SO I AM BACK! I have to say, I have really missed you guys and this story. I have such plans for it and I was gutted to stop it for a month (even though I knew it was right to do).
I THANK you ALL for still reading this and loving me! Truly, you guys rock!
This is going to be definitely be a two parter, but probably three, bumper chapter (s).
I would have posted yesterday but my mum was willing to do anything to stop annoying her as she wrote a letter. Literally. She was willing for us to sleep all day if we didn;t make any noise, but because she was on the computer, I couldn't post.
First, I would just like to say that all of the place names that will appear within the opening part of this chapter are TOTALLY real. I did NOT make them up. Just saying.
Secondly, the scene with Morgana and the last one with Merlin, they happen at the same time.
Thirdly, I need some guidance.
Last Wednesday, one of my closest friends found out that her Grandad had cancer. It was the first time any of them knew. It was in his ears, but was spreading to his noise and if it got there, it would spread into his arteries. The hosphital said they would operate on Sunday. It got so desperate that they had to operate on Friday.
On Monday, she missed school because the operation had gone wrong. He was only breathing because of life support. There was nothing the docters could do. So they switched the life support off.
On Tuesday, a miracle happened; he breathed without the life support. He survived.
On Wednesday, a week from when they found out, the cancer got into his arteries.
On Saturday, he passed away before her eyes.
So please, PLEASE if you have any idea of what she is going through, please could you give me your advice. She is a very private person, and hates to have anyone touch her or talk about feelings. I am the only person who knows. She has given up eating and will not eat anything. I am really worried about her as she sometimes gets bullied so she doesn't feel very secure about herself.
I'm the person that people go to, too be cheered up and be comforted but I truly don't know how to with her. Please, if you have any ideas, help me.
P.S. Fomratting has gone completely AWOL. If I put something in italic, then when it uploads, the whole document goes italic and it does my head in... Does anybody know how to fix this?
Merlin's Guide as to Why You Shouldn't be Voldemort
Chapter 33 – Part One of Samhain - Morning
"Greetings, Young Warlock," Kiligarrah boomed.
Merlin stopped and simply stared at the two Dragons that adorned the clearing in the Forbidden Forest, only a short walk from Hogwarts. He couldn't believe his eyes. There was no way that what he was seeing in front of him could be real.
It was impossible.
"Long time, no see," Aithusa commented.
"Wait... what?" Merlin blurted out the first thing in his head.
"Long time, no see," Aithusa repeated. She cocked her head to the side. "I believe that is what the youngsters say nowadays, is it not?"
"Aithusa, I'm older than you... And how did you – Never mind," Merlin said, shaking his head to get rid of all the confusing thoughts in his head.
"You know, I've been waiting for aeons to say that and that's your response?" Aithusa huffed. "I'm disappointed."
"Don't be such a Drama Dragon," Kiligarrah scolded wearily. "You haven't been waiting aeons. You've been waiting since Friday."
"Well someone cracked his egg open the wrong way," Aithusa retorted, her eyes flaring.
Merlin watched with an open mouth as he listened to them converse. At any other time, he wouldn't have been able to control his laughter at the barbs that they threw at each other, but he was too preoccupied by the seriousness of the situation and all of the thoughts that were swirling around his head. At an apparent lull in the insults, he picked the most important and opened his mouth.
"How are you even here? I did not Call for you."
"Yes you did," Kiligarrah said affronted. "I do not lie."
"You simply distort the truth," The Dragon Lord snorted in disbelief.
"I am not lying, Young Warlock."
"You really did Call for us," Aithusa joined in, defending Kiligarrah.
"Fine. I did. It must simply have slipped my mind. Of course I Called you in Dragon Tongue without anybody in Hogwarts noticing. How stupid of me to forget such a miniscule detail."
"It did." Kiligarrah replied smoothly. "We came as soon as we heard."
"It was awful," Aithusa whispered softly, like she was still suffering through the torture she had received all those aeons ago when she was imprisoned with Morgana. "Your cry for help... It terrified me, Merlin. I thought you were dying."
