Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter One:
In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name… Merlin.
)o(
Mordred watched from where he stood beside Morgana, who was sat on her throne, as a figure wearing a hooded cloak entered the throne room and made their way over to them. They bowed to Morgana who smirked at them.
"What a pleasure it is to see you again, Ari," Morgana greeted them.
The figure reached up and pushed down their hood to reveal a man, with a druid symbol on his neck. Mordred watched him curiously, he hadn't know there to be druids loyal to Morgana, not since Emrys had been crowned king and the druid, Ari, who stood before them was powerful and had once been high up in the druid order.
"The honour is all mine, my lady," Ari replied.
"Your arrival has been keenly anticipated, I can assure you," Morgana glanced at Mordred. "I have boasted of your powers. Though not all believe."
"People may believe as they wish," Ari answered, glancing round the room at the Saxons.
"Oh, well perhaps some small proof of your talents is an order," Morgana smirked. "After all, seeing is believing. Is it not?"
"I'm not an entertainer, my lady," Ari said, glancing once more at the Saxons.
"Of course not," Morgana agreed. "Think of it as more as a demonstration. Extinguish those flames."
Morgana gestured to the burning fire, keeping the draughty throne room warm.
"My lady," Ari stepped forward, sensing something wasn't right… Morgana never wasted time with such trivial things. "I must protest."
"Indulge me," Morgana's tone left no room for argument.
"Forp fleoge!" Ari chanted, his eyes flashed and the flames went out.
"Impressive, indeed," Morgana clapped and got to her feet. "Who here now could deny your powers?"
A guard entered the room then and Ari recognised the symbol on the box the guard carried. He quickly tried to back away, but he was grabbed by the arm by a couple of Saxons and held in place. Morgana walked forwards and opened the box carefully.
"Aweax thu metethearfenda!" Morgana chanted. "Thicge thu thone drycraeft the thinan deorcan mode gefylth."
"Not this," Ari pleaded, as he was forced to his knees. "Please, Morgana… My lady, I beg of you. I'm begging you."
A slug like creature slithered over the edge of the box, before it suddenly leaped at Ari and landed on his face. Ari struggled with the creature while Morgana turned and returned to her throne. She sat down and watched. The creature let go of Ari and slithered away, while Ari collapsed to the ground unmoving.
"Is he dead?" Mordred asked, staring at Ari and trying to hide his true feelings on the matter.
"If I had wanted him dead, I would have put a sword in his gut," Morgana snapped as Ari groaned and the guards pulled him up. "Don't despair Ari, we're nearly done. If you'd do me the favour of relighting those fires."
Morgana gestured to the fire Ari had put out moments before.
"You know..." Ari gasped. "I cannot."
"For the benefit of my friends," Morgana insisted.
Ari pulled himself free of the guards.
"I will not humiliate myself before you," He said.
"You will," Morgana sneered. "If you want to see your family alive."
"Bael onbryne!" Ari cast the spell but nothing happened.
"Again!" Morgana ordered. "If you please."
"Bael onbryne," Ari tried again and once more nothing happened.
He let out a cry and Morgana gestured for the guards to take him away.
"He was a loyal soldier," Mordred said, as he watched Ari being dragged away. "And by robbing him of his magic, you have lost yourself a powerful ally."
"Perhaps," Morgana replied. "But now we know the war can be won. For Arthur is nothing without Emrys and Emrys is nothing without magic."
)o(
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Merlin head snapped up from the scroll he'd been reading and he looked round his private chamber. Books and scrolls filled the shelves and lose papers were weighed down by magic artefacts. Jars and potions glittered in the sunlight streaming through the windows around the room, while herbs and crystals hung from the rafters across the ceiling.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Getting to his feet, Merlin looked round the room. His attention was suddenly drawn to one of the windows, where a barn owl was sat on the window ledge, its golden coloured feathers shimmering in the sunlight. It was Archimedes, Merlin's messenger owl. Merlin quickly walked over to the window and opened it. Archimedes hopped through and dropped the letter he was carrying into Merlin's waiting palm.
Unfolding the piece of paper, Merlin quickly read the message written within, which read as follows:
Emrys,
You're plan has worked, Morgana has accepted me into her court.
As her second in command I am aware of all she plans.
Morgana plans to move against you, Emrys.
