Hello everyone
So this is it, the last chapter ^^ it is a bit longer than the other one so sorry for the delay!
I want to thank all those who have followed me on this fic and who have left reviews; so a huge thanks to : TeganL74 ; readernurse FranGipani6181 shell22; Corey YoungBlood April29Roses MadaMag Said The Liar 13 vampydarkangel AngelKayls RoXi; noname; dddead; pinkbladeanime; Stellina73 lele-35 ; Seansey and even the 'guests' ! (hope I forgot anyone)
Also thanks to the followers and those who haveput my story in favorites, and all those who haveread anyway.
I stop bothering you and I leave you to read. Just a little advice:read (again) the very first chapter for a better understanding ;Op
Enjoy ^^
Chapter 17.
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- "What did you do? Oh no...what did you do?!"
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Merlin stared at his friend in the eyes; his breathing was hurting but not as much as the terrifying sensation which whispered that Arthur had committed the irreparable.
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- "Take a deep breath Merlin, calm down! You're going to feel faint if you keep this up...
- I didn't intend to calm me down! Tell me what you did!
- I've saved your life ... and I think it is worth a thank you, don't you think?
- No!You traded your soul for mine, isn't it?
- Don't be ridiculous Merlin. I exchanged...the stick...for your life;... because it's not worth much more than that..."The King smirked, smiling with a falsely indifferent look.
- "Lie! He would never have accepted that... And why are you so frozen then?
- I remind you that we are in December... the coldest month of the year? Does that ring a bell for you? This potion could not damage your brain more than it already is anyway ...
- Stop this rubbish, will you! You're frozen! Just as I was when this Ankou touched me the first time and marked my soul...!"
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Arthur did not answer this time and swerved his gaze from the horrified eyes of his servant; he got up to go in the opposite direction to their horses.
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- "How could you do such a stupid thing?" Merlin yelled so angry and desperate.
- "I beg your pardon?!" The blond was awkwardly indignant, continuing on his way, carefully avoiding looking in the direction of his friend who followed him, out of him.
- "You are King!You have a duty to your people! How could you abandon them like that!I thought Camelot came first...?
- Enough Merlin!" Arthur shouted, stopping short this time, really irritated by the words of his servant. "I did what was right! My people will be able to spend to the day 'tomorrow'! And their will survive! This Ankou will not return to 'collect' the souls in my kingdom... You are no longer in danger... and that's the main thing... Now let's go back home!"
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And the young Sovereign went on his way with a firm step without a glance at Merlin who had stopped, sadly still behind him.
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The return journey was in an exasperating silence. Arthur had ridden quickly, sure to take a step ahead of his friend's horse with the simple aim that they do not end up side by side. There is no risk for Merlin anymore, he had no need of constant supervision lest he die at any time.
The sun began to fade behind the misty horizon of the late afternoon when the two riders finally saw the walls of Camelot's citadel.
Once in the great royal court of the palace, the King quickly dismounted from his horse and walked towards the entrance stairs without looking back. There is no way he could defy the eyes of his friend. He knew that his servant could feel; he knew that his friend had understood what he had done, his sacrifice. But he could not confront him, his pain, his despair. He had not saved him to see him suffer, even if it was morally this time. He really preferred to flee rather than seeing once more the overwhelmed and despondent look on this bruised face. And the fact to ignore him was perhaps unfair, but it was for the moment the only solution to his own uneasiness.
Merlin was torn between the desire to scream of despair or cry of anger. Seeing Arthur rush up the stairs of the palace without even throw him a look, he realized how painful it was to wait that the death comes seeking a loved one without he cannot do anything. He had a lump in his throat and a knot in his stomach which greatly accentuated his guilt and helplessness. He dismounted his horse as well and stood at the foot of the stairs.
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- "Arthur!" He cried with the simple aim of having a slightest attention of his friend.
- "I let you go free for the evening Merlin, go about your business." The King said with an indifferent tone, not deigning even looking back.
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And he disappeared behind the great door of the castle.
The young warlock stood in the courtyard for several minutes, desperate, looking at those abandoned steps and this empty door. He could never find his way to accept that Arthur will die. There were only a few hours left and he had to use it wisely.
