Alaia Skyhawk: And part three! Merlin's about to realise his thoughts at the end of the previous chapter were "famous last words" He's about to feel pretty damn nervous XD
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: Skyward Sword, Fi's Theme 6 [Orchestrated]
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Chapter 50: Brothers of the Craft ~Part 3~
It was with a groan like a cat being stepped on in increments, that Merlin pushed himself upright the next morning. His entire body ached, and his many scratched stung beneath their bandages. Even the wrappings themselves added to his discomfort, restricting his movements and leaving him stiff.
He got up off his mattress on the floor, still grimacing as he headed behind the curtain at the back to dress. Liam was oblivious on the other side of the tent, snoring softly as Merlin headed out into the pale light of verging dawn.
Merlin was just listening to the birds beginning the dawn chorus, and considering going to look for something for breakfast, when a familiar voice called out to him.
"So there you are, Merlin. I almost didn't recognise you there. You certainly do look the part of a druid."
Merlin turned to see Nellan walking towards him, with a druid woman following behind him. When he turned, the open front of his robe came into the pair's view, revealing his leather tunic and dagger at his waist.
He smiled.
"Well at least from the back and sides I do. From the front my apppearance will keep people guessing."
The two stopped when they reached him, Nellan gesturing to the woman.
"This is my sister, Ellyn, leader of the Oristalla Clan. When you sent the invitation, she was adamant that this be the time she gets to meet you. We've also invited Jenrad, leader of one of the Earth Clan groups, as well as the leaders of three other clan groups, two of wind and one of fire, to attend a small meeting with you. To get to know the 'new leader the clan that just moved to the Darkling Woods'."
Merlin gives him a flat look
"Why do I get the feeling you didn't tell them which clan it was?"
Nellan, humourously.
"Well I did tell Jenrad that the new leader was you, Emrys. He was pleasantly surprised, and more than eager to attend. I decided that mentioning that you were the leader of the former Dreor Cynling, Blood Clan, might discourage them from attending."
Merlin glared at him, more than just a little ticked off.
"You're just loving this." He gestured sharply towards the tent. "Go on, go pester Liam for a bit, or Kalem. He's sure to be around here somewhere."
Nellan took the hint and went into the tent, which was shortly followed by the sound of Liam's snores turning to splutters.
Ellyn noted Merlin's bemused expression as they heard that, smiling.
"My brother is fond of acting that way, as he finds it a useful manner in which to reduce tension. It also means that rarely are the things he says, taken in offence even when they are critisisms."
Merlin sighed, setting off at a walk with her following alongside.
"I do the same thing myself, but not for things as important as this meeting you've set up." He glanced at her. "I thought the Oristalla kept out of things like this most of the time."
Ellyn nodded at the point, but remained smiling.
"Yes, unless they are Druid business. A new clan leader is always met by the leaders of the other nearby clans. It's traddition, and one that we will follow even if the one we are meeting with is a person we are observing."
Merlin held up his hands in surrender at her explaination.
"Ah, all right." He looked around, a little nervous. "So, when will Jenrad and those other leaders arrive?"
"All four will be meeting a short way north of here, at a marker I had built at the crossing point of two ley lines." Ellyn came to a stop, forcing him to do so as well. "Nellan has already informed your proxy, Ladrengar, where it is. Although it is up to you when to decide you're ready and send a guide to meet them. This is, after all, your introduction to them."
Merlin stared at her, before taking a deep breath and waving to a nearby member of his clan. When they came over, he spoke.
"Find Ladrengar and tell him I require him to go guide our guests at the marker to the north." The Storm Druid nodded, turned, but stopped when Merlin collared him. "And tell him I want his robes closed, the same for everyone in the camp. I'm not telling everyone to take off their weapons, but I am telling them not to flaunt them. I don't want our guests getting nervous if they find out who we are before I get to speak with them."
The druid smiled toothily, a little bit wicked, and nodded again.
"As you wish, Stormcaller."
Both Merlin and Ellyn watched the man hasten off, the Oristalla leader then glancing at Merlin.
