Cracks in the Heart
Authors Note: I've been sitting on this one a while. Don't get mad, there's a reason I've been holding it back. It's a bit more horror/psychological torture biased then I normally do and on paper it's not finished. I just have to do the last part. But I've decided that I will type and post what I've got and see what you think. Word of warning: I had a friend of mine read this and she was scared to go to sleep that night, don't say I never warned you. I own nothing, please review.
1. Whispers in the Shadows
The castle was dark. Each shadow seemed to hide a different horror but I couldn't bring myself to fear them.
"Forebearnan!" I lifted the flame high in my hand, spreading the circle of light to aid in my search.
"Arthur? Lancelot? Gwaine?" I called into the shadows but heard nothing. I stepped cautiously forward, inching my way along the corridor. The torches had been lit a moment before but now were cold as if they had never been lit. I wished now that we were back in Camelot, not in this frozen castle near the town of Langsteid. But the disappearances had become far too many to ignore, too magical to ignore.
I just wished Arthur had agreed to stay behind. This place was unnerving. Portraits and tapestries lined every available space on the walls. As the flame flickered in my hand the pained or sewn images seemed to shift and stir. If the castle had been silent then maybe it wouldn't have been creepy. But it wasn't silent.
Whispers echoed down the hall and magic swirled audibly in the air. I called louder, refusing to panic entirely.
"Arthur!? Lancelot!? Gwaine!?" I held the flame a little higher. Where were they?
Suddenly a glint of gold caught my eye. I spun hard on my heel hard, hand not holding the fire ready to cast or defend against a spell.
But my hand fell back to my side as my jaw dropped. The thing that had caught my attention was a tapestry. Set back into an alcove it covered the whole wall, even draping onto the floor. It glinted gold in the light of my hand held flame. It was a tapestry of a place I knew all too well.
A lake surrounded by wildflowers, trees and mountains. The lake did not reflect its surroundings. Instead there was an arch in the middle of the lake, it was what glinted pure gold and was surrounded by budding rosebushes. Though the mountains were lit by a crescent moon, a sunrise was visible just above the arch. I breathed out, unaware I had been holding my breath.
"Avalon." I whispered, reaching out for the tapestry.
I jumped when someone put their hand on my shoulder. I spun quickly and just managed to stop the spell before it hit the knight behind me.
"Gwaine! Thank gods! Are you ok?" I asked starting to breathe again.
"Yeah. Merlin, mate, you look like you've seen a ghost." I forced a laugh.
"I'm fine. Where are the others?" Gwaine shrugged.
"I was hoping they were with you. What's that you've found?" I jumped and glanced back over my shoulder. The tapestry still glittered.
"Nothing. Let's go find the others." I said tearing my eyes away from the tapestry, worried about Arthur and Lancelot. Gwaine looked concerned but didn't ask. As we walked away I glanced back over my shoulder at the tapestry. It seemed to glow with power, trying to draw me back to it.
"Merlin?" I shook myself and followed Gwaine forcing a smile and taking the lead. I held the flame higher to help both of us look.
"Arthur?! Lancelot!?" I called out as we walked down the hall. Suddenly Gwaine grabbed me from behind, covering my mouth with one hand and pulling me into an alcove. Understanding I closed my hand around the flame extinguishing it. We both held still listening.
There! Footsteps! Eyes flashing gold I enhanced my hearing and Gwaine's.
"heard someone! It sounded like there was only one person." Was that Lancelot? Someone punched the wall near our alcove.
"Damn! I hope Gwaine found the idiot, I don't want him wandering around on his own." Gwaine's hand went lax and I dropped the spell. I stepped out of the alcove slowly, hands raised in a gesture of surrender. I knew what Arthur was like with sudden movements when worried.
I blinked at the sword that practically materialized at my throat. Excalibur, I stood frozen. This was the one weapon even I couldn't defend against. The blade thrummed with magic, a dragon's breath mixed with the essence of Avalon. Some of my own magic was present there as well, ensuring that only Arthur could wield it. I could see the magic moving along the blade, shimmering slightly in the darkness. Almost as soon as the blade was raised it was lowered.
"Merlin?" I rolled my eyes as they lit up gold, relighting my handheld flame.
"Noooo. I'm a figment of your imagination, you prat." I said sarcastically as Gwaine stepped out of the alcove, grinning.
"Idiot. Let's not get separated again." I glared at him as he glanced at Gwaine and Lancelot patted me on the shoulder.
"It wasn't my fault. Has anyone seen my bag? I seem to have lost it when I was yanked in here." Lancelot held it out to me. I thanked him and glared at Arthur who looked slightly guilty. It wasn't my fault. I wasn't the one who had opened the door.