Chapter Seventeen 

The Monastery 

Three more days and they finally made it to the mountains that the monastery resided in. 

“How do we get there?” Arthur asked looking up at the mountain from the ground. 

“Well that’s the concern.” Merlin said pulling at his horses reins. “There is only one way to gain passage into the mountain. Through mage magic.” 

Arthur watched as Merlin raised Trinity to the sky. “Aperio,” Merlin said. 

The mountainside began to crumble, revealing a door that opened into a tunnel inside the mountain.

The horses were not keen on going inside the mountain, forcing Gawain to stay on the outer side of the mountain. 

“Is this going to be dangerous?” Arthur asked from behind Merlin. 

“I do not know.” Merlin admitted. “The monastery is a sacred place. But if a mage has betrayed the sacredness of the monastery and brought men to attack it, I do not know what will lie ahead.” 

They climbed upwards through the tunnel leading towards the top of the mountain. 

“How did they create this?” Arthur asked accepting Merlin’s hand as they climbed higher and higher.

“Ezorread created the tunnels for the first mages. He allowed them sanctuary in his mountain. This was during a time that magic was forbidden and feared.”

“Had you already been prophesied at that time?” Arthur asked.

Merlin nodded and squeezed Arthur’s arm. “We both had. That prophecy was part of what pushed rulers of old to fear magic. They did not want to think of a sorcerer more powerful than them. Already mages were feared and ostracized, but after the prophecy was set in stone, quite literally—“ Merlin motioned towards Excalibur. “They banned magic of any sort. They didn’t understand its necessity at the time. So the mages across the lands were forced out. They found refuge in the mountainside, not realizing that it was home to the last dragon.

“Ezorread saw them and sensed their magic and allowed them to find a home here, alongside him. No one without magic was able to enter, needing magic to break down the walls and tunnels that Ezorread placed as protection.”

“If he has the gift of sight, why couldn’t he see an attack on the horizon?” Arthur asked.

Merlin sighed and stopped, meeting Arthur’s eyes. “Knowing the outcome of something does not always mean that one should act. Ezorread knows much, he’s prophesied a great many things. He has power beyond the knowledge of man. But with that knowledge, comes the responsibility of allowing things to play out as they’re meant to.” 

“That doesn’t make sense.” Arthur said quickly. “If you could do something to change an outcome, to prevent a death of a loved one, or a loss of a war. You have the obligation to do so.” 

“You are thinking like a ruler, that is not what Ezorread is. He is beyond the reach of human obligation.” Merlin said as he began climbing once again. “Besides,” he added. “Things happen as they are fated to for reasons we cannot always understand. Trying to change their outcomes could have an even more catastrophic consequence.That is why humans are rarely gifted with the sight. It is a great responsibility that cannot be used.”

“Merlin,” Arthur said pulling his arm until he finally stopped. 

Merlin turned. Arthur’s face was furrowed. “Do you know the outcome of this war?” 

Merlin watched Arthur for a moment longer before shaking his head. “I don’t.”

“Would you tell me if you did?” Arthur asked. 

“I wouldn’t.” Merlin admitted. “It is not knowledge you would be privy to.”

“We are supposed to be in this together,” Arthur whispered. 

Merlin nodded. “Which is perhaps why Ezorread never revealed the outcome of this war to me. Perhaps he knew that I would not be strong enough to refrain from divulging to you.” 

They stared at each other for another moment before continuing on in silence. As they finally came to the center of the mountain Merlin raised his arm for Arthur to stop. 

“Ready Excalibur,” Merlin said as the heard the slide of steel as Arthur unsheathed his sword. 

Merlin himself gripping Trinity tighter against his palm before the mountain opened before them.

The once majestic grounds were devastated by unnatural fire. Merlin felt himself stumble backwards into Arthur who reached over and pushed him forward. 

There were many mages dead on the outskirts of the stone castle that Merlin had called home for a decade. 

“I must find Master Blaise,” Merlin said quickly running towards the entrance. 

Arthur was on his heels as they raced to the entrance. Guards were ready for attack only to be quickly snuffed out by Arthur’s sword. 

He nodded to Merlin who opened the door. They slipped in quietly, making their way to the Great Hall. Two guards were outside, protecting the doors. 

“Are they Thebes?” Arthur whispered. 

“Not sure,” Merlin responded before stepping out in the open. 

The two men reached for their swords, but Merlin was faster. 

“Go to sleep,” he commanded grabbing both of their heads. They both immediately fell to the ground in deep slumber. 

Arthur stepped out as well and they pressed their ears to the door. 

