Title: Mirror, Mirror

Chapter Zero: Prologue

Started: 07/28/10 2:59:38 PM

Story Quote: Out of the corners of her eyes, she watched as people fell to their knees and were mercilessly claimed. She had to keep running; she couldn't hesitate.

Author's Note: This was all due to a very strange dream I had. I am to believe that my dream was due to a picture war I was having with my friend (he kept sending me mirror pics) and then being sick. It was such a crazy dream, though, I had to write about it.

Many thanks to: BlueItem (my cohort and idea manager) and Speedy Speck (my beta)

People screamed in terror as they fled the rotting forest. Mighty trees withered in seconds, with their branches sagging from infirmity and decay. Charred leaves fell like black rain and were crushed by the many stumbling feet. Birds took to the blackened sky in a great waving mass, their screams mingling with those resonating from the ground below. The land was now beginning to turn mushy and held fast to fleeing legs, trapping them in a muddy tomb before pulling them slowly down. A man pulled with feeble might, nails clawing futilely into marshy earth, before he was wrenched, screaming, into the dark, smothering pit.

A child bawled as she ran, clutching the little rag doll her mother had made for her like some kind of lifeline. The ground was holding quick to her tiny shoes, sucking them right off her feet. She didn't stop to try and get them, for she knew to stop meant to die. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as people fell to their knees and were mercilessly claimed. She had to keep running; she couldn't hesitate.

Lightning split the warring sky in bright flashes of silver and eerily illuminated the landscape. She could see the dying trees of the once familiar forest around her, and she could make out the horror etched upon people's faces as they streamed by, only to fall victim to the earth below. Some people had taken refuge within the branches of the failing trees, but they soon cried out in agony as their flesh burned and discoloured grotesquely. Her chest was heaving with great, terrified sobs, but she kept running.

Up ahead were the Snake Rivers. They spiralled around like so many wild serpents' tongues, and had rapids so harsh and wicked that the people often called them White Poison. And they were headed right towards them. The child watched as people dove into the raging waters, heads weaving above and under the surface and then never rising. Her weak arms would never make it to the other shore where the giant willow tree stood untouched by the surrounding devastation.

What could she do? If she stayed there, she would be taken underground, if she jumped, she would be swept away by the Snake's deadly current. Just then she stumbled and the little rag doll fell from her grasp, tumbling into the marsh. A whimper choked through her airways painfully. She had reached the shore now, and stopped, watching as the people she grew up with plummeted into the depths and struggled to resurface.

There was nowhere for her to run. She stood on the bank and stared blankly at the willow tree; her salvation. The lightning had stopped for a moment, plunging everything into darkness. She could not see the willow any more, nor the shrivelled trees, but she could feel the icy water tug at her ankles like fiendish little hands, and hear the villagers' screams fill the still, dead air. Was she just going to wait there, at the Snake's back, and die?

No.

She jumped.

Cold water constricted her movements as she tried to tread desperately. The air in her lungs froze like ice, feeling like a kick to the chest would do, and no matter how hard she tried to suck in another breath instantly died in her throat. The current carried her down under the water in one fluid motion.

Her limbs stopped obeying her commands and she floated there, weightless and under the Snake's control. She knew that it was a hopeless fight. In the darkness of the water, sounds were muted, and it was peaceful. Her lungs burned with the need for air, but the pain seemed far off, like it was happening to someone else. She knew she was going to die, but now it didn't seem like such a horrible fate.

And then something grabbed her arm. The water's surface broke with a forceful splash as she was pulled from the river's depths and into the freeing air. Her eyes wandered over to the force, her vision hazy and her mind still in a dreamy state, and tried to make out what it was in the darkness. All she caught was a shimmery glimpse of something bright, and then she saw no more.

The bank was gritty and cut deeply into her the soft skin of her cheek. Water spouted from her mouth in abrupt bursts and she tried to roll onto her knees. Half her body was still submerged in water, and her legs felt numb and useless. Her fingers grabbed at the grass, as she tried to pull herself up. But her strength failed her and she plopped back into the muck. Her eyes remained watery and were unable to focus. Everything was a blur of motion and light. Had she died? Or had she made it? She couldn't tell. The blurs all swam together making her stomach lurch violently.

Somewhere further up the bank a silvery flash of light struck, but instead of blinking away it lingered, flickering from side to side. Had she the strength, she would have run, or at least edged away. As it was, she just stared as it drew ever closer.

And then it touched her.

Her heart skipped erratically and her vision went static-white. It was all she could do to scream out. Then in the field of white she saw something coming towards her. A hand lightly brushed her tear-stained cheek. Was someone there? She wailed out her plea, hoping for some sort of aid. Whoever it was ignored her, instead just continuously stroking her cheek in a stark contrast to the pain that infiltrated her body.

Before the final darkness claimed her, she sought the being's eyes, but they were not what she had expected. They shone gleefully with the same terrifying gleam as the lightning.

And then, there was no more light.

"Merlin. Be careful!" Arthur shouted as he watched his servant waver under the mirror's weight. "If you break it the consequences will be on your head."

"Prat," Merlin muttered, trying to regain his footing after the mirror teetered in his hands. Why was this thing so bloody heavy? And why was he of all people having to put it in? Probably just for Arthur's entertainment, no doubt. He groaned as he bent down and leant the mirror against the stone wall in the corridor, then gently settled it more securely. "There, happy now?"

"No," Arthur groused, "we've lost a good half hour thanks to you stumbling about like a buffoon. I've got to go talk to my father, and you will be there too." He turned around haughtily and stalked off, leaving Merlin panting by the mirror.

Well, pardon him for not being all brawn and no brains. He stood up and started to follow after the young prince, but a swift strike of silver caught his eye. He turned, stunned, and stared at the mirror's surface. It was ablaze in white for a split moment, but when he blinked, it returned to normal.

"Let's go!" Arthur yelled impatiently from down the hall. Shocked out of his stupor Merlin jogged away. What was that? Surely he hadn't seen what he thought he had. No, it must have been a trick of the sun. That was all.

But the girl's screaming face remained clearly in his mind. As did his own.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Feedback is greatly appreciated.