As I write this, she is sending a box to Camelot.
It is what is in the box, which you must be careful when dealing with.
Morgana has summoned a creature capable of stripping a man of his magic.
She means to strip you of your magic, Emrys.
Mordred.
"Thank you, Archimedes," Merlin said to the owl.
The owl let out a hoot and flew up to a perch on one of the rooms walls. Merlin smiled and quickly left the room and hurried through the tower. Soon he reached the door he was looking for and knocked sharply.
"Come in," A voice called.
Merlin pushed the door open and entered the chamber beyond it. Alator stood over a work bench, working on an enchantment.
"Alator," Merlin greeted.
"Emrys," Alator straightened and turned to face Merlin with a bow.
"That's not necessary," Merlin muttered, approaching Alator. "I need your help, Alator."
"I will help you in any way I can, Emrys," Alator replied.
"Morgana has summoned a creature capable of stripping a man of his magic," Merlin explained. "I need to know what it is."
"I know of only one creature capable of doing such a deed," Alator replied. "Such creature were believed to have been wiped out during the Great Purge."
"What is it?" Merlin asked. "And how do I defat it?"
"I believe Morgana has summoned a Gean Canach," Alator answered. "They cannot be killed by magic, only mortal weapons are capable of killing them."
"Gean Canach?" Merlin questioned. "That...that's the language of the old religion, isn't it?"
"Indeed," Alator nodded. "The Gean Canach is a fearsome creature, formed by the tears of the Earth Mother Nenamed. It devourers the magic of others, draining them of their power."
"Morgana has sent one to Camelot," Merlin said. "I need to destroy it."
"It is too dangerous for someone of your power to be in its presence, Emrys," Alator shook his head.
"Gaius is in danger!" Merlin exclaimed. "You and I both know Gaius has magic."
)o(
A guard exited a tunnel with a torch, and turned to his right. He was dressed in Camelot colours, he was a guard out on patrol. As he passed the entrance to enough tunnel, he missed the figure lurking in the shadows, dressed in the dark colours of the Saxon army. In the Saxons arms was a box, a familiar symbol carved into it. The Saxon quickly left his hiding place and walked in the shadows until he reached the tunnel the Camelot guard had come out of, which he quickly disappeared down.
Two Knights walked through a doorway and marched down a corridor, unaware of the Saxon carrying a bow, who followed after them in the shadows. Finally the Saxon turned and hurried down another corridor, which lead towards the Physician's chambers. Ducking into the shadows the Saxon waited for another guard to pass, before he walked up the steps leading the chamber.
The Saxon silently entered the Physician's Chambers, passing Gaius was asleep at a table, having fallen asleep whilst researching over his many books. Hearing the door to what used to be Merlin's bedchamber opening, Gaius began to stir and he raised his head. The Saxon seeing Gaius move, grabbed hold of a large stone, which was used to hold down loose papers and moved towards Gaius.
Merlin took a step back from his scrying bowl with a gasp. He needed to get to Camelot, regardless of how dangerous it was for him to renter the city, whether the threat be from Arthur or the Gean Canach. Gaius was injured or possibly even dying, such head wounds could be incredibly dangerous not to mention it was a Saxons wielding the rock… Morgana hadn't hesitated to see Gaius harmed in the past.
"Freya!" Merlin called, hurrying into the main chamber.
"Merlin," Freya replied, looking up from where she was sat reading by an open window. "What is it?"
"I have to go to Camelot," Merlin answered. "Gaius is in danger!"
Freya nodded her understanding.
"Be careful," Freya said.
"I will," Merlin promised moving over to Freya and bending down to place a kiss on her lips. "I'll return as soon as I can."
Straightening up, Merlin's eye's flashed gold and suddenly he was standing in the middle of the Physician's Chambers in Camelot. He turned as a hissing noise reached his ear and he watched as Gaius successfully killed the Gean Canach with a shovel. But what worried Merlin was the cut above Gaius' right eye.
"Gaius," Merlin took a step forward, startling Gaius. "Your head. You should get that seen to."
"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed, dropping the shovel he had used to kill the Gean Canach.
Merlin grinned at Gaius, who rushed forwards and pulled Merlin into a tight embrace.
"My boy," Gaius whispered. "It is indeed good to see you."
)o(
Hey! I hope you enjoyed the start of this story. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.
