History's Ashes and Future's Flame
I AM SOOOO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING ON SUNDAY! YOU WILL GET A LONG ONE TODAY! ON LOKI'S LIFE!
Thank You so much to 'fairedragon'! Your review are great and as a thank you your character will be making her entrance in the next few chapters! Yay!
This chapter is gonna be an exciting one!
Poem is The Poison Tree by William Blake
This was written : 13th Jan 2014
Chapter 11
Poisoned
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
The sun dawned on the seventh day. The sun decided to keep its face hidden behind the comfort of clouds and darkness. It seemed all in Isenguard feared to stand up, the darkness was their only protection. And Merlin fell in to that category. He slowly took to the shadows tentative in the shadows at first, but then it seemed to wallow him up, his skin adjusting to the gloom.
Today it was bright, as he was marched down the isle of orcs, he face fixed to a determined stare, cold, lifeless, but defiantly determined. Ghist had explained all and he could resist the rush again, the feel of that inner warmth once more. Even if it meant this…
Strand by strand it fell and as it spread it seemed to lighten Merlin's burden. Each silky black strand that fell seemed to help him forget his old life and with a scruff or raven hair, a cloak, his bow and knives. The game was on.
HAaFF
Arthur rode quickly in to the forest, he shuddered under its shadows, cowered in its memories, but still at least it was in the right direction. Like crippled hags the trees bent double covering the ground in shadows and a damp murkiness. He had travelled further in than he could have remembered before. The trees thickened, unbelievably, until it was almost blocking all traces of light. Arthur thought of Mirkwood, how had it been such a thick forest, yet have so much light? His thoughts were interrupted by the familiar thud of orcs passing, but luckily plenty far away.
HAaFF
Merlin had sworn he'd heard the light footfalls of a single horse. His time with Ghist had taught him much, tracking, fighting, Speech and each had helped or hindered him. Tracking was defiantly a help, he halted the twenty odd orcs following his lead and turned to Ghist.
"I hear a traveller, not far North, travelling South, do we intervene?" Merlin looked with keen eyes in to the forest and Ghist gave him a sharp nod muttering, "I'll just check, keep the orcs on their feet instruct them we will be moving again shortly." He gave a sharp nod and drawing his eyes from the forest watched Ghist trample his way in, broad sword handy and dagger strapped to his belt.
HAaFF
"Who is there? I am armed and skilled in arms." Arthur voice was surprisingly strong.
"As am I. In the arms of Isenguard." The voice didn't seen to come from anywhere.
"Reveal yourself and fight scum of Isenguard."
"As you wish." Ghist dropped down from a nearby tree. It had seemed his time with Merlin had taught him something, his balance had improved and in doing so had helped his in hand skills also.
"You're a man.." Arthur stuttered.
"As are you." Ghist said shortly drawing his sword.
"If you were an orc you'd be dead by now…" His voice wavered, Ghist saw his chance.
"Yes, I would be, thick skulls those beasts. Now please take me captive." Ghist commented plainly.
"What?"
"You heard me, I am bound to Isenguard, the only way I am to be freed is if I am killed or held from that place." Ghist gave a dramatic shiver and lowered his sword.
"Are there other prisoners?" Arthur approached the man re-sheathing his sword.
"No, I don't think so." Ghist fell to his knees in fake relief.
"Ok, I may not return with you for I plan to enter Isenguard myself… Wait where did you come from?" Arthur asked defensively.
"I was taken out by the orc, made to patrol. They would have killed my sir, you must understand."
"I do, I understand those creatures harsh ways, an I still wish to enter Isenguard, for a business of my own, but I may follow these orcs out of this forest it is still in Camelot's lands." Arthur silently turned to Ghist offering him a hand up, "I see you a good man, take my horse and ride for Camelot, say you've been rescued by the Prince Arthur."
Ghist's eyes grew wide, "Yes your majesty and thank you." Ghist vaulted on to the horse and a wave of guilt flooded over him. Merlin was part of Isenguard now, he was made to be an assassin and I will leave him to that fate, maybe it is my fate to leave here, start a life of my own. He ensured himself thanking Arthur once more and riding away, not even with a second thought of Merlin.
Arthur watched him go then quickly made his way South to find the orc pack the man had told him of. It wasn't long before he heard the inaudible grunting and snarling of the orcs. A plan blossomed in his mind, he quickly received his rope and tied it to many branches around the clearing the orcs had settled, a man growled at them in Black Speech demanding they stood and many did.
When the ropes were set Arthur began to tug gently at first until he heard the warnings from the man in charge, "We are surrounded, take arms, if they want to fight, we will, if not then we move on we need full force for our true mission." His voice was rough and harsh like he'd been starved of oxygen or water.
Arthur put on his 'king' voice, deeper than normal, a voice only his reflection had heard, "We have you surrounded, you may move on, but we have the man who was with you."
Merlin looked all around, but cursed himself when he couldn't locate the voice, the steep edges of the clearing made it near impossible, then it hit him 'man', he meant Ghist, he spoke up, "Where is he, the man." He demanded.
"He is dead!" The voice called and Merlin heart sank, he stood gape mouthed for a few seconds, he wanted to grieve, but somehow couldn't, I have no weakness' I am a warrior.
"We will move on, but know this, the threat of Isenguard does not retreat, he march on and you will be sorry for letting us go." Merlin then turned to the orcs addressing them in Black Speech, "Up. We can make Mirkwood in hours and will attack by night, up and move!"
Merlin cursed his cowardice and led the orcs out over the dispersing woodland and then as they topped a hill a new woodland came in to view and as the sun began to set Merlin smiled to himself,
Mirkwood. I do this for you Arthur, I betray my kind. I will kill the Prince of this realm, the elves here are mere fighters, in the hands of Isenguard we become warriors. He will be dead before sunrise…
End of Chapter
DUM DUM DUUUUUH!
Im hoping you understand okay, you see what's gonna happen well I love a bit of unpredictability so don't be too sure!
Till then!
