Chapter 4
Physicists often quote from T. H. Whit's epic novel The Once and Future King, where a society of ants declares, "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." In other words, if there isn't a basic principle of physics forbidding time travel, then time travel is necessarily a physical possiblity. (The reason for this is the uncertainty principle. Unless something is forbidden, quantum effects and fluctuations will eventually make it possible if we wait long enough. Thus, unless there is a law forbidding it, it will eventually occur.)
- Michio Kaku
Their small party rode into the lower town. It consisted of: Merlin, Prince Arthur, and 6 of Arthur's best knights including Sir Elyan, Sir Gwaine, and Sir Leon.
Merlin tried to keep to the back, watching for any sign that his magic was needed. And, of course, he had to be discreet. His inner thighs chafed in the saddle. It had been a while since he had ridden a horse, and he had lost some weight since then. He should eat more, as Gaius pressed him to. He was beginning to recognize that the more mental and emotional stress he experienced, the less he remembered food.
Gwaine, turning about on his steed, grimaced and pointed towards a burned hovel at the edge of the square "Look, Your Highness." From the center of the hovel a fire pit still burned with hot coals. "Demons, witches…" here he grinned, "or someone fell asleep while cooking dinner."
Arthur pursed his lips and looked stern. "Thank you Sir Gwaine. We need more information, which is certain."
Gwaine bowed in his saddle respectfully, swallowing his grin.
After Arthur and the Knights thoroughly questioned the townsfolk—many of whom looked scared and talking about ghosts and witches, but had no clearer descriptions than "fire seemed to come from nowhere" and "I thought I saw a man, but he had no legs"—it did seem as if rumors of the Witch Morgana had spread and this was simply a panic related to the fire. Many of the people seemed relieved that their Prince and his Knights were investigating the matter personally.
As usual, no one took note of the thin black-haired servant playing shadow to the Prince.
Merlin, who had been contemplating forcing down some bread from his haversack at the soonest opportunity, was distracted by a flash of blue light in the woods to the south of town. Nothing could make that color of light, he thought…other than magic.
It was so brief he doubted anyone else had seen. And if they had, someone else would tell them it was just their nerves.
Merlin had to come up with an excuse quickly if he wanted to investigate the matter further.
"Your Highness," he said, drawing his horse near to Arthur's, "I would like to volunteer to do one more sweep at the south of town. It is near the woods and this would be good cover for anyone doing mischief."
"Very good," said Arthur absentmindedly, waving him away. "Go make yourself useful. And don't say mischief, you sound like a girl."
As you wish, Merlin thought at he bowed, not even bothering with a retort. He was grateful Arthur's mood had improved enough for him to be irritated with his servant.
He turned his horse towards the border of the southern woods.
As he passed under the first leafy boughs he felt a hush descend around him.
He remembered from his time exploring this part of the woods that there would be a few small caves on rocky hillocks, surrounding a small but fast flowing stream. This stream was an outlet for a very large river, by way of which the townsfolk did much of their trading. Small boats that two men could carry would float down the stream, and men with poles and healthy tans would stop at each town to sell their wares. Then they would take the long journey by foot or rented cart back home.
The lower part of the small stream served most often as a bathing and washing spot for the villagers. Further upstream the ground became uneven, the rocks covered in slippery moss at the water's edge. This area used to be mountains, but now it was just small hills gradually sloping into great hills beyond the borders of the wood. The great hills turned into actual mountains, the passes of which marked the Southern borders of Camelot.
There was a beautiful and quiet place where the stream made little rivulets around some larger rocks, the joined together again. The murmur of water made a nice muffling sound that blocked out the animal sounds of the forest. Merlin came upon the caves, which circled this secluded spot. The townsfolk often called it Bandits Bluff, or else Faerie Hills. Either way, Merlin knew it would behoove him to be cautious. So he dismounted from his steed and set off on foot towards Bandits Bluff, uttering a quiet spell to silence his footsteps.
As he ascended he was struck by a magical resonance in the place: something, or someone, was here and emitting a powerful energy.
It did not feel sinister…but neither was it known to him. He was used to magicians having their own distinct auras, and to certain places having a "feeling" as well. But this particular feeling he had never felt at Bandits Bluff, which he had frequented, and he had certainly never sensed it in any person of magical ability.
