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Merlin fic: The Wolf and the Phoenix {2/?}
Title: The Wolf and the Phoenix (2/?)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Morgana, Gwen
Spoilers: Up to 2x04.
Disclaimer: The show Merlin is property of the BBC. The “His Dark Materials” books are property of Philip Pullman. No money is being made.
Summary:
There’s another world where Arthur is an exiled prince for committing treason against the crown, for stopping Merlin’s execution, for not letting the sorcerer be killed to further the king’s blind crusade against magic. With Excalibur and magic on their side, Arthur and Merlin escape to a different world when the king’s men catch up to them.
It’s lucky that Excalibur can do more than strike men down in battle…
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Chapter 2:
The past is unraveled – when all hope seems lost, it’s lucky that Merlin and Arthur have each other.
In the present time, Merlin and Arthur talk to the other world’s Merlin. Also, Merlin sets out to investigate a matter with much pressuring on his daemon’s part.
A/N: A bit of a His Dark Materials crossover where Arthur and Merlin both have daemons (their souls are outside of their bodies and are in animal form).
Wording for spell(s) credit goes to nyxelestia for her information/links on Old English here:
http://nyxelestia.livejournal.com/7935.html.
A/N #2: This chapter was too long to fit into one entry, so I had to cut it short. The second half will be a part of Chapter 3. Sorry about that. :(
Past:
Arthur took the vial of potion that the recently installed court physician (Gaius had died of old age almost a month ago) handed over to him.
“What sort of potion is this?” Arthur asked. He tried not to listen to Merlin’s whimpers behind him.
No matter how much it troubled him to hear the pain inherent in his cries…
Merlin’s daemon was being restrained by one of the guards in the small audience chamber.
“Just do as you’re told. Administer it to him,” His father commanded him, his tone cold and firm.
Arthur knew what his father was doing. He was punishing him for allowing a sorcerer to remain in Camelot despite knowing Merlin’s true nature.
He turned to his father, hoping that he would be able to see reason just this once.
“He was only trying to help. All that Merlin has ever done was for the sake of this kingdom – for the protection of Camelot!” Arthur protested defiantly, a fire in his eyes.
Uther would not hear it. “Enough! You have clearly been enchanted by the boy! He has addled your mind somehow. You will do as I say, Arthur, or I will have your whore executed right now!”
The king’s boar daemon, Thraxa, looked smug.
The people gathered in the hall gave a collective gasp. Gwen fell to the ground, not being able to take it anymore. Troy tried to comfort her and she held him close to her chest. Morgana knelt down beside her, whispering soothing words to her friend.
Arthur looked his father straight in the eye. He never thought he would feel as furious as he did at that moment. His daemon barely suppressed a snarl, but despite that, Krola managed to hold back and stayed at Arthur’s side. “The nerve of him!” She said in outrage.
“You have no right,” Arthur shot back at his father.
“Do not test my patience, Arthur,” Uther reprimanded him.
The king waved his hand at Merlin who was lying pitifully on the floor; his eyes squeezed shut in obvious pain, his face in a tight grimace.
Arthur hated being put in this situation, but he knew there was little else he could do for now. The only small comfort he had was the certainty that the potion would not kill Merlin.
His father, Arthur was sure of it, would want the satisfaction of public execution with Merlin tied to the pyre, the flames lapping at him, the smoke suffocating, choking him…as everyone watched.
So he sat down beside Merlin and he reached out to raise his chin, so that Merlin would look at him.
“Merlin, open your eyes. You have to drink this,” Arthur told him softly.
Merlin opened his eyes reluctantly to see the potion-filled vial that Arthur held in front of him.
“Why?” He asked, sounding lost and confused.
“You have to… I don’t know what it is, but you have to. My father has ordered it. Everyone’s watching. There’s nothing to be done. I’m sorry.”
Merlin looked at the torn, conflicted look on Arthur’s face. He knew just by the sound of the prince’s voice that Arthur hated being forced into this.
He had no doubt that the potion was meant to hurt him. The look of anger on King Uther’s face proved that Merlin would be getting no mercy from the king.
And then Krola beseeched of him. “Please, Merlin.”
