Merlin: The Light of Eriador

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Merlin fell on his knees.  The rusty sword slipped from his fingers and landed on the ground with a clang.  He looked up and saw a shadowy figure on the ground in the same position that he was.  A single torch was casting light on the physician’s tired face.  The two strands of white hair were covering his eyes and a glimmering chain was around his torso.

“Odran, you shouldn’t be here,” he said in a hoarse voice.

“Neither should you.  Let me see if I can get you out of these chains.”

“You won’t be able to.  They’re magical.”

Odran’s face was like stone.

“I suppose that Bryan knows how to keep you under his control.  After all, you are a sorcerer like him.”

The physician looked up at the prince pleadingly.  “This is the second time that I have to hide my magic.  I should have known that history would repeat itself.”  Merlin thought that he saw Emmerich’s eyes flash in his direction, but the impression did not last for long.  “How did you find out?” the physician asked Odran.  

“When you were wounded after the death of Godric,” answered the prince bluntly.  “I was left to tend to you and you were mumbling in your sleep.  The next thing I knew, your injuries were healing by themselves and unnaturally fast.  You said things, too.  Most of it was in a different language, but some of it was Arthur and Camelot.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

Odran merely shrugged.  “My father would have had you killed and I would have lost my mentor.  I don’t know what kind of sorcerer you are, but you’re the best physician Vallonia has ever had.”

The look of fondness that Emmerich had for his apprentice was very stirring for Merlin, like an echo of him and Gaius.  He forced himself to look away, but one glance at his shaking hands was enough to remind him of the urgency of their situation.

He felt that a polite coughing was in order.  “I don’t mean to intrude on … err… this private moment, but we’re going to get company very soon.  We should try to cut your bonds with the sword...”

The effort of getting up wasn’t as bad as the intense pain in his head.  The sudden move made him gasp and stop in mid-sentence.  He ignored voluntarily Odran’s worried expression and picked up the sword without much ceremony.  Instantly, he was surprised at how light it felt.  Was magic surrounding it?  In his present state, he couldn’t be sure.  All that he knew was that to cut Emmerich’s magical chain would require all that was left of his strength.

He positioned himself behind the kneeling physician so that he could aim the blow directly at the wrists.  He was moving as though in a hazy dream; the headache was impairing his vision.  He knew the words, of course, but performing a spell was always more than just words.

“What are you doing?  I forbid you to do it!” gasped Emmerich.

“It’s all right.  He has magic,” said Odran reassuringly.  He then leaned closer to Merlin.  “I promised that I would help you and keep you safe, but for that we need Emmerich.  Can you handle it?”

Merlin closed his eyes hard, trying to block out the pain.  He hated being so weak and powerless.  He hated that someone had done this to him.  He hated the look of concern on Odran’s face.  But he knew, deep inside, that he had to put all of that anger and frustration aside in order to help Arthur.  It was just one of those moments when he had to be the selfless warlock, the protector of Camelot, yet again, all in the name of a destiny greater than himself.  It suddenly all felt so remote, so farfetched…