I'm baaaack! This is the sequel to Ebony – I am so excited about this story! I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you have not read Ebony, I suggest you should, because there will be some foreshadowing from that story put into this one.
I will update soon – until then, please review! You guys are awesome and thanks for all your support with the Ebony fic! Have fun!
It had been nearly a year – almost a full 365 days since Merlin's right arm was paralyzed. He had gotten use to working and doing all his regular chores with just three limbs. One of his regular thoughts was, 'at least both my legs are working', because that would be far worse. A few months after the incident he had been able to move his index finger and thumb, but everything else just hung lifelessly at his side. However, he wasn't a manservant anymore so a large load was taken off his shoulders anyway, so there was, in fact, less to actually do that needed both arms. Now, Merlin was known as the Court Sorcerer – or as he preferred – the Court Warlock.
To be more clear, a lot more than Merlin getting promoted had happened in the past eleven months. Elyan and Althea were wed and everyone was informed only days ago that a little one was on the way. Gwen was now an advisor among the court right behind Merlin, and a full fledged member of the roundtable (It just wouldn't be right without her, now would it?). Gwain had the surprise of his life when a woman that he had met in the Rising Sun tavern, had suddenly turned up with a daughter saying it was his – none of the knights were surprised and knew it would happen sooner or later. More and more sorcerers were coming out of hiding as well, for the magic ban had been lifted. Many druids had moved to live in Camelot as a result and surprisingly they were seen constantly walking and talking with people who were told by Uther to fear them once not too long ago.
All seemed right with the world. Camelot was at a time of glory and prosperity, and Arthur was at the center at it all.
"Hey, Merlin my friend, would you mind watching Beth tonight? Lilliana and I have decided to have a night out at the tavern!" Gwain asked the warlock. Usually he and Lilliana took their turns having a night at the Rising Sun, while the other stayed home and watched their daughter. However, on special occasions they would recruit Merlin or Gwen to watch Beth so the couple could go together. Guinevere constantly fret over the fact that the poor girl had two tavern addicted parents but Merlin just thought of it as the fact that Gwain had finally found his soul mate.
"Sure, just bring her over to Giaus' tonight." Merlin agreed.
"Thanks mate. I won't forget to come pick her up in the morning like last time – I swear it!"
"I hold you to that! Beth gets cranky when her dad is gone too long." Merlin laughs remembering when Lilliana first came to Gwain after Beth was born. The knight was extremely reluctant to take them in and be an actual father, but Merlin had told him how difficult it had been to be raised as a bastard and Gwain decided to let them into his life. It was soon later that the drunkard knight found out him and Lilliana actually had a lot in common and Beth had taking a liking to him immediately. Now they were a small little family, however, the couple hadn't deciding on getting married yet - even if it was the right thing to do.
Lillian was a lovely woman with curly auburn hair that was long enough to reach her lower back. She had hazel eyes and tanned skinned that looked like it had been lightly touched by the sun – or that's at least what Gwain said.
Beth was merely months old yet resembled her father a great deal. They had the same nose, the same eyes, and she had a full head of dark brown hair that her father claimed was as soft as silk.
Merlin became the uncle figure to the child and some would say Gwen was like the aunt. They would always take Beth when needed and treated her with the best of care and prayed to the gods that she wouldn't like to drink as much as her parents. The only other one to ever actually watch over Beth was Percival, but that was only when Merlin and Gwen were unavailable – however the big 'teddy bear' of a knight didn't really mind.
"I'll see you later then. King Prat wants me to meet with him, so I've got to run!" Merlin took off toward the castle while Gwain pulled an apple from his pocket and took a colossus bite before walking to the training field.
Merlin stepped into Arthur's chambers to see the king seated at his desk looking over old maps. The warlock stepped forward and Arthur's head snapped up and he stood.
"How's your arm, today?" Arthur asked. It had become a regular question for everyone whenever they saw the court sorcerer. Merlin, on the other hand, found it extremely annoying because everyone knew nothing was going to change – that scar was an awful reminder that it would be forever paralyzed from now on.
"The usual, sire. Now, what is it that you wanted to talk with me about?" Merlin walked over to the table and set himself down in the uncomfortable chair. He was actually being serious knowing whenever Arthur summoned to talk to him in the kings chambers, it had something to do with magic.
Arthur let out a sigh, "There is said to be a magical necklace by the name of the Corona and is suppose to hold the ability to create whatever destruction the wearer wishes. Rumor has it that a woman in the town Corinth has found the necklace – and as you know, a deadly sickness had killed off more than half the town's people. It is said that this woman was one of the survivors. I would like to know if you believe we should find and confiscate this necklace, or if perhaps, this was just a passing illness."
"Corinth? Isn't that the town at which we destroyed the 'purple fire' sorcerer?" Merlin asked.
"Yes – it seems magical beings have taken a liking to the place… Well? What to do you think?"
Merlin was still getting use to this part of his new status. Whenever a magical threat came to pass, Arthur always went to the warlock with questions and always asked for his opinion – something neither of the men thought would ever happen. "I believe it is worth our time. I have read about the Corona necklace somewhere. It is supposedly very dangerous depending on who wields it. The tiniest thought of destruction will come to pass – this woman might not even realize she was the cause."
"So you think this sickness was due to magic?" Arthur wondered.
"I have read over Giaus' notes on the symptoms of the illness, and I very much believe magic was the cause." Merlin confirmed.