“Tell me how to get to the dragon.” A man yelled. 

“You are mistaken, sire. There are no living dragons left. The last died one thousand years ago.” Master Blaise said.

Merlin could feel his stomach drop at hearing his old master’s voice. 

“Do you think I do not know of the dragon. Merlin was trained in secret for two years, no one saw him. He was trained by that creature.” 

Merlin swallowed. It was one the mages he’d grown up with. He was older than Merlin, and far less capable. Merlin searched his mind for the mage’s name, but it would not come. 

“Tell me where to reach the dragon old man,” a different man said, the telltale of steel threatening the masters. 

Merlin looked to Arthur, who clasped Excalibur tighter in his hands. He raised his eye brows in question and Merlin nodded. 

Arthur took a breath before kicking the door in. 

There was a moment of shock before the King of the Thebes and The King of Camelot clashed their swords. 

“Shall we end this war now?” Arthur said smiling that manic grin. 

Merlin blasted the young mage away from the masters and raced to the men. Blaise reached for Merlin as he drew closer. 

“Merlin, they must not be permitted to fight on such sacred grounds. You must stop this.”

Merlin stood quickly and slammed Trinity to the ground as the King of Thebes and his mage both went flying. 

“Enough!” He yelled. “You would come to our most sacred place, demanding a turn in your war while your men die on the battlefield.”

“Do not speak to me with such informalities, mage. You are to address me as is suited with a King.” 

“There is only one true King, and you are not him sitting on your false throne.” Merlin stepped forward, Trinity the CloudScorcher pointed towards the King. “Take your men that have laid waste to our lands and get out, before I open hell myself and drag you down to repay your promises.” 

Arthur stood next to Merlin as The Thebes Lord slowly backed away. “I will not leave without getting what I came for.” He pulled out a knife and sliced open his own hand. A large rumbling came in the distance. 

“You are the reason those monsters from hell are being conjured.” Arthur breathed. 

“And they will win me my prize. The last dragon will turn this war in my favor. You will die, and Camelot will be mine.” 

There was a heavy rumbling below the ground as it ripped open and a deafening roar pierced through the sky. 

Ezorread broke through the Great Hall flying away from the ice dragon flying behind him. 

“No!” Merlin screamed raising Trinity to the sky. 

The mage leapt for Merlin, knife in tow, stabbing him in his guts once before being stabbed through the heart by Arthur. 

“Merlin!” Arthur caught him as he clutched his side. 

“I’ll be fine.” Merlin said. 

“You must stop!” Merlin cried to the King of the Thebes who was now laughing like a maniac. 

Ezorread flew down with shocking speed before striking down the ice dragon with him. They both crashed into the fiery chasm below, the sound of their crushing weight maddening. 

Merlin forced his way through the pain and looked down at the bodies of the two lifeless dragons. His rage filled him up.

The masters cried in mourning of the Great Dragon. Merlin stood and reached for Arthur’s hand. 

Arthur gave it willingly as their energies matched. 

“Kill him.” Merlin commanded.

“With pleasure.” Arthur obeyed. Excalibur began to glow with Merlin’s powers as the ice dragon was reconjured and sprang from the chasm once again, pulling the Thebe away and towards safety. 

“No!’ Merlin yelled before dropping to his knees. His vision blurring through the pain. 

“Merlin,” Arthur dropped to his knees as well. “Merlin… why does it hurt?” 

“We are connected.” Merlin said through his pain. “Help me.” 

Arthur did and then Master Blaise healed him. 

“The Last Dragon will fall.” The Master said. “And the great evil will rise.”

“How could he have died?” Merlin whispered. 

“That was his destiny. He knew it.” Blaise said. “Your destiny is to defeat this great evil. The Thebian Lord does not know what he has done, opening up our world to the threats of the underworld. Soon the war will mean nothing in the fight for our lives. You two are the only ones who can save us now.” 

“We must get back to Camelot. We must regroup.” Arthur said. 

“Yes young King. The Great Evil is moving now. The path has been set.” Blaise said. 

“What will you do?” Merlin asked. 

“The Sorcerers have a part in this battle as well, Merlin. Although it has yet to be revealed. Go now, my child. Go and fulfill your destiny.” 

They walked slowly back down the mountain until they finally reached the entrance once again.

“Merlin,” Arthur reached for his arm. “I could feel your pain like it was my own.” 

“Yes,” Merlin said. 

“Tell me the truth. If one of us dies, does the other as well?” Arthur asked.

Merlin met his eyes and reached a hand out, letting his thumb trail over Arthur’s perfect lips. “Yes,” he whispered.