Hey there guys! Please review and give me some critique or advice. Now here is comes... beginning with the wise voice of the Great Dragon, Kilgarrah.
Chapter 1
No one, no matter how great, can know their destiny. She cannot glimpse her part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, she must live and learn. And so it will be for the young witch arriving at the gates of Camelot. A girl that will, in time, mother the legend. Her name: Merlin.
Merlin POV
I was going to make it on time, despite leaving home late. Camelot looked promising, actually- birds chirped happily, the sun shined brightly, and a crowd was bustling. Wait, a crowd? Something important had to be happening. I ran through the gates.
A man in a crown stands atop a balcony. He has a hard face, almost as if somebody carved it out of marble. He has graying hair. I can tell that he is Uther Pendragon, the king of Camelot- the king who began the Great Purge and killed so many innocent magical beings- the king who ruled with an iron fist and absolute rigidity. He is a tyrant, but more so, he is a broken man. It doesn't take a sorceress to recognize that he is a hardened, frozen man- that beneath his iron armor and his heart of stone, warm skin and blood existed. Something changed him- I don't know what, but I knew by the look in his eyes- they were blue, but a cold, milky hue, almost as if they were covered by a layer of ice. That layer of ice was hatred.
I have always been told that the eyes are the windows to the soul- and that has been my most important rule and only rule in judging people. People like Uther- their eyes were clouded, not literally of course, but things seemed to swim around in them, motivations that curled like swirls of ink in their irises. Anybody with clear eyes I automatically trust, but I've never met anybody with perfectly clear eyes. Will and my mother come the closest. It's not that people with cloudy eyes are bad people- they aren't, but they aren't pure of heart either. Those inky things swimming in their eyes, I guess, are motivations- but selfish ones, and that is only human nature.
My thoughts are interrupted when Uther begins to speak. His voice is loud, booming, and authoritative, "Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, is judged 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." He gives a hand signal, and the man is beheaded with a sickening chop. I, along with others, gasp.
He continues, "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."
Celebrations! What could there be to celebrate? This, this man, he was a monster! How could I possibly stay in Camelot?
A woman in the crowd wails. Her voice is raw-full of pain and sorrow and anger. "There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You killed my son! But 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." She disappeared in a whirl of wind and sand.
I am only too horrified. The crowd begins to disperse and swallowing, I try to pick up my heavy legs and find Gaius.
A couple guards are walking in the halls. I walk up to one and clear my throat, "Um, excuse me? Where would I find Gaius, the-the court physician?"
He looks down at me and points me down the hall. I thank him and walk quickly over. After knocking on the door, and realizing that it was open, I poke my head in. When I can spot nobody, I walk into the room. "Hello? Gaius?"
Suddenly, amidst the silence, I hear a whole racket. An old man with shoulder length white hair trips over backwards from the bookshelf, and the railing breaks. If he fell! He would at least gravely injured! So without thinking, I slowed down time enough to spot a soft mattress for him to land on. He looks shocked.
"What did you just do?"
Oh no! I'm going to be beheaded! On my very first day in Camelot! Curse destiny! "Erm..."
He is not pleased. "Tell me!"
I try to make my eyes as wide and innocent as I can, "I- I- I have no idea what happened." I could feel myself biting hard on my lips.
He lowers his voice and hisses, just like my mother, "If anyone had seen that..."
Er, no! That- that was, that was nothing to do with me. That- that was...
He looks angry. I know what it was! I just want to know where you learned how to do it!
Now I'm more confused than anything. Did they have schools for magic? "Nowhere."
He's not convinced. "So how is it you know magic?"
"I don't."
"Where did you study?... Answer me!"
"I- I've never studied magic or, or been taught."
Are you lying to me?
"What do you want me to say?" He was interrogating me, and I could feel myself getting impatient. I was telling the truth.
"The truth!"
"I was born like this!"
"That's impossible! Who are you?"
Right- we missed the basic introductory greetings. "Oh, erm..." I pull of my sack and retrieve my mother's letter. I hold it out to him. "I have this letter."
"I- I don't have my glasses."
"I'm Merlin."
He looks shocked, and relieved. "Hunith's daughter?"
"Yes!"
