TOAFK - The Cup of Life - Part II
Continuing from TOAFK - The Cup of Life - Part I because LJ decided the post was "too large"
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...
Uther wasn't happy when his courtyard was suddenly full of townsfolk, or that Arthur's knights were in the lower town instead on their way to the Forest of Balor to fight a band of sorcerers. However, Arthur made sure to avoid any possible chance of seeing his father the next day. There were immortal giants coming and he simply didn't have the time.
The lower town had barely been evacuated when the ground began to shake.
"An army on horseback?" one of the knights asked.
"No. Remember what Breunor said? Giants," said another.
They all looked to Arthur for guidance and he nodded. Several of the knights gulped and took a step back, but none of them turned and ran. It was that bravery that had won them many battles.
Arthur drew his sword. "Ready for battle," he said loudly, his voice carrying to all the knights. "We must defend Camelot and its people at all costs!"
He ordered the city gates shut and got the knights into a defensive formation around the entrance. Through the steel gates, they watched as the trees gave way to men ten feet tall. Arthur counted six in his view through the gate but knew there were dozens more that he couldn't see to either side and more coming up from the rear. He also knew that the knights could not defeat the giants until Merlin and Morgana found and emptied the Cup, but they could delay the fighting to limit casualties.
"Fire!" he shouted to the battlements, where guards with bows and crossbows stood shielded by stone. They rolled out from hiding, took aim, and let their arrows fly.
Through the gate, Arthur watched the arrows hit their marks. Some of the giant men stumbled, one fell, but they regained their footing moments later and kept coming. The drawbridge broke under the first giant's heavy weight, but that didn't slow them down for more than a moment. Flaming arrows rained down on their heads but they just knocked them aside like insects.
From behind, Arthur could hear the distant sound of the people secured inside the courtyard as they voiced their worries about the thunder in the ground and the angry shouts of giant men. At least they were safe, for now, with a second wall between them and the enemies who bore down upon them. If the knights could defeat the giants in the lower town, no peasants needed to die.
Without turning his head, Arthur cast his thoughts briefly to Merlin and Morgana. They had better make the giants mortal, and fast.
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...
"What did the room look like in your dream, Morgana?" Merlin asked.
Morgana pulled shut the door to the room they'd just searched and frowned at him. "Stone. It looked like stone, Merlin. Like any room in the castle," she answered testily.
"You didn't see anything defining?"
"No. We've been over this."
Merlin let out a heavy breath. "I know, but time is running out. The giants have started their attack and Arthur is out there with his men, fighting."
Morgana didn't speak until they'd checked the next room in the hall, looking under desks and around wardrobes for something that wasn't there. "I know that," she said, letting the window curtain fall back into place and crossing her arms. "I wish I had more information. Did you not see anything in your vision?"
With a frown, Merlin headed for the door. "No, I saw it being filled, not where it was hidden. I didn't even know it was in the castle until you told me so."
Morgana shut the door behind them. She turned to continue down the hall and stopped. There was a woman peeking around the corner into the hallway. She had orange red hair that barely peaked out from under her brown and white bonnet and bright blue eyes. While pretty, she could have been just any peasant. Morgana would have thought she was, simply a baker's wife or a young blacksmith's mother, except this was the woman she had seen in her dream last night.
"Merlin," she said in warning, stopping the sorcerer from walking further down the hall. When Merlin glanced her way, Morgana nodded to the end of the hall. "That's her."
She had told Merlin of her dream last night, of the woman with the strange aura who was looking for Merlin, who was after the Cup of Life. It was the only reason this woman was in Camelot. Morgana didn't know anything else about her, not where she came from or why she wanted the Cup or if she was a friend or foe to Camelot. Her vision was severely limited when it came to this woman.
Merlin tilted his head at her, eyebrows pulled together in thought. "I've seen her before," he said quietly.
He'd seen the woman before, just like he'd seen the Cup of Life somewhere before. But where?
The woman seemed to come to a decision and stepped fully into view. She dusted off her skirts and pulled at them to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, and then began to walk down the hall toward them. At first glance, she seemed to be the perfect servant, eyes down, hands clasped in front of her, steps small and measured and quiet. However, a moment's watch and Morgana saw that her eyes were down but her chin was held high and she carried herself like a lady of the court. Beside her, Merlin gasped.
"It's you!" he said.
The woman gave a slight smile as she reached them and curtsied. Morgana remained tense. It's who?
"I'm pleased you remember me, my lord," the woman greeted. "My master sends his regards."
Merlin shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't know your name."
"Dannan," she introduced and then frowned. "I'm afraid we don't have time for pleasantries, sir. Something of great value has been stolen from the king."
Merlin turned to Morgana before her confusion could mount any higher. "The Fisher King," he explained. "Dannan," the woman nodded when he glanced at her for assurance, "works in his castle." His eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. "That's where I've seen the Cup before. The water that healed you and Uther when you were both really sick all those months ago, it was poured into a flask from inside the Cup of Life. That's why it healed you when nothing else did!" He gave Dannan a questioning look. "The Cup of Life is the Holy Grail?"
Dannan nodded. "Yes. But it was stolen," she revealed gravely. "A woman with fair hair but a grave expression somehow managed to gain entrance to the castle and took the Cup. But it is not her destiny to wield it, and the Cup must be returned to my master before it can cause any damage."