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The young Sovereign had crossed hallways and corridors hurriedly, as if the fact of running could prevent the guilt catching him up. When he realized that he was in fact alone, that nobody followed him, that Merlin was not behind him, as he was usually, he stopped, short of breath. He put his hand on the pillar on the left of the path that get him to his apartment, preventing the discomfort of his body seemed to feel. He then let go against the impassive cold wall behind him, rest his head on it and looked up at the high ceiling in search of comfort, sighing loudly. After these same nightmarish days, he managed to save his friend, restarted the course of time and prevented this spectre to take advantage of his people, then why did it feel so wrong?
He was interrupted in his thoughts when graceful steps sounded not far from him. He then turned his head to see Guinevere move inversely with his own start walking.
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- "Arthur? You seem anxious? What's going on? Where is Merlin?" She asked for her king, seeing him alone, and extremely pale.
- "He is ...he's okay!" He breathed with a half-measure smiling.
- "I saw you both leave this morning, without a word from you ...
- Yes I'm sorry Gwen ...
- You don't have to apologize. But I was terribly worried. Did you hear about the deaths in the lower town, this morning? ... Some think that it is the sorcerer you have met in the cave yesterday, which is responsible for the death of the peasants… just by touching them ...it's crazy! I was terrified that something happens to you or ... Merlin! This man touched him yesterday and I was afraid that the same thing that had happened to the villagers happens to him…
- This 'sorcerer' will cause no more problems...to anyone! I...took care of him and Merlin is ... out of danger...
- Why do you look so sad, then?
- You do not look yourself in great shape Gwen..." Arthur said expressly, trying to evade the question.
- "No indeed. I was in the company of that woman who lost her husband this morning. She needed comfort, and I felt responsible to support her in this adversity ...
- You have a great heart Guinevere...don't change that." The King whispered, caressing her cold cheek.
- "I realized then how important it was to enjoy the people you love the most, seize the moment…before something bad surprises us and takes them away forever ..."
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On this remark, things fell into place for Arthur. He looked intensely at the young woman in her eye and took her by the hand to bring her to his bedroom door, just few steps away now.
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- "Arthur? What are you doing?" His friend asked then, surprised.
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The King stopped, his hand on the handle, the other in the back of his lover, approaching her closer to him. He kissed her passionately, opening the door of his apartment before pulling her inside with him.
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- "I... seize the moment!" He shouted impetuously, embracing her a second time, before closing the door behind them.
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Merlin took the way back to his mentor's laboratory with a weary step. Opening the wooden door, he discovered Gaius sat on a bench, flipping a book briefly, as he used to do when he had to wait for him of an uncertain return; a way as another for an old man to calm his growing concern.
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- "Merlin, my boy, where the hell have you been?" The physician hastened, rising and taking the young man in his arms for a big hug.
- "With Arthur... we went after the 'sorcerer' ...
- I was terribly worried, are you alright?
- I'm not sure." The young man replied, watery eyes. "He has ... he will...
- Sit down, will you! You're going to collapse..." The guardian launched taking his ward by the arm to sit him on the little bench near them. "What happened?
- It's a long story but in short Gaius, Arthur has sacrificed his life ... for me ...
- What?
- He traded his soul against mine...
- I don't understand Merlin, what are you talking about. What do you mean 'trade his souls'? what ...
- I can't explain right now, but I need to find a way to save Arthur, and I only have a few hours to figure it out..." The boy wizard said, lifting up suddenly from his seat as if a light had come on in his brain. "I gotta go..." He finished, going expressly through the apartment's door in the other direction.
- "Merlin?" The old man inquired, looking perplexed his pupil leave again, without further explanation to reassure him.
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The young wizard had left the citadel and now ran into the woods under a full moon, spontaneous and authentic lighting in this vicious wood. He strolled about breathlessly, regardless of the twigs which brushed against his face or the natural traps that could offer a forest so dense. It is when he judged to be far enough in the running that he recited, screaming this call, the invitation for his biggest help. « O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd 'hup' anankes… »
He then stopped in the clearing which he knew too well, waiting for the arrival of this much-desired special friend. He did not wait long before the artificial wind produced by large wings ruffles his hair and stings the eyes. The dragon then landed in front of Merlin, making the earth tremble beneath his weight. Kilgharrah looked the young man straight in the eye, knowing that the last dragon lord needed his help.
