"Merlin! Wake up!"
Merlin stirred his eyes open and glimpsed Arthurs face examining him for indications of health.
Merlin got up, perhaps too quickly, stretched and yawned, smacked his lips and glanced at the trees, ignoring Arthur's blank glare. Was he convincing enough?
Arthur looked at him suspiciously and arouse.
"Alvarr used the sleeping spell on us. Just like he did to me yesterday. Did you see him? Why would he bother setting a spell on us and not kill us?"
A sudden dawning of comprehension developed on Arthurs face. Arthur advanced to his parcel, grabbed it, and rummaged through the many items.
"No…I didn't see anything... I think... maybe a blur?" Merlin said anxiously getting up after noticing Arthur slightly panicking. Merlin's stood next to Arthur, heart beating and fretful of Arthur's reaction.
Arthur was rummaging through the parcel slower and slower as the panic grew more powerfully on his face. He looked up at Merlin and threw the parcel on the floor.
"He took it! He took the list!! Dammit!"
Arthur pulled out his sword from his scabbard and dashed towards West. Merlin picked up the parcel and quickly attended him.
"How do you know he'd be here?" whispered Merlin in Arthur's ear. Arthur was behind a tree, peering over the distance. "The druids live on the western side. Merlin, Father will be extremely angry if he hears of this incident. We have to get the list back! I might as well have just handed Alvarr the list for him to recruit followers!"
Merlin's heart started pounding. He didn't consider Arthur's perception of the stolen list. He hastily sought for the remains of the list. There it was. The remains of the list were several yards away, a black pile of sheets and ash, but possibly identifiable. Merlin took a deep breath and tugged Arthur.
"Arthur, look, is that the list?" said Merlin, pointing at the black mound. Arthur considered it for a second, and rushed over to the pile and kneeled. Merlin followed and reached Arthur, who was picking the tan parchment that survived. Merlin could smell the smoke venting from it.
"It's still warm. It looks like it could be." Arthur picked a larger piece of parchment, and squinted his eyes. Merlin hoped the pile would convince Arthur Alvarr didn't keep it. Arthur set the parchment down and exhaled his fear. He got up.
'I think you are right Merlin. It looks like the list. It's a good thing Alvarr didn't decide to keep the list." Arthur said in looking at the pile. Merlin watched Arthur looking immensely relieved. "I am actually surprised he didn't… doesn't look like the 'powerful' thing to do. Isn't he supposed to be super evil or something?"
Arthur advanced towards North.
"Where you going now?" Merlin called, catching up to Arthur.
"Back to the Library. We'll have to see if Geoffrey has another copy of the list."
**
"Another copy sire?" gasped Geoffrey. He looked very disturbed when contemplating the list from the Great Purge.
"Yes Geoffrey. I'm sorry, but, well, you see, my servant here accidently threw it in the fire, right Merlin?" Arthur clapped Merlin's back and presented Geoffrey a big smile.
Merlin was alarmed by those words. Even if Arthur thought he was lying to Geoffrey, it still shook Merlin up a bit that Arthur stated the truth. Arthur stared at Merlin. It was Merlin's cue.
"Yup! You know, it was getting really cold and all, and well, you know parchment fuels fires well."
"You see Geoffrey… he's a bit insane in the head. Doesn't think properly. Gaius usually gives him medicine for it, doesn't he Merlin?"
Merlin nodded automatically.
"..But Merlin skips it sometimes."
Geoffrey looked down in concern.
"Well… the good news is that I can indeed get you the list. I will have to go back to the many books and my journals and write the list down. However, I am afraid it may take me days to put it together..."
Arthur looked a little disconcerted. "Right... Is it possible to speed up the process? Can we get someone to help you? I can lend you Merlin."
Geoffrey shot a perplexed look at Merlin. Merlin smiled automatically.
"I'm sorry sir, but that will not be possible. The king only allows me to handle the records of the Purge. I should have them ready in a week."
Merlin could tell Geoffrey wouldn't fancy Merlin's help even if he was permitted to.
"Of course… alright, well thank you then Geoffrey," said Arthur in dismay.
Arthur left the library with Merlin and walked outside.
"A week Merlin, did you hear that? A week! "
Merlin was quiet and looked down.
"Why do you want the list anyway Arthur? Isn't it better we stall it?"
"Are you saying its better we stall the Kings command?"
"I'm saying its better we stall the potential deaths of innocent citizens."
To Merlin's surprise, Arthur didn't argue.
"Merlin, what are we to do then? We will have to give my father the list eventually."
Merlin had waited for Arthur to request his opinion, and embraced it earnestly.
"How about we find Alvarr. Once we find Alvarr, and … get him… then we don't have to bother with this list!" said Merlin profoundly.
Arthur paused in his tracks and faced Merlin. Arthur narrowed his eyes while looking at an earnest Merlin.
