AU Merlin fic: The Powerless Prince (3)

[dk323]

~ * ~

THE FINAL PART

~ * ~

They ended their journey in the Winter Barrier early the following day. To his dismay, Arthur’s fear came to light.

The whole of Ealdor seemed to be there, waiting for them, judging them. They crowded around them as two of the men came forward – one who had his eye on Arthur and the other swiftly moved to manacle Merlin’s hands. Merlin didn’t resist, he just let himself be restrained. Arthur was worried about what they would do to him.

“What is your business here?” One of the men asked, staring Arthur down. He had brown hair and pale grey eyes. “What are you doing with Balinor’s son?”

Arthur hated the defeated look in Merlin’s eyes. So the villagers knew very well who Merlin was and as Merlin had warned, he was being persecuted – the villagers taking no chances. And his father’s name appeared to be Balinor.

“My name is Arthur. I’m seeking a key to end the plague of afflictions. I’m Pristinely Ungifted.”

The red-haired man who had Merlin restrained widened his eyes. “Why is a Pristinely Ungifted one consorting with a dangerous wizard of the First Order?”

“This Arthur is clearly out of his mind! The wizard has brainwashed him!” A woman in the crowd exclaimed. The rest of the villagers hummed their agreement.

“Merlin didn’t brainwash me. His magic doesn’t affect me,” Arthur defended Merlin while he remained unsettlingly quiet, just standing there with rusty manacles looking a bit lost and hopeless.

“Well he could have found non-magic methods,” the man questioning Arthur said decisively. “For now, we cannot trust you. We don’t know how the wizard has twisted your mind. We will keep you separated.”

“And tomorrow the wizard will be executed as is befitting,” the man who had Merlin said with a satisfied grin.

“No! You can’t!” Arthur said fiercely. “Leave him alone. Can’t you see he’s not fighting back? He’s not like his father. You have to give Merlin a chance.”

“Merlin has not told you, has he?” The grey-eyed man wondered.

Arthur looked to Merlin, silently pleading with him to speak. What was the man on about?

“Merlin, what is it?” Arthur asked him, softly coaxing an answer out of him.

Merlin’s now dull blue eyes pierced Arthur’s. And he finally spoke, “My father is still alive as far as I know. I can’t remember the last six months, but from what I do know, he’s still in exile.”

In all the revelations Arthur had been burdened, this one didn’t seem as surprising.

Arthur nodded to Merlin’s hand, the one with the ring on it. Could Merlin’s father have visited him that night the gremlins came? Without a doubt, that ring had to be a family one and Merlin’s father would be the most logical choice as the ring’s giver.

Merlin looked slightly startled at the ring on his finger. Arthur wasn’t sure how Merlin had missed the ring on his finger. Or had there been so much else going on that the last thing Merlin thought to question was the inexplicable appearance of his family emblem ring on his finger?

“And so,” the grey-eyed man spoke up then, “Balinor’s son Merlin must be punished in his stead. If his father is too cowardly to confront his fate, then he will contend the guilt of knowing his son died because of him.”

Arthur saw Merlin hang his head, ready to accept his fate.

“We should subdue the wizard,” the red-haired man declared.

The grey-eyed man nodded.

Arthur fought, trying to pull away, but the other man was too strong. And anyway, if he ran, he’d have to deal with a whole village coming after him.

“Hold still. We will only want to kill the wizard. When we’re sure you can be trusted, we’ll help you find the key you need.”

“How comforting,” Arthur muttered darkly to himself. “I want to keep my pack. You want to separate me from Merlin, fine, but all I ask is that you not take away my things,” Arthur negotiated.

Merlin’s journal not to mention Falcon was in the pack, and Arthur wanted to keep all that with him. Because he wouldn’t accept Merlin dying here. If Arthur kept the pack, then it was like a good luck charm for him – reassuring him that Merlin wouldn’t die. That they’d get out of this, together, and together they’d save the land.

“Very well,” the grey-eyed man agreed. “I will let you keep your belongings.”

Then he took out a dagger and cut into Arthur’s forearm. Arthur hissed in pain, but the cut wasn’t deep. It was enough though for the wound to bleed.

“Do you have the bracelet, Redmond?” The grey-eyed man asked the red-haired man.

Redmond nodded. “Yes. Should I put it on him?”

“Yes, do it now.”

Arthur realized what they would do. Merlin had told him that his Pristinely Ungifted blood was poison to wizards.

“No, don’t do it. Please don’t,” Arthur spoke urgently. “This is too much.”

But they ignored him.

Redmond put the bracelet around Merlin’s wrist and then the grey-eyed man gave him some of the blood he collected from Arthur in a vial.

After Redmond smeared the blood around the bracelet, the enchanted bracelet glowed a sickly yellow-green colour after the blood seemed to sink into it.

That was when Merlin screamed in such agony that Arthur wanted to rip that bracelet off him. He hated that he was partially to blame for Merlin’s pain. It was Arthur’s blood that was hurting him.

