DISCLAIMERS: This is a fan-fiction based on the TV Mini-Series "Merlin (1998)". I don't have any official rights to the stories or characters as they are imagined in the show – I am just shamelessly borrowing them to write this story.
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Young Galahad and the Dark Faerie
Rating: T (violence, coarse language, minors wearing loincloths, etc.)
Synopsis: The 10-year-old son of Sir Lancelot is sent away to live with an old witch and must complete a harrowing quest to save his ailing mother.
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
by: G. Hodges (November 2016-June 2017)
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was approached by Professor Seele back in the Summer of 2016 with a request to write a short fan fiction based on a supporting character from the 1990s TV series Merlin. We had some discussion and passed back and forth a manuscript over the course of a year that eventually became the story below. I hope you enjoy the fruits of our extended labors to put this together.
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CHAPTER 1 – AN OLD MAN'S STORY
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Old Man Merlin sat down in his favorite spot in the village, as he always did, and was welcomed by his fandom – a crowd of children.
"Tell us another story, Merlin!" they'd cry. Like every day before, today was no exception – they wanted to hear one of Merlin's great tales of chivalry from the old days.
"Alright, alright," Merlin responded to quell the excited children. "Did I tell you the story of how King Arthur came to own Excalibur?"
The kids nodded, disappointed. "Tell us a different story!" they chanted, hoping to coax the old storyteller to give them something new for a change.
The old man relented to his beloved audience. "Alright, something different this time. Hmm." He scratches his chin and strokes his white beard to think for a moment. His eyes light up. "Ah. Did I ever tell you the story of Sir Lancelot's son, Sir Galahad, and how he had to bargain with a Dark Faerie to spare his mother's life?"
The children shook their heads.
"Well then, where to begin? Did you know that Sir Galahad was just a boy when his father, Sir Lancelot, was called to service in King Arthur's circle of knights? Why he was hardly more than your age, I suppose." Merlin gestures to a boy beside him who couldn't have been more than 10 to 12 years of age.
"Yes. As a matter of fact, soon after his father left, Young Galahad was sent to go live with a relative of one of his family's servants in this very valley, a Godmother of sorts – Auntie was her name. She was an old lady who knew the Old Ways, much like the Auntie I lived with when I was a boy. He was a good and amiable lad – he helped out with gathering wood, tending the gardens, buying supplies, and never complained when his Auntie had chores for him to do. And, in return, his Auntie was kind and nurturing and loved the young Galahad like the son she could never have. Young Galahad lived a simple but happy life in the valley." Merlin paused for a moment, and saw his audience was slowly becoming rapted into the story. He smiled, and continued.
"But, it wasn't long before trouble began for young Galahad..."
It is just after dawn in the old village. Auntie is still cooking a tasty potato stew as Galahad finishes his morning chores. He is offering to buy a loaf of bread from Baker Tomas when he heard the news.
"My poor boy," the baker started, putting his worn hat to his chest. "A traveler just gave me word of your dear mother just yesterday. Lady Elaine of Astolat has taken ill, and she is not expected to last a fortnight. I am so sorry to be the first to bring you the news." The baker hands a stunned Galahad two loves of bread instead of one. "Here, my lad. Please take them both as a gift – and offer one to the Spirits of the Wood for your mother's health to return."
The boy, Galahad, thanks the kind baker and runs home to see Auntie. Auntie is a kind old woman, as wise and knowledgeable as she is powerful in the Old Ways. She was a Wiccan and an accomplished sorceress, and was asked by Lady Elaine to look after and train her son in the Old Ways. Now, young Galahad is more like a son to her, so young Galahad wanted for nothing as he lived in her humble household.
But today, it is not a quiet morning. Galahad rushes home and explains through tears the news of his mother.
"Auntie!" Galahad cries as he explodes into the tiny home. "My mother – Baker Tomas tells me she is ill and dying!"
Auntie gasps, then collects herself. She calms the boy, takes the loves of bread from his trembling grip, and together they seek to find answers.
"Let us see what is wrong with your mother, my dear," Auntie says to soothe Galahad. She goes to prepare her magic cauldron, and in moments whips up a magical spell of divination to see his mother. Galahad strains to see the images reflected in the pool of dark water, but they are clear enough to show that they are peering into his mother's bed chambers, and he can see (and hear) his mother's raspy cough. He instinctively tries to call out to his mother, but she cannot hear or see him. Auntie puts a warm, soothing hand on young Galahad's shoulder to comfort him.
