"Hello?" said Alvarr concentrating on a jaw dropped awed Merlin.
Merlin was gazing the scenery, absorbing all that he could, mesmerized by the intense potent calmness the area brought him. He scanned the ruins, hauntingly beautiful, a story to tell about their survival. The rocks were accented with the hopeful green colored grass. He walked down the pathway accepting the hypnotic call of the sea, while ignoring Alvarr's call. He felt fine bits of mist hitting his face as the waves crashed, and a breeze slid from many angles across his face and neck. He looked around some more and found a stone pulpit facing against the ocean. Merlin imagined the seeker speaking at it, and stifled a chuckle imagining everyone ignoring her to view the sea.
"It get's tiring after a while, the sea that is.." said Alvarr. Merlin was alert. Did Alvarr read his mind?
Alvarr was looking around at particular spots of the ruin, walked to some parts and investigated it, lifting one or two toppled over bricks and forming them back into the original structure, before falling over again. Alvarr made a face and sighed.
"Uther did a number, that's for sure," said Alvarr, scanning the ruins.
"Uther did this?" said Merlin, barely asking.
"You surely don't think we lived in a ruin...? Uther's the artist that forgot to sign his piece of work."
"Why would he do it?"
"Were you not listening to my story? Uther wanted all those who practiced magic dead." said Alvarr. Merlin noticed a quieter more somber tone to Alvarr's voice, and this time, Alvarr was looking away heading towards the left side with respect to the view of the sea.
Merlin heard the waves crash. Across the courtyard, Alvarr knelt down struggling with a piece of rock. Merlin heard Alvarr mutter something, and walked towards the scratching sound. Alvarr was pulling a slab of rock from the ground. Alvarr set the stone down with a thud.
"Don't want to hurt my precious fingers."
Alvarr looked up a curious Merlin who looked back. Alvarr dipped his hands in the hollow dark space.
"Ah, I feel it."
A seagull called while the waves crashed some more, spitting more water on them.
"What are you looking for?"
"This"
Alvarr used his other hand to fully support the large book. It was a bit tricky, Merlin thought, to pull the book out while making room for his hands to slide out too. Alvarr had to drop the book a few times to re-strategize. Merlin wondered why he didn't summon it, but decided to keep quiet. After about a minute, Alvarr brought it to surface.
The book was a hard leather bind book, ornamented with brass, held together by shiny brass clips. Merlin was impressed by how well it survived. After Alvarr slid the slab of rock back, he grabbed the book and got up.
"What is it?" Merlin's mind flickered to images of the accounts of the great purge, the spell books Alvarr spoke about, the foretelling of events Alvarr spoke about, and the -
"The Niwe Steorra. My mother put together this book- of course she wasn't the author, the Seeker was. My mother placed some enchantments on it - you know, waterproof, weatherproof. The toughest charm was to prevent the book from being summoned. You see, Uther gained a lot of traitors who knew magic, promising to spare their lives if they could bring to him the Niwe Steorra."
"How did Uther know about it?"
"Traitors and cowards. People promising to turn in more powerful wizards if their lives were saved. Someone told Uther about the Seeker and the Niwe Steorra."
"Why would Uther care about the Niwe Steorra?"
"Well, the cowards and traitors told him about you.. About how a powerful wizard will come and well, be guided by this book to restore Albion. You can imagine he didn't like hearing that... So yeah- this is for you.."
Alvarr brought the book forward casually for Merlin to take. Merlin reached out to took it still looking at Alvarr.
Merlin looked at the book. It felt quiet warm in his hands. Alvarr watched him carefully, slightly holding his breath.
"The seeker placed an enchantment where only you could open the book."
Merlin knew what Alvarr was thinking.
"So what happens if I can't open it?" said Merlin, trying to probe Alvarr's thoughts.
"I'd sigh of relief, that's for sure."
Merlin's fingers moved to the bottom of the brass clips to open it.
"Wait - what if you just want me to open it, and attack me to get the opened book."
Alvarr stared at Merlin with a straight face and blinked several times.
"Merlin, with a mind like yours, I don't know why you aren't on my side. Now, I assure you." Alvarr looked straight into Merlin's eyes "- that I will not attack you, or try to fool you in any manner. This book is for you, and will only make sense to you."
Merlin smiled. The doubt expressed was to merely annoy Alvarr.
The ocean waves crashed less, and the call of the seagulls were louder and more frequent.
Merlin looked back at the book. It was for him, and only him. Merlin slid his fingers over the brass brackets again on the back of the book and pulled to release the bracket. He lifted the stiff leather cover. The book opened.
"Now... hand it over." said Alvarr. Merlin's heart jumped and shot at Alvarr. Alvarr smiled. "Ha.. Just playing with your mind. Okay, sorry, go ahead and continue.." Merlin glared at Alvarr and felt the urge to whack him upside his face. He shook his head and returned to the page.
The first page was blank. He turned to the second page. It graced the name Niwe Steorra in bold black letters, with accents of gold. He turned to the third page.