"It too, troubled me. Your message was disturbing and we couldn't See what was happening, only that you had to be desperate to Call us back in this day and age."
"It hurts. It hurts so much. Please, please help. They were innocent. It burns. Its burning my skin and nothing can stop it. My own personal hell. Please." Aithusa repeated softly, speaking telepathically so that she could transmit her memory of Merlin's apparent 'message'.
"When did I bur-"
Merlin stopped what he was saying and his eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth opened as he stared at his Brethren in the clearing, his mind hard at work with the information he had just received.
"My gods," He breathed, running a hand stricken through his hair, making it stick up all over the place. He started to mutter, speaking his thoughts to himself as if it would make more sense. "All that time? But how have you only just come? Surely if it was that long ago, you would have arrived sooner?"
"We are older now, Young Warlock," Kiligarrah said and as if to prove his point, he shifted from his stance to lie down fully, one of the few times that he had ever done so in front of Merlin. "We cannot travel great distances as quickly as we once used to."
"We also couldn't get seen by the mortals," Aithusa added, "They cover nearly all of the land by now. We could only move at night unless there were severe storms or worse. We are lucky to have arrived this early. There were sandstorms in Woestyn and Pitjantjatjara -"
"Pardon?" Merlin asked as Aithusa seemed to splutter at the end.
"Pitjantjatjara," she repeated. "So-"
"Aithusa, is there something wrong?" Merlin inquired, worried as he moved towards her.
She had coughed again and he was beginning to think she was ill. Dragons of the Old Religion couldn't catch colds. Instead, they caught the more ... variant strains such as 'The Telepath's Migraine' (where it is transmitted through speech so you receive their pain plus your own at the same time) or 'Dragon Pox' which Wizard King could also receive or-
"You don't have the Whooping Cough again, do you?" He continued, concerned. The last time she had managed to catch that particular illness, every time she coughed, it broke through the sound barrier causing all shattered objects within a two hundred mile radius to shatter, although the Protestants who had just taken over didn't seem to mind.
"There is nothing wrong with her apart from her brain," Kiligarrah grumbled, turning one of his gold eyes towards his Lord. "She's merely being immature and calling it one of its most ridiculous names instead of what the humans refer to as the 'Outback'."
"Pitjantjatjara is the original name Kiligarrah!" Aithusa protested. "All I'm doing is taking the lecture that you gave to me twelve hundred years ago wisely. It's not my fault if the Aborigines like long words!"
"Is that the one where he spent two hours telling you off after you got... tipsy and broadcasted to the whole nation 'Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu' and they thought it was their god contacting them?" Merlin reminiscence, grinning widely as he spoke.
"The very same," Aithusa nodded, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Merlin," Kiligarrah began, and the Warlock knew what he was about to say was extremely serious, because he had called him by his real name, "What happened to cause you to Call us unconsciously?"
"Uh, well, um," Merlin stalled, knowing that if he explained that particular scenario, a number of things might happen. Contemplating, he wondered if he could feed them a lie, but then wilted under the stern gazes of his Two Brethren. "It's a funny story actually..."
"Do you have any idea of the consequences for your actions?" Kiligarrah growled after Merlin had finished the story of how he had Called them. "Letting a mortal girl inside your head to control your Magic is a stupid task, even for you. She will now most likely be permanently damaged forever and her mind broken, fractured into tiny pieces for the absolute power which had blasted into it."
"Her mind is fine," Merlin argued, "There have been no repercussions for my actions."
"That you can see of," Kiligarrah countered angrily. "She will most likely be suffering some Magical form of alternate personality disorder except that with your Magic insider her, it would have escalated to something far out of the Human World's control."
"What makes you think that the Old Magic has affected her?"
