The Destiny of a Druid

Chapter 24

Leon and Percival stared at Mordred as they closed the cell door. Mordred sighed. He lifted his tired eyes.

"I'm going to be executed... aren't I?"

His face showed the story of a young man who had been jumping over struggles his entire existence. Leon stepped closer to the cell.

"I promise that we take no pleasure in any of this... I'm sorry about Kara..."

Mordred set on the bed in the corner. He stared at the ground.

"Just, please try to keep Mercedes from getting killed..."

Percival tapped the bars of the cell.

"Mordred, you don't even know that Arthur won't just turn you into a servant. You can't think this way."

The chuckle that left Mordred's throat indicated that he thought his old friends were being foolish in thinking that he was going to get out of this alive.

"He's not going to see reason. Please. Mercedes was getting too close to crossing the line. I don't want her to get hurt."

Mercedes continued to pace. Her breathing was heavy and her panicking was not letting up. Merlin gently grabbed her arm.

"Calm down..."

Merlin almost fell backward after Mercedes yanked away from him.

"I thought I told you I wasn't talking to you!"

Gaius gently rubbed her back. Mercedes looked at Merlin just as tears fell down her cheeks.

"I cannot lose him... Arthur better not..."

Merlin's eyes fell on a box sitting on their table. It was a box he had never seen before. He carefully walked over to it.

"What is this?"

Mercedes sighed sadly. She shook her head.

"It's the reason Sophia left the castle..."

Merlin looked at her confused. Mercedes nodded.

"You can open it..."

Merlin slowly opened the box and froze. Small items that indicated memories filled the box. Mercedes slowly shook her head.

"She couldn't let me go... and it killed her..."

Merlin stared at her with pity as she started sobbing again.

"And now I'm going to get Mordred killed..."

Merlin pulled Mercedes into a tight hug.

"Mercedes, none of this is your fault."

She clung to her brother as if she was dying.

"I begged him to come back... I begged you all to let him in."

A small knock landed on the door. Gaius opened the door and stepped back. Mercedes wiped her tears. August sighed.

"It's time..."

Gwen closed her eyes as Mercedes ran into the throne room. Merlin slowly walked behind her. Arthur tried not to look at her. Mercedes wrapped her arm around Merlin's. She watched the throne room doors. She hoped they would never open. Mercedes stopped breathing the second the doors opened. Mordred was staring at the ground. His gaze lifted and it instantly melted into Mercedes's gaze. Merlin held on to Mercedes's arm tightly. Their eyes stayed locked together until Mordred stopped walking. Mordred turned his eyes to Arthur as soon as he started speaking.

"Mordred, you were someone who I considered to be my most loyal of knights. You have fought alongside me, come on missions, protected this city. We had a bond. I trusted you with my life."