The tales of Eva and Emrys
Notice:
The actress I picture to look like Sapphire is Sophia Myles.
If there is anything spoken in the mind between sorcerers then it will be shown in italics.
If there are any scenes shown in the future or past they will be shown between two markers (~~) and will be written in italics.
If there is a change in scene it will be shown by ~MAS~ (Merlin and Sapphire).
The Dragon's Call: Arriving in Camelot
"No young man or woman, no matter how great, can know their destiny. They cannot glimpse their part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, they must live and learn. And so it will be for the young warlock and witch arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will, in time, father the legend. And a girl that will in time conquer the Old Religion. Their names: Merlin and Sapphire."
~MAS~
I suppose I should give a bit of a background about myself before I start my story off at the beginning, where everything changed.
My name is Sapphire, best friend since birth of Merlin, son of Hunith. I had the lightest blonde hair that fell down to my waist in small waves, I had sapphire blue eyes (Hunith says I was probably named after them) and I was a tall 5ft five inches and slim, though I did not have a slim sporty type of build.
We live in a small, and in my opinion, beautiful village of Ealdor which is situated on the edge of King Cenred's land and near the border for Camelot.
Now, you're probably wondering why two young village children, Merlin being nineteen and I being twenty years of age, are important in any story. We have magic, always have. We've had it since we were born. Of course, we didn't know that we had magic till we were told by Hunith when we were old enough to understand magic and the consequences of having and using it.
For you see, many people were either afraid of magic or despised it and so executed those with the gift.
Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot, is one such example of a great hater of magic. The King executes anyone attacking Camelot with magic as well as people who just have it. That hate and fear of magic spread to some of his people as well as their fear and respect for him as they did not wish to be killed. Despite his hate for all things magic the King was still a great leader.
Our story starts on a Sunday, a very simple Sunday like any other for the villagers but not for me and Merlin.
You see, we did the same chores as every other day. We woke up, got fresh water from the well for breakfast and had some porridge. I cleaned the house while Hunith tended to her garden, Merlin helped the men in the fields and then I would collect wood from the forest while it was all dry for tonight.
I had put on my most worn peasant dress. The main dress was white while the bodice was a dark blue.
I was just coming out of the forest edge when I tripped on a root. I wasn't looking properly as I was waving to Merlin who was coming towards me with my left hand. You'll find that both Merlin and I are quite clumsy, him more than me though.
I saw his eyes changed to a bright gold like mine do, signalling that he's using magic. I stop falling a few metres before I hit the ground. He runs over to me and before I hit the ground he catches me and pulls me upright once he let goes of his magic.
"Thanks, Merlin."
"No problem, Sapphy."
We were always tripping up over branches on the ground, even over our own two feet.
Then I notice that all the twigs I had just picked up had fallen to the ground.
"Oh great, all the branches have fallen to the ground. I can't be bothered to pick them all up again." Merlin and I are quite lazy sometimes.
I look at the branches and they all lift up into the air as I use my magic, where Merlin and I then share the branches between us. A gasp and a crack of a twig startles us into looking ahead of us. William, or Will, our only friend stood there with a shocked expression on his face.
Merlin and I looked at each other in fear. I could fell my heart pounding against my ribs because of my strong emotions of fear and worry. We're going to be found out. Well, we've already been found out. We need to leave. It seemed Merlin had the same idea as we dropped the branches, grabbed each others hand and took of running to our house to tell Hunith the bad news.
We burst inside to see Hunith preparing dinner but she jumped and turned to us when we entered. I'm sure that there would have been a reproach had we not interrupted.
"Mother! We didn't mean to!"
"Honestly, we didn't, but I tripped over at the edge of the forest and Merlin used magic to stop me from tripping."
"Then Sapphy used magic to pick all the branches she'd dropped but we were found out. It was Will who saw us. We didn't know what to do so we came straight here."