“Merlin, please, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Arthur said in desperation. “You know I would never use my blood against you if I had a choice. I’m sorry for bringing you here, so sorry. Gods. Merlin.”

Merlin didn’t even look at him. He had fallen to the ground, still screaming like he was in the fiery pits of hell itself, and he was clawing at his face.

“Come on,” the grey-eyed man told him. “Give the wizard a strong sedative so he stays quiet. We have our confirmation about the strength of Pristinely Ungifted blood. Let him have his rest,” he directed Redmond.

Arthur was firmly led away, though he still couldn’t resist looking back at Merlin.

Mercifully, Redmond put a cloth over Merlin’s face and Merlin finally stopped screaming himself hoarse. He went limp to the ground, now in the grip of a deep sleep.

Redmond also removed the bracelet, to Arthur’s immense relief. Arthur hoped they wouldn’t put the bracelet on him again.

~ * ~

The next day, Arthur was grim as he followed the grey-eyed man, who had told him his name was Declan, out into the centre of the village where Merlin’s beheading would take place.

He couldn’t see Merlin there yet, but Arthur did see the axe ready and waiting to be used.

His attention was caught by a commotion outside one of the dwellings. A small girl wearing a hooded robe rushed out of her home. Arthur wondered if his eyes were deceiving him, but he was positive he couldn’t see any hair peeking out from the girl’s hood. Maybe the poor girl’s affliction had left her bare-headed?

“Grace, Grace!” Her father called. He looked weary; as if this wasn’t the first time his daughter had run off. “Don’t go too far! Take the special way, avoid the Winter Barrier,” he advised her.

The girl, Grace, looked back and that was when her pale blue eyes looked straight at Arthur.

Arthur noticed the key on a chain around her neck. He was drawn to it, unlike the other keys he’d seen on some of the villagers of Ealdor.

The girl had the key he needed. He could even see it close up in his mind’s eye. A butterfly was engraved on the front of the key.

But then it was too late. The girl ran off to who knew where. Arthur wasn’t sure if he’d be believed if he insisted that the girl had the key he desired. That he needed to find her now.

Yet he needed to save Merlin first. He couldn’t allow Merlin to die.

Unfortunately, Declan made him take a potion that calmed him down a little too well. He felt lethargic and found it too hard to muster up the movement to get to Merlin and save him. Arthur could only stand there as a blindfolded Merlin was put on the block and an axe cut off his head.

Merlin was dead.

Arthur stared despondently, horror taking hold of him, as he watched Merlin’s head roll down on to the ground.

Then he saw a man about his age some feet ahead of him, set apart from the crowd. No one but Arthur appeared to see him, so the mystery man must have been under an invisibility spell. He had dark hair and green eyes, green eyes that reminded of his mother actually. Could this be Mordred, the one Merlin told him about? His mother’s natural born son?

The man nodded at Arthur, and then he disappeared.

Arthur felt the earth below him shift and then his surroundings blurred and faded away. He was being pulled backwards.

~ * ~

Arthur woke up to find himself just outside of the Winter Barrier. Merlin was sleeping, head intact, and looking – well – not dead, so that alone relieved Arthur. He assumed that time must have rewound if they were back to where they had been a few days ago. And it was all thanks to the man who could have been Mordred. Maybe he’d see him again.

He attempted to get Merlin to wake up, but he remained fast asleep. Arthur bit his lip, but then his attention was diverted by a Faery flying in front of him. One who had a golden coronet on his head.

“Hello, I’m Pip, one of the princes of the Faery kingdom,” the Faery greeted him. “I have someone I think you want to see.”

“What happened? Did time rewind?” Arthur wanted to know. Then he realised he should at least introduce himself. “I’m Arthur, by the way.”

Pip nodded. “That was Mordred’s doing. He’s a good friend of Merlin’s and he wouldn’t let him die.”

“I wish I could thank him,” Arthur said.

“Oh he knows you’re grateful. Don’t worry. I expect Merlin won’t be too happy that Mordred took such a big risk.”

“I remember my mother telling me rewinding time is a dangerous spell. That’s why it’s rarely done,” Arthur recalled.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Who do you want me to see?” Arthur asked.

“You can come out now, Grace,” Pip told her.

Arthur couldn’t resist flashing a grateful grin. First Merlin was alive, now he would be able to get the key. Everything was coming together.

The little girl, Grace, approached him with a shy smile.

“Pip told me you needed my key because you’re the Pristinely Ungifted one and you can rid the land of afflictions.”

“Yes. He’s right. You know Pip?”

The girl shook her head. “Not very well.”

“We’ve just met,” Pip spoke up.

Grace blushed a little. “I hope you succeed. I hate my affliction,” she said passionately.

“What is it, if I may ask?” Arthur wondered. Was it just that she was without hair on her head?

She took a deep breath, looking toward Pip as if she could gain courage from the Faery prince.