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- "To what do I owe this 'pleasure' young warlock?!" The cavernous voice of the creature muttered.
- "Arthur ...he is in danger...
- Dare I say that it becomes a habit with him?!
- But this time it was to protect me... it's because of me!
- This is not surprising either...
- There's this... this Ankou… collector of souls who targeted me. Then Arthur broke his stick which he used to control the time and we fell into a sort of time loop where I die at the end of each damn day. And there was only magic to reforge the scepter and… Arthur, he tried to repair the stick alone and..." Merlin couldn't stop, the story consuming him from the inside.
- "What's your point, young warlock?" The dragon growled, a bit lost in the story of his friend.
- "He redeemed my life against his! To save me... Arthur sacrificed himself... and he has only a few hours left before this spectre come get his soul! ... I need your help!
- Arthur sacrificed himself for you, huh? And has agreed to use magic? The young King makes his rise to his destiny ...
- I can't let him die…" Merlin then yelled at the edge of the fit of sobbing.
- "Indeed!
- So help me!
- If I'm not mistaken, young warlock, you said that the Ankou had a stick which he used to control the time?
- Yes…
- This is the answer to your problem then!
- I don't understand... what answer? I can't unsettle the time once again...
- No ... but you're a great sorcerer... and you can use the scepter to your advantage...
- How?
- Control it and make sure that neither you nor Arthur are in danger ...
- You want me to steal the scepter from Ankou and use it with my powers?
- It is indeed the most efficient way, young warlock!
- But how do I do that?
- You have the power in you; it will not be difficult for you to use it!"
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And Kilgharrah leaned on his huge legs before taking off under Merlin's stunned eyes. The latter took a step back when the squall staggered him. He remained uncertainty few seconds in the middle of the quiet clearing and then turned back towards the castle. It was late, and his getaway in the woods had largely eroded hours that separated from the next day, which announced horribly.
He arrived in the great royal court a second time, completely out of breath. He turned his head towards the sky, the stars slowly disappeared, and the dark blue defining the night faded gradually into a lighter shade. Merlin hastened and climbed the steps of the citadel with gusto. He ran through the corridors to finally stop in front of the large desired wooden door.
Without further precautions to announce him, the young wizard pushed the heavy door entrance as he used to do and found himself in the royal chamber under the inquisitive and surprised eyes of Arthur... and Guinevere's. 'Oh my god.' Merlin turned round, his cheeks flushed before this embarrassing situation.
The young Sovereign instantly sat up in bed when he heard his door open in a crash while Gwen had brought blankets on her to hide in shame.
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- "Merlin!" the King shouted, pulling his pants on to move towards the young man, always back from the bed. "But what the hell are you doing here?
- Uh...I'm your manservant so I regularly come here ..." Replied Merlin, couldn't broach the subject of 'imminent death' in front of Guinevere.
- "Can you not knock at the door like everyone else!?" Arthur shouted in his servant's ear, pulling him by the arm to take him out of the room.
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They both found themselves face to face in the hallway in front of the royal apartments, behind the closed door. Merlin showed indisputably a smirk, mixed with mischievous eyes under eyebrows raised falsely confused when Arthur gave him a killer look.
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- "What?" The King then said before the face of false wisdom of his servant.
- "I see you found some comfort... Sire...
- Removes that expression on your stone marten face Merlin or I'm gonna make you swallow that sugary smile of yours!
- No, that's great, I'm very happy for you ...
- Stop it! I do not need your encouragement!"
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Merlin pouted astonishment, pretending not to understand why his friend seemed so embarrassed.
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- "This was the last night I have and I have to spend it with the people who are the most dear to me ..."
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And the gloomy reality struck Merlin in the face. He lost his smile and his complexion became extremely pale.
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- "I intended to come to you, and Gaius also... of course." The king continued, seeing the apathetic face of his friend. "But I needed to think... and then I met Gwen in the hallway and...
- Spare me the details... please." The young warlock replied who cut his Sovereign with a forced smile.
- "Look, it was unfair to ignore you earlier but you can't do anything for me anymore. I know it is hard to accept it but I made my choice and I am at peace with that choice..." Arthur said gently, staring at Merlin who had lowered his head.
- "But not me!" The boy wizard replied, his eyes back to those of his friend. "Camelot needs you, Gwen needs you and I... I can't let you die ...
