"Those Who Know" (Rose)
I am walking into this completely blind. "Where are we going?" I ask Merlin after we've been slinking about the castle for a solid few minutes.
"I'm taking you to meet the only other you don't know of who knows about my gifts and destiny and all that," his answer is a bit too vague for me.
"I would like to know a bit more before meeting this man," I tell him honestly.
"Well, for starters," he looks over his shoulder at me, crouching at a corner before a flight of stairs, "He's not a man. He's a dragon."
"What?!" I keep my voice low, "There is no way."
"Oh, but there is," he starts down the steps, and I lag behind in a hobble. He notices this and holds his hand out to me, "Are you ready for this?"
I yield, placing my hand in his, "I don't have much of a choice." I give a halfhearted and sarcastic smile. He laughs and we make our way into what looks like a giant underground cavern.
"Just wait a second," he motions for me to remain where I am, and grabs hold of a torch, lighting it on fire with a simple spell. With that, he steps forward into blackness, lighting the cave in front of him. "Hello?!" he shouts through the dark beyond the reach of the fire, and his voice carries an echo, bouncing off the damp, jagged rock walls surrounding us.
For a still moment, nothing happens. But then, a rattling and the beating of large wings shoots through the air, and a scaled beast the size of a smaller castle tower appears and perches on the huge rock formation directly in front of where we stood.
"Merlin," the creature addresses, "I see you've brought a friend." He acts as if this is the most normal thing in the world. If I didn't know any better, I would say that Merlin has introduced him to others before.
"Yes, I have," he smiles, "I hope you don't mind." His face then contorts into a look of perception, "Although, you don't seem to mind at all."
"Of course not," the dragon remarks, "Not with this girl in particular, anyways." I become a statue when his gaze meets mine head on. Oddly enough, something about the look in his eyes settles me. I find the courage to speak.
"I am pleased to hear this," I smile. I lick my lips which were dry from my mouth being opened from bewilderment before continuing, "May I ask why you see me fit to be in your company specifically?"
"I don't imagine you would be fully aware if I told you your identity and how I know of it in its entirety," he says plainly.
"Try me," I challenge him.
"You are a secret that very few have known of since the dawn of time. Your legacy was protected before it had even begun, but now it has," he speaks with strange and unfamiliar warmth.
"What legacy?" I ask as a fire begins to kindle in my soul. I can't quite put my finger on.
"Ultimately that will be of your choosing. There are those whose paths have been written in stone, and those who share in their stories, but have a choice in which way to go. Those who know of you and what you will be have every reason to respect you for what you have yet to do."
"What is it that I have yet to do?"
"I think you are beginning to discover that on your own already, Angel of the Forest. There are two ways your life could play out. Someday, you will face a decision, harder to make than any you have or will ever come across. You hold the answer in your heart even now, but even the right choice will feel wrong at the time."
"What happens if I make the wrong choice?" I find myself suddenly feeling desperate.
"Then, I'm afraid, you not only would be giving up your true happiness, but you would be sacrificing love of the dearest kind, disappointing those you care for, and putting them in imminent danger," he says sadly.
"Wh- What kind of danger?" my voice falters.
"Death," he answers darkly. He picks up where he left off without me asking anything more, "But know this: you must trust yourself to decide correctly. You are the kind to do what is best for others, and that is what will pull you out of your dilemma if you let it. If you allow this to happen, you will obtain all you seek in this life. In the meantime, you seem to have a handle on part of your destiny," his eyes switch from me to Merlin, and then back to me.
"Oh! Yes," I smile.
He studies me carefully once more, "Do not be afraid to represent your family in Camelot."
I open my mouth to ask him what he means, but he tells me without my asking. "Your necklace is purposefully concealed, and you are not wearing white. Why is that?"
"He's right," Merlin interjects, "About your necklace, I mean. I didn't even notice that ... I already know why you're not wearing white."
"I didn't want anyone asking questions and figuring out who I am and what I can do ... Especially when I'm not even sure how to answer," my voice gives out in the end, and despite my will and better judgment on keeping myself together, a tear slides down my cheek. I wipe it away at once and feel nothing but shame.
"All Wrong" (Merlin)
Here I stand, watching on as a beautiful girl fall apart at the seams as her confidence crumbles at our feet.