Grace put down her hood. Arthur was horrified to see that she wasn’t just bare-headed, but half her skull was exposed. He could see the right side of her brain easily.

“I can live even with this problem, but it still doesn’t look nice. That’s why I wear my hood. I wish I had hair to cover it…” she said plaintively.

She sighed and put her hood back up.

“I promise you that I’ll end the afflictions and you’ll be cured,” Arthur assured her fiercely.

“Thank you,” Grace said. Then she removed the chain with the key on it from her neck. “Here’s the key,” and she gave it to Arthur.

Arthur nodded to her and smiled. He took the key off the chain and returned the chain to her. “Thanks for coming to me.”

Grace looked happy. “You’re welcome. I should return home. My father always worries about me,” she told him, her expression turning into a rather guilty one.

“Goodbye Arthur,” Pip called back to him as he used his Faery magic to transport Grace and himself to Ealdor.

It was after they’d left that Arthur wondered if he should have asked Pip about what to do with the key. But he had discovered the right key by his senses alone, so he should just trust his instincts again.

What was he meant to do with key?

He looked over at Merlin who was still asleep.

Nothing was coming to him. Maybe he should try to wake up Merlin again so he could help him out?

Arthur was grateful that he still had his pack with him complete with Merlin’s journal. If Merlin would just read that, then he could discuss this properly with him.

He was about to rouse Merlin awake when he was prevented from doing that. A man had grabbed a hold of him and pressed a sharp knife to Arthur’s throat.

Arthur gripped the key in his hand tightly like it was his lifeline.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Arthur demanded, trying his best not to panic.

“Rufus, wizard of the First Order. Merlin knows me well, knows how I like to inflict pain on others due to my affliction. Actually, little Merlin here is intimately familiar with my affliction,” he said with relish.

Arthur elbowed him in the gut, forcing Rufus back and away from him.

Arthur quickly turned around to face the wizard, but he was gone. Magically vanished most likely. Damn it.

Then he felt a blade pierce him in the abdomen. He collapsed to the ground, blood leaving him. There was so much blood. Arthur couldn’t look at it or he felt he’d be ill.

“Sorry. Couldn’t leave when the game wasn’t over,” Rufus said with a cold grin.

Arthur looked up at him, his eyes watering. He saw the blade that Rufus held was covered in his blood, Pristinely Ungifted blood.

And if his blood was poison to those of the First Order, then…

Arthur wasn’t able to finish that thought when he saw Merlin wake up. He expected the lack of recognition on his face as Merlin looked at him, but that reaction still hurt. Memory loss was a terrible thing no matter if it was partial or full memory loss.

“Look at that. Merlin has awoken,” Rufus said, amused.

“You can fuck off, Rufus,” Merlin shot back at him with such fierce hatred that it made Arthur flinch.

Then without hesitation, he closed in on Rufus. Arthur guessed that Merlin had slowed down time for a moment. Merlin grabbed the blade covered with Arthur’s blood and viciously stuck it through Rufus’s body.

“You should get your eyes checked. White glow on the blood. Blood which belongs to a Pristinely Ungifted one,” Merlin informed Rufus.

“No…no…they can’t exist…no,” Rufus uttered in disbelief.

Rufus refused to believe it even as Arthur watched his skin start burning and then flaking. It was rather disgusting. Then he was consumed by fire, the wizard’s screams the loudest sound in the area as he died a painful death.

“I knew one day you’d pay for your foolishness,” Merlin muttered to himself, speaking about Rufus.

“Merlin, my blood… it could hurt you too,” Arthur spoke up.

Merlin looked back at him, then he fell down beside Arthur. “Oh no. Who are you? If you’re Pristinely Ungifted, I can’t heal you with my magic…” Merlin said, sounding hopeless and very frustrated.

“I know you can’t. It’s okay. I’ll be okay… I’m Arthur. I haven’t known you for that long, but I still…you were helping me to cure the land…there’s a journal…wait…time rewound…it’s blank now…no…no.”

“Ssssh, don’t speak. You’re wasting energy. I’m sorry I don’t know you as well as you know me.”

Arthur felt his heart break at how sad Merlin sounded about not remembering him.

“…can’t choose…your affliction…” Arthur gasped out, fighting hard to breathe now. “I love you, Merlin.”

“Arthur?” Merlin said, but Arthur had stopped breathing. “Arthur! No. You can’t die!”

“You can’t leave me so soon,” he whispered quietly, hugging Arthur’s body to him.

Silent tears fell down his face but Merlin didn’t have the strength to wipe them away.

Merlin barely knew Arthur yet it was still painful to watch any man die, bleeding out before him, and as a Wizard of the First Order he could do nothing.

Then suddenly eight purple butterflies appeared, and they fluttered over Arthur’s body. Each butterfly glowed with an inner light, which caused Merlin to believe they were magical in nature.

“Are you here to help him?” Merlin asked.

He’d never seen butterflies with healing magic capabilities, but he was desperate for any sign of hope.

