A Note From the Author: Nothing much to say, but I hope you do enjoy the story. Please review, tell me anything. Thank you, S.E. Davis.
Disclaimer: Merlin is the property of BBC. And may I congratulate them on a job well done.
P.S. This is a non-slash production.
Chapter1: The Plan's Beginning
In the darkening forest, a young man waited anxiously for his accomplice. An owl hooted nearby, making the stranger jump frightfully while pulling a small dagger from its sheath.
"Matthias, my friend." chuckled a figure in a dark cloak, stepping from behind a well grown oak. "You scare too easily."
Matthias knew that voice from anywhere. "Really, Bolton." he sighed, putting his knife back in its place. "You're late. I started to think that you weren't coming."
"Com'mon," said the cheery hooded man as he leaned against a large stone engraved with letters that had long been worn away by nature . "You should have faith in me by now, Mattie."
Matthias rolled his eyes in good humor and decided to get straight to business. "I'll take it to you still being alive that the Myndeor has been released and sent to the right place."
"Indeed." gleamed Bolton. "So, next?"
"Next, we will need to wait and watch near the target." answered the stern young man. "Are you sure this kingdom has the most enemies? I would think that the Essetir king would have more foes."
"Not by a long shot, plus he will make a good collaborator." smirked the merry companion holding out a small purple root. "I also have the fol-foolk-"
"The folcsóp sprout, good." Matthias said taking the plant. He placed a steady hand over it. "Áwæcnest ond bemeldest."
"To Camelot, then?" asked Bolton eagerly.
"Yes, my friend. To Camelot."
They had only been about two yards away from home before bandits attacked. A new record- thought Merlin dryly, as he successfully knocked out one of the men with a log. Arthur on the other hand had taken down at least five men by now, compared to Merlin's two. However, the young warlock was more focused on keeping an eye on his friend, relying on the four Camelot knights to fight.
A gruff-looking bandit took notice of Merlin and raised his sword to strike. Merlin could do nothing but watch his demise. The blade came swiftly down but it never touched him. The man fell to reveal a posed Arthur removing his sword from the bandit's back. Merlin smirked nervously as if to say 'thank you'.
"What did I say about you and fighting, Merlin?" asked Arthur.
"That in my case cowering is probably best." he answered.
"Cheer up, at least you're good at something." mocked Arthur as he turned to kill another. Just then, a bandit prepared to take out the royalty from behind. Within the blink of an eye a tree root suddenly sprung up, tripping the man.
"You're welcome." muttered Merlin before going back into the fight. The battle was finished in a matter of minutes and the twelve thugs all laid on the ground, defeated.
"Sire," called one of the knights beckoning Arthur to a further back location of the scene.
"What on Earth-" said the prince taking in the ghastly site of what looked like a good sized group of four or more ordinary-looking villagers sprawled about the ground, mangled and mauled
"D'you think the bandits did this?" Merlin said in a hushed manor. Arthur investigated and notice something odd about the wounds on the victims. They were almost as if-
"These," said Arthur unsettlingly, "are the marks of an animal, one that I've never come across before."
"Are you saying that something did this?" Merlin asked frightfully. A large part of him hoped it to be a bear, wild wolves, boars, or even a gang of killer squirrels; just something, anything, not magical related.
Camelot needed at least a week of magic-free life. Just one week would be enough. Though last week's magic incident was completely the warlock's fault when he unwittingly released a troublesome goblin.
Suddenly, a ear-wrenching screech filled the air breaking the cold silence that happened upon the discovery. Beneath the mass of the dead hid the monster responsible for this. It soon emerged.
"Brace yourselves!" called Arthur to his men, preparing for the worst.
What emerged from the carnage surprised them all. With the shimmer came a small fox-looking animal, yet it seemed odd in a manner of appearances.
"A fox." Merlin said in disbelief.
"That's not a fox, Merlin." corrected Arthur, keeping his sword and eyes in the direction of the thing.
Though the warlock was still skeptical he had to admit that the fox did look, how would one put it, odd. Unlike a fox, this creature had a bright red complexion (brighter than any ordinary fox could ever have), with two long looking fangs that hung intimidatiously out of its mouth, and a pair of dangerous gold eyes.
It screeched once more before sprinting off into a blur. A sudden stir from the bodies caught the groups attention yet again. A moan.
"Sire." said a knight hovering over one of the villagers. Arthur and Merlin ran to where he stood. A man with a horrible gash on his chest. "He's still alive, sire."
Merlin sprung into action. Being the ward of a physician, it was only natural for him to pick up on some of the trade. "The cut's deep, but it looks like it didn't bleed too badly. We'll have to get him back to Camelot quickly, though."
"Alright." Arthur said grabbing the man's arms. "Help me get him up."
The prince and two of the knights set him on a horse as carefully as they could. Merlin spoke up when he noticed who's horse they had put the villager.
"That's your horse." Merlin said to his friend.
"Yes, Merlin." retorted Arthur as one would answer a small child. Truth be told Arthur felt it his purpose to help his people any way he could; and so asking one of knights to give up their horse seemed rather conceited. This wasn't their responsibility
"You plan on walking the whole way back, then?" smirked the cocky young man.