"You going to read the whole book now, are you?" said Alvarr from a close distance. Merlin looked up. Alvarr was clearly staring at Merlin for a while impatiently. Merlin parted the book at a random place and opened it. There he saw something he didn't want to see. A frightening sketch of someone with long blond hair lying on orange colored ash leaves, eyes closed and arms and legs outstretched and limp. From afar was an army of some sort, directing its attack at him. A tiny hooded figure stood behind the trees observing.
"What is it?"
Merlin looked up at Alvarr in concern.
"What is the purpose of this book?" asked Merlin instead.
"My mother said the seeker made it to guide you Merlin. The book has many chapters. Some with the most powerful spells, enchantments, and recipes for potions. As I mentioned before, there was a lot of foretelling of future events. The seeker made sure all were recorded. There's secret information on everything magical; trolls, dragons, fairies- now don't give me that look, they are real -, unicorns, everything! Not only will you know about them but their political references. You will learn about the great wizards of the old times! It's a book of History, Chemistry, War, Art and Future!"
Merlin sought Alvarr's innocence .
"Are these foretellings always true?"
Alvarr looked a tad alarmed. Merlin could tell by the tone of his own voice made Alvarr concerned about what Merlin saw.
"Well, most are the seekers visions, so yes, Merlin, most of her visions came true."
Merlin could tell Alvarr wanted to know what Merlin saw, but he changed the subject.
"What happened to the seeker?"
"Well, I personally don't know what happened to her. Some say she was killed by Uther, others say she went crazy and ran away. With so much in her head, it's understandable. I don't think anyone's seen her after the beginning of the purge."
"I don't know if I want this book." said Merlin closing the book. "If this is all the seekers thoughts and visions, I'll probably end up going crazy myself."
"The seeker had a reason to make it for you Merlin. You must take it. She did her best to protect it for you, thought of all possible loopholes and casted preventive measures from it being tampered with. There are spells for you to learn- shape shifting, invisibility, speaking to the dead, everything!"
"I didn't ask to learn about the future!" said Merlin raising his voice. Merlin didn't know why he was getting angry, but he just was. "And I don't want to learn these 'powerful' spells! How can I use shape shifting spells for good!? Speaking to the dead??? Why would I ever do that? Why would the seeker think I'd be interested in this?"
Merlin was clearly disappointed in the Niwe Steorra. He knew he should feel more grateful, but he couldn't feel that way about the book. It made him unwary and frightened, of its potency of truth and power. He looked once again at Alvarr, who looked slightly disappointed by Merlin. Merlin could imagine Alvarr expecting a more excited reaction to the book his community and mother crafted especially for him. He was ready for Alvarr to backlash.
"I'm sorry," said Alvarr. " I told you more than you can absorb in one day. And now, you are faced with a great responsibility."
"I don't want the kind of responsibility you think I should have!! I don't want any of it! I don't want this book Alvarr, this is not for me! I am not interested in this sort of power or this sort of visions or this sort of abilities!!"
"Don't you get it Merlin?! That is exactly why this book is for you. Your inclination to disgust for this book makes you the rightful owner. I know you will use this book honorably, and I know the seeker felt that way too!"
Merlin was getting a headache. He wasn't saying it to sound noble. He wanted to chuck the book in the sea. He hated what he saw in the book and feared worse. And Alvarr just wouldn't understand. Merlin walked away from Alvarr after placing the book on the stone podium. He walked away from the courtyard, and to the sands of the beach.
Merlin was frustrated. Frustrated with what he heard, and how he felt. He couldn't even think about helping Uther anymore. But Uther is Arthurs father.. Arthur would never forgive Merlin for taking part in Uther's murder. But Arthur won't find out, would he? But if Arthur did find out, Merlin would not fulfill his destiny. Who cares what Arthur thinks and what he does.. The Great Dragon is holding onto one interpretation of the prophecy.. Merlin started to feel a pang of anger at Gaius even. Why did Gaius just sit around while the purge was going on? Why is Gaius so loyal to a corrupt Uther?
Merlin thought about Morgause and Morgana, with a sympathetic light shining on them. Merlin stared at the sea. The waves crashed, and pulled in, much like his conscious. Maybe Alvarr is lying, maybe this is just a strange ploy to get him on the wrong side.. Aah but there is nothing that doesn't make sense... His words are not opinions of his, but of accounts of the past..
He stared at the twilight colored waves far away, building up towards him, and dying off. The skies were painted with lavender along the border between sea and sky, framed with a layer of soft white and blue, lavender clouds with pink accents cast over a soft white sky. He breathed in the calm. Merlin half hoped Alvarr ran away with the book. At least it would prove Alvarr's stories are false and free him from any responsibility. Merlin felt a pinch of worry. He looked back over his right shoulder at the podium to check on the book. It was still there, but Alvarr wasn't.
"I'm here.." said Alvarr. Merlin looked over his left shoulder to a worried Alvarr sitting in the sand. "Merlin, we should head back. It's getting late."