Playing with Pawns - Part II (Mordred)

[youngwarlock]

Series: 5
Set: After 'The Disir'

Merlin was running. Running so fast that he could barely breathe as he made his way through the many dark winding corridors of the palace, each one seeming longer than the last. Someone was chasing him, he could hear their footsteps echoing in the distance and he could barely see where he was going now as the lengthy corridor grew darker.

"Onbærnan" He whispered, lifting an unlit torch from the wall beside him as he slowed his pace to a fast walk. "Onbærnan" he tried again, but still the torch would not ignite. Where was his magic? The footsteps were growing closer and Merlin could not see.

Dropping the torch he felt his way along the wall quickly and clumsily with one hand, as the other reached out infront of him, into the pitch black emptiness. He hit something. What was this? A wall? Please don't let it be a dead end... His hands felt their way frantically over the flat surface infront of him, lowering until they eventually collided with something. A handle? It was a door! The footsteps were practically on top of him now as he frantically pulled at the handle, pulling the door with all his might until it finally fell open and he rushed inside, slamming it shut behind him.

The noise had stopped.

Catching his breath at last, the warlock stumbled backwards, away from the door and into the room. Where was this? It looked oddly familiar. Turning to observe the room properly, Merlin found himself standing in the King's chambers, empty and abandoned. The lavish decor and ornate furniture which usually occupied the room were now nothing but long forgotten fragments covered in a lifetime of dust and dirt. No one had been here in a very long time...

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[mordred]

"Hello, Merlin." In the very far corner in the King's chambers stood Mordred of the druid people, a knife turning over and over in his hands. His blue eyes looked up to Merlin's face coldly before they dropped down to the weapon he was holding. He wasn't sure what had brought him to this room, this cold and abandoned room that once had held Camelot's most treasured life. He wasn't even entirely sure how he had gotten here. But he was here, and now, so was Merlin.

The world swirled around Mordred with the pulse of the dead beating in his ears as he looked upon the warlock who seemed to detest him so much. He had been so foolish to think that destiny could be prevented, could be changed. He had been so childish, so innocent, so... naive to believe he could change his fate, Arthur's fate, Merlin's fate. The druid stepped toward Merlin a little, his eyes upon the other's face. "You are not supposed to be here, Merlin." He stated calmly, in a voice that did not seem to be his own. Blue eyes flickered over to what had been the King's bed once, before flickering back to Merlin. "You are not supposed to be here," he repeated his words, watching Merlin steadily, the knife twirling in his fingers, endlessly.

[youngwarlock]

The warlock spun around, startled by the sound of the familiar voice suddenly filling the silence within the cold and desolate room. "Mordred?" he exclaimed warily, noting the druid's rather odd appearance as his eyes instantly fell upon him, before lowering to the small blade within the boy's grasp. Merlin tensed as the youngster moved towards him, the coldness in Mordred's pale eyes filling the sorcerer with a sense of dread.

"Why? What happened here?" He asked sternly, ignoring the deftly handled knife, and somehow managing to keep his composure despite the overwhelming sense of impending danger...and death. Every fiber throughout each wall, each long forgotten piece of dirt ridden furniture, everything so grey, so lifeless, still and silent. The room reeked of death.

"Where's Arthur?" he added, almost reluctantly, for he was terrified of the answer. How had so much time passed by without Merlin noticing? And why had neither he nor the druid aged with it? He lowered his wary gaze to his hands, half expecting them to belong to those of an old man, but they appeared as youthful as the boy standing before him.

Had Mordred somehow brought him here, to this place? And if so, how? The warlock's eyes darkened as they lifted to the druid once more, remaining watchful of his every move.

[mordred]

The druid raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes never leaving the warlock's gaze, as he held the knife a little closer to hand. "Are you still playing these old games, Emrys?" he asked softly. "Are you still faking innocence, faking idiocy?" Mordred gave a half smile, though there was no warmth in it. "These things do not become you. Best stop whilst you can."