As he picked his way across the rocks a light breeze tickled the right side of his face. Ahead of him were three caves, the largest of which was the spot—without a doubt—from which the energy was resonating.
The cave was about the size of two horse carriages lined up, and the front was half sheltered by stacked stones, half by hanging moss.
"I mean you no harm." Merlin heard himself say.
But there was no answer.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
Again there was no reply, though he felt a tremor in the energy around the cave.
He made the decision at that time to enter. Carefully, slowly, he approached the cave. He felt no magical resistance.
He gently touched the hanging moss and swept it to the side. And he stepped through the mouth of the cave into total darkness.
It took her a long moment to register that she was not alone.
After riding for hours in the jeep over rocky terrain, her motion sickness had kicked in and she was ready to enjoy solid ground. She was also ready to be away from the very chatty group in the jeep. Not that she didn't like her friends, but the topics of conversation today had been particularly boring: bills, jobs, and retirement.
She wanted to talk about: books, traveling, and hobbies. She was overruled.
There was a 20 minute stretch where the women talked about crown molding styles and the men about UFC. That was okay, but still not great.
She made an excuse to go to the bathroom. And as she hiked away from the group without any real plan, she spotted a small cave at the edge of a riverbank that looked…well, inviting was not the word. Compelling, maybe. Despite her fear of water snakes…snakes of any kind, really…and despite her certainty that one day she would die by black widow bite, or fall in a sinkhole and never make it out alive, she stepped forward.
She entered the cave, and, to her delight, there was a large flat stone she could sit on, a small nest of baby birds sheltered at the mouth of the cave by hanging moss, one or two nondescript insects, and absolutely no snakes. The sound of the river echoed softly around her.
She sat and wondered how long it would take her friends to realize she wasn't back yet. This was the last time she agreed to be a passenger of an off-road vehicle. Her stomach was still recovering. She opened her fanny pack and took out a bottle of herbal remedy in preparation for the return journey. She popped one tablet into her mouth and chewed. If she were lucky, it would kick in before she had to get back into the godforsaken jeep.
Suddenly she tensed, fake strawberry flavor in her mouth from the half chewed tablet, and felt certain someone was in the cave with her. Without a doubt.
She felt frozen in fear. She couldn't speak. What would she say: hello? Anyone there?
Underneath her fear she felt a terrible curiosity.
~*~
Merlin stood stunned by what he saw. Once the darkness dropped away, he found himself in a cave with the opening in front of him. A woman sat inside. She had long curling blonde hair, greatly disheveled as if from high wind. Her garb was tight and black and very revealing, if what appeared to be men's underclothes could be called revealing. Her shoes were an electric blue and were like nothing Merlin had ever seen. She wore a black rucksack and a smaller pouch slung low on her abdomen. She was chewing something and holding a medicinal bottle. What stunned Merlin most was the cave entrance behind her, through which full sunlight was streaming.
Does this cave have two sides? Merlin wondered. And though he knew this could only be magic, he felt ready to test it. He stepped forward.
The woman's eyes widened in what could have been fright, and she dropped the blue and white bottle, small pink tablets spilling to roll across the ground.
"Who…who are you?" she quavered. "What do you want?" She got up and made as if to bolt from the cave.
"Wait!" Merlin heard himself say, and he reached out his hand, turning up his palm. "I mean you no harm."
He could tell she did not believe him as she backed more quickly towards the mouth of the cave and reached sideways for a hand-sized rock. Apparently she thought it might make a good makeshift weapon if he decided to attack her.
"Stop. Don't come near me." Though she sounded frightened, her words rang out strong. She meant them, just as she would use the rock if it came to it.
Merlin had to admire her resolve. But she hadn't run yet.
Her eyes widened further as they came to rest behind Merlin's left shoulder. She froze. Merlin could hear the stream behind him, and also birdsong and moving water ahead of him. As he was processing this, he imagined how it must look to her. He knew she could see what was behind him now, and wondered how she would take it.
"I came here," he said softly, not daring to move an inch lest he provoke her or frighten her away, "to see what was in this cave. And now it appears it has two sides.
There was a long and very tense silence.
"I don't know what you're saying," she finally stuttered, panic rising in her voice, "but I'm leaving."
What could he say? I need your help? Don't go?
Surely she thought he was a madman, and dangerous, and wouldn't respond to anything he said positively. So he stood looking at her, his outstretched hand frozen in place.