Hey! Yay! I got it on a day early! So thanks for the reviews, good and bad! I've taken complaints into consideration don't worry but just as a reminder the story has just started. There is still a lot more to come. From now on, at the beginning of most of the chapters, in italic there will be a retelling of a story in the legend for some people who don't know it. But if you do know the legend please don't skip it! Anyways, I hope you enjoy! It's kinda hard writing and studying at the same time but I must say writing is more fun. :)
Finding Love
Arthur had been king for about a year, and Percival felt he needed to prove himself as a knight. The Round Table had recently been installed in the throne room, but Percival felt as if he wasn't worth sitting there. One day Percival decided it was best he went on a hunt in the forest. Still unfamiliar with the area, Percival got lost. He eventually came to an open glade where daisies clustered in the green grass, and saw a pavilion of silk pitched beside a twinkling stream.
Percival did not know what it was, so he quietly approached it. He stopped his horse, and tied it to a tree. He quietly stepped inside to find on a couch made of rich silk laid a beautiful woman. Her skin was as white as snow, her hair as golden as the sun. He couldn't see her eyes, since they were closed as she was sleeping, but Percival was attracted to her. He looked down at the ring she was wearing; a simple gold ring with a red ruby on middle and took it for his own. He replaced it with the one he had saved that his mother had given him: a beautiful white one as fair as her skin with a diamond shining in the middle. He then kissed her hand. It was tradition of the men in the family to do this to any sleeping maiden they saw. Percival had always thought this was a ridiculous custom, as he never thought he would randomly come across a sleeping maiden. But in honor of his dead mother, he did this. No doubt the damsel was very beautiful.
He searched for this glen many times more, but could never find it.
One night, they were having a feast in Camelot. Everyone was really quite happy, since it was the king's birthday. All the knights were laughing and the servants were enjoying how ridiculous they looked (especially Merlin) and the queen was having a wonderful time. Percival was the only one who felt he didn't belong.
The Cup of Life, which was now Camelot's, sat in the middle of room. It was tradition now in Camelot that on the King's birthday, the Cup would be shown in the middle of the room as a reminder of Camelot's glory, and to ensure that it was safe. No one was allowed to drink from it, obviously.
All of a sudden, the warning bell sounded. Everyone looked around. What could have possibly come, now? Suddenly, they heard a smack on the dining hall's doors. The doors swung open and in came a knight, dressed in all bright red. The guards at the door had been knocked out, and the knight drew his sword. All the knights drew their swords too, and thus, the red knight jumped off his horse and started to fight with Arthur. The other knights, including Percival, stood around trying to attack the Red Knight. Arthur then was able to pin the Red Knight to the table. They sat there for a moment when the Red Knight punched Arthur's eye. Arthur fell back, covering his eye, and that was when the Red Knight cowardly grabbed the Cup of Life and rode away, too fast for any of the knights on foot.
As everyone came back to gather in the dining hall the king gathered everyone around.
"This Red Knight must be a spy for Morgana," he stated. "We cannot let the Cup fall into her hands."
"We should send the all of the men to go after it," the queen suggested.
"No," Gaius said. "It's too risky. Morgana is probably luring you into a trap. She'll be on the lookout for knights, she won't be on the lookout for a single man traveling on his own."
"You're suggesting one person goes alone?" Queen Guinevere gasped.
"No, he's right," said the king. "I'll go."
It was then that Percival realized this was his chance. "Sire," he said.
Everyone turned to look at him. "Sire, it's you that she wants. If she kills you, Camelot will find itself without a king. I'll go. I'll go and fetch the Cup, without Camelot's armor on, and I'll come back in his."
"No," King Arthur shook his head. "It's too dangerous-"
"I insist."
Arthur looked at Percival. "Come back safely."
Percival nodded. "I'll leave at first light."
"Gwaine, take Ywain and Gareth with you. Follow him, and make sure that he'll be all right. I'm worried about him going alone. Make sure he doesn't know you're there."
"Of course, sire."
Percival left at first light. He went fast, not knowing Sir Gwaine, Sir Ywain, and Sir Gareth were following closely. He eventually caught up with the Red Knight at a mountain path near a lone grey tower.
"Show yourself."
The Red Knight turned and sneered from under his helmet. "You insolent fool! You intend to get the Cup of Life back. Unfortunately, you will not." He gently padded up the hillside.
Percival glared at him. "Then you shall die."
The Red Knight laughed from up top the hill. "So be it."
The Red Knight set his spear and came down the hillside like an avalanche.
Percival leaped from his horse so quickly that the spear passed right above his head. "Coward!" he cried. "You're trying to attack an unarmed man, and now you're running away down the hillside."
With that the Red Knight turned around and charged up the hillside, but Percival took out his special dart from his father, and shot the knight in his throat so that the knight fell down, dead.
