Thanks for the support! Here's the update!
hateme101: Sorry to disappoint, things went a little bit differently. Even though they didn't go to the camp, I hope you like the update!
lilnightmare17: I'm trying my best! Ahhh school is taking up so much of my time!
Female Whovian: Thank you so much!
Two Weeks Later
Kali hummed as she braided white flowers into Madelena's dark hair in the candle light. Her brother, Abram, stabbed the air with Kali's knife. Occasionally she would stop him and tell him to fix his form, but he was having too much fun fighting off imaginary bandits to care. The small girl watched her brother fight off the invisible enemies with wide eyes.
"Kali?"
"Yes?"
"Are Abram and I ever going to learn how to fight like you and momma?" Madelena asked timidly.
Kali thanked whatever god that was looking out for her that Nizana wasn't around to hear her daughter say that. If she was, Nizana surely would've had a heart attack. "You'll learn when your momma says that it's okay." Kali answered carefully, knowing that whatever she said would eventually get back to their mama-bear of a mother.
Abram plopped down onto a rock next to his sister. "But she always says she will teach us, but never does!" He whined. "I want to learn how to throw knives already!"
Kali placed the last flower in Madelena's dark locks. "You will, you're still young." She responded.
Abram and Madelena groaned. "That's what momma says too!" Madelena cried out.
A smile climbed its way on the sorceress's face. "What your mother says is law." Kali told them. "And if you think that I will dare risk feeling her wrath because I taught you how to throw knives, then you're dead wrong."
"Kali." She turned at the voice. Brandi stood there with an almost worried expression on her face. The sorceress felt herself blood freeze.
"What's wrong, Brandi?" Kali asked cautiously.
The tall woman took a step forward so that they could talk at a comfortable distance. Abram jumped on her back, but Brandi barely noticed. She was a giant compared to them, even compared to Kali!
"Christiane's starting the charm ceremony now." Madelena and Abram gasped with pleasant surprise.
Kali frowned. "But that wasn't supposed to be until after midnight."
Brandi nodded. "I know. Christiane wanted there to be enough time to talk about something. She's calling a meeting after these two rascals get their second charms."
Madelena squealed with delight. "We're getting another charm! Which one? Tell us, tell us, tell us!"
Brandi picked up the girl to hold her at her level. Madelena was several feet above the ground with her legs dangling helplessly. A smile was plastered to the young girl's face. "It's a surprise, young one. Now, go clean yourselves up. Nizana is waiting for you by the fire."
0o0o0o0o0o0
Margie had set up everything necessary for the ceremony immediately when Christiane told her about the change of plans. Sarah made sure that Morgause wouldn't be anywhere near the ceremony, since it was one of the best kept secrets of the Solargarde and Morgause's curiosity was insatiable. Nizana dressed the children in their best clothes while everyone else waited patiently for the beginning of the ceremony.
Christiane raised a blade in the air. It was an ancient blade that was said to be smelted with the blood of the first member of the Solargarde. Kali wondered if it was Ratka's blood used for the blade, or rather Suelargardiana. "Quia lex vetus, sicut hic antiquum colligitur nostrae principiis. Humilis Solargard hoc faciat per saecula multa. Confirmat nobis. Is dat nobis virtutem. Dicimus in his, qui ante nos et virtutes erunt in duobus filiis dare beneficium delectat.*" (A/N: It's in Latin and translation is at the bottom.) Christiane stuck the blade into the roaring fire.
"Largietur. Exaudi nos.**" The Solargarde chanted in unison.
Madelena and Abram walked up to Christiane. She removed the knife from the fire. Madelena noticeably gulped back her nervousness. It always hurt to receive a new charm. Abram took his sisters hand to support her.
"Madelena born to the Solargarde, daughter of Nizana of Styrk and Harold of Camelot, do you vow to be loyal to the Solargarde and to not use any of your powers against it."
The young girl nodded. "I do."
Christiane gentle took hold of Madelena's arm. She made a small cut on the girl's arm with the knife. Madelena bit her lip to keep herself from crying out. The leader of the Solargarde reached into her bag and pulled out the wooden charm for bravery. She placed it over the cut. "Æt se mægden." Christiane's eyes flashed gold. The charm was now a part of Madelena. The young sorceress sighed in relief at it being over.
Christiane turned to Abram. The boy was doing his best to stay strong for his sister. His face was emotionless and his arm was already thrust out and ready for the charm.
"Abram born to the Solargarde, son of Nizana of Styrk and Harold of Camelot, do you vow to be loyal to the Solargarde and to not use any of your powers against it."
"I do." He swore to the oath.
Christiane did the same thing she did to Madelena to Abram. She whispered the spell and the charm became one with the boy. Abram sighed in relief, but hid it with a stoic expression.