The castle shook around them, causing Dannan to fall to her knees while Merlin's arms pin wheeled briefly and Morgana grabbed the wall for balance. Morgana reached down to help Dannan up and leveled a serious look at the other woman's confusion.
"It's already causing damage," she said, making Dannan frown deeply.
The redhead turned worried eyes on Merlin. "Then it is good I found you," she said. "My king said you would help me find the Cup and return it to Whitehaven."
Morgana crossed her arms. "We've been looking all day and haven't found it yet," she revealed. "If you know a better way, please, let us know."
Merlin seemed to trust this woman, but Morgana wasn't sure. If she was from the hall of the legendary Fisher King, that could explain the weird aura Morgana had seen in her dreams last night. And she had been looking for Merlin, because her king told her to. And she wanted the Cup only because it had been stolen and she wanted to return it to her king where it belonged. So everything checked out, but Morgana wanted to withhold judgment. Camelot had been burned too many times by supposed friends.
Dannan nodded. "Lord Emrys," she spoke to Merlin. "You should be able to sense its location." She simply nodded when Merlin cast her a dubious look. "My master knows much about magic and he knew you would be the one to find the Cup and return it to Whitehaven, its proper keep. If you focus, you should be able to lead us right to it."
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...
Only a few short minutes later, Merlin had walked the group of three through two halls and down a flight of stairs and stopped outside the door to the vaults. The door was locked but a quick whispered spell from Merlin had it open for them.
Morgana smirked. "I suppose that explains how you got into a few places you shouldn't have been in the past," she noted, teasing.
Merlin gave a sheepish shrug and began leading them down into the vaults. They had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when Merlin suddenly forced them back into the cover of the stairwell. In the room beyond, Morgause was picking listlessly through the many artifacts left in the open area of the vaults.
Morgana looked around the corner, saw her sister, and her gaze hardened. "I'll distract her. You two find the Cup and empty it," she whispered. As much as she might be worried about Dannan, she knew the only one Morgause would hesitate to kill was her.
"Who are you, hiding in the shadows?" Morgause asked. "I know you're there."
Merlin hesitated, then nodded and leaned back to let Morgana pass. She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked into the room.
"Morgana," Morgause gasped quietly.
"Sister," Morgana greeted. She walked to the far wall and turned around to face her blond sister, putting Morgause's back to the stairwell. "So my vision was correct. You are behind the resurrection of the giants."
Morgause smiled. "A simple task when given the right tools," she said.
"The Cup of Life."
Now Morgause looked proud. "You remember it." Merlin and Dannan slipped silently out of the stairwell and disappeared down the corridor. Morgana never moved her eyes from her sister's face. "Then you remember its powers?"
Morgana nodded. "The giants are immortal and nothing Arthur's knights do can kill them." She frowned. "I suppose you will empty the goblet yourself once the battle is won."
"Of course," Morgause agreed. "Balor is a formidable foe and his army will destroy Camelot and all who defend the Pendragon line. But keeping such a bloodthirsty beast around in the long term would be foolhardy. One wrong glance and an innocent would die."
Morgause began picking through the artifacts again, wandering around the room. Morgana wasn't worried though, since Merlin and Dannan were already gone. She did remain standing near the far wall though, in case she needed to draw Morgause's attention again.
"Considering the damage his army has already done, that is obvious," Morgana agreed as the castle shook above them, dropping dirt on their shoulders and heads. "But using him this way...I have to admit, I would do the same if I had the Cup of Life."
Morgause paused in looking at a particularly lovely goblet and lifted her eyes to her sister. "How did you know where to find me?" she asked, voice only mildly suspicious. Morgana knew that meant Morgause was seriously doubting her though.
"I saw the Cup and you in my vision," Morgana said. When Morgause continued to stare, Morgana let out an aggravated sigh and shook her head. "No, I did not tell anyone where you were. I told Arthur that the giants would come but that he could not defeat them."
A sickly pleased grin grew on Morgause's face. "Not such a nice prophesy to get from a seer on your side, is it?"
Morgana frowned. "No. No it's not."
"And the boy? Merlin?" Morgause asked with a frown. "Is he up there fighting from the shadows as well?"
"Merlin is always fighting on Arthur's side, no matter the danger to his own life," Morgana answered truthfully. "But even his magic cannot combat that of the Cup."
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...
Arthur slashed at the leg of a giant, dragging its attention from one of his fallen knights before it could kill him. The beast flipped around and smacked Arthur to the side, causing a nearby soldier to shout in alarm, but it gave the knight time to get away. Arthur pushed himself to his feet as quickly as he could, his ribs aching and Excalibur held tight in his hand, then cast his gaze around.
Dozens of houses and businesses had been completely destroyed, leaving only rubble behind, and the wall at the entrance to the city had been obliterated. At least no civilians had been injured, Arthur reminded himself. Houses and walls could be rebuilt. People couldn't. He didn't want to wonder how many soldiers he'd lost so far.
Gripping Excalibur with both hands, Arthur ran at the nearest giant. It turned to face him and he slashed across its stomach. Almost as soon as the wound was inflicted, it healed. Cursing, Arthur dodged out of the way of the giant's hands when it retaliated.