"Alright then! Inform the knights of the roundtable immediately. We'll set off to Corinth tomorrow morning..." Arthur returned to studying the maps.
"Of course, prat – I mean sire." Merlin got up and headed toward the door, swiftly dodging the goblet that was thrown at his head.
"Idiot." Snarled Arthur.
"Clot pole." With that Merlin left the room. a wide grin planted on his face.
That night Gwen had come to Giaus' chambers to help watch Beth. She knocked lightly on the door before walking in to see Merlin rocking the baby back and forth in his arms, humming a sweet little lullaby he said Hunith sung to him as a child.
"Is she asleep?" Gwen whispered as she silently stepped forward to see the babies face.
"Yeah – it took forever, but I finally got her to be quiet." Merlin brushed some of Beth's soft brown hair away from her eyes. Her head was comfortably tucked in the crook of Merlin's elbow and was slightly drooling on his arm.
"You look exhausted, let me take her." Gwen insisted, smiling down at the 'little angel' as she called her. Merlin very slowly and carefully handed the baby to Guinevere whom found her way to the rocking chair. Merlin gave them one last look before heading into his bedroom where he could still hear Gwen quietly singing a beautiful lullaby. He laid down and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Merlin was running, running faster than he had ever seemed to do so before. He dodged his way past roots and large trees, stumbling every-so-often over some minor mound or rock. There was someone else there too... At first all the Warlock could see was a shadow, nothing more, but soon it gained a distinct look he knew all to well.
Arthur.
Why was Arthur here? Why was Arthur running beside him? Why were they running at all? Then suddenly a cry rang out into the still air. 'Was that Gwain?' Merlin thought, stilling running fast and hard.
He turned his head to see a new shadow soon turning into the figure of his friend, sir Gwain. He was saying something... Perhaps a name - Merlin could not tell. No sound was to be heard but the crunching of leaves beneath their feet. So he studied the knight closely, trying to find out that word, the word he kept mouthing over and over, the word he had soon before heard Gwain shout out.
Finally he realized what it was, sound was coming into play. He could here shouts and his heavy breaths. He could now hear Gwain yelling out his name.
"Merlin!" The knight screamed, "Merlin!" He wouldn't stop. Why? Why wouldn't he stop? The he heard a new voice. Arthur's voice. It was fretful like Gwain's. Full of worry and panic.
"Just hold on..." The king said, and repeated himself multiple times. Merlin didn't understand. Why did they sound so sad, so heart-wrenching. Was something wrong with him? So he looked down, still running, as if to scan himself for injury.
Merlins eyes grew wide. No - this couldn't be! He was bleeding out, a hole gushing blood from his stomach area. Then there was another wound - a deep gash on the side of left leg. There was so much blood. He could see the crimson, but could not feel the pain that followed. What was going on?
Then everything changed and he was somewhere else, no longer running but laying on the cool ground with Arthur and Gwain looking down on him. This time he could feel the pain, it was everywhere, etching throughout his body like a disease. The worst of it came from his torso, where an arrow was stuck through his skin. He looked to his friends for help. He wanted them to reassure him it would be alright and that he would make it through this, to see another sunrise. He waited for them to do something, but then they just gave one long look at him before standing up and walking away. They didn't look back or respond to Merlin's desperate cries. They were leaving him for dead. "No... N-no don't leave me..."
Merlin sat up gasping for breath. It was just a nightmare, he assured himself as he looked around the dark room. He remembered it though – it was the same dream he had nearly a year ago while they were heading toward Avarian. It wouldn't have come back again unless it was important, Merlin thought.
The warlock went out to the main room to see Gwen standing by the fire with Beth in her arms. She turned to him, clearly startled, and then smiled when she realized who it was.
"What are you doing up? It as only been a little more than an hour since you went to bed." She smiled that kind, warm smile that everyone knew so well.
"Just a nightmare… Is Beth awake?" Merlin asked. As if to answer him the baby girl gurgled and wiggled her arms in the air. Her little pink dress was faded and covered in drool stains so the warlock grabbed a small towel to clean it up. "You are a messy girl – aren't you?" Merlin smiled.
"Another trait passed down from her father I suppose." Gwen commented and they both chuckled. Then the maid/advisor looked to him with worry in her eyes, "Are you alright? Something seems to be troubling you."
"I'm fine, Gwen. I promise! You, however, look exhausted. I'll take Beth – you can use my bed if you want." Merlin took the happy baby and rested her on his hip before Gwen pecked him on the cheek and headed for his room to sleep.
Before she closed the door she turned around to face her best friend once again, "You know if there is something troubling you, you can always come to me." She gave him a comforting smile before shutting the bedroom door and heading of to sleep.
"I know…" Merlin mumbled to himself. He still had trouble confining in his friends and telling them what was on his mind. He had spent so long keeping secrets it was an odd thing to do for him. Now he just wasn't sure if the dream was something to worry about – the warlock wasn't sure. Why would it suddenly come back now? What did it mean, and what could it be telling him? So many questions were coiled around his brain and it took a moment for him to regain is composure and turn his attention back to Beth whom was clinging to his tunic. "I know," He said while leaning her against his chest, "You're all here for me…"
Woot! First chapter down and many more to go! I am so excited to hear what you guys have to say about it – so please review! I also wanted to know if you guys think there should be some Merwen in here. I personally ship them, but what do you guys think? Anyways, I shall update and post a new chapter as soon as I can! :)) *Waves goodbye happily*