- Chapter 24 -

"Did my heart love till now?
Forswear it sight,
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
~ Romeo on first seeing Juliet (William Shakespeare - Romeo & Juliet)

Merlin, along with his two male apprentices, had been waiting for the last twenty minutes at the huge dinning room.

It was Veronica's sixteenth birthday, and they prepared for it the whole day. As for the moment, they were waiting for the birthday girl to come down and join them.

Balthazar sat on his usual chair just across from his best friend, Maxim Horvath. The older apprentice had given up sitting down and was currently standing by his own chair, a frown on his then bearded face, one hand on the headrest of the chair and the other on his hips. Clearly Maxim was getting impatient, and more by the minute.

Though Balthazar tried to turn his attention somewhere else around the room, he couldn't help looking, or staring, at his best friend.

Twenty-two years of age, all grown up as a man, had had more experience, and was beginning to comply to the idea of growing a beard. Maxim had indeed grown up, and had finally finished his apprenticeship. Balthazar, then just at eighteen, still had to get use though about Maxim's circle-beard, that which the older apprentice had come to like since last year.

Ah yes, last year. The year when Maxim had finished eight years of apprenticeship under Merlin, and was a sorcerer of his own. A few years more, he'd be able to have an apprentice of his own.

"This is one thing I still couldn't understand about women," said Maxim all of a sudden, catching the attention of both Merlin and Balthazar. They have been there in the room in silence after the last conversation they started was dropped.

He turned around to face Merlin, who was sitting at the head of the table. "Why does it take so long for them to get dressed?"

The sorcerer simply smiled. "I haven't the slightest idea myself," was his honest reply.

Maxim started to pace. "If this were any ordinary occasion, I could have gone off somewhere moments ago."

"It's her sixteenth birthday," reminded Balthazar. "At least try to be more patient."

"Yes, I know, this is about Veronica," replied Maxim, only giving Balthazar a quick glance. "You don't have to tell me that. It isn't like I don't care."

For the first time since he sat at the table, Balthazar smiled. "So, what did you got for her?"

"You'll find out," answered the older apprentice, still continuing to pace the floor. "What of you? It's not another book again, is it?"

The blond-haired eighteen-year-old sat up straighter and raised a finger. "Just to let you know, she liked the books."

Maxim shook his head with a smile on his face, finally coming to a halt. He looked back to his master. "What of you, Merlin? What do you have for Veronica now that she's sixteen?"

The sorcerer shook his head, shifting on his chair. "That girl is a very simple girl, who likes simple things, and wanted a simple life." He paused for a second, taking in the latter part. "I don't know what I'd give her, but that does not mean I don't have any. I just hope she would like it."

Both apprentices nodded in agreement. They were all wishing that Veronica would like their gifts for her.

Hair partly loose and partly pinned neatly on some sides, and although she wore no jewelry, she was already very beautiful in her light-green dress. She almost couldn't believe that the young lass whom she was seeing in the mirror was herself.

Finally at sixteen, Veronica couldn't believe it. But all people grows up, just as how her two brothers-by-bond had.

She just love those boys, who were not quite boys anymore. Maxim clearly wasn't anymore, that's for sure.

'Horvath...'

There was just something about the eldest apprentice that she knew that not even Merlin couldn't simply deny. Maxim Horvath could be a very dangerous person, and it could be seen in those dark eyes. He could make those eyes as cold as ever.

But what truly bothered her was that time a year ago, where she had accidentally walked pass the library. She overheard Merlin and Maxim talking, or was it a spat? There were mostly shouting...

...

Veronica was on her way to the library, a book of spells cradled in her arms; she was to return it. But as got within eight feet away from the library's door which was opened ajar, she stop into a halt in the middle of her tracks as she heard an angry shouting voice from inside.

"NO! It would have been worth it!"

She knew the voice belonged to her colleague, Maxim Horvath, but to whom he was shouting at, she didn't know. Approaching the door in tiptoe, she tried to have a peek in the small opening. There she saw Maxim and her master, standing within three feet from each other, face to face.

