Emrys: Magic Unleashed
Summary: Merlin grows up normal, his tremendous magical abilities sealed away, but one day he embraces it fully and the world is never the same.
A/N: So I hoped everyone had a great New Year and Happy Holidays. I certainly enjoyed mine but I wasn't idle in my writing. I hope you enjoy this installment as things are picking up.
Sadly it appears that less and less people are reading this. That's fine with me. I enjoy writing Merlin because of the wide range of freedom it provides me. If I wanted reviews, I'd write for one of my other fics. It does help motivate and give me ideas though.
Chapter 9: The Night Before the Tournament...WTF HAPPENED? Pt. 3
The castle is an impenetrable fortress.
At every corner, there were guards stationed and more were patrolling as the hours passed. It was impossible to sneak into the castle without alerting the guards to their presence. However, the situation was looking dire for Freya and Merlin, they could not waste time. They only had one option, to enter through the front door.
Even as they approached, the two sentries crossed their pole arms together to bar them from further access. Suspicion was paramount, every last person and ever last movement and detail needed to be taken in and processed, A large group simply attracted too much attention.
"Visitors after hours are strictly prohibited in the castle. Please remove yourself!" One of the guards barked, his eyes cold and suspicious. He leveled a glare at the group, any sort of visitors after hours meant trouble.
Arthur gestured at Merlin, whose head lolled limply as Arthur supported him. "My friend is seriously ill, we seek the court physician, Gauis. Please sir, we mean no harm." Arthur hated to beg but he learned to be humble, especially since he was the one asking favors from the other party.
The guard's glare lessened but the suspicion remained. "He could be drunk for all I know. We can't have every riff-raff bothering the court physician every time they drink too much. I'm sorry but you may not pass."
Lancelot carried Freya in his arms, her pale skin and unkempt condition stood out against the purple bruising along her arms and torso. "If you could pass a message to Gauis, Let him know that Hunith's son is here, also we require aid for this young lady over here. We found her beaten and abused."
The guards hesitated, they could clearly see that the group had no malicious intentions and the fact that a young girl was suffering left them feeling uncomfortable. Compassion won over and one of the guards went to pass the message along. It was a terribly long and awkward wait.
It was five minutes before the guard came back with an elderly man. He walked with speed and purpose, his eyes searching the group even as he approached. He stopped in front of Arthur, his eyes taking in Arthur's face. The situation became awkward when Gauis had yet to lift his gaze from Arthur after a full minute.
"Is something wrong Gauis? Do you know these people?" The gaurds asked, readying his hand on the hilt of his sword to subdue the group if they weren't who they claimed to be. There was a taut tension for a moment before Gauis finally responded.
"Yes." Gauis said slowly. "I can scarcely believe my eye but yes, it has been a while since I've seen some of them." Arthur shifted nervously, he knew he was young when he was taken and raised by Balinor but he didn't expect anyone to recognize him. Gauis had last seen him as a toddler but could discern it was him immediately.
Does this mean Uther would recognize him with one glance also?
Gauis slapped the other guard over the head. "You numbskull. What are you doing with your sword still out. Help me move them to my quarters so I can treat them." The guards hastily sheathed his sword and hurriedly followed Gauis' order. It appeared that Gauis had a bit of pull around here if he could get away with slapping one of the sentry over the head.
"Sorry Gauis but we need to check them first, security and all." Gauis rolled his eyes. "For lord's sake, if they were sorcerers, they would've glamored themselves, confounded you, and snuck past you without you knowing. Now help me before I use you to test my next potion." The grizzly guard paled and hurried to help Arthur, he did not want to be the test dummy for Gauis' new concoctions; they were legendary for their humiliating side effects.