"You seem in a rush. There would have been no harm in having them wait for an hour or so."
"And I find that waiting for things I'm nervous about, only makes me feel worse. I prefer to just face them and get it over with."
Ellyn chuckled at his bemused tone.
"You say that like you expect this to be a trial. Just relax, you know already the way the Druids think. They will be surprised at first, but they will become accustomed to it quickly. All you need do is act as if the identity of your clan is nothing particularly remarkable."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to act like a group of druids, who carry and use weapons as a way of life and don't baulk at using them, to be normal to the rest of Druid society?"
"Yes, I do."
Merlin slumped his shoulders in defeat, then trudged away to the other side of the much-reduced camp.
"I'm going to go speak to Ysyldra. If anyone can help me set this up, without teasing me or me putting my foot in my mouth, it's her."
An hour later had him once again cloistered in his tent, Liam having been ushered away from the camp to spend time with Kalem and, thankfully Nellan too. Outside, a circle of six short logs had been set up around a fire. The Storm Druids had kept their robes closed, as ordered, their weapons entirely hidden, and now just a small number of them ensured that the five visiting clan leaders were comfortable.
Merlin peeked out through a tiny gap in the door of his tent, watching as Ellyn directed Jenrad to the log left of the one opposite the door. She sat to the right, the pair of them ready to form a barrier of familiarity between him and the three newcomers he had never met before.
The two Wind Clan leaders seemed completely relaxed, the Fire Clan leader idly conjuring images from the flames at the centre of the circle. It was about then that Ellyn glanced over her shoulder in Merlin's direction, giving him a small nod before she spoke.
"As you know, we are here to meet and pay our respects to a new clan leader. And while Jenrad and I both know him, this will be a first meeting with you; Krillen, Partrin, and Eander." She smiled, nodding to each of them. "He is one tied greatly to prophecy, and not a druid born. Thus, naturally he is still learning of his new clan's ways and of Druid traditions."
One of the Wind Leaders, Partrin, openly expressed his surprise.
"This clan has chosen a leader who was not a druid before this point?"
Ellyn nodded.
"Although it was not so much that they chose, but that their artefact of succession chose him for them. A remarkable event, to be sure, but given his identity I do not find it surprising."
She glanced at Jenrad, who finished what she started.
"The one we are here to meet as is tradition, is none other than Emrys."
The three newcomers all straightened in reaction, glancing at one another until all three froze when the flap of the nearby tent lifted.
Merlin stepped out into the light and walked towards the circle, his robes closed at the front as he advanced. When he reached his position he did not sit, but rather glanced at Ellyn before looking to the members of his clan who were stood nearby to observe.
His nod had every one of them smile, as they threw open robes to reveal the unmistakable combination of weapons and tunic beneath.
The Fire Clan leader, Eander, lurched to his feet, the fire in the middle of the circle letting out a splutter of sparks in reaction.
"Blood Clan?"
"Storm Clan." Merlin stepped over his log to stand in front of it, opening his own robes now and drawing the dagger at his belt. When he pricked the palm of his hand with it, the runes on it began to shine in proof of his leadership. "I've renamed them, and instated a new code for them to follow. While they are far from pacifist, they are now as the Mistress of Lore said to me earlier. They are the storm riding high on the currents of fate, striking only when the need to strike is there. Their fury has been tamed, and blinding veil of blood lifted away from their eyes."
He sat down, thrusting his dagger into the ground between his feet even as Jenrad regarded him with wonderment.
"And they just accepted this? But the Blood Clan have always been known to be rigid to the point of never changing their ways."
Merlin sighed.
"Storm Clan, they are now the Storm Clan." His nerves had faded a bit towards irritation now, at the persistently incorrect name. "They accepted it because like many groups in the magical community, they had a prophecy about me. That one day the Stormcaller would come, and only if they followed me would their clan survive to see the return of magic and the golden age that will follow. And so they listen to me, and learn, and change, and that is where they will succeed where their ancestors failed. They are still able to follow their ways and beliefs, but they do so now in a way that will be in harmony with the rest of the magical community."