When Merlin turned to her direction, she quickly hid herself behind her side of the door. Fortunately, Merlin didn't see her, as she listened quietly.

"That is not what I have taught you," she heard Merlin said.

"You say we are nothing but servants." That was Maxim. "But if those were the kind of people we're serving, Merlin, I'd rather be their master."

"What are you saying?" demanded the sorcerer from his apprentice.

"THEY should be the one's to serve US!"

"WHAT?"

"Why not? We're the sorcerers, we're the one's who have the power, they should bow down to us!"

"You talk like a Morganian."

"They act like a Morganian!"

Veronica was shocked by this exchange between her brother and foster father, but she couldn't get herself to leave.

"Just because that man did something wrong, does not give you the right to kill him! He was not a Morganian!" exclaimed Merlin, his voice indicated that he was clearly displeased by the events. "Anyone, everyone, can have both light and dark."

There was a short pause before Merlin's voice was heard again.

"We have no right to interfere with ordinary people's lives, unless it had something to do about their safety within the scope of magic. Our duty is to keep the balance of magic in this world stay in-balance. They don't rule over us, we don't rule over them!"

"But you said we're servants!" Maxim's still angered voice cut in.

"Servants of keeping what's in place, stay's in place! That magic shouldn't be used to rule over other people. And pass it on to worthy ones. THAT, is the Merlinian way!"

Whatever came over her at that moment, Veronica didn't know, but somehow something urged her to take a small peek through the small crack of the door. What she saw, made her regret of ever daring to take a peek.

Maxim opened his mouth to speak. "Then the Merlinian way, is weak."

She couldn't see Merlin's face, but she had guessed that her master might have made a furious expression, as she watched Merlin raised a hand and slapped Maxim across the face. The sound of Merlin's hand meeting Maxim's cheek was so loud, it echoed through the library's walls. Veronica wanted to look away, but found that she simply couldn't. She watched on in silence, one hand to her mouth, as Maxim slowly turned his head to once again look up to their master. He had teary eyes, but he was also scowling.

"Do not make me regret I made you my apprentice," said Merlin, as he shook his head. "Do not."

Just as Merlin made off to leave, Veronica quickly stepped away from the door, instantly casting a spell on herself so as not to be seen by her master.

After Merlin had disappeared with a sharp left turn at the end of the hall, Veronica heard something being slammed to the wall inside the library, as Maxim's furious cry made her wept.

...

Not Merlin nor Maxim ever known that she was there, and to her surprise, Balthazar hadn't known about it. But perhaps that was for the best. One can only imagine how Balthazar may react if ever he finds out. Fortunately it had been a year ago already, and everything had gone to normal. At least, as normal as it could get around the castle.

She took one last look at herself in the mirror.

It was about time for her to go down stairs, she had kept them waiting far too long.

"So whatever happened to the last girl you went out with?"

Maxim quirked up a dark brow at Balthazar. "I won't be able to get myself out of this, would I?"

Balthazar had engaged to a conversation that Maxim rather not want to talk about. Luckily for the older apprentice, the birthday girl showed up just in time before he could say a word.

"Ah! There you are, my dear."

Merlin's voice made both male apprentices to look towards the opened double doors of the huge dinning room, and there they saw such beauty in a green dress. Her smile was like sunshine, her face so radiant and seemed to be the most bright around the room. Both of them almost couldn't believe their eyes of how much of a lady their little sister had grown up to.

As Merlin approached Veronica and the two exchanged embraces, Balthazar leaned over to Maxim, and said in Hungarian, "Ő inkább a szép ma este." (She's rather beautiful tonight).

In return, Maxim leaned over much closer to Balthazar and replied, "Soha életemben még nem láttam őt nézett, mint azelőtt." (I've never seen her looking like that before).

They were still absently watching her even as Veronica approached them.

"That's not quite fair you two," she said, beaming up to them.

The male apprentices looked at each other.

"Just because the two of you speaks in a language I haven't learned," said Veronica so as to explain, "does not mean you can talk that way to each other in my presence when you don't want me to know what it is."

There was a short pause when Veronica finished, just before the male apprentices chuckled at each other.

