HEY READERS! I'M BACK FOR PART TWO OF 'MEETINGS WITH EMRYS' AND I HOPE THIS ONE WILL GET THE SAME TYPE OF RESPONSE AS THE LAST CHAPTERS DID! PLEASE ENJOY!

CHAPTER 8

"So," Gwaine started as Arthur sat frozen in his chair. "Feel like you're going to faint anytime soon?"
Arthur snapped out of his trance to level a glare at Gwaine. "No."
Gwaine smiled and replied. "That's good isn't it."
Arthur swallowed and he opened his mouth to speak but his tongue felt like led. "So-so-so you're telling me that there is a sorcerer, a powerful sorcerer-"
"The most powerful warlockactually, but go on." Percival interrupted.
"Who is protecting me from the shadows and helping me become king? No wonder I change the laws. But what has this warlock have to do with Merlin?"
The knights sat back once again motioning to Gwaine to continue.
"Well… Merlin's bit comes in next," he paused and Arthur felt his stomach twisting. "You're not going to like where this goes."
Arthur nodded in trepidation and Gwaine breathed deeply and continued the story…

"The next part of our tale occurs exactly one week after our failed tracking mission. Me and the knights had spent the time we had spare to research up this 'Emrys' fellow and considering that there were only a few magical books not tarnished in the Great Purge we found quite a lot of folklore about him but only a few that we could understand.

The ones that we could read told us about how at a time of great need, when the world of Albion was in grave peril and the balance of magic was disturbed, a child would be born. A child who would possess so much magical ability that he would be the tipper to balance the scales of magic once again. He is to be the Lord over magic, the Last Dragonlord and Risen King over Life and Death. To the people of magic, he will be their saviour. He will be the stars, the moon, the land and he will embody the entire of magic and fulfil his destiny as the greatest and most powerful warlock to ever cross the earth and to help The Once and Future King reunite the land of Albion once again. They would forever be Two Sides of a Singular Coin…

You could definitely say we were shell shocked. It was the only paragraph that they could read in the magic book but for something so short, it held a greater meaning than anything else we found. We had heard him when he said he was the most powerful warlock to be born and we had believed it, but to read in a book that was written hundreds of years ago made it all feel so real.

After Percival had told us about the particular paragraph, we vowed to figure out who this man was. He had told us that we not only see him regularly but we also know him and just knowing that he was right under our noses was more frustrating than I can say.

So we carried on our usual duties while sneakily categorising each and every person that could be Emrys. Obviously we did not tell Arthur, he would've ninja kicked our arses to the moon if we did, and we decided that Merlin was probably not safe to tell. Not because he wasn't trustworthy, he was, but he hated lying to Arthur and he'd get that expression on his face which made you feel really guilty and go apologizing to everything and everyone you ever treated badly. Curse him.

So we went on like that for a week or so and we had about twenty Emrys candidates, most of them being knights that are particularly close to us and Arthur. We just began looking a little closer, noticing a bit more and it was because of this habit of listening and analysing everything that the real identity came upon us.

Well actually, it so much come upon us, more like hit us like a dozen horses carrying solid marble on each of their backs. We were in the armoury. Me, Lancelot, Percival, Leon and Elyan were standing behind a stand of spears talking quietly about any recent updates to the finding of Emrys when two figures entered, too distracted to notice us hidden from view.

"The Councillors are right, Merlin. I don't have any idea what I am doing as King. I am too far out of my depth." Came Arthur's voice.
We were all stunned and I was about to stride around the corner to tell him different when an even more surprising answer beat me to it.
"Arthur," it was Merlin's voice. "You do not need the acclaim that your father had with his Councillors, you have something better. You have the support and love of the people you rule which, quite frankly, is more than your father ever had."
"But, the Councillors are necessary-"
Merlin's voice grew firmer and stronger and I couldn't place where I'd heard it.
"You are a worthy King Arthur Pendragon and do not let anyone tell you different. You will rule this kingdom more justly than those before you," We heard him take a deep breath and tell Arthur the words we had heard not two weeks ago. "You will be the greatest king to rule, Arthur. You proved that you were a king foretold when you pulled that sword from the stone and the people will remember you for years. There will be children reading stories about King Arthur and his many accomplishments. Arthur, don't ever believe that you are not worthy because you are. You are the Once and Future King and no one should convince you otherwise."

There you go. All of us had been frozen stiff by words more times in that week than in our whole lives. We just glanced at each other, each of us looking like star struck whales except for Lancelot who a look of dawning horror on his face. Everything suddenly made sense though and I could kick one of us for not being observant enough. Who else spends every single minute of every day practically glued to Arthur's side? Who keeps him more safe than anyone-and I got to bout there before feeling extremely disheartened that we were all as oblivious as Queenie. Before one of us could speak however, Arthur replied to Merlin's epic speech.

"Merlin? Are you honestly this wise all of the time or do you just put on the act when you get bored of being called idiot?"
Before Merlin could answer with a biting retort, I gestured to the knights and we strode slowly around the corner, our grins threatening to split our faces in half when both men jumped and turned to face us.

Leon spoke up, the picture of innocence plastered on his face. "I think Merlin is a lot more knowledgeable than you know My Lord."
I watched merrily as Merlin's mouth opened to say thank you and then did a sort of double take, no doubt going over what he had told Arthur (and apparently us) only to rise his head, mouth agape in horror while a rosy pink coloured his cheekbones.
"Ummm…" He said a little dumbfounded, obviously still in shock.
Elyan continued Leon's rant. "You know Merlin, Sire, he'll do anything to get you back on your throne."
My grin widened (if it were possible) as Arthur looked between us in confusion but before he could comment Percival spoke up next. "He'll risk his life many, many times for you Sire. I don't think you know how lucky you are to have someone so willing to risk everything to keep you safe sire."
Merlin's face was a spectacular shade of red as he looked between each knight, mouth opening and closing like a constipated fish.
It was all very humorous and I had to bite my tongue harshly to keep myself from laughing outright but, I admit, Merlin's face when I said my part was the most hilarious thing I had ever seen.
I was waiting until Merlin looked at me and I said, smirking and looking directly into his eyes. "Two sides of the same coin. Sounds like destiny."

And my resolve almost gave out when Merlin practically jumped out of his skin and tried to cover up his fidgeting by combing his hand through his hair when Arthur turned to look at him. "Something's going on…."
Merlin interrupted him before he could finish. "No! Nothing's going on! Why would something be going on? We're just, you know…" He ended his sentence with a few massive arm gestures.
I noticed Arthur give Merlin his What-Are-You-Doing-You-Look-Mentally-Screwed-Up look and strode out of the armoury leaving Merlin with us.
I didn't really understand what Merlin said next because it sounded like. "I'mgoingtoleavenowbecauseArthu rwillyellandihavetogosoyeahI 'mgoingtogonow…."
He was turned and I came behind him and said. "Goodbye Emrys." And was very amused when he swung around, eyes wide before sort of doing a backflip then propelling himself out the door towards his king.

I turned to the knights behind me and said. "Well I'm ready for a drink."
There were nods all around and we set off towards The Rising Sun, still grinning like idiots.

TO BE CONTINUED

OK! SO HOW DID YOU'S LIKE THIS CHAPTER HMMM? PLEASE REVIEW AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! UNTIL PART THREE!