"As a matter of fact, no. I don't. Your horse will do just fine for me." Arthur couldn't help but to grin maliciously. Sure he would not order one of the knights to give up their ride, but Merlin wasn't a knight. Plus he could use the discipline. The swaggering fool.
"But-" said the servant as the party began to head back.
"Come now, Merlin." scoffed Arthur with a chuckle. "You'll never make it back just standing there."
The servant gave a rueful huff before shuffling after the group.
When Uther Pendragon had heard from the herald that his son had returned early from his patrol, he'd figured the worst. Different worries played in his head. Maybe Cenred's army had invaded and there was only moments to spare before an attack, or possibly Arthur had somehow gotten injured while he was out.
But to his relief, Arthur entered the throne room fine and fit. That didn't stop the king from clasping his son's shoulder fondly with joy.
"Sire," Arthur began, bowing respectfully.
"Son." answered Uther in response. "Is everything well? You're not supposed to be back until late this evening.
"There were some complications." Arthur admitted. "We were attacked by bandits a couple of yards from the city's gates, but we dispatched them easily."
"Is that all, then?" asked Uther, confused that his son would come back with such little news.
"No." said the prince shifting uncomfortably.
He knew that the real issue was probably magic related, and he very much disliked his father's zealous response to the subject. True, magic was evil (for Arthur had witness this truth many times), but the way his father carried about this matter was a trait Arthur hoped he would never develop. Uther was ready and willing to destroy anyone and anything that had even the slightest rumor of mystic capabilities, while Arthur on the other hand wanted solid proof of such transgressions before doing anything to anyone.
"We found some villagers in the forest who had been attacked by some wild animal." Arthur said looking to the floor. "There was one survivor who is being tended to by Gaius now."
"What was the manner of this beast?" asked Uther, a hopeful spark of wanting it to be something of magic. It would be good for Arthur to see the evil of magic constantly. The king would make sure his son knew of its dangers.
"It appeared to be a fox, but-" Arthur hesitated.
"But what?"
"It was not a fox. It was a strange color of red, and had large fangs."
"Probably a creature of magic." Uther spit out the last word as if it had left a bitter taste in his mouth. The last magical attack on the Pendragon estate was only a week ago, and it left Uther highly conclusive that every mishap was the fault of enchantments.
"We can't be sure, but Gaius confirmed that the villager we found will be able to tell us more within a matter of hour."
"Well done, my son. Well done indeed." said the king already distracted by the new challenge. The prince smile before leaving his father; not at all comfortable by his father's congrates.
The villager stood unnervingly before the court. Of course he was not in any trouble, but many things still remained a mystery to him. He rubbed gently on his chest. Beneath his tunic was gash that didn't feel as bad as it looked.
"What is your name?" asked Arthur in an attempt to be sincere.
"Esmond of Galbermont."
"Do you know what attacked you and the others?" Uther asked, ramming straight to the point.
"No, my lord." said the rubbing his head. "I don't even remember being in the forest. Last I can recall I was at my farm, then nothing. I woke up here."
The throne room was quiet while the king thought to himself. The only lead they had was the fox-creature Arthur reported to him. He knew the next option.
"You may reside here in Camelot until you return to your home. The court is dismissed." he said with the wave of a hand.
"Gaius." Uther said and the court physician stayed behind.
"My lord." greeted the old man.
"Have you yet to research this thing that Arthur claimed was near the scene?"
"I have, sire." answered Gaius. "Merlin helped me identify the creature in my studies."
Uther raised an eyebrow, just noticing the boy standing next to Gaius.
"And-" urged the king. By the way his old friend shuffled nervously, Uther guessed it to be bad news.
"My book identifies it as a Red-foxed Daemon," answered Gaius holding the petit book in his hands. He opened it and turned in to a page with a horrific drawing of the creature. "Unfortunately, there was only a short riddle pertaining to it."
Uther took in the words from the book while Gaius read them out loud: Water me. I will grow. See me. You won't know. Summon me. They will pay. One by one. I will slay.
"I have no time for riddles, Gaius. Is this thing a threat or not?" ordered the king.
"I believe so, sire." Gaius answered. "But I can only guess that at its size, it can only take down one prey at a time; hint the verse 'One by one. I will slay'."
"And the book mentioned something about summoning. Is this work of a sorcerer?"
"That is what I've concluded." Gaius responded.
"Will magic have no end to my torture?" Uther asked himself. "I shall have the guards search the city for the fiend responsible for. As for this thing, I will send Arthur to slay it before it can do anymore harm." Uther concluded dismissing Gaius and Merlin.
"Sire." said the physician as both men bowed to the king.
"So long for an ordinary week." grumbled Merlin as the two strolled out of the throne room.
"I haven't had one of those since you arrived here, Merlin." mused the older man.
Another Note From the Author: I know, I know; this chapter is relatively a bore, but there are some establishments I needed to get in. I shall try to update a 'more good' chapter soon.
P.S. Keep in note the stone with the intangible words on it from scene. I hope it will spice up the tale.