Chapter 3

Sneaking out of the castle was easy enough. He'd had a lot of practice over his years in Camelot. The guards didn't even hear him anymore, he'd gotten so stealthy. Merlin smiled at the thought and hurried out towards the stables. He grabbed the horse he usually used and headed out towards the front gate.

"Where are you going?" called Leon. Merlin reared back the horse and turned around slowly. Leon had a second knight with him and Merlin just couldn't remember his name.

"Just down to the lower town," Merlin answered not lying completely.

"A little late isn't it?" Leon asked confused. "And with a horse?"

"I know but... Arthur needed me to... " He froze. Merlin had no idea what to say.

"What?"

Merlin floundered then got an idea. "Arthur asked me to pick some flowers. For Gwen, you know," He said giving Leon a small smile. "He told me to use that excuse. You understand, right?"

Leon smiled back, "Ah alright Merlin. But hurry back Sir Mendel went missing last evening and nobody can find him." Leon nodded to Merlin and went back to his rounds.

"That Cursed Knight was an actual knight," Merlin breathed. His thoughts followed the line of thought and came to another one. Did that mean the villagers he fought earlier were also real people once? He shuddered at that thought and he started walking out of Camelot. He was going to push that thought aside for now. He'd have time for it soon.

He entered forest and the oppression he felt early was back in lesser strength and Merlin found himself at a steady jog through the forest a little ways outside of Camelot proper.

Direction wasn't an issue. He knew how to get there so his only worry was simple. Avoiding the Cursed, if there were more of them around. After the skirmish earlier this evening he couldn't guarantee that what he was feeling wasn't just his nerves making him jittery and skittish.

Once out of earshot of any wandering guard or the random citizen Merlin gathered his wits together and started called out. Not vocally though Merlin was calling out with his mind. Looking for someone who he hoped was relatively close.

He was half stumbling through the forest, forcefully calling out with his mind meanwhile every tree branch seemed content to hit him in the dark. He groaned and after a good hour of riding and dismounted after he reached the area where he last knew where he was.

Then a voice called to him in his head that he for a moment mistook for really audible. It told him to go on for a few more miles and he'd meet meet him by a large blackened ash tree.

Merlin obeyed and rode on til he found the tree. It was at least as tall as the one of the towers to Camelot's Citadel and was scorched black over the most of its body. More than likely from a bolt of lightning from a storm years ago. It was an impressive and unnerving thing that such a majestic tree could be effected by nature. He tied the horse to a tree a short distance away and walked forward calling out the name.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Merlin felt odd. A cold shock ran through his whole system. A warning, he interpreted quickly.

"Royalty doesn't care about commoners like us!" shouted the Cursed angrily. It fell out of the darkness of the tree and after gathering itself up, approached Merlin. Merlin reacted so quickly it surprised him and conjured a gout of fire and launched it at the Cursed. This one batted it aside with ease and Merlin groaned.

It carried a large ax in its hands and it loped towards him ably. Merlin saw the moonlight and the thought occurred, why wasn't that light ruining its protective haze.

He didn't get to think on it long. The thing closed the distance and raised its ax over its head and Merlin had to dive to the side to avoid by reflex threw telekinetic magic at it and the thing flung back a few feet. It recovered quickly and roared at Merlin.

It charged again and Merlin threw a javelin of fire that was more light than heat and readied his next attack when its protection went down. It collided with the Cursed, it recoiled, and though it's defense did visibly weaken, it remained and only seemed to enrage the thing.

Merlin's heart beat fast and he started to wonder if this one was unbeatable.

Then a torrent of brilliant red fire engulfed the thing and after a burst of shadow the creature vanished in the flame.

Then with a few steps, Iseldir, the old druid chieftain whom Merlin had dealt with a few times in the past and was on good terms with at the moment. Iseldir waved his hand and the flame flickered away.

"I heard your calls Emrys, why do you call at such an hour?" He asked humbly

Merlin jumped straight to the point, "What do you know about the Mage's Nightmare?"