- But you will! There is nothing more to do ...
- Yes! I can still save you ...
- I forbid you to try anything Merlin! It's too risky! I have not done all that to get you in danger again ..."
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The servant knew perfectly well that when his friend had that tone or that clearly expressed his affection for him, was that the situation was desperate and critical in his eyes.
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- "You know very well that I'll not listen to you, I will find a way ..." The young serving boy muttered, a decided grin on his angel face.
- "And I can't let you do that Merlin." Arthur then launched sadly watching the first rays of sun appear in the long corridor. "It's time." He said, laying his hand on his belt in search of the desired object, sticking at his decision and leaving no more time to this loyal idiot to find a way to save him, then putting him out of danger. "But Ankou not choose how I die ...I can still decide of that..." And he pulled out rapidly the small dagger attached to the strap of his pants and stuck it directly into his abdomen. "Forgive me Merlin."
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The young wizard was caught off guard. In no case he would have thought that his friend would make a gesture like this. He knew that the time would come, but not so soon. He just had the time to open his arms to hold the fall of his king.
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- "NO!
- Take care of Guinevere, please!" The young Sovereign whispered, blood starting to flow gently to his mouth.
- "Arthur !
- It was an honor to have you by my side, Merlin ..." He finally closed his eyes.
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The servant hugged his friend even harder when he felt that his body was released inexorably.
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Tears rolled down his cheeks excruciatingly and all his body was taken with tremors. He was not ready; he didn't know what to do. He was notprepared,not now. When he heard footsteps approach the door, in Arthur's room, he turned his head and uttered a 'Ferbectoh falès!' condemning Guinevere to be imprisoned in the royal apartments, preventing her to contemplate this nightmare.
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- "Arthur? Merlin? What's going on?" She asked behind the wooden opening door which wouldn't give way under his fingers. "I heard screaming!
- Stay inside Gwen, don't worry, it's going to be ok…" The young man said, gasping voice, filled with tears.
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He did not hear the replica of the young woman because exasperating gnashing rang in his ears. He then turned his head and saw the spectre down the hall, pulling his cart like a ghost.
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- "I see that the King could not wait to end our agreement!" Ankou launched only a few steps from the two young men.
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Merlin remained silent and waited until the individual is close enough, clenching teeth in every inch that the old cart roamed.
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- "How touching it is to see a servant so devoted to his master..." Continued the living-dead seeing many tears dripping on the servant's white cheeks.
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Merlin tried to stay calm, but his breathing betrayed his anxiety.
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- "The young Pandragon had the same look in his eyes when you died too... every time ... it's funny!" The collector of souls sneered, so close to them now. "It is interesting to see how a servant and a King can be so different and so close at the same time... we could almost believe that your souls were connected in someway! What a shame that this 'connection' is broken ... he was so young!" He smirked placing his hand over the mouth of Arthur.
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Merlin saw with horror a small blue light getting out gently from the lips of his friend.
He clenched his fists, turned hastily, dropping the lifeless body of Arthur, and with a skillful act, grabbed the stick without touching the Ankou before moving away quickly from the scene.
The spectre straightened viciously, the blue light then returned in the body of the King.
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- "What do you think you're doing boy, you are perhaps a sorcerer but you have not the power to use my scepter against me ...you're just a poor servant with very limited magical powers.
- I'm Emrys and I think you might be surprised!" Merlin said by raising the stick above his head.
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Hearing the familiar name, Ankou lost all his arrogance. He could even read the fear on his blackened lips.
Merlin had not even needed an incantation, drawing his power of his will and his fear of losing Arthur shook the scepter in his hands. His eyes then took a golden flamboyant yellow color and he could not control his power anymore; a blinding white light came out of the stone on top of the stick and encompassed the corridor and the men who were there.
Then nothing more.
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- "If you had the ability to find it would be only a semblance of your indiscernible brain Merlin, you would know that a single man faced with a herd of boars is not an equitable battle and that the chance of getting out alive are very limited!"
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Merlin opened his eyes to the sound of the familiar voice, he was standing next to Arthur, standing too ... he spoke, he was alive.
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- "And yes, I said one man, just one: me, because I do not really count you as a man actually Merlin, rather like a millstone …" The King said, overtaking his companion not without pushing him with his shoulder.