Once upon a time, he had hoped they would be friends. He had truly, desperately hoped that he and Merlin might somehow overcome the fate which was decreed upon them, and he had prayed that they would defy the odds, and somehow protect that which they both held so dear. But he had failed, Merlin had... well. And now? Now the die had been cast, the wind's song had been sung, and Mordred had never been more afraid in his life.

The smile on his face showed none of this, however it instantly faded as Merlin spoke of Arthur. "Do not speak of the King!" He hissed, his eyes narrowing and the flickering candle nearby going out as power crackled in the air. "You have no right to mention his name, to speak of him!" He took a step toward the warlock, and then stopped, his eyes still upon the brunette. "No. I will not dishonour this place with your blood."

[youngwarlock]

"What do you mean?" The warlock's eyes narrowed darkly as he took in the druid's words, instantly growing even more confused than he already had been. Had they somehow stepped into a future that only Mordred knew of? A future of his own. One where he had fulfilled his destiny in ridding Camelot of it's once and future king? The only thing Merlin knew for sure was that none of this was real. None of it was present day. It couldn't be.... could it?

Mordred's words were making as little sense as his actions, causing the warlock to back up a bit as the druid almost lunged at him. Merlin was ready to run, despite having nowhere to run to. What was the boy suggesting in speaking to him this way? "Why?" he blurted, making sure to keep his fear hidden, though the whole situation was turning his stomach. "What gives you more right to speak of him than I?" He was searching the druid all the while. Searching his eyes for the darkness he had seen so often within their depths. But all that Merlin could find in them now, was fear.

[mordred]

Mordred's eyes darkened and narrowed, as his hand on the knife clenched a little tighter. For the warlock to be here... and to be making these ridiculous attempts at seeming innocent... it was almost too much. The druid swallowed back a rising insult, forcing a slow breath instead. Merlin's facade of inncence was somewhat convincing though. The druid's mouth formed a frown as he wondered whether the warlock was truly unsure, but then - no. No, how could he be? After all he had done?

Pushing back his shoulders a little, the brunette gazed into the eyes of the fellow magic user, his gaze cold. "More tricks, Merlin? They won't work this time... I hope you know that." He shook his head. "How could you, Merlin? You were his dearest friend, his trusted ally, and yet you..." he cut off, swallowing. "And yet for so long, you blamed me. You swore it would be I who brought this about... is that why you chose the task, Merlin? To change my fate by taking it on yourself? You and I could have worked together! We could have kept him safe..." The druid shook his head, his eyes shining with sadness. "But you chose to turn against him, against Camelot... against Arthur." With a slow breath, the druid shook his head. "I never thought you capable of such tings... clearly I was wrong... and now all of Camelot is weeping."

[youngwarlock]

A feeling of dread began to rise in the young man's stomach, causing his pulse to quicken. The way in which the druid boy was looking at him, coupled with their surroundings and the uncertainty of what had happened here was beginning to fill the warlock with terror. So fearful was the druid that it almost made Merlin afraid of himself. What was the boy trying to say to him? He listened intently as Mordred spoke.

"What do you mean?!" His heart was racing now and he was fighting the urge to break down and believe these lies, for he knew what the druid was trying to say. Surely Mordred could not be accusing him of bringing this terrible fate upon Camelot....upon Arthur.

"You're lying!!!" He bellowed with such force and anger that should have thrown the druid from his feet had the sorcerer's magic been present. But Merlin failed to notice this as he continued. "I will not allow you to trap me here! I will not be a pawn in one of your games!!!"

[mordred]

Mordred's anger was almost palitable now. How could Merlin stand there, and deny everything that he had caused?! He had always thought of the warlock as a noble soul, a caring person... but Merlin's actions had shown otherwise. "I trusted you!" he snapped out at the other's question. "I believed you! You promised me you would help me and then you turned against me! Against Camelot, against your King!! The Queen weeps, and it is all your fault!"

