Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. BBC does.
The four of them remained in silence for a moment before Will spluttered something and darted off, a look of pure fear on his face. Merlin quickly moved to follow him but was held back by Gaius.
"Gaius!" He stared up at the man who kept a hand on his shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"Not letting you run around the castle without a shirt on," the old man replied calmly.
"But Will-" he gestured to the door, looking to Arthur who was staring at him, blankly. "Arthur!" He snapped out of it, blinking at Merlin before glancing at the door, apparently only just noticing that the servant was no longer there. "Go!"
Arthur shot up, bolting out of the door after Will. Merlin let out a sigh as Gaius wiped his hands off, putting a cover over the paste he had covered the bruise with. Merlin put on his shirt and ran out after the two. Even though it had been mere seconds before Arthur had run after him, Merlin knew that Will could be anywhere by now.
He ran towards the main entrance to the castle and down out into the courtyard, knowing that no matter what way Will had gone, to leave the castle by the most direct route, he would have to come this way. He let out a huff of frustration, heading back up the steps quickly, taking the main stairs upwards. He, like Will, knew all of the passages in the castle, having used them to escape tutors and the like when he was a child. But also, like Will, he knew that there were over a dozen he could have taken. It would most likely be one of the lesser travelled ones that he had taken, knowing that he preferred to use those. Though they may be longer in distance, he actually got to where he needed to faster due to the fact that there was no one else using them.
He ducked down into one of the passages, knowing that it led through to the staircase to the nobles' wing and out by Morgana's chambers, close to the one he had used to smuggle the druid boy up past the guards.
He followed them round for a good ten minutes finally spotting Will as he ducked down another corridor. He immediately started running again, rushing to catch up to the servant.
"Will!" He shouted as he rounded the corner, seeing him. Will began to run again and Merlin pushed himself to catch up. "Will, stop!"
Will manoeuvred onto one of the main corridors, where there were more people around. He dodged the servants as he ran but Merlin had the good fortune that they recognised him and moved out of the way. He followed him down some steps, leading into the hallway outside the main council chambers where Merlin knew Uther would be right at this moment in time. He stopped behind Will as he saw that Arthur was blocking the servant's exit.
"Will, please." He turned to face him, panting and clearly afraid of the man in front of him. "Look, I know what you heard and I want to explain but . . ." he glanced back towards the main door, noting the guards standing in front of it, "not here."
"Why?" Will choked out and Merlin sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Why should I?"
"Because it's not what you think." Merlin answered and Arthur walked up behind Will placing a hand on his shoulder. Still in his chainmail, Arthur looked very intimidating to the servant in front of him.
Merlin walked up to him, a pleading look on his face. He knew that the king was only a few feet away and if Will were to say anything, it would only get him killed. Uther would see it as an insult to himself to see his ward accused of magic and Merlin couldn't bear to see Will harmed for him.
Arthur tightened the grip on Will's shoulder and the three of them walked back up to Merlin's chambers. They made sure that there was no one in the corridor outside and Merlin closed the door. He gestured for Will to sit down before he and Arthur took their own seats.
"Look, Will," he sighed, not knowing where to start. He had never had to explain his magic before. Arthur had found out when they were so young, he had just accepted it even though his father had done nothing but spout hate for the practice his whole life. And Gaius, well, he had used magic before the Purge, only allowed to live because of his relationship with Uther and swearing never to use it again. Both Arthur and Merlin knew that he had gone back on that promise at least once since the poison that Merlin had been given at the feast with Bayard had been magical in creation and needed a magical antidote. "What you heard . . . it's true." He met Will's gaze. "I have magic." His voice was nothing more than a whisper as he spoke but that he had uttered the words at all was huge, at least to Arthur.
Will looked between Arthur and Merlin, clearly trying to figure out why the prince wasn't arresting Merlin for having magic before realising, he had heard the words spoken from the prince himself back in Gaius's chambers.
"Yes, I know." Arthur nodded and Merlin let out a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees. "I've known for a long time." He threw Merlin a smirk and the warlock rolled his eyes. "I found out not long after he arrived in Camelot."
"But that was thirteen years ago!" Will looked between the two nobles, both of them nodding.
"I was having a nightmare, he came to investigate, I woke up and my magic was doing its own thing." Merlin summarised and Arthur nodded, not elaborating any further. There wasn't the need. "Look, I know . . . that . . . with everything that you've seen with magic and all you've heard about it being evil . . . I . . ."