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The young warlock did not move. He remained motionless. He looked around him. They were in a cave. A cavern. Strangely familiar, just as the words of his friend.
In fact they were in the cave, that of the Ankou, where it all began. They had gone back in time, when everything had tipped over. Before that the specter touches him. He did it. Neither he nor Arthur was condemned, he was able to control the stick and overpowered the time to return to the starting point. Arthur visibly did not remember anything about what had happened ...maybe it was better this way.
When the King didn't hear his servant's reply to his falsely abusive tirade, he turned round with disdain in order to understand this unexpected silence. But he found himself face to face with a destroyed face. His red eyes contrasted terribly with his pale complexion. His cheeks were completely covered with dry tears. He was standing but not moving, he was horribly static and silent.
The Sovereign then hastened to return alongside his friend, losing his sarcastic smile, replacing it with an expression of intense anxiety.
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- "Merlin? What's wrong?
- We have to leave this place!" The servant replied in a broken voice, carefully scrutinizing the bottom of the cave now.
- "What? We should wait a little longer that the pack of hounds of boars is completely moving away.
- No, we must go ...right now!" And Merlin grabbed the arm of his King to pull him out.
- "And would you be kind enough to tell me why we should go out of a place to the shelter like that one, to go back under this glacial rain with boars who think only of shredding us alive?"
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Merlin did not answer, he just planted his distressed look in Arthur's. The latter frowned but abdicated in front of these eyes that he could not resist, following his friend puzzled.
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- "You don't look so good Merlin; and it hurts me to say it, but you worry me!
- You don't have to be, Sire, I'm fine ..." He said out of the cave. "Maybe just a cold due to the weather..." He lied intentionally to justify his physical condition.
- "Yeah, you're right, it is better to go; otherwise you will be unable to ensure your chores tomorrow!" Arthur muttered, pretending not to be worried at all, but having however an anxious look round to his friend. "Anyway, why this place is so repugnant to you?" He continued to change the subject; looking around to make sure that the wild boars had continued on their way.
- "Uh ... Gaius told me that this cave might be cursed ..." The young man replied, finding just this false story to Arthur gives him up.
- "You believe in this cock - and - bull story Merlin? This cave is like another one...
- And if a…sorcerer had found refuge in there?" The servant asked then to entertain his friend, moving away a little in the forest.
- "He would be hunted, like any other sorcerer! And sorcery is still prohibited in this kingdom for what I know!"
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With these words, Merlin frowned, but he knew that Arthur could change his mind about magic because he himself had tried to confront it, even if he did not remember because he had never lived it yet somehow.
He tried to show a more serene expression on his face, but his skin was still pale in spite of himself. Arthur took this change of behavior as an invitation to their constant bickering, but he was still attentive to the physical condition of his friend.
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- "Do not even try to pretend tobe sick Merlin ... because like every end of a hunting day, even if it has not been successful, you will have what you entertained when you'll be back to the castle. My boots need to be cleaned, my armor needs to be polished, my sword : sharpened, my crossbow needs to be repaired, my clothes : washed, my room must be tidy, not forgetting to groom my horses, take my dogs for a walks…"
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The young warlock made his eternal pout. But while listening to the endless chores Arthur took pleasure to give him, he turned his head towards the entrance of the cave despite him, about fifty yards behind them now. He was not surprised to see the black shroud float from the vagaries of the wind before the entrance of the cave. The individual was staring at them viciously, watching them escape him. Merlin swallowed hard. He had just time to see the spectre turn back and disappear into the darkness of the cave before that Arthur and he take another path, leaving behind them the whole story.
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THE END.
Thank you for readingto the very end!
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When I posted this fic in French I leave a MCQ at the end of the story so well, I'll put it here too
So instead send me a review (you can still get eh, because I looooovvveeeee comments^ ^) you just send me the letter which corresponds (on about) what you think (less restrictive):
So, you found this story:
A - Boring but I read it anyway.
B - It sucks but I dared not say it.
C - I read it only because I had nothing else to do.
D - I loved it; it really looks like an episode.
E - I'd really like an episode like that!
F - You're totally nuts ... but kind of like it ^^
G - If you have another option as writing, chooses the other option!
H - Uh, who is Merlin?
I - None of these proposals argued reviews ^^
Thanks all ... see ya