded through him and was harshly broken by an unexpected voice.
"If you thought you were getting rid of me that easily think again."
Merlin turned to find Bedivere doing his best to not gawk at their new surroundings.
"Now how did you manage this one Bedivere?"
"Honestly don't know. When I was appointed your guard, I asked Alice if she could help me make it harder for you magically give me the slip. She just gave me this amulet and said if I saw you going to grab it and hold on for the ride."
"Clever" Merlin grudgingly admitted, "she must have magically linked our amulets."
"And I see it worked, welcome to Magic's Hollow Sir Bedivere" Alice smiled as she entered the clearing. "I'm glad to see you up and about now Merlin. You had us worried there for a bit."
"Yeah, I wasn't feeling too great at the time either" Merlin admitted, "But now I'm nearly bouncing off the walls for some reason. My magic has been completely replenished."
"I wondered if that might happen" Alice sighed. "When I used Art's magic to purge your corrupted magic it was a little hard to control. Seems he gave you a bit of a boost. Art was exhausted after it too, went straight to sleep after I left, I heard."
"Really?" guilt flashed through Merlin. He'd have to check in on the boy when he got back and see how he was doing.
"Is that while you summoned me Alice? To check up on me?"
"It was part of it. But you're not the only one I summoned to Magic's Hollow. I talked with the others while you were recovering, and we decided to hold a meeting when you were awake to discuss what we'd uncovered in the meantime."
As if on cue the rest of the council entered the clearing with their respective magics. Bedivere executed an urgent sidestep to avoid Wes' lightning bolt.
"Sparks! You didn't die! Never doubted you. Well, I doubted you a lot. But good job! You made that cyclone yet?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Wes. And no, not yet. It's only been about a week since you last asked."
"That was only a week ago?" the lanky man plopped himself into one of the stone chairs surrounding the table.
"Wes your concept of time is troubling" Isabel gracefully seated herself in a chair also.
The other council members mumbled their agreement as they all took their seats.
Merlin took his own seat as Bedivere leant against a nearby tree. The warlock considered giving the knight a chair but instantly dismissed the thought. The knight would no doubt decline the offer in favour being able to keep a more watchful eye from his feet.
"I see you've picked up a tail" Myara said gruffly eyeing the knight out of the corner of her eye. She was never one to trust at first sight.
"Yes, well apparently this one's known and kept my secret for the past ten years or so without my even knowing. Think he saved my life too, the first time at least. As you know I'm getting nearabout as bad as Arthur at keeping myself alive."
Myara gave a non-committal grunt, not taking her eye off the knight, "Well, it is good to see that you're alright."
"What? No scolding?" Merlin joked.
"I would. But I'm sure everyone here knows that no matter the consequence your actions would not change, nor should they."
Gratitude so strong filled Merlin's being that it near ached in his chest. Not for the first time he wondered how he had managed to find this magical family. Each one of them had been his teacher, from which he had learnt nearly everything he knew about advanced magic and its laws.
He remembered Iseldir leading him to Magic's Hollow for the first time, the way his own magic sung in response to the magic that saturated the air. Not mention his surprise at not only seeing Alice again, but also that blonde haired sorceress who had helped him drive away a group of bandits three months prior, the small yet terrifying mage who'd lobbed a fireball at his head when he'd accidently knocked on the wrong door in Gwynedd and woken her up from her nap two months ago, the purple eyed witch who he had helped guard the veil between the worlds last Samhain and that mad bearded wizard who had destroyed his carriage with a lightning bolt last week in Gwynedd.
Suffice to say it was an interesting day.
But they had opened up his world exponentially. As he studied under each of them in turn, more and more possibilities of magic were made clear.
With Iseldir he learnt new ways to manipulate the world around, to hide things from view and change things to his will. Isabel showed him how much magic is in nature and the power that the natural elements held in their pure form, how magic is imbued in everything that exists in some way shape or form. Wes showed him a magic he had barely even considered before and how manipulating the weather came with a great responsibility as to the consequences it could have.
His lessons with Alice had been the hardest of them all. With spells and herbs and the horn of some magical beast, she taught him the true secret to effective healing magic.
And why he was so dismal at it.
Emotions had no place in healing, Alice had told him time and time again. But as a warlock, his emotions were his magic. Even now, while he was a decent healer, he knew he would never be a master like Alice.
There were two disciplines that he had a true affinity for, mastering them both within a week. With Maria he delved deeper in the fundamental laws of magic and the spirits. Of the death and darkness that accompanies all life and that everything comes with a price. She showed him how to recognise the sacred sites, those that would help… and those best left undisturbed.
And Myara… with the tiny, aged woman who he knew had many stories left untold, even to the others of the Magic Council, he had used all the magic at his disposal. She taught him the best ways to craft and combine each of his magics which he had now mastered, more often than not with devastating effects.
His knowledge and his powers had grown to the point that they could teach him no more. Then they gave him a stupid Council Amulet and wouldn't let him give it back. So apparently, he was stuck with them now.
"There are two things we wish to discuss Merlin, now that you are well" Alice brought him back to the time at hand.
"Right" Merlin smiled, "Hit me with 'em."
A/N:
Hoping to post the next chapter in the next week but we'll see how extreme my procrastination gets.
Wish me luck!
Thanks
I ;)
Spells:
Emrys ðu aron níedþearfa – Emrys you are needed