The butterflies only flew in a close-knit flock over Arthur’s chest. A tense moment later and Merlin was overwhelmingly relieved to see Arthur breathing again. His chest was going up and down as it should though Arthur slept on. Unfortunately his bleeding wound at the abdomen was still not healed.

~ * ~

“Merlin, we need to fix things,” Mordred told him softly as he sat down beside him. “Maybe the butterflies won’t heal him completely until you get the blood you need for the key.”

Turning to look at Mordred, Merlin was suspicious. Mordred was looking paler than he should be looking. In fact, he looked drained and his hands were trembling.

“What have you done, Mordred? Arthur told me time rewound. Did you have a part in that?” Merlin asked, a tone of accusation in his words.

“You were going to die. I had to stop that. It was a successful spell. I don’t regret doing it one bit. You matter more than me,” Mordred said with such great certainty that it made Merlin angry that Mordred would think so low of himself.

His true mother giving him away instead of raising him herself always left Mordred with a poor perception of himself. After all, if his mother didn’t think he was good enough to keep, then was he really worthy of anything? No matter what Merlin did, Mordred’s unhealthy view of himself was a stubborn beast.

“You rewound time after I died, didn’t you?” Merlin concluded. “That’s when a time rewind works best.”

Mordred nodded.

“The balance must be restored. Mordred…” Merlin said with a weary sigh.

“I know. I’m going to die. I’m glad I’ll die knowing that I saved your life. You don’t have to be upset, Merlin. I’m okay. I knew what would happen before I did the spell. But now we need the key to cure the land.”

Merlin still gave Mordred a hard, displeased look; but let him change the subject.

“The key is in his hand,” Merlin said. He went to take the key from Arthur’s hand.

“The key has to be covered with his blood. Do you have anything to protect your hands?” Mordred asked.

Merlin eyed the pack. “Maybe, in there…” he decided.

He opened up the pack and took out the journal Arthur told him about. Merlin remembered Mystra giving it to him. He pulled out a stuffed Merlin falcon toy. He admired the look of the bird. Impressive, he thought.

He set the bird aside too. Then he found what he could use for his hands. Dark red mittens with a falcon on each mitten.

Merlin changed them into gloves so they’d be easier to grasp the key.

Gloves protecting his hands from the poisonous Pristinely Ungifted blood, Merlin set about the unhappy task of covering the key with Arthur’s blood. It wasn’t difficult to do as the key was small and there was so much blood coming from Arthur and pooling around him. The sight made Merlin sick and want to cry.

Arthur couldn’t die.

Once the key was completely coated with blood, Merlin was relieved to see the miracle-making butterflies heal Arthur’s wound.

Merlin didn’t know how these magical creatures were healing Arthur when no magic should work on him. But he was grateful all the same for their appearance and desire to help him when Merlin could not. As soon as they finished healing Arthur, the butterflies vanished just as mysteriously as they had appeared.

He looked to Mordred. “Do you know where to put the key?”

“There’s a black circle with a white phoenix in its centre in front of you,” Mordred told him.

Merlin looked at the spot Mordred was pointing to. He only saw grass.

“It’s only something you can see, I’m guessing. With your black and white vision.”

Mordred nodded. “But the trick is you need to stick the key into the phoenix. Not me. So I need to make you see it. I have a spell. It can be reversed, but not for me of course because afflictions are pains like that,” he said. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“I have to see like you?” Merlin repeated, curious to see the world from Mordred’s perspective, but anxious to be deprived of seeing colours even for a short span of time.

“Only for a few moments. It won’t be too bad. I’ve survived it.”

Mordred pressed his fingers to Merlin’s brow and said a few words in the Old Tongue.

And then Merlin saw everything differently. Everything was a careful mix of black and white. Arthur was mostly white in colour due to his fair skin and blond hair, but his clothing was mostly dark with touches of white. Mordred’s hair was a pure black with his skin a very white colour.

Merlin almost wanted to laugh because this was such a bizarre experience.

“Do you see it?” Mordred asked him after Merlin got oriented.

Merlin looked in front of him, and it was as Mordred had said. There was a black circle with a white phoenix.

“I see it.” Merlin answered him.

He pierced the key into the body of the phoenix. Yet nothing was happening.

The vision spell reversed on its own as if Merlin’s mind couldn’t bear to be deprived of colour for too long.

All the colours flooding back into the world overwhelmed Merlin. He had to blink a few times to get used to the colours again.

He saw the key was still in the grass. He was unable to see the circle and phoenix now.

“It doesn’t look like it worked,” Merlin voiced, puzzled and upset.

Mordred frowned. Merlin saw that he was looking worse by the minute. Death was coming soon for Mordred. He was shivering and sweating and his expression was one full of misery and pain.

“Mordred, I think…”

“You need me!” A small voice exclaimed, sounding urgent.

“Pip…” Mordred whispered, smiling at the Faery.

“How can you help?” Merlin asked.