"Because even the weakest strain can bind a New Magic wielder body's-"
"Oh," Aithusa breathed in sudden understanding, cutting off one of Kiligarrah's part rant and lecture. "It hasn't affected her, has it Merlin? But that must mean that she is a fellow Druid-"
"Impossible," The Gold Dragon disagreed, "Druids who mated with either New Magical or non-Magical people of blood will have weakened their blood line by doing so. Their children will be able to wield New Magic to a greater scale, but they will not be able to hold the Old. And Druids who still have a pure bloodline are few and far between, and they will not send their children off to a school to learn a Magic which they cannot control."
"But what if she is neither of those types?" Merlin questioned the Ancient Dragon with a straight face. "What if she was born from a pure New Magic line?"
"Then you have doomed her."
"Or," Merlin offered, "She is a Natural Born Seer of the Old Religion."
"A Seer," Kiligarrah repeated in surprise, whipping his head around to see Merlin through one of his gold eyes. "Born in this century?"
"Yep," The Warlock answered, popping the 'p'. "And she is strong too."
"Ooo," Aithusa squealed, sounding like a little Hatchling that she once was (despite what her Mentor thinks). "Another Seer!"
Aithusa vibrated with excitement, causing tree that she was touching with her tail to shiver violently, looking as if it was having a fit. Merlin and Kiligarrah exchanged glances as they saw her display. The White Dragon always had a soft spot for Seers, of whatever power and quality ever since she had bonded with Morgana and sometimes, it had lead to... situations.
"In fact," The Dragon-Lord spoke again, turning his attention to the Gold Dragon, "she predicted you guys coming."
"Show us!" Aithusa pleaded, her obsession with Seers meaning that she always wanted to see a Prophecy being predicted that would come true.
"I wasn't there when she made it," The Warlock told her apologetically. "Another passed it onto me, not realising it was a Prophecy."
"So you mean to tell me that out of the two months you have known this girl and have become close to her, she has never Prophesized in front of you?" The White Dragon exclaimed, with the Gold Dragon joining in with the surprise by shifting slightly.
"Yes," Merlin confirmed
"I want to meet this girl," Aithusa decided decisively. "The only other Seer who could resist to Prophesise in your presence was Morgana."
Her tone turned wistful towards the end as she spoke of her Guardian and once again, Merlin and Kiligarrah exchanged glances.
"She does indeed sound powerful," The Gold Dragon acknowledged.
"She is," Merlin agreed, grinning at a memory. "When we first met, she saw right through me. She knew that I was older than fifteen."
He sighed as he saw the look that could almost be described as 'pouting' from Aithusa. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he reached out to the Dragons' minds.
Morgana's POV
Morgana stood in the shadows bored as yet another person reported to the Dark Lord about their shady actions. This was the fifth time that she had been summoned this week to attend, and she was getting sick of it.
On a day like this, she should be doing other things. Useful, pertinent things. Like watching her memories of the last time that she had been around when Samhain happened and what she had achieved. Or practising her fighting and combining Magic. Not listening to a feeble little man who she could easily extract the relevant information quickly from his head and also all of the titbits which he considered irrelevant, but would secure Morgana victory.
She paused as a name caught her attention.
Bellatrix Lestrange. One of the only 'Death Eater' who was a woman.
Morgana considered this new information carefully. She had heard a lot about the Witch whom the weedy man was reporting to Voldemort about. She would often come up in conversation, comments that revealed so much about this person that she had yet to meet. Torturer, Betrayer, Mad, complete and utter Bitch... Morgana could easily form a bond with her.
"She's getting more and more volatile, My Lord," Ratman squeaked, his voice irritating the Lady's ears. "Two Dementors had to restrain her today, simply out of show to the Minister that they were still in charge. They were almost permitted to use the Kiss on her after she told the Minister all of the glorious deeds in which you have achieved."
Lord Voldemort's mouth almost quirked into a smile then at the words spoken. He gazed down at Wormtail from the Throne, from which Morgana was stationed only mere meters away.
"Bellatrix is my Lieutenant for a reason, Wormtail," Voldemort warned his voice cold as he beheld the man who had insinuated that Bellatrix was getting out of control. "She had been the most loyal of all to the cause and to me."
