Merlin Alternate Ending

Chapter 17: Percival

"In life, if you don't risk anything, you risk everything."

~John Spence

Percival's POV

To my left I hear a rustle in the trees.

I shoot to my feet, eyes flying open. I creep toward the bushes where the noise came from, picking up my sword from the leaves where it had fallen, forgotten, a few feet away. I shoot a glance back to where Gwaine hangs limply, his eyes closed. Suddenly the rustling sounds again and an old man with a tangled gray beard and a long green robe steps out of the thick treeline, hands held in front of him in a sign of peaceful intent as he eyes my sword warily.

"Who are you?" My voice comes out gruff and accusatory. The old man doesn't look like much of a threat, but over the years I've learned that looks can be deceiving.

The man takes a hesitant step toward me. "My name is Danyon. I'm a Druid." I raise my sword threateningly and the man retreats a few steps, holding his hands up higher. "Please, I mean you no harm." A snarl stirs in my throat. Magic is what started this war, what killed Lancelot and Elyan and Gwaine. I flinch at the thought of my friend, dangling behind me, of what Morgana did to him. I grip my sword harder.

The man--Danyon--speaks up again, as if reading my thoughts. Maybe he was, for all I know about Druids and magic. "I can help your friend." 

I pause. "Why should I believe you?"

Danyon shrugs. "He will die for certain if you don't let me help you. What is there to lose?"

I can't help it; a spark of hope lifts in my heart. "He isn't dead already?"

The Druid shakes his head. "No, but he's about as close to it as you can get and survive. We must hurry if he is to be saved. Can you carry him?" I hesitate. Can I trust him? "We're wasting time. Are you coming or not?" Danyon insists.

Finally I nod and walk back to Gwaine. The man is right; even if he betrays me, I have nothing left to lose. I use my sword to cut the ropes binding Gwaine and then sheath it at my side before taking the knight's alarmingly limp body into my arms. "Hold on, Gwaine." I whisper, following Danyon into the forest.

*****

We weave through the trees in what seems to be a random pattern, but Danyon appears to know where he is going.

After several minutes of walking, we come to a large rock face with a cave in the side. Danyon gestures for me to go inside.

I hesitate. Following him through the woods was one thing, but my instincts and training are screaming at me not to go into the darkness where I cannot see threats, where I could easily get lost, where I can be trapped and ambushed. I purse my lips; if I can really save Gwaine, then I have to try. I cannot lose another of my brothers to this war. Besides, the gentle look in Danyon's old eyes feels genuine to me. I sigh and plunge forward into the darkness.

Farther into the cave the walls are lined with torches separated by equal intervals. I am grateful for the faint light they offer. 

The tunnel twists and bends , but no passage splits off to either side, so I continue down it. Finally I come to a  large cavern. Candles rest all around the cave in nooks and outcroppings in the rock surface. In the center of the cave sits a large slab of stone that makes a table. 

Suddenly a man appears beside the table. He is bald with thick, fair eyebrows. His skin emits a pale blue light and I gasp as I realize that he is almost translucent. The man chuckles at the shock on my face.

"I am Alator of the Catha. Well, his spirit anyway." He introduces himself in a thick accent. At the confusion on my face he explains, "I was killed by Morgana, but a part of me stayed behind to help the Druids. I believe we have a common acquaintance. I  was friends with Emrys, though you know him as Merlin."

I blink in shock. "You know Merlin? How?"

Alator chuckles again. "There is much you do not know about your friend. But that is a story that you must hear from Merlin himself. Besides, you are here for Gwaine. Come, lay him here." he instructs, gesturing to the stone table.

I step forward and place Gwaine's limp body on the smooth stone surface. Alator steps up and I move back, making room for the man. He places his hands on Gwaine's chest, closing his eyes.

After a moment he inhales deeply. "Hmm...there is dark, powerful magic here...but Gwaine can be saved." Alator waves his hand and a silver goblet appears between his fingers. I eye it custiously, unsettled by the sorcery surrounding me. Alator smiles gently, "The Cup of Life. If your friend has a pure heart, which I believe he does, he will pull through." The sorcerer raises the cup and begins to chant in a deep voice, "Spiritus terrae marisque, detrahetur Gwaine iudicium. Si mundo corde, ut serviat Camelot magis parcendum." His eyes flash gold and a pale light emits from the chalice. Alator lowers the goblet to Gwain's lips and allows the clear water that now fills it to drain slowly into the knight's mouth. When he is finished, the man looks up at me. "Now we wait."

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Sorry I've taken so long to update again! Thank you everyone who has stuck with me and patiently waited for my sporadic updates! I appreciate every comment and vote I get. Also, the words Alator says are in Latin. He says "Spirits of the earth, air, and sea, bring down your judgement upon Gwaine. If he is pure of heart, spare him that he may serve Camelot once more."