Percival grabbed the Cup of Life and put it in his bag that he had brought. He took the armor off of the Red Knight, but unfortunately, it was too small for him. He tried to fit it on him but failed, as Percival was larger than the average knight.
Gwaine, Ywain, and Gareth quietly traveled back to Camelot, happy knowing Percival was safe.
Percival suddenly heard the sound of horse's hooves, and he looked up and saw a man dressed in dark armor, and quite an aged face.
"You have proven yourself a fine knight."
"Who are you?"
"I am Gonemans. I have come and seen your bravery. Yet you doubt yourself Percival."
"How do you know my name?"
"You are very famed in our land. Come with me and I shall teach you all that needs to be taught, and when you return back to Camelot, you shall have the skills and self-confidence as the other knights do."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I am a friend of your mother's."
"M-my mother?"
"Yes, Ragnell. Now come, and I shall teach you all my knowledge of being a knight."
Hypnotized by the mention of his dead mother, Percival immediately went with Gonemans.
So, Percival stayed there over the summer with Gonemans. He learned how to use a sword better, he learned more about tracking, and he also learned what was right and wrong, the high order of knighthood which was so much more noble than a mere mighty deed, and he learned to defend the weak and punish the greedy and cruel.
It was now autumn, and Percival rode away and bid farewell to Gonemans. With the armor from the Red Knight (made bigger from Gonemans) Percival rode back to Camelot in search of adventure, and every once in a while, his eyes fell upon the red ruby ring tied onto his horse that he had found months ago, wondering if he would ever see that beautiful sleeping maiden again.
Henceforth, Percival came to a somber, dark land, and found in front of him a dark castle, the stones falling, the windows cracked, and it looked isolated.
He decided to head in inside, to see if anyone was stuck or trapped.
Inside an ominous wind howled through the windows, and Percival was about ready to turn and leave this abandoned castle with its ripped apart chairs, its cracked walls and broken chandeliers. But it was then that he came to a perfectly new chair and table and on it was a chessboard. He moved a chess piece, curious about why something new was there. Then, a piece from the other side played back. He then sat down, ready to play against this strange force. The mysterious force was beating him, and Percival was so annoyed that something that wasn't even real was winning against him. He was just about to crush a piece when a light and soft voice called from in front.
"No! If you crush the chessboard a terrible evil will befall you!"
There was a beautiful maiden standing on the other side of the room.
Percival immediately recognized his ring on her finger.
Percival sat up. "Excuse me, what is your name?"
"My name is Blanchefleur. You are Percival of Wales, knight of Camelot."
Percival shook his head. "You… You know my name?"
"How could I not recognize a knight of your fame?"
Percival, flattered, looked down at her hand. "I'm sorry, but this is my ring. I set it on a fair, sleeping maiden months ago, and I took her ring. It is a tradition in my family you see. You must have been the lady that was sleeping?"
Blanchefleur smiled. "Yes. You weren't so secretive. I woke up only a while after to see you ride away on your horse."
"I'm sorry if I caused any offense-"
"No you didn't, not at all!" Blanchefleur giggled.
Blanchefleur and Percival talked all day, as they wandered about the broken castle. They shared stories about what they did, how they got to where they were, and where they were from.
It was getting dark, and Percival was really beginning to like this girl. He knew it would be time to leave, but he didn't want to leave.
"Blanchefleur, I was wondering- would you like to come with me back to Camelot?"
He then grabbed Blanchefleur's hand. All of a sudden there was a roar of thunder from outside the castle. The great door of the hall flew open, and a strange woman dressed and veiled in white walked slowly into the hall holding a great goblet or grail covered in a cloth. A light shone from inside it, and it was so bright that no man may look upon it.
A second veiled damsel walked into the hall. This time, she was carrying a spear with a point of white light from which dripped blood that vanished as soon as it touched the floor. The whole room seemed to be filled with the sent of roses and spices.
The two damsels walked, one after another out of the door that was in front of them, and the door closed behind them.
"The Holy Grail approaches Camelot," said Blanchefleur. "Ask me no more concerning this. One more will enter this castle, the castle of Carboneck, and that is Sir Elyan, brother of Queen Guinevere. Go back to Camelot, and wait for the coming of Galahad: on the day that he sits on Siege Perilous you shall see the Holy Grail once more."
Percival was in awe. "What is Siege Perilous?"
"At the Round Table, each knight has his name engraved on his seat. Yet one still sits empty, waiting for the right person to claim it. That is Siege Perilous. Only on Siege Perilous will the one who sits there be cursed to live a dangerous life."
"Why not seek for it now?"
Blanchefleur looked at Percival. "You must wait until the time is right. Now go."
Percival said sadly, "Will I ever see you again?"
Blanchefleur smiled. "In time, I am sure we will meet again."