“All right,” Merlin said in a whisper. He could barely speak. The sharp pain he felt at his daemon being touched by a cruel hand was tearing at him. Only one person was allowed to touch Zlota. Anyone else and Merlin wished he could die right then and there. It hurt him so much.
Arthur found it hard to see the trusting gaze in Merlin’s eyes. He didn’t feel he deserved it.
Trying to keep his hand steady, Arthur opened the vial and held it in front of the other’s mouth. He tipped the vial -- Merlin’s mouth opened slightly allowing entrance – and the first drops of liquid touched Merlin’s tongue. Hesitantly, Merlin drank the potion as Arthur gave it to him. Krola appeared restless as she watched.
But then,
“Stop! Please, stop!” Merlin cried. He tried to push the vial away from his mouth before Arthur could continue further.
“Merlin?” Arthur pressed gently.
Merlin shook his head. “I don’t want it!”
“Stop coddling him! Just get on with it. We don’t have all day!” Uther said with great impatience when he saw that Arthur had stopped abruptly, listening to Merlin’s pleas.
“What’s wrong?” Arthur asked him, ignoring his father’s words.
But Merlin only shook his head again, tears silently falling down.
“I know what the potion is,” He told Arthur.
“What is it?” Arthur questioned, desperately wanting to know.
“Arthur, he looks ill,” Krola told him as she peered at Merlin.
Uther’s already low patience was waning. “Damnit, Arthur! Stop talking to him and get him to drink the whole thing! I am growing weary.”
“I have no choice. It won’t kill you – just try not to think about it,” Arthur tried to reassure him, but to his ears, he sounded more anxious than anything else.
Krola held a piercing look with Merlin. He let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Follow my lead, Arthur,” Merlin whispered urgently.
“What?”
“Keep it safe for me. Morgana will know what to do,” He continued on.
Though Arthur didn’t think Merlin was making things any clearer.
“Merlin, I don’t understand--”
He shook his head in response and resigned to what would happen; Merlin grabbed the vial with his own hand and downed the rest of the potion.
Arthur saw Merlin’s eyes flash gold, briefly, before he leaned toward Arthur and kissed him deeply on the lips.
And then Merlin’s eyes rolled back, revealing the whites of his eyes, and he fell back, his head bumping against the hard floor as he did so. He was unconscious.
Arthur felt something shift inside of him. Something had entered his body, he was sure of it.
He barely noticed his father turning to the court physician, his rat daemon on his shoulder, and asking him, “And the boy’s magic? Is it gone for good?”
The court physician nodded. “Without a body to contain the magic, the magic will not be able to survive. It is gone, sire.”
“Then he will not escape.”
The people in the room started chattering amongst themselves – trading thoughts on what had just happened.
Only Morgana and Gwen remained silent and somber, the former sending a hard look the king’s way.
Arthur knew, without a doubt, that the physician was wrong.
To think they thought they could thwart Merlin so easily…
As the guards took Merlin away to the dungeons, Arthur began formulating a plan to save him.
Merlin’s magic thrummed with power, with purpose within Arthur’s veins. He just needed to let it out. And for that, as Merlin had told him, he would require Morgana’s assistance.
~ * ~
“Merlin gave you his magic,” were the first words out of Morgana’s mouth upon her entering Arthur’s chambers. Tiresias, her butterfly daemon, was in her hair -- attached to a dark lock as if he were a hair ornament.
Once Morgana had closed the door, Tiresias left her side to fly around the room, teasing Krola as he flew around her. The wolf daemon looked annoyed as her sharp eyes watched the butterfly.
Arthur nodded at her. He drank from his cup before speaking. “He said you could help me with that. I can feel it inside of me, but I can’t bloody use it. No matter how hard I try…”
Morgana hummed. She smiled at him indulgently as if she were looking upon a small child.
She sat down across from him, the table between them.
“Why, Arthur, did you really expect to be able to use it? Do you not recall what Gaius revealed to you about the circumstances of your birth?”
Arthur gave a long, put-upon sigh. He felt frustrated. He nodded, rolling his eyes. “Yes, but I thought, maybe, it would work for a small spell.”