Hunith had a look of shock on her face before panic set in. "Well, then you need to leave. I'll pack some food for you and send a letter to your Uncle Gaius in Camelot. He'll look after you and you'll be safe as I don't think the king will think to look for sorcerer's that will live in his own castle." Gaius was her older brother and the Court Physician in Camelot, as well as an old practitioner of magic. If any one will be able to look after and teach these two anything about magic then it will be Gaius. She knows he won't hand them into the king. She's taught them a lot to get by in life: she's taught them how to read and write and she's taught them how to be have accordingly to a situation with Royalty as she used to live in the castle as her husband new Uther when he was defiantly alive. She wasn't sure if he was still alive or not since he left Ealdor to go into hiding.
"We don't want to leave, mother." How could he leave her, Merlin thought to him self sadly. He's lived with her all his life and she's taught him all he knows. It won't be the same without his mother by his side.
"Yeah, why can't we stay here? I'm sure if we talk to Will he won't tell anyone."
"We can't take that chance," she told us, putting a hand on each of our shoulders. "Now, off you go pack."
I didn't take us long to pack. Hunith had sent off a note to Gaius informing him that we were coming but then also wrote a letter explaining what happened in more detail that we would give him on our arrival.
We ate dinner before Hunith told us it was better to head off now to make it to Camelot by Wednesday.
As it was time to leave we waited by the doors to say goodbye to Hunith.
"Now, my son, you got everything you need. Blankets, food, clothes?!"
"We've got everything, mother."
"You be careful," she warned him before drawing him into a big hug.
She moved off to me next, it all sort of hit me then that we were leaving and tears made there way down my cheeks. "I don't want to go, Hunith."
"Oh, my dear, I would rather you go and be kept safe than for you to be put in danger. Look after him for me." Hunith knew I was the more responsible one to look out for the two of us.
"I would rather die then let you or Merlin get hurt or die."
"Know that I am so proud of you both. Be safe," she says before hugging us both tightly. she was going to miss her children very much but at least she knew, or hoped they would be safe in Camelot. She did trust Will but the less he knew the better because if he did end up betraying them then he won't be able to tell them much.
~MAS~
We had walked quite far into the night before we settled down in a forest and woke up early the next morning. Or rather I woke up early, made breakfast which was just some fruit for us to munch on as we carried on walking before I woke Merlin up.
It took us two whole days and a half of the next before we finally caught our first sight of Camelot. Hunith had given us directions to the castle though we did end up getting lost once since we haven't been this far from Ealdor or have travelled to Camelot before. It was a beautiful sight to see.
The castle is huge and constructed of white brick. It has several tall towers that allow you to see the castle at a distance rising over the surrounding trees. The white brick allows the castle to shine when the morning sun hits the towers and glass windows.
From there it doesn't take us long to reach the entrance to the city gates and travel across a small drawbridge into the Lower Town for the first time. It's amazing to see the villagers going on with their daily lives. I could see people selling bread, fruit, cloth and many other necessities. I could see children running around playing while their parents happily watched them.
That momentarily made me sad as it reminded me that I never new my parents growing up, I only had Hunith and Merlin for company. When I was younger I used to call Hunith my mother till I was old to be told that I wasn't her daughter and was instead adopted into their family. You would have thought that I'd be angry that she didn't tell me and that my parents didn't want me but I was just glad that someone took enough of a liking to me as to take care of me and let me into their home.
I seemed Merlin could tell I was sad as he nudged me to get me to looked up at him. "Hey, cheer up, Saph. You now you can always rely on me and my mother to look after you," he spoke into my mind. It seemed as long as we could remember we could talk to each other in our minds. Hunith always suspected it was because of our magic.
"I know. Although, as Hunith said it'll be more likely that I'll protect you."
"Ha ha, very funny."
We walk into the Upper quarter of the city before reaching a drawbridge that we could see led into a very big courtyard. As we walked in it seemed the was a crowd gathering around something in the centre. We got as close as we could to the front of the circle to see the villagers surrounding a block with an axe stuck into the wood and a basket beside the block. I really hope this isn't what I think it is ...