Percival came back to Camelot and told his friends of the adventures he had and the many things he saw. He still searched for the meadow and the castle, but did not know he would find it until many years later.
Merlin came riding back as quickly as he could. Surely it was just some hallucination… He had killed Morgana! He had killed her with Excalibur! Nothing could survive the touch from a blade forged in the dragon's breath.
He ran all through the castle trying to find the queen. He finally came to her chambers.
"My Lady!" he cried. He was dripping with sweat, since he had come from miles away as quick as he could.
The queen looked worried. "What is it Merlin? Are you all right?"
Merlin shook his head as he panted. "I was in the forest because I thought my mother was hurt. When I was there I saw… Morgana."
"Morgana? Merlin, Morgana's dead."
"No, I know that. But I saw her, for real. She looked hurt, but she was still very much alive."
"Merlin, I think you've become ill. Morgana is dead so you don't need to worry. It was probably your imagination."
Merlin looked at the queen. "No! She's real! She's BACK! I killed her and who knows what she'll do to us now because she'll want revenge even more and now she'll be after you since you have the throne and-"
"MERLIN!" Gwen raised her voice. Merlin stopped his freaking out and sighed.
"Gwen, I know what I saw."
Gwen put her hand on Merlin's shoulders. "Merlin. Morgana is dead. People can't come back from the dead. You don't need to worry."
She quietly walked out of her chambers, and Merlin stood there, replaying everything that had happened this morning. Morgana was out there plotting against them, he knew she was but the question was, how was she even out there at all?
"Bring him in here," Gaius pointed to his hospital bed.
This poor man's face was shriveling up like a raisin. His face was also turning to a sickening blackish color.
The guards dragged him and placed him onto the bed.
The queen came rushing in. "What's happened to him, Gaius?"
Gaius gathered some supplies to examine the patient. "Alice, bring me some of my herbs. Fresh ones."
Alice ran and got some herbs and gave them to Gaius. Gaius placed small pieces inside a small bottle. He held the bottle up to the patient's nose.
Black smoke immediately started to drift into the bottle.
Gaius sat back and looked at Gwen. "It is as I suspected My Lady. I fear that this is no ordinary illness."
"Magic?"
Gaius nodded.
"But why would someone want to attack us now? We've been good to all the sorcerers, they should be happy that magic is now allowed!"
"I don't know, Milady. It will take time to examine this patient, and I'll need to be in a quiet place."
"Of course, Gaius." She looked at the guards. "Come. We must let the Court Physician do his work."
They left the room. Alice gathered supplies. "What disease is this?"
Gaius started to examine the shriveled skin. "I'm not entirely sure… But I have heard of such diseases, many years ago when I was a child. I heard that their skin is consumed by a virus that comes from the world of the dead. It used to be sign that one of their spirits is now living in this world."
Alice shook her head. "Surely that cannot be true. The only way spirits could be summoned from the dead is at the Great Stones of Nemeton."
"That is something different, Alice. Those were ghosts. These are spirits that are living, breathing, that were dead only a little while before."
Alice looked terrified. "So you think a spirit has come from the dead?"
"I'm almost certain of it."
Thousands of people had fallen under this illness, and Gaius was trying the best he could to use his physician skills. Alice tried to use her healing skills and Merlin tried to use his magic skills, but nothing worked. The population was decreasing.
The illness had spread all throughout the kingdom. Even the outlying villages had fallen in and people were pouring into the citadel. Merlin, Alice and Gaius made constant trips out to the country to go and help the sick, yet even after all their attempts, they still failed each time.
"We have to find who it is out there that has come back from the dead," Gaius pondered as they were back in their chambers, looking at a book of Necromancy. "That will be difficult, since we have no idea who it could be."
Merlin had enough. He knew this was Morgana. It had to be. But nobody believed him. He hadn't told Gaius because he didn't know how he would react. It was time to tell him. He flopped down on Gaius' bed and spread his arms and legs out wide, like a jellyfish.
"Gaius, I saw Morgana in the forest the other day."
Gaius dropped his book, with a big clang. He spun on his stool and looked at Merlin. "You saw… Morgana?"
Merlin gulped and nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You had too many things on your mind!"
"Merlin, finding her is the key to stop this illness!"
Merlin sat up. "What?"
"We need Morgana to stop this illness!"
"What do we need her for?"
Gaius stood up. "In order for the illness to stop, we need the spirit to go back to the world of the dead."
"So… You need me to kill her again?"
Gaius nodded. "But it is not that simple, Merlin. You must kill her with the weapon that slayed her in the first place, in the same spot."
Merlin nodded. "Okay, I'll fetch my horse and leave straightaway."
Merlin grabbed his coat and started gathering supplies in his bag.
Gaius narrowed his eyes. "Merlin, do you remember where you put the weapon?"
"I could never forget. I'll be back soon, Gaius!" Quickly, he ran out the door.
