Welcome to the erie real chapter of my latest fic! This is pretty long by my standards because I've been sick for the past day and a half... *sighs* Any who, I love this plot bunny and couldn't leave it alone! I don't own anything (seriously, I'm broke!).
Now, without further ado, I present chapter one: The Dragon's Code!
Long ago, when Camelot was but a village, Old Knights roamed the land. They protected all and upheld their Code, all with the help of the Dragons. The Knights had a bond with the Dragons, and the Dragons served them. For each Knight and Dragon shared a heart. They earned their place through their actions, proving that they were worthy. But every so often, a child was born who showed they were truely a knight at birth. So it is for the young man that is about to enter Camelot, who will in time father the Legends. His name: Merlin.
Merlin glided through the gate with unnatural grace. People always said that he was more a more a noble in mind and soul and body than a farmer's son; he had to agree with them. His mother always said he was different...
The booming voice of the king drew Merlin towards the yard, "The man that stands before you today, James Colins, has been accused of using witchcraft and enchantments ro conspire against the crown as well as spreading lies that the Knights of Old are still terrorizing the land. I consider myself a just king, but for his crimes I can think of only one punishment."
The king raised his hand and let it fall. Merlin couldn't believe that this... monster had the gaul to claim he's a king! Something deep in his heart knew that this man was wrong.
"When I came to this land all those years ago, it was marred with magic and villans claiming to be knights. That is why I am hosting a feast to celebrate twenty years of peace and sixteen years since the last Dragon as captured!" The king strutted off the balcony after his speech. An overwhelming sense of disgust filled Merlin as he watched him go.
A woman cried out, "There is only one evil here, and it isn't the great Knights of Old or magic; it is you. And I swear, by the end of your celebrations you will share my pain!" Then it got wierd; the old woman looked directly at the raven and gave a slight bow. She grabbed her necklace, muttered a few words, and was gone in a wirl of dirty wind. Merlin gave the yard one last glance before walking off to find his great-uncle.
Merlin knocked lightly berfore entering Gaius' rooms. Weird tools and herbs were strewn about the compartment. He cleared his throat and spoke, "Gaius?"
The old man turned from a bookcase on his balcony, but cuaght his robe and fell through the railing. Warmth filled his body, and before he knew what was happening, Merlin's magic pulled a bed to rest under the falling Gaius.
His angry uncle stood up. "Where did you learn to do that?!"
"Nowhere, I haven't learned anything!"
"Fine... Who are you?"
"Oh ah, I have this letter. I'm Hunith's son."
Gaius looked over the sixteen-year-old once more, "You're not supposed to be here 'till Wednesday."
Merlin gave the elder a goofy grin. "It is Wednesday."
"Well, you can put your stuff up there; I'll find you some work to do in the meantime." Gaius watched the teen walk up the stair with air of noblity. This only proved what he dreaded the most: Merlin was not only a powerful warlock, but quite probably an Old Knight as well. He prayed the boy was smart enough to keep his head on his shoulders.
Uther was pasing the throne room and thinking of today's events. That old woman had bowed to a boy in the crowd; come to think of it, that boy looked awfully familiar. It hit the king like a ton of bricks. The possible reason is that he was Balinor, his long-lost friend's, son. The hag must have recognized his father in him... meaning this boy is Lord Balinor Ambrosius's first born, another Lord Ambrosius. Uther sank into him throne; the legacy of his closest friend lived on, deapite the fact that he comdemned Balinor to die along side Gorlois.
But he had to ask Gaius first. With a twirl of his cloak, he was off to see the physician. His talk with Moragana could wait until tomorrow.
Mary Collins stood outside the tent. She figured the best way to kill the king's brat was as the singer. She did feel slightly bad about killing the lady inside, but this was for her son. Perhaps this will jump-start that Old Knight into action against Uther, or, at least she hoped. She sliently crept through the tent flaps and began her dark deed.
Uther strode down the hall towards Gaius' quarters. It had to be well after midnight; so there was little chance the boy was still awake. Which suited him prefectly, he didn't want the raven to overhear his conversation. The king knocked once before entering.
"Ah, Gaius. I have a question for you. Who is that boy? And answer me honestly, is he who I think he is? Is he Balinor's son?"
Gaius sighed deeply before answering, "Yes sire, he is. I ask though, don't persecute the son for the father's mistakes. Merlin is innocent."
"Certainly Gaius, he never even met his father; there's no way that he could be corrupted. However, I would like him to take his father's place at court."