A giant picked up part of what used to be a house and tossed it at some of the knights. Most of them got out of the way, but one shouted when it landed on him. From his continued struggle, he was alive but trapped and probably wounded. Two other soldiers hurried to help him while others struggled to keep the giant's attention off his trapped prey.
Two other giants were squabbling over an archer they had clutched in their hands, playing tug of war with his fragile body. Arthur moved to help him but stopped, a sick feeling in his gut, when he noticed the archer was already dead. They were fighting over the man's body, not his life. He hurried over to where more archers were stumbling out of the rubble of the wall and pointed to the fighting giants.
"Take them down," he ordered, and they were more than willing to obey.
A shout from the left made Arthur turn. One of his newest knight recruits was lying on the ground with wide eyes, not moving. Dead. Another knight was looking pointedly at the dead knight instead of at the large giant advancing on him.
"Kay! Move!" Arthur shouted.
The knight's eyes jumped up to his prince and he nodded with a grim expression before turning and running down the street away from Balor, for it had to be Balor - even without the cloth Merlin said should be covering his eye. Arthur ran around debris and wounded men toward the leader of this infernal army. He couldn't kill the bastard until Merlin and Morgana upturned that cup, but he could distract him for awhile.
Two guards made the mistake of looking at Balor as the giant rushed toward them, a club in his hands bigger than their heads. In an instant, they went rigid and collapsed to the ground. Arthur cursed and sprinted faster, as fast as his armor would allow.
"Balor!" he shouted, keeping his eyes on the ground around the beast's feet. He saw Balor turn around and narrowed his eyes. If he was to die, it would be by the club and not by the eye.
By watching the shadows and the tells of Balor's body from his waist down, Arthur managed to drop below a swing of the club and get close enough to stab Balor in the gut. When he pulled back, Arthur ran around behind the giant, who gave a deep belly laugh that turned Arthur's stomach.
"A smart and swift human," he said, voice like jagged rocks. "But you will still die."
"Not as long as I hold my sword," Arthur declared. "If I am standing, you will not succeed!"
Balor chortled, turning to face Arthur as if he had all the time in the world. "Then I suppose you must lose your legs, tiny warrior."
Arthur gave an upward slash to Balor's chest. Both he and Balor gasped when the wound began to bleed instead of healing. The blood scorched the stone where it fell and Arthur jumped away before any could splash on him. With a growl, Balor swung his large club. It hit Excalibur and knocked it from Arthur's hands.
"My lord!" Pellinore shouted, jumping from a pile of rubble onto Balor's back, driving his sword into the monster's spine.
Balor shouted in pain and fell to his knees. His body was still now, the club thumping to the ground heavily alongside his body, but his expression was stunned though no one was looking at it. Arthur quickly grabbed Excalibur and slashed horizontally across Balor's body, crossing his earlier wound and making Balor bleed exponentially more.
All around, the giants slowed their attacks until they were standing still, looking at their now bleeding wounds in surprise. Arthur saw them glance over to their king with confusion. The expressions only lasted a moment before the skin of every giant began to crack and break like dry earth. The knights only paused for a moment before resuming their attacks, pressing what seemed to be a sudden advantage.
Balor swung out with a mighty fist. Arthur jumped back, but though the attack was sloppy and desperate, Balor still managed to grab Arthur's left foot within his hand. Arthur felt his bones grinding in the tight grip and quickly sliced the hand from Balor's arm, then forced the fingers to release him while Balor shouted obscenities at him. Pellinore pulled his sword from Balor's spine, causing the giant to shudder horribly and nearly knock the knight from his shoulders. Then he shoved the point of his weapon as hard as he could into Balor's skull. One of the eyes popped clean from its socket, replaced by red steel.
Then suddenly the lower town was void of giants and instead full of tall piles of white sand. Even the giants' blood had become harmless grains that blew around in the wind.
Pellinore, standing from where he'd fallen when Balor crumbled, dusted himself off with a heavy breath. "Did we win?" he asked, coughing.
Arthur looked around at the destruction and dead bodies around them. "The giants are dead, but our victory isn't complete. It will take time to rebuild."
"But how?" Pellinore asked, making his way over to help his prince stand. "They seemed unbeatable."
Motioning to the sand before them, the remains of Balor, Arthur said, "Perhaps killing the king killed the army, like cutting off the head of a snake. Whatever the reason, Camelot is still standing because of it."
Merlin and Morgana must have overturned the Cup of Life, emptying it of blood. Arthur looked to the castle and wondered if they were alright.
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...
Morgause wandered toward the stairs. "Morgana," she said speculatively. "When this is all over and Camelot is free for the taking, it will need a new ruler. Despite your betrayal, I would still be willing to follow you as queen."
"Even knowing I disagree with your methods?" Morgana asked, honestly curious.
The blond witch nodded. "Yes. Because once the Pendragons are gone, you will no longer owe them allegiance. You will be free to rule Camelot as its true heir and not have to defer to that inferior King or his awful son."
As Morgause spoke, Morgana became aware of the quiet that had fallen upstairs. No longer did dust sprinkle down and there was no rumbling. The battle was over. A slight movement down the corridor caught Morgana's attention.
