Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter one: Taken Queen.
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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.
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Gwen knelt down and places a bunch of flower on her fathers' grave. The flowers were nothing special, they were simple wild flowers Freya and Isolde had helped her pick before she had set out. Because wild flowers always reminded her of her father, not because he had liked them, but because whenever she had time to pick them, he'd place them in a vase in the middle of their small table and sometimes draw them when he had the time.
Gwen gets back to her feet and steps backward and Elyan puts and arm around her shoulders and Gwen rests her head against his shoulder. The last time Elyan had seen their father was just before he left home and the two of them had not parted on good terms, yet their father had never given up hope that one day Elyan would return home. And he had, just not before their father had died.
"Even after all these years I still miss him," Gwen cries slightly, wiping tears from her eyes.
"He was a good father," Elyan adds. "I'm glad we came."
"So am I," Gwen agrees.
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"I think that he'd be proud," Leon announces from the head of the riding party as they made their way back to Camelot.
"Particularly of Elyan," Gwen agrees, smiling at her brother as he rode next to her.
Elyan looks slightly surprised by that, "Me?"
"Not because you're a knight," Gwen explains. "But because of the man you've become."
"I don't think so," Elyan disagrees, with a slight shake of his head.
"She's right," Percival adds, agreeing with Gwen.
"Absolutely," Gwaine nodes, with a mischievous grin. "You're outstanding, especially when it comes to sweet-talking the ladies, if nothing else."
Elyan goes slightly red and looks at his sister, "Don't listen to him."
"No," Leon disagrees. "Elyan loves only one woman."
"Who?" Gwen asks, intrigued.
"You!" Elyan exclaims before anyone else has a chance to answer.
"Tell me," Gwen pleads. "I'm your sister."
"Did Arthur not say?" Gwaine asks, saving Elyan from answering.
Gwen rolls her eyes, "Arthur never tells me anything."
"But he told you who Gwaine's in love with." Elyan points out.
"Yes," Gwen answers with a grin. "Himself!"
Everyone laughs, while Gwaine folds his arms across his chest in mock annoyance and turns his head away with a sniff.
But unknown to them, Morgana was watching them from the trees. Her gaze settles on Gwen and she smirks, before turning away and heading deeper into the trees and out of sight. She returns to her horse and mounts it in one swift move, before riding off towards a clearing not far ahead of Gwen and the knights.
Jumping down from her horse, Morgana glances round until her gaze settles on want she needs. She glances in the direction Gwen and the Knights would soon be approaching from, before kneeling down next to a pile of earth and leaves.
"Wanne nædran, fram þæs foldan bosme astigaþ ge." Morgana chants.
Snakes quickly form out of the earth and leaves and slither off into the grass. Smirking to herself Morgana quickly disappears back to the wood with her horse. Only a few seconds later Gwen and the Knights appear, none having no ideas what had just transpired in the clearing only moments before.
The snakes slither through the grass, towards the horses startling them and Leon and Percival are thrown from their horse's backs. Gwaine and Elyan quickly jump down from their horses only to be greeted by the snakes which rear up and snap at them.
"They're after the Queen," Elyan turns to Gwen. "Ride! Get to the trees! Go!"
Gwen rides off into the tree, only to pull her horse to a halt as Morgana appears in the middle of the path. Turning away, Gwen rides in a different direction, only to be pulled from her horse by a wordless spell cast by Morgana. She falls to the ground and gets knocked out, as her head hits an exposed tree root on the forest floor.
"Sleep, milady," Morgana mocks slightly, as she kneels beside her. "It could be some time before you do so again."
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Merlin sat between Gaius and Alice, as they attempted to teach him a complex healing spell. When it came to magic Merlin often found it came naturally to him, but he still struggled with healing spells especially when he had to heal himself. So Alice and Gaius had taken in upon themselves to teach him, but the learning the healing arts was a long process, as there were still things Alice and Gaius didn't know themselves.
"You are progressing well, Merlin," Alice smiles, as she examines the enchanted liquid Merlin had just created. "I have no doubt this position could cure the sweating fever in a few hours, as where most would take days."
"Well done, my boy," Gaius congratulates him. "I'll be sure to add it to the already made potions."
Merlin smiles slightly, "And it's only taken me the better part of a month to perfect it."
"Knowledge and perfection come with time," Alice reassures him. "In a few years you'll be able to do this in your sleep, it'll be that easy. The only problem you have is you magic is in the habit of acting defensively, it reacts to everything as if it is a threat. Such magic has no use in the art of healing as it is too aggressive and spoils the natural working of the herbs."
Merlin nodes and goes to answer only to stop as the door to the chamber is thrown open and a group of Knights enter carrying Leon and Percival between them. Merlin quickly clears the work benches and Leon and Percival are quickly placed down. Most of the Knights then clear out of the room but Elyan and Gwaine remain.
"Merlin," Gaius orders from his place beside Percival. "Hollyhock."
"One gram?" Merlin question, hurrying over to where the Hollyhock was stored.
Gaius shakes his head, "Two grams."
"Then what?" Merlin questions.
"Three grains," Alice answers from her place tensing to Leon.
As Merlin hands Gaius the ingredients he needs, Arthur comes storming into the room.
"What happened?" Arthur demands.
"We were riding," Elyan explains. "And came upon a nest of snakes."
"Where's Guinevere?!" Arthur suddenly exclaims, upon seeing she isn't in the room.
Elyan and Gwaine look at each other and Gaius raises an eyebrow at the exchange.
"Where is she?" Arthur asks, slowly his voice taking a dangerous tone.
"I told her to get away," Elyan finally answers. "She fled..."
Arthur glances at Leon and Percival, before spinning on his heels and leaving the room in the same manner he had entered. Merlin quickly followed him.
"Arthur?" Merlin called after him.
"We ride at dawn," Arthur calls over his shoulder before he vanishes out of sight.
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Hey, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This story is part of the 'Life Outside of the Shadows' series, for more details please check out my profile. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.