Morgana just looked at him.
“Tiny. Like making an apple float. But – nothing. Nothing,” He confided in clear frustration, his hand whipping the air to show his irritation.
“As well it should be. Any magic inside you is under a deep sleep. You can hold magic, but that is all,” Morgana reminded him much to his chagrin.
Arthur tapped his fingers on the table, leaning back in his chair. He appeared bored – having heard this once before.
“Must you spoil it for me, Morgana?” He waved his hand dismissively. “I’m still rather miffed at the ridiculous explanation for Krola’s fur color,” he said, frowning.
Krola sniffed at that. She clawed at him to express her displeasure.
“You’re not being nice,” His wolf daemon informed him in an imperious manner. Arthur sighed. “Sorry,” he muttered.
Krola looked satisfied at the apology. With somewhat feigned disinterest, she resumed her watch of Morgana’s butterfly daemon as Tiresias flew about. A moment later, Tiresias changed to his main form, a black swan.
Morgana gave him a stern look. “It is not ridiculous. I’m sorry, Arthur, if you think it makes you less of a man. It’s the truth. It was powerful magic that brought about your birth and it was only expected that your daemon, when settled, would reflect that. It is no laughing matter that magic corrupts. The very fact that it doesn’t corrupt you, doesn’t affect you – is extraordinary. That the magic could just be in your blood and you’re not a captive of its corrupting potential.”
“It hasn’t corrupted Merlin,” Arthur pointed out.
“Merlin has you. You give his magic purpose, a meaning. You make it good.” She told him resolutely. She shook her head, and then smiled. Looking at him directly, she spoke with a kind of determined fierceness in her voice. “He’s lucky to have you, Arthur. The magic-stripping potion would have taken away his magic permanently. And if he dared to transfer his magic to anyone but you, that very person would be dead by now. Which is why Uther believes the potion has done its work. No one would expect a foolish, desperate effort to save one’s magic – at the cost of their lover’s life.”
“But my father knows what led to my birth. It’s a surprise he didn’t foresee the possibility.”
Morgana laughed a cheerless laugh. “It’s fortunate that Uther was too blinded by vengeance to even consider that chance.”
Arthur nodded. “There’s that,” Then he looked at her expectantly. “Well, you can help me, right? I haven’t a clue how to return Merlin’s magic to its rightful place.”
Morgana shook her head. “That’s the easy part. His magic is inextricably drawn to him – when the timing is right, the magic will be returned without any action on your part. What needs to be done now is to awaken his magic from its slumber so you can use it to get him out of the dungeons.”
“So his magic will be under my command?”
Arthur was conflicted as an excitement built within him to be able to use magic. He had seen Merlin perform magic and he couldn’t resist feeling a sense of awe at seeing all the tricks that magic could do. But yet, Arthur knew it was wrong to feel this way. He felt guilty, almost a kind of shame for getting the chance to use magic. Especially when Merlin was lying, miserable and without magic, in the dungeons. So with that thought, Arthur tried not to let the thrill of anticipation overcome him. He had to focus on the task at hand.
And that was saving Merlin. That was all that mattered.
Morgana confirmed his inquiry. “Short of harming Merlin, yes. Anything you require to engineer his escape, you will have Merlin’s magic supporting you.”
Arthur nodded. “All right. What do I have to do?”
Morgana left her seat and she directed him to stand in front of her. Arthur did so, and then she placed her fingers on his temples.
The color of her eyes changed from green to gold as she spoke the words of the spell. “Áwæcne bealucræftas.”
When she saw Arthur’s eyes flash gold, Morgana knew the spell had worked. Merlin’s magic had awoken inside Arthur.
Morgana then turned to the fireplace and vanquished the fire magically.
She nodded at Arthur. “Just to test that you can use magic, conjure fire in the hearth. You just have to think it, will it to happen. Picture bright, hot, hissing flames within your mind’s eye and the magic will do the rest.”
“Wait – what about the words, incantations you speak to do a spell? Isn’t that necessary?”
Morgana looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, “It is the proper way to do magic, true, but we don’t have the time for that right now. Magic can be done both ways, albeit it is a bit harder to perform intricate spells without words – unless you’re a master at it, of course.”