"Morgause," Morgana said, then stopped. She waited until she had Morgause's full attention before slowly walking forward. "I will never be queen of Camelot." Morgause opened her mouth but Morgana didn't let her speak. "I am too dark, have become too distorted in my soul. Arthur is not his father and he is the true heir of Camelot, of Albion. I have seen it, as has Tethella."
Morgause scoffed. "Tethella speaks in riddles."
"No matter what you try, Arthur will still become king. He will win, Morgause." Morgana had never seen her sister glare so ferociously at her before. It was actually rather terrifying. "Do you not hear it?" She cast her gaze briefly up to the ceiling and then watched as Morgause did the same. "You've already lost, sister."
The realization that Morgana was right dawned slowly and with a fight on Morgause's face. She didn't want to believe it. "No." She shook her head. "The Cup of Life-"
"Is no longer in your possession," Merlin stated as he stepped into view.
Flipping around to face him, Morgause scowled. "I should have guessed. You always find a way to interfere." She huffed out a breath and stood tall, looking as composed as ever. "Mark me, child, soon I will find a way to eliminate you, along with your precious prince."
Merlin held out his hand and opened his mouth, glaring, but Morgause spit out her transportation spell in a second. Wind picked up in the vault, blowing cobwebs and dust everywhere, and when it settled Morgause was gone.
Dannan peeked out from the corridor, the Cup of Life clutched in her hands. "Is she gone?"
Morgana let out a long sigh. "For now."
"I wish we could stop her from using that spell all the time," Merlin commented, sounding winded.
She looked at Merlin and found him looking back, his expression as wary and tired as Morgana felt. If only there was a way to make Morgause see the good in Arthur, but it was probably a hope held in vain. Perhaps if she didn't vanish at the first sign of failure, they could talk to her properly.
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Merlin sighed, exasperated, and picked up the reins of his horse. "Honestly, Arthur, I'll be back in a few days. You don't need to be worried."
Arthur frowned. "I'm not worried."
Across the courtyard, Gwen was helping Dannan onto a horse. Merlin had explained who she was to Arthur but to everyone else, she was a childhood friend that Merlin was escorting home due to the recent danger. The two girls were chatting but Arthur couldn't hear what they were saying, though it seemed slightly tense.
Rolling his eyes, Merlin said, "Of course not. That's why there's a new sword strapped to the saddle and why I'm wearing chainmail under my clothes." He grinned when Arthur huffed. "Try not to die while I'm gone, alright?"
Now Arthur was the one to roll his eyes and crossed his arms - at least, as best he could around the crutch Gaius had forced upon him due to his injured foot and not pulling too hard on his injured ribs. It looked more humorous than Arthur probably intended it to. "Honestly Merlin, I'll be fine. I've got a few cuts and bruises, that's all. You're like a mother with her first child the way you nag."
"Well someone has to keep your head from getting too big or your crown wouldn't fit," Merlin teased. Kay, nearby, coughed a laugh into his fist. Arthur obviously heard it anyway and scowled, his cheeks faintly pink.
"Get moving before you lose the light," he said shortly before turning and walking up the steps toward the main castle doors.
Merlin locked eyes with Kay and shrugged with a helpless expression, making the knight smile at him. Then he walked his horse over to Dannan's. She looked more uncomfortable the longer she spoke with Gwen.
"Are you ready to go, Dannan?" he asked, only feeling minutely guilty for interrupting. "We've got a lot of ground to cover and not as long as you think before sunset."
She smiled at him. "Yes. I am eager to get home."
Only once they were out of the city and on the road did she let herself sit up like a lady of breeding. It was a subtle but definite difference that was fascinating to see.
"Lord Emrys," she said to Merlin after they ate lunch.
"Really, Dannan, you can call me Merlin," he insisted, tying his pack a little tighter before mounting again.
She ignored his request. "You still have a question."
Merlin didn't need clarification. He hadn't asked the Fisher King a question the last time they met. Everyone was allowed one question. But, honestly, Merlin didn't want to ask anything. He'd given it a lot of thought, but his feelings hadn't changed since the last time he spoke with the injured king. Since that day, Merlin had thought of many questions he could ask, but he didn't want to. Knowing the future, or just a possible one, had never turned out well for him. And any questions he had about people would be answered in time. Until then, he wanted to see the best in everyone. So he had no questions for the king.
"I know," he said simply.
Dannan nodded. "If you ever wish to ask your question, my king will be waiting for you in Whitehaven." After that, she didn't bring it up again.
They didn't talk much as they rode, but it was alright. Haste was more important than conversation. The longer the Cup was away from Whitehaven, the longer the world was in danger. There was only one situation when the Cup should be taken from the Fisher King and that time had not yet come.
When Merlin had delivered the Cup and Dannan back to the king, he would turn around and return to Camelot. He would help rebuild Camelot in any way he could, tend to the injured and bury the dead, and try to prepare for whatever plan Morgause would come up with next. He only hoped the next time, the cost of victory wouldn't be quite so high.
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tbc
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Next Time: Le Morte D'Uther
When a fever plagues the kingdom, even the king is not immune. But illness is not all that has gone wrong in Camelot. A dark cloud is coming from the west and it may be Uther's soul, more than his life, in danger. But only the Seelie Court can defeat the Slaugh in battle, and there aren't any good fairies to be found.
