History's Ashes and Future's Flame

Chapter Time!

Sorry I didn't update a long chapter last time, I would have updated sooner but I found a REALLY good Avengers fanfic, full of Clint WHUMP! Woo!

This was written : 11th Jan 2014

Chapter 10

Assessed

Nobody likes to be judged,

On what you can and cannot do.

However if you are judged,

You may find things deep inside of you.

"One!"

Shout. CLASH.

"Two"

Shout. CLASH.

"One!"

Shout. CLASH.

Merlin's forehead was slick and warm with sweat, his arms were moaning with strain, but yet he forced them in with swift precise strikes. Ghist brought up his own sword as he continued to block Merlin's swiped. He smirked with each one, each one got harder to block. Stronger. Faster. Harsher.

"Good. Now," Merlin lowered his blades with a resounding sigh, "Now, boy you fight to win."

The bolt fell across the door and Ghist turned to Merlin a grin spreading across his face, Merlin couldn't help, but grin back. Today he killed his first.

"As I see it that's one less orc in these lands." Ghist laughed slapping Merlin on the back, "Your faster, stronger. A few weeks you'll be impossible to beat. Invincible…"

Ghist silence holding up his hand unconsciously. Merlin listened as he heard the familiar heavy footfalls of a large orc and soon the dark hissing of Black Speech. Merlin rushed to be seated at the back of the room and Ghist made himself busy sharpening the first weapon he came across. As if on cue the door was ripped open and an eerie silence settled over the room. There in the undersized doorway stood the orc leader, large and dark with a gruesome scar clawing his cheek.

"Assassin. The boy is ready." It turned to Ghist growling in Black Speech, not so much as glancing in Merlin direction, "It can complete its task."

Ghist lowered his head in respect, "No your might. Not the task meant for him… Maybe another." Ghist visibly winced as the orc approached him. Merlin's mind whirled as he struggled to keep up with the Speech, translating it as it was fired between them.

"He fights well. No?" The orc snarled.

"Yes…" Ghist's voice was soft, almost a betrayal to the harsh speech, "Yet he would not compete with his target as of yet."

"The tree rat had a week. Tomorrow he is to be assessed. If passed he will complete the task after seven days. If not you know what will happen."

Ghist didn't reply, he was relieved to hear of the orcs plans, seven days was long enough, he told himself and the orc crashed him was out of the door, slamming it with a physical shudder.

Merlin looked up at the musing Ghist, "What am I to do tomorrow?" He asked voice cold.

Ghist bit his lip and handed Merlin his weapons, "We have training to do."

"What for…"

"We train inside now knives." Merlin was stubborn and put his knives on the tables ignoring Ghist's words. Ghist sighed knowing Merlin's stubbornness, "Tomorrow you are to be assessed, you must kill twenty orc single handily."

"What?" Merlin gasped, "I-I can't…"

"You can. And you will or it's not only your life taken." Ghist picked up the knives and pushed the in to Merlin's hands.

Sleep didn't come easy that night for Merlin and when it did it was littered with strange dreams.

He ran through tree tops, emotions forced his legs on, Anger, Horror, Grief.

"Amerlas." Familiar shout arose in to the tree tops around him, threatening to shoot him down.

Then the dream skipped, as if shifted by time itself.

He was sat, curled in to a crumpled heap on the ground. His whole body felt alive. Alive with a power he had yet to discover a tingling warms erupting from his heart. Looking up he could see many figure, outlines blurred by tears. Two stood out, closer than the other, one blond, he seemed to be talking, but Merlin could only hear the heavy thud of his heart in his ears. The other a red head hands clenched tightly around a bow.

And time played it's tricks again.

Merlin's mind focused to see what he needed. He felt the rush of his blood and the realise of a power within him and he clamped his eyes shut as the wind picked up around him. Taking deep circles pulling his mind and feelings with it, muddling them, confusing them.

When Merlin's eyes opened he saw the figures, not upright anymore, scattered across the forest carpet, apparently sleeping… The feeling of guilt washed over him then the horror what him. I am a monster.

When Merlin woke he was sweating and was enclosed in a tight coil of sheets, panting as if he'd been running. He abruptly sat up and with confusion looked down at his hands. Normal, pale, long fingered hands. Then a wave of horror hit him as he felt the same feeling deep with in his body,. The warm tingling, he thought of other things, other people. He got up moved drank cool water. Nothing, the feeling remained and it scared him beyond imagine. His dreamed has shown him what that could do and he was terrified of it. Merlin took a deep breath and his gaze fell on to his bow and knives resting by his bed side, he clasped them hopefully as the dawn of the day arose over the croppy mountains.

Ghist's cloak streamed out like water, coiling and wrapping in the wind. Merlin kept his eyes firmly fixed on the back of his mentor as they passed under the great black gates of Isenguard, with an involuntary shudder Merlin felt his dreaded power rise up again, what's happening to me?

"Okay. Now you need to take out the cocky one's first. There is always cocky ones. Shoot as many as you can. Only resort to knives when necessary. You are a stronger shot. Remember you are string enough to pull back fully; so do so. It will help. Yes? Are you listening?" Ghist stopped pacing eyes resting on a trembling Merlin.

"Ghist. I'm a monster." Merlin shuddered.

"No Merlin you're an elf." Ghist lowered to where Merlin was sat, "And a talented one. So do me proud."

Those few words meant more than Merlin truly understood. This feeling, this magical power within him, wasn't because he was a monster, I'm an elf. Merlin told himself as he made towards the door. No poxy human, I have power, I have strength and I can fight.

The 'cocky' orcs came, and Merlin shot them down with few arrows, he was aiming true, he tightened his grip on his boy and with speed and accuracy another four fell. Merlin didn't keep count as he shot, he used his natural instinct and found a tree clambering in to the branches, as he shot a few more down. And there with in the trees Merlin knew he was an elf the shot with pride and scary power as the thrill of battle surged with vigour through his veins. Few were left now and they had used their thick skulls to realise they must fell the tree, with a few shuddering swipes from all sides the tree began to tip and Merlin steadied himself ready to jump.

Landing on his left foot and knee Merlin slung his bow over his back and resorted to his knives. Slicing and cutting with the thin blades. None even came near, before they were a dead or mortally wounded body on the ground.

Then Merlin stopped and turned around him were corpses dead or dying and none stood to fight. Then he realised he'd won. Staring down he caught his appearance in a nearby fallen blade, his hair was untameable and matted and his two lone plats were entwined and knotted in his loose hair. His eyes seemed dark, wild and piercing pupils wide and dark. His face was stern, and splattered with dark orcs blood. It had been many months since Merlin had seen his reflection and somehow he seemed to have aged in to that of a battle hardened warrior. But what confused Merlin most was his skin, although dark with blood and clothing it seemed to glow and look the peak of health.

He was an elf again. Isenguard had made him an elf again. Isenguard had poisoned him. Isenguard had ensnared him in its menacing trap…

End of Chapter

Oh yes! Merlin just got badass! This chapter was so fun to right!

So is Merlin truly poisoned by Isenguard darkness? Or is there still goodness in him? What do you think?

See you tomorrow for Another chapter!