Morgana pointed toward the fireplace, beckoning Arthur to conjure the fire.
Arthur thought of a blazing fire, flames leaping up from the wood in the fireplace.
And he opened his eyes and found that it had worked. The fire was just as he imagined it.
Krola looked up at him in astonishment. Arthur could swear that he saw his daemon’s eyes shift color from silver to gold and back again for a moment.
“Very good. I’m glad it worked,” Morgana said, looking pleased.
But there was something else that Arthur needed to know.
“Morgana,” He addressed her. She looked at him, waiting for him to speak. “I heard whispers in my head while I was picturing the fire… It sounded like – I’m not sure how that is even possible…”
“Merlin? You thought you heard Merlin?”
Arthur nodded slowly.
“I wasn’t expecting that, but I wouldn’t put it past Merlin to accomplish such a feat. I’m guessing that there’s a kind of spell memory ingrained into his magic. Merlin’s magic is using that memory – of Merlin saying spells – to do the conjuring.”
Arthur raised his eyebrow. “So I’ll hear Merlin in my head when I do any kind of magic?”
“As long as his magic is within you, then, yes. This is a good thing, actually. It will allow you to do more complex magic if need be, though sneaking down to the dungeons probably won’t require complicated spells. It’s extra support, at the very least.”
“Merlin—in my head, Morgana. That’s a little too much.”
To Arthur’s exasperation, she looked more bemused than anything else. “Well, you might as well learn to deal with the voice. You’re stuck with it until you rescue Merlin.”
No one spoke for a long moment. A somewhat uncomfortable silence fell upon the room as the gravity of the situation nearly stifled them.
Arthur broke the silence. He tried to plead with her. “Morgana… you and Guinevere should come with us – Merlin and I. You two shouldn’t stay here. And if my father finds out about you, you’ll be in danger.”
Morgana shook her head. “No, it is more important – much more important that you two are away from Camelot. You and Merlin will be too occupied with taking care of each other to worry about us delicate ladies,” She smirked at him.
“Really, Morgana. There is nothing delicate about you or Guinevere. But I mean what I say.”
“And I mean what I say. I will be all right. You know how Merlin is – he’ll feel responsible for all of us and he’ll wear himself thin trying to look after us all,” she shook her head. “No, it is better that you’ll be his main concern. And, of course, you’ll watch after him in turn.”
Morgana went up to him and she kissed his cheek. “Good luck, Arthur. Look after Merlin. That is all hope for. That will make me happy.”
Arthur held her hands, cupping them inside his. He looked into her eyes. “You’ve been like a sister to me since I was a child. I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here. You’re already in danger simply by being in Camelot.”
“I will be fine. Do not worry about me, Arthur Pendragon. I will not have it. I promise you I can look after myself. I have Gwen. She will be enough.”
Arthur sighed and, with reluctance, he let go of her hands. He could see by the stubborn look in Morgana’s eyes that there was no use arguing the matter with her any further.
“I will surely see you again, Arthur,” Morgana said resolutely.
And then, with Tiresias on her shoulder, she left Arthur’s room without looking back.
It was only when she was back in her chambers that she let the tears fall.
“Arthur must never find out. It would hurt him,” Morgana spoke silently.
She knew that Merlin would hear her. That he would surely be dead by now if he had transferred all his magic to Arthur. A tiny bit was left inside Merlin, and even then, silent communication did not require heavy magic.
“I know,” She heard Merlin’s weak reply in her mind.
~ * ~
When Merlin had been placed in the cell, the guards had the audacity to deny him a shirt, taking it away from him, and leaving him only wearing his breeches, naked from the waist up. Not even the small bit of magic he managed to capture for his own sanity could warm him. And he didn’t dare use it too much for fear of what would happen when his magic run out. Merlin was certain that it wouldn’t come to that though, but he didn’t want to test it out just to see the outcome. It was too great a risk.
He could not help feeling startled when his dungeon cell door opened. He looked up to find one of the guards had entered his cell.
