Chapter 7

For Prydain

"What do you mean you're leaving?" King Geraint barked over his court room at the young Taran.

"It's the only way my lord." Taran tried to explain but was interrupted my Geraint's roars.

"A potential army surrounds my fortress, putting the lifes of my people in danger and you want to go for a little picnic eh?" Geraint spat as he stood up from his throne and strode down to Taran.

From his seat Arthur watched with interest the two men, he was waiting for the opportune moment for his reason with Geraint. He didn't understand what Taran was hoping to gain himself however he understood as King sometimes you have to make sacrificies for the good of the people.

"Well what have you to say soldier?" Geraint snapped staring intently into Taran's eyes.

"My king, it's a idea I've had." Taran began and looked up to his master. "If it's a chance to fight back with a small chance, we can win if only we could get it."

"And what is this that you hope to search for?" Geraint asked fiercely.

"A sword." Taran explained. "In the marshes of Morva."

Then the court fell quiet much to the confusion of Arthur, he glanced across to see Eilonwy and Guinevere's jaws dropped a mixture of shock and horror on their face. Even Lancelot seemed taken aback by these news however he gazed at Arthur, all militaristic fashion cast aside and he expressed deep confusion.

"Morva?" Geraint asked shallowly.

"Yes sir." Taran responded curtly.

"If you are to take this mission, you will go alone, I will send any of my men to that dark land."

Suddenly their was a grumble in the crowd and several soldiers stepped forward, Taran recognized them as his troop with the bandaged Owain at the front leading his company even now.

"My Lord, we have all here lost friends to this darkness, we ask to accompany Taran." Owain pleaded.

"As do I!" Arthur interjected.

The Court then turned astonished by Arthur's outbreak, Arthur stepped up from his seat and walked down majestically in his gold armour that reflected the morning sun valiantly.

"These men gave their lives to my cause, I shall accompany them to the Marshes of Morva." Arthur declaimed proudly.

King Geraint shook his head and nodded respectfully to Arthur.

"It seems the whole company are against me here, I shall warn you though Arthur and to you too Taran, in those marshes there is a evil lurking there, I wish I was as youthful as the both of you I would accompany you both, you may leave when you're ready." King Geraint muttered and shook the men away.

Taran nodded to Arthur who acknowledged him, Arthur then grasped Taran by the shoulder and lifted the man from his feet and whispered in his ears.

"Me and my men shall accompany you to these marshes, however I need to know what lies in the land that you need." He asked Taran intriguingly.

"A sword, it has great magical powers." Taran explained in a hush of a voice, he didn't want any unwanted ears to listen in. "It might be our last chance."

"Then I shall follow you, I will ask you told me of this sword, I can respect wishing to have a heirloom returned to you but you cannot put the lives of our men before yourself understand?" Arthur exclaimed and turned to the soldiers behind Lancelot. "They are good men with good families."

Taran turned to Arthur almost half hearted, this was a change in Arthur's stead from earlier, before he was graceful and humble almost unsuspecting to be a King but now he was stern and reasonable and well strong willed.

"I understand Sir." Taran replied steadily.

"And stop calling me Sir!" Arthur grinned with a wink.

It was almost mid day before the company were to move out, Taran was preparing his armour, he strapped on his braces and his leather chest guard.

"You really going back there?" A feministic voice called to him, he recognized that graceful tune.

"Eilonwy, I have to." Taran stated without turning around.

"Just remember last time we were there." Eilonwy muttered darkly.

"I have a plan Eilonwy."

"Do you have any thing to trade?"

Taran sighed ad hung his head and shook his head. "I will offer them my servitude after Prydain is safe." He explained.

"What but you can't!" Eilonwy responded in disbelief.

"What else have I to offer them, I need to protect Prydain, I need to protect the men, I need to protect Arthur… I need to protect you."

Eilonwy fell silent, however a third voice spoke up from behind him.

"I may be able to offer something to trade Taran."

Taran turned to see Arthur standing beside Eilonwy, his gallant exposure was magnificent, his armour glistening he seemed even more majestic.

"Arthur, I cant ask you to…" Taran began however Arthur raised a hand to silence him.

"I have a confidant who you must meet." Arthur explained and turned to the window, swiftly he opened it and cast the window doors open.

Suddenly from the empty window and owl swooped in and rested on Arthur's shoulder and ruffled it's feathers.

"Eilonwy, Taran meet Archimedes." Arthur said glancing admiringly to Arhcimedes. "I dare say you are growing some grey feathers you know."

And then to the shock of Taran and Eilonwy the owl turned with a ignorant and rather insulted glare at the King and from it's beak it said, "Well i never, five years being a King and you're all ready getting to big for your boots boy."

Arthur laughed ad turned to the confused look on Eilonwy and Taran's eyes.

"A talking Owl?" They both said in unison.

"We aren't going to trade him are we?" Taran asked puzzled.

Archimedes shocked turned to Arthur then to Taran and back to Arthur. "What? What, What?" He cried.

"Oh hush Archimedes we are not going to trade you." Arthur explained rather impatiently. "I'm sorry Taran he gets a bit insensitive at times, right Archimedes I need to know where Merlin is can you help?"

Archimedes glared at Taran and then to Arthur he held his head high and very proudly and replied, "I might be, besides I do need a rest."

