Of Magic And Men

Peter heard an audible “pop” and when he looked at where morgan had been there was now nothing, just him in an empty house. Putting the vial in his pocket, Peter quickly made his way to the tower door trying the handle at first, realizing it was locked, he body checked it open. Rushing up the spiral staircase, he finally found the real merlin, he thought. This poor man was skin and bones, hanging from shackles on the wall. “Merlin? I’m here to help you.” peter carefully approached morgans prisoner. “Jerrick is that you? You’ve come for me?” Merlin responded weakly, how long had Morgan kept his brother here, barely keeping him alive. “Yes Merlin, I’m here to rescue you.” he couldn’t bring himself to tell this man the truth, that Jerrick was long dead and gone, that he was actually Peter, Jerricks son. He thought the truth of know he had been locked up for this many years would be better explained by his daughter, if they were really father and daughter. Peter carefully unlocked Merlins shackles after finding a key nearby. Precariously putting Merlin on his back he gingerly made his way down the stairs and outside to the fresh air. When they got outside, Peter could see a White figure galloping towards them. Oh, no, this could not mean anything positive. He placed Merlin on the ground gently, and stood to meet Silicont. “You were supposed to stay back, what happened?” Silicont coughed, he was out of breath from running through the bog and the miasma without a filter. “... not... breathing...” Silicont managed to get out before coughing yet again. Not breathing? Alaya was not breathing! Peter Quickly pulled alaya down and laid her on the ground beside Merlin. Pacing and ear to her chest she wasn’t breathing but he could still faintly hear a heartbeat. Quickly pulling the vial from his pocket he, questioned whether he should take Morgan at his word and uncork the vial, or throw it away. He stood up and started to pace. He felt like he couldn’t risk not using the spell, if he delayed any longer, Alaya would die. He made up his mind, opening the vial with a flick of his thumb. Velvet like purple smoke billowed out of this tiny glass vial, filling the air, he could no longer see Alaya laying in front of him or hear Silicont coughing the whole world went dark. The smoke burned as it entered his lungs, he had made the wrong choice, it was killing him. He could feel the life drain from his body as he collapsed on the ground and passed out. - Peter was aware of noise, were those birds chirping? Was he alive? Slowly he opened his eyes, it was sunny out, not overcast like it had been. Sitting up, he looked around, he spotted Silicont standing over Alaya. Getting up and rushing to her side he fell to the ground by her side. Putting his ear to her chest once again to see if he had acted in time, he watched closely trying to spot the rise and falls of breathing but he saw none. He listened for the beating of her heart but he heard none. Peter had failed to save her. “I am sorry peter.” Silicont said in condolence. Raising his head he held her hand to his cheek. Tears welled up in his eyes, over flowing onto his face, he could still feel her warmth. There wasn’t anything he could do at this point. Or was there? Peter laid his hand on her chest. “Peter, I do not think that is very appropriate at a time like this.” Without acknowledging Silicont he continued, he closed his eyes and hoped beyond all hope, visualizing her coming back to life he summoned a spark, a single solitary spark that would enter her chest and ignite her heart to start beating once more. He felt drained but he didn’t have time for that, he summoned the spark and sent it. He replaced his hand with his ear and waited. Please, please start beating, please. He waited, come on beat, he thought. He waited, refusing to give up on her. Thump There was a single beat, yes! Where there’s one there can be more, come on beat! He commanded her heart to beat again. Thump thump. “You can do it, Alaya, come back to me.” Thump thump, thump thump. He heard faint beating! Semi regular, and faint but it was beating, he had done it, she was alive! Removing his ear from her chest he watched as she slowly opened her eye and looked back at him in amazement. Leaning down he kissed her, long and passionately so that the world fell away, it was just Alaya and him. Him and his love. After there lips separated he helped her up and held her close, from the looks of it Morgan had been telling the truth, the swamp and miasma was gone leaving behind fresh clean woodland. But that still begged the question where had morgan gone to? Why run away? Peter didn’t care he just wanted to enjoy this beautiful sunset with Alaya. He let out a breath, it was over. “Sorry to ruin the moment you two but could you explain to me how I got here?” Merlin spoke. The pair wiped around to face the man, having completely forgotten that he was there. “Peter who is this man?” Alaya asked. “This is the real Merlin, I suspect that he was taken so long ago you never actually met him.” Peter answered “Then is morgan my father, I am so confused.” “You think you’re confused, I have no idea who any of you are.” Merlin exclaimed. The couple embraced and went to help Merlin, realizing they would have a lot of explaining to do the put Merlin on silicont and started to leave this place, not knowing where they were going, just leaving.