Chapter Nineteen, The Crystal Cave

Merlyn followed Taliesin deeper into the Valley of the Fallen Kings until they came to a stop in front of a large cave.
"Taliesin, where are we going?" Merlyn asked, feeling rather confused as she could feel the magic seeping out of the cave in waves. "Why have I been brought here?" She questioned again.
"In good time, dear Emrys, you will discover all." Taliesin replied, allowing her to enter the cave ahead of him.
As she entered the cave Merlyn's eyes widened as she saw hundreds of crystals lining the cave's walls, floor and ceiling, all with the same power as the crystal of Neahtid.
"What is this place?" Merlyn whispered, her magic was bubbling under her skin once again, much like with the crystal of Neahtid and when she had first met Arthur.

"This is where magic began." Taliesin replied. "It is the Crystal Cave."
Merlyn slowly walked down the small steps deeper into the cave as if in a trance, her eyes were darting all over the place, and her breathing was starting to increase as images started to appear within the crystals.

The Throne Room doors opened revealing a completely different Throne Room then what she was used to. Gone were the Camelot banners; instead there were black banners with a red tree hanging around the room with soldiers bearing the same crest on their armour, and Morgana was sitting on the throne with a bejewelled and ornate crown on her head and a malicious smirk on her face, looking so much like Uther in that moment. Only worse for she had magic at her disposal.

Another vision came showing Merlyn in the square but she didn't look like herself, she looked like she was eighty years old and it looked like she was being led towards her execution while Gwaine fought in the background with tears in his eyes. While Arthur could nothing but stand there in shock, tears escaping his eyes that no one noticed.

Merlyn gasped and turned away from the crystals, turning to face Taliesin so her back was to them. She'd made the mistake of looking in one before and she would not make that mistake once again.
"What is it you see?" Taliesin asked curiously.
"Images, flashes. My friend who is like my brother is crying. Arthur is crying. I've seen something like this before in the crystal of Neahtid." Merlyn explained in turmoil.
"What you see here is exactly the same, for the crystal of Neahtid was hewn from this very cave." Taliesin explained, pointing to the crystals behind Merlyn. "Look into them, Emrys. Really look." He insisted, when Merlyn shook her head with tears in her eyes. "Much will be revealed." He assured her.

Merlyn took in a slow calming breath before she turned around to face the crystals once again. As she did so, voices started echoing around the cave. Voices that only she could hear as they seemed to be resonating from the crystals as once again visions started to play as soon as Merlyn's eyes connected with them.
"No." Merlyn gasped, turning back around. She would not make the same mistake twice. "Take me out of here. How do I get back to Arthur?" She asked. She just wanted to go home.
"The future is hidden to all but a very few, Emrys. You are one such person." Taliesin stated.
"No, I've been through this before." Merlyn argued.
"Perhaps there is a reason you were brought here at this moment in time." Taliesin suggested.
"What reason?" Merlyn asked, confused, her head tilted to the side slightly.

"Only the crystals can tell you." Taliesin said. Merlyn sighed, getting frustrated at the vague answers. "They contain futures that are not yet born." He continued. "The secrets they reveal, Emrys, are unique to you and you alone. Look into them, Emrys, and don't be afraid. Really look." He suddenly became stern as he pointed his finger at her. "Use what you see for good!" Shocked at the sudden change in his demeanour and wanting to get out of here and back to Arthur, so she could go home, Merlyn slowly turned to face the crystals for a third time. Sighing she walked back to where she'd stood previously as the echoes and the visions started up once more.

A vision played, this one shorter than the rest: it once again showed the courtyard only this time it had Morgana in it wearing a purple dress but she was struggling with her white horse.

The next image was of Morgana unsheathing a beautiful jewelled dagger.
Morgana in a red dress and cloak with her hood up, was walking down the corridor towards the King's Chambers which was devoid of any Knights or Guards.
There was a servant's hand that had wine dripping from it looking almost like blood.
Then the next was completely taken up by a ball of fire.
Through the fire came another vision of Merlyn screaming.

Merlyn gasped, staggering back until she collapsed against the wall. Her head snapped towards the crystals besides her and the visions  started up all over again. Only this time there was another added to it.

Uther was sleeping in his bed completely unaware that Morgana was standing besides him in a red dress and cloak unsheathing the dagger that was attached to her belt. She held it aloft as she prepared to end his life: as the dagger came down....