“It has to be non-magic and magic blood together on the key,” Pip explained. “Simple. And as a Faery, I’m a purely magical being. Even more so than you First Order wizards.”

“How much of your blood do we need?” Merlin wanted to know, looking at how small Pip was. It looked like all his blood would be necessary to cover the key fully. And Merlin didn’t want the Faery to die.

“Just a little bit of blood. As a tiny magic boost, that’s all. No harm to me,” Pip reassured him. Then he peered over at Mordred. “You don’t look well, Mordred,” he said in concern.

“Don’t mind me. Curing the land is more important,” Mordred said firmly.

Pip frowned, but he flew over to the key regardless. He pricked his finger and let a few drops of blood fall on to the key.

His blood glowed purple while Arthur’s glowed a bright white.

The three of them all heard enchanting, bell-like music. It was the most beautiful sound all of them had ever heard.

The land around them started glowing both white and purple. The two colours mixed together until the glow became a pretty pale purple.

Eventually the glow subsided and the music faded away, leaving them with one last haunting beautiful note.

Merlin looked to Mordred. “Your affliction?” He asked, wanting to know if the key had worked. That the afflictions were gone.

Mordred started blinking, looking around him as if seeing the world for the first time. “Honestly. How do the rest of you get any work done with all these colours around?” He said.

Then he grinned at Merlin and Pip.

Merlin smiled, happier than he’d felt in a while. He couldn’t believe it. The key had worked.

If only Arthur were awake to see it…

Merlin glanced over at Arthur who was still in the grips of a deep slumber.

“What about your memory loss?” Mordred asked him.

Merlin shook his head. “I still don’t remember Arthur properly. To me, the first time I saw him was today when Rufus had attacked him.”

“Rufus! I hate that man,” Mordred said.

“I killed him.”

“Good,” said Mordred, pleased. “Maybe you’ll know your memory loss is gone after sunrise tomorrow. That’s when you forget after all. With the cure in place, tomorrow might be the reverse for you.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I hate having to wait,” Merlin said.

“But you’ll be better. If Mordred is cured, then you should be too,” Pip said confidently.

“I hope so.”

“I think…I can’t hold on any longer,” Mordred whispered. He lay down on the ground, his hand to his sweaty brow.

“Mordred, no… I don’t want you to die… I’m not ready to say goodbye,” Merlin pleaded with him.

He grasped Mordred’s hand while Pip settled below Mordred’s chin.

“Well you have to be ready… there’s little time. I made my choice. Never blame yourself. I couldn’t be happier. Live, Merlin. Okay? Go and see…your…daughter…look after…my…son,” Mordred said, speaking slowly in a bare whisper.

“Yes, I will. I won’t let you down,” Merlin reassured him quickly.

Mordred smiled at him, a peaceful look upon his face as he passed away.

Pip flew to Mordred’s brow and kissed him there. He looked terribly sad.

“I will. I promise you, Mordred. I’ll make sure your son knows how good you were,” he promised out loud again. He hoped Mordred’s ghost would hear him.

“Merlin?”

Merlin turned around.

“Arthur? You’re awake!” Merlin said, pleased to see him up. “The land is cured thanks to the key. I’m hoping by sunrise tomorrow, I won’t have my memory loss and I’ll remember you as I should.”

Arthur smiled, letting Merlin embrace him. Then Arthur noticed the dead man nearby, the dark-haired man he believed to be Mordred. It was a sight he couldn’t bear to see. Healing the land shouldn’t involve someone dying.

“Is Mordred…?” He asked Merlin.

“He paid the price for doing the time rewind spell. He knew the consequences,” Merlin told him quietly.

Arthur sighed. He didn’t even get the chance to thank him for saving Merlin’s life.

Pip spoke then. “It’ll be a new day tomorrow. Everyone will be grateful to you both for what you’ve done.”

“How I am alive though? I was sure I would die,” said Arthur.

Pip answered when Merlin looked at a loss as to how to explain Arthur’s miraculous recovery.

Arthur didn’t miss Pip looking uncertainly at Merlin as if he would take offence to what the Faery prince would say next. “A long time ago, when that wizard of the First Order put more magic than was safe into the land, the Queen of the Faeries raised her concerns to him. Unfortunately the wizard disregarded the Queen’s words and failed to seek a way to undo his actions. Mystra, leader of the First Order…” But Pip was interrupted by Merlin.

“I remember learning that history. Mystra told me and others within the Order about how she wouldn’t stand for those of the First Order to have such a poor relationship with Faeries. She found it an outrage that a wizard would not listen to a high-standing member of Faery society. That was why she ensured that future generations would be taught to respect and listen to the Faeries. That despite their small size, that didn’t mean we should not take them seriously.”

“We have just as much magic, maybe even more powerful, than that of a First Order member,” Pip noted.

Merlin nodded. “A truth sometimes forgotten, but yes.”

“So what does this have to do with me being healed now?”

