Chapter 7 (part 1)

Chapter 7 (part 1)

It was the day of the challenge. It was to be held at the edge of the village which looked out to a valley. As soon as the day dawned the challenge began. Elijah had chosen giants of men from his army. Elijah’s men may be strong but the knights were agile and quick. After some time Percival was wounded, and Gaius went up to Merlin.

“What did you do? The swords were poisoned, Percival should have dropped dead by now." said Gaius. "Last night I had gone to their camp to change the swords. I removed the poison but they are forged of magic." replied Merlin. "Forged of magic?" questioned Gaius, dread settling in. "Weapons capable of killing the most powerful of sorcerers." answered Merlin.

The battle continued till eve but none had fallen. Injured but not dead. Darkness started creeping around the village but they continued the battle. In the clang of the swords something clicked and Merlin's head snapped up. He sensed something and put his entire focus on it. Another click. A bolt being fitting in a crossbow.  There was only one death today that would matter the most. Merlin knew what he had to do. He had known this is what they would try to do.  He knew, so he ran. 

The bolt was fired for one person, Arthur. Everyone heard the swoosh of the arrow but it never hit Arthur. Merlin wanted to call out to Arthur or Gaius but when he opened his mouth, "Gw...Gwaine!"  He called out to his friend. 

To hell with his injuries, Gwaine ran with the speed of wind and was immediately by his side.  "Merlin...keep your eyes open. Merlin! EYES OPEN!!" he said.  Percival reached and gently lifted him.  "Merlin!" he heard Arthur. 

"The challenge shall continue tomorrow." said Elijah starting to go away. "no!" said Merlin.  "Eh...boy? Why not?" sneered Elijah.  "Be...because if not dead one...man is dying." replied Merlin. The smile vanished from Elijah's face and Gaius stepped in. "You said it yourself, "One man from all". And he...he is..." 

Gwaine's anger took the best of him. He took out his sword, turned and plunged his sword in his opponent.  "Well, if you wanted someone who was in the challenge, there you go." 

Elijah started to raise his hand to signal attack when he heard Merlin in his head. "Elijah...don't do this. You just killed one of your own kind, how many more must die?"  Elijah lowered his hand immediately.  "My apologies, Your Majesty." he said and retreated with his troops apologizing to Merlin through their connection. 

Chapter 3

"What you are thinking is not correct Merlin. Why would you think they hate you?" asked Gaius over dinner.

"What else can be the reason, Gaius? They don't behave like that with other servants. It's just me. I must have done something to make them behave like this. I must have imagined Arthur's politeness as his friendship. I am his manservant. They are the Knights. If not, his equal they are his friends. I should understand that. They are not my equals and thus cannot be my friends." 

Gaius sighed. There is no use telling Merlin anything once he has decided otherwise. He just hoped that Merlin will be proved wrong.

Yo-

This only makes a little sense but what if

Klaus Hargreeves has the ability to talk to the dead right?? So what if he is dead?

Died like ages ago i know i know he can't but what if

And because his powers were talking to the dead but because now he himself is dead his powers like reversed and now despite being dead he can talk to the living

That would explain suddenly being able to channel other spirits through him you know-

Chapter 7 (part 2)

"Merlin you old fool!" Arthur said as Percival laid him down in one of the houses.  "What is my life compared to all of yours?" he said. Merlin knew he was gonna die. He was a powerful sorcerer, but the bolt was also forged of magic. It could easily kill him, but he had a few thing to say. Merlin used all the magic he had to keep awake. Gwaine and Arthur sat on either side of his bed while Gaius sat near the end of the bed. 

"Gaius...when I'm gone...." "You are going nowhere!" Said Gaius even though he knew it wasn't possible.  "Tell them....about Emrys. And all he has done." 

"Merlin, please. Merlin you are not dying. You can't die! You have to stay with me, with us! Please, Merlin..." said Gwaine. No one had imagined the day Gwaine would but here he was, silently crying beside his dying friend.

"Why Sir Gwaine? Isn't George enough?" asked Merlin, a small smile forming at his lips. "He isn't our friend, you are." said Elyan.  'Oh yes? Is that the reason you all behaved so harshly? Is that the reason you all were treating him so rudely?" questioned Gaius. "It was supposed to make him mad just for a few days. Until today.." started Percival. "It's his birthday tomorrow. We just wanted to surprise him." said Leon.

Merlin let out a small laugh. He, himself had forgotten his birthday. 

"Be the best knight in Camelot for me, Gwaine." he said and Gwaine nodded in response.  "I will take care of Hunith, rest assured." said Gaius.

"I'll make sure these idiots don't get themselves killed." said Elyan tear streaming down his face as he smiled. 

"Percival...take care of Gaius for me." said Merlin, trying not to wince. Percival clapped a hand on Merlin's shoulder and smiled at him.  

Arthur wanted to say a lot and he would have if he was not crying so much. Merlin was his first friend. The only person who had never seen him as 'Prince Arthur' but as just 'Arthur Pendragon'. He wanted to tell Merlin that he was his most trusted and loyal friend but...he couldn't. He just couldn't. But Arthur just sat there watching his one true friend taking ragged breaths that would soon lead to his last. But when he turned to look at him, Merlin smiled. It seemed as if he knew.  "Arthur....Guinevere" said Merlin and Arthur understood. 

Merlin took one last look at all of them and smiled again. His magic was slipping and he breathed his last words... "When the hour of the greatest need is upon, Walk along the Lake of Avalon Call out for me  and I shall be To try and be that friend indeed."

And as he did the room was filled with tiny balls of lights. Merlin's hand fell limp from Gwaine's.  "Merlin? Merlin!?" exclaimed Gwaine, breaking down beside him. The clang of Elyan and Arthur's sword said it all. Gaius collapsed to the ground and Leon silently mourned. 

"Happy Birthday..." whispered Percival. Even though Merlin wouldn't hear it now. He would never make a joke or give comical remarks. He would never come bustling in the room with that bright smile. He would never see the banquet they had prepared. He would never see the celebrations and the feast they had prepared. 

He would never see them and they wouldn't see Merlin again...

Chapter 6

"You want us to stop attacking your villages? And that we go away? You mean us no harm? Hah! You expect me to believe you? You, who killed so many of my brothers! You expect me to believe you!! Never!" barked Elijah. 

Arthur looked down, clearly ashamed of what he had done. And the fact that his people had to suffer because of him.  "I'll do whatever it takes. Whatever you say, just leave them be." pleaded Arthur.

"Whatever I say, eh? You will do just as I say? What about your Knights? Will they?" sneered Elijah. Percival and Gwaine's hands tightened on their swords. Whatever Elijah was going to suggest wasn't going to be a pleasant walk in the garden. 

"Alright then! Five of my men will fight against you all. All at once but one for one. And the fight will go on until one falls. Not in each pair...oh no! I am not that cruel. Hah! No, no no. One man from all. That's it. That's all I ask." he said.

"How are we to be sure you won't use magic?" questioned Leon. "Not all of my men are sorcerers. See these ten here? They are the sorcerers and they won't be fighting. And if we did use a spell won't you be able to see?" he said and rode away with his men. 

"Gaius! All those swords, the ones Elijah's men had. All of them were forged in dragon's breath. It also seemed that they were coated with something." whispered Merlin. "Most probably poison. Of course they aren't going to use magic, their weapons are prepared in such a way that none of them would even survive a gash." said Gaius back in reply. 

"I have to do something!" said Merlin. 

"You only have until tonight, Merlin. Think of something fast." said Gaius and went off. '

Merlin thought for a minute and then he had his answer. It was the only way and if not...he didn't care. He felt it to be best for all...