Revenge of A Pendragon, Chapter 3

Their figures mouths were moving, spouting words that Arthur could not hear. He was about to ask what they were doing when he felt something inside his head… pushing… invading… another presence. Then he heard a voice…
"Arthur…" it was whispery, faint, but it was enough to make Arthur cringe. Spinning around, wildly, he realised that the voice was only in his head. It laughed.
"It's too late… I'm staying until Camelot is healed… and free from the plague you have unleashed upon it…"
Arthur fell to his knees, head in his hands, trying to block out the voice. His father's voice.

Then he heard another voice. Loud and full of panic. Familiar.
"Arthur!" looking up, he saw Merlin, jumping down from his horse, and the three cloaked figures, heading for the trees.
Merlin caught one, sending them both tumbling over, down the slight slope, and coming to a halt only a couple of metre from him.
"Emrys…" That was he cloaked figure. "You cannot stop this Emrys… His father is with him… will speak to him until he listens, until he believes, until he obeys…"
"Why? Did you not want magic in Camelot? Is that not what is best for us?"
"That is not the problem, Emrys… The problem is… He is a Pendragon… son of Uther… and he must be destroyed. He is a bane upon this land… He will not be strong enough to defeat his father… he has too much doubt and mistrust in him… and Revenge is a powerful guide…"
"Arthur doesn't want revenge…"
"Not him… Uther. He wants revenge on those who he believes to have polluted his kingdom with magic… The revenge of a Pendragon is a powerful thing Emrys. It plunged this land into over twenty years of fear and hate…"
"Which had ended…"
"It does not matter… I listened to the voice of my masters… the Brotherhood… their wish becomes reality in my world… And will soon do the same in yours…"
With that, the figure seemed to melt away, leaving nothing in the space it had just occupied.

Merlin cursed, and turned to Arthur. He froze at the red in his eyes.
"Merlin… You destroyed my kingdom… enchanted my son…"
"No… Arthur is a better man than you. I did nothing. He knew what was right. He did this himself…"
Arthur gasped, his eyes flickering from Red to their normal blue. Merlin realised that he was fighting.
"And he is stronger than you. Better. You won't win…"

Arthur rolled over, crying out. He lay that way for a couple of seconds, then, catching his breath, rolled over and sat up, finding Merlin staring at him, worried. The sorcerers face brightened.
"Arthur?"
"For now… How did you know where I was?"
"You told Gwen you needed to think. This is your thinking place… Well, the only one that I know of…"
"Merlin? Why did you come after me?"
"What?"
"Why? You could have just trusted that I was capable of…"
"I had a hunch. Your father has come back before… it would be easier for another to pull him back again…"
"But still… I don't need your help for everything… bloody magic interferes in everything in…"
"Arthur! Snap out of it…"
"What did…" Arthur cried out in frustration.
"I don't know what I'm thinking… Some of the thoughts… they aren't mine…"

Merlin had no idea what to do. He had never heard of a spell like this… If he could get Arthur to Gaius then…
"Arthur… we have to go. Gaius may be able to…"
"Gaius is a liar… a traitor… why should I…" Arthur cursed. "Damn it… Yes. Let's just… go…"
Arthur mounted his horse, the waited for Merlin to do the same.
"Merlin… This isn't one of those… 'I try to avoid something but make it come to pass' things… is it?"
"I don't know Arthur… Hang on."
Merlin recalled a spell he had read about that dealt with multiple personalities in a person… it enabled someone to repress a personality… The same principle could work here…
"Arthur? I could try and make it easier to deal with… repress the voice…"
"No… I don't want to lose control… If you used magic… I may not be able to…" Arthur dropped the reins and held his head in his hands.
"God it hurts… Keeps talking… In my head…" He threw his head back, gasping, then nudged his horse into a fast trot. "Let's just go… I can't help but listen to his… it makes sense in…"

Merlin began to think that maybe he should have brought Leon or someone along… Someone who Uther had trusted. Too late now. He urged is horse level with Arthurs, and swiftly murmured a couple of words. He tied not to feel guilty about having sent Arthur to sleep, but couldn't help but wonder if it would be better or worse for him. He grasped both sets of reins and set off towards Camelot.
They had just come within sight of it when Arthur stirred. Merlin's eyes widened in surprise. That spell should have lasted a few hours at least…
Arthur fell from his horse, and Merlin let go of the reins, jumping from his own. Rushing over to Arthur, he pulled up short when he saw the red reflected in his eyes.
"Magic… you dare use magic on my son?" Arthur, now controlled by Uther, pulled his sword from its sheath, then got to his feet. "Come on then… use sorcery to protect yourself… let my son see just what you are…"

Merlin backed away, and was startled by the sound of Leon's voice.
"Merlin! Gwen told us about everything, what…" he turned to Arthur, and took a step back at the red light in his eyes. "Arthur…?"
"Uther." Merlin cried out in surprise as Uther rushed at him, and barely ducked in time to avoid the blow that was aimed at his head.
The sword came down again, but it was blocked by Leon's blade. Arthur… no, Uther's eyes widened.
"Leon…?"
"Sire…"
"You protect this… this sorcerer?" Merlin rolled over and got to his feet.
"Yes. He is a good a man as any I've met. And a damn sight better than most."
This line was punctuated by the arrival of Gwaine and Percival. Percival spoke up as he jumped from his horse.

"Leon? Merlin? Care to explain what…" He was interrupted by Arthur's voice, now twisted with anger and hate.
"Commoners… Never knights in my kingdom…"
Merlin ran over to the as Leon exchanged blows with Uther,
"It's not Arthur… Uther has taken over…"
"Yes… Gwen told us about everything…"
"We need to get him back to Gaius… He may know of a way to counter the spell…"
"You got it. Problem is… how exactly?"
"I don't know…" Merlin was stopped by a cry from Leon, who had been thrown to the floor by Uther. Percival rushed to help, managing to block the blade just before it hit Leon. Gwaine started to head over. But called back.
"Can't you just send him to sleep?"
"Not for long… And when he wakes up…"
"Well, We'll take what we get…"
"You got it…" Merlin murmured a short spell, and the fighting ceased as Arthur fell to the floor, the red light gone from his eyes. Just before he closed his eyes, he murmured something to Leon, who nodded.