Beginning of Nightmares

Prompt 100: Chaos

Me faltas, me faltas, puedo mentir que ya estoy bien ,pero me faltas. Ahora que entiendo lo que tuve…

Me Faltas, Andrea Bocelli

At some point in the run they were forced to fetch torches, and while they did very little to light their way they seemed to be of comfort; at least he could tell exactly where Veronica was, always to his right and following. The thought alone warmed him, but then the bitterness of the betrayal his former brother… No, it was useless to think such things. Right now all that mattered was reaching the Keep before Horvath.

Balthazar was done reproaching, he was done with wondering where he'd gone wrong with Horvath or if there had been a moment where a small sliver of hope… But it was done. Horvath had betrayed them, he was in league with Morgana and if what he'd remembered from that faithful night was true…

Away with dangerous spells of death…

They were forced to stop at town to change their tired horses, Veronica took the opportunity to send message to Camelot requesting for help, and as the fresh horses were readied, Balthazar broke his silence. "What's the name of that spell, the one Morgana's been after for so long?"

"She's been after any old Encantus, reason why we must shrink it…"

"No; there's a spell; master enchanted the new books so it would not show up. It's in your and mine, and I'm pretty sure in Horvath's Encantus as well. The one about resurrection."

"The Rising?"

"If Morgana gets hold of it it's over for mankind."

Again they were galloping through the dirty road both in silence as the information sank. So one of the ones that had so long protected mankind was it's newest enemy, how ironic.

"Balthazar!" Cried Veronica, as their horses made way through the end of the road and into the Keep's wall. They halted and looked around, Veronica pushed her hood off mouth opening in surprise.

"Find master!" Cried Balthazar practically jumping off his horse and unsheathing his sword. Veronica followed, searching for survivors. The scorch marks all over the walls were large, as if a great dragon had been trying to cook dinner while the soldiers fought it. Balthazar had vanished, in the general direction of the master's study, while Veronica took the opposite direction. There were bodies everywhere, she recognized several of the officers of the garrison, one of the stable boys and as she moved deeper…

"Oh, no." She whispered to herself, dropping her sword and moving fast to the burned bodies. Some where familiar, others too burned to identify, Veronica continued to study the injuries and realized that Horvath could not have done this. There were too many innocents here, and even if he'd been secretly studying the arts with Morgana… He still had loved ones in this place. A gasp tore from Veronica, as she set eyes on the next couple of corpses, realizing who they had been. "Oh Greta, not you." Her body was dropped under the many stairs that lead to Veronica's chamber, as if to protect her lady, even when Veronica herself wasn't there. Veronica hurried to the body, sobbing softly and realized that behind the burned body where the smaller younger ones of the other maids. Greta had died while protecting her children, as a mother hen. Greta the great mother of the Keep… Tears slid down Veronica's cheeks, unnoticed, as she took off her cloak and covered the body, saying a short prayer for her loving Greta. Greta had been there from day one, probably her life had also been extended by Merlin, to watch over them, and she'd met her death protecting.

The sound of a blast was heard, and Veronica had to steel her heart, her master needed her.

Veronica followed the sound and entered her master's study. Horvath was escaping through a broken down wall, and she was about to shout when the sound of a body falling to the ground made her turn; there was Morgana hands lifted while Balthazar laid on the ground, staring up at the woman…

The powerful thrust spell that stopped his death sentence made Balthazar turn.

At the end of the hallway he could see Veronica, her hands moving in a dragging motion, as if invisible silk was slowly sliding between her fingers and into her hands. She seemed to struggle, while to his surprise, Morgana began to groan and battle whatever Veronica was doing. Within minutes, yet it seemed hours, Morgana's soul lifted from the body, forcefully. It flew towards Veronica and in a flash of light merged with her.

Gasping, Balthazar struggled with the pain in his arm, where Morgana's plasma bolt had hit him, and hurried towards his beloved.

"Veronica, what have you done, beloved?"

"Hurry…" She strained out, tears in her large brown pools. "Kill me… While I'm in control… Kill me!"

"No!" She breathed deeply, mouth open as if in pain; Balthazar could see from inside her neck, the power Morgana held was trying to kill his beloved.

"Please, let me… save you…"

"I won't kill you…"

Her hands shot up, holding her neck, her eyes closed and Balthazar shared her pain. Without thinking Balthazar reached into his pocket, maybe he had something to exorcise the demon and save Veronica… The Grimhold was the only thing he could find. He murmured the spell Merlin forced him to learn the night before, thing he had only mastered this morning, and with much difficulty felt the doll open. Veronica's head lowered, her eyes had taken a silver lining and were staring murderously at him…

The Grimhold absorbed the woman into it's cold dark depths, and Balthazar stared down at it's surface for a moment. Within seconds Veronica's torso drew itself in the surface staring at him, her face was pale yet calm.

What had he done? He wondered to himself, while caressing the cool surface.

"Balthazar…" Called the soft voice of his master, making Balthazar turn. A few feet away, dropped close to the stairs was Merlin. A pool of blood was visible drenching his robes and covering the stone beneath the still living sorcerer. "Balthazar." He called again, this time weaker, making Balthazar crawl towards him.

The word had turned into chaotic confusion, first betrayed, now alone… And as he looked over at his master… Now utterly lost. "Master?"

"Listen, boy, you must promise me… Promise me you'll never waiver."

"What?" The old man moved his hands and took off his dragon ring, Balthazar frowned as the man extended his hand and offered it to Balthazar. "Master why…?"

"Take my dragon ring, it will lead you to the child that will become our only hope."

"But…"

"You must find the child who will become the Prime Merlinian."

"Prime Merlinian?" Logic dictated that if there had been a Prime Morganian, in the flesh of Medraut, there must also be a Prime Merlinian. Balthazar had thought about it, but had never voiced the idea. For once it was good to be right.

"You must find this child, groom him or her to be a proper sorcerer; the Prime Merlinian is the only one capable of defeating Morgana." Balthazar watched his master talk, dead serious, understanding his new mission and accepting it quietly. "I wrote it all down, in the book I gave you."

"And where is this child?"

"You must go out to the world and search, apprentice, go out there and travel far and wide. The ring will guide you to the child." Merlin coughed and groaned in pain and Balthazar tried to help the old man with a simple healing spell, but Merlin wouldn't have it. "The faith of our world hangs on your shoulders, Balthazar. Find the child, never waiver, for the future Balthazar, for the future."

Balthazar swallowed hard, as Merlin took one last breath and quietly left this world.