"I won't tell." Both Merlin and Arthur looked over to Will, alarmed at his words. "I won't." He nodded his head, looking between the two of them. "I've served you for a long time, Merlin. If you were evil, I would know it. Or at least, I think I would, I mean . . ." He broke off and Merlin gave him a grateful smile. "You're not evil. I know that. And I don't care that you have magic. It explains a lot, to be honest," the three of them couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "I trust you, but . . ."
"But, what?" Merlin pushed, levelling a look at his servant.
"You didn't trust me." Merlin sat back as Will's words hit home. "You didn't trust me enough to tell me."
"So wait," Arthur mimicked Merlin's earlier pose as he spoke, "your issue isn't that he has magic, which is the issue most people would have, mind you. It's that he didn't tell you he had magic?"
"I wouldn't have told anyone." Will responded, adamant and Merlin knew in that instant that he would take Merlin's secret to the grave if needs be.
"It's not that, Will." Merlin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that I didn't trust you. I didn't want to put you in that kind of danger." Will raised an eyebrow at him. "Arthur and I, as the prince and king's ward, we have a level of surety. Like earlier, if you had barged into that council meeting and accused me of having magic, then it would be your head on the chopping block, not mine. And I didn't want to risk something happening to you because you know."
Will nodded, accepting Merlin's reasoning, looking between the prince and his master.
"Are we alright?" Merlin asked and Will nodded, giving him a small smile. Merlin knew that it would take some time before he and Will were back to where they were but with time, he hoped that it wouldn't come between them.
There was a knock on the door and the three of them froze, Will shooting up off the chair as Merlin called for them to enter and the door opened.
"My Lords," a guard walked in, bowing to the two of them. "The king wants to see you in the council chambers, right away."
The two of them looked at each other before standing up. Will anticipating his needs, pulled one of his jackets from his wardrobe, slipping it onto his arms. The two of them quickly left the room and Will to do whatever it was he had to do, following the guard towards the council chambers.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
"Would one of you care to explain why I am hearing reports of my son and ward chasing a servant around the castle?" Uther stared at the two of them, displeased at their behaviour.
Of all the things Merlin could have guessed that they had been called down here for, that was not it.
"Um," Merlin glanced at Arthur, who gave him a bemused look back. "He overheard something he wasn't supposed to in Gaius's chambers and thought that he'd get in trouble." Arthur turned to look at him, realising that Merlin had in actual fact, told the king the truth.
"And what was it he overheard?" Uther was staring at Merlin but his ward only stared coolly back.
"It was a . . . medical issue, sire." He gave him a wry smile. "He didn't want the prince to find out he'd heard, thinking that he'd get into trouble for it. Even though it was an accident." He turned to Arthur, a pleasant smile on his face. "Arthur?"
"Uh," oh he was going to kill Merlin for this! He turned back to his father, taking in his cold stare. "It's a bit embarrassing actually, father. I um . . ."
Uther inhaled, sensing that whatever it was he had asked of Gaius, it was probably something a father didn't want to know. After all, he'd been the same with his father.
"Fine," Uther picked up his goblet, regarding the two standing in front of him. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't need to be hearing reports of my charges tearing through the castle after a wayward servant."
"Yes, father."
"Yes, sire."
"You may go." He looked from them down to the paperwork that was in front of him, pointedly ignoring the two young men as they left.
As soon as the doors were closed and they rounded the corner away from the sight of the guards, Merlin broke into a sprint, knowing that Arthur was going to make him pay for what had just happened. He laughed as he ran, hearing Arthur yelling after him.
He didn't stop until he reached his chambers, throwing the door open, startling Will who was polishing his boots, the rag in his hand stopping as the two nobles crashed through the door, the prince clearly not happy.
"What did you have to go and say that for?" He growled at Merlin who just laughed. "Now he thinks I've got some embarrassing malady that I need Gaius's help for!"
"Well, idiocy can be embarrassing but I don't know that Gaius can help you with it," Merlin laughed and Arthur lunged for him, narrowly missing him. Arthur may be the stronger and bigger of the two but Merlin's narrower frame meant that he was quicker, able to dodge the prince easily. "Alright, alright." Merlin laughed, holding his hands up. "I'm sorry."
"You better be," Arthur was clearly not appeased.
