The Prince's Return 2: Past to Present

Chapter 5

Merlin felt himself do a double take as the words left Dorgin's lips. He couldn't believe this was his best friend. "What?...you don't mean that."

Dorgin's face contorted. " HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?!" Voice raising with each word spilled. "MY FATHER IS DEAD MERLIN. DEAD. AND I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR THAT! " The warlock watched silently, flinching at his every word.

"I-"

" No!" Dorgin yelled as the tears began to fall. " My only friend, killed my father. The one I looked up to like a brother, the one I confided in, killed the only other family I had left and all I'm asking is not for an apology but for him to just bring him back and all he can tell me is no?!"

The tears in Merlin's eyes were now falling to. His best friend was crumbling in front of him and the only thing he could do is plead and take it... after all it was what he deserved.

Even so his answer was firm. " I'm s-sorry, b-but I won't." Tears stood pooling over Dorgin's eyes as Merlin spoke. " I might not understand a lot for my age b-but I understand enough to know the dangers of messing with Life and Death and I won't do that not even.....for a brother."

Merlin watch the half-blood's dark brown eyes change, shift even to a sharp amethyst color as he balled his fingers in frustration and anger.

" YOU KNOW NOTHING?!? YOUR JUST SPEWING WORDS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER , BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR HIGHNESS?" Before Merlin could even process the half-blood's new found eye color and very visible powers, Dorgin was already closing the distance between them. His amethyst eyes piercing through the young prince's own sky blue ones. " AN EYE FOR AN EYE SEEMS ALL TO REASONABLE RIGHT ABOUT NOW... DON'T YOU THINK?"

If Merlin wasn't paying attention now he sure as hell was now.

"No no no, things like this shouldn't be planned after all my father's death was an accident... shouldn't I make yours one too?" Dorgin's eyes roamed over Merlin's lips curved in a deranged smile. However Merlin stood his ground, and did not move. Unbeknownst to them the four watch full eyes surrounding them.

"But, you still wouldn't get it knowing you Merlin you'd welcome your own death so why don't I take someone oh so dear...hmm?" Merlin's eyes followed Dorgin's as the boys gaze left his and landed at the two girls he wasn't aware was running towards them, Sir. Nathan quickly behind them.

"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" Merlin warned.

The two froze in place, the young knight quickly taking point in front of them protectively.

Dorgin couldn't help but laugh as he closes his eyes. " You'll know my pain then, won't you Merlin!" Dorgin spat Merlin's name with venom as he opened his eyes.

" Dorgin you lay one finger on any of them, the gods so help-"

"SO THE GODS HELP YOU WHAT MERLIN?!?"

"MERLIN!"

Everything happened way to fast. One minute Merlin was standing in front of Dorgin and the next his back was to the ground. He found himself hissing and spitting out blood clutching his side. " Dorgin please this isn't you. Threaten me. Punish me. But don't hurt innocent people when all of this is pointless don't you see no matter what you do iT STILL WON'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT HE'S GONE!" Merlin yelled.

And that was all it took for the last strand of morality that the young boy had been hanging on to, to finally come undone. " AHHHHGH?!?!" The half-blood's hands flew out and from his hand the raging ball of light that left his father in ashes, hurling towards the prince.

However, quick with his hands almost instinctively Merlin sent another. Everyone watched as the boy's flame canceled out the other. Still Dorgin didn't stop their. Although this time Merlin found himself simply dogging Dorgin's attempts as he got closer.

Soon enough to everyone's surprised Merlin held the blazing fire as it burned out in both of their hand. " I'm sorry that I took your only family. I'm sorry and will continue to be sorry for many moons, that is my punishment and I will live with it, and yours my friend is to leave Aratheial and never return. For returning as according to the 'Marshall Laws' of our kingdom is punishable by death." Merlin was stern in his order.

He understood that as of this moment onwards there is no friendship, no brotherhood between then for whether accident or not they both had crossed a line of no return. Merlin heard gasps from his little sister and Morgana as the words left his mouth. He watched as the boy he once called his best friend's expression went from shock to his lips curling upwards. He watched and he listened as Dorgin started to laugh. It became louder and louder over the cackling flame between their hands, it was almost deafening. Almost cynical. No it was cynical and Merlin was drowning in it.

The pain was becoming even more deafening as Merlin found himself slowly seeping back to reality. His own words repeating over and over in his head.

" Did it work?"

He heard voices after voices mumbling about. Still the only words he could hear is the ones of his young self, almost as if the recited words were in fact for him and no one else. Reminding him that he was nothing more than a border line hypocrite. He spewed all about not messing with life and death but then he remembered his battle with Nimueh, how he tried to save Gwen's father, Arthur and Uther's life, how his own existence alone messes and defies the laws of physics. The King found himself letting out his own hollowed laugh as the voices were becoming more clear.

" Merlin bud your scaring us."

" At least that weird thing that was happening with his voice is gone" Merlin opened his eyes to match the voice in front of him, giving a leaned smile when he realize, it was Gwaine. Taken aback they could only stare with their jaws hanging slightly agape. Merlin looks at each of them in confusion.

"Merls, your eyes..."

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We've finally come back full circle, from here on out will be the final three chapters of Past to Present, which concludes the entire ending of our journey.

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See yah!

~FRdeian