I Own Nothing of the Merlin TV Series or anything that has that copyright thing...But The Arthurian Legands belong to the world. Long Live The Once and Future King...ARTORIOUS!

Chapter Eleven- Spirits of the Ancients

Morgana still kept to her chambers for most of that day. She seemed tired but people knew better. When Sarah entered her mother and father's room she would see her seated by a mirror and sob. She would hear her father's name in those tears- wishing, longing for his very presence. It was times like these that Sarah felt hate towards her father. Merlin- The Great Emrys; Arch Mage and King of Magic. When she were told magnificant stories by her mother of the great Merlin, her father, she was in awe. How she longed to meet her father and she wasn't alone. Angwyn who idolised their dad knew him only through stories. At least Sarah still had her images playing in her head; Images of Merlin, his face, his soft kiss on her forehead. How could someone so great leave them? Then of course the answer was there in the tales. Merlin was selfless, her father would give up his happiness for the greater good.

The nine- now ten year-old gil watched from the distance as Morgana, the woman that raised her cried herself to sleep. Crying, "Oh Merlin, oh Merlin, where are you my love," over and over again until...silence.

As she walked through the corridors, she looked over the balcony and saw his brother Angwyn in the town square with a wooden sword and some practice dumbies. He was sweaty and looked flushed but e showed little to suggest he would retire anytime soon. So she left him to his business and closed the doors to their chambers. Standing by an open window she meditated. Cleared her mind of thoughts that weighed her magic down like she did every night. Bryan was watching his mother Queen Gwen with some left over work, you know, Royal stuff. All that was left was Aithusa the now King of Dragons.

-==M==-

"It has been a long time Merlin," said Freya who appeared full body from a pool of water. Merlin just nodded, not really knowing what else to say. Freya smiled at him, "I have seen your family Merlin and I congradulate you. A beautiful wife and daughter,"

"Sarah; my eldest daughter. She is eight or nine now I think."

The fabled Lady of the Lake continued her radient smile. "And a very handsom son as well."

That was news for him. A son? He laughed lightly at the news. "Do you know what his name is?"

Freya nodded in confirmation. "But I shall tell you some other time, maybe afterwards. But first tell me what is troubling you?" Her tone became serious but gentle still.

Merlin sighed heavily, like in defeat. "I have learnt of a terrible truth about my...self...my identity." Freya simply nodded and he continued, "I feel...lost. I seem to be affraid...of myself."

"You maybe the son of the Devil Lucifer," She said it...that name. Lucifer. "But this does not change who you are."

Merlin did not accept her words so lightly, "But I have always been destined to bring an end to this world. The exact opposite of what I have been doing my whole life."

"You were never destined for anything Merlin," There came a voice, a shadowy voice from the darkness. Merlin looked into the shadows and there appeared a man in a white tunic and a head that seemed to be that of a hawk. "Your destiny shifts and changes with you. Everytime a new idea is planted, a new path lay way."

Merlin straightened p his back in full attention. "Who are you?" the first question to pop into his head. The first question to alay pop into anyone's curious head.

The figure's grin grew wider, "Always the curious man you are Merlin. Useful, but dangerous. I am what they call Jinn. We are spirits that live in between Heaven and Earth. We are like humans but cannot die, we are like you in ways that we are flawed. I understand that you may know us as gods. But alas this ancient word 'gods' is used to refer to what the People of the Booj know as Angels. There are many of us, living in kingdoms like yourself, fighting sometimes among ourselves like you do but often against you humans too. My name is basically Horus."

Merlin looked at this 'Jinn' with suspicion, natural feeling that he ought to keep an eye or two on him. "What is it you want?"

"I have asked this spirit of warriors and kings to help you Merlin," It was Freya who answered him.

Horus bobbed his head once, "I can see you are troubled for what the king to my kind has done," Merlin's mouth flew open. "pouring his seed into you in hopes of the fall of man. But I can tell you this..." Merlin was now rather eager to hear him out. The Jinn were ruled by Lucifer, so he must know something. But then again it could be a trap. How could he be trusted? "I have come to tell you that you are not the Antichrist God had foretold but the Antichrist Lucifer had promised. However...One thing Merlin, that Lucifer overlooked was your heart...your character."

