A/N:

Enjoy!

Ilandrae

Disclaimer: This resurgence in Merlin may have prompted another rewatch but I still don't own Merlin

CHAPTER 34 – HER EVIL SORCERESS WITH ERA

Tunnels of Andor - MERLIN POV

The knights looked down at the caves, some with unconcealable disgust. An echoing shriek sounded from the depths. Leon and Percival shuddered.

"Wilddeoren," Leon said.

"Damn," Tristan scowled. "Those things are disgusting beasts.

"What are Wilddeoren?" Mel asked.

"Wilddeoren are carnivorous rats the size of boars and these tunnels are infested with them," Tristan explained. "They're pretty much blind but can sniff out their prey better than a young lad in a bro"—Isolde punched him—"armoury... Because lads like swords." Tristan rubbed his arm.

Leon rushed on. "And as Gwaine learned last time. They hunt in packs."

"What you've got to do," Percival knelt down, followed by, Leon, Tristan, Isolde and Lancelot. Merlin wondered whether he should stop them, but these opportunities were glorious, so he let Percival keep explaining to Mel. "Is get these berries here and rub them all over. It will stop them being able to smell you out."

"That seems stupid," Art said and Merlin sighed. He was hoping the knights would get a little further than this.

Maria rolled her eyes at him.

"It's what we have to do Art," Leon said patiently.

Art looked to Merlin. "Can't we just use a scent glamour. The spell you taught me this morning."

The knights froze. Some with berries halfway to their face.

"Scent glamour?" Isolde asked, Merlin had to turn away, trying not to laugh at their expressions.

"It's a distortion spell." Maria rolled her eyes at Merlin again. "An illusion for the nose if you will. No berries required."

Leon, Percival and Lancelot looked at Merlin and Leon said dryly, "We could've used this last time, couldn't we?"

Merlin couldn't hold back his laughter.

After the warlock had calmed down, he talked Art through the spell again. Between Merlin, Art and Maria they would be glamouring everyone. Art would have himself, Mel and Leon. Merlin would have himself, Bed and Lance. Maria would hide herself, Tristan, Isolde and Percival.

The magic was cast with no issue and, with only a moment of hesitation from some of the knights, they headed into the caves.

ART POV

In the end, Art thought the knights were overreacting. Yes, the tunnels were dark and gross. Yes, the Wilddeoren were just as Sir Tristan had described. But with the scent glamours cast, they went nowhere near them. Merlin even took Mel and Art to take a peek at the nest they found (the knights passed on the offer). Though the baby wilddeoren were by no means cute.

All in all, their passage through the caves was uneventful. Despite that, Art breathed a sigh of relief when he was able to drop the glamour. Holding a spell for hours—while it hadn't been draining—still required an annoying amount of concentration.

They continued on, Merlin giving Art a break from his lessons. He was glad they'd snuck away, though he felt bad for ghosting Isobel. He could already picture the tongue lashing he'd get from her when they returned. And even though he'd said he just didn't want to miss lessons, Art wondered if he was really after something else. A chance to prove himself. Now that his magic was out in the open it was both a blessing and a curse. He was relived he no longer had to hide himself, but he knew people would be looking to him even more in the future. And he wasn't sure if he was worthy of that trust.

He was broken out of his thoughts by Lancelot.

"You've fully recovered your magic right Merlin?"

Art's teacher replied, "Thankfully yes, I'm back at full strength." He shared a look with the knight.

They'd also gained Mel's attention from where she sat on Comet ahead of him. And not just her it seemed.

"Care to share with the group you two?" Tristan drawled.

"Lancelot and I have been this way before." Merlin didn't sound enthused. "I was with Arthur, but Lance was already at the fortress."

"Fortress?" Isobel asked.

"Used to be occupied by a man named Hengist." Lancelot said. He sounded as excited at Merlin about the prospect of returning. "I spent a short time there when I was hard on funds. Merlin and Arthur came to rescue Gwen who Hengist thought was Lady Morgana."