They see a servant come into the lady's bed chamber and offers her a warm broth. Lady Elaine takes the broth and drinks, but coughs in a terrible fit and spills the bowl with its contents onto the floor. The servant quickly cleans the mess and shakes her head with concern as she leaves her mistress to rest.
Galahad cries out again, "Mother!" Auntie takes his hand, and the young boy sniffles back tears as he rubs his nose. Auntie can see that the news is true, and ends the spell for Galahad's sake.
The image fades, and the boy and the old wiccan are once again alone in the dark of the small home. Auntie turns to face Galahad.
"She is alive, my dear – and that means we still have hope. There may be one who can help us, but it will be very dangerous. Are you ready to risk your life to save your mother?"
Galahad nods, and wipes away fresh tears from his face.
Auntie hands Galahad a gold coin – a rare and expensive one with the head of some bygone Caesar printed on one side. "Take this coin, my dear, and go to the old well behind the town. It is the one at the base of the big hill. Toss it in, and make a wish to the Dark Faerie to cure your mother. He may demand one favor in return – if so, you must fulfill it exactly as he says. Do you understand?"
Galahad nods again and accepts the coin, remembering the legends of the old well the other townsfolk had told him. It is dry and haunted – no one uses it anymore. There are stories of boys and girls trying to find gold coins in the well, only to disappear forever. Some say that they can hear screams echoing from the bottom of the well when the wind blows, but others say they are just stories to keep kids from playing around the well. Galahad has never ventured out to the well, but he sees that he has no other choice now. He gathers his cloak and prepares to walk to the far side of town and face his destiny.
Auntie gives her favorite boy a peck on the cheek. "May the spirits of the forest guide you and protect you, my fair young warrior." She watches as young Galahad leaves and walks the path towards town, and quietly prays to the forest for his safe return and victory in his first of many quests.
It is still dawn as Galahad reaches the old well. As people have said, it is indeed a dry and broken-down well, but is otherwise plain and seems abandoned. He approaches without hesitation, and speaks. "Dark Faerie, hear my wish! I wish that my mother, Lady Elaine of Astolat, be rid of her sickness and become well again." After a moment's silence, he flicks the coin into the well and waits.
In only a few seconds, there is a voice calling from within the well, and a shadow arises and takes the shape of a twisted-looking feyfolk. It is the Dark Faerie.
"Well, well – finally, after such a long time. How nice it is that the Dark Faerie is never truly forgotten when trouble is about." The Dark Faerie looks up and down at young Galahad, and smiles as he notices that the boy is not afraid. "So, do you want me to make your old mum well again?"
"Yes, please," Galahad replies. "That is my wish."
The Dark Faerie nods, then smiles broadly. "Of course – I am bound by the spell that keeps me here to grant any wish that is accompanied by a gold coin. But, I am allowed to ask for one favor in return for granting your wishes. And this wish..." The Dark Faerie starts to look past Galahad and puts on a conniving sneer. "This one will take some effort on your part."
The Dark Faerie produces a small piece of cloth and a large seed from his clothes and presents them to Galahad. "You will need these. Scale the hill behind me, and plant the seed in the spring high above at the top of the hill. There is a magic spring up there that can make any seed grow instantly. Return the flower that this seed makes and plant it beside my well before the sun rises again and your wish will be fulfilled."
Galahad commits the instructions to memory, and nods. He takes the cloth and the seed and starts to turn to go up the hill.
"Oh no you don't," the Dark Faerie interrupts. "You must leave everything you have here – you can only take the items I have given you. Nothing else."
Galahad looks at the small cloth, and realizes it is just big enough to cover his loins. He stares back at the Dark Faerie in disbelief. "Do you mean that I have to strip to nothing and wear just this small cloth?"
The Dark Faerie smiles as he looks at his dark and dirty fingernails. "Yes, that's about right." He smiles as he changes his focus to Galahad's incredulous expression on his face. "That's magic for you – if you want your mother to get better..."
Galahad relents and undresses, and is soon wearing the loincloth. The seed is in his left hand, and he finally begins to turn to the hill and starts to walk what may be an old pathway up the hillside.
"Good lad," the Dark Faerie calls out to the boy as he walks away, shivering from the cold morning breeze. "And remember, you have to plant the flower here at the base of the well before the sun rises tomorrow. If you fail, your mother will die, and your soul will be mine to add to the lovely collection I have down here."
The Dark Faerie starts to chuckle and laugh as Galahad sees that the Dark Faerie has tricked him into a difficult quest. He steadies his nerves and resumes his trek to the top of the hill.