"Yes My Lord," Wormtail said. The statement could be interrupted in two ways, and Morgana watched in cold amusement as 'Lord Voldemort' took it as acceptance for his announcement.
"Loyalty must be rewarded, Wormtail," The Dark Lord spoke, his cold high voice turning into a deep rumble that seemed to shake the Sorceress to the core. "How long?"
Wormtail almost seemed to quail then, cowering before his Lord and trying to make himself as he worked up the courage to answer. His body shook, vibrating almost.
"Till December, My Lord, or January at the latest."
"That late?" The Dark Lord contemplated, glaring down at the cowering form. "Do not disappoint me, Wormtail. Remember," He threatened, his eyes gleaming in the half light, "Loyalty will be rewarded."
'And ineffectiveness will be condemned', was added silently on the end.
The Lady frowned as she stood there, shrouded in darkness. Her keen eyes watched the scene in front of her, looking for anything amiss. She had no concrete reason for being paranoid – well one that Voldemort would not like. She could feel something.
Something was coming.
Morgana closed her eyes and breathed out steadily, letting her body relax as her hyper sensitive ears took in everything. There was something that had been niggling her at the back of her mind, some inaccuracy, a failing of judgement-
"Do not worry My Lord," Wormtail whimpered, kneeling forward to kiss Voldemort's robes, his voice shaking with fear at what he might receive because of his sloppiness.
Morgana's eyes flew open in realisation.
"I will not fail-"
"Quiet!" The Last High Priestess of the Triple Goddess ordered suddenly as with a motion of her hand, she banished the Cloak of Darkness which had been covering her. Already, she was moving to complete the urgent task.
The man reporting to Voldemort stared at the Sorceress incredulously at her words. Slowly, Voldemort, too, turned to gaze at Morgana who was making her way purposefully towards the table.
"Lady Morgana," The Dark Lord said dangerously "I -"
"I said SILENCE!" Morgana shouted, her eyes turning gold as she wordlessly summoned a large bowl. "I will need my utmost concentration so I would appreciate it if you do not interrupt me. Brimstréam!" She continued, her eyes remaining crimson gold as water filled up the bowl.
"What are you doing?" Lord Voldemort demanded.
"The Old Religion wants to show us something. A Vision."
At her words, the Dark Lord stood up, causing Wormtail to scuttle back before he got stepped on. He moved swiftly towards the table and to where the High Priestess awaited.
The tremors that only she could see becoming much more apparent as the Magic which would enable her to See moved closer and what she had at first mistaken for Voldemort's voice grew louder, the rumbling almost deafening her.
Then it reached them and she had to grip the table tight to avoid falling over.
"No," Morgana breathed, staring into the scurrying bowl that sat on the table and the images that the Vision showed her. "That's impossible."
Merlin's eyes flew open and at once, the connection between the Dragon Lord and his Dragons broke, releasing them from his memories that he had shown.
Right in front of him, something large and gold with flecks of brown filled up his vision. The colours were mesmerising as they seem to almost move. Around the gold and brown, white and pink and ginger and-
The mass of colours withdrew sharply and at once, Merlin's eyes refocused, to see Orlaithe perched in front of him on his shoulder.
"Orlaithe?" The Warlock said confused. "What did you do that for? I was showing Kiligarrah and Aithusa my memories-"
He stopped in midsentence and stared, his head tilted upwards towards the sky, his sense on full alert. Something was different. Something had changed since he had last been here –
"I showed Kiligarrah and Aithusa my memories," Merlin repeated slowly, working it out as he spoke, "All of them. Not just the ones from my time here at Hogwarts..."
Orlaithe nodded sharply at what he said, completely serious, showing no mischief whatsoever.
"We have spent almost eighteen hours in a bond, Young Warlock," Kiligarrah rumbled. His eyes were already open and he started to move, stretching his limbs in the little cramp space that he had thanks to his companion whom he also shared the clearing with.
"It's Samhain," Aithusa, completing the Gold Dragon's statement.
Samhain. It's Samhain.
The words echoed around Merlin's head and the hairs on the back of his head suddenly rose.
