Destiny's Unraveling
"Ages Past" (Rose)
The eve of the day of my coming of age- the day I receive the privilege to carry my family's crest- has finally come. This day is of the utmost importance in the life of a Woodward. That is what I am! Now let me explain... Woodwards are indeed, what you might conclude from their name. We are guardians of the wood. We live in the forests and care for its inhabitants. Each Woodward has the capability of speaking to animals of all sorts, but this ability cannot be learned. It is strictly inherited. Woodwards live in clans, of which there is a "ruling" family, and a few other families, sometimes extended family members of the ruling family, and even unrelated people. My clan is that of the White-harts, named after my family, which is also the ruling family. We are stationed in the woods near and around the great kingdom of Camelot. It also happens that we are the last of our kind.
Many of us were slaughtered during the time of the Great Purge. My father, Alric White-hart, was and is a trusted ally of the King of Camelot, Uther Pendragon. He respected his wishes and ceased the practice of magic among our people. Granted, my father does not agree with Uther's banishment of magic he does still honor it, and for that reason, I have never participated in any works of magic. The Great Purge happened a few years prior to my birth, so in the very beginning of my life, it had not affected me, personally, in the least. That is, until my mother fell fatally ill when I was a child, eight years of age at the time. Her sickness had so far progressed that the only chance that she had of survival was by the skills of a healer.
Woodwards are practiced healers, but healers are the magical equivalent of physicians. Experienced healers have the abilities of both healers and physicians; however, beyond herbs and things made with science, there is no cure for certain diseases outside of magic. This just so happened to be one of those deadly diseases. My father had almost broken and dared to use magic to spare her from a most painful death, but she provoked him to see reason. She knew he could not risk us all for her sake. She told him not to worry, that they would be together once more someday, and she passed on.
In the next seven years, my father had become my best friend, my mentor, my world. He is everything to me. Without him, I would be alone in this world, and so very lost. This would not have always been the case, for I had another man in my life that I dearly cared for. His name is Roland. We were very close. He came from a family of outcasts due to the fact his parents refused to give up their magic. My father tried his hardest to get them to see reason, but when they would not change their ways he had to take action. Their practices turned to that of dark magic from their hatred and bitterness. All this resulted in their deaths during the Great Purge. Roland was at a young and tender age when this tragedy occurred. The day his parents were taken from him, I brought him tumbling into camp, covered in blood that was not his own. Once home free, I tended to him. He was a bit disoriented, so we looked after him while he stayed with us. My father saw him as innocent. He took him in.
He grew older and learned more of the ways of our people, and discovered his magic by accident. Magic is something that is in every one of us, basics to start with. Nevertheless, not unlike the Dragonlords, we do not reach the capability of harnessing all of the magic limited only to that of the Woodwards until our father has passed on his powers. That only happens through the ending of his life. That being the case, I have always been perfectly content with not having my full potential within my grasp. Roland was angered when my father explained this. He felt that he had been lied to, and that he was denying his true self by not using his magic. He began to practice magic regularly, thinking he had gone unnoticed by the elders among us. He had not. My father knew, provided him with the chance to stop, but he, like his parents, refused and went rogue- hungry with a seething greed for power and revenge. We have not seen him since.
However, life has continued. Father and I are closer than ever before. We are all we have left in the world other then what little is left of our clan. Meanwhile, we have other things to look forward to as well as the celebration of sixteen years of my life. We are expecting to see a dear old friend, Camelot's very own court physician, Gaius.
"Switching Places" (Merlin)
This day had started like any other- another day of servitude to a pompous prince who does absolutely nothing for himself. I mean, he doesn't even dress himself. That's sad. However, when I arrived home, I found Gaius bustling about like a mad man. Granted, he is an abnormal old geezer with a touch of crazy, but I have never seen him so out of sorts. I still haven't asked him what's got him so excited.
I walk into the main room where all of Gaius' supplies, tables, and mountains and shelves of books chock full of science-y, historical, and even mythical facts scattered about. He's trying to fix his hair nicely.
"Gaius," I stifle a giggle as he turns around abruptly, "What are you doing?"
"I, uh," he stammers, "Have somewhere important to be tonight, Merlin."
I think on that for a brief moment, "Wait a second," I laugh, "Have you got a date?"
"What!" Gaius blurts. "Don't be ridiculous, Merlin. I- I'm going to see a patient."
"Since when do your patients care if you've brushed your hair?" I cock my head in suspicion.
"This is a very special patient, Merlin," he says matter-of-factly. I raise my eyebrows. "Yes, Merlin, she is a girl, but it's not what you think, so stop it."
"What? I'm not doing anything!" I gape at him, raising my hands above my head. He just glares at me, and we both laugh. You can say many things of Gaius, but he does have a sound sense of humor. Even if he can be a bit harsh when it comes to the likes of me, but who isn't?
"Well, secret girlfriend or no secret girlfriend, I hope you have a good time," I smile cordially. He raises an eyebrow at me and mutters something, shaking his head. I laugh once more. It's a rare occasion that I get to pick on him like this, so I have to take the opportunity now whilst I still have the chance.
It seems to me that this was not meant to last very long at all. The sun is beginning to set and Gaius notices this, sending him into a tizzy. "I shan't be late," he quietly says to himself. Now I, I can only wonder who it is that has him acting in this manner. This girl must really be something.
He grabs his things that he's been muddling over and turns to leave.
"Um, Gaius," I stop him.
"Yes, Merlin," he replies.
"Don't stay out too late," I joke. I run to my room for cover as he throws a threatening look my way.
"Goodbye, Merlin," he calls out as the door shuts behind him. Strange how it seems that for tonight we've switched places, since I'm the one running off usually.