"Largietur. Exaudi nos!" Everyone chanted at once, effectively ending the short ceremony. Years ago when there were dozens of members, the ceremonies took hours. But now it only took a matter of minutes.
The sorceress held the blade high in the air. "It is done! The Solargarde has become stronger, and may we forever continue to grow!" Christiane placed the blade on a nearby stone that was part of the ruins. "Livia, will you please fetch the High Priestess."
"Of course." Livia murmured. She disappeared into the ruins to find Morgause, wherever she was. Madelena and Abram rushed into Nizana's open arms. She whispered how proud she was of them which made the childrens' smiles grow from ear to ear.
Eva leaned towards Kali. Her wide grey eyes glittered in the fire light. "What do you think this is about? It must be important for Christiane to push forward the charm ceremony."
She shook her head. "I have no idea." Kali bit her lip worriedly.
Several minutes later, Livia and Morgause appeared. There was a slight smirk on Morgause's lips. Kali's worry doubled. The High Priestess said several things quietly to Christiane who silently agreed. Together they walked to the front of the group.
"The Solargarde is under attack." Morgause told them.
The women fell silent. "By... by who?" Oriold asked after several moments of shock.
"By none other than Camelot." She replied. Morgause's eyes narrowed at the name of Camelot.
Kali frowned deeply. "No we're not." The woman countered. Everyone's eyes snapped to her. Kali continued as if she couldn't feel their eyes on her skin. "They hadn't sent anyone after us, that we know of. The issue with Camelot has already been taken care of."
Morgause stepped forward. "And how do you know that Uther feels the same way? He will hunt each of you down."
"But—"
"I have a solution!" Morgause interrupted with a harsh yell. "There is only one obvious way to keep the men of Camelot from ever hurting you or any magic-user ever again." She revealed to the Solargarde the tiara which she had carefully wrapped in red silk. "This tiara can only be worn by the decedents of the First Queen, the one who started the Bloody Conquering. Several years ago I found an old copy of the original spell to create the enchantment that kept the average person from wearing the tiara. I didn't know what it meant, until now."
Christiane nodded. "Morgause and I have worked for many hours, but we managed to write a disenchantment spell. With all of your help, we will lift that enchantment. Our power combined is strong enough to release it." She explained to them.
"So, you're saying that anyone will be able to wear the tiara and use its power?" Questioned Margie.
"Yes."
Kali's eyes traveled to Morgause. She was much too pleased with this. Kali's stomach flipped. "Why do we need to do this? I'm sure there are several of the queen's descendants here." She blurted to the Solargarde.
Livia narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Not everyone is the great-something granddaughter of the First Queen. You're the only one." She said bitterly.
"But what if the wrong person gets their hand on it?" Kali struggled to have her family see it her way. It wasn't safe to release the enchantment. Without it, it would be too easy for a bad sorcerer to use the power to destroy everything in their way.
Morgause shook her head. "That won't be possible. It will be used only by Christiane, or those she deems worthy to use its power. You do trust Christiane to keep it safe, right?" She raised an expecting eyebrow.
Kali looked towards Christiane. "Don't worry, Kali. It will be safe and only used by the right people. I promise you that."
The sorceress backed down. Her nerves were greatly calmed by Christiane. She was absolutely sure that Christiane would not let the wrong person use it. She would keep it safe. If she was going to be the one in charge of the tiara, then Kali was fine with the enchantment being lifted. In fact, Kali now felt slightly relieved that its power could be used where it was needed.
"We will have a vote." Boomed Christiane. "All those in favor with this plan." Everyone raised their hands. A smile rose on the leader's face. This was an uncommon event to have everyone agree. "It's unanimous then. When shall we start the spell?"
"Tomorrow." Morgause told her without hesitation. "It will be a long process which could take hours. We will need our rest."
"Very well. You are all dismissed."
Kali walked back to a makeshift tent that she made out of several blankets, two trees, and rope. She preferred sleeping outside than sleeping in the crumbling ruins. Maybe she was just paranoid, but every time she closed her eyes, she pictured the entire building falling on top of her. While it was warmer inside the ruins, Kali slept much better in her own special tent.
"Kali." An unfamiliar voice echoed around her. Out of instinct, Kali pulled a knife out of her belt and whipped around to face a woman she had never seen before in her entire life. The woman's golden hair fell to her waist. Despite its length, it wasn't tangled or frayed. Her almost black eyes dug into Kali's soul, or at least it felt like it. She wore a long yellow dress with a lace bodice.
She prepared herself to throw the knife at the woman's neck at a moments notice. "Leave." Kali commanded. The sorceress tensed when the woman took a confident step forward. "Leave now or you will regret it." She threatened.