"Of couse sire, I just want to give him a few days to rest first."
Uther nodded in assent before leaving. He would redeem himself with Merlin. He wouldn't let another Ambrosius fall to the darkness.
Merlin... Merlin...
The raven awoke with a start. What the hell was that?! He didn't have time to dwell on it, because he was hungry like only teenage boys had the right to be. Merlin pulled on his coat and jumed down the stairs.
"Here's breakfast," Gaius stated, "And I got you water; you did wash last night."
Merlin took the bowl and nodded in thanks before sitting down to eat. Gaius walked up next to him and casually knocked over the bucket. Merlin stood up and stopped the water with out a second thought.
"How did you do that?! Did you encant a spell in your mind?" Gaius demanded.
"What? No! I, uh, was born like this. Never studied magic in my life," Merlin stammered. Gaius gave him a look before sitting down.
"Well, we had better keep you out of trouble. You can help me while you look for a job."
Merlin was walking back from delivering the potions to Lady Percival and Lord Olwyn, when a commotion caught his attention.
"Where's the target?" Oh yeah, this guy already sounds like a prat.
"Over there sir?" a servant answered.
"Well, unlike you, it's too bright. Move it," Lord Prat replied.
The servant, who Merlin later learned was named Morris, picked up the sheild/target and started to move it. The blonde whispered something to his buddies, gaining sniggers in return. He then turned and proceeded to chuck knives at the servant. Merlin's vision grew red as he looked on. Word rang through his mind, words he felt in his heart, but couldn't explain.
His blade defends the helpless,
His might upholds the weak...
Merlin was never sorry for what he did next. When the target rolled towards him he stopped with his foot before addressing the jerk. "Hey, that's enough. You've had your fun my friend."
"Do I know you?"
"No. I'm Merlin."
"So I don't know you. I thought so; I could never have a friend that was so stupid."
"Nor I one who could be such an ass."
"Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?"
"You wanna go prat? Let's go!"
One of the blonde's friends tossed Merlin a sword, which he caught in mid-air. Merlin had never used a weapon before, but that didn't seem to matter. He felt at home with it. The raven could almost feel his heart beat stronger, like he was meant to do this.
Merlin swung his sword and brought it down hard. It was blocked, but he used the momentum to spin around behind the blonde. After kicking out his opponent's feet, he brought sword to Lord Prat's armored chest. He tapped the metal plate a few times to signify that he won.
Two gaurds came out of nowhere and forced Merlin to his knees. The cabbage-head stood up and demanded, "Where did you learn to fight like that? You will tell me this instant!"
Merlin sneered at him, "Who do you think you are? The king?"
"No, I'm his son. Prince Arthur."
Mary rode into Camelot later that evening, under the skin of Lady Helen. Her plan was working perfectly. Before long she would avenge her son and kill the spawn of the Butcher. She hid her plan behind smiles, all the while brooding about the past and rejoicing for the future.
To say Uther was mad would be an understatement. He was FURIOUS! Merlin was meant to be his saving grace, and Arthur had gone and thrown him in the dungeon. When he heard this had happened from Gaius, he had him released as soon as possible, without any further punishment. He would have to do something about his son, and soon.
Merlin... Merlin...
Merlin couldn't get that voice out of his mind as he walked through the lower town. What did it even want with him? He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't see the girl that he walked into him. She was maybe two years older than him with curly black hair and soulful eyes.
"Uff. Sorry- Hey! You're that guy that stood up Arthur! I'm Gwenivere, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid," Gwen said in a lilting voice.
"Merlin. It's nice to meet you Gwen."
"I have to ask, how did you do it? You don't really look like one of those big muscly men."
"Thanks."
"No-no, I'm sure your strong, but you know..." she trailed off looking sheepish.
Merlin leened in conspiritorially, "I'm in disguise."
"Well everyone thought you were a hero. Thanks for standing up to him!"
"No problem. It was a pleasure meeting you Gwen. Until next time!" Merlin gave her a goofy smile before walking off, leaving a madly blushing Gwen in his wake.
Merlin...Merlin...
That's it! That is the last thing he needed again after his day. After the freaky encounter with Lady Helen, he had beat Arthur in a fight again- with maces this time. He couldn't deal with this name shit any longer. Merlin found himself walking off to the dungeons, grumbling the entire way.