He frowns. "But you're not meant to be here till Wednesday!"
I tilt my face down a little and raise my eyebrow before I clear my throat and tell him, in a slightly stuttering voice, "It- it is Wednesday."
He instructs me to put my bag down, but I'm not fully sure about the situation: "You- you won't say anything about, erm..."
The old man looks up. He has these strange crooked eyes, almost like he's continuously raising one of his eyebrows. I can see into his eyes- they're not clear, they're slightly foggy, but he's probably a good man. After all, he is pretty old and probably has been through much, so it must be difficult to maintain clear eyes. It takes a while for him to answer, "No. Although, Merlin, I should say thank you."
After unpacking all my stuff, I let myself take a break to look out the window and admire the scenery. Camelot is indeed a sight to behold- if it weren't for the fact that people like me are hunted down here. I see Gaius reading my mother's letter- perhaps fate will treat me well after all.
Morgana's POV
I watched the man be beheaded from my window- and it was really rather disgusting. I couldn't believe that the king, or my guardian, could actually kill the man- especially not with a dismissive wave of his hand.
All that and then a call for celebration afterward- I know that there is no way I'm attending the festivities- really, who has a party after a man's decapitation. What would you toast to? And that poor mother- to see your own child die is perhaps the cruelest thing on earth.
"Morgana."
I whip around quickly to see Uther standing at the door. He is the last person I want to see right now. But he is my guardian, so what choice do I have? So I take a deep breath in and answer, "Yes?"
He looks slightly concerned. "What is it? Why are you not joining us at the feast?"
It takes all my will power not to scoff and ask him if he's serious. "I just don't think chopping someone's head off is cause for celebration. That poor mother."
"It was simple justice for what he'd done." His answer is just ridiculous; The man did nothing!
I cannot hold my tongue any longer. "To whom? He practiced magic, he didn't hurt anyone."
He holds his hands behind his back, and looks out the window. It seems like he is reminiscing about the past, and it almost makes me sad to see him like this. He speaks again, in a heavy, but firm voice, "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?"
"Until they realize there is no room for magic in my kingdom! You will be with me when I greet Lady Helen."
"I told you! I want no part in these celebrations!" I know I'm pushing it, but now I really could care less. I was not one to back down until I got my point across.
It happens that my guardian is just about as stubborn as me. "I'm your guardian! I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect at least respect our finest singer." He turns to leave.
"You know, the more brutal you are, the more enemies you will create!" I called after him.
I don't think he heard me. Or maybe he chose not to.
Merlin POV
Something was calling me in my sleep- almost as if it were coming form the very ground. The voice was silent, but booming at the same time- almost like the earth. I looked for it, but it seemed to have stopped. Gaius looked up at me and offered me some breakfast. It was just some watery porridge. I was definitely hoping for something better- maybe more extraordinary. Anyway, I was silently eating the porridge when I heard a loud clang and I saw the water pitcher tipping of the table; all of it was playing out in slow motion for me. Instinctively, and rather impulsively, I froze the pitcher in the air- eliciting a loud gasp from Gaius. I was really shocked too, at the way he looked at me, and because of my lost concentration, the pitcher clanged to the floor, water pooling on the ground. I jumped to go clean it up.
Gaius stood as well. "How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?"
Very quietly, I answered him. "I don't know any spells. It just happens."
"Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you...Here." He places a small bag and a bottle on the table. "Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."
"Okay." This task sounded easy enough.
He also gives me a sandwich, which I smile and take politely. "Off you go. And Merlin! I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed." He sounds rather caustic for an old man.
I've finished my sandwich and I hope that I've found the right person, so I knock on the door. An old, squinting man comes out. " Erm, I brought you your medicine," I tell him.
"Thanks, sonny," he grunts. I am about to correct him and inform him that I'm a girl, but then I remember that he's pretty blind and that I have my braid tucked into my collar and that I'm wearing breeches. I turn back to see him chugging it down. I reach my hand out, as if to stop him,"Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at..."
He finishes it with a satisfied sigh. I'm sure it's fine, I think to myself.