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...
Uther wasn't happy when his courtyard was suddenly full of townsfolk, or that Arthur's knights were in the lower town instead on their way to the Forest of Balor to fight a band of sorcerers. However, Arthur made sure to avoid any possible chance of seeing his father the next day. There were immortal giants coming and he simply didn't have the time.
The lower town had barely been evacuated when the ground began to shake.
"An army on horseback?" one of the knights asked.
"No. Remember what Breunor said? Giants," said another.
They all looked to Arthur for guidance and he nodded. Several of the knights gulped and took a step back, but none of them turned and ran. It was that bravery that had won them many battles.
Arthur drew his sword. "Ready for battle," he said loudly, his voice carrying to all the knights. "We must defend Camelot and its people at all costs!"
He ordered the city gates shut and got the knights into a defensive formation around the entrance. Through the steel gates, they watched as the trees gave way to men ten feet tall. Arthur counted six in his view through the gate but knew there were dozens more that he couldn't see to either side and more coming up from the rear. He also knew that the knights could not defeat the giants until Merlin and Morgana found and emptied the Cup, but they could delay the fighting to limit casualties.
"Fire!" he shouted to the battlements, where guards with bows and crossbows stood shielded by stone. They rolled out from hiding, took aim, and let their arrows fly.
Through the gate, Arthur watched the arrows hit their marks. Some of the giant men stumbled, one fell, but they regained their footing moments later and kept coming. The drawbridge broke under the first giant's heavy weight, but that didn't slow them down for more than a moment. Flaming arrows rained down on their heads but they just knocked them aside like insects.
From behind, Arthur could hear the distant sound of the people secured inside the courtyard as they voiced their worries about the thunder in the ground and the angry shouts of giant men. At least they were safe, for now, with a second wall between them and the enemies who bore down upon them. If the knights could defeat the giants in the lower town, no peasants needed to die.
Without turning his head, Arthur cast his thoughts briefly to Merlin and Morgana. They had better make the giants mortal, and fast.
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...
"What did the room look like in your dream, Morgana?" Merlin asked.
Morgana pulled shut the door to the room they'd just searched and frowned at him. "Stone. It looked like stone, Merlin. Like any room in the castle," she answered testily.
"You didn't see anything defining?"
"No. We've been over this."
Merlin let out a heavy breath. "I know, but time is running out. The giants have started their attack and Arthur is out there with his men, fighting."
Morgana didn't speak until they'd checked the next room in the hall, looking under desks and around wardrobes for something that wasn't there. "I know that," she said, letting the window curtain fall back into place and crossing her arms. "I wish I had more information. Did you not see anything in your vision?"
With a frown, Merlin headed for the door. "No, I saw it being filled, not where it was hidden. I didn't even know it was in the castle until you told me so."
Morgana shut the door behind them. She turned to continue down the hall and stopped. There was a woman peeking around the corner into the hallway. She had orange red hair that barely peaked out from under her brown and white bonnet and bright blue eyes. While pretty, she could have been just any peasant. Morgana would have thought she was, simply a baker's wife or a young blacksmith's mother, except this was the woman she had seen in her dream last night.
"Merlin," she said in warning, stopping the sorcerer from walking further down the hall. When Merlin glanced her way, Morgana nodded to the end of the hall. "That's her."
She had told Merlin of her dream last night, of the woman with the strange aura who was looking for Merlin, who was after the Cup of Life. It was the only reason this woman was in Camelot. Morgana didn't know anything else about her, not where she came from or why she wanted the Cup or if she was a friend or foe to Camelot. Her vision was severely limited when it came to this woman.
Merlin tilted his head at her, eyebrows pulled together in thought. "I've seen her before," he said quietly.
He'd seen the woman before, just like he'd seen the Cup of Life somewhere before. But where?
The woman seemed to come to a decision and stepped fully into view. She dusted off her skirts and pulled at them to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, and then began to walk down the hall toward them. At first glance, she seemed to be the perfect servant, eyes down, hands clasped in front of her, steps small and measured and quiet. However, a moment's watch and Morgana saw that her eyes were down but her chin was held high and she carried herself like a lady of the court. Beside her, Merlin gasped.
"It's you!" he said.
The woman gave a slight smile as she reached them and curtsied. Morgana remained tense. It's who?
"I'm pleased you remember me, my lord," the woman greeted. "My master sends his regards."
Merlin shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't know your name."
"Dannan," she introduced and then frowned. "I'm afraid we don't have time for pleasantries, sir. Something of great value has been stolen from the king."
Merlin turned to Morgana before her confusion could mount any higher. "The Fisher King," he explained. "Dannan," the woman nodded when he glanced at her for assurance, "works in his castle." His eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. "That's where I've seen the Cup before. The water that healed you and Uther when you were both really sick all those months ago, it was poured into a flask from inside the Cup of Life. That's why it healed you when nothing else did!" He gave Dannan a questioning look. "The Cup of Life is the Holy Grail?"
Dannan nodded. "Yes. But it was stolen," she revealed gravely. "A woman with fair hair but a grave expression somehow managed to gain entrance to the castle and took the Cup. But it is not her destiny to wield it, and the Cup must be returned to my master before it can cause any damage."