As the other bellowed at him, the druid narrowed his eyes, visably shaking with rage now. "You would say that, wouldn't you!! After everything, you would try to blame me!" He stepped forward a little, his eyes on Merlin's face. "It is you who are playing games, Emrys! It is you who are the game master and we are your pawns!!! You have brought Camelot to its end and yet you blame those who have done nothing but tried to help you back from the darkness you let yourself slide into!" Tears stood in Mordred's eyes now, but he would not weep. Enough of that had been done in the past, and besides, Merlin did not deserve such emotions. Mordred's head rose proudly as he stared the warlock down. "I am the last keeper of Camelot, the oen who stayed whilst others fled after what you brought about. I am its keeper and its protector. You, Merlin, are it's destruction. And you will pay."

[youngwarlock]

Merlin shook his head more frantically the more the druid spoke, filling his mind with these absurd notions about what he had supposedly done here. The warlock did not have to think twice about his own innocence, but the worst part about all of this, was how convincing Mordred actually was, not only with his words but everything about the boy suggested nothing but truth. Merlin had seen the fear in his eyes and it was still present. Yet the warlock still held onto the firm belief that this had to be some kind of trap, and Mordred only fuelled this belief as he continued.

The last keeper of Camelot, he had called himself. The keeper and protector of this ruined kingdom. "You are nothing more than a false king seated upon a throne that does not rightfully belong to you! You took his life and then you stole his kingdom! Forcing those to escape who were lucky enough!!!" The warlock bellowed once more, rage and adrenaline coursing through his veins. Had he any magic within himself, the very walls around them would have surely begun to crumble down, such was his fury, yet still he failed to realise it.

[mordred]

At Merlin's words, Mordred felt his lips curl into a frown, almost a sneer. How dare this boy assume things about him! How dare he accuse Mordred of speaking anything but the truth as it stood?! The druid narrowed his eyes, stepping forward a little. "There is only one King of this country and it is not me!" he roared, furiously. "There is only one ruler, and he is dead by your actions, Emrys! Be a coward and deny it all you like, but all of Camelot knows the truth! You have ruined Camelot! I stand here still by sacred oath to a King who was the finest the land will ever see, and your very presence here mocks his name!"

The druid narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and stepping back a little, though he still shook with rage. "Be gone." he said, flatly. "I'll not spill blood here. Tis sacred area, and I'll not forfiet my oath. But be warned, Merlin. If ever we were to meet again in another place, you would find yourself at judgement day earlier than you ever thought you would."

[youngwarlock]

Merlin backed away, a look of terror in his eyes as the druid reacted, almost convincing the warlock his words were true. For years the young servant had been more than loyal to the king, his most trusted friend, they had a bond which could be compared only to that of brothers. Merlin would never harm Arthur as long as he lived. Not even magic could force such occurrences to happen, as was proven when Morgana infected him with the poisonous Fomorroh.

The warlock glanced behind himself, seeking out the door, but it was not there. All that awaited him was an empty dark space, pitch black, darker than the night itself. He looked back at the druid, knowing that he was trapped in some kind of surreal vision. Was Mordred trying to trick him into thinking he was going to kill Arthur? "It won't work you know" Merlin said sternly. "This will never come to pass. I won't let that happen."

[mordred]

Mordred's eyes stayed upon the warlock as the other backed away, his own gaze serene, yet clear in its grief. A tiny flicker of compasson for Merlin - lasting no more than a second - and then it was gone. Mordred had learned that compassion was a fickle friend... and he would not be fooled a second time by Merlin, for it was clear now where the warlock's intentions lay.

"It has already happened," He spoke softly, his voice a heavy mixture of grief, tinged with still a little fear. "Do you not feel it, Merlin? Do you not feel the grief echoed in every wall of Camelot? Do you not see the tattered state of the Castle - of these very chambers? Do you not wonder why there is no light, no hope, no laughter?" The druid paused, taking a slow breath as he regarded Merlin. "I see why you would not wish to believe it. No one thought you would do such a thing, Merlin. We all strove to prove your innocence right up until the moment you confessed everything." He shook his head. "But they say that seeing is believing..." He paused, stepping forward a little, toward Merlin. "I can proove the truth to you Merlin... I can show you. If you let me."

