The Glass Princess (Merlin FanFic) (Book 2)

Chapter 16 - Crimson Gates

Chapter 16 – Crimson Gates

“Wow.” Adeline said as Gwaine finished the story. She sat still for a moment, trying to take it all in. “Are you telling the truth?” She asked looking up at them.
“Every word love.” Gwaine said with a small smile. Adeline didn’t look convinced. “Swear to me, on something important; swear you are telling the truth.”
“I swear on mead!” Gwaine said and Adeline gave him a strange look.
“For Gwaine, that’s very important.” Merlin informed her but she still didn’t look convinced. “I swear on my wife’s life.”  Leon said suddenly and Adeline looked up. “Rosa, I swear on her life we are telling the truth.” He said and Adeline slowly nodded. “Ok, I believe you.” She said. “But I just can’t believe it…my own brother…and Cally, we are friends, how could they do this?” She asked.
“I can’t answer that, but I can tell you we need to stop them.” Merlin said standing up. “What can we do though?” Adeline asked.
“We split up, some of us free Percival, and the others look for Arthur.” Elyan said and they agreed. “Ok, Leon and Merlin come with me and Elyan take Adeline and get Percival out of there.” Gwaine said springing into action and the others followed.

Arthur felt invisible ropes bind his hands as he watched his sister smile wickedly. “Now, I need you to help me with something.” She said.
“Never!” Arthur said and she smiled,
“We shall see.” She said before clicking her fingers. There was a low moan and creak from the large wooden doors before they slowly began to open. Arthur watched as the doors creaked open only to reveal a new set of doors however these doors were made entirely of glass. Arthur stared in bewilderment at the grand gateway of glass in front of him. The glass was tinted slightly; it looked more like ice than glass. Arthur was reminded of the ice coffin they had found Eirawen in all that time ago, the ice that would not melt nor break. The large glass sculptures perched at the top like birds, looking down on him. And then, at the point where there should have been a handle was a bowl, the glass budged out into a small semicircle shaped bowl on the front of the doors. Arthur looked to Morgana and found her smiling, “Welcome brother, to the frozen gates.” She smiled “like the gates of hell, only colder.”   

“My lady?” A guard asked jumping to his feet as he saw Adeline. She nodded to him before beginning to walk past him followed by Elyan. “”Umm, my lady?” The guard said and Adeline stopped. “Yes?” She asked the rather nervous looking guard.
“I am afraid; I can’t allow you to go up there.” He said nervously.
“Oh, I see.” Adeline said. “And why is that?”
“Orders my lady,” He said.
“I see, well surely they don’t apply to me?” She said giving him a sweet smile. “After all, my brother is king.” She said with a slight warning tone to her voice.
“Oh, yes of course my lady.” He said stepping aside.
“Thank you.” She said smiling as she and Elyan walked past him through the door. Once it closed behind them Adeline let out a relieved breath. “I thought we weren’t going to get through then!” She said and Elyan smiled.
“Nonsense, you were great!” He said and she smiled. They came out at the top of the stair case and looked around the room. “Percival?” Elyan whispered but there was no reply. “Elyan scanned the dark room and suddenly his eyes caught sight of a shaft of sunlight on armour. “Percival!” He cried running over to find his friend slumped against the wall. “Percival what happened?” He asked as Percival groaned, slowly coming back to his senses before muttering one word. “Morgana.”

Leon, Gwaine and Merlin ran along the corridors searching for Arthur but with little success. Suddenly Leon spotted Eirawen’s maid, Lila at the end of the corridor. “Lila!” He called and she looked up. “Lila have you seen Arthur?” He asked and she shook her head. “Lila, what’s wrong?” Leon asked as he saw the worried look on her face. Lila didn’t answer; she just looked at Gwaine, tears in her eyes. “You need to see. I’m sorry.” She said quietly and Gwaine suddenly felt panic run through him.
“What is it?” He asked as she opened the door to Eirawen’s room. Gwaine entered and looked over at the bed, at the girl on it, as pale and lifeless as death, and he felt his heart ache as it dawned on him. He slowly walked towards the bed and knelt down beside it, taking Eirawen’s hand. “W-what happened?” He asked his eyes not moving from her. “I don’t know.” Lila whispered. Merlin slowly approached and Gwaine nodded to him as if giving him permission. Merlin slowly checked Eirawen over with a grim expression. “Merlin?” Gwaine asked when Merlin finally stood back. “She is alive, but only just.” He said and Gwaine swallowed hard.
“And?” He asked his voice trembling slightly.
“I think she has been poisoned, I have seen a similar thing in one of Gaius’s books…I’m sorry Gwaine…I can’t do anything…I’m sorry.” Merlin said. Gwaine couldn’t look at Merlin, he just stared at Eirawen’s hand, clasped in his, tears threatening his eyes. “Gwaine, that doesn’t mean…look there might still be a way…but we need to find Arthur.” Merlin said slowly. Gwaine nodded.
“Just…give me a minute.” He said and Merlin nodded before leading everyone from the room. Gwaine sat there, his hand in Eirawen’s. “Hey…umm hi.” He said as he found himself speechless. “Look, I just want you to know, I will be back. I have to help Arthur but I promise you I will be back. Also…I want you to know…” Gwaine slowly trailed off as he felt a single tear slip from his eye. He looked up for a moment, unable to bear it. He looked over at the window and as he did he saw something, on the window ceil were two squirrels. The squirrels were watching through the glass and Gwaine could have sworn they too were crying. Gwaine sighed and looked back down at Eirawen. “…and I want you to know that I love you Eirawen.” Gwaine said before leaning forwards and kissing her gently on the forehead before composing himself and hurrying out of the door.

Arthur was pushed forwards and his arms pulled out over the bowl. Eldred drew out a long silver dagger with a sickly grin. “What are you going to do to me?!” Arthur demanded. “I need your blood, the blood of two kings to open the gates.” Morgana said smiling as she saw Arthurs face becoming pale and Eldred raised the dagger. Arthur closed his eyes, waiting the worst. Suddenly he felt the cold steal press against his inner arm. Eldred grinned as he ran the dagger along Arthurs arm forming a long slit down it like a seam. “Ow!” Arthur cried as Eldred gripped his arm tightly making the thick red liquid drip into the bowl. As the first drop touched the glass the bowl began to change colour. Slowly spreading out from the blood the glass was turning a crimson scarlet colour. Slowly the whole gateway filled up a deep crimson as Eldred let go of Arthurs arm and pushed him roughly towards Sophia. Eldred put the dagger to his finger and pricked it letting the final drop hit the pool of blood. Suddenly there was the distant sound of bolts sliding and chains unlocking as the crimson gates began to open.

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Dun dun dun!! So...what do u think is behind the gates? Can Eirawen be saved?...lol u will have to wait and see! Oh...the sad squirrels r random i know but my friend and i thought of them in that sceen so...yeh...lol. But thanks so much for reading! Hope you liked it! Please vote and comment! Thanks so much! Your all amazing! :)

                                                        HazelJ :)

Btw if i wrote a Merlin story about the rise of Arthur AND the KNIGHTS! (sorry...lol) but would read? So it would be set moden day and have them rise again....i just planned it in maths today and am rather please with it....so yeh...let me know if you would read! :) (it would be after i have finished this and the final in this little series but still) :)