Merlyn gasped, pulling her face away from the scene only to fall to her knees hunched over as she took everything in. But she barely got a chance to process anything as the previous vision started playing again in a different crystal beside her on the rocky cavernous floor.

Uther was sleeping in his bed completely unaware that Morgana was standing besides him in a red dress and cloak unsheathing the dagger that was attached to her belt. She held it aloft as she prepared to end his life: as the dagger came down had stabbed him making Uther startle awake with a gasp as he died, the light fading in his eyes.

"What... was that?" Merlyn gasped with tears in  her eyes. "Ohh." She gasped, burying her painful head in her hands. "What was that?" She asked louder this time when she didn't get a response but still she didn't receive one, as she was now alone in the Crystal Cave.

***

After staggering her way out of the cave she sat by the fire; agitated, as she waited for Arthur to wake up. The visions were playing on a loop in her mind, making her magic churn beneath her skin and almost making her feel sick from everything she'd endured in the last hour, when she suddenly felt Arthur's hand on her shoulder causing her eyes to flicker gold as she jumped.
"You look like a startled stoat." Arthur stated, when Merlyn suddenly span towards him. When he didn't get a laugh or even a smirk from her but instead she suddenly jumped up and started to leave as she put her coat on making Arthur stop her with a frown on his face. "Merlyn, are you alright?" Arthur asked.
"Fine. Let's go." Merlyn said hurriedly.
"Really because your ey-" Arthur started to say but Merlyn cut him off.
"Besides, at least I don't look like a bone-idled toad."
"You saying I look like a toad?" Arthur asked with a frown.

"Maybe one day you'll magically turn into a handsome Prince, but since magic is outlawed that doesn't look like it's going to happen." Merlyn said cheekily, but without the usual smirk or twinkle in her eyes or the humour in her voice. Letting Arthur know something was deeply troubling her but he didn't know what.
"Hey. Hey. Hey!" Arthur said, grabbing her arm gently to stop her. "I know you Merlyn. I know when something is wrong now what is it?" He asked gently. Merlyn paused for a second sighing heavily before she answered.
"Can I tell you when I tell Gaius? I don't think I can say it more than once." Merlyn stated anxiously.
"Okay, as long as you're alright?" Arthur asked, when Merlyn nodded shortly he pressed a kiss to her forehead hoping it would help but he wasn't too disheartened when it didn't. Whatever had happened while he was unconscious had really troubled her.

"You ready?" Merlyn asked, "let's go." She said leading the way out of the Valley of the Fallen Kings. The sooner she gets out of this place the happier she will be. She wished Arthur would stop questioning her too, she wanted to put as much distance between herself and this cursed valley as quickly as she could. Not to mention her mind was plagued wondering what happened to Gwaine, Leon and the others and wondering if they were all right. Plus, she wanted to talk to Gwaine and Gaius and Arthur too, about what she'd seen in the crystals.

As they were walking through a wheat field Arthur started to question her yet again.
"I don't understand, you said I had an arrow in my back. How come all I can feel is a slight bruise?" Arthur asked, confused.
"Don't know." Merlyn said tersely as she picked up the pace.
"Merlyn, I'm sure Gwaine is alright. I know he and Leon are like brothers to you but he, Leon and the others would've made their way back to Camelot. But, did something happen you're not telling me about?"
"No." Merlyn snapped.
"Come on, I'm missing our usual banter and talks." Arthur coaxed.
"You're certainly making up for it." Merlyn said snidely, shocking Arthur who's eyes widened. Now he knew something had happened while he had been out.

"You still haven't answered my question." Arthur said, deciding to leave it for now and ask once they reach Camelot and Merlyn had time to calm down but he grabbed her hand hoping to help.
"It's part of what I have to tell you once we reach Gaius. But... the arrow was poisoned. I couldn't heal you, I tried everything." Merlyn explained waspishly.
"Thank you Merlyn, you did a good job back there. And it's not your fault I know how hard it is to study in Camelot with my father. But soon you and I can change that." Arthur said, rubbing his thumb over the back of her knuckles. "Did you hear what I said?" He asked, when there was no reply or even a retort. "All right, maybe I should give you some kind of reward. What do you want?" He asked, trying to get her to speak or to get some kind of reaction as he was greatly concerned for her. He loved her after all.

"Some peace and quiet." Merlyn said waspishly. Shocking Arthur once again, so for the rest of the walk back to Camelot they both spent the journey within their own minds. Each worrying about something that was troubling them and wondering what was going to happen next.