Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin the show or any of the characters except Alva and Evangeline! Please enjoy chapter 3 :D
Alva knelt in the throne room, head held high with two knights flanking her, as Uther stood at his throne, regarding her carefully.
"So, you are a witch?"
"Yes."
"You admit it?"
"Proudly. Only a fool would be shamed at having such power and only an imbecile would try to kill us off!" she growled.
"Show respect for your King!" Arthur shouted from beside his father.
Alva laughed menacingly. "King? I see no king! I only see a scared child who wears the mask of a king. A murderer who slaughtered my family in front of my eyes when I was only a three! My sister doesn't even know her own mother or father because this bastard you call king murdered them." Uther paled notably and backed towards his chair.
"Your sister…she too is a witch?" he asked slowly.
"No…" Alva growled. "She was always the weak one of the family." Merlin breathed a sigh of relief from the crowd gathered in the room for the hearing, exchanging a quick look with Gaius. Evangeline stood in the back of the throne room, hands twisting an apron violently while her face was a mask of death. Alva had always been reckless and crazy about getting revenge for their parents' deaths but she'd assumed it was just talk. Now, Alva's foolish actions were going to cost her life and Evangeline the only family she had left.
"I've seen enough. You are sentenced to death as by our laws for practicing magic of the Old Religion," Uther stated clearly. Alva smiled, a low laugh rumbling in her throat until it built up. Merlin watched her eyes flash with magic and the entire castle started rumbling. The knights shouted, drawing their weapons while Morgana and Gwen screamed with fear, clinging to one another. Evangeline grasped a tall column near her, watching her sister laugh louder and louder. The guards holding her arms flew away from her and the shaking stopped. The dirt and dust fallen from the ceiling caked them all as Alva walked forward slowly, the dragon pendant around her neck glowing violently.
"You, Uther Pendragon," her voice boomed with power and her eyes glowed permanently, "Have caused terror, death, and evil to breed under your rule. Your time as king is over." With a final explosion, she was gone, leaving a scorch mark on the throne room floor at Uther's feet. He jumped back, staring at his knights before roaring, "Find her!" Evangeline hid behind the pillar as the throne room emptied quickly when she felt a hand land on her shoulder. She jumped, spinning around to face Merlin. He smiled sadly down at her. He grasped her hand and pulled her away, leaving Gaius to calm the king and returned to their rooms.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking over her quickly before being satisfied at the lovely girl was unharmed.
"Yes. What about Alva—"
"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do for your sister," he replied. She whimpered, collapsing on a bench, hiding her face in her hands.
"She always talked about this but I never thought she'd go through with it," she whispered ominously. Merlin crouched in front of her, pulling her hands into his. Her heart fluttered softly as she looked into his gray-blue eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"Alva. She has a plan. And I think she's putting it in motion now."
"What plan? Evangeline, what is Alva going to do?" She shook her head with disbelief, no longer looking at Merlin, staring over his shoulder at Arthur who'd barely entered, his face grim and drawn. She cringed with fear, darting away from Merlin, hiding behind one of Gaius' tables. Arthur approached quickly, hand lying on the hilt of his sword.
"Arthur, don't!" Merlin shouted, reaching his hand out to stop the prince. Arthur stopped short of the frightened young women and smiled faintly.
"I'm not here to harm her," he replied to no one in particular. She smiled in return, slowly sliding to the floor.
"You were saying that your sister had a plan. What plan?" he asked softly, crouching down in front of her.
"She plans to—" Pounding on the door frightened Evangeline, clamping her mouth shut tightly. King Uther's voice called through the door. Arthur exchanged a concerned look with Merlin and pulled Evangeline away. Merlin opened the door to his room, hiding Evangeline inside. The king came in just as the door shut behind Evangeline, masking her from the king's angry eyes.
"Gaius!" he snapped. Merlin swallowed the lump rising in his throat, side stepping in front of his door. Arthur regarded his father carefully, trying to seem as nonchalant as possible.
"Where is Gaius?" he demanded. Arthur and Merlin both shrugged. "Where is the witch's sister?" They shrugged again.
"I assume she ran off, either to help her sister or too frightened to stay around," Merlin suggested. Uther barely acknowledged Merlin and continued to speak with his only son.
"Find Gaius. I will meet with my council. I am sending out search parties to find the witch." With those final words, he swept out of the room. Arthur looked over his shoulder at Merlin.
"I'm going to locate Gaius. You talk with the girl; see if you can learn anything about her sister's plan. Anything to help us," he instructed and walked out briskly. Merlin eased the door behind him open, spotting Evangeline sitting on his bed, rocking back and forth slightly, eyes wide with fright. He approached her slowly, placing a chair across from her.
"Evangeline," he murmured. She looked up to him slowly, eyes brimming with tears.
"Merlin, you have no idea what she's capable of," she whispered ominously.
"What is she going to do?"
"It's going to end," she replied weakly.
"What? Uther's rule?" Merlin persisted. She shook her head violently, strands of brown hair cascading over her cheeks.
"Everything. She's going to destroy everything. All of Albion."
Merlin felt a shiver run down his spin, glancing out the window over Camelot. It seemed as though a storm gathered on the horizon.
I know it's short, I'm sorry. Haven't had a lot of time to write but this is just set up for some pretty awesome, action-packed chapters to come! Please R&R
