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'thur...' Merlin manages to slur before collapsing onto the cold stone floor of the tower he was trapped in.
'The clock is ticking Pendragon. If you want to save him then you must hurry up!' The figure chuckles as the illusion finished and the knights find themselves scattered along the forest floor. Arthur curses and begins to spiral, hoping that they can get to Merlin on time. He couldn't lose him. Not now...
Adventures, Quests and Hunting are some of the worst things to possibly do in Camelot for they never truly end well. Someone always gets deathly hurt or missing. Mostly that prat Merlin calls his King. Arthur was basically a magnet for trouble. No matter how many knights Arthur takes with him, he always gets into some sort of situation his court sorcerer must save them all from.
This time there had been reports of a magical creature, one with multiple serpent heads. Merlin had recently identified that they could be dealing with a Hydra. A creature of magic with a minimum of five heads but the more you cut of the more they grow... In this case the hydra had at least two dozen heads upon its body. No one had seen eye to eye with it, they only saw its shadow, yet the creature continued to terrorise the locals, scaring the locals away from theirs homes...
Upon hearing such a tale Arthur immediately gathered the Knights of the round table, and Merlin of course to set out and find said creature. Merlin knew this quest would not go well. Not at all... He had a very very bad feeling that his day was about to make a turn for the worst.
They rode out at dawn. Merlin said good-bye to Gwen and Morgana before setting out after the others. He had warned his two friends of the situation and let Morgana know he would try and call out to her with his magic should anything happen. Morgana agreed and said she and Gwen would ride out lest something happen. Merlin smiled and turned with his horse galloping behind his friends.
As they rode through the forest, Merlin couldn't help but feel unsettled by the silence surrounding them, it felt as though something was watching them. Merlin searched the area with his magic but found nothing, only straining him with such labouring use of magic.
Once again Merlin felt eyes settle upon his back... he sent out his magic, closing his eyes searching for any threatening presence. As he searched his magic latched onto a sleeping hooded figure. The body seemed to be that of a woman. The mage drew closer to see why his magic would consider her any form of threat. He startles when the woman opens her eyes staring straight at him.. as though she knew he was there. She reached out and placed her hand firmly around the ravens throat with a predatory smile... Merlin fell backwards with a scream.
When he opened his eyes once more he found he was no longer on the back of his horse. Now he was on the floor with a horrible headache. He searched for the woman in a panic getting up with little grace, only to fall back to the ground seconds later. He was lucky to be caught by one of his friends. Merlin looks up through his hair to see Arthur holding him with a worried expression that matched each of the knights.
'Set up camp.' Arthur ordered the knights. The group immediately began their work as Arthur sat Merlin beside a tree.
'What happened?' Merlin inquired, his eyes still searching for the mystery woman that he had seen with his magic, he was afraid... he felt hunted and that smile... it sent shivers down his spin seeing the woman bare her teeth at him like that... She almost didn't seem human..
'You kept searching for a threat. We thought you were just being paranoid, you were constantly checking for something with your magic. The knights -and me- were worried that you would exhaust yourself. But then you reeled back... falling off your horse. hitting your head on a rock.. but you were still awake. You were still seeing some vision. Your eyes still shone gold as you backed away from us... Merlin.. What did you see?' Arthur finished.
'There was a woman...' Merlin started. Arthur looked confused so Merlin continued. 'She was asleep... My magic warned me of her so I drew closer to see what could possibly sound alarm bells in my mind. Arthur she didn't seem human. She could see me.. touch me in my phantom body...- Merlin shivered and put his hand to his throat again feeling the ghost of the woman's cold, calloused, predatory claws of a hand-' she smiled at me... like I was prey Arthur...'
Merlin finally looked back up to meet the blonds shocked blue eyes. All of the knights had stopped what they were doing, they seemed worried and drawn to the mages story. The ebony haired boy calmed his breathing as Arthur and the knights savoured the information given to them. Merlin looked off into the distance.. once again seeing the vivid look of the predatory woman's sharp-teethed smile.
Arthur drew Merlin closer to him in a protective hold. Merlin was momentarily shocked before responding to the protective hug, wrapping his arms around Arthurs neck hugging him back. The knights each quickly and silently got back to what they were doing as the king glared at them warningly.