Ellyn smiled in approval of his words, words that he had found just by speaking from his heart.
"And that is why you are Emrys. The one whose wisdom, whose open-minded view of the world and the people in it, will unite us all in peace. The Oristalla, the Storm Clan, and the Catha; these ancient groups have already voiced their faith in you." She looked to the other leaders. "And I believe it is time that the Druids as a whole voice that which we already know is true. We are all sworn to follow Emrys, to let him guide us. That is why the prophecies about him are treasured by us. What remains is for us to do actually say it to him."
Eander frowned a little, but nodded, as did Jenrad and the two Wind Leaders.
"We will spread the word among the Clans, and their branch groups and leaders. We will let it be known that Emrys begins the path to unite us to the purpose of peace." He glanced at the nearby Storm Druids, before turning to Merlin. "Even our more violent brethren, the Storm Clan; formerly known as the Blood Clan. It will take time for word to spread, longer still for the most far-flung leaders to come to visit these lands. When the day arrives that that last leader of the last clan has come before you, to swear faith and purpose to your cause, you will be acknowledged as the Lord of All Druids."
Merlin's eyes widened, and he stared in shock.
"Me? The lord of all of you?"
Jenrad nodded, speaking softly.
"Only in times of great crisis, or great change, have the Druids seen fit to elect a leader of us all. I do believe that the path you follow in your destiny, can be called a path towards a time of great change. And in such times, it is tradition that all of us walk towards... united. Just as it is tradition that brings us here now."
Ellen, wryly.
"You still have a long way to go yet, before that name is yours, Merlin. Not all the Druid Leaders will give you their vow outright. Some will wish to test you first, or observe you for a time. You need only stay true to yourself, and continue to strive forward, and I am certain you will pass whatever trials they may put before you."
She and the other four leaders stood, bowing their heads in respect to him and speaking as one.
"By the traditions of the Druids, we name you Raeswa. Our guide and leader on the path of change to come. Let the light of magic shine blessings on that road, and all of us rise see the dawn of the new age."
The remained with heads bowed, as Merlin stood up feeling both daunted and elated. Just as Arthur was making alliances for Camelot, so now was he.
He bent over, pulling the Dreor Dagger from the earth and holding it high.
"And I swear to you, by my own name and by the name of Leodhorun, maker of this blade, that I will never give up on seeking that path. I will lead you all to those golden days, or I will die trying."
Behind him, the nearby members of the Storm Clan came forward to lay their hands on his shoulders, Alrik and Ladrengar looking to the other assembled leaders as the latter spoke.
"And we, the Storm Clan, will protect you, our brethren, whenever you dwell upon Camelot's lands. We who are the shadow to you light, will fight so that you do not have to."
After a moment of surprise, Jenrad started to smile, reaching out to put a hand of his own on the former clan leader's shoulder.
"And as a fellow brother of the Druid ways, I would be forever grateful for your help. Should any of your clan be injured and in need of healing beyond the skills of your own, I will gladly offer the skills of mine."
Ladrengar clasped arms with him, Merlin watching the exchange with a sense of real significance. That sense was confirmed when a glance at Ellyn revealed her to be smiling ever so slightly, her gaze meeting his with a secretive glint in their depths.
The two sides of the Druid Traditions had been united, brought together by him, Emrys. And now he had before him a path likely to hold many more meetings and trials. Until the day, be it a year, or two, or even more from now, that every Druid leader everywhere had come and sworn faith in him... They, the brothers of his craft.
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Alaia Skyhawk: And so Merlin has found in himself an even greater sense of purpose than just the one to protect Arthur and Camelot. He now has the will and resolve to unite the Druids and guild them towards the future he and Arthur wish to build. And again, that forms symmetry, as Arthur forges alliances with kingdoms, and Merlin forges alliances with clans. Let the arms race with Morgana, begin!
Also "Raeswa" = "Leader/guide/chieftain" :)