“The Faery Queen, Clara her name was, desired to do something to aid the Pristinely Ungifted one who would cure the land centuries from her time. She was my ancestor, you see, so I know this story well. She made sure that the innocent soul who would be keeper of the key would live no matter her affliction. This child, Grace, as you know Arthur, lives even if another person with her condition may not have been so lucky. She was able to give you the key you required as a result. As for you, Clara wanted you to live too – to ensure the land is healed, of course, but also afterwards that you would serve as a living reminder to all First Order members that they are not invincible. She didn’t want you dying before your time, but to live a long life instead. With you being Pristinely Ungifted, you force Order members to remember that using their powerful magic won’t protect them every time.”

Arthur glanced sideways at Merlin, wondering what he was thinking about all this. Arthur didn’t like his presence being meant to remind Merlin and others of his kind that they can be just as weak and powerless as anyone else. Well, for someone like that Rufus who had stabbed him, Arthur would have to make an exception. He was not upset at all that his blood led to Rufus dying.

Merlin gave Arthur a small, assuring smile. “It’s okay. I understand why Queen Clara would do such a thing. It’s foolish to believe that no one can hurt you. With all our power, my kind can forget that…but I’m glad you’re here, Arthur. And I’m grateful to have met you, and I hope to remember all the other things we did together.”

“You’re taking this well…” Arthur said, perplexed. “I promise I won’t do anything to hurt you, Merlin,” he assured him.

Merlin rubbed his brow like he had a headache. “Yes. I trust you won’t.” Then he turned his attention to Pip. “So the purple butterflies and your blood glowing purple? That’s all Faery magic, is it?”

“Wait a moment. Butterflies? When did that happen?” Arthur spoke up, confused.

“When you were on the edge of death,” Merlin told him. “Eight butterflies came to heal you. They must have been a part of the Faery Queen’s plan to make sure you live. And Pip gave some of his blood to mix with your blood on the key. The spell to cure the land succeeded thanks to adding Pip’s blood.”

“It was Faery magic,” Pip confirmed. “Other beings may forget that the source of Faery magic is different from that of magic gifted to humankind. Our magic comes from water, an ever-pure source of magic. That’s why Faery magic compliments the magic of a Pristinely Ungifted one. Both magicks are pure in their own way -- Faery magic purified by water and Pristinely Ungifted non-magic purifying most other magicks by stopping their effects. The butterflies were imbued with Faery magic and were able to heal you, Arthur. And also, the Faery magic in my blood cooperated with your blood to bring an end to the afflicted land.”

“So Faery magic can be used on me?” Arthur voiced.

He touched his hazel tree necklace thoughtfully. What if his mother had used Faery magic to make the necklace work on him?

Pip nodded. “There are limitations such as Faery magic cannot cause you ill. Only a positive effect like healing you will work.”

“There’s a chance my mother used such magic to make the hazel tree pendant work on me.”

Arthur showed him his hazel tree pendant. Pip flew up to his neck to inspect it.

“Most likely,” Pip agreed as he took a closer look at the magical pendant. “I don’t know of any other magic that could have an effect on you.”

Arthur was glad to finally know what sort of magic had been behind the pendant. Though now it didn’t make much difference since his mother was dead, the power of the pendant gone as a result. But maybe in the future, the information would be useful. He couldn’t say no to quicker magical healing.

“I need to check on Mordred…” Merlin spoke up, his voice very quiet.

Arthur was worried for him.

He had a feeling Merlin would break. Not even undoing a centuries-old curse on the land could fully take away the grief for the loss of a close friend.

“All right. I’ll still be here. Pip and I will help you with anything you need,” Arthur assured him.

Pip nodded. “Yes. You’re not alone.”

Merlin acknowledged their support with a nod, but he still appeared upset. His earlier happiness felt like so long ago now.

Arthur watched him go over to Mordred and readjust his hands to a position Merlin deemed appropriate.

“Merlin still carries his affliction,” Pip said to Arthur. “Sometimes an affliction can give a person strange side effects like their mood shifting quickly.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Arthur agreed.

He remembered Merlin shunning him after he found his journal to be blank. And then how not long afterwards, Merlin was all too interested in getting intimate with Arthur. “I want to help if I can. He helped me to cure the land, so I will remain to support him.”

“I think you and him are a good match.” Pip commented.

“I think…I really do care for him. I haven’t known him for that long, but being with him, by his side, feels like the best choice I could ever make,” Arthur said sincerely, feeling that he truly meant every word.

Pip smiled. “It’s a nice feeling to have. I wish some day that I would feel the same for another,” he said hopefully. “I believe you’d like to meet your true mother? Queen Ygraine? I work with the First Knight of Camelot, and whenever you are ready I could come with you to see her. It’d be good to enter Camelot with someone like me who is familiar with the kingdom. I know my way around. I’m sure you’ll be anxious enough without figuring out how to navigate the place.”

“Thank you. I’ll take you up on that offer one day soon.”