'Merlin~ Come out my damsel! Times ticking for your darling king and his knights...' The same predatory smile glared at Merlin. The sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight... Merlin scrambled backwards as she edged closer, cocking her head with a sounding crack. Those sharp claws wrapped around Merlin's arm, lifting him into the air. The grip became more and more painful by the second before a loud CRACK sounded through the graveyard, The crack was drowned out by Merlin's scream as the woman revelled in the sounds, the white of her eyes completely blacked-'
Arthur watched as his court sorcerer was lifted into the air by his arm as his head lolled to the side. The mage was still asleep, but his features were painted with discomfort. Each of the knights had their swords at the ready, their eyes searching for whatever was hurting their friend. Suddenly there was a resounding crack as Merlin's arm bent at a weird angle... revealing his bone. Arthur felt sick, but not as sick as when Merlin screamed dropping to the ground, waking upon the impact.
Arthur heard as someone threw up behind him. Merlin's eyes darted around the camp in confusion. He noticed Arthur gripping his sword. Merlin suddenly looked worried, he tried to push himself up with his arms, unaware of his newly broken arm. The mage's eyes went wide as he muffled a scream into the palm of his hand. He cradled his arm as his eyes brimmed with tears.
Arthur dropped his sword and kneeled beside his friend. He ordered Lancelot to bring him Merlin's medicine bag.
'Hey, hey Merlin look at me. Yes that's it. You'll be alright. Do you know how to treat this?' Merlin nods at him as he tries to calm his breathing, to no avail. The blond continued to soothe his best friend, as the ebony haired man grit his teeth.
Lancelot came to them, placing the medicinal bag beside them softly. Arthur nodded in thanks. None of them really knew how to treat such a wound, the knights only knew basic medicine. Their only physician was also the court-sorcerer. Who sat before them with said wound.
Finally Merlin came around and began making orders,
'C-can one of you get me some sort of stick? I-I will need to make a temporary splint of it.' Gwaine and Percival immediately scrambled around to find some sort of stick to use as a splint. In the meanwhile Merlin grabbed a smaller stick that lay beside him. To Arthurs confusion he placed the stick in his mouth. Merlin sighed, obviously preparing himself for something. He looked at Arthur for comfort, who in response sat beside him, rubbing soothing circles on the ravens back.
Merlin straighten his arm, with much discomfort, before his eyes glowed a molten gold. His magic wrapped around his arm softly before abruptly setting the bone into its proper position. Merlin responds with a muffled scream, tears no freely ran down his face. Arthur grimaced, and felt bile rise into his mouth. He turned from Merlin and joined the other, normally stone-lined stomached knights in throwing up. Once he finished he turned back to Merlin, who had no finished bandaging and splinting his arm, putting it into a sling.
Merlin looked at him and the knights with a disapproving look through his tears. They all gave him their own individual sheepish smile before they all settled by him until he calmed.
'Do you know what happened Merlin?' The mage shook his head at the kings question.
'I do not remember much... only that smile again...Oh its horrible Arthur...' He stated bringing his knees up to his chest, wrapping his healthy arm around them. Arthur sighed before once more settling his arm around the mages waist. Merlin flushed slightly when he felt the arm, and Arthur buried his face into Merlin's ebony locks. The king once more glared at the knights as Gwaine began making lewd comments, making Merlin flush harder and the others to burst into a unanimous state of laughter.
Merlin relaxes slightly in Arthurs hold, feeling safer in the arms of the man he loves, and the banter of their friends. Merlin smiles as everyone bursts into some mundane chatter. A comforting feeling to Merlin as he joins into the chatter.
They set out about a candle-mark after the... incident. Merlin rode with Arthur, everyone worried that he would fall off his horse, hurting himself further. Especially now with his newly broken arm. Elyan had grabbed the reigns of Merlin's horse, tying them to his own. They only rode for two candle-marks before they saw the shadow of a multi-headed creature. Arthur immediately spurred into action with the knights. He warned Merlin to stay in he saddle for he was better up there up there, than a distraction beside him and the Knights.
