Author's Note: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS AND THIS SHOW!
I'm just incredibly happy that Colin Morgan won a NTA, he most definitely deserved it! A little sad that Downton Abby beat us, but oh well. Colin got the recognition he deserves.
So in honor of his victory, I present to you: A NEW CHAPTER! And a long chapter, to those of you who have been bugging me about long chapters. Here you go. But this means that I won't update for a bit longer now. Just FYI.
Leon's and Percival's journey to the Druid camp was uneventful. They brought their swords, but both had the mind to leave them outside the camp when it was found. By mid-afternoon, they discovered what they were looking for, as the sounds of children's laughter and the murmur of babble rose above the noises of the forest. Taking off their swords and removing any further weapons, they left their horses and belongings tied to a couple of trees, just outside of where the camp was located.
As they walked into the camp, they suddenly felt very out of place. All talking and activity would cease as they passed through, earning the stares of every Druid there. They suddenly didn't know who they were going to talk to, but that quickly was fixed as a tall, thin man approached them. They could tell this man was well respected by the people who lived here as they moved out of his way and bowed their heads ever so slightly.
Leon moved ahead to approach him, "Are you the leader of this camp?"
The tall man looked back at him with a serene yet piercing expression on his face. "Yes, I am. My name is Tyrdoc. What business do you have here?"
"We come on an official request by the King of Camelot," explained Percival. "We are looking for someone."
The man studied them both for a few more seconds. "You are searching for the warlock Emrys."
The knights stood, shocked.
"Well… yes…" admitted Leon. "How did you…?"
"Your mind is like an open book, good sir knight," Trydoc said. "One just needs to know how to read it."
Leon definitely did not feel comfortable with the thought of having someone inside his head, and was going to argue when Percival nudged him. Mentally steeling himself, he remembered that he was here for a mission, there was no need for him to get caught up in this issue.
"Do you know Emrys?" he asked instead.
"I have not had the honor to meet him personally, no," the Druid said wistfully. "But let us not talk out here. Come," he gestured towards a large tent. The knights followed him in, and settled themselves on the floor, waiting for him to continue.
"Emrys is a great man, and an even greater warlock," Tyrdoc started. "His destiny is far greater than you could ever know, greater even than that of your King. He is destined to help guide and rule with your King to unite Albion and create a world where those with and without magic can live together peacefully."
"Do you know where we can find him?" asked Percival.
The man ignored his question. "Arthur Pendragon has not shown a promising start to fulfilling his destiny. Emrys must be at his side for such a prophesy to be fulfilled. We here have learned what he has done to his manservant, charged with the crime of being born a sorcerer. Our people have grown worried. After our treaty with the young king, we expected that more of our kind would be tolerated, rather than persecuted as one under Uther's rule."
Leon and Percival exchanged nervous glances; they had tried to prepare for this reaction, but were still unsure on how to approach it.
"Our King has not had a bloodless reign so far," admitted Leon. "But we are hoping that can change. We need the help of Emrys if we are to continue as a kingdom."
Tyrdoc looked expectant for an explanation.
"Morgana has gathered an army of sorcerers," explained Percival. "We do not have the power or strength to fight them and win. Emrys is our only hope of victory."
"After all that the man has been through," said Tyrdoc slowly, as if trying to figure out how to phrase what he wanted to say. "After all he has been through, it would be hard to persuade him to return to your aid. Yes, return," he said to their confused expressions. "You would not be here today if it were not for Emrys. Yet, it grows increasingly difficult for one to help and protect when they are always persecuted."
"The King regrets his actions," assured Percival. "He wishes to make peace with magic in the kingdom. He has been going over the laws concerning magic for the past several months, trying to figure out how to best revise them."
"Be that as it may," Tyrdoc looked hard at him. "Emrys has been wronged and hurt at the hands of your kingdom. As have many of his kind. If you do find him, do not expect him to make the decision to help lightly. He will not immediately wish to help you."
"We understand," said Leon. "Please, do you know where we can find him?"
"No."
"No?" questioned Percival, clearly annoyed at being played with. "What do you mean 'No?'"
"I mean that I do not know at the moment where to find Emrys," explained Tyrdoc patiently. "But I do know of a way to find him."
Relief flooded over the knights. Their search had not been in vain.
Tyrdoc got up and left the tent for a couple of minutes, returning with a bowl of water, some herbs that neither knight recognized, and a small felt bag that was full of some bulky objects that they couldn't see.
Tyrdoc set the bowl down and opened the bag, carefully spilling a number of what seemed to be dry, old bones into the water. He then took the herbs and placed them in a perfect circle surrounding the bowl. He muttered an incoherent word, and the herbs began to smoke and smolder. He placed his hands into the bowl and began chanting out a spell of the Old Religion. Leon and Percival watched, fascinated and nervous at the proceedings.
Tyrdoc's eyes glowed golden for a moment, and suddenly all the water in the bowl was gone, along with most of the bones. The few that remained Tyrdoc pulled out and, after removing the bowl, threw them upon the floor within the circle of herbs. After muttering a couple more spells, the herbs burst into flames, creating a fire, tall and hot, hotter than some herbs should burn on their own. They could hear the bones cracking in the heat and suddenly the flames were gone. There was ash where the herbs had been just seconds ago, and the bones were mangled in cracks and crevices caused by the heat of the flames.
Tyrdoc leaned forward and studied them, frowning in concentration. It had been many years since he had resorted to such magic, but knowing how much the world needed Emrys to come back, he consented to the crude craft.*
After a few minutes of deciphering what was written in the bones, Tyrdoc looked up at the knights expectant faces.
"Emrys can be found far from these lands. Indeed, far from any other inhabited land. He is residing in the kingdom of the Fisher King, an area you know as-"
"The Perilous Lands," finished Leon. Worry was etched into his face. He knew Arthur had once travelled there alone, but never had he ever dared to think of going himself.
"Thank you, very much, for your time and help," Percival said. The knights stood up, getting ready to leave. It was almost nightfall and they didn't wish to be caught in the woods at the moment. This point was brought up by Tyrdoc.
"Dusk is upon us, and the citadel is most of a day's ride away. Why not stay the night? You will be safe and treated as guests."
Leon and Percival looked at each other, and decided that that was probably the best idea. They would leave at first light.
"Thank you, again, for your extended hospitality," said Leon. "We owe you a debt."
"The only payment I will accept is the freedom of those like us," answered Tyrdoc, knowing full well that they were not the ones with the power to grant this.
The knights spent the night in the same large tent where the ceremony had taken place. They left for Camelot at dawn, with the knowledge that not all hope for their beloved kingdom was lost.
*This ritual is completely made up. Whatever resemblance it holds to actual witchcraft or any other kind of ritual, if any, is entirely coincidental. I just know that bones are sometimes used in fortune-telling or something sometimes.
Again, congrats to Colin Morgan, and thank you everyone who voted!