Gauis pried open Merlin's eyelid carefully to examine the pupil. The dilation of the pupil in response to the light was slow. "He most likely had too much to drink and over exerted himself, all he needs is a infusion of wormwood and that'll help him regain his senses." The elderly physician turned his attention to Freya. Her injuries were much more serious than Merlin's ailment. It appear that she had been subjected to a constant magical drain on her core, her magic was severely damaged.
He whisked around and went to his cupboard where a reddish grey potion was stored. Grey tendrils moved through the murky liquid as if alive. Arthur stiffened, he recognized that particular potion. It was commonly given to young sorcerers who have strained their magic too severely while attempting to expand their magic reserves. He had to take that potion for a week straight after he foolishly attempted a higher tier incantation, it drained him of his meager reserves before failing miserably.
Gaius tilted the beaker to Freya's mouth, forcing her to swallow the bitter metallic concoction.
Freya shuddered before gagging, she shot upright and started retching. Gaius had expected this and placed a basin in the way of her projectile vomit. "Easy there, I know it taste bad but you have to drink this." She drank it begrudgingly but the color started returning to her cheeks, a definite improvement from her pale pallor.
Fire coursed through her veins and Freya marveled at the warmth that filled the hungering void within her soul. It was so warm and felt safe, lulling her to sleep.
Gauis pulled the potion away from her and stoppered it. "That's enough for you my dear. Your magical core is severely damaged, the Fire potion can only help numb you to the pain so much. This potion is highly addictive and cannot be consumed more than a few mouthfuls a day."
Casting a shrewd look at Gaius, Arthur decided to choose his words carefully. "You know about magic, you know about me. What do you intend to do? Why are you helping us?"
Lancelot and Gwaine stayed silent, they did not understand the full scope of the situation.
"Arthur, I'm an old man. What can I do but to help pass on my knowledge to those around me? I have no intention of hurting anyone, nor do I have any intention of telling Uther the truth." Indeed, the last thing Gaius wanted to do was to re-open old wounds. Uther had taken hard to Arthur's disappearance and sent out search parties for years, butting heads with other Kingdoms by sending armed troops into foreign lands.
It was only when he discovered Morganna did his fanatical search for Arthur cease. He gave up hope, that Arthur was alive, and focused his attentions on Morgana. Even when Morgana's Magical abilities manifested, Uther forced himself to change his stance on magic to protect her.
A knock on the door had everyone on alert, it was a courier. "Gaius, Morgana is on her way here for a sleeping draught, please prepare one for her." Gaius cursed under his breathe, the last thing he needed was these bands of misfits to come to the attention of Uther. They were mostly healed and needed no further treatment.
He stoppered a few vials of the Fire Potion and handed it to Lancelot, the most reasonable looking of the group. "Two Vials a day for three days. That should be more than enough to treat the damage to her core from over time. Now scram before you get caught."
Arthur pulled Merlin to his feet, "Thank you Gaius." Indeed, the old physician was not duty bound to help them and if Uther discovered that he was holding back knowledge of his continued existence, the death penalty would be the last of the old physician's worries.
"Go, you have a nice group of friends there, you should stay in touch, one can never have too many friends." Gaius chided as he peered intently at Merlin. Will the young lad awaken his Dragonlord abilities? It is his birthright and even with Balinor still alive, the powers tend to manifest over time.
The group exited, the creaky door closing and leaving him in choking silence. Gaius headed over to his lab and started preparing a sleeping draught, his body moving on auto-pilot as years of experience as his mind wandered. Meeting Arthur was something he never expected to happen in his lifetime. He had suspected Balinor to be the one to take Arthur away and he seemed to have done quite well at raising the young prince into a respectable lad.
Arthur had clear eyes, a straight posture, someone of confidence with noble values. It really lead him to wonder how Merlin would have turned out under the guidance of his father. It was a pity the lad was not awake, he really would have liked to speak to the young man and guide him. Last he heard, he was undertaking an apprenticeship as a blacksmith in the Capital of Escetia.