The guard did not speak right away. He just looked at Merlin, dissecting him with his eyes. The guard’s burly dog daemon was making a play at appearing intimidating. Merlin was certain that Zlota – who was presently holed up somewhere because Uther was a right bastard – could intimidate better than the guard’s daemon.
“What do you want?” Merlin asked impatiently.
The guard only approached him with an ill-intentioned look upon his face.
Merlin tried to shift away from him, but the other man grabbed his arms to hold him in place.
He looked down to Merlin’s neck.
“Where did those marks come from, sorcerer?” The guard demanded as he ran his hand over blemished skin.
The way he said the word ‘sorcerer’ it sounded more like, ‘scum of the earth’ to Merlin’s ears.
Merlin looked him clear in the face and he shot back, “It shouldn’t take too much imagination to figure it out. That is, if you have any in the first place.”
The marks were left over from last time with Arthur – he never could quite resist nipping at Merlin's neck, leaving noticeable marks behind. And then he always managed to convince Merlin not to wear his neckerchief afterwards (possessive prat). Anyway, Merlin didn’t know or even care why the man was wasting his time asking him pointless questions.
The man’s face twisted into something ugly. “How dare you speak to me in that way, you foul creature.”
Merlin shrugged. “I do not really care. I am to be executed. I have nothing to be scared of anymore.”
“You’re a fool. You’re not frightened of death?”
“No,” Merlin said firmly. “I’m sure there are worse things that eclipse death.”
The guard snorted at him. “So you admit you’re the prince’s who--”
But the man couldn’t continue. He sounded as if he were choking, his hands grabbing frantically at his throat.
Merlin saw Gwen come up behind him.
“Hello Gwen. How are you?” Merlin said pleasantly, ignoring the guard’s choked cries.
“Oh well, you know,” Gwen said with a shrug. She was carrying Troy in her arms.
Then she turned her attention to the fallen guard and told him sternly, “If you don’t wish to continue choking to death, you will leave us. I want some time alone with the prisoner. Understand?”
The guard nodded quickly and left the cell in a hurry. Once he had exited, he stopped choking and he gasped, breathing in the air again greedily.
“Morgana says hello,” Gwen said lightly as she went to sit beside Merlin in the cell.
He looked at her, feeling cautious. “There are still guards outside of my cell. We can’t have them hear us.”
“There’s an invisible barrier dividing us from them. At least that’s what Morgana told me. She’s getting better with her magic,” Gwen smiled, looking proud.
Merlin shook his head. Of course, he should have sensed her magic. He could see something shimmering in front of the bars – it could only be the barrier. The barrier was a trick that misled anyone who crossed its path. Anyone curious to look in on them or eavesdrop would suddenly get distracted and turn their attention away from the cell.
It wasn’t an easy spell, especially from a distance, but he knew how well Morgana was progressing in her magic. Merlin had been the one teaching her after all.
“Morgana is in her chambers, scrying. That’s how she saw the guard and she sent me right away,” Gwen explained.
Troy left her lap to go to Merlin. He took the small dog in his arms and set him on his lap. He started petting him as Gwen told him all that had happened while Merlin was stuck in the dungeons without a scrap of news to tide him over.
Troy then spoke, “Tell him about Arthur, Gwen.”
“Did Morgana help him?” Merlin asked.
Gwen nodded. “Your magic is awake inside him now. He has it at his disposal when he’ll come to get you out of this wretched place.”
“Did he say when that would be?”
Gwen bit her lip. She shook her head. “No, Arthur didn’t. But I’m certain it’ll be sometime later tonight, before dawn. As soon as possible, of course, I would think. The king plans to execute you in two days’ time, so that allows us some extra time.”
“I don’t know why the king doesn’t execute me now. I think he just wants me to suffer before he sees me executed. It’s so frustrating waiting here with nothing but my thoughts to comfort me. Not that my thoughts are at all comforting.”
Troy licked his hand affectionately. “Everything will be all right,” he reassured Merlin.
“Arthur will come,” Gwen said firmly, trying to instill the belief into him with the sheer force of her will.
Merlin sighed. He let Troy go as he went to lie down. He let his head drop on to Gwen’s lap, and she stroked Merlin’s dark locks while he closed his eyes and tried to think of being in another place, a place where he was at peace and everything was golden and right.