Merlin hesitantly agreed and stayed on the back of the horse as they edged closer to the shadow. Magic and swords readily drawn for a fight. Merlin flung his magic into search. He allowed his magic to look at the creature, but to his surprise there was no creature. Only a hooded young girl. One Merlin vividly recognised.
'Stop!' He shouted as he came out of his vision. Everyone turned around in shock to look at Merlin. The shadow continued to move on the rock before them.
'There is no monster...' He panted. Everyone looked at him confused.
'Its a young girl... just have a look yourself there is no monster. Put your swords down.' He explains. Arthur hesitated a moment before pushing his sword back into its scabbard. The knights followed suit and Merlin nodded. Arthur took the reigns to the horse Merlin sat on, guiding it towards the thing responsible for casting such a large shadow.
Indeed when they drew around the corner there was a young girl using her hands to cast the shadow. She began to laugh at the expressions on the group. Merlin sighed in relief that he had been right. He looked at Arthur with tired eyes, who in turn nodded at him sympathetically in thanks.
'So this is what everyone has been so scared of a weak little girl?' Arthur questioned, earning himself a glare from Merlin and a resounding laugh from the knights.
'You prat! Stop insult her! I'm sorry for him.' Merlin says with an apologetic smile. The girl responds with a threatening glare.
'I am not weak Arthur Pendragon.' she growls.
'Of course not! But you are not stronger than us after all we are men, you are well, a girl. Weak' Arthur shrugs. Merlin cuffs him round the head and shakes his head when the blond turns to look at him.
The girl grows slightly, now you could tell she was a young woman. And then Merlin recognised her. It was the woman whose smile haunts him since the beginning of this Quest. While the knights and king laugh, Merlin grows uncomfortable, as he feels the woman's eyes upon him. The woman bares her teeth at Merlin in her once more predatory smile. Merlin's eyes grow wide as he sees the woman get up and rush forward towards him at an inhumane speed. Finally the knights and Arthur stop their laughter. Drawing their swords upon seeing Merlin gone from the horse Arthur held onto.
The group look around and finally they see the woman holding Merlin by the throat. Her claw-like hands wrapping ever tighter. Merlin looks to them for aid but the group are at a loss, for if they strike they run the risk of the hooded figure snapping their mages neck like a twig.
'I am no weak woman Pendragon. In fact I am no true woman at all... Your misogyny and male ego grows with each passing day. Only controlled by this little birdy.'-the woman now laughs a long snake-like tongue emerging from her sharp spear-like teeth.-'He's weak without his magic. Just like yo say I am. So let him be your damsel this time. Times ticking, can you save your anchor, sir knight.' With that she disappears into smoke with echoing laughter and Merlin's scream of 'Arthur' dissolving into the trees.
Arthur helplessly looks around in hopes this was some cruel joke. He didn't truly think women were weak. Not really, he'd been bested by a couple. And Merlin had a tendency of scolding him any time he said something insensitive to ensure he didn't get himself killed. That was why Merlin was warning him earlier. But old habits die hard. Arthur continued to over-step not heeding the warnings before him. And now his Merlin was missing.
This was terrible. The knights had already split up in search of Merlin, calling out his name, even when Arthur had made no such order. The golden King was rooted in place. His Merlin. Gone. gone gonE goNE gONE GONE GONE! The blond pulled at his hair as his eyes continued their search for the comforting head of ebony black hair. But to no avail. There was nothing. Like he never existed. But that was wrong. A world without Merlin was no world at all. He could never be the king he was today without Merlin. There would be no magic. No gleaming golden eyes. No cheeky smiles. No love struck eyes. No comforting quips. No insults. Nothing. Everything that made his day. Everything that made him happy, what made him get up in the morning -literally- gone. Wisped away and oh so quickly.
Arthur sunk to his knees still hopelessly calling out for his companion. A man he loved but had no courage to tell him so. He prayed to the triple goddesses that once he gets Merlin back he would treat him better. He would tell him that he loved him. He would adore him and court him should he want it. He just wanted his Merlin back. He didn't realise that the knights were looking at him worriedly as he spiralled and fell apart.