"Well, what did you want me to say?" Merlin asked and Will, sensing that this was not a conversation, stood up and closed the door that had remained open while the two had been tussling. "That he overheard that I have magic and ran off. Like that would have gone down well with the King!"
"Alright, fair point." Arthur conceded, sitting down.
"So . . ." the two of them turned to look at Will, "good meeting with the King then?" They couldn't do anything but laugh as they looked at each other again.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Why did Arthur insist on him coming on these hunting trips with him? He knew Merlin hated them. Actually, thinking on it, that was most likely why Arthur insisted. Any excuse to torture Merlin. But there was one thing he didn't understand about this particular trip.
Arthur had brought George along with them.
Yes, he didn't put up a fuss when told to carry the weapons the knights weren't holding but there was no way George was cut out for hunting. He was nervous being out here in the woods, surrounding by knights and strange noises. In the castle, he was a competent servant but get him out in the woods, all that went out the window.
"George, spear." Arthur whispered and George promptly dropped the item Arthur had asked for, getting a branch in his face at the same time.
There was a low rumbling not too far ahead of them and all of them froze, Arthur turning to look at them. Merlin glanced at George to see him standing there, staring in front of them, his face white as a sheet.
"It's probably more scared of you than you are of it." Arthur stated, motioning for the men to split off in different directions to surround and cut it off.
As he was doing so, with a thundering crash an enormous beast with the body of a giant wildcat and the head of a snake flew out of the brush to land in front of them.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Merlin nodded towards the beast and Arthur turned, doing a double take as the beast roared again, bearing its enormous fangs.
They needed no order to run, doing so instinctively to get away from the creature. There was no denying that it was a creature of magic and Merlin felt a shiver run down his spine as he ran. There was no warmth in the magic the creature held, only cold, rushing over him like the feeling of death. They broke through the brush, stopping when they realised that the creature had stopped following them, looking at who was there.
"Have we lost it?" Merlin looked around.
"Who's missing?" Arthur asked, doing the same.
"Where's Sir Bedevere?" Merlin got the answer to his question instantly as a scream poured through the forest, almost as terrifying as the creature itself had been, mingling in with another roar from the creature. They knew that there was nothing they could do, all of them feeling helpless as the knight died.
It was a solemn group that arrived back in Camelot, one missing from their number. Arthur automatically called a meeting with his father, reporting what had happened in the woods. The rest of the council had gathered as they were recounting the events and Gaius looked extremely disturbed, more so than the rest of them.
"The creature you described has all the characteristics of a Questing Beast." His tone was grave and Merlin felt the same shiver he had in the woods. He'd read up on the Questing Beast and didn't like that Gaius felt there was one roaming the woods outside of Camelot.
"Surely that's a myth." Arthur argued, turning to face the physician who regarded him warily.
"According to the old books, the appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval." Merlin looked to Uther, seeing that the king was not impressed with the old man's words.
"Gaius," the king warned, "it's an old wives' tale."
"Whatever it is, it's spreading panic." Arthur drew them away from the argument he could see brewing between the physician and the king over the significance of the Old Religion and its warnings. "The people fear it will enter the city."
"Then we must kill it." He turned to his son. "Arthur, gather the guard together. You ride at dawn."
Merlin and Arthur looked at each other, knowing that Uther's dismissal of the beast was most likely not the best cause of action. Neither of them said anything as they left the chambers, walking side by side back to their own.
Merlin wasn't surprised when Gaius turned up at his chambers, a grave look on his face as he prepared to ride out. He had made Arthur aware that he was going with them, knowing that his magic would most likely be the best weapon against the creature.
"This is no ordinary beast, Merlin." He walked, opening the book he had brought with him. If Gaius had been walking around the castle with one of those books, it must have been serious.
"I know that," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I felt its power, Gaius."
"Then you will understand that Uther may not respect the Old Religion but it's very real." He pointed towards the book in his hand, Merlin turning to see what was in it. "To face a beast such as this, you must understand where it came from." He could see that there was an illustration of the creature they had seen in the woods on the page Gaius was showing him.
"What do you mean?" He sat down and Gaius passed him the book.
"At the very heart of the Old Religion lies the magic of Life and Death itself." Merlin looked up at him as he explained, placing the book on the table in front of him. "The Questing Beast carries that power. One bite, you die and there is no cure."