And Arthur was by his side.
“Merlin?” Gwen spoke softly interrupting his musings.
“Yes?” He opened his eyes and turned his face to look up at her.
“I understand if you wouldn’t wish to tell me, but I was wondering how it feels for you – without your magic? Does it hurt terribly?”
She set a concerned gaze on him.
“It’s something I can’t quite get used to. I hope I never have to go through this again. But the bond I have with my magic is still there, still strong. That does help. It feels like I used to have two hearts, you know? And now I’m missing one and it’s difficult to be without that heart, but I can manage it. I have no other choice.”
“Oh, Merlin. I’m so sorry.”
“Really, I’ll be fine. I’m just glad Arthur has my magic and I can trust him with it.”
Gwen smiled down at him. “Arthur knows how important your magic is to you. There is no doubt how much he cares for you. He’ll do what is right.”
“Yes,” Merlin answered quietly. “Thank you, Gwen. You’re a good friend.”
He could almost forget the promise he had made to himself. The promise that was the one truth he kept from Arthur now.
~ * ~
Previously:
“Will either of you explain what is going on? And why you stopped time?” The other Merlin asked.
When Arthur only gave a mock-yawn, Merlin concluded it was up to him to explain the situation to uh…himself.
This was weird.
And Arthur was an unhelpful prat.
Nothing new there, at least.
Present:
Merlin raised his hands to indicate he meant no harm. “We’re your friends. We don’t mean any harm,” He said softly, trying to sound reassuring.
Which, he supposed was a bit pointless because if this other Merlin was an alternate version of him, then he’d see
through him.
You couldn’t lie to yourself, after all.
“Why do you look like me?” The other Merlin demanded.
Merlin could see the other’s eyes shifting color, somewhere between blue and gold. He had to act fast before his other self saw need to use magic against him. He really didn’t fancy using magic against himself.
There was something fundamentally wrong with that, really.
Arthur stepped in then. He sighed, rubbing his forehead before he spoke. “Look, let’s just get this over with, shall we?”
“Arthur, don’t you dare,” Merlin warned.
He only grinned at him. And then the other Merlin’s eyes widened as he felt a pull coming from within him.
“I only took a little bit of magic,” Arthur said in exasperation as the other Merlin looked about ready to faint.
The other Merlin gasped. “You know? About my magic?”
“Well, of course I do,” Arthur answered matter-of-factly. “I wouldn’t be in this situation if I didn’t know.”
Merlin tried to resist the urge to strangle the blond. “Thanks, Arthur. Now, would you please just give it back to him? There’s no point in doing this.”
Arthur shook his head. “Not until you finish your explanation. I want to make sure he doesn’t get any funny ideas.”
He groaned, giving Arthur a hard stare that the other was not paying much attention to. “Really, I could handle myself – this is ridiculous, you know. Sometimes I think you’re a little too fond of this ability of yours.”
“What situation? What ability? I don’t understand,” the other Merlin spoke, his confusion clear on his face.
He was now looking a little better as he got over the initial shock of having some of his magic snatched away from him.
Merlin turned back to his other self and he explained, “We’re from another world. We fled our world because we’re on the run. Arthur has been exiled from our Camelot going on a year now.”
“What? Why?” The other Merlin uttered in surprise.
“It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out,” Arthur snapped. He sighed when Merlin shot him a “did you really just say that?” look. Arthur deflated and when he next spoke, his voice was noticeably conciliatory in tone. “No matter what, I don’t regret my decision. I would never have allowed myself to stand by and let Merlin be executed.”
Arthur spoke silently to Merlin, trying to smooth over the situation. “I didn’t mean what you thought I--”
Arthur could hear the tired sigh from Merlin in his head. He interrupted him before Arthur could finish. “I don’t want to talk about this right now, Arthur.”
Arthur felt a wall come down in his mind, effectively cutting him off from Merlin. But this shut down had happened before – Merlin would come to his senses and reopen the silent communication channels. He always did.