The castle shook around them, causing Dannan to fall to her knees while Merlin's arms pin wheeled briefly and Morgana grabbed the wall for balance. Morgana reached down to help Dannan up and leveled a serious look at the other woman's confusion.
"It's already causing damage," she said, making Dannan frown deeply.
The redhead turned worried eyes on Merlin. "Then it is good I found you," she said. "My king said you would help me find the Cup and return it to Whitehaven."
Morgana crossed her arms. "We've been looking all day and haven't found it yet," she revealed. "If you know a better way, please, let us know."
Merlin seemed to trust this woman, but Morgana wasn't sure. If she was from the hall of the legendary Fisher King, that could explain the weird aura Morgana had seen in her dreams last night. And she had been looking for Merlin, because her king told her to. And she wanted the Cup only because it had been stolen and she wanted to return it to her king where it belonged. So everything checked out, but Morgana wanted to withhold judgment. Camelot had been burned too many times by supposed friends.
Dannan nodded. "Lord Emrys," she spoke to Merlin. "You should be able to sense its location." She simply nodded when Merlin cast her a dubious look. "My master knows much about magic and he knew you would be the one to find the Cup and return it to Whitehaven, its proper keep. If you focus, you should be able to lead us right to it."
...
...
Only a few short minutes later, Merlin had walked the group of three through two halls and down a flight of stairs and stopped outside the door to the vaults. The door was locked but a quick whispered spell from Merlin had it open for them.
Morgana smirked. "I suppose that explains how you got into a few places you shouldn't have been in the past," she noted, teasing.
Merlin gave a sheepish shrug and began leading them down into the vaults. They had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when Merlin suddenly forced them back into the cover of the stairwell. In the room beyond, Morgause was picking listlessly through the many artifacts left in the open area of the vaults.
Morgana looked around the corner, saw her sister, and her gaze hardened. "I'll distract her. You two find the Cup and empty it," she whispered. As much as she might be worried about Dannan, she knew the only one Morgause would hesitate to kill was her.
"Who are you, hiding in the shadows?" Morgause asked. "I know you're there."
Merlin hesitated, then nodded and leaned back to let Morgana pass. She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked into the room.
"Morgana," Morgause gasped quietly.
"Sister," Morgana greeted. She walked to the far wall and turned around to face her blond sister, putting Morgause's back to the stairwell. "So my vision was correct. You are behind the resurrection of the giants."
Morgause smiled. "A simple task when given the right tools," she said.
"The Cup of Life."
Now Morgause looked proud. "You remember it." Merlin and Dannan slipped silently out of the stairwell and disappeared down the corridor. Morgana never moved her eyes from her sister's face. "Then you remember its powers?"
Morgana nodded. "The giants are immortal and nothing Arthur's knights do can kill them." She frowned. "I suppose you will empty the goblet yourself once the battle is won."
"Of course," Morgause agreed. "Balor is a formidable foe and his army will destroy Camelot and all who defend the Pendragon line. But keeping such a bloodthirsty beast around in the long term would be foolhardy. One wrong glance and an innocent would die."
Morgause began picking through the artifacts again, wandering around the room. Morgana wasn't worried though, since Merlin and Dannan were already gone. She did remain standing near the far wall though, in case she needed to draw Morgause's attention again.
"Considering the damage his army has already done, that is obvious," Morgana agreed as the castle shook above them, dropping dirt on their shoulders and heads. "But using him this way...I have to admit, I would do the same if I had the Cup of Life."
Morgause paused in looking at a particularly lovely goblet and lifted her eyes to her sister. "How did you know where to find me?" she asked, voice only mildly suspicious. Morgana knew that meant Morgause was seriously doubting her though.
"I saw the Cup and you in my vision," Morgana said. When Morgause continued to stare, Morgana let out an aggravated sigh and shook her head. "No, I did not tell anyone where you were. I told Arthur that the giants would come but that he could not defeat them."
A sickly pleased grin grew on Morgause's face. "Not such a nice prophesy to get from a seer on your side, is it?"
Morgana frowned. "No. No it's not."
"And the boy? Merlin?" Morgause asked with a frown. "Is he up there fighting from the shadows as well?"
"Merlin is always fighting on Arthur's side, no matter the danger to his own life," Morgana answered truthfully. "But even his magic cannot combat that of the Cup."
...
...
Arthur slashed at the leg of a giant, dragging its attention from one of his fallen knights before it could kill him. The beast flipped around and smacked Arthur to the side, causing a nearby soldier to shout in alarm, but it gave the knight time to get away. Arthur pushed himself to his feet as quickly as he could, his ribs aching and Excalibur held tight in his hand, then cast his gaze around.
Dozens of houses and businesses had been completely destroyed, leaving only rubble behind, and the wall at the entrance to the city had been obliterated. At least no civilians had been injured, Arthur reminded himself. Houses and walls could be rebuilt. People couldn't. He didn't want to wonder how many soldiers he'd lost so far.
Gripping Excalibur with both hands, Arthur ran at the nearest giant. It turned to face him and he slashed across its stomach. Almost as soon as the wound was inflicted, it healed. Cursing, Arthur dodged out of the way of the giant's hands when it retaliated.