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The next morning, Arthur and Merlin stood in front of the knights that were to go with them on the hunt for the Questing Beast. Uther had not been happy when he found that Merlin was intending to go with them but after his ward put up the argument that he couldn't just sit here and do nothing when he knew that he could be out there with the others, he had nodded his acceptance of Merlin's decision.
Not that it would have stopped him if he hadn't.
"You've seen the foe we face," Arthur stood in front of his men, looking up and down the rows. "It's a creature of nightmare but you are the best knights in the realm. We can and we will kill it before it harms another citizen of our kingdom," He drew his sword, holding it out in front of him and Merlin and the rest of the knights followed suit. "For the love of Camelot!" They all repeated his words, interrupted when they heard a distraught Morgana behind them, seeing her running down the steps in nothing but her sleep clothes.
"Morgana, what are you doing?" He asked as she ran up to him.
"You cannot face it!" Merlin had never seen or heard her so scared in all the time he'd known her.
He grasped her wrists and she struggled against him, panting, her eyes wide with fear. "Morgana, go back to bed." He insisted and Merlin stepped forward grasping her arms gently. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
She continued to plead with Arthur as Merlin nodded for Will to take her. "She's probably had another bad dream, Arthur. She should be taken to see Gaius."
Merlin couldn't help but feel dread as Will and the guards escorted Morgana back inside. He knew from speaking with Gaius when Sophia had tried to kill Arthur that her dreams could be prophetic. The fact that she'd had one that had obviously terrified her, did not sit well in Merlin's mind.
The fear on Morgana's face was still in his mind as they tracked the beast through the forest, coming across several large footprints they knew had to have come from the creature.
Their attention was caught when they heard questionable grumblings and creakings ahead of them, Merlin and Arthur looking at each other in question.
"Keep close," Arthur ordered softly and the others began to follow him as he crept towards where the sounds were coming from. He motioned for them to follow as they came upon an opening of a cave, creeping down into it.
They split off into different directions, Merlin keeping close to Arthur as the growling echoed around them. Merlin led the two of them, torch out in front, the two of them spinning round as a loud hissing echoed so they couldn't hear where it had originated from.
They heard it again, turning to see the beast emerging from a crevice hidden in shadows. Merlin dropped the torch, drawing his sword as Arthur had done, the both of them lashing out at the beast. It reared up, lashing out, throwing Merlin across the cavern, hitting his head when he landed. He blinked, feeling the blood run down his face as he registered a pain in his arm. He shook his head, just as he heard a yell from Arthur, seeing that he too had been struck, flying across the cavern in the same way Merlin had done, the Questing Beast advancing on the fallen prince.
Spotting his sword where he had dropped it after being struck, he lifted it into the air with his mind. "Fléoge! Bregdan anweald gafeluc!"
The sword blazed with the same blue aura that had surrounded the lance when enchanted against the griffin and using his mind, Merlin flung the sword at the Questing Beast, causing it to let out an incredible shriek as it writhed and tumbled to the floor.
Ignoring the pain in his head and arm, Merlin rushed over to Arthur, kneeling at his side, shaking him. "Arthur!" He shook him again. "No, it didn't bite you! It didn't." He pulled his hand away, seeing it coated with blood as the prince refused to wake up. He looked down at his own arm, seeing the blood coating through his own clothing. "Somebody help me!"
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
They made it back to Camelot faster than Merlin had thought possible. While some of the knights had tended to Arthur, loading him up so he could be transported safely, others had noticed the blood on Merlin's arm and head, insisting they take a look. There was a deep gash down Merlin's arm, which they guessed, considering he was still conscious unlike the prince, was from one of the beast's claws rather than a bite. The cut on his head was superficial from impact but like all head wounds, had bled a lot more than any other would.
Merlin had allowed himself to be bandaged before climbing onto his own horse, while the others argued. They had finally let him be when he pointed out that the longer they argued with him, the longer Arthur went without treatment.
Once back in Camelot, Merlin had practically run into Gaius's chambers, whispering to Will on the way to get his spellbook as he knew it may be the only way to save Arthur. Will nodded, running off to Merlin's chambers, the warlock having shown him where the book was in case he needed it in the future. It seemed that that time was now. He shoved the door to the physician's chambers open unceremoniously shoving everything that was on one of the tables onto the floor, allowing the guards to lay Arthur there, Gaius rushing to his side.