“Not a problem. Merlin can come too if he wants to,” Pip told him. “Now unfortunately I must leave. I need to return to that First Knight, Sir Lancelot is his name. He’ll be wondering where I am. Good luck to you, Arthur.” He wished him.

The Faery prince said goodbye to Merlin as well with a small wave. Merlin looked up, giving a small wave in return.

Then Pip was gone, disappearing in a small burst of purple light.

Arthur looked over at Merlin, sighing as he did so. He went over to where he saw Falcon lying on the ground. Always feeling better with Falcon with him, Arthur took the bird toy in hand.

He sat down beside Merlin who was still by Mordred’s dead body.

But now Merlin was peering at the family emblem ring on his finger.

“Merlin…” Arthur began, then stopped. He wasn’t sure what to say.

“My father visited me, and I don’t remember it. I hope I never will.”

“I think you will with the sunrise tomorrow. No one likes the bad memories, but sometimes they make the good memories even better,” Arthur said as gently as he could.

“I hate him,” Merlin said. “Because of his affliction, my mum and sister paid the worst price imaginable. How dare my father give me this ring? It’s a reminder of how our family came to ruin. And don’t you see, Arthur?” He looked to Arthur, such a fierce almost wild expression on his face that it surprised Arthur.

“What is it?”

“I think that First Order wizard, the one who put too much magic into the land centuries ago… he was of my bloodline. He was my ancestor, he had to be. Why else was I the First Order wizard who was supposed to help you save the land? It was so I could fix the wrongs of my ancestor.”

“Do you have any other proof? Do you know for sure?”

“I can never know for certain. Mystra made the First Order forget what bloodline that wizard came from when the afflictions became a nightmare for everyone. She didn’t want the family to be shunned for their connection to the wizard who started the whole mess.”

“Then you should let it go if you’ll never know the truth. I won’t leave you if you are related to the wizard. It doesn’t matter if you share the same blood as him. You are Merlin, and you are a good person. Anyway, in the end, that wizard had thought he was doing the right thing. It was wrong that he was stubborn enough to disregard a Faery Queen’s advice, but he isn’t the first to be stubborn and he won’t be the last. I admit I’m not the most worldly of people, but I have faith in your goodness,” Arthur told him earnestly, hoping his words would get through to Merlin.

“I’m glad you’re here, Arthur,” Merlin finally spoke after several long moments of silence.

Arthur then offered Falcon to Merlin. “Here. This bird is named Falcon,” he told him, understanding that with Merlin’s memory loss, he wouldn’t remember what Arthur had told him about the bird. “I’ve had him all my life, but now I think you need him more than me.”

Merlin hugged Falcon to him, and Arthur saw silent tears fall down on Merlin’s face. He let Merlin use his shoulder to rest his head.

“We’ll give Mordred a funeral fitting for the hero he was. What do you say?” Arthur suggested.

“That would be good. Yes. He deserves that,” Merlin said in agreement, giving a small sad sigh afterwards.

Arthur felt right sitting there with Merlin. They had cured the land together, and he didn’t doubt that they could conquer any other task life sent their way.

~ * ~

Epilogue:

Merlin did remember the past six months, his memory loss reversed come sun rise the following day. With Merlin being freed from his affliction, Arthur had felt that they had now truly succeeded.

The funeral for Mordred was on one of the most beautiful lakes Arthur had ever seen. Merlin’s wizard’s fire lit the boat that carried Mordred. It was a dark night, and the flames overtook the boat like a light in the darkness.

Arthur was not surprised when Merlin collapsed to the ground, cursing Mordred for dying when Merlin deserved to die, not him.

Coming down to sit beside him, Arthur tried his best to comfort Merlin.

“Merlin, please,” he pleaded. “If it was possible, I’d want Mordred to be alive now. But he gave his life for you, and it was his choice. You have to respect that, Merlin. I know it can be hard, but I’m sure that’s what Mordred would have wanted you to do. I may not have known him like you did yet I don’t think he would’ve wanted you to be alone and miserable.”

Merlin looked to Arthur, his face pale and unhappy. “Mordred…he told me to live and not to blame myself but I still don’t like someone dying for my sake.”

“I know. I would feel awful too. It’s not easy, but I’m here to help you. I won’t leave you, Merlin. I promise.”

“Why are you still with me? Anyone else would see I’m not worth it.”

“Then they’re mad. You are worth it to me,” Arthur told him firmly. Then he confessed, “You’re my first true friend. I’m not going to abandon you when you need me the most.”

“Thank you,” Merlin said to him, giving him a sincere smile.

They both sat in silence for a long time, the fire from the boat becoming but a pinprick of light as the boat settled off in the distance.

Eventually, Merlin stood up and began to remove his clothing. “I’m going into the lake,” he told Arthur before he could ask.

“It’s probably freezing,” Arthur noted.

“Not this lake. Join me if you want,” he offered to him.