After a couple moments Arthur finally calmed. No one commented on his outburst, not even Gwaine. Merlin was a dear friend to them all. Every one of the Knights viewed the mage as a younger brother so having him gone affected them just as bad. They hated seeing him hurt. And just wished to get him home. But for now they had to devise a plan to get Merlin back for apparently they were on a tight clock to get Merlin back alive, though maybe not so well as they hoped.
'Right lets revise, the witch must have given us some starting point, fore without one we could have no hope of finding Merlin at all...' Leon began. The knights all sat around a fire with their king. Devising a plan of attack to find and save Merlin.
'She called him a damsel and said something about Merlin being weak without his magic. We could start with that?' Percival chimed in. Arthur nodded in response.
'I presume this is like some twisted fairy tale then? Where Merlin is the maiden in need and we are the knights that save him. What maybe this is like some sort of Princess trapped in a tower type of deal?' Gwaine shrugs.
'But what has this got anything to do with revenge on Arthur why take Merlin and weaken him, not Arthur? No offence sire.' Lancelot questions.
'Because without Merlin Camelot is weak. Because without Magic Merlin is weaker than all of us. It is showing us that men can also be weak, yet even though he is weak I fall apart without him...' Arthur reveals. The Knights look at him sympathetically.
'Then lets be strong for Merlin. Let's save him and show that witch aye?' The knights nod
'For the love of Merlin!' Gwaine exclaims with a chuckle.
'For the love of Merlin!' They all shout in response.
'Arthur!' Merlin shouts. But he loses sight of him and the knights. Instead everything grows foggy and dark. Merlin breaks down into a fit of coughs as he falls onto the ground in some dust. He looks around in a panic, searching for anything and anyone familiar. He reaches for his magic but cannot find it. Almost as if it was never there. For the first time in a while Merlin feels truly weak. He can only hope to find Arthur and the knights.
The mage gets up and looks around to see gravestones everywhere. In the centre of the graveyard stood a large castle, it looked abandoned and seems as though it may fall to ash any second. Merlin turns only to find more gravestones. They stretched for miles. Merlin feared that they may just stretch on forever.
'Hello my dear Princess.' Merlin startles at the voice looking around for where it came from.
'I think you may be mistaken, for I am no lady. Much less a princess. I mean just look at me.' Merlin says nervously.
'Hmm I spose you are right. But we can change that right now. We can make you look much more like a damsel don't you think?' The voice chuckles. And from the ash around him rose the hooded woman from before, she reminded him of a phoenix. With the rise of the ashes and her cloak moved behind her like flames or maybe wings. She circles around him like a predator, suddenly with the flick of the wrist, her eyes glow molten gold and Merlin is surrounded by coolness. Normally magic felt warm around him, secure like a tight hug, but this felt foreign, malicious, untrustworthy. Merlin shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. He looks down to see he is no longer wearing his normal attire, instead he now wore a long white dress, with a pale corset that had beautiful golden embroidery.
He looked up at his captor confused, but she just looks at him with hunger and flashes her predatory, sharp grin towards him. Merlin has an uncomfortable feeling settle in his gut. He looks down to the ground. The woman's hands touching him, feeling how the dress lay on him.
'Do you feel vulnerable?' She whispers in his ear.
'weak? Do you feel as Arthur Pendragon disgraces woman. Calling us all weak and submissive. Unable to do anything involving fights, and wars. But he is wrong. We are not this way. But he will learn. Even if it means losing you.' She sneers. Merlin looks at her with wide eyes, scrambling away from her. Getting away from the cold, unwelcome touch. Her blackened, hate-filled eyes follow him as he staggers back.
He trips on his skirt falling backwards onto his backside. She saunters towards him, getting down to his level, and tugging him by his hair to ensure he cannot get away. Merlin can feel tears well up in his eyes. Normally he would not feel so fearful, but he had no weapon, no magic, no blade, nothing. He had no way to protect himself from the witch. His body begins to shake as the woman leans down to his ear again.
'Let us get you into that tower and continue toying with your life there, hmm?' She laughs. Merlin did not find the situation as amusing. He felt exposed and embarrassed as dust engulfed them once more. Upon settling it revealed a cold room, its walls were stone, as were its floors. There was a large bed, which was also laid out in white though it had a thick layer of dust over it, as though it were not used in a long time. There was some other wooden furniture in the room, a tub, a cupboard and a changing screen. Merlin looked back to where the woman had previously stood.