"Morgana prior to her evil sorceress witch era that is," Merlin confirmed. "Hengist had a habit of feeding those he didn't like to his pet Wilddeoren."

Everyone shuddered.

"Though," he glanced at Art, "it was the first time that Arthur started to actually admit how much he cared for your mother."

Art smiled; he'd also heard this story countless times.

"Would this fortress be due north from here?" Maria asked.

"Sadly yes," Merlin sighed. "I'll start remembering how we got in last time.

Merlin POV

They stopped a short way from the fortress, remaining hidden in the tree line.

It looked much the same as Merlin remembered. An ugly heap of stone haphazardly constructed and marring the horizon. Its crumbling ramparts were in stark contrast to the mountain scape behind it. No lights could be seen in the early evening dimness, but Merlin felt it the moment he started looking.

"They're definitely here," he said, almost wishing they weren't.

"How do you know," Art asked with curious eyes. There may have been a flicker of nerves behind them, but he was hiding it well.

Merlin motioned towards the castle but looked to Maria. "We were right about Diara being a witch."

"I'm only picking up one sorcerer. And while powerful they are not a witch."

"Oh no." Merlin smiled. "I've met that sorcerer. Ceador is no warlock."

Maria raised an eyebrow. "The sorcerer who attacked Camelot?"

Merlin glanced at Art, only to see his jaw set with determination. Merlin wondered if he was ready for the encounter he obviously wanted. But seeing Mel mirror that determination, the warlock realised they would be fine.

But the other threat. They would be his.

"Her magic is blending in with the land. Like mine. That's why you can't sense her. But she's there. And she's strong."

"Then she will sense any magic we use to enter the fortress," Maria sighed.

"We'll have to go in the old-fashioned way." Merlin shrugged. "And ironically that's the same way Arther and I got in to rescue Gwen."

When everyone just looked at him in question he pointed to the ramparts above them.

"We climb."

Despite his claims about the 'old fashioned way', Merlin did risk a few small spells to assist. He made the whole party near weightless with only a thought and flash of gold. He hoped that the small instinctive spell wouldn't be detected by Diara.

But even with the spells assistance there was more than one moment of panic when people's grip slipped. Luckily Isolde caught Tristan enough he was able to grab the wall again, and Art caught Mel with another small spell when a stone crumbled under her grip. They reached the ramparts in one piece just as the sun slipped below the horizon.

Merlin peaked over the walls into the courtyard below but quickly withdrew. They were lucky they hadn't tried to enter through the front. At least ten soldiers stood in the main courtyard, not to mention how many more were surely in the fortress itself.

Relying on the memory of Merlin and Lancelot, they crept down from the battlements and once on the ground floor split into two parties. Merlin, Lancelot, Leon, Art and Mel continued deep into the fortress while the others headed to the courtyard.

Merlin led the way, hoping he looked confident as he completely guessed the path forward at times. But soon enough murmured voices could be heard ahead. It was two guards, standing by Hengist's old cage, which had definitely seen better days. The metal lattice walls were rusted and looked like they would crumble at a mere touch. However, with the addition of the guards, it was still a cage to its captive. Merlin could just spy the tips of Elyon's boots.

"I'm not telling your mistress anything you know," The knight told the guards. "No matter how much she tries to mess with my mind."

The guards scoffed. "Lady Diara has barely started with you. She can do much worse. We've seen men crush their own skulls to be free of her tortures."

"That was their choice to make," Diara spoke softly and the two guards stood to rapt attention. "I do not wish for people to die. But I will do everything in my power to get what I need. Even harm those that get it my way, from intent or via mere incompetence."

"Lady Diara," a guard said, "Apologies. We weren't expecting you."

A silence dragged on, no doubt heightening the guards obvious fear of the witch. But Diara was silent. Indeed, no sound other than her words had betrayed her presence. But Merlin had felt their kinship as she entered the room. Witch to warlock. Magic to magic.

And if she was at all familiar with her magic, there was no doubt that she knew he was there.

So, Merlin stepped into the room.

A/N:

Sorry, sorry for the cliffhanger but you'll have to wait til next time!

Thanks

I ;)