A giant picked up part of what used to be a house and tossed it at some of the knights. Most of them got out of the way, but one shouted when it landed on him. From his continued struggle, he was alive but trapped and probably wounded. Two other soldiers hurried to help him while others struggled to keep the giant's attention off his trapped prey.
Two other giants were squabbling over an archer they had clutched in their hands, playing tug of war with his fragile body. Arthur moved to help him but stopped, a sick feeling in his gut, when he noticed the archer was already dead. They were fighting over the man's body, not his life. He hurried over to where more archers were stumbling out of the rubble of the wall and pointed to the fighting giants.
"Take them down," he ordered, and they were more than willing to obey.
A shout from the left made Arthur turn. One of his newest knight recruits was lying on the ground with wide eyes, not moving. Dead. Another knight was looking pointedly at the dead knight instead of at the large giant advancing on him.
"Kay! Move!" Arthur shouted.
The knight's eyes jumped up to his prince and he nodded with a grim expression before turning and running down the street away from Balor, for it had to be Balor - even without the cloth Merlin said should be covering his eye. Arthur ran around debris and wounded men toward the leader of this infernal army. He couldn't kill the bastard until Merlin and Morgana upturned that cup, but he could distract him for awhile.
Two guards made the mistake of looking at Balor as the giant rushed toward them, a club in his hands bigger than their heads. In an instant, they went rigid and collapsed to the ground. Arthur cursed and sprinted faster, as fast as his armor would allow.
"Balor!" he shouted, keeping his eyes on the ground around the beast's feet. He saw Balor turn around and narrowed his eyes. If he was to die, it would be by the club and not by the eye.
By watching the shadows and the tells of Balor's body from his waist down, Arthur managed to drop below a swing of the club and get close enough to stab Balor in the gut. When he pulled back, Arthur ran around behind the giant, who gave a deep belly laugh that turned Arthur's stomach.
"A smart and swift human," he said, voice like jagged rocks. "But you will still die."
"Not as long as I hold my sword," Arthur declared. "If I am standing, you will not succeed!"
Balor chortled, turning to face Arthur as if he had all the time in the world. "Then I suppose you must lose your legs, tiny warrior."
Arthur gave an upward slash to Balor's chest. Both he and Balor gasped when the wound began to bleed instead of healing. The blood scorched the stone where it fell and Arthur jumped away before any could splash on him. With a growl, Balor swung his large club. It hit Excalibur and knocked it from Arthur's hands.
"My lord!" Pellinore shouted, jumping from a pile of rubble onto Balor's back, driving his sword into the monster's spine.
Balor shouted in pain and fell to his knees. His body was still now, the club thumping to the ground heavily alongside his body, but his expression was stunned though no one was looking at it. Arthur quickly grabbed Excalibur and slashed horizontally across Balor's body, crossing his earlier wound and making Balor bleed exponentially more.
All around, the giants slowed their attacks until they were standing still, looking at their now bleeding wounds in surprise. Arthur saw them glance over to their king with confusion. The expressions only lasted a moment before the skin of every giant began to crack and break like dry earth. The knights only paused for a moment before resuming their attacks, pressing what seemed to be a sudden advantage.
Balor swung out with a mighty fist. Arthur jumped back, but though the attack was sloppy and desperate, Balor still managed to grab Arthur's left foot within his hand. Arthur felt his bones grinding in the tight grip and quickly sliced the hand from Balor's arm, then forced the fingers to release him while Balor shouted obscenities at him. Pellinore pulled his sword from Balor's spine, causing the giant to shudder horribly and nearly knock the knight from his shoulders. Then he shoved the point of his weapon as hard as he could into Balor's skull. One of the eyes popped clean from its socket, replaced by red steel.
Then suddenly the lower town was void of giants and instead full of tall piles of white sand. Even the giants' blood had become harmless grains that blew around in the wind.
Pellinore, standing from where he'd fallen when Balor crumbled, dusted himself off with a heavy breath. "Did we win?" he asked, coughing.
Arthur looked around at the destruction and dead bodies around them. "The giants are dead, but our victory isn't complete. It will take time to rebuild."
"But how?" Pellinore asked, making his way over to help his prince stand. "They seemed unbeatable."
Motioning to the sand before them, the remains of Balor, Arthur said, "Perhaps killing the king killed the army, like cutting off the head of a snake. Whatever the reason, Camelot is still standing because of it."
Merlin and Morgana must have overturned the Cup of Life, emptying it of blood. Arthur looked to the castle and wondered if they were alright.
...
...
Morgause wandered toward the stairs. "Morgana," she said speculatively. "When this is all over and Camelot is free for the taking, it will need a new ruler. Despite your betrayal, I would still be willing to follow you as queen."
"Even knowing I disagree with your methods?" Morgana asked, honestly curious.
The blond witch nodded. "Yes. Because once the Pendragons are gone, you will no longer owe them allegiance. You will be free to rule Camelot as its true heir and not have to defer to that inferior King or his awful son."
As Morgause spoke, Morgana became aware of the quiet that had fallen upstairs. No longer did dust sprinkle down and there was no rumbling. The battle was over. A slight movement down the corridor caught Morgana's attention.