The witch stood further away now, she was looking through a spell book of sorts. She had a face of stone concentration at first, before it melted into an expression of glee upon finding what she searched for. Merlin uncomfortable shifted backwards again, stumbling to his feet.
'Now now Darling.. This won't hurt a bit...' She says edging closer...
'So we have a rough game plan of what we have to look for, but the only problem is that there are thousands of abandoned towers he could be kept in.' Arthur sighs.
The knights stood in an uncomfortable silence. Thinking of a way to possibly narrow down the places they should search. It had been nearly a full day since the witch took Merlin. Neither the knights or the king had been able to get any rest. They were constantly thinking over their plan. Trying to find a way to locate Merlin but they kept coming back to the same point. There are too many abandoned towers and not any way to narrow down their search.
They were startled out of their thoughts by the galloping of about four horses. Immediately the group pulled out their swords, attempting to look threatening but most likely failing due to exhaustion. The group were startled to see Morgana, Gwen, Mordred and George ride in. The knights lowered their swords looking at the group in confusion. Morgana and Mordred both looked petrified.
'He isn't with you is he?...' Spoke Gwen's soft voice.
'Who?'
'Merlin...' Morgana spoke the forbidden name. None of the Knights or the king could bring themselves to speak the name after they failed to protect him.
'How- How did you know? Did he tell you?! Has he spoken to you?1' Arthur called out desperately. Morgana gave him a soft sympathetic look. She shook her head softly. Arthur felt himself deflate.
'I felt his magic. It- it seems to have dispersed? Like it's no longer held in Merlin. We couldn't track him anymore using his magic like we normally can. I had a vision of sorts where I saw him. It was all so very strange like bits and pieces of things in his point of view. He- he's hurt Arthur...' Morgana manages. Tears now glistening in her eyes. Gwen, George and Mordred each looked sick. Arthur himself felt sick too and was sure if he looked to his knights he'd find them in a similar position.
'What did you see?..' Lancelot asked. For a moment Arthur himself had spoken but found he was rendered speechless. He couldn't utter a word and was thankful that Lancelot could still voice his thoughts.
Morgana shook her head slightly.
'As I said its bits and pieces of everything I am not sure if it is of much use really.. I saw stone. Everywhere like a tower perhaps? Similar to my own chambers but the fabrics were white. Everything that was remotely fabric or a form of decorations was a plane white, sequenced with gold. There was a woman... She wore a cloak so you could see nothing but her mouth. It formed this.. predatory smile where even I felt uncomfortable. At one point Merlin glanced down. It was only for a second but he seemed to wear a dress. One that was once probably white but now had dark spots of blood, dust and dirt. His feet were bare and his skin looked strange. But the that woman, Oh Arthur it was terrible...'
Each of Morgana's words were like a new wound burying itself beneath his skin and lodged themselves within his already broken heart. And her last five words... Merlin had said them to him as well when he'd been afraid, when he saw that same smile in his own visions. It tore Arthur's heart in two...
Out of the blue Arthur felt himself grow faint. He began to sway upon his feet. He looked around to the others. Finding them each in a similar state. Shortly after he felt his soul get yanked from his body as it transported itself far from his body. It travelled, hit every branch and rock along its way, before finally he saw a graveyard. A graveyard with an abandoned castle at its centre. Arthur squinted. Trying to figure why it looked so familiar. He didn't have much time before again his soul was thrown into a new space. He appeared before the witch. But not in any physical form.
Merlin was right, even in the phantom like form he had taken it looked as if the woman could see him. She peered straight at him and the knights. Perhaps she could? Perhaps she just knew where to look. Arthur wasn't sure but he saw Merlin. His brain zeroed in on his best friend. The love of his life who lay before the witch, struggling to get up through his laboured breathing. The witch kicked him in his arm, which seemed to have been re-broken repeatedly. The young mage screamed and cried cradling his arm. Finally Arthur caught a glance of Merlin's visage. He had dark bruise-like circles beneath his eyes, his lips cracked and bleeding. His nose also seemed to be crooked and his cheekbone might be broken. Bruised at least.