I was cut off by the sound of drums beating slowing and two soldiers bringing forward a man, a villager.
A man's voice made us all jump and turn to face him. He was surrounded by guards with a red cloak on this time and was wearing one himself while also wearing a golden crown. This must be the king. I didn't expect to see him so soon. "Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass." Uther raises his arm, then lowers it as a signal to the executioner. Just before he is executed Thomas looked up and we looked eyes. Even though he was a man resigned to his fate there was a burning fear in his eyes. It froze me in place. Thomas Collins was then beheaded. The villagers gasp while Merlin and I look away, me finally able to breathe.
That could of been us if were not careful. I don't understand how Hunith could think that Camelot will be the safest place to hide us. We just saw an execution take place on our first day here.
"When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin."
We all start to walk away before an old lady suddenly wails while the villagers draw back as she talks to the king. "There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son." How dare he kill my son for just doing magic. What he did was nothing evil unlike the man before me. King Uther did not disserve to be king or have a son of his own. She would get her revenge on him.
She was obviously the man's mother, I thought.
What she last said seemed like a threat though and it seemed Uther did as well as he ordered, "Seize her!" Uther pointed at the woman, but before the soldiers can do anything she chants something while holding a brown pendant. She disappears in a whirl of wind and smoke.
Everyone just disperses after that so we carryon trying to make our way to Gaius's chambers. We make our way over to a corner of the square and Merlin decides to asks the guards where Gaius's chamber are. One of the guards just point behind him to the door he's guarding so we go through and start going up a flight of steps, noticing a sign that says 'Court Physician', before knocking on a slightly open door. We hear no one answer so decide to push the door open and go in.
"Hello," I called out. It didn't seem that Gaius was there. We looked around the room to see science equipment and potions and books all over the place before looking up to see an old man up high on a railing looking at some books.
Merlin cleared his throat to try to get his attention, "hello, Gaius?"
It made him jump causing him to break the wooden railing and start to fall down. Well, we weren't going to let happen. What happened next would be instinctive. Merlin use magic to stop time while I used it to slide his bed over underneath him causing him to land on it just in time.
"What did you just do?!" he got straight back up on his feet before turning to face us.
"Erm," I mean, what were we supposed to say?
"Tell me!"
"We have no idea how that happened," Merlin tried to play it off.
"If anyone had seen that..."
"No that was nothing to do with us," I had to dissuade him from the notion that it was clearly us that had done it.
"I know what it was. I just want to know where you learnt how to do it."
"No where," Merlin replied instantly.
It was true. Why does he presume that we had learnt how to use our magic.
"So how is it that you both know magic?"
"We don't."
"Where did you study?... answer me!" he ordered us angrily
"We've never studied magic or been taught it," I answered, after jumping out of my skin at his shout.
"Are you both lying to me?"
"What do you want us to say?" I asked him, finally exasperated with this interrogation.
"The truth!"
"We were born like this!" Merlin and I shouted at the same time. Growing up together and being best friends will do that to you I suppose. You'll also find that we can finish off the others sentences as well.
"That's impossible! Who are you both?" He released that he never did get their names or why they were here in his chambers. He's pretty sure he's never seen them before in Camelot.
"Oh, erm, we have this letter." Merlin took off his back pack and took out a letter that Hunith said was for Gaius.
"I-I don't have my glasses."
"I'm Merlin."
Gaius's face lit up in recognition and happiness. "Hunith's son?" Apart from when he was born Gaius had never before seen Merlin.
"Yes!" Merlin nodded in response.
"And I'm Sapphire."
"But your both not meant to be here till Wednesday."
"It is Wednesday," I replied hesitantly. That was embarrassing. Old age must really do a number on you.
"Ah, right then, you better put your bag in that room up there Sapphire and you Merlin will be sleeping on a bed near mine in this room."
