Chapter 1

hello! hope you like this first chapter! oh and a big thanks to my BETA flyaway213

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"Arthur, I told you going hunting in the Valley of the Fallen Kings was a bad idea! I mean, it's a bad idea for normal people but it's called the valley of the fallen kings for a reason. And now, we are stuck in a bloody cave!" Merlin yelled in the darkness of the cave.

"Are you done now, Merlin?" Arthur mumbled.

"He does have a point, princess."

"I am your king, Gwaine! You can not speak to me in such a way!"

"Maybe we should stop arguing and try to find a way out of here," Leon call into the fray of angry voices.

Percival just sat down quietly giving out a long-suffering sigh .

Their arguing was broken up by the light of a gold orb that filled the cave with light.

"We did not bring you here to yell at one another," a soft female voice called from the far side of the cave. In her hand was a small, gold orb giving a strong glow. She had golden hair that flowed down her shoulders and all the way to the cave floor. She was wearing a simple but none the less gorgeous white dress with soft gold trimmings. Her dark blue eyes seamed to gaze into your soul; not in the haunting way, but in the way that she knew your troubles and understood you before you told her anything. "You, Once and Future King, are here to be tested. Surely, you did not think that it was luck that none of my dogs harmed you?"

"So, you are the one that sent those strange beasts? They were not any dog I have ever seen," Merlin ask nervously with a underlining warning to the woman in question.

"No, Myrddin. You would not have seen a Dobhar-chu before today. They are all but extinct, the only remaining packs living in the land of my lord."

"And who is your lord?"

Arthur found it odd that Merlin didn't say anything about the odd name she called him, but that was the least of his worries. He would have to ask later.

"The name and story of my lord is for another time, Myrddin, for now I must take you to your tests. These tests were created to prepare you for your last battle in hopes that you may divert the prophesy's of old. Strength, Courage, Honor, Loyalty, will you accept the challenge that my lord has given you? If you accept, you will be tested with your greatest weakness, but the reward will also great."

"Well, princesses, I don't think we can leave the way we came. So, why not a test from some unknown lord of who knows where. Sounds like more fun than hanging around in here. As long as they don't use ale as my weakness," Gwaine gave the mysterious lady a wolfish grin.

"Ah, so Strength accepts!" she said with a slight smile.

"You may call me Gwaine, if you like," Gwaine said as he made his way over to the lady in white, kissing her hand softly. "But you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, fair lady, but I no not yours."

"My name, Sir knight, is Blythe, Lady of Annwn," she said kindly.

"An honor to be sure, lady Blythe."

"If you are done now, Gwaine," Arthur snapped.

"We all can't be happily married men, princess!"

"Well, I can't let Gwaine go alone! I will take your lord's test as well," added Percival.

"Honor has joined now as well. What say you, Courage, Loyalty?"

Leon and Arthur look at each other for a moment.

"So be it. We will take your lord's test," answered Arthur.

Suddenly, Blythe turned around to face the back of the cave and gave out a soft chant: "yn agor ogof i dir fy Harglwydd!" Her eyes flash a molten gold color as the back of the cave opened up to reveal what seemed to be a throne room. Blythe beckoned us to follow her in. When we entered the room, we noted the ceiling was as tall as two of Camelot's throne rooms. The whole room was built out of white marble and the ceiling was covered in silver.

But, what stood out the most in the this grand room was the throne itself. Its seat covers were what looked to be black silk and the frame of the throne was cast out of pure silver. At the top was a bird with its wings spread out ready to fly. Next to the throne was a pedestal with a dark blue pillow; siting atop it was a silver crown with a dark blue stone adoring it. It looked as if it had not been touched in a good many years.

"We have waited for are our good lord's return for 20 long years since he left us to better the world of mortals," it was almost whispered, you could hear the sorrow in her voice. "He was a good man. He could not stand the suffering of others so, when he saw a time when so many would die, he left his throne and his people promising to return as soon as his work was completed. But he has yet to return," sorrow filled her voice. "Please, follow me. I shall show you to your rooms. The test will begin in the morning," Blythe took them out of a set of large metal doors and into a hallway where there were rooms with each of their names on them.

Gwaine was the first to see that there was no door with Merlin's name.

"Why doesn't Merlin have a room?" Gwaine question sounded slightly put out.

"There is one with the name," she said, pointing to a door at the end of the hall. It was clearly marked 'Myrddin'.

"But that's not his name! Why do you call him that?"

Luckily, Blythe cut them off be for they could ask anymore questions. "I must tell you of the realms you will have to pass through to get to the end of your test. This realm is the realm where one is rewarded for all the good they did in their past life. Some are mortals while some are beings from other realms. But this is only one of the five realms. You must pass the other four realms' tests before you can return to this realm for your reward."

"The first realm is called Tailte Dorcha, the land of darkness. You must face your inner darkness to pass that realm's test. The second realm is talún dearmad where all things forgotten are banished to. One must tread lightly for the lord of that ream is not a fool and forgets nothing. The third realm, mian an croí, is the realm of desire. You will see the thing you long for but you must not fade from your path. The last realm you will face is rígh beatha agus bás; it means King of Life and Death. He will decide your fates.

"Go. Rest now, for soon you will have to depart from this place of joy into the darkness. Rest while you can."