Merlin's Adversary
Towers'
Keep
Laura:
Getting into the palace was easy enough, so indeed was going through unnoticed. I was dressed as a low ranking lady, so as to avoid the curious eyes of the higher ranking lords and ladies as well as rebuff the scrutiny of nosey handmaids and servants. The various weapons adorning my person were well concealed in hidden, easily accessible places on my modest gown.
As I made my way through the back halls of the castle I went over the plan in my head, get to the north tower at noon when the guards were changing shifts. If I am to break into the towers keep, I must do so quickly, quietly and during their weakest time. I was confident in my skill set and was certain I could achieve the objective, however, getting away unnoticed was another story altogether. although only higher court officials and the King himself knew of what was hidden in the keep of the north tower, the guards standing watch did not, nor any others. So I did not worry of the entire palace going into lock down, but all others would be on high alert, looking for me. So of course would be the king's trusted manservant, highly skilled warlock and proven traitor to my Covent.
As I approached the door concealing the narrow stairwell of the north tower, it would lead me directly to my goal, I hesitated. Would she come willingly? Yes, my goal was a prisoner, a girl to be precise, and the last blood relative of the Powerful witch Nimueh, killed by Merlin, the King's manservant himself! Murdered! And he believes himself to be helping us, to follow the old religion, what a lie!
If she will not come willingly, she may stay to rot. The old religion is growing weak with such uncertain conviction in its followers. With my conviction I head up the stairs with new found confidence. I come to a standstill as I reach the top, I do not round the last corner as I can hear murmuring voices ahead. I wait for them to leave, I also check that I have all of my weapons, pulling out a sacred dagger, one I'm meant to give to the girl, one belonging to the deceased high priestess Nimueh.
I admired the old carvings engraved in the blade, ones describing ours ways and beliefs. As I relish in the hope of one day using the magic I have been given, freely and openly, a sudden booming laugh causes me to drop the dagger as in jump in fright. I make a desperate attempt to stop it from falling to the stone floor, but too late, it clanks against the floor before falling down the steps one, two and then three. Before it finally stops on the step, spinning around and around. There's no way they didn't hear that, if I want escape I must move now and I do. I gather my skirts race down the steps, collecting the dagger as I go; I make good time and am at the door to the hall in a matter of seconds. Grateful for my luck I swing the door open, burst through, desperately hoping it will be empty, but it's not.
I crash into none other than Merlin himself! Oh of all the luck in the world why him? He would almost certainly know who I am and what my purpose is. Toppling to the floor in a heap we both scramble to get our bearings, I do so first and preparing to run I gather my skirts once again. However I am stopped by a cool, pale hand wrapping around my wrist, and I am pulled back towards Merlin. I have been caught. Defiantly, I raise my chin and meet his eyes, they're full of concern.
"I beg your pardon, miss, are you hurt?" he doesn't know! Oh, my luck!
"No, no, I'm quite alright, besides it was my own fault."
Surprisingly, instead of bowing and leaving it be like I expected, he grinned.
"It's always the lower ranking persons fault, miss." Flustered I looked for an appropriate reply. I needed to go, it was surprising no one had run down the stairs and ordered my arrest yet.
"Yes, well if you insist sir, but I really must be going, I'm in in quite a hurry. See…"
"Sir?" he interrupted, "you must realize I'm but a manservant?" Damn! I curse, what a slip, I need to get myself out of this predicament. Even without the girl I am in trouble, I may even lose my job over this.
"Yes, yes of course! But I really do need to go; I'm already very late-"
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" that infuriating grin was still in place, changing suspiciously into a smirk. His blues eyes gazed at me with a bemused air.
"Somewhere" I replied vaguely, if he said he was a manservant, I would treat him as such. It was not his business to know my business. His eyebrows rose,
"Of course, you should go, somewhere, then."
The hand that had remained around my wrist was quickly released as Merlin dropped it to his side and took a few steps back. Apparently hurt by my somewhat cold rejection. But as soon as I was fully liberated, I turned quickly and hurried, without running, down the hall and around the corner. I would have to come back another day. If they allowed me any mercy.