The witch cackled once again, bearing her teeth at Merlin. The sharp teeth looked well cared for, as though they were sharped as any sword would every day. They war sharp enough that if she bit down, perhaps on Merlin's neck she would bite through his spine or rip out his jugular. Merlin trembled, pursing his lips before biting down on them to ensure he doesn't scream again. Arthur's heart shatters at the sight. Merlin looked weary and he was hurt. All because of Arthur's inability to keep his mouth bloody shut.
'Enjoying the sight Pendragon?' She laughed. The knights looked at Arthur sympathetically. Merlin's head snapped up at the name. His pleading eyes searching for Arthur, shattering the kings heart seeing just how much the mage depended on him. His eyes dim again when they do not find what they search for.
The woman walks over briskly and cup Merlin's face gently, as he shies away from the touch she grips his face in a bruising grip. Once that makes Arthur reach for his phantom sword in fury. She holds Merlin so tightly the group worry she may break another one of his facial bones.
'See Pendragon? Men can be just as weak as you call women. Your best friend. At my feet, writhing in pain with everything I do. You must be ashamed that this is your best friend. So very weak. You do not even see how he pleads for me to stop what I do..' she laughs and Arthur feels another pang of guilt when Merlin's looks down in shame. Arthur wants nothing more than to kill the witch. Make her suffer the way she made his Merlin suffer. He would tear out her heart when he found her. And he will order morgana to use her magic as he shows her, her own heart feeding it to her as she slowly dies without it.
The witch tuts, 'It's disappointing really to have to bring you here. Give you a hint as to our whereabouts so you can save your damsel. I felt bad for my little princess truly. He looks out the windows for you whenever he has the strength and thinks I am not looking. Hoping you will appear in the graveyard. But he is disappointed every time. He really doesn't have long now Pendragon.'
Just as he witch finished her sentence, Merlin screamed in agony. The knights all look at him as he suffers the effects of something they couldn't see. Arthur etched closer to the mage to see what was wrong and finally caught sight of Merlin's legs that were now stone. Merlin's better hand clawed at his chest. Clutching it as he screamed. 'STOP!' he cried. 'Please make it stop!' he pleaded.
'So the curse spreads the longer he waits. He turns into a statue that will forever represent your weakness Pendragon. The stone has immobilised his legs and now spreads inside his chest clutching at each bone, each organ until eventually, after everything else is stone. It covers his heart. This is not a very pleasant curse.'
'thur...' Merlin manages to slur before collapsing onto the cold stone floor of the tower he was trapped in.
'The clock is ticking Pendragon. If you want to save him then you must hurry up!' The figure chuckles as the illusion finished and the knights find themselves scattered along the forest floor. Arthur curses and begins to spiral again, hoping that they can get to Merlin on time. He couldn't lose him. Not now...
'There! Spirits Arthur! You lot gave us a good scare. We thought you guys just had a unanimous aneurism or something. Are you trying to put me in an early grave brother?' Morgana chides as she, Gwen and Mordred helped each of the knights to their feet one by one. Upon hearing Arthurs colour language Morgana simply tuts. Her brother spoke every curse under the sun for some reason yet to be told.
'Arthur dear if our father heard you he'd surely be dancing in his grave. What is wrong?'
'Saddle up I know where Merlin is.' He says sternly. The group snap their heads to him, each looking shocked. The knights hadn't recognised where they'd been taken. But Arthur knew. No one but him and Merlin could identify that place. Once upon a time only Arthur and His father knew of the place. No one else. But then Merlin came and Arthur had to tell him.
'WELL DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?! SADDLE UP!' He barks as he gets onto his own horse, still swaying slightly from the phantom sight he'd been through seconds earlier. The group followed the orders. Asking questions that Arthur couldn't quite hear. As soon as they all mounted their horses Arthur took off. He sped through the trees to the sound of his friends shouting questions. Probably once such as where are we going? But Arthur couldn't lose Merlin. Not now when he was in right in the palm of Arthurs hand but could still slip away should Arthur be too slow.