"Something's not right," He whispered and realisation flooded him.
"There's something coming, Emrys. Hiding in the shadows, waiting for the time to strike like before. On the day when Loyalty dies, two will come to call."
"You are needed her, but you should also leave. It's – it's hard to describe."
"Something's coming," Luna murmured distractedly. Her head moved slightly from side to side, her eyes flickering from place to place, although the Old Man knew she wasn't seeing. At least, not in that way. "They are almost here... After embarking from a long journey, or is it the journey to come? You are wanted to be present there, but are... needed here. Requirement... task... goodbyes... hellos... arrivals... Departures...love, hate, lost, found... I don't understand, Merlin. I don't understand!"
"Promise me," She whispered, grabbing onto his shirt, "That you will be here when it comes. Something bad is going to happen, Merlin... you have to be here..."
"My Lord."
...
"My Lord."
...
"My Lord!"
...
"My Lord-"
...
"My Lord."
...
"My Lord?"
...
"Emrys – "
...
"MERLIN!"
"The day will start with a dawn,
Complete with gold,
And everything is fine.
Two visitors come,
The third is near,
For now you feel no fear.
But this is the Day when Loyalty died,
So Magic arrives with a choice;
Fulfil the task you once held dear,
Or let Darkness conquer Light.
But be warned, Lord Emrys,
And tread cautious,
And tread wise;
For one thing is certain in all of the fear;
This will end in Love's Death."
Orlaithe chirped wildly at his words, fluttering her wings anxiously, flying to the edge of the clearing and then back, clearing wanting the Warlock to follow.
"It's already coming true. The Prophecies, the predictions... all of them. They are for tonight."
He stood up quickly, and then almost lost his balance at the wave that hit him hard.
"Help me."
He filled with dread.
Luna was pleading for him.
Merlin regained his balance and ran.
HAHA! CLIFFHANGERS ARE SO AWESOME!
So, QUESTION TIME! This is from up to chapter 30, so we have a lot to get through!
Guest Chapter 30 - Yay! hey, can we see some more badass merlin? Oh, and maybe Merlin could give an explanation as to why his eyes glow golden when he uses magic and the others' don't with their new magic and wands? I think thats something they would actually really be interested in in real life, but no one ever questions it or asks about it. Hermione certainly would! Update soon please, and good luck with exams and work experience! – Well I certainly will. I would have earlier, but I got distracted by Halloween! I will try after it all 'dies' down. Maybe when Luna has a lesson or when Morgana meets the Death Eaters...
Okay, for the people who wanted to know about the Prophecy 'It will end in Love's Death'. This is one specifically for Halloween. The decision Merlin will have to make will effect the endgame, I promise. I know you guys all say its a bit complicated but I am obsessed with riddles and when you have double Geography, that is how I keep awake!
Dirl15 Chapter 32 – please update this is getting good are any of Merlin's old friends coming back? – Unless you count Morgana? And now Kiligarrah and Aithusa are back as well. Plus you never know. I think Merlin needs to be reminded of Freya once in a while, don;t you think?
MugetsUPipefox Chapter 33 – Are we going to see Dragoon? – Well, let me just tell you now. What's coming up isn;t the BIG reveal. He might have to go in a difrrent form...
Guest 33 – Wasn't Kiligarrah supposed to die in the series though? – Well they never actually said that he did. So, I made him survive. I'll probably address it one day too. Maybe Aithusa saved him with her special Magic healing breath or the Old Religion for 'A life for a life'. So Arthur's death was not in vain...
There you are, most of the Questions answered apart from one;
WHENIS KILIGARRAH /And /OR AITHUSA/ OR THE DRAGONS COMING BACK? – Darlings, didn't you PAY ATTENTION?
I'll try to update soon but the next chapter is a MASSIVE chapter.
REVIEW or else I won't update until after work experience and Mocks and then before you know it's Christmas and then I can't update that as I'm with the family and then it's New Year and oh! More exams and then it's my birthday and-
You know. I think you get the point...