And From The Ashes...
I own nothing but the tequila I drank while writing this.
Chapter 2
The sky was a cerulean blue as the young Royal gazed upon his kingdom, pride filled his heart. His people flourished with prosperity and most of all happiness. These certainly were the times and aspirations that every ruler wished for their kingdom, his only sadness grew however from the knowledge of the barren whom his wife seemed to have. He had vowed to take no other and he had meant every word, he would play the hand fate had dealt him.
Fate however had a different plan, fore just as he was to turn from his perch atop his mount a single line of lightening crashed before the ruler. Leaving nothing in its wake but a burning object at the base of a fallen tree. Spurring his steed into action as his senses shot to life knowing that is wasn't a strike of nature that scared the earth but one of magic.
Pulling on the reigns as he drew near, dismounting and cautiously approaching the singed earth. Reaching down, his gloved fingers brushing away the burning material covering the object. His breath catching in his throat as his eyes fell upon the body of an infant. Quickly lifting it up into his arms and away from the flames, checking it for injuries and life. Noting with baited breath that the child miraculously lived, and save for a burn in a peculiar shape on its back it seemed unharmed, she seem unharmed he corrected himself. Wrapping the infant in his cloak tenderly as he mounted his steed and bid it return both him and the precious child in his arms back to his stronghold, back to Camelot.
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It was on her 21st birthday that Merlin, the dearest friend and court Wizard to the King entered the training grounds watching the young Princess spar with her father with much more skill then her age should allow. Strength and fluidity seemed to exude from her body with every thrust and lunge, the clashing of swords alerting any who should watch that this was no training with pulled volleys. No, the King and Princess were both leaving nothing in reserve. Merlin couldn't help but find a mystic beauty in the way she fought. With a sweep of his battle hardened leg and a perry of his sword the King managed to off balance the slender blonde. Her response was immediate as she entrenched her blade within the soil, blocking his leg. She then used her momentum to slide her body down and along the ground to the side of her Father's, allowing his sword to met air as she landed a blow of her own to his torso. Her body seemed too fluid to be real, the Princess truly was far more than she appeared to be. The look of both determination and love crossing between them led him to feel an even heavier burden and deeper levels of despair in his heart at the notice he was to give King Arthur.
"Phoenix," the deep baritone voice called to his opponent before him. "Go pick our shields while I talk to your Uncle."
"Yes Father," the blonde responded as she made her way to the wall adorned by weapons and armor across the room. All the while knowing that the whispers of her people now held merit. Something dark was brewing past the horizons of Camelot and she now knew well that it was coming for her.
It was with a heavy heart that King Arthur met the gaze of his dear friend, knowing in his heart the day had arrived when he was to set in motion the carefully constructed plan they had conceived regarding his adopted daughters future and safety. "It's time isn't it?" His timber voice expressing his worry as he gazed upon his daughter running through drills across the room.
"It saddens me just as you to say it is My Lord. The omens have come to pass." The sorrow in Merlin's heart betrayed by the pain flashing across his eyes. Ever since his King had returned all those years ago with the blonde child the kingdom had seen their King's true joy, fatherhood. The two had been inseparable, both in court and on the lands of the kingdom. He remembered well the ominous visions imparted upon him the day after her arrival, as they haunted both men nightly. The visions showed the child, at adulthood. Beaten and covered in blood and dirt kneeling with Excalibur before a mighty darkness, a darkness much greater that any single force he had ever encountered. Merlin knew the two were one in the same due to the scared image of a bird of sorts on their backs. Phoenix, as Arthur had named her, was truly a special child, destined for what he didn't yet know, he only prayed that the knowledge and skill both her father and he had bestowed upon her gave her a fighting chance against the oncoming tide of darkness.