Arthur watched Merlin unapologetically walk into the lake, completely naked. It was the first time Arthur had ever seen Merlin naked, and he idly wondered how he’d look in daylight. The present darkness made seeing him properly difficult. While this was probably the last thing Merlin should be doing after a funeral for his friend, Arthur accepted that people did strange things to cope with loss. So Arthur wouldn’t stop him. He decided to take Merlin’s offer, and followed his lead, taking off his clothes and going into the lake, feeling half-mad while doing so. Just in case Merlin decided to drown himself, Arthur felt the only way to keep his friend safe was to be closer to him.

Fortunately Merlin had been right and the water was warm despite it being a cool night.

“My mum,” Merlin spoke up as he floated on his back in the water. Arthur floated beside him. “She loved to be in the water. Said it made her happy. That after swimming in the water, she felt truly alive.”

“I can’t argue with her there.”

“I miss her,” Merlin said in a plaintive voice. “I really do.”

Arthur didn’t know what to say. He felt words weren’t enough. So he just grasped Merlin’s hand.

“I miss my mother too. Even if she kidnapped me, I still believe she loved me as if I were her own son,” Arthur confided in him.

“Life should make more sense instead of being a tangled mess,” Merlin said after a long moment, sighing afterwards.

Arthur agreed with him wholeheartedly.

~ * ~

A week later, Arthur went with Merlin to see Merlin’s daughter, Lily. Arthur decided that afterwards, with Pip as a guide, he’d head to Camelot to meet the mother he had never known. Merlin had agreed to go with Arthur and Pip. Arthur had been grateful for that because he felt Merlin being there with him would provide him with the strength he needed to see his mother.

As fast as her four-year old feet could take her, Lily rushed out of the two-storied dwelling to meet her father.

Merlin’s daughter had a flurry of blonde curls, taking after her mother, but her eyes were the same shade of blue as Merlin’s. She was wearing a pale blue dress and there were tiny jewels – white, blue and pink – throughout her hair.

Merlin grinned genuinely at her and swept her up in his arms.

“Daddy! Look what I got!” Lily exclaimed. She waved a magical toy of a blue dragon breathing out a fire-coloured phoenix.

Arthur thought it was quite an impressive-looking toy. It reminded him of Falcon and how almost magical and alive he felt.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart. That’s our family symbol,” Merlin said to her. Arthur felt the burden in Merlin’s words, knowing how that symbol reminded Merlin of things he’d rather forget.

“That’s why I love it,” said Lily, smiling. She kissed her father on the nose.

“Did Brigit give it to you?” Merlin asked her.

Brigit was Lily’s caretaker, Arthur had been told by Merlin. She was also the mother of Mordred’s infant son.

Lily shook her head.

Then Arthur saw Merlin’s eyes widen and he was suddenly very still, everything about him indicated shock. He soon saw what had caused Merlin to react in this way.

An older man who resembled Merlin except for the greying hair and beard was in front of the home. It had to be Merlin’s father. The older man just stood there, making no move to approach Merlin as if unsure whether or not he was welcome.

Arthur thought this would be good for Merlin. If the afflictions had been lifted, then that would mean Merlin’s father wouldn’t have his paranoia anymore. Merlin had to take this opportunity to reconcile with him.

“Merlin?” Arthur spoke up.

Lily was looking concerned at her father’s behavior. Arthur was somewhat worried that Merlin would drop Lily due to being distracted by his father’s unexpected presence.

“Daddy?” Lily whispered.

Merlin turned to him. “Arthur…could you…could you take Lily?” Merlin asked him. “Lily dear, Arthur’s a good friend of mine. You stay with him, okay?” He told her as he set his daughter down on the ground.

“But daddy…the pretty dragon toy…grandpa gave it to me,” she informed him. “I like him. He’s nice.”

“I’m glad to hear that, love. I’ll just talk to him for a little while,” Merlin told her, smiling at her.

Arthur could almost feel the tension and anticipation on Merlin as he walked toward his father.

“Good luck, Merlin,” Arthur wished him. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

Merlin turned his head and he gave him a nod, understanding.

Soon, Merlin and his father entered the house together and they were out of view.

Lily was still beside Arthur. She tugged on his trousers. “Arthur?”

“Yes, Lily?” He asked. He knelt down so that he was on eye-level with her.

“Why do you have a white glow? Are you an angel?” The little girl wondered innocently.

Arthur wanted to laugh at the thought that he’d be seen as an angel. Fortunately he managed to hold back the laughter.

“No, I’m not. I just have a special type of magic, that’s all,” Arthur explained, deciding that was easier than telling a young child about his Pristinely Ungifted condition.

“Wow,” Lily declared with an awed look in her blue eyes.

Arthur smiled, and patted her on the head. He was grateful that Lily didn’t have to suffer an affliction thanks to what Merlin and he had done. And he thought of the Keeper of the Key, Grace. He sincerely hoped she had been freed of her physical affliction.

Freed from the curse of afflictions, the world seemed like a much brighter place now. And with the bond he shared with Merlin, Arthur couldn’t be happier.

~ * ~

The End