The druid stepped forward, and pressed a gentle, compassionate hand to Merlin's shoulder, his eyes speaking of nothing but truth and kindness, though the fear still lingered. "Come, Merlin. I promise you, I mean you no harm. I never have."

[youngwarlock]

The warlock shook his head in denial as Mordred's words echoed into his mind. None of this is real, none of this is real, he kept telling himself. But everything about it was far too real. Everything except the darkness behind him, he discovered as he staggered away from the approaching druid and glanced back, only for his fearful gaze to be met with the empty black void where the wall was supposed to be, it's entire presence omitting heavy feelings of dread and oppressiveness. "What is that?!" He cried out, more to himself than anyone else.

Merlin turned towards the boy once more as he felt a hand upon his shoulder, his eyes widening with fear, but strangely he could detect nothing but kindness in Mordred's voice. Everything seemed to be closing in around him and he wanted to believe in that kindness more than anything. He wanted Mordred to remove him from this awful place, but NO! No, the boy just wanted to expose him to more lies! To reveal to Merlin the visions of himself commiting this horrific act. "NO!" He yelled, backing away as much as he could without stepping into the pitch darkness behind him.

There was only one way out.

"niðertorfian" he uttered, thrusting his hand forward into the empty space between himself and the druid. It was at that moment however, when Mordred was not thrown back, that Merlin realised he no longer possessed magic...

[mordred]

"It is the shadow of Camelot." Mordred's voice spoke quietly, his voice full of regret and sadness. "It has lurked in the shadows since the King was killed, Merlin. And now that you have returned, it will hang about you like a cloak hangs about a wise man." The druid's gaze was filled with nothing but sympathy as he watched Merlin, wondering whether the warlock would ever truly accept what he had done. It had taken Mordred long enough to believe that Merlin could be responsible for such a crime... but how could Merlin face his own fate?

He felt a shudder run through him at the sound of those words of magic being uttered, relieved - a little- when nothing seemed to happen. So... what he had heard was true. "After the King was set to rest, you vowed you would never use magic again." He stated quietly. "You said that you had betrayed your oath, betrayed Camelot and yourself. You wanted nothing to do with magic. Do you not remember, Merlin? You went to the Higher Powers and begged them to recend your powers. They warned you the action could not be undone... still you begged. It seems your prayer has come to light, after all."

The Knight stepped forward, pressing a kind hand to Merlin's shoulder. "Please Merlin. Come. Let us talk. Let me show you that my words are nothing but the truth."

[youngwarlock]

Merlin's face was crumpled into a pained look of desperation as he stared ahead, almost mesmerised by the druid's steady and seemingly honest words. Surely they could not be true and yet they made so much sense to what was happening around him. The dark emptiness behind him, the fact that he could no longer use his magic. Not only could he not use it, but since becoming aware of it's presence being gone, he could no longer feel it coursing through him, illuminating his entire being with a lifeforce unlike any other. He felt dead inside. It was as though the brightest light within him had gone out completely.

"Please" he croaked, feeling the panic rising inside him as the air seemed to close in, gripping his throat with invisible hands. "I don't want to see your truth, I just want to get out of here. I want to leave! Whatever it is that I'm supposed to have done, just let me go back and I swear I will prevent it from ever happening!" The warlock's eyes were now filled with determination, for if Mordred were indeed telling the truth, which was highly unlikely, then there may possibly be no other way out.

[mordred]

Mordred moved to stand next to the warlock, his gaze full of sympathy and mourning. A gentle hand rested upon Merlin's shoulder, as the druid took in the measure of Merlin's confusion and desperation. With all his heart, the druid wished that what the warlock was asking were possible. But Merlin should know by now, that with history, there was no way to change things. Even magic could not change the past, no matter how one might want to try.

He stepped forward, looking into Merlin's eyes. "I understand your confusion, Merlin. I understand your pain. I wish, more than anything, that there were some way we could change what has passed here, and bring back the King... but you of all people should know that there is no way to tamper with the past. What is done is done."