"Oh your troubles are indeed dire. The Mage's Nightmare is a potent force rarely called upon. So rarely that I've only heard of it being invoke three times in the known Druidic history."

"What do you know? How can I stop it?" Merlin asked, his head reeling.

"Unfortunately, I myself don't know. I am sorry," the old druid told him solemnly.

Merlin paced for a moment frustrated before he continued, "so I'm just supposed to die? Just leave my destiny to protect Arthur unfulfilled?"

Iseldir smiled, "Where is it written that you can have only one destiny, Emrys. I believe that this is one of your several destinies. Entwined with a few others."

"Others'? Whose?"

"A young Mage much like yourself. I mentioned, if you recall, that I've heard of it being invoked three times. Yours is the second within these last two weeks," Iseldir told him.

Merlin mulled that over before speaking again, "But what does that mean? It can't be a coincidence."

"No, it isn't. To make the situation more interesting. I happened upon the Mage a week ago on the border of Mercia. After I assisted in her escape I sent her to Camelot."

Merlin was stunned, "Why would you send her here?"

The Druid Chieftain just continued as if Merlin hadn't spoken. "The Mage will be here very, very soon. She travels fast and will reach the castle tomorrow. I told her to search you out."

"Why would you do that? You endanger her by sending her to Camelot. Along with me should Arthur find out."

"I believe that together, the two of you shall do what no one has done before. Maybe even help change Arthur's heart towards magic," the elder Druid said hopefully. "There is a great many things going on. The curse is the bulk of the problem, Emrys. There is a issue here that goes beyond your problem."

"What do you mean? I'm just so in the dark right now. I'm being attacked by people taken by this curse and according to Gaius the curse will only get stronger."

"That sounds correct according to the lore," Iseldir confirmed.

"What lore?" Merlin asked.

Iseldir recited from memory, " 'Doth those cursed by the Dark Druid will live a half-life. For the dark will try to destroy him. Night by night the cursed darkness swells in strength. Night by night its dominion over the earth shall grow. Night by night the presence shall become more and more whole until it finally consumes the Cursed. So don't cross the dark druid, don't cross him or you'll see. For he bears the power of the darkness in his sway.' "

Merlin listened and thought. What he told him sounded like a children's poem full of warning. But it sounded like what he was experiencing so far. The parts that scared him the most were that the curse would gain dominion over the earth and that it's presence shall become more whole. What presence? What did it mean by dominion? And who is the dark Druid?

Merlin just asked, "Have you ever met this Dark Druid?"

"All Druid children know his description. An old man in a gray cloak and hood that he never takes down. A white beard that speaks of his age but he walks with the ease of the young. Why do you ask?"

"He's the reason I came to you. When he cursed me, I asked if he was a druid and he told me he was," Merlin explained.

Iseldir looked at Merlin closely, "I've never actually seen him. I doubt I could be of much more help to you."

"Thank you, You've been helpful."

"By your leave, Emrys please remember the Mage coming tomorrow."

Iseldir bowed lightly and left without another word. Merlin took the old Druid's example and left as well. He headed back into Camelot at a steady trot and all but prayed that nothing else would attack him tonight. He even spared a quick hope that he would avoid Leon on his way back into the castle.

Upon getting back to his chambers Merlin fell asleep easily and deeply.

The next morning Merlin woke up late and as he sat up a loud boom rung throughout the chambers. Merlin heard footsteps heading towards his room and groaned at the though of what was coming.

Arthur burst through his door and stood there glaring at Merlin. His posture was full of frustration.

"Why didn't you wake me and bring me my breakfast?" Arthur asked keeping his tone as level as he could.

"Sorry Arthur. I guess I slept in," Merlin said throwing on his boots.

Arthur made a exasperated sound with his throat and stormed out of the room. He was muttering something about the worst manservant ever as his footsteps and voice faded into the hallway beyond.

