"An Intruder" (Rose)
With the falling rain and Merlin home safely, I had thought that I would be getting a full night's rest. I was wrong. That will not be happening with what just occurred. Both Merlin and I shoot straight up from our pillows. "Did you hear that?" I ask frantically.
"The voice? You heard it, too?" he asks wide-eyed.
I nod and he shuts his eyes. We're still for a few seconds, keeping our minds open, when the distant ringing comes and the voice can be heard only in mumbles until a clear, 'Keep going!' bounces around in our brains, finishing with, 'Hurry!'
"That sounds like a child," I turn to Merlin.
"That's because it is one. And this is no ordinary child- he is Mordred," he says with an air of darkness before jumping out of bed and grabbing his coat.
I stand and reach for my gray cloak as I ask the question I will surely come to find the answer to, "Who is Mordred?"
"He is the one they prophesy will kill Arthur," he walks out the door with me behind him, fastening the neck of my cape. I need no further reason to follow him.
Just as he finishes looping his arm through its place in his jacket, the voice strikes again.
'Quickly! It's not much further now.'
Merlin dashes down the hall, and I stay at his heels, unsure of where we are headed, but I don't see this as ending well.
We continue at a steady, fast pace- Merlin racing on ahead and I keep to his rear. He slides to a halt as the child speaks again, which I know him to do often, so I counter by coming to his side. The words are coming through jumbled. The phrase that is full is, 'Morgana's chamber is next.'
This causes my heart to flutter. What could he possibly want with the Lady Morgana? Merlin stops for a small pause, and then spins around and takes off in the opposite direction we were previously traveling in. The thoughts that are racing through my head are confusing and somewhat horrifying. I can't imagine what kind of child this Mordred is and what Morgana has to do with him.
We try our greatest to get to Morgana's bedroom swiftly when the warning bell clangs through the midnight air. More chaos begins when none other than Arthur's voice, who has a small band of guards marching at his command through the corridors, booms in harsh question, "What do you mean, you've lost them?! They could be dangerous!"
Right from in front of me, Arthur snatches Merlin by the neck, causing a weak "Ow," to escape his lips, and presses him to the wall.
"Merlin?" he asks in a tone that seems sprinkled with surprise and confusion.
Strained words pour from Merlin the best they can with Arthur's hand pushing on his windpipe, "Morgana's chamber," he points in struggle.
"You may want to let him go," I suggest.
Arthur gives an, "Oh, sorry," as he releases him.
Merlin's breathing is labored, and he begins to speak with great effort, "Morgana's," he pants, and then recovers more, "They're in Morgana's chambers."
It registers with Arthur almost immediately, and he bolts towards her room. Merlin straightens and doesn't hesitate to follow after him, and I don't waste a second in following Merlin. Funny trend we have going. I only hope we can get there in time.
"Following the Leader" (Merlin)
Our pace slows to an incredibly brisk walk as we close in on our destination. "Are you sure about this?" Arthur interrogates me on my alleged knowledge, as usual.
"Definitely," I say with confidence, "I- saw them with my own eyes."
"What were you doing down there?"
"I heard voices in my ..." I catch myself a second too late.
"In your...?"
"In my chambers," I recover, "And I thought I should investigate."
"I heard them, too," Rose interjects as support.
"Frankly, Merlin, it's hard to believe," he responds.
"I-" I have no words.
"For once, you've shown some real initiative," he places a hand on my shoulder.
In success, I smile, but, only a little. Now, we just have to keep walking.