The Aftermath (Merlin)

Chapter Two: Dire Consequences

"Very well, I suppose you should get back"

the spirit looked sadly at her kin "Remember what I said Emrys. Remember who you are"

Merlin looked confused as she spoke that last sentence but before he could question her she had disappeared, he stood alone in silence still watching the scene play out in front of him, he worried of the darkness the sidhe had spoken of and what she meant by remembering who he was.

Shaking these thoughts out of his mind for the time being he had to focus on Arthur and Arthur alone he would need all his power and all his energy to complete this spell. Merlin walked towards the struggling version of himself, standing just behind him, he walked into himself and was once again submerged by lightning with his hands still raised to the sky shaking with power, the wind was even more vicious than before but nothing could stop him now, not when he knew he was this close, not when he could save Arthur.

"MERLIN!" Kilgharrah shouted again over the thundering sounds from above "YOU CAN'T DO THIS YOU'RE NOT STRONG ENOUGH!"

If it was any other situation, Merlin would have listened to his friends advice, he had been right about everything else, but this time Merlin knew he could do this, he felt it with every fibre of his being that he was strong enough. Ignoring his friend Merlin dug deep inside himself and let out an almighty roar, it's sound would have matched even that of the great dragon. The warlocks eyes which had been Golden throughout this entire process shifted from a golden glow to a fiery red if you looked close enough you could have sworn to see actual flames within his eyes.

As he finished his roar the lightning stopped Merlin was no longer being submerged by the bolt. But his eyes remained fiery red, and the flames you thought you could see within them were now prominent for anyone to see. Merlin now freed from the lightning turned to face Kilgharrah.

"You're wrong I am strong enough" although Merlin had only meant to inform the dragon of his plan to continue, but the words that came out sounded cynical and cruel.

When Kilgharrah saw Merlin face him he saw the anger and determination that was fuelling the seering red flames in his eyes. He knew Merlin was not going to give up and so bowed his head low, lower than he ever had before, but for Kilgharrah the bow wasn't to accept Merlin's plans to save Arthur, No, it was something much more instinctual, it was submission to his Dragon Lord, not out of respect, not out of loyalty, but of fear and duty to serve him. Kilgharrah was now afraid of man that stood before him and of what he may become.

Merlin acknowledged the bow, thinking nothing more of it than Kilgharrah's acceptance of his plans and looked back up towards the sky, with his his arms stretched outwards to the side using the same tone of voice he uses when summoning Kilgharrah he shouts:

"Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare mid þam sundorcræftas þære ealdaþ æ! Seópan ærest wearð feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dom. Dreamleas gebad he gewann langsum! Butan þæt cwalu. Hrðe þon aidlian. Hrðe þon eðian. Bot ond tile!"

As the warlock shouts the last word of his spell, he pants out of breath and exhausted. The thunder had stopped. The wind was dying down. The earth stopped shaking as the last tree fell to the ground. The water from lake which had grown to at least 30 feet tall fell rapidly as if gravity had just been switched back on. The only weather which remained was the rain which continued to lash down on the three figures.

"What have you done?!" The dragon asked in terror and disbelief

Merlin, who was still trying to regain his breath began to open his mouth to answer when suddenly a sharp unbearable pain coursed through his head he put his hands to his head and screamed in pain as he bent over in agony. He had never felt such pain in his life, it was if someone was setting the inside of his head on fire whilst stabbing it with hundreds of knives.