And Arthur couldn't be to slow. Not no like he had been with his father. His mother. He wouldn't give this. Anything but Merlin he would give but not this. This he could not. So he rode on. Ignoring the please of his friends to stop and explain where they were going. But he refused. Simply attempted to stoically ride a 2 day journey into a couple hours.
Finally Arthur makes it to the Dubois castle. The castle surrounded by a graveyard to ward off anyone who was not meant to be there. When this place had been built 100's of years ago magic had still been legal. It had helped build the foundations of this place his mother once called her home. The place that was once roaming with ghosts of any sort as they protected the property. Any ghost you could have imagined had roamed these homes. It is said that they still do. They walk these halls when no one watches. They walks through the paintings, each painting alive. They walked the graveyard and continue to protect the property. There was one grave that stood out the most. Ygraine Dubois Pendragon. Her Grave stood tallest above all others. Some days Arthur wonders if her ghost too walks around the property.
Arthur jumps from his stallion. Runs by each gravestone, jumping over some, ghosts squawking in protest before realising who was racing on their lands. He hears the group get stuck somewhere in the back. The phantoms stopping them from entering. He throws open the doors of the Castle. Rushes into the tower of the late princess. His mother. He runs up the stairs, bouncing off the walls in an attempt to gain momentum and get to Merlin faster. After what seems like hours the King finds himself kicking open the heavy doors to his mothers chambers. The witch seems startled by his sudden appearance. Almost by magic he makes it here so quickly. It should not be possible but still Arthur stands before her.
Arthur doesn't draw his sword in that moment. He does not look at Merlin either, in fear of becoming distracted. He's sure he heard the hitch of Merlin's voice but his mage would just have to hold on a little longer. It would all be over soon.
Arthur whistles. Just like you might to a hunting hound. Again he takes the witch by surprise. She cackles as nothing happens for a moment. But as she reaches for her magic she finds it unavailable. Arthur storms forwards baring his teeth at her, having found his prey. She stumbles backwards, pushing over the vanity as she tries to get away. But this time Arthur is quicker. He is not slow this time. He is right on time. He catches her by the throat, the hood finally falls from her face to reveal a middle aged woman with pure black eyes. Like ones someone might think the devil would have.
He tilts his head slightly. Crazed eyes looking into hateful black ones. He can hear Merlin's weak protest but pays them no heed. Instead he carefully grabs one of the witches arms. Before methodically placing his thumb in just the right pressure point. Burrowing it into the woman's flesh as she screamed and pleaded him to stop, just like she described Merlin had. There was a sickening crack before he dropped the witches throbbing arm. His hand clutches at her throat harder, her free hand flies to claw at his. Trying to break free to no avail. He leans in to the woman's ear to whisper,
'Anyone is weak when you take away their prized weapon.' With inhuman speed Arthur reaches for his sword and drives it straight through her chest. He twists his swords, making a larger opening before driving it in further, watching as her heart comes out at the end of his sword. He hears he pained gasp ring through the room. She has no time to scream before Arthur wretches his sword free of her demonic chest, her still beating heart falling to the ground as he pulls the sword out. She drops dead to the ground, laying pitifully beside her heart.
Then Arthur turns to Merlin.. Arthurs eyes grow wide and frantic as he drops the swords and follows it to the ground, dropping beside his mage. Half of his body was stone by this point. Arthur saw how the stone seemed to etch painfully into Merlin's skin. Blood pearling into beads before dripping down the stone. Arthur feels tears well up in his eyes as he notices that half of ravens face was also stone. The other screwed up in pain. His brow pinched in discomfort. The eye already turned to stone had tears of blood streaming down the moss covered stone. The one arm that was still functioning, the unbroken one was clutching at his chest as he heaved and struggled to breathe.
Finally Merlin opened his eyes and looked at his golden king. Half a smile played on his lips as the other was cemented in a look of agony. The mage looks as though he wants to speak but with half his mouth now solidified shut he finds he cannot. Arthur's tears no flow freely down his face. The dress Merlin had on had also turned to stone. Almost entirely. The only place still unaffected was the one around his heart. Merlin's lungs must already have been turned to stone as he suffocates cruelly in front of the king.