Out loud, Merlin continued on, “So you see, it was only time we left our world to find a safer one. A world where we do not have to fight for our lives every time the king’s men find us. We didn’t expect to find other versions of ourselves here, but there’s nothing to be done about that. It is rather jarring, but we’ll just have to get used to it.”
Merlin shot a glare at Arthur who looked a little too enthused about taking a good look at this world’s Arthur – who was still frozen in time. Merlin didn’t think it appropriate to check out another person when they were completely unable to defend themselves. Not that Arthur would do anything foolish, of course, but sometimes Merlin wondered about him. The year they had been in exile had changed him – both of them – for better or for worse, he wasn’t sure yet.
The other Merlin shook him out of his dark thoughts. “But – how did you get here? I didn’t even know there were other worlds, much less a way to travel from one to another.”
“Another of Arthur’s special abilities – or responsibility, really. We know a way to travel to different worlds… and that’s how we ended up here.”
The other Merlin looked to Krola who was by Arthur’s side and he asked, “And the white wolf? It’s not just an animal, right? I could tell it’s something more than that.”
Merlin smiled. He was glad that his alternate self was perceptive enough to see that. He had a good feeling that the other Merlin would be useful to have on their side.
“Yes,” Merlin nodded. “That’s--”
“Excuse me, that’s my daemon, Merlin,” Arthur interrupted. Then he turned to the other Merlin. “The wolf is my daemon. Her name is Krolewska, Krola for short. Daemons are souls in our world – they are outside of our bodies rather than inside.”
“And they take on animal forms,” Merlin added. “My daemon is a bird -- a phoenix. She goes by Zlocisty, Zlota for short. She’s flying overhead at the moment.”
“Oh,” the other Merlin said, not quite sure how to take all this information. The idea of a soul outside someone’s body seemed odd. And he also thought it was rather worrying – to have one’s soul exposed like that outside of one’s body for anyone to see, for anyone to harm if they wanted to.
“Anyway, I think we should go inside, don’t you agree? I’m not adverse to my chambers,” Arthur said, feeling quite bored with being in the courtyard.
It had been a good while since he had seen his rooms. Despite the fact that it wasn’t truly his chambers, the point of the matter was…there was no point to it. He could use a good lie down – after that fighting, he was beginning to feel his muscles ache. And this was as good an opportunity as any to investigate this other Arthur’s rooms… test out the bed and all that.
“It’s not your room, Arthur,” Merlin reminded him.
“Good point,” He said, but then, “Also, I don’t care,” he smirked at Merlin.
And with that, Arthur turned to the other Merlin. “Well then, Merlin’s copy, you can be our guide. Come on then.”
“I’m not a copy,” the other Merlin said defensively.
Arthur rolled his eyes. “I was making a joke. But really, I want to see my room.”
Merlin only shook his head as Arthur grabbed the other Merlin’s arm and pulled him along in the direction of the castle steps. Krola went with the pair – Merlin could tell she felt awkward around the other Merlin like she didn’t know what to make of him.
“Zlota!” Merlin called. The phoenix came down from the sky toward him.
Merlin was surprised to see Zlota combusting into flames before she reached the ground. His daemon only did that when she had urgent news or was sending warning…
Merlin’s eyes flashed gold in response and he tried to stop himself from turning into fire along with Zlota. He almost managed it – his arms turned into near white flames before he assumed control and forced his arms back to their normal state.
“What is it, Zlota?” Merlin asked. “Is there something dangerous here?”
Back to normal as well, Zlota stayed in flight -- making sure she was level with Merlin’s face before she spoke in a rush, “Don’t you feel it, Merlin? Sense it?”
Merlin was confused. “Sense what? I don’t--”
Then he sensed something so familiar, he was surprised he hadn’t caught it before.
“But, it can’t be. It’s only wishful thinking…” He breathed out.
“The ramparts, Merlin. We should go there.”
“No. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“But we must!” Zlota cried urgently. “We must see!”
Merlin shook his head. “Morgana is alive in this world. I can feel it,” he announced solemnly.
“But we don’t have much time!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“I don’t want to see it happen, all right? Whatever it is – it’s best left alone.”
“Think of the information it could provide us,” Zlota tried to persuade him.
