Fire Light (Merlin FanFic)

Part 5- Old burns

Part 5

Arthur groaned as he woke again, he had been in and out of sleep for nearly three days and he was still exhausted. “Arthur?” He heard a voice say. He looked round to see Percival. “Percival, any sign of them?” Arthur asked. Percival shook his head. “We have searched the woods. They must be in the castle.” Arthur considered this for a moment before climbing out of the bed, slowly this time. He slipped on his shirt. “Arthur, you need..” Percival began.

“What I need is to rescue Merlin Gwaine and Scarlett.” Arthur said stubbornly.

“I know, we are all worried about them but we need to wait till you’re healed.” Percival said. “We have waited long enough, we leave within the hour!” Arthur said before dizziness engulfed him and he lent on a chair for support. “Actually, make that two hours.”

After fighting four men Gwaine was completely exhausted. He hardly had enough strength to speak which for Gwaine was not a good sign. The 5th man was armed with a mace that was getting dangerously close to Gwaine's head. "I bet you couldn't even hit a wall with that thing could you?" Gwaine breathed. The man swung at him again but Gwaine dodged. "Come…" Gwaine had to stop for breath. "…On." He said after a minute. Just then his vision blurred, he saw the man swing at him and he tried to dodge but the mace smashed into his arm. He cried out in pain as his arm shattered. His opponent advanced sure of victory, he punched Gwaine in the stomach causing Gwaine to fall back. Just before the man was about to deliver a deadly blow Gwaine kicked out catching the man where it hurts. The man cried out and dropped his weapon. Gwaine grabbed it with his good arm and swung it at the man. He had won again. However he was so tired and the pain in his arm so much he knew he was about to pass out, the blackness slowly invading the corners of his vision. Morgana congratulated him and then sent the crowd away. She took him to the table, once again covered in food. Gwaine sat in the chair, eyes closed, trying desperately to catch his breath. His eyes snapped back open as he felt Morgana's hand on his injured arm and winced in pain. "Keep still." She said. Then she muttered a spell and her eyes flashed amber and the pain in Gwaine's arm was gone. He pulled his arm back, rubbed it then flexed it, it was fine. "Wow, thanks." Gwaine said bewildered. "It's nothing." Morgana said smiling. "You must be hungry. Eat." Morgana said. Gwaine picked up an apple but when he went to bite into it there was nothing there. He tried again but still nothing. He put the fruit down and looked at Morgana who was smirking at him. "Very funny." Gwaine said.

"I know, it was wasn't it." Morgana said. Gwaine gave her a sarcastic smile. "Here, have some mead." She said pouring him a cup. Gwaine eyed it suspiciously but soon gave in and downed it. He sighed and smiled. It was real and it felt good. Then he saw Morgana watching him closely. "What do you look so happy about?" Gwaine asked. "Soon Arthur will be here and Camelot will be mine at last." Morgana said. Gwaine's face suddenly became serious. "Morgana, why are you doing all this? What will it accomplish?" Gwaine asked.

"I want freedom. Just because I have magic shouldn't mean I should be hunted and persecuted! I want the freedom I deserve!" Morgana told him.

"How will this help though? How will killing Arthur help you?" Gwaine asked.

"With Arthur dead I can take my rightful place on the thrown of Camelot and magic will be worshiped once again. I am the spark to light the rebellion and to restore magic to Camelot!"

"But don't you see? Magic has corrupted you! Turned you into a killer! Is that anyway to get peace?" Gwaine was surprised at what he was saying, it sounded so serious. He couldn't remember acting this serious in ages. "Magic has not corrupted me! It has shown me the light! I am not the evil one it's Arthur and all those who persecute sorcerers just because of who they are that are evil!”

"You may have seen the light but the problem with light is it can blind you. It's like fire, get to close and you will burn. And that's what's happened to you! It has burnt you so much you have forgotten who you were. You don't realise how like Uther you have become." Morgana's eyes blazed and she slapped Gwaine across the face. "How dare you use that name!"

"So what happens when you rule Camelot Morgana? All alone in the palace to live out your life like Uther. Hiding away in your castle because you can't bare to face the world outside, all alone, with no one at your side, no one to guide you, to comfort you, to be your friend. How will that feel? Like being free? Or like being imprisoned in your own palace?"

"Do not talk to me about loneliness. I spent two years locked up in the dark! Two years without seeing the sun, two years without seeing another human face or hearing another voice! And why? Because I have magic!"

"I'm sorry, I really am but you will just end up alone again. Alone and afraid for the rest of your life. Don't you see I am trying to help you?" Gwaine said.

"Take him away." Morgana said to her guards and Gwaine was dragged from the room.

Gwaine was thrown back into the cell and the doors locked. He was beginning to get a headache and he felt sick but he put that down to exhaustion and hunger. He staggered over to a corner and sat down leaning on the wall. "You ok?" Merlin asked. Gwaine nodded. "5 men, one broken arm, one cup of mead and no food." Gwaine explained. "Broken arm?" Merlin questioned.

"Morgana fixed it." Gwaine said.

"Oh that was nice of her."

"I suppose it was." Gwaine said slowly.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" Merlin asked.

"Yeh, fine." Gwaine said.

"Ok, Scarlett still isn't back but I found this. The bars are rusty; if we can break them we will be free. Come and see." Merlin said facing the bars. Gwaine slowly got to his feet and felt the colour drain from his face. The world began to spin and lurch in alarming ways. "Gwaine? Gwaine? What's wrong?" He heard Merlin ask. The next thing he knew he was on the floor. "Gwaine what is it? What's wrong?" Merlin asked sounding worried. "On second thoughts I don’t feel to good.”

“Gwaine what happened? What’s wrong? Please tell me!”

“Come to think of it that mead did taste a bit odd." Gwaine said.

"Poison." Merlin murmured.

"Yep." Gwaine said. Merlin put a hand to Gwaine forehead and found it boiling. He breathing rate was also increasing. "It's ok. You'll be fine." Merlin said.

"Merlin, do I look stupid?" Gwaine asked.

"Serious question?" Merlin said his voice shaking slightly, Gwaine smiled.

"It’s funny. I always knew mead would be the death of me, never quite pictured it being so soon though." Gwaine said with a weak grin. "Ow! That doesn't feel good." He said wincing and placing a hand just below his ribcage. "I also never would have thought I would die a knight of Camelot, I wonder if my father would be proud?" Gwaine said before crying out and wrapping an arm round himself. "Do you think you could hurry this up a little?" Gwaine asked.

"No shut up!" Merlin told him. Gwaine smiled.

"You know you’re the best friend I've ever had." Gwaine said.

"Yeh I'm your only friend. All the others just have to try and put up with you." Merlin said. "Oi!" Gwaine said. And Merlin smiled. But his smile faded as Gwaine cried out again. "Ok, really need something for the pain now." Gwaine said. Merlin looked down at his friend and knew he had no choice. He couldn't sit there and watch Gwaine die. Merlin raised his hands above Gwaine and began to mutter the spell. However at that second the cell door opened and Merlin was forced to stop. To his dismay the guards began to drag Gwaine away. Merlin tried to fend them off but it was no good. They had taken Gwaine and there was nothing Merlin could do to save him.