"I don't see what's funny," said the lass.

They didn't say anything, just continued to smile at her.

Later, they had immediately started the simple celebration of her sixteenth birthday. They talked about many things while they ate at the table and all through out the giving of gifts. Merlin's present was a beautiful blue dress he had personally requested from a tailor who was a good friend of his and Balthazar gave her, as usual, another book to add to Veronica's collection, while Maxim gave her a sword he made himself.

"Horvath, haven't we talked about this before?" said Merlin the moment the eldest apprentice revealed his gift.

"She deserves it," replied Maxim. "Besides, it's about time, she's rather good with a sword. Believe me, I know. I taught her."

And then, there was a dance where all would have to take the birthday girl to dance. Merlin came in first of course, then Maxim, then last was Balthazar. As the blond haired apprentice took Veronica's hand to dance, he couldn't help himself but stare at nothing but just Veronica.

"You're rather beautiful tonight, Veronica. It's almost not you," he said to her before he could stop himself.

"Thank you. Horvath told me the same thing, though," she replied with a sweet smile. "What is it with the two of you tonight? You weren't like this in the past birthdays that I had."

Balthazar considered this for a while but ended up smiling to himself.

"If only I knew, I would have answered you," he said.

Meanwhile, Maxim had retired to the courtyard. He didn't know himself just why he went there, but there was something that urged him to do so. For the last couple of years, he had somehow become a kind of loner, though he wouldn't describe himself that way. He'd preferred, independent. Since he finished his apprenticeship he went alone on most of his errands, leaving Balthazar and Veronica to have more time working together. Though sometimes, he'd be tagging Balthazar along if he considers the errand too difficult to be handled of just being alone.

Suddenly, he heard a voice.

"There you are."

He turned around, facing towards the direction where the voice came, only finding that it was Merlin, walking towards him.

"Why aren't you inside?" asked the sorcerer.

"Just, catching some fresh air," replied Maxim.

Merlin nodded. "I suppose it is best, I've been wanting to talk to you in private."

Trying his best to keep a neutral expression, Maxim waited for whatever his master had to say, standing as still as a statue.

"This is about the last time we talked," said Merlin after his short pause. "You remember? A year ago?"

Yes, of course. Maxim could still remember about that.

"Our parting wasn't... quite pleasant."

There was another pause, as Maxim kept silent, but he had been diverting his gaze on and off Merlin's face.

"Horvath," started Merlin once more, "what happened a year ago, when I... hurt you, it wasn't like I meant to." Saying the word 'slap' wasn't quite proper for the moment, as Merlin thought. "Now I know I'm not your father, and that I had no right to do that to you, but I hope you can forgive me. No one is that perfect in this world, Horvath. Not even me."

Maxim felt a tick on his jaw, finding himself looking down on the ground.

"There's no sense in it, Merlin," he managed to say. "I've already forgiven you. But," he looked up to his old master, "why must we talk of this right now? It has been a year."

"Ive been trying to find time since before," Merlin replied immediately. "Even the day after it happened. But unfortunately, both of us mostly spends time outside of the castle."

There was a short nod from the younger sorcerer.

"Merlin, this isn't right," Maxim suddenly blurted out. "I suppose to be the one asking forgiveness from you. I... What I said. It wasn't right of me."

The old sorcerer shook his head, placing a hand over the younger one's right shoulder. "Let us just forget, since we have forgiven already."

It took a moment before Maxim finally break out into a smile. They started walking, as though they were to go back inside.

"Have you noticed how beautiful Veronica is tonight?" asked Merlin all of a sudden, as they found themselves at a hall.

"Yes," nodded Maxim. "She's not the girl I once knew, not anymore. She's a lady now."

"Yes," agreed Merlin. "A lady indeed. A beautiful lady."

"There's something different about her tonight, Merlin," added the young sorcerer, looking out into the middle distance. "There's something about her that I hadn't noticed before."

Merlin looked up to his apprentice, regarded him then said, "I know, Horvath. I know."

A/N: "Any of you smell something? Tell me about it." ~ sankage