Merlin came closer to him.

"You have your mother's heart. You mother's heart, your father's courage and Lucifer's abilities." He moved in and touched Merlin's chest where his heart was and a ball of light appeared on his chest. "This is who you are. You are not a son, but Merlin...The greatest wizard the world has ever seen. The Protector of Albion and all that is good. Husband to Morgana, Father to Sarah and Angwyn." At hearing the names of his family and his son's new found name, he started crying. His heart beacem lightened.

"You are a good person Merlin," Freya added, her voice returning to a more dreamy tone of voice. "The greatest man I have ever known."

"You were never destined yet you did all that," He motioned to the mouth of the cave where he saw the mountains. "You had undone what Lucifer intended you to, the moment you were born. But now you must finish this."

Merlin understood and nodded, "How?"

"You will bring down the tower that threatens to cause an early apocalypse."

Merlin furrowed, "But Cardinal Strauss said-"

Horus shook his head feverously, "This holy man has indeed been posessed by non other than Lucifer himself. Entering when he was meditating in a church. Emptying your mind completely leaves it open to attack."

The warlock knew this all too well- he had taught his wife that and suggested she teach Sarah. "What must I do then?"

Horus told him to follow him deeper into the cave. Hesitating a bit and with Freya's silent nudge Merlin followed the spirit into darkness. He could feel his breathing quicken with every step. The tunnel was long and it was about ten minutes untill Merlin saw a glowing green light. Like emerald.

The crystal wall before him was just made up of smaller crystals, blowing bright emerald green and when Merlin took a closer look he saw a sword. A beautiful looking sword with shining steel blade of about half a meter long glistned in the radient green. The cross-gueard between the blade and the hilt was shorter than Ezkalibor's and was straight. It's pommel on the bottom of the hilt had a destinctive emblam of an equalateral triangle with a single eye in it. "That smbol is the basic symbol of God, hence it is used frequantly by every one and thing." Came Horus' explanation.

"What must I do with it?"

Horus placed a hand on his shoulder. "You must place your hand into the crystal and be tested for if you are unholy as you claim then it shall not allow you to take the sword."

Merlin just gave him a stiff nod and approached the green wall. At first he grazed his right hand on the surface of the crystal gently then he pushed in and to his surprise the crystals parted for him as his hand drew deeper. The sound of clinging as the green crystals obediently evaided the hand of Merlin Emrys.

Behind him, Horus smiled brightly and Merlin's hand finally touched the sword's handle. Slowly as if the sword was glass he drew it out. The crystals closed up again as his mysterious prize was completely clear of its former resting place. "Eilazaid." Merlin whispered.

"You hold your oath to God, to the Old religion. Of his gods or angels to watch over you as you complete your life. He gives you Eilazaid. His oath."

"Through Brightened light. Through Darkened shadows. Let His sword be heard, Let His word be final," Merlin knelt down on his sword, "With His oath I take as my ally in hopes that the demons give my their names."

Horus walked over to him. "Rise young Paladin, Keeper of the light. I give you my army. Protect the helpless. Whether they be good or bad, Deservant or not...that is your oath."

Merlin nodded and went up on his feet. "I swear it."

-==M==-

Merlin, dressed in white robes that reached his ankles, over them he wore only a silver pauldron on his right shoulder. Eilazaid by his side. His white unicorn was also in armour that covered a small part of his body keeping him agile and fast.

Merlin wore only a simple white helmet that resembled an ancient Greek style one but with a wider opening. The mohawk on the top was short and made completely out of metal.

Behind him was a wall of smokeless fire and light that followed him as he made haste for Vortygen's tower.

-===MERLIN===-

Author's Note: Hi folks. For this one I felt that Merlin needed his own Excalibur. I know he did wield Excalibur for a brief amount of time but I felt that after giving it to Arthur Merlin needed to have a sword like that seeing as he had not had a lot of experience or training he needed the extra help. One could almost consider Eilazaid to be a brother of Ezkalibor(Excalibur). The battle is coming soon. COmments please. They help. but give me something to work on yes? Bene. Molto grazie.