A little while later, after dinner and once it had gone dark would find Merlin and I looking out of the only small window of my new room. Just marvelling at the sight of Camelot at night with the villagers fires lit and the full moon shining a silver light on the city below. If Camelot was always this beautiful, apart from when executions would take place, then maybe I wouldn't mind living here after all. Especially since Gaius has agreed to take us in and that he hasn't yet turned us over to the king because of our magic. He should have done that to the king he was supposed to be so loyal to but perhaps it was a combination of us saving his life when we first met or being family made him pause.
Inside the main room of Gaius's chamber would find Gaius reading the letter Hunith sent him. He read:
Dear Gaius,
I turn to you for I feel lost and alone. It is every mothers fate to think their children are special, yet I would give my life that Merlin and Sapphire were not so. Ours is a small villagers and they are so clearly at odds with people here that if they were to remain I fear what would become of them. They need a hand to hold a voice to guide, someone that might help them find a purpose for their gifts. I beg of you, if you understand a mothers love for her children keep them safe and may God save you all,
Hunith.
Strange, very strange. Especially that young woman Sapphire, she reminded him so much of the late Queen Ygraine, King Uther's dead wife but he knew it was impossible for the child to be Uther's daughter. The only princess born to Uther and Ygraine disappeared when she was born.
~MAS~
An hour later would find Lady Morgana, a tall woman with long wavy black hair, porcelain skin, green eyes and wearing a long purple dress, looking out a window of what is called the Griffin Landing overlooking the execution block.
She turned slowly as she heard footsteps coming her way, looking over to see King Uther heading towards her.
"Morgana," he called worried.
"Yes."
"What is this? Why are you not joining us at the feast?"
"I just don't think chopping someone's head off is caused for celebration." Uther's feeling of worry evaporated at that. It was now simple exasperation at his ward's behaviour. "That poor mother." She didn't have a clue what she must be feeling right know, having had to loose her beloved son.
"It was simple justice for what he'd done."
"To whom?" she asked, feeling outrageous. "He practiced in magic. He didn't hurt anyone." She was sure that he only practiced, probably to help keep his family alive.
"You were not around twenty years ago, you have no idea what it was like."
"How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then?" It's been twenty years. Surely, his hatred of magic will have waned but if anything it's either grown stronger or just hasn't left him.
"When they realise that there is no room for magic in my kingdom," he shouted. "You shall be with me when I greet Lady Helen."
He started to walk away when Morgana protested. "I told you, I want no part of these celebrations."
"I am your guardian. I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect then at least respect our finest singer."
This time he managed to walk away but Morgana got the last words in. "You know the more brutal you are the more enemies you will create." The slam of a door being shut and then silence ended the conversation. Morgana turned to stare out the window once more.
~MAS~
Another hour later after Morgana's and Uther's argument would find that Camelot's guest Lady Helen and her party of Camelot knights had set up camp for the night in a clearing in some woods.
Inside her tent you would find Lady Helen humming while braiding her hair but stopped and gasped when she heard a noise outside her tent.
A shadow started to walk towards the entrance.
"Hello?" she questioned nervously. "Gregory?"
It was indeed Sir Gregory outside and answered her calls by coming slightly in. "Lady Helen."
"Is all well?"
"Yes, ma'am. With luck we should reach Camelot late tomorrow."
"That's good."
"I'll be outside if you need me."
She nodded in agreement and so he left, Lady Helen letting out a breath of relief. It was silly of her for her to think there was something else out there.
A few minutes later though she heard yet another sound and saw another shadow walking towards the entrance. She slowly stood up and gasped as it was revealed to be Mary Collins.
She brought out an effigy and a dagger and stabbed it into the place where the heart would have been, chanting along with it three times. "Ackwele seo magdp. Ackwele seo magdp. Ackwele seo magdp."
Lady Helen chocked her last breathe before falling onto her bed, dead.
Mary sat at her vanity table and brought out a brown necklace from under her dress and said yet another spell. "Ghefrolinz grimptoxin kowata." This time the spell slowly transformed her into Lady Helen but when she looked into a diamond shaped mirror it revealed her as her true self: Mary Collins. She was going to get her revenge on Uther as he killed her son.