'Show me how to make it better' Arthur pleads. 'Show me how I can help you.. I cannot lose you now Merlin. Not now.' He whispers chocking on is tears as he sobs. But Merlin just continues to have that small half smile, before once more his expression pinches in discomfort. The stone tearing at his skin, ripping through it as it over takes every inch of his body. This time when Merlin opens his eyes there is a pleading look in them. One that matches the other half of his face. A single tear forms once more in the mages eye as stone over-rides his face and hair. Turning it to stone. The tear, like rain on a statue, rolls down his face, staining it slightly. Leaving a trail from whence it came.
Arthur shakes his face.
'SHOW ME!' he commands. 'WAKE UP AND SHOW ME!' he pleads a storm of emotions brewing on his face. Tears streaming down his face as his façade and royal etiquette falls. The last of his self restraint disappears as the stone around Merlin's heart moves again. Blood stained the entire figure of the ebony mans body. He clutches the near- statue closer to his own body. Hugging it close fearing its disappearance. He would not lose sight of Merlin again. He would keep the statue locked away if he had to but he would keep it safe. Wash it and care for it until he finds a way to fix him.
But can you fix him? A treasonous voice speaks in his mind. Once all his organs stop you cannot restart them. Another chimes in. He's about to scream at them all to just stop. For them to just SHUT THE HELL UP. But he is interrupted by a soft light glowing in front of him.
He opens his eyes, wincing at the brightness before it settles. Then there before him stands his mother. The tears trailing his face increase by a thousand as he looks to see the golden haired woman. Her warm smile welcoming him.
'mother?' he asks carefully in a small whisper. Her smile fades as she sees Merlin. She carefully shifts towards the pair, kneeling beside them. Still not uttering a word. She places a comforting hand on the small of Arthurs back as his frame wracks in sobs. The late queen places her unoccupied hand to Merlin's chest, where the stone is rapidly enclosing his heart. And just like that it stops. In fact the stone recedes slightly, edging away from the light of his mother's phantom hand. Arthur watches in awe as small flowers bloom, a small sign of life on the ravens cold figure.
Arthur feels almost compelled to follow his mothers example and he too places a hand, exactly upon his mothers. Again the flowers grow, the stone receding further, revealing raw, bleeding flesh. Arthur gives out a joyous sob at the sight. It is not pleasant but it is a sign of Merlin's life.
At some point Ygraine's spirit had disappeared. Arthur had not noticed, too engrossed in slowly tearing off each piece of stone from his mages body. He watched as the stone crumbled to the floor. He knew he Merlin would still have to be checked inside. To make sure all of his organs where alright again. Finally the last of the stone crumbled to the ground Merlin taking a greedy breath of air. He heaves and coughs struggling to hold the air- or perhaps struggling to breath at all. Arthur laughs in glee as he watched the scene.
Merlin's pained eyes met his, they crinkled into a smile. Arthur's heart soared at the sight. His mage, alive. Likely extremely scarred from being technically skinned alive by the stone. And perhaps even crippled from whatever else the witch did. But the blond couldn't be more pleased to see him alive.
'I love you Merlin. Spirits above I love you so very much I felt as though the very core of my person was being torn to shreds at the sight of your cold stone body. I am sorry, so very sorry. I beg of you to forgive me. I will do anything to have your forgiveness. Ask me of anything and it is yours. All I ask is your forgiveness and perhaps even your hand in courtship.' Arthur sobbed before Merlin. He the felt a pair of rough, blood soaked lips, press to his cheek. He looked up through his tears as they parted, his vision unblurring as he saw Merlin smiling softly at him.
'I forgive you and I love you too.' he spoke, his voice raw and rough, but his eyes were tender and loving. Arthur brought him into his arms, engulfing him in his protection and love. An unspoken vow between the two. Arthur brought his lips to Merlin's. The kiss was far from perfect but that didn't matter as it was theirs. Arthur savoured in the moment, relishing in the sound of Merlin's breathing.
Soon Arthur picked Merlin up, like a damsel, much to Merlin's weak protests. And they left the castle. Together and the group cheered as they saw them emerge through the ghosts transparent bodies. No one notices a golden spirit, watching from her tower, smiling at her boys. A part of her now living with the two. Forever.