I was walking back when I saw a couple of guys beating up a poor servant boy. The blonde one was throwing daggers at the target he was carrying. At the same time, the servant boy is lugging that target around and trying to keep his head over his feet. He finally falls and drops the target and it rolls to my foot. He actually comes inching over to try and pick it up again. I put my foot on it to prevent him from doing so. I turn to the blonde and his bodyguards or whatever they are. "Hey, come on, that's enough."
He looks shocked. "What?"
"You've had your fun, my friend." I try to make this peaceful.
He tilts his head to one side, and I must say, he was very handsome. "Do I know you?"
"Er, I'm Merlin." This was really awkward, so I held out my hand.
He makes no move to take it. "So I don't know you."
What is he, an idiot? "No."
"Yet you called me 'friend,'" he enunciates slowly.
"That was my mistake."
"Yes, I think so." He scoffs.
"Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass." I turn on my heel and walk away.
He snorts, "Or I one who could be so stupid." I stop in my tracks, and he continues. "Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?"
"No." Why is he asking that?
"Would you like me to help you?"
"I wouldn't if I were you."
He chuckles, "Why? What are you going to do to me?"
"You have no idea." I know I'm in some deep water, and bluffing might be my only way out now. But he stands his ground.
"Be my guest! Come on! Come on! Come on..."
Swallowing, I swing the hardest I can at him, but he grabs my wrist easily and twists my arm behind my back. Pain explodes in my shoulder. I can't move.
His bodyguards or whoever they are all cringe and gasp.
"I'll have you thrown in jail for that." The blonde hisses in my ear.
I twist my neck up and look him straight in the eyes. He has crystal clear blue eyes- almost like the water. "What, who do you think you are? The King?"
He smiles smugly. "No. I'm his son, Arthur." And then he takes me out at the knees and pushes me to the ground.
Ugh- after that, Gaius managed to pull some strings and get me out of jail, but put me in the stocks. Child after child pelted rotten tomatoes in my hair. When they finally used up their ammunition, they ran to get more. A shadow loomed beside me.
A dark-skinned girl stood next to me. She had dark, curly hair, and kind brown eyes- they were almost clear. "I'm Guinevere, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid."
"Right. I'm Merlin." I try to wiggle as much of my arm as I can out of the stocks to shake her hand. "Although, most people just call me Idiot."
"No, no, no. I saw what you did. It was so brave."
I think about the sticky tomatoes in my hair. "It was stupid."
"Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't going to beat him." She laughs a little.
My pride is wounded. "Oh, I- I can beat him." I try to put on the best straight face I can muster.
"You think? Because you don't look like one of these big, muscle-y kind of fellows." She definitely looks amused, but she doesn't know that I'm even more amused than she is.
"Thanks. But, um, I'm a girl." It probably really is hard to tell. My braid is tucked in the back so it looks like I have short hair, and I have rather pronounced cheekbones, and I'm wearing a guy's clothes. "It's alright. I'm pretty tomboyish when it comes to these things."
She gasps, "Oh gosh, well then you are really brave. Well, Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero. Er...heroine, I guess, now that I know."
More children come with their rotten fruit and vegetables. OK seriously, Camelot should be called the city of rotten plants or something. I turn to Guinevere and smile. "Oh, excuse me, Guinevere. My fans are waiting."
After my punishment's over, Gaius seems rather pleased, and he sends me to go give a potion to Lady Helen, who is apparently the best singer in the kingdom.
There was no answer when I knocked, so I pushed the door open and placed the bottle on the vanity table. Then, I noticed some books, golden words spiraled around the spine. They were magic books. I walked over to explore, when suddenly, Lady Helen walks in from the balcony.
"What are you doing here?" She demands.
"I-er-um-Gaius sent me here to give you this potion." I motion to the vanity table and I turn to leave, just as I spot her reflection in the half-covered mirror. She is an old woman, with white hair and dark circles under her eyes. She was that mother form the beheading. I pretend not to have seen anything, and sail as gracefully as I can out of the room.
I was having a pretty good day out in the square when I heard a voice behind me. It was definitely Arthur.
"How's your knee-walking coming along?" He calls.
I keep walking. I can't afford any more trouble.
"Aw, don't run away!" He says in a pouty voice. I knew I should have ignored him, but because he was a prat, and because I have a lack of discipline, I topped and turned around.