"Merlin, and where would we find --"
We have to leave for Carmarthen now!! Please!!
Merlin immediately focused on the voice he was hearing in his head. It was Mordred's voice. He looked down and squinted, mouth parted, stretching his neck, focusing as hard as he could.
"Merlin!" Arthur's faint voice was calling him.
Merlin kept focusing, waiting for more. He heard parts of words, Bossiney, and shapeshiting. The link began to deteriorate. He faced a bewildered Arthur.
"Merlin!? What's the matter?
"They are going to Carmarthen." Merlin breathed.
"Who's they?"
"Alvarr." Merlin said.
"And you know this how??"
Merlin scrambled for words as he looked at an astonished Arthur. He had to think of a story fast.
"I remember. Alvarr slipped his plans to me yesterday before you atta- saved me."
"Well that's a convenient piece of information you left out!"
"I just remembered... I guess because we are in the woods!"
"Is there anything else you failed to mention?"
Merlin looked at Arthur. "They are going through the shores near Bossiney"
Arthur took some moments to sink in the information.
"Carmarthen. That's a long way from here Merlin. It will take weeks to get there on foot, and possibly a week if we take the ship all the way to the bay. And there is no ship departing from Bossiney, Merlin." Arthur paused. "Are you sure about this?"
"I'm positive Arthur."
Arthur considered Merlin for a moment. A cool breeze brushed against both of them as they faced each other. Merlin did tend to know these sorts of things. Arthur never knew how, but it would be denial to not aknowledge Merlin's knowledge of little things. Arthur nodded.
"I'll tell father in our meeting about Alvarr at sunset.. Come on now.. Let's go back..."
Merlin nodded and walked with Arthur, head down contemplating Mordred's words.
Why are they going to Carmarthen? Shape shifting? The plea in Mordred voice troubled him.
**
Merlin and Arthur arrived in the main towns in Camelot. The frost hit the towns so abrasively that the yards were empty. Perhaps a little too empty.
Merlin and Arthur passed the homes of the Camelot citizens. Doors were shut, chimneys didn't let out smoke, and animals were away. The town atmosphere felt odd and eerie. It was reminiscent to Bossiney. Merlin passed the home of the little boy he observed earlier whispering to his pet goat. The goat was gone...
"PLEASE I told the prince we'd be taking a trip! I promise!!" squealed a woman from afar. Merlin sought in the direction of the sound.
Arthur rushed to the source of the sound. Merlin followed his tracks and set eyes on the sobbing women they met earlier, gracing fine lines near her eyes and mouth, pleading to a brute looking knight. The knight callous hands were grabbing the lady's arms, and ruthlessly dragging her away from her home. Gaping from the doorway was her doe eyed daughter mouth open in horror.
"LIAR!! THE PRINCE IS GONE OUT. HE HAS NO TIME TO SPEAK TO PEASANT WOMEN LIKE YOU!"
"RELEASE HER! What is the reason for this??" Arthur commanded to the knight, marching up to the knight and gripping his arm.
The knight let the women fall on the ground, and stared at the prince. Merlin noticed the knights behavior transform. The little girl ran to her mother and clutched her as they stared at the two men.
"She is leaving Camelot my lord. She must be a sorcerer! She says she got your permission to leave. She is lying!"
"And she is correct. I did give her permission! Why would you call her a sorcerer?"
"My lord, Camelot citizens are fleeing ever since they heard about this list you are bringing."
Arthur looked at the knight astounded and fumbled for words. He glanced at the lady who conveyed terror on her face.
"My lord…" she pleaded, almost afraid he suspected her.
Arthurs was flustered.
"You may leave for your trip. Please go inside first." He ordered.
"But sire -" contested the Knight.
"I gave her permission, so she may go." Arthur turned to face the knight.
The lady nodded and went inside.
Arthur pulled the Knight away to a corner; Merlin lingered.
"What are you talking about? How do the citizens know about this? This wasn't a public announcement!" Arthur whispered aggressively.
"Word has leaked sire. More than a quarter of the town has already fled."
Arthur was stunned. The only people who heard Uther's private announcement was Merlin and the knights. He looked at Merlin. Merlin shook his head rapidly, understanding Arthur's question. Then which knight leaked the word?
"Go back to the castle, and don't arrest anyone until I say so." Arthur told the knight.
"I am sorry sir, but the king has ordered me to arrest anyone who tries to leave Camelot. To tell you the truth, I should not have let even that lady go; Even with your permission."
With that, the knight marched back to the castle.
Arthur was distressed. What was going on? Which knight leaked the details of Uther's announcement? How much trouble will he get for not arriving with the list in hand, and for recruiting a knight that leaked confidential information? What was happening to Camelot?
--
Hope you guys like the story so far. I have thought of a really neat storyline.. So stay tuned.