Merlin entered the queen's room. "Gwen, I have to tell you something."
Gwen turned around. Her face was tear-stained. "W-what is it Merlin?" she sobbed.
Merlin's eyes widened with concern. "Gwen! What happened?"
Gwen stopped sobbing for a minute. Her face was pink, her eyes red, and her face looked as if she had just been swimming. She suddenly let it all out and ran towards Merlin, rested her head on his chest and started bawling.
Merlin could feel tears coming in his eyes. He knew exactly what this was about: Arthur.
They stood there for a while, hugging each other, when Gwen got up and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry Merlin. I just- I just miss him so much."
Merlin nodded looking at the ground. "We all do."
Gwen straightened herself up, and gave a little brush through her hair. She sniffed before saying, "So, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Merlin explained everything about the illness, and he told her how he had seen Morgana in the forest.
"So, you're saying Morgana's the one who's causing the illness?"
"Yes."
"And in order for it to stop, we have to kill her?"
"Mm-hm."
"With Excalibur?"
"Yes."
"And where is that?"
"It's at Avalon."
"You seem so ready to kill her."
"We have to stop this illness."
Gwen nodded. "True. There's just one favor I have to ask."
"What is it?"
"Can I come with you?"
Ha, thought Morgana, I scared Emrys away. She didn't know why she always called him Emrys. She now knew his real name was Merlin, but it felt really weird to say Merlin in that way. He still seemed so… hopeless.
Morgana had returned to her usual castle. She actually felt quite accomplished. She had rid the world of Arthur and Uther, now all that was left was to kill Emrys and take the throne of Camelot. She had gathered all of the Saxons again, and they willingly obeyed her. She was grateful that they were helping for such a good cause.
She was surprised that Merlin wasn't already dead. Gwen had probably found out he had magic. It was only a matter of time before she executed him for disobeying the law.
"So, I thank you all for returning and being loyal to me."
She had made up some made up story that she had faked her death to get everyone to feel safe then they would strike.
"Is everyone clear about the plan? I get the spy. We strike in a week and a half, when Camelot is having its celebration feast with the five kingdoms. We'll sneak in, and then attack. We'll take them all prisoner. As for Emrys? We must make sure he dies the nastiest way possible."
They nodded, and headed outside to inform more men.
Morgana sat back down on her throne. It felt good to be back.
Suddenly, she felt an unbearable pain in her side. She clutched her stomach, doubling over with pain. She fell from her chair, lying on the ground screaming. A few Saxons came back in.
"My Lady, are you all right?"
"LEAVE! NOW!" Morgana screamed, tears pouring out her eyes, her stomach pain so excruciating, she thought she was going to die. Again.
Vast amounts of blood dripped out from the ripped fabric in her dress. She lay there, on the floor, gasping.
She managed to pick herself up. The pain had come from her wound. She looked closely. More words had appeared. A new word- "had". Morgana looked up, confused.
You just lost a chance, a tiny voice inside her head said. It must be true. The man/woman had said that she would know when she lost a chance. But what about the words? Merlin had killed you? Merlin had hated you? Morgana, still holding her stomach, limped back onto her throne, silently sobbing. The pain was milder now. Not only was it the pain- the thought that she had lost a chance was even more painful when she was standing up for the right thing.
Merlin and Gwen trotted in the forest. They were just about half a day's ride to Avalon.
Both Merlin and Gwen were soaking wet. It had just rained last night, and even sleeping underneath the trees, they still looked as if they had just taken a bath. It was uncomfortable to sit on the saddle, but they kept riding, and Merlin could practically see the tower on the isle in the distance.
They had been silent over the few days they had been riding, just thinking about events that had happened over the course of the few weeks. They also were thinking about how much they missed Arthur. Gwen had brought some flowers, very special ones she had picked herself and planned to put them to represent Arthur by the lake.
They rode long, and a little bit after midday, they reached Avalon. They stared at the island with the tall tower in the middle for a while, wondering what it held and what it had done to Arthur.
"So," Gwen started. "Do you have any idea what you have to do now?"
Merlin bit his lip. "I'm not sure."
Gwen stared at him. "Well, where did you put the sword?"
"I-I threw it into the lake, and a hand caught it."
Gwen sighed. "Merlin-"
"No, it's true."
"Whom did this hand belong to, exactly?"
"I'm not really sure…"
"Oh my goodness, Merlin. I wish you could've been more sure. We rode all this way and you don't know how to get the sword."
"Hello Merlin."
Both Gwen and Merlin turned to see someone's head popping out of the water. The head lifted up so you could see the face.
"I've missed you."
It was Freya.
Blegh. I don't really like Freylin but I think I'll put some in this story for those of you who do. I'll try and get the next chapter either tomorrow or after. There wasn't a lot of Morgana but there will be more in other chapters.
Next: Arthur. 'Nuff said.