"What happened?" He looked over Arthur's shoulder, seeing the blood and bandaging before turning back to Merlin, seeing the look on his face. "He's been bitten."
"I tried to save him."
Gaius informed the guards that they had to inform the king.
"There must be something we can do."
"I wish there was."
Merlin shook his head, not wanting to give in like Gaius already had, walked over to Will as he walked into the room, the fabric bound book tucked under his jacket.
"Are you insane? The king could be here any moment!"
"He can't die!" Merlin placed the book down on the other table in front of him, flipping through the pages. "It is my destiny to protect him. We haven't done all the things we're meant to do."
"That is the lament of all men." Gaius said softly, his voice solemn.
"He's my brother."
Gaius regarded the man in front of him, nodding once. "Then save him."
Merlin closed his eyes, using his magic to flick through the book at unnatural speed, willing it to find a spell that could possibly help. The moment it stopped he looked at the page, holding a hand out towards the prince, uttering the spell he had found.
"Gestathole!" When nothing happened, Merlin repeated the action, urging the book to find another spell, Gaius and Will keeping a close eye on the door. "Thurhhaele!" Merlin and Gaius walked over to where Arthur lay still, seeing no effect whatsoever. "Maybe the spells need time to take effect."
"The bite of the Questing Beast is a death sentence," Gaius sighed, looking over at Merlin. "No magic can overturn it."
Neither had any chance to say anything before the king burst through the door, yelling for his son. He ran over to Arthur, desperately checking him for signs of life. Will quickly moved over to the table, closing the book that lay on it, lest the king see it. "Do something Gaius!"
"I am trying, your majesty."
"Gaius will find a cure. He will not let him die." Merlin insisted and Gaius looked over at him, dubiously. The look on Merlin's face told the old man that there was no way that he was going to allow the man he had claimed moments ago was his brother, die.
The king looked between the two of them, not seeming to notice that Merlin himself was covered in blood, his only concern for his son, as it should be. He turned back to Arthur, picking the prince up in his arms.
"I'll bear him to his chamber."
Merlin quickly followed after the king, seeing that he had tears running down his cheeks as he exited the chamber, the prince in his arms. With surprising strength for someone of his age, the king maneuvered himself and the prince down the steps leading to the physician's chamber, making it halfway across the courtyard before the weight of the prince and his grief overtook him and he collapsed to his knees.
Four knights immediately came up behind the king, gently lifting the prince from his grasp and hurriedly carried to him through the castle to his chambers. Gaius automatically went to the king's side, helping him to his feet as the two of them watched the knights carry the downed prince into the castle. Merlin took advantage of the chaos caused to sneak off, down into the underground caverns, knowing that with Arthur in his current condition, no one would miss his presence.
The dragon landed as Merlin entered the cavern, watching Merlin with curious golden eyes. "I have failed Arthur, failed in my destiny."
"And yet you would not be here if that were true."
"He was bitten by the Questing Beast," Merlin explained, unable to keep the panic and pain that he felt out of his voice. "He's going to die."
"Does he still breathe?" The dragon asked, something in his voice giving Merlin pause.
"Only just."
"Then there is still time to heal him."
"I've tried," Merlin insisted, "I cannot save him."
"You do not know how to save him." Merlin felt his hope return at the dragon's words. Small though it may be that Arthur may yet survive, it was still there.
"But you can tell me how?"
"Perhaps," the dragon drew closer to Merlin, his voice as soft as the rumblings could be for something of his size. "It will not be easy."
"I will do anything." Merlin insisting, knowing as soon as the words passed his lips that they were true.
"Anything?" Maybe the dragon was not as confident in that as Merlin was.
"Please. Just tell me what I have to do!" Couldn't the dragon see that every moment he questioned Merlin was another moment closer to death for Arthur? He didn't have time for his riddles.
"Very well." The dragon pulled his head back, clearly contemplating what he was going to advise the young warlock. "The Questing Beast is a creature conjured by the powers of the Old Religion. You must use the same ancient magic to save him."
"The Old Religion died out centuries ago." He had been advised of as much by those around him. If the dragon were telling him that was the only way to save Arthur, how was he to do that?
"The Old Religion is the magic of the earth itself." The dragon countered, his wings spreading in clear irritation of how little the warlock in front of him knew. "It is the essence which binds all things together. It will last long beyond the time of men."
He needed the dragon to focus on what he had come down here for. "But how can that help me save Arthur?"