"Morgause," Morgana said, then stopped. She waited until she had Morgause's full attention before slowly walking forward. "I will never be queen of Camelot." Morgause opened her mouth but Morgana didn't let her speak. "I am too dark, have become too distorted in my soul. Arthur is not his father and he is the true heir of Camelot, of Albion. I have seen it, as has Tethella."
Morgause scoffed. "Tethella speaks in riddles."
"No matter what you try, Arthur will still become king. He will win, Morgause." Morgana had never seen her sister glare so ferociously at her before. It was actually rather terrifying. "Do you not hear it?" She cast her gaze briefly up to the ceiling and then watched as Morgause did the same. "You've already lost, sister."
The realization that Morgana was right dawned slowly and with a fight on Morgause's face. She didn't want to believe it. "No." She shook her head. "The Cup of Life-"
"Is no longer in your possession," Merlin stated as he stepped into view.
Flipping around to face him, Morgause scowled. "I should have guessed. You always find a way to interfere." She huffed out a breath and stood tall, looking as composed as ever. "Mark me, child, soon I will find a way to eliminate you, along with your precious prince."
Merlin held out his hand and opened his mouth, glaring, but Morgause spit out her transportation spell in a second. Wind picked up in the vault, blowing cobwebs and dust everywhere, and when it settled Morgause was gone.
Dannan peeked out from the corridor, the Cup of Life clutched in her hands. "Is she gone?"
Morgana let out a long sigh. "For now."
"I wish we could stop her from using that spell all the time," Merlin commented, sounding winded.
She looked at Merlin and found him looking back, his expression as wary and tired as Morgana felt. If only there was a way to make Morgause see the good in Arthur, but it was probably a hope held in vain. Perhaps if she didn't vanish at the first sign of failure, they could talk to her properly.
...
...
Merlin sighed, exasperated, and picked up the reins of his horse. "Honestly, Arthur, I'll be back in a few days. You don't need to be worried."
Arthur frowned. "I'm not worried."
Across the courtyard, Gwen was helping Dannan onto a horse. Merlin had explained who she was to Arthur but to everyone else, she was a childhood friend that Merlin was escorting home due to the recent danger. The two girls were chatting but Arthur couldn't hear what they were saying, though it seemed slightly tense.
Rolling his eyes, Merlin said, "Of course not. That's why there's a new sword strapped to the saddle and why I'm wearing chainmail under my clothes." He grinned when Arthur huffed. "Try not to die while I'm gone, alright?"
Now Arthur was the one to roll his eyes and crossed his arms - at least, as best he could around the crutch Gaius had forced upon him due to his injured foot and not pulling too hard on his injured ribs. It looked more humorous than Arthur probably intended it to. "Honestly Merlin, I'll be fine. I've got a few cuts and bruises, that's all. You're like a mother with her first child the way you nag."
"Well someone has to keep your head from getting too big or your crown wouldn't fit," Merlin teased. Kay, nearby, coughed a laugh into his fist. Arthur obviously heard it anyway and scowled, his cheeks faintly pink.
"Get moving before you lose the light," he said shortly before turning and walking up the steps toward the main castle doors.
Merlin locked eyes with Kay and shrugged with a helpless expression, making the knight smile at him. Then he walked his horse over to Dannan's. She looked more uncomfortable the longer she spoke with Gwen.
"Are you ready to go, Dannan?" he asked, only feeling minutely guilty for interrupting. "We've got a lot of ground to cover and not as long as you think before sunset."
She smiled at him. "Yes. I am eager to get home."
Only once they were out of the city and on the road did she let herself sit up like a lady of breeding. It was a subtle but definite difference that was fascinating to see.
"Lord Emrys," she said to Merlin after they ate lunch.
"Really, Dannan, you can call me Merlin," he insisted, tying his pack a little tighter before mounting again.
She ignored his request. "You still have a question."
Merlin didn't need clarification. He hadn't asked the Fisher King a question the last time they met. Everyone was allowed one question. But, honestly, Merlin didn't want to ask anything. He'd given it a lot of thought, but his feelings hadn't changed since the last time he spoke with the injured king. Since that day, Merlin had thought of many questions he could ask, but he didn't want to. Knowing the future, or just a possible one, had never turned out well for him. And any questions he had about people would be answered in time. Until then, he wanted to see the best in everyone. So he had no questions for the king.
"I know," he said simply.
Dannan nodded. "If you ever wish to ask your question, my king will be waiting for you in Whitehaven." After that, she didn't bring it up again.
They didn't talk much as they rode, but it was alright. Haste was more important than conversation. The longer the Cup was away from Whitehaven, the longer the world was in danger. There was only one situation when the Cup should be taken from the Fisher King and that time had not yet come.
When Merlin had delivered the Cup and Dannan back to the king, he would turn around and return to Camelot. He would help rebuild Camelot in any way he could, tend to the injured and bury the dead, and try to prepare for whatever plan Morgause would come up with next. He only hoped the next time, the cost of victory wouldn't be quite so high.
...
...
tbc
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...
Next Time: Le Morte D'Uther
When a fever plagues the kingdom, even the king is not immune. But illness is not all that has gone wrong in Camelot. A dark cloud is coming from the west and it may be Uther's soul, more than his life, in danger. But only the Seelie Court can defeat the Slaugh in battle, and there aren't any good fairies to be found.