"Little princess," the dragon lowers his head.
"I'm not a princess," she mutters.
"You're wrong," I pipe up before I can stop control my own emotions. I set the torch on the ground. Dragon or no dragon she needs to hear what I have to say. "You are a princess t-," I collect myself before I get too out of hand, "To me." I step up to her and grab both of her hands, "Look ... Working for Arthur I have met may royals and I've see the way they conduct themselves. The princesses I've met flail in comparison to you- especially, Lady Vivian ... Yeah, Arthur fell in love with her, but that was just because of a love spell," I shake my head, momentarily distracted. "Come on. Arthur himself said you could pass for being a noble, and you actually are by blood! You have compassion on others, and yet, you can be firm and do what needs doing for the good of others. You carry yourself with grace and speak words of kindness. You're stunning even when you're scrubbing floors and you don't think you're above doing something like polishing armor or spending your time with servants, because to you, they're not servants, that's just they're job. They're people and you treat them as equals. You can't stand there and tell me otherwise. I won't have it," I smirk to finish my rampage.
She looks up at me with eyes brimming with tears and shining with gratefulness. I let out a laugh because I'm delighted I got through, at least a little. This girl, I don't know what it is, but something about her makes me actually believe I'm as powerful as they say I am. I feel confident and like I'm worth it ... Whatever "it" is. We share a sweet embrace, and I strangely don't care that the Great Dragon is witnessing all of this. "Thank you, Merlin," she whispers.
I put my hands on her shoulders, "You are most welcome," I smile. "Now ... We have some unfinished business," I turn around, torch in hand once more, "I need your help." I direct my attention to the chained creature.
"I'm sure you do, young warlock," he complies, "But first, you must honor your promise."
"I said I would set you free and I will!" I assure him.
"When?" he demands.
"When," I reply confidently, "I know that Camelot is safe. Y- Please," I beg him, "Trust me."
"Why should I?" his demeanor is quite different from a moment ago- much harsher and pushy now. However, so has mine.
"Because you don't have a choice," I stand strong, looking him in the eye with determination.
He squints at me in consideration shortly, "What is it," he begins, sounding much more tame in spirit, "That you wish to know?"
I get right to the heart of the matter, "What is the Crystal of Neahtid?"
"To those who know how to use it," he squirms about on his rock, "The crystal holds great knowledge."
"What kind of knowledge?" I quickly urge him on.
"The knowledge of what is, what has been, and what is yet to come," he finishes.
"Do you mean it can show you the future?" This is getting quite interesting.
"Amongst other things, yes," he confirms.
I let this information sink in, the situation now seeming that much more dire to me. "The crystal has been stolen," I say, lacking the strength I had mere seconds before.
"By whom?" the dragon seeks his answers in turn.
I give them to him with slight hesitation, "The Lady Morgana ..."
To my surprise, he simply bursts into laughter in front of our very eyes. Rose's expression mirrors mine in pure confusion as to how this could possibly be that humorous.
"How can you laugh at a time like this?" she challenges the chuckling winged beast.
"That witch does not have the power to wield the crystal!" he calms.
"Does the Druid boy?" I have a suspicion the answer is yes.
"Mordred?" he questions and I nod. "It is possible. Why do you ask?"
My heart seems to sink to the floor. I rub part of my mouth with the pads of my fingers, "I believe that they are involved in this together."
"Once before I warned you of the Druid boy," his scolding has its start, "It is his destiny to bring about Arthur's doom," his tone grows harder, "It may be that time is upon you."
A little, "What!" escapes the girl's lips.
I follow this up, my heart beginning to race, "What do you mean?"
"The ancient prophecies speak of an alliance of Mordred and Morgana, united in evil," his voice remains rough and deep as I breathe deeply, trying not to let my thoughts get carried away in fear. "But this union must be stopped- whatever the cost."
I nod, my mind now searching for a solution, "Thank you," I mutter as I grab my friend's hand and lead her away to where we journeyed from before.
Once safe in our chambers, we fill Gaius in on all that the dragon said. He nods sullenly throughout, but gives no more than a small grunt here and there. We retire to the back room where our beds are kept.
"This is all wrong," Rose says in an almost silent and exasperated voice as she slowly sits on her cot. I agree. It is wrong... so very, very wrong.