There was a polite knock on the door before it opened without hesitation. Princess Morgana has frequented enough times for her sleeping draft to be comfortable. She had a dark dress on, no doubt chosen to stand out in the light glow of the moon. "Gaius, I fear I need to trouble you for a sleeping draft again, my visions are getting stronger. Someone has arrived here in Camelot and my gifts are going haywire, I'm seeing random flashes of the future but it is regarding people who I have never met." To see but not understand, it's maddening.
Gaius nearly let slip the flask from his fingers that he had been concocting the potion in. Was there something about Arthur and Merlin that called out to Morgana's innate seer abilities? Gaius smooth out any expressions of surprises, "Was there anything special that you saw them doing?"
Morgana huffed and crossed her arms. "Not really. It was more of faces and places I haven't seen. Also, one of them had Father's crown for some reason. Could they be insurgents?" she asked petulantly. Not being able to control her seer abilities really was a set back.
Gaius handed her the flask, "A very unlikely event. Uther will die before he let's anyone take his crown."
Morgana took a sip and smiled brightly, "Very true I suppose. Thank you for the brew Gaius, just enough honey to hide the bitterness." Gaius bowed slightly, "Well off you go girl, Don't stay the halls too late."
Morgana closed the door behind after she left and Gaius sat down with a weary sigh. He was getting too old for all the half-truths that he had to tell and conceal.
Arthur, Lancelot, and Gwaine were carrying Freya and Merlin out when they crossed the great hall, something glittering the the soft moonlight made Arthur stop. "What's the matter?" Gwaine asked curiously as he tried peering over Arthur's shoulder. A moment later, he found himself catching a limp Merlin that Arthur had pushed into his arms. "You two go ahead first and leave, I need to see something." Arthur ordered as he continued looking into the great hall.
Lancelot and Gwaine shrugged and set off to leave. Arthur made sure the sound of their shuffling footsteps faded before he entered the great hall. It was rather impressive, with paintings and sculptures decorating the room. What really caught his attention was a golden crown, inlaid with small but beautiful sapphire and ruby gems, sitting on the throne.
Arthur was surprised to see no guards in the immediate vicinity but he doubt that anyone had the balls to steal the crown. He had no delusions as to his heritage. Balinor never hid the truth from him, he knew that his name is Arthur Pendragon, heir of the Kingdom of Camelot. What would his life had been like if not for Balinor? Would he have grown up to be a spoiled and arrogant pomp?
His fingers brushed against the crown and he was filled with a tempting desire to wear the crown and try it. It is his birthright either way he mused. Tentatively, he lifted the crown and set it on his head, waiting for some sort of epiphany or profound revelation from wearing the crown.
Nothing.
"You, what are you doing with the King's Crown? GUARDS! WE HAVE AN INTRUDER, SEIZE HIM!"
Arthur froze when he heard the voice from behind him, his hands shook at the idea of being caught and discovered, Fight or Flight? Fight or Flight? Before he knew what was going on, he found himself tearing through the hall through a a side exit.
Well, Flight it is.
Unfortunately, he forgot to remove the crown. He snatched the offending object off his head and put on the hood of his travel cloak to conceal his features. The clunking and clattering footsteps were drawing closer, he glanced side way out the window. A good fifteen feet drop, won't kill him but it will hurt. He grit his teeth and jumped out, tucking in his knees to brace for impact. Landing on his feet, he quickly pushed forward in a roll to disperse the stress on his legs.
Then he took off running to the tavern, the crown an unintended souvenir from his little trip.
Morgana huffed after she finished berating the Guards. They had failed to guard the Great Hall where the King kept his crown. She was on her way back to the room when she saw a stranger, placing the crown on his head.
She didn't get a good look at his features before he bolted and even now, the guards couldn't locate the thief. It was a bit challenging since they had no description for who to look for.
"Incompetence." She muttered.
"Indeed."
Morgana spun around in surprise. "Father! What are you doing up?"