He took care of the guard easily with some floaty dice. After lighting a torch, Merlin walked down a flight of stairs; ending up in a large cave. Some scaly thing flew out of nowhere and landed on a rock. The dragon scared the crap out of Merlin- then it started talking.
"How small you are, for such a great destiny."
"Wait. What do you mean?"
"Your gifts were give to you for a reason... Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite Albion and return magic to the land. But he faces many threats along the way."
"Right. I don't see what this has to do with me."
"Everything! Without you, Arthur will fail; without you, Albion will never be born. For you are Emrys the most powerful warlock and the last Knight of Old. You are the last human bound by the Old Code."
Merlin felt something stir deep within him, and he found words rising to his throat that just felt right. "I, Merlin Ambrosius, choose the Old Code as my own. I am here by sworn to valor, to speak only the truth, to use arms to defend the helpless, to use might to uphold the weak. My heart knows only virtue. My wrath will undo the wicked."
The dragon gave him a toothy smile before continuing, "I never thought I would here those words again. I made the right choice in bonding with you. There is much more you need to know, but now is not the time. Farewell Sir Merlin, Knight of Old." He flapped his powerful wings and flew off. Leaving a rather shell-shocked Merlin alone on the platform.
How did he always get himself in these awkward situations? All he was supposed to do was drop off this potion to the Lady Morgana. Oops.
"Gwen, pass me that dress would you?"
"I am sorry my Lady, but Gwen isn't here a the moment."
Morgana spun around at the sound of an unfamiliar voice to find a rather cute boy standing in the middle her room. "Who are you?"
"My name is Merlin. I have your sleeping draft, Gaius asked me to bring it."
"Thank you Merlin." She walked over to him a took the bottle, Morgana blushed when her fingers brushed across his skin. He nodded before leaving the room. Little did the ward know, her maid had just seen every thing.
"You like him," Gwen stated.
Morgana sighed, "Who wouldn't?" Both women disolved into giggles over the fact that they both had a crush on Gaius' ward.
Merlin was completely shocked when he was invited to the feast; Uther knew he would be. Poor boy probably didn't even know he was nobility. That would change after tonight.
Uther stood up from the table and began his speech, "We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought me many joys, but none compare to the fact that the Ambrosius house lives on; it me great pleasure to recognize Merlin Ambrosius as Lord Ambrosius, and to give him his father's duities!"
Everyone in the room turned to stare at a suprised Merlin. The king waited a second before continuing, "And now, I have the great honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora."
At the mention of her 'name', Mary floated into the room. Merlin assumed that others heard a beautiful song from the looks on their faces, but she sounded like a hoard of buzzing bees to his ears. When everyone started to fall asleep, he knew he had to do something; and fast.
Merlin's eyes roved around the room until they landed on the chandeler directly above Lady Helen. He concentrated on it, and heard a mighty snap when it fell to earth. Impailing the witch in the process.
But it wasn't over yet: 'Lady Helen' sent her dagger hurtling at Arthur with her dying breath. Merlin sprinted towards the prince, oblivious of how fast he was moving. He reached out and grasped the hilt; centemeters from the blonde's heart.
The king then found his voice, "You saved my son! The debt will be repaid."
"Oh, well..." Merlin trailed off looking sheepish.
"Nonsense; you shall be rewarded."
"If you insist sire."
"You shall be knighted under Camelot. I have already seen you best my son -twice- and you are of noble blood. You just proved your loyalty; that is all I require of my knights."
Arthur's face looked like a fish, "Father!" His protests were drowned out by the applase for the newest knight.
Merlin sat at the table thinking about his first week in Camelot; so much had happened so quick. Gaius walked in with a package.
"Seems you're a hero."
"Na, just doing my duty."
"Oh you did quite a bit more. Perhaps your gifts were given to you to protect the prince."
Merlin looked mortified, "Oh no, you can't mean that." Gaius just shrugged.
"Well I got you something. Think of it as a moving gift, seeing as you won't be in here any more." Gaius handed over the book.
"This is a book of Magic!"
"Then you best keep it hidden."
A smile split Merlin's face, "I will study every word!"
One of the servants knocked on the door, "Lord Merlin, Prince Arthur wishes to speak with you."
"Your destiny's calling; better go see what he wants," Gaius told his ward-turned-lord as Merlin walked towards the door; ready to face whatever the future held.
Whoo! That's the lomgest chapter I have ever written. Hope you all like it, 'cause I had a blast writting it! I would love to hear what you think. Until next time, my Faithful Readers!