Merlin stood there, silent and thinking. However much he hated to admit it, Zlota was right.
“Arthur, I’ll meet you two in your chambers,” Merlin spoke silently to Arthur, reopening the channels quickly.
“Merlin, what’s going on?” Arthur asked, wondering. Merlin could just see him turning to look back at him.
“I need to check something out. I’ll be fine.”
“What is it, Merlin?” He asked again with more force this time.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Merlin…”
But Merlin had already disappeared, the conversation ending with his departure.
~ * ~
Chapter 3
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Also, how does Morgana's daemon have two forms?
Anyway, still love this fic despite those. The way you integrated daemons into their lives in their original universe was magnificent, and present-Merlin's confusion about the souls being outside the body was awesome. Also love Arthur wanting to see his rooms despite them not being his, and the hints that Morgana was dead in their original world. (And seriously, loving Excalibur being the Knife ^_^).
I can't wait to see how Arthur and Merlin handle a universe with no daemons, and where Arthur apparently doesn't know of Merlin's magic. :D
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I just hinted at it in this chapter, but the secret that Merlin's keeping won't be revealed for a bit. It was intentional that the secret was left obscure in this part. Sorry about the confusion... there was a line in this chapter that alluded to the secret. Not sure if anyone will catch it, but it's there...
Also, how does Morgana's daemon have two forms?
There's a reason for it. :) Same reason Merlin has two daemons as well (a phoenix and a firefly). It'll be explained in a coming chapter...
Glad you liked this part. Of course the other Merlin would find it odd to have souls outside the body - it would seem so exposed that way to him. I couldn't resist Arthur wanting to see his chambers, even though they're not *his* - it makes little difference to him. He misses his big, soft bed. ;)
the hints that Morgana was dead in their original world.
In the previous chapter, Gwen did tell Arthur and Merlin that Morgana fell to her death from the castle ramparts -- before the two left their world. So Morgana's death is still fresh in their minds...literally happening just as they decided to leave the daemon world...
(And seriously, loving Excalibur being the Knife ^_^).
Thank you! I wanted to include Excalibur somehow - and this fit in so well. There's a back story to how Arthur obtains Excalibur, actually.
and where Arthur apparently doesn't know of Merlin's magic. :D
I'm planning to go into that in the next chapter. :)
I'm sure Arthur and Merlin will figure out a way to get past the weirdness of no daemons.
Thanks for reading and commenting. ♥
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I love the forms of their daemons, especially Gwen's for some reason. Maybe because a little dog suits her so well. :)
Thanks! I'm fond of Gwen's daemon, too. I think it does fit her - glad you agree with the choice. :)
And Excalibur being a subtle knife equivelent,
I couldn't resist doing that - it was too easy. :)
and Morgana's daemon sitting in her hair as a butterfly.
Oh, thanks. :) I'm glad that worked for you.
Thank you for reading and commenting! :)
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Thank you. :)
Although the switching of the POVs were a bit confusing but I got the hang of it.
Sorry about that. :( I'll take that into consideration in the next chapter. Thanks for telling me. :)
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Thanks for reading and commenting! Glad you liked this. :)
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Thanks for reading and commenting! :) I appreciate it.
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but its intriguing, so I will watch out for this!
Thank you. I'm glad this caught your interest and you're sticking with it. I appreciate it. :)
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Very intreguing so far - I'd love you to continue it soon!
You know I had this theory that in Pullman's novels, if you daemon was the same sex as you (which he explained could occur but was very rare) then it meant you were born homosexual. But anyway.
I loved this! What fantastic ideas you have weaved into this fic.
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Oh, thank you. :) I'm glad you're enjoying this.
Very intreguing so far - I'd love you to continue it soon!
I hope to have Ch. 3 posted before the end of December.
You know I had this theory that in Pullman's novels, if you daemon was the same sex as you (which he explained could occur but was very rare) then it meant you were born homosexual. But anyway.
Yeah, someone else had mentioned that to me. Merlin and Arthur's daemons are set already though, but I could see them following that theory.
I loved this! What fantastic ideas you have weaved into this fic.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate it. :)
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Chapter 3 has been posted, if you're interested.