"From you?"
He fakes a sigh of relief, "Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb." His knights try to silence their guffaws.
Trading insults with me is not a wise idea. I've had way too much practice with Will. "Look, I've told you you're an ass. I just didn't realize you were a royal one. Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you?"
He looks shocked, but he forces a laugh. Suddenly his eyes narrow, "I could take you apart with one blow."
This was beyond the point of no return. Sorry Gaius. "I could take you apart with less than that."
He challenges me to a match, and he tosses me a mace, which I fail to catch. Heck! I've never even touched one of these things, let alone use one with ease. The prat was now swinging it with dexterity and prowess. This may not bode well.
"Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth."
I can't help but let slip, "Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?"
He snorts, but he looks bothered, "You can't address me like that."
"I'm sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?" I am about to give a nice curtsy when I remember that I look like a guy, so I give a small bow to him instead.
He smiles a perturbed grin and begins swinging the mace at me. "Come on then, Merlin! Come on!" I could hear the wind whooshing the spiked ball flew round and round. I think of swinging my mace too, for show, but I'd probably impale my skull before he could, so I choose to retreat, and wait it out. He finally backs me into a stall, and I fall down.
"Haha. You're in trouble now." He walks towards me, mace swinging above his head.
Oh god. I had to use magic now. And really, it was super easy getting the upper hand after that.
After I've tripped him with a rope, I swing the mace as skillfully as I can above my head, "Do you want to give up?"
He backs up, catching his foot in a bucket whilst doing so and falls over backwards. I am thrilled, until I see Gaius in the crowd. In retrospect, I should not have been so careless. Arthur, that prat, gets a broom out of nowhere and begins whacking me. Boy, did that hurt! When I've fallen to the ground, the guards begin to pick me up. Dungeons it is again. I'm ready to just go to the dungeons when Arthur stops the guards. "Wait. Let him go. He may be an idiot, but he's a brave one. There's something about you, Merlin. I can't quite put my finger on it."
I want to say, "perhaps that I am actually a girl and I have magic," but I hold my tongue.
I may have escaped the dungeons, but Gaius's wrath was really no better. He fixed those uneven eyes on me, "How could you be so foolish?!"
I opened my mouth in despair, "He needed to be taught a lesson."
He lowers his voice, but sternly says, "Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks!"
I turn to face him, "What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk!"
"Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself!"
And like that, something cracks inside me. I never had the chance to study or to learn how to control myself, because Uther's men scoured the earth to hunt down sorcerers and warlocks, regardless of kingdom. But more so, I remember Will's advice-it spills out in his voice, swirling in my mind. No matter what happens, no matter what other people say, always stay true to yourself. My voice comes out raw, ragged, "I don't want to! If I can't use magic, what have I got?! I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die." Before I know what I'm doing, I run off to my bedroom.
Not long after, Gaius enters with a medical basket. He sighs, "Merlin? Sit up. I have some medicine for you."
"You don't know why I was born like this, do you?"
He pauses before answering me, "No."
"I'm not a monster, am I?" I lick my chapped lips.
Gaius fixes those deep eyes on me. "Don't ever think that."
"Then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why." I feel like a child- I know I'm being over-dramatic, but I can't help it.
"Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me.
I look down, trying to hold in the tears. "If you can't tell me, no one can." My voice is barely a whisper.
He pours something into a cup and hands it to me. "Take this. It will help with the pain."
I was staring up at the ceiling, when I heard that strange voice again. "Merlin... Merlin..." It was calling me. I followed it across the square. There was a pair of guards by rolling their dice away. Gambling on the job! And it was way too easy to distract them, but that was all the better for me. I took a torch and descended the stone stairway. The voice continues to call, but then it morphs into a mirthful laughter.
I cannot locate the source of the voice. "Where are you?" I call.
And the next part is amazing. A dragon, an actual dragon, flaps onto a rock in front of me. He ahs beautiful green scales, and these bulbous yellow eyes. When he speaks, his voice is that sagacious, ancient roar. "I'm here! How small you are for such a great destiny."
To be continued…
You are looking it right in the eye. The review box. Please review!