Uther pinned her with a hard look. "The question Morgana, is why are you up in the middle of the night? If the Thief had came across you, you could be injured or killed! The crown is a trivial matter! You cannot be replaced, you know that Morgana. Why did you put yourself at risk?"
Morgana flushed at the scolding, "I was having troubles with my dreams and asked Gaius for a sleeping draught. I saw the thief on the way back to my chambers and called for the guards."
"Seal the castle and search every room! If the thief is still here, they might target Princess Morgana! I want no room left unsearched! Go!"
At his orders, hundreds of guards saluted and went to search. "Yes your Majesty!"
Uther was starting to fuss over her again, something she did not like but accepted. She knew that her brother, Arthur, was kidnapped when he was young and Uther took it hard. Now he took it upon himself to never let anything like that happen to her. For heaven's sake, he wouldn't even let her go hunting the his private forest.
"Father, I'll retire for the night if that is permitted by you."
Uther motioned to a company of guards, "Of course Morganna." He turned to the dozen or so guards, "You will keep watch outside of the Princess' chambers. If anyone tries to enter, kill them first, ask questions later."
The entire contingent went down on one knee and crossed one arm across their chest in a salute. "Yes. Your Majesty!"
Morgana sighed, sometimes it sucked being a princess with an over protective father.
Arthur made it back to the tavern, well the part of it that had rooms. He had circled around town a few times to lose any pursuers as a precaution, the last thing he needed was to get caught because of some sloppy rookie mistake like heading directly to where he would be staying.
Lancelot was the only one still awake when he arrived. Freya had curled up next to Merlin and Gwaine passed out sitting on a chair. Arthur set the crown down on the table. Arthur sighed at Lancelot's inquiring gaze, "It's complicated."
The young man frowned slightly in displeasure. "I would hope so because it appears to me, you have stolen something of great value. I doubt Uther would leave it alone. Do you wish to return it?"
Arthur snorted and sat back on the rickety chair, his eyes stormy. "That's just asking to have my hands chopped off if I'm lucky. They'll execute me for stealing most likely."
Lancelot nodded, "Well, I understand that you are a practitioner of magic. What exactly is your stance regarding Uther? I am only asking this because what you want, might differ and clash directly against my hopes and dreams. I intend to become a Knight."
"A knight?" Arthur spluttered. Lancelot crossed his fingers together, "I have always dreamed of being a noble and honorable Knight. Camelot is my home and I wish to be one that defends it." Arthur knew the laws and traditions of Camelot, heavily tutored in them. "Only those from the noble families can be knights. You only ..."
"I'm only a farmer's son right? Knighthood is impossible for a peasant like me?" Lancelot finished bitterly. "There are more than one way to attain Knighthood. Either through a great act of valor and bravery or a battlefield promotion. However, there is a third option and lesser known option: The Anti-Magic Force."
The blood drained from Arthur's face. "You mean the task force that is trained to take down magical creatures and fight against sorcerers?" Lancelot nodded, "This is why I'm asking you whether or not our dreams and goals will come into conflict. I can see that you are a good person, I don't want to be the one to hunt you down."
Arthur felt stricken, if only Lancelot knew of the things he was learning or the company he kept. "Well, I certainly don't intend to abuse magic and harm innocent people if that is what you mean. but Magic already has become an integral part of my life, I am not willing to give it up. However, I will promise you this. You are my friend and as far as friends go, we will always have each other's back."
Arthur held out his hand, "Friends?"
Lancelot took his own and shook it. "Friends."
Lancelot could feel it, Arthur was someone special. Couldn't hurt having friends in all the right places.
A/N: Took a while but finally update, I will go into the tournament in depth now. Hopefully this cleared up the crazy adventures, it spanned our further than I'd like it to be but it covered a lot of new information.
There is a new Merlin story I just had to get out of my head.
So look froward to my next update and my new story that will be posted soon.
Evelsaint out.