"Another night hunting?" Arthur asked cheerfully.

Archimedes flashed a glance at Arthur and merely stated, "Maybe, shame there was no fish though."

"And Pikes?"

"Especially Pi… oh don't be like that boy, come now shall I escort you to Merlin?" Archimedes muttered.

"Well if Taran is ready then we shall." Arthur responded.

Taran nodded and watched as Arthur escorted himself from Taran's bedroom leaving Eilonwy with taran alone.

"Just to think, another and we could have gotten married." Eilonwy sighed and made her leave.

"Hey wait!" Taran cried and grasped her arm delicately. "I know this is sudden, I know what im doing is suicidal, but you got to understand I need to do this."

"For what? I know you want fame, to be a warrior and a Knight, you have been given a taste of war and you want more. When will it end?"

"That's not true!"

"Then why leave me for this? You just offered your life and for what?"

"For you."

"For Prydain!"

"For you!"

"FOR THE LEGEND OF TARAN?"

"FOR YOU!"

The two fell silent, Eilonwy's mad glare that Taran returned with a calming insightful stare. The wind howled outside, causing the window doors to shake and bash against the stone wall of Arthur's room.

Taran turned away to close the windows, he locked them tight and noticed it looked like rain may come from over the horizon of the forest.

He turned back to see that Eilonwy had vanished, only a open door, his sword on the bed and the darkness of the empty room that seemed to lurk more and more nearer him.

The journey took a good two hours to cross the large expanse of Prydain, and Archimedes himself felt almost lost if it was not for Arthur's suggestion he take flight to examine over the land.

Finally they arrived at this destination, a lonely cottage placed amongst a circular gap between the trees, Taran recognized the area immediately.

"Dallbren? Arthur is you confidant named Dallbren?" He asked intently.

"No he is named Merlin, he's a great wizard and a better teacher." Arthur explained.

They arrived and Taran and Arthur alone strode over to the front door, as they walked down the way Arthur himself seemed to recognise the area.

"Why this place seems oddly familiar?" He asked curiously.

"This is the place where we first met." Taran answered.

"Ah yes, ha ha what a odd turn of events, that was about five years ago."

They entered the cottage, it seemed rather comfortable small, a pot was burning in the corner and a cat was prancing around the room. Taran spotted the cat and chased after the animal who jumped into Taran's arms.

"You little fool of a cat! You never write never invite me over, it's like your trying to avoid me!" Taran laughed.

"I dare say we could say the same to you Taran." A mysterious voice uttered from the darkness.

And then to Taran's astonishment Dallbren behind him, the two embraced a hug and the parted as Taran introduced Arthur.

"Dallbren I'd like to introduce you to King…" He began.

"King Arthur of England, the man who drew the sword from the stone." Dallbren finished and held out a and to Arthur.

"Pleasure to meet you too sir." Arthur replied pleasantly as the two men shook hands.

"That's a bit of a grand title if I do say so myself." Another mysterious voice shuddered through the cottage.

And then suddenly from a blast of wind that shook through the front door of the cottage Merlin appeared by Arthur's side.

"You're still the Wart to me." Merlin muttered with a wink.

"And you're still the blasted old fool." Arthur replied with a grin he then gestured to Taran. "Have you met Taran?"

"Pleased to meet you boy." Merlin noted with a smile.

Taran nodded respectfully and said, "Pleasure."

And then the company enjoyed a relaxing cup of tea each, they shared gallant stories of their adventures and the most recents events. Merlin described his hunt for a singular weapon that the evil wizard Athos is looking for, Dallbren explained his failed attempts to try and contact the Elder wizard who had apparently vanished for several years and Arthur and Taran explained their own adventure with battling the Black Knight.

The suddenly Arthur exclaimed that a creature apparently known as Gurgi had explained to Taran the events, Taran as if remembering a long forgotten story explained every detail.

"If we could find that creature we could discover the area where he found out about everything." Arthur concluded.

"Yes but all things must come in time, if I were to summon Gurgi now he would arrive the next day, and I do believe you do not have time and are await entry to Morva." Dallbren examined.

"Yes but how did you know?" Arthur responded.

"Please Arthur, I am now blind." Dallbren laughed and passed over to Taran a small bag. "Use this to trade with the Witches of Morva."

Taran slightly opened the bag only to have Dallbren place a hand on Taran's hand. "Only to be opened by them my boy, remember that." He ordered.

"If I were to make the dela I would need to know the name of the artefact." Arthur interjected.

"And so you would, it has many names Arthur." Merlin explained. "It is a object that many men would spend their lives seeking, with my foresight I see that even your own Knights would seek for the object, you may call it the Holy Grail."

"The Holy Grail?" Arthur gasped with deep curiosity for the small bag.

"It has no power, it is said to the holder it will grant them the knowledge of the gods." Dallbren described.

"Then why can't we use it to battle the hordes of evil!" Taran exclaimed eagerly.

"No man should have that power." Arthur insisted.

The men fell quiet at the words spoken by Arthur, Merlin seemed impressed and Taran and Dallbren nodded their understanding.

"So why are we handing this over to them?" Taran asked.

"They would not use, they had the Black Cauldron in their grasp for years and never used it, they'd understand it's power and use to trade if anyone offered them anything more powerful."

"And what is more powerful that the Grail?" Arthur inquired.

"That is still to be discovered."