"Now is not the time for threats, Kali. We must speak. I don't know how much longer I can keep myself together." She said. Her voice sounded far off and muffled.
Kali didn't waste another moment. Her eyes flashed gold and the knife flew towards the woman's neck. It should've hit her. Kali never missed her mark, and actually she didn't. The knife went straight through and impaled itself in a fallen log behind the woman.
"You aren't going to stop fighting, are you?" She crossed her arms and sighed. "My name is Brielle, but you know me better as Ratka, I suppose." She spoke clearly. Her social status was apparent with the clearness and fluency of her voice.
"Ratka? But, you're dead? You can't be her!" Kali cried out. She reached for a second knife, but didn't make any sudden movements that she might regret.
Suddenly Brielle was standing right in front of her. "Creatures of magic never truly die. We simply become one with the earth. And, technically, I'm not Ratka. I'm Brielle." She explained, only confusing Kali further. Brielle sighed again like this was a great chore. "Each time Suelargardiana died, she copied her soul into another body, but she always left fragments of herself behind. There are hundreds little versions of us bouncing around the earth." Brielle squinted her eyes with pain. "It takes an enormous amount of energy, but I managed to combine enough of those pieces to be speak with you. I must warn you of Morgause's intentions."
"I already know her intentions." Kali stated calmly while her heart hammered in her chest. She didn't like Brielle. Why wasn't it Ratka the version of Suelargardiana that gathered the energy to appear before her?
"Oh, do you now? And what are those intentions?" Brielle asked like a parent humoring a child.
"She intends to release the enchantment on the tiara so that she can use it to increase her power. But Christiane won't let that happen."
Brielle chuckled darkly. "You all are so young and naive without me leading the way. How I wished that I was still as innocent as you are. Morgause doesn't intend to release the enchantment, she intends to absorbs its power for her own."
Kali froze. Her mouth opened in shock. "The Solargarde..." She muttered.
Brielle nodded. "With the Solargarde's help, she will easily destroy the tiara and absorb the magic. The tiara is merely a fragile vessel for the magic inside of it. With the right spell and amount of power applied, she can take that magic and add it to her own. You have to stop her."
The sorceress's brown eyes grew wide. She was scared. Scared like the night she, Nizana, and Sarah were arrested and terrified like the day that her family was almost hanged in the middle of the square.
"I'll talk to them and make—"
"No!" Brielle burst out. She almost looked as scared as Kali felt. "They won't listen and things will still go as planned. Kali, you have to steal the tiara and hide it. If you don't, Morgause will bring as much pain and misery as my mother did. She will tarnish the Solargarde name and kill hundreds of people. That cannot happen."
She felt like crying. Brielle's words made sense. Her family wouldn't listen to her. They would push her off the same way they did that night. Kali loved them, but they were all so stubborn. "They'll never forgive me." Kali croaked out miserably. "I'll never be able to come back."
Brielle placed her hands on her face. "You must do this. You have to protect them from themselves. Maybe in time they will realize the truth." She finished hopefully, but it sounded false. Brielle knew that the Solargarde would never let her back as much as Kali did. Suddenly, Brielle's form flickered. Her face twitched. "Go!" She told her hastitally. "Take the tiara to Kilgharrah. He will know where to hide it."
"How do I find him?"
"Merlin will know. Find him and he will show you Kilgharrah." Her form flickered again. "Go!" Kali pivoted in place and ran. Time was limited.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Merlin massaged his neck. He tossed and turned all night. His dreams were filled with flashes of Kali crying, someone chanting over a fire, Kilgharrah, and a tiara that gave him a nasty feeling. The dreams were all a haze to him, but they were bad enough to have him wake up in a cold sweat. It didn't help that Arthur had him muck out the stables the first thing in the morning. Personally, horse dung was not what he wanted to smell right after he woke up from a nightmare.
Suddenly he felt like he was standing naked in a room. His eyes grew wide and he had to double check that he was indeed clothed. The feeling was like something he read in one of Gaius's books, but the warlock wasn't sure exactly where he saw it. Merlin simply shrugged and went back to work.
The stable door swung open. His head snapped up, which sent other jolt of pain through his neck. To his surprise, it was Kali. She was a mess. Twigs stuck out from her hair, her cloak was torn in a number of places, and her eyes were red. It was a wonder that she got through the streets of Camelot without being stopped by someone.
He flinched when she ran up to him. Kali gripped his shirt desperately.
"You have to help me, Merlin!"
Translations
(Note: I just stuck these into google translate, so it might be a little off)
*We gather here for an ancient ritual old as our beginnings. The humble Solargard has performed this many times over the centuries. It strengthens us. It gives us power. We call on the powers of those who came before us and those who will come to bestow the blessing of the charms on these two children.
** Bestow it. Hear us.