"You must find those who still serve it. Those who hold dominion over life and death." There were people like that who actually existed? People that could determine whether someone would live or die?
"Where?"
"Go to the place that men call the Isle of the Blessed, where the power of the ancients can still be felt. There you will discover Arthur's salvation." Merlin nodded, a plan to get out of the castle quickly forming in his mind.
"Thank you," he started to leave the cavern before the dragon called him back.
"And Merlin . . ." he turned back, wondering what more it could have to say to him. "The young Pendragon must live, no matter what the cost."
He nodded once more, leaving and quickly making his way to Gaius's chambers. The old man was not happy when Merlin told him that he now knew of the way to save Arthur. He had argued with the old man about going. He had begged Merlin not to go but he knew that he didn't have another choice if he was to save Arthur. He as much told him that he would give his life for Arthur's.
Merlin snuck into the stables, only having gone back to his chambers to grab his cloak to avoid being noticed as readily. He noticed that Will had brought up some food for him. Seeing that it was a mix of bread, ham, cheese and fruit, he piled the first three into a makeshift sandwich, grabbing one of the small sacks he had on supply in one of his cupboards, shoving it in as something he could have on his journey. He grabbed two of the apples that Will had brought up with him, placing them in the bag as well before quickly exiting his chambers and sneaking out of the castle. He was aware that the shirt and chainmail he was still wearing were covered in blood but he brushed it aside, knowing that he didn't have time to waste cleaning himself up. He quickly and quietly tacked up his horse, strapping the bag he had onto the side, leading it to the entrance of the stables.
He glanced up to see Gaius walking towards him, something in his hands. "Here," he handed him a roll of parchment, a grim look on his face. "You'll need a map." He held up a small leather bound bundle no bigger than Merlin's thumb. "And I'm going to give you this." Merlin took it, curious, unwrapping it. "My mother gave it to me. It's a rabbit's foot." He explained as Merlin looked at him, slightly confused.
"To keep you safe?" He asked and Gaius nodded.
"It was said to protect you from evil spirits," Gaius explained before scoffing gently and reaching out. "It's rubbish. I don't believe the superstition. I don't know why I gave it to you."
"No," Merlin pulled it away as Gaius made to take it back. "I want it. Thank you." He let out a breath, looking over at Gaius again. "You've got to keep Arthur alive until I get back."
He pulled himself onto his horse, pulling up his hood before kicking the mare into a movement, speeding to a canter before they'd passed through the city gates. Firstly because Merlin knew that time for Arthur was running out and secondly because if any of the guards recognised him, they would try to stop him from leaving the city and he couldn't risk that happening.
He rode as hard as his mare would allow him, only stopping for a few hours in the darkest part of the night, hating to lose any amount of time on the way to the Isle. Only the fact that it was too dark for either him or the horse to see anything and that his horse needed to rest made him stop. As soon as the first light of dawn started to ebb through the trees, he put out the fire that he had made and saddled up the horse again, setting out as quickly as possible.
He secured the horse the bank, knowing that with her training, she would not wander off but in a place filled with magic such as this, he did not want to take the chance. He patted her on the neck as she immediately began to graze, pulling off his cloak and throwing it over the saddle. He walked down onto the small dock in front of him, climbing into the small boat, the bell on the front clanging gently as the boat moved. Looking around he saw no oars to allow him to get to the Isle.
He held his hand out towards the boat, his voice confident as he spoke. "Astyré!" He sat down as the boat began to move, taking him closer to the foreboding ruins that loomed in front of him. He could sense the magic here, running through him like a current, pulsing beneath his skin, his own magic reacting to the magic of the land that lingered here.
He climbed out of the boat as it stopped of its own accord next to a small doorway, leading to some steps. He cautiously climbed up them, emerging into what looked as though it may have where great magical ceremonies had taken place. There were several tall stones that were clearly strategically placed surrounding an altar in the center but there was no one else on the Isle to be seen.
He walked over to the altar, looking around as he did so, keeping his natural and magical senses alert for anything or anyone that may be nearby. He turned around once again, facing the way he had come, frustrated at the fact that there was no one here.
"Hello?" He called out trying to find anyone that may be there.
"Hello, Merlin," he turned to see one person that he never thought he would see here. Her braided hair and tattered red dress as distinctive as the evil glint in her eye and smug smirk on her face.
"You?"
Nimueh.