Then Gaius hurried up the steps and stood by the doorway, "Tell me, Merlin. Did all your questions get answered?"

"Do they ever?"

"Fair enough. What did he tell you?" Gaius asked interested.

"Not a lot," Merlin said then told Gaius What Iseldir told him. Especially about the Mage that was on the way.

"What are you going to do about the girl?" Gaius asked. He had moved over to the bed and now sat there listening. His face had a grumpy expression on it but Merlin recognized the gears turning behind it.

"I'm not sure but I figure we'll talk and see what she knows. Maybe there is a clue in what she'll say that can help us both out," Merlin shrugged as he finished getting ready for the day.

"Agreed," his mentor concurred. "Until she gets here..."

"I will be doing my job. Arthur's training with the knights today and he will expect me to be be there ready to assist as needed. Which means I will probably be holding a shield," he groaned at the thought. "If she comes-"

"I'll keep her busy," Gaius confirmed with a nod.

"Thank you," Merlin said quickly before he scurried out of their shared chambers.

There was a quick hissing screech of Arthur's sword leaving his scabbard as he faced a recruit before him. This young man had some muscle to him but he was slow and Arthur knew from observation that the young Gerald his pull back was even worse. He waited patiently watching him until Leon called out to start.

Leon observed both for a moment then yelled, "You may begin!"

It was over within a few seconds. Arthur caught the first blow on his sword and with a contemptuous twist, flicked the sword out of Gerald's hands. Arthur followed up by knocking his opponent to the ground with a quick tackle and placed the point of the sword on his chest lightly.

"Yield?"

"Yield," The trainee confirmed.

Arthur sheathed his blade and helped the trainee up, patted him on the back and encouraged him to keep trying. Gerald stepped away back to the group of recruits and stood in the back.

Merlin smiled as he watched Arthur work. When he first started he watched with awe at Arthur's skill but now he found it humorous just to watch Arthur win easily against almost everybody. Gawain was the only one who gave Arthur trouble.

"Who else wants to give it a go?" Arthur called looking for anyone. Merlin chuckled at the idea that Arthur would even fight him if he volunteered.

"I'll do it," called a voice that nobody seemed to recognize. Merlin followed it to a young woman in her early twenties. He had long black hair tied up in a simple braid, blue eyes that had dark circles under them, and her face was tanned by what Merlin guessed was recent sun exposure. The young woman wore tattered leggings, A leather vest over her dirty blue blouse, and boots that looked like they were made for a man.

Merlin shook his head and stopped staring.

She stepped forwards and now Merlin saw what hung from her belt. Two short bladed swords hung on one side with dirty but not rusted handles and a clean normal longsword hung on her other hip. She walked with a grace that reminded Merlin of Morgana. Even with the way she was now.

"Exactly who are you?" Arthur asked with the confusion evident. "I've never seen you around here before, have I?"

"No, my lord. I'm passing through. You're quite good," She said complimenting his swordsmanship.

"He's the best in the land," Leon defended.

"May I try my hand," she asked patting her double set of swords.

Arthur stepped across from her and looked her over. "I really don't like that tone you're using. I am the king," he drew his sword and flicked it around a bit. "And I don't just duel commoners. Especially female commoners."

Her expression changed ever so slightly. Her brows furrowed into a glare.

"Well what do you have to lose. Certainly not honor for losing to a commoner," She goaded. "Not to mention I am just a girl. How could I possibly win against the great king Arthur?"

"Fine," he said frustrated. He had stolen a look around and saw many of the knights watching this intently instead of training. She was challenging him in front of his knights and he needed to keep order and respect in the ranks. "I will have your name before we spar."

"I am Eliya. Lady Eliya of the house of Grummond," She said smiling as she frowned at her swords and drew her single longsword and held it in front of her correctly. This got a reaction from the crowd and Merlin watched uneasy.

This Eliya was probably the girl who was going to meet him and she had just challenged the king to a duel. Oh good. This may not end well.