[youngwarlock]

"No ...you're wrong... none of this is real" he replied, calmer this time. Mordred's sudden kindness and understanding made as much sense to him as his surroundings, but Merlin was quite certain of his own words. He had not lived out this strange fate, he was certain of it, for he remembered nothing of it. Just yesterday he was part of an ordinary day in Camelot, serving the King and helping Gaius. Wasn't he? He had no recollection of yesterday either. All Merlin knew was that he had never intended this. Never in his wildest dreams would he even think about committing such an act.

"I remember nothing!" He shouted, his words echoing off the desolate walls and dispersing into the darkness. "There is no past to remember... None of this has happened yet, can't you see?" He looked hard into the druid's eyes with determination, utterly convinced that this had to be some sort of strange vision, despite his confusion, he would not allow himself to fall into this trap.

[mordred]

The druid's eyes crinkled into confusion as Merlin spoke, denying the past, denying the truth. He had not, in truth, expected the warlock to be so unrepentant. No matter what Merlin had done, Mordred had always thought of the man as honourable. And now.... well. Perhaps the Knights had been right all along to cast Merlin out after the fall of their King.

Taking a slow breath, Mordred turned, a small light appearing in the middle of the room. "Merlin... come with me." He spoke, his voice heavy with sadness. He stepped towards the light, which flickered a little, before a creaking sound revealed the opening of a door. Beyond that door, Mordred knew, Merlin would find the answers to his questions. But whether or not the warlock would follow was another matter entirely. He was so distrusting of Mordred, so certain of his own part, that Mordred feared he would never accept the path he had laid for himself. He turned his head, to meet Merlin's eyes. "Please, Merlin. I promise you no harm will come to you."

[youngwarlock]

The warlock swallowed hard, a look of apprehension on his features as he watched the strange door fall open within the beam of light which had appeared from nowhere all of a sudden. This was Mordred's doing. All of it. Merlin turned his wary gaze toward the boy once more, his eyes fixed upon Mordred's, anger emanating from their grey depths. He shook his head. "No." he said simply. He wouldn't go through that door. Not for anyone. He wouldn't venture further into this trap. No matter how genuine the druid appeared to be, the warlock refused to fall for his tricks. The boy was dangerous. He always had been and he always would be. Arthur was still alive. Camelot was still alive. Merlin just had to find a way to reach it somehow.

Shifting away from the dark space behind him, Merlin slowly began to edge around the room, keeping his distance from Mordred. What if he could find no way out? Infact if this were a trap, as he believed it to be, then why bother trying? It would be hopeless. Still he continued on, moving sideways with cautious steps, his eyes on Mordred, afraid that if he looked away the druid would make a move of some sort.

Finally, Merlin reached the large window that always occupied the king's chambers. He hadn't noticed it before. The room had seemed strange somehow. Perhaps it was too dark, or perhaps it was the shock of seeing Arthur's room in such an abandoned state. The warlock slowly backed away towards the window, his eyes still fixated on the druid as he hoped and prayed he may have just found a way out.

[mordred]

"What will it take?" Asked the druid, his eyes upon Merlin even as the other attempted to find a way out of the reality he had condemned them to so long ago. Mordred could understand Merlin perhaps denying what had happened... denying his own part in it, but surely, this went beyond and below all sense of reason. This was not just denying the past; this was disowning the truth, and declairing the world a lie. What was it Gaius had called it, all that time ago? Disillusioned hope.

Mordred's heart went to his throat as Merlin reached the window, and he wondered, truly, if the other were so desperate to escape. "Merlin... death is not the way." He said, his voice a soft caress of its usual self. "Please, Merlin. There is no need for Camelot to suffer another loss this sad eve." Biting back what was left of his pride, the druid bent one knee forward, before kneeling before the warlock, his eyes upon Merlin, open and honest. "Emrys" he spoke softly. "I swear, in the name of Camelot, in the name of Arthur, in the name of everything we have fought for... I am no trickster. All I have ever wished for was to be your friend, and Arthur's. You seem to think I have somehow conjoured this world, but I pray you believe that I cannot; I would not have the power, and I would never wish for such a reality."

"Please Merlin. Let me prove to you the truth of what I say."